After taking time to do laundry and pack a suitcase, we headed west to find our way to Canyon Lake, Texas. Only made one wrong turn! Our friends, John & Irene Cyburt, had invited us to join them at a time-share in the area. Over the past few years we have had trouble 'connecting' for when we are home they seem to always be traveling. This worked out great as we had a few days to 'waste' before flying to Phoenix for the KOA convention.
We have never spent any time in the Texas hill country and found it to have a beauty all it's own. The first day we just 'crashed', doing nothing at all. The late nights during the Alumni convention were catching up with all of us. We did drive over to check out the local golf course and spotted several deer wandering the course. Irene and I headed to San Marcos to check out the outlet malls and, much to our surprise, we found two sitting side-by-side! 280 shops! We couldn't even begin to do it justice! Irene found some great bargains; I just did lots of looking, although I did buy one Christmas present and myself a new pair of SAS shoes. They are never on sale, but when I can get 3-4 years wear out of them, they are worth the price.
That evening we ventured over to Gruene (pronounced 'Green') to the Old Gristmill Restaurant. This place was just beautiful, built around the remains of the old mill, sitting right next to the water tower. The old town has been restored and before and after dinner we wandered through the shops. Super was great - and worth it - just to dig in to the largest order of homemade onion rings I have ever seen. If you are ever in the area, don't miss this town & restaurant . . . and the onion rings.
A day for sleeping in, as we waited for 10:00 a.m. to roll around so we could sign in on another conference call with the Home Ofice. Then we headed out to explore Fredricksburg, TX. We planned our route through the infamous town of Luchenbach - which has two whole buildings, and a population of 3! Met a couple of interesting characters and a very friendly cat - and snapped our picture in front of the post office. Found our way to the Cotton Gin for lunch - a delightful treat for our taste buds. We dined on seafood gumbo, salad, quiche, cajun chicken, snap peas & rice. At the end of our meal, the very attentive waiter brought us each two 'warm from the oven' cookies! What a lasting impression!
As part of the restaurant complex, they have 7 log cabins which can be rented for a 'get away.' One was open for touring, and we old campground owners found them to be 'over the top', packed with great guest amenities. Then we trekked to downtown Fredricksburg, and spent some time wandering through a very upscale antique store, where John & Irene stumbled across a couple of 'finds'.
After a quick stop at the Wildseed Farm (not much in bloom this time of year), we made it just in time to catch the last bus of the day for the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, TX. A very interesting tour, even though the Texas White House is not yet open for tours. Lady Bird passed away just this last July at the age of 93. Both she and LBJ are buried in the small family plot under a grove of beautiful oak trees. We found it all surprisingly simple, not what one would expect of a presidential home.
Back to the condo to grill hamburgers and whip up a small batch of nachos (Roger was having withdrawals). An episode of House - and we girls called it a night.
Today finds the guys headed out to New Braunfels to the Bandit Golf course - ranked #5 in Texas. We girls are headed back to the outlet malls and we'll meet the guys at some point for a late lunch/early dinner.
During our 'vacation' from renovation, we've spent a few days in the Conroe, Texas area (just north of Houston), as part of the 2007 KOA Alumni Family reunion. This is a group of former franchisees and KOA employees that gather each year at a KOA The folks here at the Lake Conroe/Houston North KOA have been wonderful hosts - facilities, food, and customer service!
For us it has been a combination of fun and business. On Wednesday the group went to the NASA Space Center, but we stayed behind to get in on a conference call from the Home Office. That afternoon the 'big boss' flew in to be at the reunion for our 'auction' - and we met with him that afternoon. The auction - as always - was a lot of fun and we ended up with some nice stuff. It's all in the name of benevolence, for why else would we buy stuff . . . bring it to the auction . . . and then buy other stuff at inflated prices? Anyway, our group of about 45 folks raised over $6,000 in just a couple of hours, which will go to provide scholarships to KOA franchisees to help them attend KOA training sessions - like convention.
Thursday found me on a shopping trip with a few girlfriends. We trekked south to The Woodlands - what a mecca for shoppers. Have been to my local Marshall's a couple of times, but they introduced me to a Mega Marshall's! Only problem was we didn't spend enough time there! Then on to Ross For Less, Kirklands, World Market - with a couple of hours out for lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. Of course, that put us trying to get home right in the middle of rush hour traffic - and it was 6:00 p.m. before we finally found our way back to the campground. Roger and 'the boys' were golfing that day and even Roger had to admit he did pretty good!
Yesterday we had a morning 'business' session and the afternoon was antique (or in Roger's eyes . . . junk) shopping. It was very unstructured and we spent some time just sitting and talking with old friends, before our 'grand finale' dinner and entertainment.
The fajitas were fantastic - and the band, "The Grateful Geezers" were even better! However, I was a bit worried when they started setting up, for the drummer couldn't have been a day older than Russ - and if he's a 'geezer' . . . what does that make us???? Their tag line was "It Ain't No Crime To Go Back In Time" - and they played and sang music from the 50's and 60's. Course, some of those songs were hits when we were still in diapers, mind you! But, oh what fun! Think they were a bit surprised when most of the bunch hung around til the very end. Then we got to talking to some of the staff and they had to unlock doors to let us out! We literally were the last ones to leave!
And just the night before I couldn't stay awake to catch the 10:00 p.m. West Coast feed of our Thursday night show "Survivor!" Roger said he tried to wake me several times, but I would just fall back asleep in my chair. (It was all the shopping, I think).
This morning will wrap up the reunion with a "Send Off Breakfast" and everyone will head out across the country until next year. Looks like we will gather in Mystic, Connecticut in 2008!
Today finds us kicking back and enjoying our first full day of relaxation - in a very long time. We are 'camping' at the Dallas Metro KOA, enjoying the weekend with our family. Actually they are off having fun at Six Flags today, while Grandpa and I are plopped in our recliners watching football.
Got the first coat of paint on most of the walls Sunday evening, but then Monday morning Roger began complaining of a 'catch' in his back. By evening he could hardly walk, causing both of us some serious concern. I doped him up with anti-inflammatory meds and muscle relaxers and decreed that work on the house would come to a halt until we returned from convention. We (mostly he) has been overdoing it, trying to get as much done as we could. (I knew he was hurting when he broke out his back brace and wore it.)
But, as always, just when we 'give up', the Lord really provided. Russ had to fly to Nashville for some job training for a few days - and the wet weather called a halt to the job Randy was on, which freed him up to lend us a hand. (Roger supervised, and I stained and sealed base trim). Randy got the can lights installed in our kitchen and living room, some needed sheet rock work done, and the 'monster' 72" ceiling fan installed in our living room. Achieving that last one (the ceiling fan) gave him some real 'on the job' training, as after wrestling it around to get it wired and installed from the center beam, it didn't work. So he began problem solving - and it turned out being the house wiring - a left over from the previous owner. It took some doing, but he finally got it figured out - and corrected. What he thought would be a quick 'last of the day' job, turned out to be a real headache - and they ended up working until about 7:30 that evening. But it looks great!
Then Wednesday and Thursday we spent packing up the fifth wheel again for our 3 week outing (Dallas, Houston & Phoenix). Finished up Friday morning and ran taxi service for Hunter to an extra cheer practice, then just hung around waiting for Russ & Randy to call it a day as electricians so we could head south to Dallas - which happened about 2:00 p.m. Of course, that put us approaching Dallas right in time for Friday evening rush hour traffic. Only took us 90 minutes to go about 30 miles! Roger was leading the caravan and with our trusty GPS "Sylvia", we did it without one wrong turn.
"Sylvia" and I got in to an argument enroute - and, of course, Roger sided with "Sylvia". Both of us were 'right', we were just getting there differently. At one point Randy asked if "Sylvia" was going to be the new 'step-mom'. Kids! - you gotta love 'em, even when they are grown men!
I had chicken marinating in the frig, so while Roger and Randy set up camp, Russ took over the chef duties and got supper cooking on the grill. Nobody can grill chicken like Russ - perfect every time.
After supper Shelly walked the grandkids over to the pool. It's not heated and I was surprised when Nick and Hunter lasted as long as they did. Wesley lasted all of about 5 minutes, then ran around with a sweatshirt on (but barefooted) for the rest of the night. We called it a night a little after 10 so everyone could get a good night's sleep and be ready for a day at Six Flags.
We all slept in till about 7:30 (I guess I really am tired) - and then I cooked up the sausage patties while Randy got the griddle going for the pancakes. After the crew left for Six Flags, I took a leisurely shower and then put a pot of chili on for supper and settled in to watch OU play Iowa State in football. I didn't stay settled in for long, as the Sooners were not playing their best, in spite of all my efforts to 'help'. Thankfully, we 'escaped' with a win.
Life is just so much better when the Sooners win!
Well, we've been home now for 16 days and each one has been packed full of work on the house. I shared with Roger this morning that it was finally beginning to feel like we have 'turned a corner' on the house. We're beginning to see some progress as we begin to 'put it back together'. For a while there, all we did was 'demolish!'
My tasks are strictly limited to doing things like staining, varnishing, or painting things that are waist high, so as not to aggravate my shoulder. My biggest challenge has been to supervise - and not be critical when it doesn't get done just the way I would do it, which is a good lesson for me. I also pull a lot of clean-up duty. Roger has really been pushing himself, trying to get things done. It's so hard to go home every night to a room in our son's house, when we have a whole house just next door. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.
Last week he had the unpleasant task of removing the old ceramic tile; a job he had been really dreading. Thankfully his Dad showed up and pitched in - and with any job - it's easier when you have company.
Yesterday he painted ceilings; today was a plumbing repair for the washer hookups and then he painted the office, before calling it a day. I made it worth his while and cooked up a huge pot of homemade chicken and noodles for supper. He had been 'hinting' ever since we got home, but I just kept putting it off. Don't know why I don't cook them more often, as the entire family loves them. Everyone's schedule is so busy, that I dished up the left overs to send to Randy & family, for it's too hard to get everyone together on a school/work night.
We picked up the wood flooring today, but it has to acclimate to the house for a few days before we can begin laying it. Still have to rent a floor grinder to remove the thin-set from the old ceramic tile. Roger had planned to do that last weekend, but someone rented it just before we arrived. So maybe this weekend. Of course, Saturdays are always 'short' days, as watching the OU Sooners football game takes priority (even when we lose)! My goal is to be in by Christmas. Seems I have to have a 'deadline' to get anything done.
Did take time out to go to the doctor for my shoulder. When I explained how it happened, he said "I'm not gonna touch it! You need to see a surgeon." Which is what I figured he would say, so will see him tomorrow. I'm sure not looking forward to that! I figure we will put it off until mid November - until after the KOA convention. I've waited this long, I doubt another month won't really matter.
Of course, some of our time is still spent working with our campgrounds. Wrapping up the paper work on the last reviews and getting ready for convention.
But the best thing about our busy 'at home' time is having the kids and the grandkids pop in and out of our lives. Hayden has turned one and started walking in earnest shortly afterwards. It's hard to be around him and not be able to pick him up.
We hit the ground running when we got home - and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight! And we've discovered - once again - how similar home ownership and campground ownership really are!
Had only been home a couple of days when the electric bill arrived - and it was much higher than it should have been. Actually it had been all summer, but we thought perhaps it was because the boys were working on the house and had the A/C running. Wrong! Having experienced this once before at the old 'home' place, Roger went out to the well and flipped the switch - only to have the pressure tank gauge drop instantly. Seems we've been 'pumping water' back into our well all summer! A call to the well repair folks and by the end of the day we not only had a new well pump, a leak in the piping fixed, a new pressure switch, and water tank. Basically a new well! NOT one of the 'improvements' that we had budgeted for, by any means!
Know this sounds familiar to many of our campground owners out there!
But we've had fun making final decisions on the planned improvements and, come November, it should all begin to come together. Carpet & wood flooring ordered, cabinet tops, sink, faucet selected and ordered. Paint colors chosen - and a bit of it on the walls, with more to follow in the next week. One bathroom almost finished; Roger (with Hunter's help) installed the new toilet just yesterday.
Now the dirty work begins, for Roger has to remove old ceramic tile in three rooms - and grind the floor - before he can begin installing the wood flooring. I'm feeling pretty useless, but spend most of my time lending moral support to Roger. We've decided that - for us anyway - this is definitely the way we like to buy a home. Buy an older home at a good price, that needs updating - and then we get to pick the colors, flooring, etc. that we like! And not feel bad about the expense, either.
We've always been into 'earth tones' - Roger likes the tans, I like the greens. The only 'deviation' has been the main bathroom, which we are making our 'ocean' room - complete with sand, shells and lighthouses. The walls are BLUE! Some say a bit too blue, but we like it! We've been collecting 'coastal stuff' for 5 years now and we can't wait to see it come together. Will have to post some 'before and after' pics once we get moved in.
Will finally get in to see my doctor on Thursday and begin the process of attempting to get my right shoulder 'fixed'. It won't be a moment too soon for me!
Stay tuned!
