Projects Projects Projects

Gary and Ted have lots of projects at the house.  Because of the area and the house being down a hill there are water issues and so that has been the focus.  Ted and Kali also want a sprinkler system which can be a big job.  Lots of digging makes lots of mud which is great for dogs.  Not.

Gary put up fencing on back of garage because naughty dogs can get on roof and jump down and get loose.

On May 20th I went to St. Cloud to visit my daughter and her two boys.  We were able to see them last summer for a few days but it was great to spend time with them again. 

Saturday we saw our soon to be in-laws at Ted and Kali’s.  A perfect day in Minnesota. Sunday Kali and I went to the Minnehaha dog park where dogs run free in a state park like setting.  Suki and Kobe loved it and I loved being in the woods again.  

Sunday we visited with my two nieces and Ted’s bestie Lars.  Louise had her first baby Brady so we finally got to meet him.  Love me a baby.

Wednesday the sprinkler system was tweaked and is all set to go.  Ted is so happy to have this done.  Pretty big deal.  

Thursday in Minnesota we woke up to an all day rain and 46 degrees.  We checked our house in Florida to find 79 and sunny.   Definitely a lazy day.  Sometimes we need those cause it’s been busy here and next week is the big day. May need a rainy day after that. 

Stationed in Golden Valley

We arrived at Ted and Kali’s house in Golden Valley on Thursday May 13th. They are getting married soon and we are staying on their driveway so Gary can get some projects done on the house they recently bought. 

On Sunday May 16th we celebrated Gary’s dad’s 90 birthday with the whole Moe family in Shakopee.  After a year of no family this was extra special. 

Gary has been busy with Ted doing home projects but the best part is his daily trips to Menards.  Menards is the Minnesota version of Home Depot only better.  Gary has been dreaming about Menards since we planned this trip and now we have one within a mile.  The withdrawal will be painful back in Florida.

Golden Valley is a beautiful suburb of Minneapolis and the blooming trees and new growth make me know it is spring.  In Florida I still have to remind myself what time of year it is because the seasons never change. My job here is dog walking so the guys have more time to do home projects. The pictures below are from the neighborhood. 

Family Time Minnesota Style

On Tuesday, May 11, we spent the day with my brother Stevie.  We have been apart for over a year due to COVID and so it was extra special.  

Stevie lives in a group home in a small town so when he gets a chance to shop we go look for dvds.  He loves horror movies and Walmart had a bin full of them for $5 each. He was in heaven and got about 12.  We had some pizza for lunch and then met up later for some beers at the local VFW.  Not many people were there but by the time we left Stevie was friends with everyone.  According to Stevie we had to practice drinking beer for Ted’s wedding.  I have to agree.

On Wednesday we moved on to Mystic Lake campground.  We definitely are not in a state park. The neon lights of the casino shine on the campers and a shuttle to take you to the casino runs thru the campground regularly because no one should leave the campground with any money.

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We spent day with our in-laws Betty and Jerry who we have not seen for over two years due to COVID.  The weather has warmed. It’s sunny. It is Betty’s birthday and it makes our long drive up so worth it.  We are truly blessed to have Gary’s folks in our lives and being separated for so long makes you realize how important family is.

Back in Minnesota

We got to Minneopa State Park in Mankato about 2 pm on Mother’s Day and the place was like a zoo. So busy. The campground is nowhere near the entrance to the park so after taking a wrong turn on to a dead end with cars parked on both sides Gary had to back up the trailer all the way down the street.  

Finally got to campground and first thing I do is check out the facilities since I will be spending some quality time in them. Not happy to see compost toilets only.  Wtf?

Monday started out very cold.  I spent the day with my sister Noreen in Mankato. Culver’s always a big hit.  Then we checked out the bison and waterfalls at our park.  Bison ok.  Waterfalls awesome. Almost makes the compost toilets tolerable.   Not really.  

May 11th we woke up to 33 degrees and I needed to take a shower next to the compost toilets with no heat.  Got hot water in about 5 minutes. No messing around when you shower in a room with no heat. 

Took off for LeCenter Fairgrounds Campground to spend time with my brother Stevie. Only one in campground. 

Getting Closer

Finally made it to southeast Missouri on May 6th and headed to Lake Wappapello State Park.  We are truly on the backroads of America and it is worth the narrow windy roads and small towns we go thru.  Because these parks are off the beaten path they are less crowded and because kids are still in school there is a lot less screaming. The only time we hear old people scream is when the laxative kicks in and the camp bathroom is a block away. 

May 7th we had a beautiful drive to Finger Lakes State Park near Columbia, MO.  The park is nice and luckily we didn’t get stuck on the middle finger lake.  

May 8th started out rainy and cool (55) as we left the fingers.  On to Iowa and time to wash everything.  Camper smells like a couple of the state park outhouses.  Yikes!

We are spending the night in Boone ,Iowa County Fairgrounds.  

Redneck Country

Our original plan to go to the Cheaha State Park in Alabama has been postponed due to Alabama being surrounded by stormy weather.   Our backroads turned to freeway with a run into Birmingham, Alabama.  We have stopped at 5 McDonald’s so far.  Not to eat.  To check weather on their free WiFi.  We made it thru blinding rain and then steady downpours to Oak Mountain State Park south of Birmingham. Been a long nervous day but we made it. This is what I like to call a good mistake.  Oak mountain is as beautiful as it sounds.  

We really could not see much of the park due to rain but what we saw was beautiful. Luckily we were able to get out. Gary left his chainsaw at home and I told him to bring it. Does he ever listen to me?

Got to Davy Crockett State Park about 2 pm but had to wait til 3 pm to go to our site. We finally set up camp right next to a brook.  The weather went from furnace to artic. We had our first campfire and marshmallow roast.  In the middle of the night Gary was digging thru cabinets looking for our portable heater.  We were all snug as a bug then. Some people in tents here.  How do they do it????

Florida Gone

We made it to Rainbow Springs State Park about 1:30 pm on May 2nd.  This park is named for the beautiful clear springs.  Only problem the springs are located at a completely different location. Close but because of its popularity it was impossible to get into that location cause it was filled to capacity by the time we got here.  We had no idea the springs were not at our campground.  But no worries.  Our camping spot is very nice and quiet. 

May 3rd started out really hot and stayed that way all the way to Seminole Springs State Park which is in the low south west corner of Georgia.  The campsite is right on the lake but there is so little shade we sat in the AC in the camper and caught up on Jerry Springer.  The heat is getting old.  

May 4th has been an adventure. After stepping in Dede’s poopie I went to get my breakfast out of the microwave. It looks like puke on a plate but I managed to eat most of it.  Since I have no dishwasher I had to lick the plate and pop it back into the microwave. Don’t tell Gary. Sometimes you have to think outside the box.