September 16-22, 2019 - Eagle's Landing, Grove, OK and Spending Time with Family (Oswego, Joplin, Lamar)

September 16-20, 2019 - Eagle's Landing, Grove, OK and Spending Time With Family (Oswego, Joplin, Lamar)

Monday - We were packed up and pulled out of Sand Hills RV Park north of Hutchinson at 8:49am.  It seemed like a long drive today although we only traveled 261 miles.  We did find out as we neared Altamont, KS that if we arrived at the park early we would have to pay extra, so we stopped at a great little cafe in Altamont, MJ's Burgers.  We've eaten here several times but I had never ordered a burger before.  Wow - it was delicious!  Soon we were back in the truck and headed on to Grove.  It was 3:07 when we pulled in and 91 horribly humid afternoon.  We set, put the slides out, turned on the air and left.  Our friends Pam and Dennis Horstman have been here for several weeks.  They are leaving early tomorrow morning so we wanted to visit with them before they left.  

We arrived at Cedar Oaks Campground around 4:15 and we headed to Rib Crib where we enjoyed a good hour or more visiting over a light dinner (for me at least).  We will see them when we get to Texas sometime in January.  They have become great friends and we look forward to seeing them there.

Back at the RV, we took time to do a little more setup before going out to sit with the other Escapees that had arrived throughout the day.  Escapees from day to day life - just enjoying each other's company.  What a wonderful group of people we have met.  This was one of the biggest groups we've had for awhile and it was so good to see friends that we last saw in 2018.  

Tuesday Dean and I walked over to visit with our neighbors Alvin and Linda for an hour or so, before heading home to get ready for our dinner night out with the group at Cherokee Casino.  They gave us a nice big room.  Dennis had given us a heads up the food wasn't quite as good as it has been in the past.  I don't know about anyone else but the salad I had last time was wonderful and this time the same salad was just par!  I was very disappointed, especially since I told Linda how good it was and she also ordered it.

Bob and Patty Nance (Bob at table waving and wife partly hidden to the left) hosted this campout.  It was great!

Another evening sitting out visiting was a great way to end another day.

Wednesday Dean and I got up and left early to head back to Oswego and then on to Service Valley Charter Academy for Grandparents day with grandson Jaxson.  He was surprised to see us.  He showed us his room, where his desk was and a few things they were doing in class before we had to leave.  

Jaxson and one of his classmates.  He was showing me how to add letters to make a word that matched the picture on the screen of this pad.  It was pretty cool and he did well.

Our next stop was Pittsburg to pick up our mail.  We finally received our refund check from Dexter for the installation of the actuator that was done back in July.  In fact we had not picked up our mail in about seven weeks so there was quite a few things waiting for us.  

When we returned we walked down and visited with Stan and Linda for awhile - soon there was a group gathered around.  That's how it works!

Tonight is our potluck meal at the campground so later I made a peach crisp.  Pete and Fran rode with us to the resort's community room.  It was so nice to have an air conditioned room as it was still pretty hot out when we ate at 5.  There isn't anything much better than a potluck dinner for a good meal.  No matter how hard I try to convince myself I'm not going to eat much since I only take a spoonful to try things - I always eat too much.  At least we don't have these meals often!   

Nice big room for our potluck tonight.

We had another great evening out enjoying each others company under the stars.  So many great conversations with these people.

It almost looks like a tornado, don't you think?  Just blue sky between the clouds!

Thursday we headed to Walmart to get a couple of things for our meal tonight.  It's mostly leftovers but my peach crisp was gone.  I made brownies and stopped at Harp's on the way back to pick up some of the wonderful cowboy caviar they make fresh daily.  Those will be my contribution to the meal this evening.  We walked down to visit with Drena and Keith (in their rig) as it was another warm afternoon.  We always enjoy visiting with them.

Tonight we were at an open pavilion.  Other than the flies that wanted to join us at our meal - it was another wonderful meal.  Fortunately we had a bit of a breeze which helped keep us a little cooler.  

After cleaning up, everyone took their food back to their rigs.  Once we had put our leftovers in the fridge, we headed to the same spot as last night for our evening visit.  Just as Dean and I arrived and started to set our chairs up someone said oh no - look at the rain - it was at the far side of the park and moving fast.  We were soaked by the time we made it back to Bentley. OOOOH that rain was so COLD!  I wish someone would have taken a video of us.  I bet it would have been hilarious!

Actually today was quite a day so thought I'd share a few highlights with you.  It started out this morning.  The soap pump that is built into the kitchen counter area quit working - you remember I found LOTS of soap that had been dispensed onto the cabinets below a few weeks ago?  We got the replacement part in the mail yesterday so Dean changed it out this morning.  I was busy making the brownies at the time.  Once they were in the convection oven, I asked Dean if everything was done and working now.  He said yes, so I started to do the dishes.  I pumped the soap dispenser and no soap... I figured it would take a few times to get it primed enough for soap to come out so I pumped it SEVERAL times - nothing happened.  I thought oh no, this one doesn't work either.  I bent down to look under the sink and what did I find - the soap container sitting on the shelf.  Yes, the pump was just shooting soap all over the inside of the cabinets again.  There's one thing about it - you cannot say my cabinets aren't clean inside!!!

Tomorrow night we are going to my sister Cindy's to play cards with her and her husband Elmer.  I told her I would make the dessert.  My choice was a cheesecake which I needed to make today in my Instapot so it could chill overnight.  I made the crust and stuck it in the freezer.  I waited an hour or so before I started the cake itself to give time for the crust to set up.  In the meantime I gathered everything before starting to make the cheese part of the recipe, until I realized I could not find my trivet that is needed in order to set the springform pan on so it will not set in the water.  I tore Bentley apart looking for it and never did find it.  So I started calling my Escapee friends hoping someone had theirs with them.  Drena, no; Linda, no; then Drena showed up at my door with a boiled egg stand.  It sets a little higher but it's all I have so I used it.  I had everything mixed up and poured it into the springform pan, set it in the instapot and turned it on.  When I turned around---what did I find but the eggs still sitting on the stove cover.  Oh my goodness - now what do I do?
What else could I do, but turn the instapot off and carefully scrape the cheesecake mixture out of the pan and off the crust, put it back into a mixing bowl, add the eggs, remix it all, then add the revised cheese mixture back in the pan.  I prayed it would be worth eating.  When it was done I let it cool during our potluck meal, and later put it in the refrigerator to chill overnight.  

What a day!


Friday - We wanted to get an early start this morning.  We were ready to go by 8:30.  However, you can't leave without saying goodbyes.  It was 9:18 when we pulled out and 10:35 when we arrived at Hillside RV Park in Oswego.  I needed to do a few things in town, we had lunch, and then we loaded up and headed to Joplin to watch Tucker play soccer.  I never once thought about the weather but when we arrived the temperature had dropped - quite a bit, and there was a pretty strong breeze.  Fortunately I had a blanket in the back of the car.  Halfway through the game the sun came out and we were shedding raincoats and the blanket pretty quick.  Tucker plays for Columbus High School.  They had a successful win 3-0.  We enjoyed watching him.  It was quite different from when the kids played soccer during grade school.  This was one of three games they will play in a two day, four team tournament.  

#15 - Tucker

Papa Dean, Tucker and Nana Cheri

Before the game we made a quick stop at Sam's so Dean could have his hearing aids checked.  They were able to make some changes that really helped.  SO thankful for that!
After the game we stopped at Walmart to get a birthday present for our newest granddaughter, Brett's stepdaughter, Logen.  Her birthday party is tomorrow afternoon.  Which reminds me I'm not sure I included the news that Brett and Emilee got married on August 17 while we were Yellowstone.

Back in Oswego, I ran in to quickly mix up the topping for the cheesecake.  I told Cindy we'd be there as close to 6 as possible, and we were only a few minutes late.  The topping was a brown sugar, cinnamon, cream mixture with lots of pecans.  It was really good.  If I had not told them about my crazy experience they would not have known I almost messed it up, as everyone thought it was really good.

Earlier, granddaughter Haleigh sent me a text to see if I wanted to go shopping with her tomorrow.  Of course I said YES.  We are leaving at 8 since I need to be back by 12:15 in time to do a few things before we drive to Lamar for Logen's party.  


Saturday - Haleigh and I had a great day starting with mocha frappe's at McDonald's in Webb City.  Our first stop was a Kohl's where we both found a pair of jeans, next was Target - since the mall stores weren't open yet.  Our last stop, at the mall, Haleigh found more clothes at a couple of places.  I enjoyed watching her picking things out and trying them on.  It was a fun day.  We decided to order something from Chick-fil-A at the mall before we left.  We both ordered chicken bites, something to drink and Haleigh also ordered waffle fries.  It was packed so we had to wait.  They finally called our name, we grabbed the bag and headed to the car.  Opened it up and found two bags of waffle fries, and only one order of chicken bites.  Since it had started to rain and I still needed to buy wrapping paper at Dollar Tree, I just ate one piece of Haleigh's chicken bites and a pack of the fries.  I still had a lot to do once we returned.  I knew we'd have something later anyway, so it wasn't worth going back in to fight the crowd.  We should have checked our order before we left.

On the way home it rained and hard.  In the truck it doesn't bother me, but in my little Prius I slowed down quite a bit.  After dropping Haleigh off, I headed to the RV.

I freshened up, got Logen's present wrapped and we were on our way to Lamar.  The rain started as we headed to the car and it stayed with us almost to the point we pulled in Brett's driveway - just as the windshield wiper on the passenger side flew off!  All I can say, is Thank You God that it was now - and not while we were out on the highway when it was POURING!!!  

She was having a good time opening all of her presents.

A crowd of family to watch, too!

Logen had a great party and like most kids her age (5) she was ready to get her party started!   Emilee's family was already there.  It was nice to meet them all.  After the presents were opened, we had cake, cookies and ice cream.  

Blowing out her #5 candle!

Logen told me later while I was watching her play with her doll and try on the new clothes we bought for it, that she didn't think we would ever get there.  After everyone left, Emilee's parents, Brett, Emilee, Logen and us drove into Lamar to eat dinner at Cap's.  It's a wonderful restaurant.  They serve fish, shrimp, burgers, etc.  We've ate there several times now and love it.  After dinner, we stopped at Walmart and bought some new windshield wipers.  Fortunately, we didn't need them on the way home.  

Can you believe, we have another big day tomorrow?

Sunday - We haven't had a chance to see grandkids Kamron and Jaxson yet, so they are coming to visit today.  Well, I did see Jaxson for a short while on Wednesday morning but we didn't get to visit or play very long. I picked them up a little before 10 and we headed back to Oswego.  Before we left I had Dean help me do some rearranging in the rig.  We've had our table turned to allow me "desk space" but I wanted it turned back in order for us to play a board game.  It allows us to play across the table from each other, which works better with a game, rather than side by side.

Playing with the blocks from the Jenga game.  He loves to build things.

Kamron and I getting ready to play Pugopoly.

I ordered pizza from our local Pizza Hut for our lunch and we made some cookies in the convection oven.  We visited and played until about 1.  Kamron brought her Pugopoly game (Pugs Monopoly--she loves Pugs - they have two).  While we played, Kamron let Jaxson use her IPad to watch a show since Papa was watching the Chiefs game.  She beat me - fair and square!  She's a pretty sharp girl.  Jaxson and I went over his spelling words several times before Dean and I took them back to Parsons.  We've now seen all of the grandkids since we returned except grandson Logan in California, and Matt/Megan's (grandkids Josh, Sarah and Sam) in New York.  We sure miss seeing those four on a regular basis.

We returned home, ate leftover pizza and crashed.  We were TIRED!  But we wouldn't have changed a thing.