Thursday, December 7, 2017 - Medical Checkup - Slowing Down Today
My alarm went off this morning at 4:30 and woke me up!! All that running around yesterday provided me with a really good night's sleep. I have a medical checkup this morning at the Cherokee Health Center in Vinita at 9:00am. Since I will be having a fasting blood test, I only drank one "plain" cup of coffee - I prefer sugar and creamer so one cup of "plain" was enough. It was nice to take things slow and easy this morning - no rush. We left Oswego at 8:00 to make the drive to Vinita and things moved along quickly once we arrived. I signed in and in no time they called me back. While I was here today I had both a flu and pneumonia shot. I've never had either of these shots in the past but after being diagnosed with pneumonia earlier this year when I had a chest x-ray, I learned the test showed it was not the first time I've had pneumonia. My doctor strongly suggested I get these two shots annually from now on. I inquired about meeting with their dietitian for help with my low carb diet, and they will be calling me to set up a time for that. Two more stops included lab work and another to pickup my prescriptions.
We made a quick stop at Walmart. I needed to get the calcium tablets my doctor recommended, as I am almost out. When I bought Christmas paper yesterday, I forgot to buy tags to go on the presents, and I found some real cute ones that will go well with the paper I bought.
On our way home we stopped at Chetopa RV to talk with our RV dealer, Deryl about a couple of issues we are having. He will order the parts we need and Dean is going to fix them. Unfortunately, he is not able to get us in before we head south. Dean is pretty good at repairing things so I have no doubt he can handle both of them.
By the way, while we were at Chetopa RV, Deryl wanted me to take a look at a new Big Horn they had. I liked it, but the one next to it I liked even better. He said the one I liked was their best seller but we won't be making any upgrades at this time. We really like our floor plan and even though it is only 36' it has quite a bit of storage. Even with all of our stuff for full-time living in it, we still have some storage area available. I've done my best to keep things as minimal as possible and yet have everything that is really important for us to live comfortably.
Once home, we nuked a couple of hot dogs for lunch and now we are both sitting in front of the RV with our laptops. After all of the running around we've done the past few days it feels nice to just sit and relax.
After getting the blog updated I spent sometime trying to catch up reading all of the blogs I follow. I am so far behind and I have really missed reading them daily.
Dean suggested pizza for dinner so that's what I made. We love it made in the cast iron skillet in the oven. One nice thing about pizza on a night like this - especially in the oven - it helps keep Bentley warm! It's going to be really cold tonight, but we are prepared and tomorrow the temperatures start to rise again. We are ready to get out and begin our morning walks again - so hopefully Saturday we'll be back at it.
The rest of our evening was uneventful - reading and TV - we went to bed about 10:00. It was a good slow day - we need those occasionally.
Travels with Bentley
Bentley - our Heartland Bighorn
Friday, December 8, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 - Back to Oswego - On The Run All Day Long
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 - Back to Oswego - On The Run All Day Long
It was another cold morning so once again we passed up walking. Several years ago my feet started getting really cold and uncomfortable in the winter months - sometimes almost unbearable. I finally brought a heating pad to work and put in under my desk to keep my feet warm through the winter months. I also had one at home to do the same whenever they started bothering me. I have to admit most of the time when I walk, even if my feet are cold when we start, they are warm by the time we finish. However, when the temperatures drop much below 32 degrees they just don't warm up much.
After breakfast I packed things up in Bentley pretty quickly and we were ready to leave shortly after 9. Dean wants to wait and empty our tanks when we get back to Oswego since it is so cold this morning - it is supposed to be warmer this afternoon and he'll be in the sun rather than the shade like he would be here. Sure makes a big difference.
We really enjoyed this campground. It has both electric and water hookups at each site and the dump station is available as you exit the park. The cost for campers that do not reside in Garnett, Kansas or Anderson County is $16/night. It is a beautiful area and we loved how our site backed up to the lake that runs up through the center of the park. We always enjoy a water view. The park was very convenient for us to visit both our family and friends. Fortunately for us we picked a site without a tree on it. With the strong winds we experienced for over a 24 hour period, I'm sure Dean would have needed to clean the slides off if we had been under a tree.
As we were leaving Olathe on Monday, I mentioned to Dean that with a straight shot from Garnett to Oswego it might be a good time for me drive Bentley. He was agreeable if that's what I wanted to do. So this morning after I helped get Bentley hitched up, I crawled in the driver's seat as he finished his walk around. When he walked up to the window - he asked me if I was going to drive and I said Yes, I am. He took the passenger seat and settled in. I do appreciate his patience with me. He reminded me of a couple of things - like when I wanted to make the left turn south of Garnett to continue on Highway 59 - there was a car coming - and if we were in a car it would have been fine to turn - but with the longer length of the truck and Bentley, I was glad he cautioned me to wait. One other time I was starting into a tight curve - it probably would have been fine in the car or truck by itself, but it was not a bad idea to slow down a bit when it's that tight. He really is a good instructor and I appreciate him being so patient. While I don't really want to drive a lot - I do want to be able to do so in case something ever happened and I need to. I do not want to find myself being forced to do something like that and not be prepared - how stressful that would be!
Of course driving in the morning means I need to make more stops than in the afternoon, so it was also the first time I had to pull off on the shoulder of the highway in order to make use of our facilities. That went well and was not as bad as I expected.
Once we arrived at the RV Park in Oswego, and I turned in the driveway, Dean told me there was an obstacle I needed to watch for and wanted to see if I knew what it was. Well, I don't think he meant the school bus that I met as I made the first turn - that was a surprise! The park also has mobile homes and there are a few families living here but it's the first time I have seen the school bus in the park. We handled that okay and at the first turn into the RV section of the park I told him I think it is this tree on the right and he said yes, that was the obstacle he meant. You really have to go far to the left side to miss hitting it with Bentley's back end. When we reached our spot Dean had to move our van out of our site, so I could pull into it, and then he guided me right where I needed to be for the hookups!
Pulling a fifth wheel is much, much easier than I ever expected.
Once we unhitched Bentley, and I had everything set up inside I was going to call Cindy (my sister) to see if I could do a couple of loads of laundry at her house so we could visit this afternoon. Before I could give her a call a "commercial" about signing up for Medicare came on stating the final date was December 7. Well, darn that's tomorrow and we wanted to see if we should make any changes to the plan Dean has, and we didn't want to wait until the last day. So we pulled everything out and an hour later we decided he still had the best policy which meant we didn't have to do anything. I called Cindy only to find out she and our Aunt Lil had just left Oswego to go to Parsons. I said I wish I had known. She told me we just left town we can come back and get you. I asked about doing laundry and she said bring it -- so I went to her house and put a load in the washer before we headed to Parsons. Our first stop was at a new flea market on the east side of town. While it is fun to look, I do not need anything and only Aunt Lil found something to purchase. Next stop was at Walmart. I only needed a couple of things so I just looked around. I did see our RV friends Bob and Patty Nance. Bob recently had back surgery and he looks great, and is getting along really well. It was nice to visit with them and we look forward to seeing them later this winter.
On our way home from Parsons my daughter called me to see if I would want to go to Joplin with her after she got off work, to do some Christmas shopping. Of course I said yes. Between us, we stay busy so I look forward to time I can spend with her when I can.
Cindy dropped me off at her house before taking Aunt Lil home so I could get my first load of clothes in the dryer and the second load in the washer. I stayed and visited with her while the first load was drying, and I'll pick up the second load tomorrow. Shortly before 5, I loaded everything up and headed to the RV Park and ending up following Misti into the driveway - perfect timing.
I was surprised the stores were so busy on a Wednesday evening. The parking lots were packed. We visited several stores. Misti found a couple of items she was looking for and I was able to purchase one more present.
We were back in Oswego by 9:30 so I really was "On the run all day long"! It was a good day spending time with some very important people in my life - Dean, Cindy, Aunt Lil and Misti. Even though I was tired, it was a very GOOD day!
It was another cold morning so once again we passed up walking. Several years ago my feet started getting really cold and uncomfortable in the winter months - sometimes almost unbearable. I finally brought a heating pad to work and put in under my desk to keep my feet warm through the winter months. I also had one at home to do the same whenever they started bothering me. I have to admit most of the time when I walk, even if my feet are cold when we start, they are warm by the time we finish. However, when the temperatures drop much below 32 degrees they just don't warm up much.
After breakfast I packed things up in Bentley pretty quickly and we were ready to leave shortly after 9. Dean wants to wait and empty our tanks when we get back to Oswego since it is so cold this morning - it is supposed to be warmer this afternoon and he'll be in the sun rather than the shade like he would be here. Sure makes a big difference.
We really enjoyed this campground. It has both electric and water hookups at each site and the dump station is available as you exit the park. The cost for campers that do not reside in Garnett, Kansas or Anderson County is $16/night. It is a beautiful area and we loved how our site backed up to the lake that runs up through the center of the park. We always enjoy a water view. The park was very convenient for us to visit both our family and friends. Fortunately for us we picked a site without a tree on it. With the strong winds we experienced for over a 24 hour period, I'm sure Dean would have needed to clean the slides off if we had been under a tree.
As we were leaving Olathe on Monday, I mentioned to Dean that with a straight shot from Garnett to Oswego it might be a good time for me drive Bentley. He was agreeable if that's what I wanted to do. So this morning after I helped get Bentley hitched up, I crawled in the driver's seat as he finished his walk around. When he walked up to the window - he asked me if I was going to drive and I said Yes, I am. He took the passenger seat and settled in. I do appreciate his patience with me. He reminded me of a couple of things - like when I wanted to make the left turn south of Garnett to continue on Highway 59 - there was a car coming - and if we were in a car it would have been fine to turn - but with the longer length of the truck and Bentley, I was glad he cautioned me to wait. One other time I was starting into a tight curve - it probably would have been fine in the car or truck by itself, but it was not a bad idea to slow down a bit when it's that tight. He really is a good instructor and I appreciate him being so patient. While I don't really want to drive a lot - I do want to be able to do so in case something ever happened and I need to. I do not want to find myself being forced to do something like that and not be prepared - how stressful that would be!
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| Me driving in Kansas from Garnett RV Park to Oswego Hillside RV Park. |
Of course driving in the morning means I need to make more stops than in the afternoon, so it was also the first time I had to pull off on the shoulder of the highway in order to make use of our facilities. That went well and was not as bad as I expected.
Once we arrived at the RV Park in Oswego, and I turned in the driveway, Dean told me there was an obstacle I needed to watch for and wanted to see if I knew what it was. Well, I don't think he meant the school bus that I met as I made the first turn - that was a surprise! The park also has mobile homes and there are a few families living here but it's the first time I have seen the school bus in the park. We handled that okay and at the first turn into the RV section of the park I told him I think it is this tree on the right and he said yes, that was the obstacle he meant. You really have to go far to the left side to miss hitting it with Bentley's back end. When we reached our spot Dean had to move our van out of our site, so I could pull into it, and then he guided me right where I needed to be for the hookups!
Pulling a fifth wheel is much, much easier than I ever expected.
Once we unhitched Bentley, and I had everything set up inside I was going to call Cindy (my sister) to see if I could do a couple of loads of laundry at her house so we could visit this afternoon. Before I could give her a call a "commercial" about signing up for Medicare came on stating the final date was December 7. Well, darn that's tomorrow and we wanted to see if we should make any changes to the plan Dean has, and we didn't want to wait until the last day. So we pulled everything out and an hour later we decided he still had the best policy which meant we didn't have to do anything. I called Cindy only to find out she and our Aunt Lil had just left Oswego to go to Parsons. I said I wish I had known. She told me we just left town we can come back and get you. I asked about doing laundry and she said bring it -- so I went to her house and put a load in the washer before we headed to Parsons. Our first stop was at a new flea market on the east side of town. While it is fun to look, I do not need anything and only Aunt Lil found something to purchase. Next stop was at Walmart. I only needed a couple of things so I just looked around. I did see our RV friends Bob and Patty Nance. Bob recently had back surgery and he looks great, and is getting along really well. It was nice to visit with them and we look forward to seeing them later this winter.
On our way home from Parsons my daughter called me to see if I would want to go to Joplin with her after she got off work, to do some Christmas shopping. Of course I said yes. Between us, we stay busy so I look forward to time I can spend with her when I can.
Cindy dropped me off at her house before taking Aunt Lil home so I could get my first load of clothes in the dryer and the second load in the washer. I stayed and visited with her while the first load was drying, and I'll pick up the second load tomorrow. Shortly before 5, I loaded everything up and headed to the RV Park and ending up following Misti into the driveway - perfect timing.
I was surprised the stores were so busy on a Wednesday evening. The parking lots were packed. We visited several stores. Misti found a couple of items she was looking for and I was able to purchase one more present.
We were back in Oswego by 9:30 so I really was "On the run all day long"! It was a good day spending time with some very important people in my life - Dean, Cindy, Aunt Lil and Misti. Even though I was tired, it was a very GOOD day!
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Tuesday, December 5, 2017 - More Visiting with Friends and Family
Tuesday, December 5, 2017 - More Visiting with Friends and Family
It turned COLD last night and we had to dig out our coats for today. Brrrrr! Fortunately the wind let up some and the gusts were not as strong as the previous 24 hours or so.
After coffee, and breakfast we decided it was just too cold to walk since the wind was still blowing and it was right around freezing. I changed the sheets on the bed, changed out our towels, sorted the clothes, and then we set down and worked on the budget for our new lifestyle. We didn't get to quite finish it before we needed to leave for Ottawa to meet our RV friends Bill and Janice.
They were already waiting for us at a table when we arrived at Freddy's Frozen Custard. We visited with them for about 30 minutes before we placed our order, and then we visited another couple of hours or more. RVer's never lack for conversation topics. They have spent the last several winters in South Texas and they explained a lot about the area and what to expect. Based on all we've learned just by talking to others I have a feeling the 3 months we plan to spend there is going to fly by with all of the activities, places to see, and visiting we will have the opportunity to do. One thing I found interesting is they put out a weekly news paper or bulletin that tells you what is going on in the "Valley". Janice told me she really enjoyed reading it each week. They also will hold a dinner for each state throughout the time we are there so we can have the opportunity to meet up with other folks from Kansas. That is such a great idea. It definitely sounds like they cater to their winter population.
Shortly before 4 we left Ottawa and headed back to Bentley where we rested for a short while before heading out again - this time to meet with Dean's sister Joyce and sister-in-law Connie.
We picked Joyce up at her home and then met up with Connie at her workplace, at the Anderson County Courthouse. While we were waiting for Connie to leave work, I noticed this man walking towards us and I said something to Dean - he hopped out of the truck and walked toward him and they gave each other a big hug and began talking. It was his cousin Ray.
A short time later we saw Connie walking towards us as she left work. After she was in the truck we discussed where to eat and decided on the local Bar and Grill, just down the street. Fortunately it wasn't as busy as the night we went to eat with Larry and Sandi - but in no time it was full. We were glad we got in the door as soon as we did. We had a great visit with Connie & Joyce, and a great meal. It was good to catch up with both of them.
After dinner, we dropped Connie off at her vehicle at the courthouse parking lot. We took Joyce home and stayed for awhile to visit with her. It was really nice to have the one on one time with Dean's siblings while we were here these few days. Typically it's a family get together of some kind when we see them, and we only have short little conversations with everyone. We enjoyed the time spent with each of them as well as everyone else we met with. This was a great 4 days with family and friends!
Here's another picture I took of some of the Christmas lights in Garnett. One of the streets leading from downtown to Highway 59 has a median planted with trees. They have decorated each of the trees with lights and it is really a beautiful site. Unfortunately, the picture is a bit blurry since we were moving but I really loved the the beauty of it and wanted to include it for my own memory.
As we returned to the RV Park, the Super Moon was just gorgeous. Unfortunately the camera in my phone does not provide the best night pictures - but again I wanted to have the pictures for my own memory of the moment.
It turned COLD last night and we had to dig out our coats for today. Brrrrr! Fortunately the wind let up some and the gusts were not as strong as the previous 24 hours or so.
After coffee, and breakfast we decided it was just too cold to walk since the wind was still blowing and it was right around freezing. I changed the sheets on the bed, changed out our towels, sorted the clothes, and then we set down and worked on the budget for our new lifestyle. We didn't get to quite finish it before we needed to leave for Ottawa to meet our RV friends Bill and Janice.
They were already waiting for us at a table when we arrived at Freddy's Frozen Custard. We visited with them for about 30 minutes before we placed our order, and then we visited another couple of hours or more. RVer's never lack for conversation topics. They have spent the last several winters in South Texas and they explained a lot about the area and what to expect. Based on all we've learned just by talking to others I have a feeling the 3 months we plan to spend there is going to fly by with all of the activities, places to see, and visiting we will have the opportunity to do. One thing I found interesting is they put out a weekly news paper or bulletin that tells you what is going on in the "Valley". Janice told me she really enjoyed reading it each week. They also will hold a dinner for each state throughout the time we are there so we can have the opportunity to meet up with other folks from Kansas. That is such a great idea. It definitely sounds like they cater to their winter population.
Shortly before 4 we left Ottawa and headed back to Bentley where we rested for a short while before heading out again - this time to meet with Dean's sister Joyce and sister-in-law Connie.
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| On our way back we cut through the Anderson County School parking lot that intersects with the park road. I took this shot where you can just make out Bentley across the lake---the white spot right above the shadow in the middle of the picture above. |
We picked Joyce up at her home and then met up with Connie at her workplace, at the Anderson County Courthouse. While we were waiting for Connie to leave work, I noticed this man walking towards us and I said something to Dean - he hopped out of the truck and walked toward him and they gave each other a big hug and began talking. It was his cousin Ray.
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| Dean (left) and his cousin Ray. |
A short time later we saw Connie walking towards us as she left work. After she was in the truck we discussed where to eat and decided on the local Bar and Grill, just down the street. Fortunately it wasn't as busy as the night we went to eat with Larry and Sandi - but in no time it was full. We were glad we got in the door as soon as we did. We had a great visit with Connie & Joyce, and a great meal. It was good to catch up with both of them.
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| Dean's sister Joyce (left) and sister-in-law Connie (right). |
After dinner, we dropped Connie off at her vehicle at the courthouse parking lot. We took Joyce home and stayed for awhile to visit with her. It was really nice to have the one on one time with Dean's siblings while we were here these few days. Typically it's a family get together of some kind when we see them, and we only have short little conversations with everyone. We enjoyed the time spent with each of them as well as everyone else we met with. This was a great 4 days with family and friends!
Here's another picture I took of some of the Christmas lights in Garnett. One of the streets leading from downtown to Highway 59 has a median planted with trees. They have decorated each of the trees with lights and it is really a beautiful site. Unfortunately, the picture is a bit blurry since we were moving but I really loved the the beauty of it and wanted to include it for my own memory.
As we returned to the RV Park, the Super Moon was just gorgeous. Unfortunately the camera in my phone does not provide the best night pictures - but again I wanted to have the pictures for my own memory of the moment.
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| I realize these pictures do not do it justice but you can certainly see the brightness emitting from the moon. What a beautiful sight it was. |
Monday, December 4, 2017 - Visit with Friends in Olathe, KS
Monday, December 4, 2017 - Visit with Friends in Olathe, KS
It's been awhile since we've heard the wind blow like it did all night and this morning - it's almost 7:00am now. We could feel Bentley shaking, but we were nice and comfy inside. We did not leave any heat on last night as it was in the 60's and according to The Weather Channel it would not drop much below that overnight. The weather report is for rain today though - not much fun - but we'll make the best of it as we have another wonderful day planned. Temperatures are expected to drop just below freezing tonight but back in the low to mid 50's tomorrow before we start seeing freezing weather overnight for a few days. Fortunately the temperatures will remain above freezing during the days but you can tell winter is trying to show it's face.
Unfortunately we will not be walking this morning - the wind is really strong with heavy gusts and the rain is expected to begin before too long. I don't want to get caught in it with the wind as strong as it is.
We will be meeting our friends Bill and Mary in Olathe today where we will enjoy lunch together and hopefully the restaurant will not kick us out, but rather allow us to visit for a few hours. They live in Leavenworth and Olathe is about half-way for both of us. We haven't seen them since April when we both attended our Escapees Chapter 17 spring rally at Grand Lake. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling that well and while we visited a few times I just wasn't at my best. We are looking forward to spending a few hours together this afternoon.
While Dean showered I made the bed, did the dishes and vacuumed the floors. One of the things I love about Bentley is it does not take much to keep things picked up and clean. Yesterday I scrubbed the shower and it took me maybe 10 minutes. Today to vacuum took about 10 minutes. Dusting is about the same unless I am doing a deep cleaning and then it might take me 30-40 minutes - where I get the top of every cabinet, slide, etc. I do that at least 2 or 3 times a year. I love the simplicity of cleaning and not having lots of stuff to dust and move in order to clean.
I showered and washed my hair - and was finished by 10. We do not meet our friends until 1:00 in Olathe. We needed milk for breakfast tomorrow and I am thinking of doing laundry in the morning since we have some time tomorrow, so I wanted to check out the local laundromat. After those two chores were done we returned to Bentley until we leave here a little before noon.
The expected rain has not yet showed up - but we are prepared with our rain jackets in case we need them. The clouds are really moving and the wind is still blowing something fierce, but it is still fairly warm outside.
A couple who we met through our Escapees group lives near here in Rantoul. We've talked about meeting up with them when we are up here sometime so I gave them a call and we are going to have lunch with them tomorrow in Ottawa at Freddie's Frozen Custard. When we first met Bill and Janice we learned they were from Kansas, and they were surprised to find out Dean knew where Rantoul was - until he he explained that he grew up in Garnett. Come to find out Dean's sister Marie and her husband Jerry know Bill and Janice. We are always amazed at how small our world really is sometimes.
We left the RV Park shortly before noon and headed to Olathe - an easy drive on KS Highway 59, then east on I-35 just south of Ottawa. We arrived at Cracker Barrel a few minutes before 1:00, and Bill and Mary arrived just a few minutes later.
We had such a nice time visiting with them for almost 3 hours. The waitress kept us in coffee, tea and water during our stay. My goodness we talked about both of our recent travels, our planned travels, RV repairs, renovations and projects, our kids, full-time RV life - and just enjoyed the good conversation. It seemed the time flew by. We parted ways close to 4pm. I intended to get a pictures of everyone we met with while we were here and have yet to remember to do that. I guess I need a string around my finger!
Around 6 or so, we had a little bite to eat - and then settled in to watch a movie to end our evening. It was another great day.
It's been awhile since we've heard the wind blow like it did all night and this morning - it's almost 7:00am now. We could feel Bentley shaking, but we were nice and comfy inside. We did not leave any heat on last night as it was in the 60's and according to The Weather Channel it would not drop much below that overnight. The weather report is for rain today though - not much fun - but we'll make the best of it as we have another wonderful day planned. Temperatures are expected to drop just below freezing tonight but back in the low to mid 50's tomorrow before we start seeing freezing weather overnight for a few days. Fortunately the temperatures will remain above freezing during the days but you can tell winter is trying to show it's face.
Unfortunately we will not be walking this morning - the wind is really strong with heavy gusts and the rain is expected to begin before too long. I don't want to get caught in it with the wind as strong as it is.
We will be meeting our friends Bill and Mary in Olathe today where we will enjoy lunch together and hopefully the restaurant will not kick us out, but rather allow us to visit for a few hours. They live in Leavenworth and Olathe is about half-way for both of us. We haven't seen them since April when we both attended our Escapees Chapter 17 spring rally at Grand Lake. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling that well and while we visited a few times I just wasn't at my best. We are looking forward to spending a few hours together this afternoon.
While Dean showered I made the bed, did the dishes and vacuumed the floors. One of the things I love about Bentley is it does not take much to keep things picked up and clean. Yesterday I scrubbed the shower and it took me maybe 10 minutes. Today to vacuum took about 10 minutes. Dusting is about the same unless I am doing a deep cleaning and then it might take me 30-40 minutes - where I get the top of every cabinet, slide, etc. I do that at least 2 or 3 times a year. I love the simplicity of cleaning and not having lots of stuff to dust and move in order to clean.
I showered and washed my hair - and was finished by 10. We do not meet our friends until 1:00 in Olathe. We needed milk for breakfast tomorrow and I am thinking of doing laundry in the morning since we have some time tomorrow, so I wanted to check out the local laundromat. After those two chores were done we returned to Bentley until we leave here a little before noon.
The expected rain has not yet showed up - but we are prepared with our rain jackets in case we need them. The clouds are really moving and the wind is still blowing something fierce, but it is still fairly warm outside.
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| Cloudy skies |
A couple who we met through our Escapees group lives near here in Rantoul. We've talked about meeting up with them when we are up here sometime so I gave them a call and we are going to have lunch with them tomorrow in Ottawa at Freddie's Frozen Custard. When we first met Bill and Janice we learned they were from Kansas, and they were surprised to find out Dean knew where Rantoul was - until he he explained that he grew up in Garnett. Come to find out Dean's sister Marie and her husband Jerry know Bill and Janice. We are always amazed at how small our world really is sometimes.
We left the RV Park shortly before noon and headed to Olathe - an easy drive on KS Highway 59, then east on I-35 just south of Ottawa. We arrived at Cracker Barrel a few minutes before 1:00, and Bill and Mary arrived just a few minutes later.
We had such a nice time visiting with them for almost 3 hours. The waitress kept us in coffee, tea and water during our stay. My goodness we talked about both of our recent travels, our planned travels, RV repairs, renovations and projects, our kids, full-time RV life - and just enjoyed the good conversation. It seemed the time flew by. We parted ways close to 4pm. I intended to get a pictures of everyone we met with while we were here and have yet to remember to do that. I guess I need a string around my finger!
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| We enjoyed this beautiful sunset as we returned to Garnett. |
Around 6 or so, we had a little bite to eat - and then settled in to watch a movie to end our evening. It was another great day.
Monday, December 4, 2017
Friday, Dec 1, 2017 to Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017
Friday, Dec 1, 2017 - Busy Day - Lots of Traveling
I slept in this morning after such an early start yesterday. We still had plenty of time to walk though after our morning coffee before we make our way back to Joplin today.
We headed to the park a little after 7:00 and we walked 2.18 mi. at an average pace of 17:11 min/mi.
After breakfast and showers, we headed to Joplin so Dean could turn in his Holter monitor. When we left his doctor's office, I asked him to stop at my lung doctor's office so I could check to see if the disc of my cat-scan had arrived from the hospital in Tahlequah, and was relieved to know it had. I called them yesterday but had not received a return call yet - since we were here it and it was just a few blocks away and now I know.
Dean wanted to go by Sam's to get some gas and I wanted to make a stop at Khol's where I bought a pair of black jeans and a black/white checked flannel shirt. Our next stop is Pittsburg to pick up mail. Today we hit the jackpot with mail - Dean's prescriptions were there plus a stack of mail - about 20 pieces. We knew we needed to update our driver's license with our new address but when we walked into the Pittsburg office and there was close to 20 people waiting, we just moved on. We'll try to make it to Parsons one morning in the next week or so in order to take care of that chore.
Our next stop will be Altamont, KS where we need to take a few more things to storage. On our way we decided to take a leisurely drive through McCune, Kansas. It's been a number of years since either of us had been through this small community in Crawford County. As we drove down a few of the side streets I took a couple of pictures.
When we reached Parsons we took 32nd Street and headed south to Highway 59, then west to Altamont where we dropped off a few more things at the storage unit, before heading back to Oswego.
I took a load of clothes to Misti's about 6:30. While the clothes were washing, Dean and I decided to take a drive to Chetopa. We wanted to see the Veteran's Memorial at night, and afterwards we drove around to look at Christmas decorations displayed on houses in town. When we returned to Oswego I stopped and moved the clothes from the washer to the dryer and then we drove through the park to see if there were any new light displays since our last visit. We noticed a few new displays. Light displays should be done by December 8th, so we look forward to seeing the finished project.
After picking up the laundry at Misti's, we returned to Bentley for the evening. I worked on the blog and posted it for Nov. 30. We are leaving town tomorrow for a few days to visit Dean's family in/around the Garnett, KS area. Stay tuned.
Saturday, December 2, 2017 - Oswego to Garnett, KS, Family Visit
After coffee, we took our morning walk - we are really happy the weather has been cooperative. We walked 2.43 miles at an average pace of 17:01 min/mi and the weather was very mild this morning. Great day for getting outside.
Once we returned and had our breakfast I started storing things for our travel day to Garnett. Dean emptied our gray and waste tanks while I put things away. Our goal was to leave Oswego by 10:00 this morning to make the 2 hour drive to Garnett North Lake. It was about 10:15 when we left the RV Park in Oswego.
Not too far south of Garnett you really begin to see some beautiful countryside. Here are a few shots of this area.
Our drive was uneventful and we pulled into the Garnett Clubhouse Bend Campsite in their City Park at noon. We were parked, unhitched and set up by 12:30. For lunch I made us another southwestern chicken salad from the leftovers we had from a few days ago.
Dean's brother Larry lives just a few blocks from the RV Park so it was convenient for visiting him and his wife Sandi today. Even though Garnett is not that far from Oswego, we don't get to see Dean's family as often as we would like. This is an opportunity to spend some time with each of them while we are here. We spent the afternoon with Larry and Sandi catching up with the activities of each of our kids - they have 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and another one on the way. Dean is the youngest of his family of six sibilings - Larry is 10 years older.
Near 5:00pm Larry suggested we go eat. Garnett has a few restaurants in their downtown and they suggested the Bar & Grill, as they have excellent food. Unfortunately it was packed - guess that says something for their food - so we chose the Mexican restaurant just down the street. We made it in the door just in time as there was a LARGE group (approximately 35-40) that arrived shortly before us for a surprise birthday party and we were able to get our order in while they were still serving them drinks.
I have to mention and show you some of the lights in downtown Garnett. Most of the downtown buildings, including the Courthouse were lined in Christmas lights. This is something I've always wished that Oswego would do.
We returned to Larry and Sandi's and visited another hour or so before heading back to Bentley.
December 3, 2017 - Garnett, KS, Another Family Visit
We both slept well last night and after having our morning coffee we decided we would walk. Dean stuck his head out the door and said it was fairly cool, so we bundled up and took out - it wasn't that cool! Soon we were shedding our jackets. It was actually one of the nicest mornings we have walked for awhile. There was little to no wind, and nearing 50 degrees.
We enjoyed our 2.03 mi walk (18.02 min/mi) before returning to Bentley.
Dean has mentioned the Grand Prix races they used to have around Lake Garnett back when he was growing up here and the large crowds that turned out to watch them. I wanted to share this website with you about the event which was a huge draw for Garnett from 1959-1972.
A few years ago they begin holding an annual event "Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival" You can read about about both of these events here.
Today we plan to visit with Dean's oldest sister Marie and her husband Jerry. They live in the country north of Garnett. Dean wanted to take a drive around town and the countryside where he grew up.
It was nearing 11:30. Dean called Marie to see if they would like to go to lunch and then we would come back to their house and visit. She thought that sounded great so we headed north. Along the way I took a few more pictures.
Earlier this year Dean asked Marie if she had any pictures of the house they grew up in. Marie found this picture and I added it to my phone. It made me wish I had taken pictures of all of the houses I have lived in over the years - both before and after pictures.
Earlier this year Dean's brother Larry was in the hospital. Jerry and Marie, Dean and I, Dean's sister Joyce and sister-in-law Connie drove to Olathe to see him and afterwards we had lunch at "Smoked Creations BBQ" in Ottawa, KS. It was delicious. When we discussed where to have lunch today we suggested going back to Smoke Creations and we are so glad we did. If you are in the Ottawa area I would highly recommend this restaurant. The first time I had a pork burrito that was amazing and today was no different, except I picked a sandwich (can't remember the name of it but it was loaded with brisket, cheese, and bacon). If you enjoy smoked meats and BBQ, I think you will be pleased with your selections here.
We had a great visit with Jerry and Marie once we returned to their home where we spent the next several hours catching up on our kids and grandkids, talking about our travels and of course hearing stories Dean and Marie had about their growing up years. We always enjoy our visits with them.
We left a little after 5 and decided to take a drive by Keith and Tracy's houses - a short distance from Jerry & Marie's (Keith (their youngest son) and Tracy (their oldest daughter). We knew Tracy and husband Aaron had recently put up their Christmas decorations and since we were in no big hurry, we decided to check them out. Tracy's and Keith's families live adjacent to each other, but when we found it - no lights were on - and it looked like no one was there, but we still enjoyed the drive. As we continued to drive in the area the sun began to really show off as it began its descent, God's Christmas decorations for us!
One of the major downfalls of Garnett for both Dean and I is we love their Dairy Queen and rarely can we pass it up - and tonight was no different. Since we have really been watching our diet, we haven't enjoyed this treat for awhile and our resolve broke. As we returned to the campground the moon decided it wanted to compete with the sunset and we enjoyed this beautiful sight.
Dean took the time to get our satellite dish out and hooked up when we returned so we could watch the Hallmark Channel for another Christmas movie. He's so good to me! I warmed up the other half of our sandwiches from lunch in the oven while we ate our DQ blizzards. Nothing like having dessert before dinner - right?
We settled in to watch the movie and finally gave up at 9:00 and headed to bed. I told Dean I didn't think I could go to sleep that early so I was going to check read a few emails as I laid there. I think I might have read a one or two before I was drifting off - so much for knowing how tired I really was.
We have another visit planned for tomorrow - check back to see what we will be up to.
I slept in this morning after such an early start yesterday. We still had plenty of time to walk though after our morning coffee before we make our way back to Joplin today.
We headed to the park a little after 7:00 and we walked 2.18 mi. at an average pace of 17:11 min/mi.
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| The skies were beautiful this morning as we were leaving the RV Park. |
After breakfast and showers, we headed to Joplin so Dean could turn in his Holter monitor. When we left his doctor's office, I asked him to stop at my lung doctor's office so I could check to see if the disc of my cat-scan had arrived from the hospital in Tahlequah, and was relieved to know it had. I called them yesterday but had not received a return call yet - since we were here it and it was just a few blocks away and now I know.
Dean wanted to go by Sam's to get some gas and I wanted to make a stop at Khol's where I bought a pair of black jeans and a black/white checked flannel shirt. Our next stop is Pittsburg to pick up mail. Today we hit the jackpot with mail - Dean's prescriptions were there plus a stack of mail - about 20 pieces. We knew we needed to update our driver's license with our new address but when we walked into the Pittsburg office and there was close to 20 people waiting, we just moved on. We'll try to make it to Parsons one morning in the next week or so in order to take care of that chore.
Our next stop will be Altamont, KS where we need to take a few more things to storage. On our way we decided to take a leisurely drive through McCune, Kansas. It's been a number of years since either of us had been through this small community in Crawford County. As we drove down a few of the side streets I took a couple of pictures.
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| I love it when the business name is displayed on the building like this one. There are quite a few lights on both the door and the motorcycle. I'd like to see them with the lights on. |
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| Dean and I got a kick out of Santa in the phone booth! |
I took a load of clothes to Misti's about 6:30. While the clothes were washing, Dean and I decided to take a drive to Chetopa. We wanted to see the Veteran's Memorial at night, and afterwards we drove around to look at Christmas decorations displayed on houses in town. When we returned to Oswego I stopped and moved the clothes from the washer to the dryer and then we drove through the park to see if there were any new light displays since our last visit. We noticed a few new displays. Light displays should be done by December 8th, so we look forward to seeing the finished project.
After picking up the laundry at Misti's, we returned to Bentley for the evening. I worked on the blog and posted it for Nov. 30. We are leaving town tomorrow for a few days to visit Dean's family in/around the Garnett, KS area. Stay tuned.
Saturday, December 2, 2017 - Oswego to Garnett, KS, Family Visit
After coffee, we took our morning walk - we are really happy the weather has been cooperative. We walked 2.43 miles at an average pace of 17:01 min/mi and the weather was very mild this morning. Great day for getting outside.
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| Sunrise this morning from the park! |
Once we returned and had our breakfast I started storing things for our travel day to Garnett. Dean emptied our gray and waste tanks while I put things away. Our goal was to leave Oswego by 10:00 this morning to make the 2 hour drive to Garnett North Lake. It was about 10:15 when we left the RV Park in Oswego.
Not too far south of Garnett you really begin to see some beautiful countryside. Here are a few shots of this area.
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| I love the colors of the grasses - unfortunately this picture does not do justice to the beauty of the naked eye and capturing the large area outside a camera lens. |
Our drive was uneventful and we pulled into the Garnett Clubhouse Bend Campsite in their City Park at noon. We were parked, unhitched and set up by 12:30. For lunch I made us another southwestern chicken salad from the leftovers we had from a few days ago.
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| Our site for the next 4 days |
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| View from Bentley's rear window |
Dean's brother Larry lives just a few blocks from the RV Park so it was convenient for visiting him and his wife Sandi today. Even though Garnett is not that far from Oswego, we don't get to see Dean's family as often as we would like. This is an opportunity to spend some time with each of them while we are here. We spent the afternoon with Larry and Sandi catching up with the activities of each of our kids - they have 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and another one on the way. Dean is the youngest of his family of six sibilings - Larry is 10 years older.
Near 5:00pm Larry suggested we go eat. Garnett has a few restaurants in their downtown and they suggested the Bar & Grill, as they have excellent food. Unfortunately it was packed - guess that says something for their food - so we chose the Mexican restaurant just down the street. We made it in the door just in time as there was a LARGE group (approximately 35-40) that arrived shortly before us for a surprise birthday party and we were able to get our order in while they were still serving them drinks.
I have to mention and show you some of the lights in downtown Garnett. Most of the downtown buildings, including the Courthouse were lined in Christmas lights. This is something I've always wished that Oswego would do.
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| Very beautiful Courthouse in Anderson County. |
We returned to Larry and Sandi's and visited another hour or so before heading back to Bentley.
December 3, 2017 - Garnett, KS, Another Family Visit
We both slept well last night and after having our morning coffee we decided we would walk. Dean stuck his head out the door and said it was fairly cool, so we bundled up and took out - it wasn't that cool! Soon we were shedding our jackets. It was actually one of the nicest mornings we have walked for awhile. There was little to no wind, and nearing 50 degrees.
We enjoyed our 2.03 mi walk (18.02 min/mi) before returning to Bentley.
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| There is a lake through the middle of this park. We saw two people fishing while we were walking - one from the bank and another from his small fishing boat. After we arrived yesterday there were several groups of people in the park - and a few were playing disc golf. There is a golf course on the east side of the park along with soccer fields, go gart track, shooting range, recreation building, swimming pool, etc. It is really a treasure for this community. |
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| As we returned from our walk I snapped these pictures of the RV park. |
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| Bentley on the left. |
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| I included this poster to share an interesting tidbit about Garnett and this park. |
A few years ago they begin holding an annual event "Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival" You can read about about both of these events here.
Today we plan to visit with Dean's oldest sister Marie and her husband Jerry. They live in the country north of Garnett. Dean wanted to take a drive around town and the countryside where he grew up.
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| South of Garnett - you can see various city landmarks on the horizon. |
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| A beautiful pasture adjacent to a single wide mobile home. I told Dean I could live here! What a beautiful view this property had. |
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| South of Garnett on a high ridge where you could see off to the west for a great distance. |
It was nearing 11:30. Dean called Marie to see if they would like to go to lunch and then we would come back to their house and visit. She thought that sounded great so we headed north. Along the way I took a few more pictures.
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| Beautiful country road - notice the rock fence alongside the road on the right. |
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| Catholic Church Dean attended during his youth. |
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| Downtown park area. |
Earlier this year Dean asked Marie if she had any pictures of the house they grew up in. Marie found this picture and I added it to my phone. It made me wish I had taken pictures of all of the houses I have lived in over the years - both before and after pictures.
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| Dean's family home. |
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| Smoked Creations BBQ |
We left a little after 5 and decided to take a drive by Keith and Tracy's houses - a short distance from Jerry & Marie's (Keith (their youngest son) and Tracy (their oldest daughter). We knew Tracy and husband Aaron had recently put up their Christmas decorations and since we were in no big hurry, we decided to check them out. Tracy's and Keith's families live adjacent to each other, but when we found it - no lights were on - and it looked like no one was there, but we still enjoyed the drive. As we continued to drive in the area the sun began to really show off as it began its descent, God's Christmas decorations for us!
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| What a beautiful sunset we enjoyed watching as we drove back to Garnett. |
One of the major downfalls of Garnett for both Dean and I is we love their Dairy Queen and rarely can we pass it up - and tonight was no different. Since we have really been watching our diet, we haven't enjoyed this treat for awhile and our resolve broke. As we returned to the campground the moon decided it wanted to compete with the sunset and we enjoyed this beautiful sight.
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| Moonrise. |
Dean took the time to get our satellite dish out and hooked up when we returned so we could watch the Hallmark Channel for another Christmas movie. He's so good to me! I warmed up the other half of our sandwiches from lunch in the oven while we ate our DQ blizzards. Nothing like having dessert before dinner - right?
We settled in to watch the movie and finally gave up at 9:00 and headed to bed. I told Dean I didn't think I could go to sleep that early so I was going to check read a few emails as I laid there. I think I might have read a one or two before I was drifting off - so much for knowing how tired I really was.
We have another visit planned for tomorrow - check back to see what we will be up to.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Thursday, November 30, 2017 - Early Birds, Breakfast, Bone Density Test, Passwords
Thursday, November 30, 2017 - Early Birds, Breakfast, Bone Density Test, Passwords
Yes, we were early birds this morning and I wanted to be the earliest in order to catch that worm! Ha! Dean is scheduled to be at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO this morning at 6:30 - so that means we should be up by 4:30 at the latest, in order to leave shortly before 5:30 - allowing a little extra driving time due to the deer population we have in this area. We prefer a little slower pace when these animals are out and about. I set my alarm for 4:30, but I woke up at 3:30 and after laying in bed for awhile I decided to just go ahead and get up.
We passed on our morning walk - for obvious reasons but not on the coffee!
After Dean was up and had showered it wasn't long before we were walking out the door. Fortunately, our drive over was uneventful. We didn't need to wait too long for them to call Dean back for his test. I mentioned in an earlier post that his cardiologist told him he was in AFib when he went for his annual checkup last week. He would not have known had it not been for the checkup. He is not having any symptoms, so hopefully it is something they can nip in the bud with some changes either in medication, lifestyle or a combination of both.
While we waited for him to go back for his test I picked up one of the local JMag's - Joplin Metro Magazines. You can always find these quarterly magazines in doctor's offices or at the hospital. They include so much information on Joplin and the immediate area. I always enjoying looking through them. At this time of the year they are full of Christmas activities. I love Christmas and I love all of the activities that go on during the season. I hope we can take in a few of those listed - and all of the activities are within approximately 100 miles, and most are much less.
One that I told Dean I have always wanted to see, and that we have talked about going to for many, many years, is the Grand Lake Christmas Light Boat Parade. It is scheduled for Saturday night, December 9th. This might be something we can do. The grand prize for the entrants is a one year membership to the Cherokee Yacht Club and a $2,000 club credit. Now I understand why the boats are decorated so well. I've seen pictures of the boats over the years in the Grand Lake Chronicle and some of them are just amazing!
Another activity I've wanted to do for a number of years is to see a live performance of "The Nutcracker". I noticed there is one scheduled to be held at Pitt State University in nearby Pittsburg, KS but when I checked the dates I found it was scheduled for December 5 and we will be out of town. Maybe I can find another location - if not, I'll try again next year.
As you can see in the list above there are many light displays in our area, and several of them I didn't even know existed.
Dean was called back for his test a little after 7:00 and he was done by 7:15. We have time to kill until the staff that will fit him with a Holter Monitor show up around 8:00. The receptionist suggested we go have breakfast and return. They said it would not be a problem if we returned after 8:00, so that is what we did. For the past several months I have passed a new little cafe on 20th Street in Joplin, just east of Maiden Lane. It looks like a place we might like so we decided to give it a try since it was not too far from the hospital.
I am so glad we stopped here. We will definitely be back. First of all it's small, the people inside were friendly - and included us in their conversations - which was interesting and enjoyable. The owner of the cafe and his mother are from Honduras and the mother plans to become an American citizen. She was talking to a couple of gentlemen next to us about studying for the test she must take. They looked up questions that might be asked and was quizzing her. Dean and I both wondered if we would be able to pass the test ourselves. I plan to take a look at those potential questions at some point because I am curious to know how much I have retained over the years about our country.
And the food - yes, it was very good. I would not say the best we've ever had, but I would give it a 4.5 out of 5. I had two eggs, 2 slices of bacon, hash browns and biscuit and gravy. I know, I know - it's not on my diet - or at least half or more of it wasn't. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the bacon and hash browns were really good. The biscuit and gravy was my least favorite but it was still very good. The gravy was not quite hot enough and the biscuit was okay. I probably would not order it again anyway - not because of the taste but because of the carbs.
If you are in Joplin and looking for a good breakfast I would recommend stopping at Kevin's Cafe.
We returned to the hospital, but only long enough for them to fit him with the Holter monitor and we were walking out the door shortly after 8:30. Dean has to wear the monitor for 24 hours - so we need to return it after 8:30 tomorrow - which means another trip to Jopliin!!!
We made a quick stop at Walmart where Dean purchased a new watch and I looked for a pair of black jeans - I was not so successful.
We had one last task before heading home. I had scheduled a bone density test at 9:30. It was time for me to have one this year, but my doctor also wanted me to have it because of the prednisone I've been taking. Evidently prednisone is not good for your bones. It took less than 15 minutes and we were on the road home. We were back at Bentley between 10:30-10:45.
The rest of our day was spent changing our address and phone numbers on our various accounts, bank accounts, credit cards, insurance, Interent apps, etc. and ensuring the passwords we have all work fine.......and several did not, which resulted in more steps. It was after 5:00 before I finished up. Whew - I'm so glad it is done. I was mentally exhausted by the time I finished. Not because it was such a hard job - but because of the passwords that did not work and all of the hoopla you have to go through to get those changed. Some were quite easy and others took numerous steps.
I made Southwestern Chicken Salad for dinner - romaine lettuce, topped with avocado, chopped tomatoes, black beans, corn and chicken. The chicken I used was some I had cut up and then frozen in 2 cup freezer bags from a rotisserie chicken several weeks ago. I used 1 of the 2 cup packages, seasoned with 1 T of taco seasoning, 1/4 t cumin, 1/8 t salt, and 1/2 T of olive oil. I cooked it long enough to warm it well. I forgot to buy a lime when we stopped at Walmart and by the time I realized that I had, I didn't want to get out to go buy one. The salad was very good without it, but I think the lime would have given it a nice flavor. The salad suggested a cilantro dressing (1/2 c sour cream - or Greek yogurt), 1/4 cup packed cilantro with stems, juice of 1/2 lime and 1/4 t salt. I did not have the cilantro or lime but I do plan to try this at some point. Instead we used dressings we had on hand - I used Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing and Dean used Ranch and they were both quite good.
Dean turned on a movie but I think I was asleep as much as I was awake the rest of the evening and we finally headed to bed around 10. Tomorrow will be another busy and full day.
Yes, we were early birds this morning and I wanted to be the earliest in order to catch that worm! Ha! Dean is scheduled to be at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO this morning at 6:30 - so that means we should be up by 4:30 at the latest, in order to leave shortly before 5:30 - allowing a little extra driving time due to the deer population we have in this area. We prefer a little slower pace when these animals are out and about. I set my alarm for 4:30, but I woke up at 3:30 and after laying in bed for awhile I decided to just go ahead and get up.
We passed on our morning walk - for obvious reasons but not on the coffee!
After Dean was up and had showered it wasn't long before we were walking out the door. Fortunately, our drive over was uneventful. We didn't need to wait too long for them to call Dean back for his test. I mentioned in an earlier post that his cardiologist told him he was in AFib when he went for his annual checkup last week. He would not have known had it not been for the checkup. He is not having any symptoms, so hopefully it is something they can nip in the bud with some changes either in medication, lifestyle or a combination of both.
While we waited for him to go back for his test I picked up one of the local JMag's - Joplin Metro Magazines. You can always find these quarterly magazines in doctor's offices or at the hospital. They include so much information on Joplin and the immediate area. I always enjoying looking through them. At this time of the year they are full of Christmas activities. I love Christmas and I love all of the activities that go on during the season. I hope we can take in a few of those listed - and all of the activities are within approximately 100 miles, and most are much less.
One that I told Dean I have always wanted to see, and that we have talked about going to for many, many years, is the Grand Lake Christmas Light Boat Parade. It is scheduled for Saturday night, December 9th. This might be something we can do. The grand prize for the entrants is a one year membership to the Cherokee Yacht Club and a $2,000 club credit. Now I understand why the boats are decorated so well. I've seen pictures of the boats over the years in the Grand Lake Chronicle and some of them are just amazing!
Another activity I've wanted to do for a number of years is to see a live performance of "The Nutcracker". I noticed there is one scheduled to be held at Pitt State University in nearby Pittsburg, KS but when I checked the dates I found it was scheduled for December 5 and we will be out of town. Maybe I can find another location - if not, I'll try again next year.
As you can see in the list above there are many light displays in our area, and several of them I didn't even know existed.
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| Another interesting event is the Historic Murphysburg Preservation - Home for the Holidays Home Tours in Joplin. |
Dean was called back for his test a little after 7:00 and he was done by 7:15. We have time to kill until the staff that will fit him with a Holter Monitor show up around 8:00. The receptionist suggested we go have breakfast and return. They said it would not be a problem if we returned after 8:00, so that is what we did. For the past several months I have passed a new little cafe on 20th Street in Joplin, just east of Maiden Lane. It looks like a place we might like so we decided to give it a try since it was not too far from the hospital.
I am so glad we stopped here. We will definitely be back. First of all it's small, the people inside were friendly - and included us in their conversations - which was interesting and enjoyable. The owner of the cafe and his mother are from Honduras and the mother plans to become an American citizen. She was talking to a couple of gentlemen next to us about studying for the test she must take. They looked up questions that might be asked and was quizzing her. Dean and I both wondered if we would be able to pass the test ourselves. I plan to take a look at those potential questions at some point because I am curious to know how much I have retained over the years about our country.
And the food - yes, it was very good. I would not say the best we've ever had, but I would give it a 4.5 out of 5. I had two eggs, 2 slices of bacon, hash browns and biscuit and gravy. I know, I know - it's not on my diet - or at least half or more of it wasn't. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the bacon and hash browns were really good. The biscuit and gravy was my least favorite but it was still very good. The gravy was not quite hot enough and the biscuit was okay. I probably would not order it again anyway - not because of the taste but because of the carbs.
If you are in Joplin and looking for a good breakfast I would recommend stopping at Kevin's Cafe.
We returned to the hospital, but only long enough for them to fit him with the Holter monitor and we were walking out the door shortly after 8:30. Dean has to wear the monitor for 24 hours - so we need to return it after 8:30 tomorrow - which means another trip to Jopliin!!!
We made a quick stop at Walmart where Dean purchased a new watch and I looked for a pair of black jeans - I was not so successful.
We had one last task before heading home. I had scheduled a bone density test at 9:30. It was time for me to have one this year, but my doctor also wanted me to have it because of the prednisone I've been taking. Evidently prednisone is not good for your bones. It took less than 15 minutes and we were on the road home. We were back at Bentley between 10:30-10:45.
The rest of our day was spent changing our address and phone numbers on our various accounts, bank accounts, credit cards, insurance, Interent apps, etc. and ensuring the passwords we have all work fine.......and several did not, which resulted in more steps. It was after 5:00 before I finished up. Whew - I'm so glad it is done. I was mentally exhausted by the time I finished. Not because it was such a hard job - but because of the passwords that did not work and all of the hoopla you have to go through to get those changed. Some were quite easy and others took numerous steps.
I made Southwestern Chicken Salad for dinner - romaine lettuce, topped with avocado, chopped tomatoes, black beans, corn and chicken. The chicken I used was some I had cut up and then frozen in 2 cup freezer bags from a rotisserie chicken several weeks ago. I used 1 of the 2 cup packages, seasoned with 1 T of taco seasoning, 1/4 t cumin, 1/8 t salt, and 1/2 T of olive oil. I cooked it long enough to warm it well. I forgot to buy a lime when we stopped at Walmart and by the time I realized that I had, I didn't want to get out to go buy one. The salad was very good without it, but I think the lime would have given it a nice flavor. The salad suggested a cilantro dressing (1/2 c sour cream - or Greek yogurt), 1/4 cup packed cilantro with stems, juice of 1/2 lime and 1/4 t salt. I did not have the cilantro or lime but I do plan to try this at some point. Instead we used dressings we had on hand - I used Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing and Dean used Ranch and they were both quite good.
Dean turned on a movie but I think I was asleep as much as I was awake the rest of the evening and we finally headed to bed around 10. Tomorrow will be another busy and full day.
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