I was awake at 5:30. Since I posted last night I took time to catch up on blog posts. I enjoy reading each and everyone of them, and I do appreciate those who take the time to read mine as well.
About 7:00 I pulled the blackberries out of the refrigerator and gathered the ingredients to make a blackberry cobbler. I prefer cobbler that is a pie crust type versus a cake like batter. I was short about 1/2 cup of having 4 cups of blackberries, what the recipe called for, so I cut back on the sugar and flour. The cobbler tasted great, except the blackberries didn't get as juicy as I would have liked. Even though I "stirred" them after I added the sugar and flour mixture, quite a bit of "the dry ingredients" settled on the bottom. There wasn't enough juice to cook all of that together. It was still very good, but I was a bit disappointed. I wish I would have added 1/3 to 1/2 cup water and I think it would have been just fine. Overall I was pleased and will make them again. After all, it is my favorite dessert!
All week I've had in my head Jaxson's birthday was this Thursday, but when I looked at the calendar this morning - I realized today was the 8th - today is his birthday!! Since we had nothing special planned for today, it meant we would drive to Oswego to check on the lot to see if Dean needed to mow (what we had planned to do tomorrow), and we would then drive to Altamont to wish Jaxson a Happy Birthday and give him his birthday present.
At the lot it was very apparent the grass did not need to be mowed...no rain here lately! Two of my little trees Peggy gave me are doing very well - and the third one (dogwood) was drooping. We watered all three, and Dean sprayed around several areas where small trees were starting to come up. From there we headed to Altamont.
I told Dean I needed to find a restroom before we drove to Altamont. First thought was City Hall, but there was a sign NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS. Oh no! So I called Cindy to let her know I was coming by - Thank you sister! Her best and longtime friend Paula was there visiting. We visited for a few minutes before leaving for our next stop.
After arriving in Altamont, we drove to Marc & Jen's. We walked to the back door, since that is where we often find Jaxson. I stepped in the house and called Jaxson....he came running out to see who it was......
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| You don't normally get a picture of this smile on his face....you have to catch him with it. I'm glad we did. |
....he was very surprised to see us! He loved his presents - a nerf gun and a shark/boat lego set. I'm glad I realized today was his brithday, and not later. 8 on the 8th!!
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| He was happy with his gifts. |
He wanted to show me one of the gifts mom and dad got him...he loves trains, planes, and ships. While they were at Oswego a week or two ago when his dad had set up a booth at Black Crow Trading, he went in to Black Crow with his mom. He found this little train. Marc or Jen went back and bought it for him for his birthday. He was so excited to show it to us.
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| Kamron hiding under the covers. Papa was trying hard to get her picture but she was having nothing of it. |
It was nearly 11:30 when we left Marc's (after we peeked in to see what project he was working on). He had just finished some chairs. I really loved them, and most of all they had casters. My Aunt Lil had a table with 6 caster chairs. They were so comfortable to set in. It was great not having to scoot your chair to get up to the table or away from it. I've wanted some ever since then! Someday....!
We drove by MJ's Burger House on the highway going through Altamont. I asked Dean if he wanted to eat there now, or wait until we get back to Bentley. No, he didn't want to wait! Lol! The special today was their regular hamburgers at only $2.00, and slightly higher with cheese, which is what we chose. We also shared an order of their home cut fries - some of the best we've ever found. We were glad we stopped.
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| MJ's Burger House - we were the only ones there. |
We left Altamont and headed south on Ness Road to KS Hwy 166, where we turned east to Chetopa, and continued on to Bernice State Park. On the way back we were talking about different places we've been or stayed on the lake. We decided to take the road that leads to Leisure Shores north of Bernice. We drove through the area where I took a few pictures of this garden. I doubt I would ever have anything this big, as I'm not much of a gardener, but I can see planting some things that would not require too much care in a similar pattern.
After making a quick stop to use the restroom at Bentley we headed out on a tour around the northeast part of the lake. We drove through Lakewood Village, where we formerly owned a mobile home. Several of the homes and boat docks were damaged by either a tornado or very strong winds a year or so ago. Much of the debris and damaged mobile homes have since been removed, and new boat docks have been installed. At least five mobile homes had been removed - all in the same area.
The neighbors we had next to us still own their property. We were going to stop if they were home. Unfortunately, they were not there today. The people who own the property we owned, have added a roof over the large deck we built on the front of it, along with a storage shed and carport behind it. It looks very nice. They have added numerous RV sites on the hill, and several more mobile homes. From there, we drove a back road north of the Grove area to Blue Bluff Resort, Lee's Grand Resort and some of the housing additions beyond their entrance road. It was just fun seeing the places we used to visit, and the lake....areas where we used to park the boat and swim. It brought back many good memories.
When we returned to Bentley, I made each of us a taco salad, one of our favorite meals. After the dishes were done, we went outside to sit. It was a beautiful evening to be outside. While I worked on the blog; Dean was trying to figure out what happened to some of the contacts that disappeared from his phone. He knows they were there on Monday, and just noticed they were gone this evening. Sometimes new phones can be a real pain. His text messages are there, so he's gone back to them, written down the numbers and put them back his contacts. Technology - you love it when it works, and are frustrated when it doesn't.
It is 6:33. It has been a really nice day, warm, with a nice breeze.....fortunately without the humidity from last night. Yesterday was just a miserable day being outside, for me at least.
The lake water since we have been here has been very calm - perfect for water skiing, although we haven't seen anyone doing that. Today there is just enough breeze to cause light waves in the water. There have been many families down at the beach swimming "or cooling off in the water" since we've arrived. We've talked about going but haven't yet.
Our neighbors' son and grandson came down to spend the night with them today. They set up their tent and then Dad, son and grandson went out fishing for the evening. I noticed grandma was sitting outside. I had information on our club for her, so I stepped inside to get it, then we walked over. We visited for quite awhile, before Dean went inside. I continued visiting for another 30-45 minutes. I really enjoyed visiting with her, so I hope they join our Escapees camping club.
We still have another four days to enjoy our time here. We are meeting some friends from our camping club on Friday. We are looking forward to that.
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