Yes, it was a good weekend.  BFF got in to town about 6:30 Friday evening.  Hubby had pulled out earlier in the day with the new RV.  I think he had a nice, lazy weekend of rest.  I did not realize he also pulled the Waverunners*.  But he did.  So he got out and played on them a little bit today.

I got up Saturday morning and BFF and I started getting ready to meet with our friend R for lunch and some shopping.  She was getting ready in our main bathroom and was standing there with the door open putting on her mascara.  I looked at what she was wearing and about CRACKED up.  I went to my closet, pulled out a jacket, took it back in the bathroom and held it up, asking "Does this look familiar?"  When she looked up and saw what I was holding, she started laughing too.  We both have the EXACT same jacket.  I cannot tell you HOW many times this has happened to us over the years.  We don't go shopping together or even live in the same AREA, and we end up with the SAME clothes or furniture or whatever.  Do you think that just maybe we think a little bit alike??  Having been born on the same day is the only thing we can attribute it to.  It would be coincidence if it happened once.  But this has happened numbers of times over the years we have known each other.  What a hoot!

We had a great time with R.  We ate lunch at a nice little bistro and then did us some shopping.  There is a marvelous chocolatier in the town we went to.  We had to stop and try out some of the goodies.  I got a dark chocolate "swan" filled with raspberry jam.  It was marvelous.  And I bought a bag of dark chocolate covered orange rinds.  Yummmmmm!!!  This was primo chocolate!!

Each of us found a little something to buy and we just had a great visit and lunch.  I got some nice presents.  It was a nice birthday celebration with two long time friends!

Well, I am gonna get off here for now.  You all have a great week!!

BBB

Here is the story I promised to tell you.  One of the cousins who attended the reunion was "M".  M is the only daughter of my Daddy's youngest sister.  When M was born, I was about 5 or 6 years old.  Whenever my Aunt and Uncle would bring M to my Grandma's, she was like my living baby doll.  I carried her around everywhere.  Through the years M and I became good friends.  But we became particularly close when M was about 21 years old.  I remember getting a call from my Daddy to tell me that my Aunt, M's Momma, had been killed in a car wreck.  It seems that she and my Uncle were driving home on a road they traveled many times a day, when they were hit head-on by a drunk driver.  My Aunt was killed instantly.  My Uncle who was driving, was badly injured.  I got hold of my bosses and told them that I needed to head out and be with my family.  It turns out that I spent over a week just doing what I could to help.  Since my Uncle was injured and in the hospital, it fell to my cousin M to make all the arrangements that come with a death in the family.  Cousin M and my Aunt were particularly close and M did not get along very well with my Uncle.  My Aunt was always the "buffer" between the two of them.  So, the loss of my Aunt was even more devastating to M.  She lost not only her Momma, she lost her best friend, the person she always turned to who always seemed to be her refuge.  I didn't do anything extraordinary during that difficult time, but just made sure that M had loving support.  Over the years since then, I have been the one in the family that M has turned to whenever she has been in a crisis.  I have received calls over the years as M has lived her life, married, divorced, moved numerous times, raised her kids, etc.  I am the one person in the family that can talk to M very directly, not being judgmental, but just telling her what I thought.  Mind you, I only did this when SHE called me asking for my opinions.  I never pulled any punches.  But I think I could do that because M has ALWAYS known that I love her no matter what.  Have I been frustrated with her over the years??  Heck yeah.  But I love her nonetheless.

Fast forward to the reunion.  We were all just hanging out at my Uncle's house and visiting.  We were looking at pictures from a picture album that M had that was once her Momma's.  It had some really wonderful family pics in it that I had never seen.  At one point M motioned to me that she wanted to talk to me privately.  So we went into another room.  There, she proceeded to hand me a note.  It turns out that this note was written to M from our other Aunt who is still living.  I didn't have my glasses on, so I couldn't read it well, but the gist of the note was that my Aunt sent something to M that had at one time been my Grandma's and then at some point Grandma gave it to M's Momma.  I am not sure how Aunt H came to be in possession of this item, but she evidently had had it a long while.  M said that Aunt H wanted her to have this particular item since she did not have much in the way of her Momma's belongings.  (This would be because my Uncle, M's Dad, married not even 6 months after my Aunt's death, and the step-monster had taken ALL of my Aunt's things and would not give any of them to M.  Real sweet lady, huh?).  M then handed me a little square of the taped up corner of an envelope.  When I looked inside there was....a locket.  A very OLD locket.  It had what appeared to be a Mother of Pearl face, and was shaped like a book.  When I opened the locket, there were pictures.  Pictures of my Daddy, my Aunt (the one who is still living) and all my Uncles, all as young adults.  I was amazed.  I had never seen this locket before.  M looked at me as I looked at the locket in wonder, and she told me that she wanted ME to have the locket.  I was just STUNNED.  I told her that I just could not take something like this when I knew that she had so few of her Momma's belongings.  M told me that she really wanted me to have the locket.  She said I have always been there for her, that I had personally known all my uncles whose pictures were in the locket, and she had never even met a couple of them.  I was so moved I cannot tell you.  I busted into tears.  I told her I had never been given a gift that had moved me as much as this locket.  I just have to say that it was one of the most special moments I have ever experienced.  It was MOST humbling to know that M loves me that much.  So, there you have it.  That very special moment I shall never forget.  I will try to post a picture of the locket at some point.  I know.  I am still in the process of getting the posting of pictures down.  Anywho, I am the proud owner of the locket.  I just love it.  It isn't an expensive locket as my Grandma was not a "well-off" person.  But it might as well be solid gold for what it means to me.  It holds precious memories of precious people in my family. 

I am well and truly blessed!

BBB

Remember that song??  Well, it's this old gal's 54th today.  I know there are a LOT of women who won't tell their ages.  They won't even SPEAK about it, much less tell anyone their age.  I am NOT one of those women.  I am proud to still be here and ABLE to talk about my age.  I never have been one to hide that, although I have known many women who were not like me.  They didn't even want you to mention birthdays or heaven forbid you ask them their age.  It is just something I think is the natural progression of life.  So, why worry about it??  I don't.

I did buy me one little present last night at Wally world.  The new Janet Evanovich* book is OUT!!  Wooohoooo!!  Just in time for my BD!!  I LOVE her books and hubby always knows when I am reading one because I sit in the chair or wherever and laugh endlessly at the antics of her main characters.  I really look forward to having some quiet time at some point to curl up with this book.  One thing for is for sure though, when I do begin reading it, I know I won't want to put it down!!

Well, friends, I am going to hop off here and start getting ready for work.  Doggone birthday falling on a Tuesday!!  Oh well.  My biggest decision today will be, where do I want to go for din din.  Hubby told me to decide.  Yaaaaaay!! 

Ya'll have a good day, okie dokie??  I know I will!!

BBB

Well, the great reunion is over and the time just flew way too fast.  There were 26-28 people who made it there!!  As I have said before, I have some of the most wonderful cousins in the world.  They are so much fun and I just wish we all lived closer so that we could see each other more often. 

Several of the cousins actually came in on Thursday so they could have more time to hit the outlet malls in the Branson area.  My cousins are EXPERT shoppers.  That's all I can tell ya!  They shopped till they about dropped and I am sure the Branson economy is in much better shape for our having had our reunion there.  I, personally, bought the CUTEST pair of shoes, two shirts, and a really neat cookie carrier. 

We did lots of eating.  LOTS!!  Everyone absolutely loved the ribs I brought and the chocolate sheet cake was so popular that I am having to send everyone the recipe!!  It makes me feel good that everyone enjoyed what I took. 

One of my cousins, "R", played almost non-stop cribbage with my Daddy.  To say that he was in hog-heaven is probably an understatement.  Almost every time I saw them, they were in the dining room playing yet another game.  In the evenings, we all congregated out on the back deck of my uncle's house and watched all the myriad types of birds who hit the feeders he has hanging from his trees.  Also, just after dark, the little flying squirrels were just a hoot to watch!!

I got to meet one of my cousin's new fiance.  Talk about a fire-cracker!!  This girl is just adorable, and so smart and funny!! I knew my aunt had said that they just fell in love with "S" from the get-go.  Now, I know why!!  I cannot wait till she is officially part of the family and I truly look forward to seeing her again.  If we get an invite to the wedding, I will make every effort to go!!

Well, I guess I better get busy with some chores around here.  I hope all my blog friends have a GREAT week.  Oh....and I have another blog post coming about something really sweet that happened at the reunion.  I will tell about it in a separate post.

Till then, ya'll take care now, you hear??

BBB

It is a little after 8:00 on Saturday morning.  I am sitting here in the recliner, laptop in my lap, coffee brewing, listening to the sounds of the birds and the other campers beginning to stir, hubby snoring...err ahem....forget that last part.  It is a quiet, albeit a little cloudy morning in the Ozarks.  Last night was our first night in the new RV.  I gotta say, I slept like a log!!  That is the most comfortable bed!!  Usually, when we camp, unless I am extremely tired, the first night in camp is not a banner night for sleep (at least for me).  Hubby can sleep anyWHERE, anyTIME.  MEN!!  Hhmmpphh!!  But I digress.  The new RV makes things like sounds of other campers SO much quieter.  And I likey that!!  So, I was in dreamland moments after my head hit the pillow.

I am looking out our back window at a wooded area that has lovely wildflowers peaking through the dense brush.  I also have a new pet bug on the window.  It is small and green and has LOVELY gossamer wings.  It is trying so hard to get to the lovely greenery outside, but, alas, there is a window pane between it and it's desired place to be.  I may try to see if I can get a piece of paper and coax it onto it so I can set it free.  Usually, I smash bugs.  It depends on the type.  Most bugs are NOT my friend.  But THIS one is just so pretty and on a quiet Saturday in the mountains, it is my FRIEND!!  Lucky for it, it is pretty, or it would be history!

I hear hubby stirring around.  Even though I pulled the bedroom door closed, I am sure he is probably smelling that hypnotic smell of freshly brewed coffee.  I am pretty sure I will see his sweet face soon.  His favorite coffee cup and vanilla cappucino mix are sitting there waiting for him.  Aren't I just a great little camp wife?  I know he will stir around for SURE when I begin frying the bacon!!  If the coffee didn't get him, the bacon surely will!!

Well, I must get back to my bug gazing, and my woods gazing (the sun is now peaking through), and I need to contemplate life a little.  It is what I do when I camp.  I guess it is better than picking my toes or something.  hehehe  I am loving my little slice of heaven.  I hope you, my blog friends, are having a good weekend.  Oh, and you nightowls (and you know who you are), thanks for dropping by to say hi!!

Hugs to you all!

BBB

We made it to Branson and to our campsite by about 1:30 today.  The campsite is just about a quarter of a mile from my uncle's home and it has WIFI!!!  Wooohooo!!  It also has a pool and nice shaded campsites.  We got everything set up and it rained for just a short while.  I decided that would be a great time to go ahead and take a short catnap.  I only laid down for about a half hour, but it was lovely.  We then went to my Uncle's house and only about half of the cousins are here so far.  By my Aunt's count, by tomorrow morning, we should have about 25-28 of us here!!  I even have ONE cousin who is coming who I have not seen since I was probably in my late teens maybe early twenties!!  And folks, that has been a day or two.  She is sister to one of my very fave cousins and is also that fave cousin's fraternal twin.  One twin is tall and very outgoing (that would be "E", my fave!) and the other is very small and very very quiet.  I really am looking forward to tomorrow when we will ALL be there and it won't be for a doggone funeral or something like that.  It will be a time to have fun, visit and catch up on each other's lives, go do a little shopping (or a LOT, who knows) and do what our family does best. EAT GOOD FOOD and LOTS of it.  Hubs and I brought our ice cream freezer and so did my oldest sis.  That is ANOTHER family tradition.  Eating home made ice cream.  I do remember one trip to Omaha (the last reunion) and my Daddy eating SO many bowls of ice cream that he ending up worshipping the porcelain throne most of the night!!  That is how much our family (and my Daddy in particular) loves the stuff.  I will be watching him tomorrow to make sure he doesn't overindulge like THAT again. hehehe

One of the things that I got to see tonight which I have never seen before, is a "flying" squirrel!!  It seems that just after dark at my uncle's house, these squirrels hit the bird feeders hanging from ropes in the trees of my uncle's yard.  What interesting little creatures!!  They don't actually fly.  They kind of jump and glide from the trees to the feeders.  They really are cute little critters. 

Well, my friends, I am going to do a little blog walking and then hit the sack.  We have a BUSY day tomorrow and lots of visiting to do.  You all have a great weekend!!

Hugs to you!  TTFN

BBB

This week is FLYING by!!  We have had so much to do to get ready for our trip this weekend and so far we are right on track.  We got all of the dishes, pots and pans, linens, all that stuff moved from the old RV to the new one.  We bought a 4" memory foam top for the bed that was in the new RV.  We bought a new set of sheets for it and also a new comforter set.  So the RV is ready (and I am ready!!).

I got some really nice pork ribs on sale at our local grocery.  I used my tried and true recipe and it did not fail me.  We cooked them for several hours on a low oven heat on Saturday and when we took them out, the meat was falling off the bones.  Hubby had to TEST them, of course.  I have it on good authority that they are YUMMY!!  After they cooled I cut them into 1/2 racks and put them in gallon baggies, then put them in the freezer.  On Friday, I will be taking them and putting them in the fridge to transport to Mizzou.  Once there, I have a huge cooker we can put them in to heat them up. 

I have most of my laundry done.  Now, all I have to do is bake a chocolate sheet cake (which takes 40 minutes start to finish) and some chocolate chip cookies and I am done.

I know I haven't posted pics yet of anything I promised.  I have NOT forgotten.  I am just in the learning curve so, I WILL get them done.  I promise!!

I hope everyone is having a great week.  You all take care and I will post more as I can.

Hugs to you all!

BBB

This will just be a quick post.  I am getting ready to go get my hair done.  I always look forward to this.  For one I like to look better, and for two, I enjoy visiting with my hairdresser who has been doing my hair for close to 20 years. 

The rest of the day will be spent transferring our stuff from the old RV to the new one.  I also need to cook ribs today which I will freeze and then take to our reunion next weekend.  My only decision is  whether to fix regular ribs or baby backs.  I like both.  I have a great, easy, no-fail recipe given to me by a friend.  My prep time will only be about 30 minutes and then they slow cook for a while.  That's my kind of recipe!! 

Other than that, I plan to enjoy the couple of rain free days today and tomorrow.  It looks like we start getting rain on Sunday night and then there is a chance every freaking day to have rain!!  I know I should not complain.  Once it stops raining, we won't have any more for the rest of the summer.  But, it would be nice if it was kind of spaced out for the rest of the summer.  Oh well!!  It will do what it will do.

I hope all my blog buds have a wonderful weekend.  I will try to get back on if I can.  You all take care!!

TTFN

BBB

Well, we found a new RV.  At least it will be new for us.  It is a used 26 foot Laredo fifth wheel.  It has really been taken good care of inside. It has evidently set outside in the elements, so the outside is not quite as nice as our present trailer which has been kept under an awning.  But, it also hadn't even been cleaned up when we looked at it.  A guy had put a contract on it, but he didn't qualify for his financing, so we snapped it up as the price was right and it had all the features we were looking for.

It has a super slide (which is opened just by pushing a button...not by using a crank like our present one).  It has a queen sized bed, a hide-a-bed couch and the dinette makes into a bed as well.  It has a large kitchen with an oven.  It has a bigger bathroom and LOTS more storage.  The rear of it is ALL windows and it has a recliner.  It should have TWO but the previous owner took the two out (which were probably small) and put in one larger one.  Needless to say, we are excited that we found this and it was in our price range.  Actually, we got it at wholesale price.  So, WOOHOO for us!!

Hubby will be taking my truck in and getting the hitch put in on Tuesday and on Wednesday we bring that baby home!!  In the meantime, the dealership is doing a 31 point inspection and will fix anything they find that is amiss, and they are also detailing it out for us.  Once we get it here, my job will be to unload all the stuff from our present trailer into the new one.  I have my own set of dishes, pots and pans, linens and etc. for the present trailer.  I will just move them over to the new one.  Also, we are going to buy a different mattress for the bed. 

Oh, and we will be selling the present RV, hopefully soon.  So if you know anyone who wants a great starter, let me know.  We have taken exceptionally good care of it and it has not set out in the elements at all.

Our maiden trip with the new trailer will be my cousins weekend in two weeks.  Now I have even MORE reason to be excited about the trip!!  I am doing the HAPPY dance!! 

It has been a GREAT weekend folks.  I hope everyone else's weekend has been just as good.  I will get pics on here of the new home away from home as soon as I can.

Have a great week, my friends!!  Hugs!

BBB

Yes.  It has been one busy week.  I thought when I got my laptop I would be blogging more often.  That was the plan.  I didn't take into account how very busy it has been around my office or at home.  I shall take some time here and catch you up on my week.

Work, for some reason, has been crazy busy.  My boss does a lot of estate planning and I guess because people travel more in the summer, they think of getting their estate planning done before they go on extended trips.  I have done so many in the last few weeks it makes my head spin.  However, it is always a GOOD idea to get this done no matter what  your age is.  I have seen too many people come into my office after a loved one passes and they have done nothing before hand to prepare for this.  It is really hard on the family members left behind.  I'm just saying....

This week was our "Taste of.." in one of our city's nicest parks.  Area restaurants brought out samples of their marvelous food and drink.  For a $15 ticket, you could eat and drink your way through the park.  Entertainment of a lovely jazz band made the trip even more enjoyable.  Boy do we have some GREAT restaurants in and around our city.  I ate WAY more than I should have!!  I also got to see lots of my friends who live in the area and to visit a little as well.  It was a very nice evening.

I am preparing for our "cousins" weekend reunion which is coming up in two weeks.  Woohoo!!  I am stoked!!  Hubby and I have been making arrangements for our pets' care while we are away.  We always kennel our weimie and she does really well there so I had no problem with that.   A friend usually comes by to feed and water our outside doggie.  The sticking point has been Piper's care.  She is my BABY!!  My uncle said we could bring her, however, she requires ALL my attention if I am around.  I want to be able to really visit and have a good time with my cousins since I see them so seldom.  So, I really didn't want to take her.  BUT.  I didn't want to kennel her at such a young age.  The thought just about had me in tears.  Then it hit me.  The lady I bought her from had said that she and her family would keep her if I ever needed it, so I called her, and voila!!  I have Piper staying with her first family!!  They also have Piper's Mommie and her brother, Cowboy, for her to play with, as well as a 4 year old who LOVES dogs.  Also, Piper was the fave pup of this lady's husband.  I saw them at our park event I just told you about and he is excited about keeping her as well.  I am SO  relieved I just cannot tell you.  I know they will love on her like I do.  Problem solved.  Except, I am going to miss her like the dickens!!  I know, I know.  She's just a dog.  But she is my baby!!  hehehe 

Next up is the news that hubby and I are headed out here in a little bit to look for a bigger RV.  Our present one pops out on both ends with beds.  You don't HAVE to do that to camp.  It has two other beds you can set up without doing so.  But we normally do use the pop out beds and it takes a while to get camp all set up.  We are going to be looking for a Fifth wheel or a bigger self contained drag along trailer.  We looked at a couple last night, but have several more places to go look today.  If we get a Fifth wheel, we will have to modify my truck bed to pull it and that will be an added expense.  I want hubby to get an RV that will last through our retirement.  So I want to make sure we get all the features we want.  I will keep you posted on our progress.

Weather wise, it has stormed just about every day or night here.  We have had LOTS more limbs come out of our trees.  They are still very weak from the ice storm in December.  We JUST got all that debris hauled off by the county LAST Friday, and now we have more to haul off ourselves.   I need to do some work in my flower beds.  My friend Pat posted pics on her blog of all she had done and they look so wonderful!!  I am inspired that I need to do some work on mine.  Perhaps I can do some work this weekend.  I am just not sure how the weekend will play out.

Well, I guess I better get after getting dressed and ready to go RV hunting.  I also need to do a little blog walking and visit my friends.  You all have a GREAT weekend and I will see ya next time.

Hugs!!

BBB

Well it has been really crazy in my world.  Crazy people that we are, hubby and I BELIEVED the weather people when they said there was only a 20% chance of a few showers.  WE thought that meant there was an 80% chance of NONE.  Not only did it rain yesterday, we about got blown away today.  We took not only the travel trailer, since we have an F250 Diesel truck, we ALSO pulled the two Wave*runners.  So, we were loaded for bear.  We squeaked by yesterday with just a few showers and some lightning and thunder.  However, when we got up TODAY and turned on the TV, the stations were telling of strong storms with high winds and hail coming our way.  Our trailer is 23 feet long and each end opens up like a pop up with a bed in each end opening out.  Many times we just open ONE end, and I like to sleep on the couch which makes a pretty comfy bed.  But not so THIS time.  We were full on camping with both ends opened up.  After hearing the weather reports, I casually mentioned to hubby that perhaps we should fold in the beds before it rained.  One thing led to another and we folded up camp and were ready to head out in about 40 minutes flat.  Mind you, we didn't even eat breakfast.  I had only made a pot of coffee.  Nothing else.  I even left a few dirty dishes in the sink.  So, we headed home. Right. Into. The. Front!!  We could see it coming and it was a big front and was MOST ominous looking.  We did pretty well until we were about 8 miles from home, pulling into the small town of Coweta.  That is when I was NOT sure we were going to make it.  There was no where to pull off.  We just had to continue driving very slowly.  The rain and winds were scary.  It is the only time I can recall in recent memory where I prayed the rest of the way home.  I just prayed we would not be blown off the road.  We finally made it to the back edge of the weather front and turned onto the road that pretty much leads to our house.  We got about 500 feet on the road with NO shoulders and no where to turn around and up ahead....was a downed tree across the road.  We were sitting trying to figure out what to do when the kid behind us goes flying around, through the ditch and to the other side.  Whereupon, he stopped, backed up to the tree, jumped out and started pulling out what I THOUGHT were chains (turns out it was pretty heavy rope).  The owner of the tree was out by then.  They hooked up the tree and after two tries, had one lane of the road opened.  Talk about a GODSEND!!  That kid gets big kudos in my book for helping out.  The rest of the trip home was pretty easy, but I think hubby's and my nerves were just about SHOT!!  All I can say is....there will be NO more camping for us when there is even a SLIM chance of rain. 

BTW...I am preparing this entry on my NEW LAPTOP!!!  Woofreakinhoooo!!  It is SO pretty and I have all my faves loaded on here already!!  I will try to take some pics and post them. 

Also, I got home and I got the sweetest notebook and pen from none other than our friend Kat!!  It was my prize for her Mother's day entry contest.  Thanks Kat!!  You must know that I am ALWAYS looking for paper to write notes on.  I can't tell you how many times I dig through my purse looking for paper and a pen.  So this will definitely come in handy.  You are a sweetie my dear friend!!  (And your junk mail pile sounds ALOT like mine!!  hehehe)

Well, friends, I have a LOT of blog walking to do!!  I was totally out of commission since I didn't have time to do anything but WORK at our other office.  Geez.  You'd think it was a JOB or something.  hehehe  Anywho, I plan on visiting everyone and saying hi!!

Till next time.....

A very thankful BBB