Christmas in Troy with the kids

Simon and his Uncle Duane

Simon, Jack, Carrie and Brandey
Madeleine
Madeleine
Jackson
Simon and Jackson were born 2 weeks apart

We got to spend the evening with 4 of our six children and their families last night. We enjoy the chance to get the family together. As the kids get older and more spread out across the country it gets harder to get all 6 together at once. Everyone had a good time eating too much and passing out presents. The little ones were angels as always....lol

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Good news Bad news

Went to Doctors today. The good news is my kidney exam turned out all clear, no more cancer. The eye exam, not so good. My ARMD is on the move. The right eye is getting blurry and there is nothing they can do about it. He said that new glasses nor surgery would help. I just have to live with it for now, there is no cure. The family Doctor said my colesterol is up and my blood pressure is high. This getting old is hard.....lol
Louise gets her new glasses tomorrow so at least one of us can see. Louise has to go to one more doctor before she gets her all clear.

We are leaving in the morning for Ohio.

Till next time
Duane and Louise

Just about ready to head North

I have been falling down on the job of updating the blog lately. We are still sitting at Jeremy and Jennifer's house. I have been doing some carving and Louise has been sewing. I haven't been taking a lot of pictures accept for my carvings, so I guess I'll post those....lol We have a BUNCH of doctor appointments on Monday. 8:00 Louise goes to the dentist, 10:00 is my cat scan on the kidney, 1:00 Louise goes for a breast exam and at 3:00 I go to the eye doctor. Somewhere in there we are suppose to meet with the finacial planner and I'm suppose to stop by the family doc to get my blood pressure rechecked......I hope to head north for Christmas on Tuesday. That is if everything goes according to plan. We will take a couple of days to get there. I think we will return here a day or 2 after Christmas. We are taking the car to Ohio leaving the coach here. After returning to Texas we plan on going to the Celina area for a bit before heading on south.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Hanging out in Kilgore

We are hanging out in Kilgore, TX for a while. We are parked at our son's house while we do all the doctor appointments. We have a bunch of appointments on th 17th that should finish the doctors for a while....we hope. We spent one day visiting with a rv couple we have ran into 4 times now. Our paths keep crossing. We have met with them in Van Wert, Ohio, Benson, Arizona, Arlington, TX and now in Tyler, TX. They started fulltiming in 06 also. I have been doing a little hunting but so far nothing to talk about. Louise is working on Christmas presents and I have been carving. Jeremy and I got the 50 amp service ran out to where we park the motorhome today. We can now run the microwave and don't have to worry about blowing a breaker. Makes life easier for sure. Had to fold up today to go down the road to a rv park to dump the tanks and refill the the water tank up. We're set for about another 14 days now before we to dump again.
Till next time
Duane and Louise

Kilgore, TX

We are in Kilgore. TX at Jeremy and Jennifer's. We had go to Shreveport, LA to the docs for our checkup today. Then I went to the plant to visit some of the guys I use to work with. Tomorrow we have to go back for my checkup with the cancer doctor and then to the dentist. We plan on going to Ohio by car for Christmas. Louise got a jury duty call for the 10th of December. We will have to wait to see how that turns out so we can plan on when to leave for Ohio.

Till next time
Duane and Louise

Back in Kilgore

We moved from Celina to Kilgore this morning. Took the motorhome to get the Texas sticker first thing this morning. After all the trouble I had finding a place to get it, I thought it as going to be a big deal. When I got there they took the mileage off the coach, went inside and came out with a sticker for the window. They didn't check anything....go figure. I payed my money and was on the way. Visited Jeremy, Jennifer and Allie this evening. Allie is 2 1/2 now and will talk your leg off. Tonight we are in a rv park a few miles from their house. We will move over there tomorrow. Had to check the ground tonight to make sure it was firm enough to park on.

Till next time
Duane and Louise

The beach at Gulf Shores

We spent Monday morning at the beach in Gulf Shores. I talked to a worker on the beach and found out that run a beach sweeper up and down the beach every day so I didn't find much with the detector. I had fun looking something of value and Louise was looking for shells. We decided to head to Texas for Thanksgiving. We arrived in Celina Wensday evening after a bit of a trying day. Our inspection sticker on the motorhome had expirde when we were on the road. We stopped at the first town in Texas to renew it, they were closed!! We went to the next town, all the stations were closed for the holiday. After getting on the net, looking up numbers in nearby towns, calling them to find out they were all closed or didn't do motorhomes, we headed on to Celina hoping a cop didn't stop us. We made it!! We will get a new one Monday. Not sure yet what we will do after Monday.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Driving around the area

Ye Ole Swimming hole...Geocaching site

Pump in the swamp Cotton baler at work
Fish River geocaching site
Geocaching
Pitcher Plant...meat eating plant

We spent the day driving around the area geocaching, found 4 out of 5 we went after. This area has a lot Civil War history. Most of the sites we went to had something to do with the war. One of the caches took us to a swamp park that has the Pitcher Plant growing in it. This plant fills with water, catches bugs, then eats them, pretty wild huh.....We have decided to stay here till Tuesday before heading on to Texas. The caving get together here at the park was fun. One of the guys here carves thread spools. He had light houses, bears and all kinds of things carved in them. Really cool!! The plan is to go to the coast again Monday to spend the day. I think we will hang out here for the weekend.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Gulf Shores

Spent the day at Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island. We went to the 2 forts that defended Mobile Bay during the Civil War. After the forts we went geocaching, found 3 of 5. We ran out of daylight on the 5th one. I hope we have time to return to Gulf Shores to look around more. It is really pertty there. Tomorrow is the carving get together here at the park so we won't be going sightseeing. Not sure if we will leave here Friday or wait till Monday. We'll have to wait and see.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Summerdale, AL

Tonight we are in Summerdale, AL at the Escapees RV Park. We plan to be here for 4 days at least. Plan on going to Gulf Shores tomorrow, visit Mobile one day and maybe Penescola, Fl. They have a carving group here at the rv park, I plan attend their meeting this week. My hand is healing nicely...lol
Till next time
Duane and Louise

Quitman, Ga

The Forge Area
Terry's Fish
Terry's Eagle

Damaskas Blade
File Blade

Are stay in Quitman is coming to an end. We will leave here on Monday to head toward Texas. We have had great time visiting with Kathy and Terry. Eating way to much of Kathy's GOOD cooking and playing a lot of cards. Terry and I spent most of our days forging and finishing knivies and playing in the shop. He has a great shop to work out of. I posted a couple of Terry's art projects, he does a great job. The eagle is full size. He has all of my blacksmithing tools that I kept when we moved to Texas. I stop by once a year to help him learn how to do things on the anvil and he gives my tools a home, pretty cool deal.... Louise has been busy working on things for Grankids, I have been doing some carving at night. Last might the knive slipped and I cut the S... out of my hand. I need to learn not to do that, it hurt...lol Not sure what road we will take to get back to Texas or how long it will take. We will call Monday to set up doctors appointments for some time in December. That may dictate how long we take to get there.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Last night at West Point Lake

As our luck would have it, rain and wind hit an area where they not had any for a long time. We just happen to here when it hit. We got out fishing one night for crappie, caught about 30. The other evenings were to cold and windy to go out. We got to bass fish a couple of day with a little luck but not much. We caught 7 in about 4 trips out in the boat. Tonight Uncle Sie had to return to Atlanta so I walked around the shore with a top water plug. This is the nicest evening we have had since we got here. Caught the bass in the pic, about 5lbs. Plan to move on tomorrow morning and of coarse the weather is suppose be nice all weekend.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

West Point Lake

The water level is suppose to be at the tree

Uncle Sie and Duane

Here we are at West Point Lake. The water is about 200 feet from the tree where it is supose to be. The weather is rain and WIND today so we are staying around camp hoping the wind eases up so we can get out fishing. I hope we can a good weather days before we leave here. Louise is working on a birth announcement for Jack. She finished Simon's birth announcement and both the babies quilts in the last few weeks. She's been busy!!!! That's it for now.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Going south

We spent our last day at Dahlonega hiking at Amicalola Falls State Park. This was on Sunday and there were people everywhere!!! It was the most crowded park I think I have ever been at. The falls were pretty but hard to get pictures with all the people milliing around. When we got back to the campground, we dug in the creek to try and find a little gold, no luck again. Oh well, there is always next time. We have moved to West Point Lake in Georgia. Went fishing with Uncle Sie last night, caught some real nice crappie. It has been raining here all morning and boy do they need it. The lake is way down......pics to follow later. We'll be here till Friday.

Till next time
Duane and Louise

Hangin' around

We have been hanging out here Dahlonega, Ga. Went geocaching one day. The first one was a stage geocach where you have to find one, do a little puzzle to get the location of the next, working your way to the end. It took us to all the historical markers in the area before finding the final cache at the cemetary where the guy that discovered gold in this area was buried. The second one we went after was along a stream in the national forest. Yesterday we did a little gold panning in the river at the camp ground. No luck at all. Oh well..... Today it rained all day. Louise sewed, I carved. I posted a few of the things I have carved. I find it very relaxing. We were going to go hiking today but the rain put a stop to that, maybe tomorrow. The Gold Rush Days are this weekend. Heading on south the first of the week.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Dahlonega, Georgia

We are now in Dahlonega, Georgia. Spent the month of September in Ohio visiting family and friends. While there I attended the annual blacksmithing conference in Troy. I got the Nikon camera back before leaving Ohio so I am back in the picture mode again. Dahlonega was the site of the first gold rush in the U. S. The river in the pictures runs through the campground and is suppose to have gold in it. We'll see if I can find any, wish me luck. Our plans are stay here till next Monday. They are having Gold Rush Days in town this weekend with panning contest and a lot of crafts and such. Lots of geocachs around this area. There is a national forest here with lots of trails and waterfalls. I hope to get some good pics to post. Louise has been doing quilts in our sitting time and I have trying to learn to carve. The weather is very pleasant here, cool night and warm days.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Heading south

We left Rachel and Benji's Monday morning. Last month was BAD on the bank account. New tires on the coach, new Vacuum pump on the coach, oil change for the coach, a new water pump on the Jeep and the coach insurance came do. I sure hope that is it for a while. We didn't get to far Monday, Cincinnati. Stopped at the FMCA headquarters campground, it's FREE.. We will visit with Stacy and Carrie for a couple of nights before on heading on to Georgia. My good camera is suppose to be ready to pick up tonight, had to send it in for repairs. If it comes in we will head on tomorrow.

Till next time
Duane and Louise

Waiting again

I have been ask what camera I use. I have a Nikon D50. I sometimes use Photoshop to adjust the color in the pics but not all are changed. We are now waiting for a part for the rv again. The vacuum pump that operates the dash air has been giving us trouble for a long time. I took it in today to get it fixed and of coarse it is not a stock item. It is suppose to be here the first of the week. We will remain at Rachel and Benji's house till the part gets here. We are not in a hurry anyway. Planning on going to Cincinnati Thusday for a couple of days to visit Stacy. Had to get new tires for the motorhome yesterday. We didn't need that expense but the Alaska trip put a hurt on them. One of them had a big chunk out of it and the others were pretty bad, so I replaced them all...OUCH!!!!! on the bank account. $2600 later we are good to go.. I spent the weekend at the blacksmith conference in Troy, had a great time there.

Till next time
Duane and Louise

Still in Troy

We have had a great time visiting with friends and family during our stay in Troy. Visiting our old stomping grounds can be rather heckic, trying to see as many friends as we can in a short amount of time. I will go to the blacksmith convention this weekend, then we will be on the move again. Our daughter Rachel and her husband Benji have been nice to let us park the MH in their yard for the last couple of weeks. I have to take the MH to get the oil changed tomorrow. Then I will go to the grounds where the conventions is held to help in the setting up for it. I always have a great time there learning and visiting with old friends. Tuesday we take the MH in to get the dash air fixed. We plan to go to Cincinnati next to visit our daughter Stacy, then move on south. My good camera had to be sent in for repairs after the fall from the dash so I haven't been taking many pictures lately. I have no idea how long it will take to get it back but have a backup camera I can use. I sure do miss the Nikon.....

Till next time
Duane and Louise

Resting in Troy, Ohio

The birthday girl...Madeleine 3 years old
Allie 2 1/2 years old

Grandma Louise, Simon and Jack... about 3 months.... 2 weeks apart

We are now in Troy, Ohio. Saturday we celebrated the 3rd birthday of our oldest granddaughter Madeleine. We were forunate to have all the grandbabies here for the occasion. One traveled from Texas the other from California. It is great being able to visit with the kids for a while. With three in Texas, one in California and and two in Ohio it's hard to get two together at the same time let alone 3 of them. All the grand kids we have were there. The two youngest were born when we were in Alaska so we got to see them for the first time. Traveling is great, but seeing the kids is always nice. We will be in Troy til the end of September then head south.

Till next time

Duane and Louise

Nearing Ohio

Tonight we are in Des Moines, Iowa. Since we left Yellowstone, Louise has been in a hurry to see the new grandbabies so we have driven more miles then we would have normally. We are stopping at Louise's brother's house in Normal, IL tomorrow before heading on to Ohio. Should be in Ohio Tuesday or Wednesday. Last night Louise pierced her thumb with an ice pick. She was breaking up ice with the pick and her thumb got in the way. She ran the pick through her thumb along side the nail. I told her she should put a ring in it and start a new fad. She didn't think that was a funny as I did....LOL She's doing fine except when she buttons her pants....lol The other news is my good camera broke. It is now my bad camera. It seems it was left on the dash when I went to take off. On the floor it went!! Now it won't work. When we get to Ohio I will take it to the camera shop to get it fixed. Till then I still have my old camera, but it isn't as much fun to use.

Till next time
Duane and Louise

Yellowstone Day 2

Hello



Tower Falls
River at Upper Falls

Upper Falls
Deer

Upper Falls

Bison blocking the road
Tree hanging on for dear life
At the canyon
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Good bye

We spent 2 days driving around and enjoying Yellowstone. I hope we can return someday to spend some time hiking and seeing some of the sites we had to miss because of time. We saw a BUNCH of bison in the park and out the park when we were leaving. They get in the road and in no hurry to get out of your way. They would cause long delays in the traffic some times. The falls in the park are beautiful. There are so many hot springs we didn't take time to see them all. We are in Cody, WY right now at the Buffalo Bill Museum. Will head on east in the morning.

Till next time

Duane and Louise