Stormy times!

June 29, 2012 Friday

Hot weather always seems to summon up bad weather hence the case this Friday night.   About 4:10pm the lights began flickering and 10 minutes later it was ON! Cold fronts are almost always accompanied by gusty windys but this time the winds just didn't let up. I stood out back protected from the direct gusts by our house watching 60 foot trees bend 45 degrees. Went inside and saw a large evergreen tree of the neighbors roll across their yard, seemed like a long time but was probably only 8-10 minutes. When it passed and the rain stopped a hell of a mess was left all over town. Fortunately we did not have any damage to our property but did have lots of limbs to pick up and trash from other people's yards. Once we were able to drive around town we found that all the streets were blocked by fallen trees and the Subway down the street had the roof blown off of it. The lumber store beside our building had half the roof blown off of it and lots of property damage for other people. My surveillance camera caught the neighbors tree falling and in the background you could see the storm rolling in, almost look like a tornado. The power pole at the Subway was snapped off at the top and a part of the roof was stuck in the side of the dollar store.

   We had the grand daughters Tabby and Jessie for the night so we made a camping night out of it, we stayed in the RV and cooked out on the grill and later had a campfire and made smores. We did not get our electric back until Sunday morning about 4 o'clock. We were fortunate enough to have the RV with a generator so we took it to the house and plugged in our refrigerator and freezer so the food would not spoil unfortunately most of our neighbors were not so lucky to have a generator.

The video from my surveillance cameras, I posted on Facebook on the local news channels site and they played my video on TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcU1eMB0-9s

                 

Amish country

June 13, 2012

Amish country

We left mid morning to make the 160 mile trip to Amish Country Campsites in Holmes county Ohio. Just a short jaunt of 160 miles and a fantastic day to travel. When arriving we found a quaint quiet campground that was very low key. No kids running around or dogs barking. When we checked in the lady gave us a map of the campground and circled all the sites that were available and told us to just pick one we liked and let her know where we settled. So the first thing was unhooking the car only to find the battery was dead, I had turned the ignition one click to far.  A quick jump and it was ready to go  with no issues the rest of the week. Now to pick a spot.  We decide to back into a spot along the fence with a horse pasture behind us, I back in hook up the water and electric and then go inside to hook up the directv box. All is well and I get the satellite picked up and we are ready to go or one would think! I go out to get the site number to give the lady when I realized I had pulled into a spot NOT available on her map grrrrrrrrr, so we unhook and move to the spot next door, get everything outside hooked up and go inside to setup satellite. After 20 minutes of fooling with that I go out and look at this skinny ass tree that just happens to be in the right spot to block our view of the sky needed! So once aan we move to a site on the opposite side and get everything hooked up and finished. Finally I was able to give the lady our site after playing musical campsites. By the time we left no one ever did show up to take our original pick of sites >:-(

 A visitor from the pasture behind us. 

We spent one day at Roscoe Historic Village, a couple pictures from there. This town was used in the mini series Centenial. 

Blacksmith shop

   

Print shop and broom maker

  

The doctor displaying an evil instrument to remove tonsils

Part of the experience is the canal boat ride as this town thrived due to the canal..

     

Another day was at Rolling Hills Ranch an aminal preserve..

  

  

  

  

Birthday party cookout

June 3, 2012 Sunday

We had a birthday party for Deanna and her twin Debbie. All the kids were there and a school friend Phyliss and her husband John. I grilled out hamburgers and brats with all kinds of sides that people brought. I also made a pot of hobo stew over an open campfire. Lots of laughs joking around, kids playing games and drawing on driveway with chalk. 

    

 
 

September 13th, 2011 Tuesday 72* and SUNNY!

We arrived on Labor Day the 5th, the trip was a long one at about 450 miles and a little over 9 hours. It rained most of the way and had stopped about a half hour before we arrive, BUT as luck would have it 6 miles prior to arrival at campground it began to pour down rain and did not stop until Friday. Counties to the east along the susquehanna river we flooding and causing terrible problems and uprooting families from their homes. :(

Saturday we got to go in town and do a little browsing, rain was still happening off and on but did allow us to explore.  Earlier in the week we went with Ken and Kathy to the New visitors center with the restored painting of the war in the Cyclorama. Quite the impressive display with over 20,000 troops painted on the canvas. The size of it is 377 feet by 44 feet tall and was one of four and the only painting known to exist in full. Words can not describe what it is like, the landscape blends right into the painting and you can not tell where the transition takes place. The foreground is covered with authentic items from the day, including carts, weapons, clothing, saddles, cookware, tents and so much more. You are given a limited time as so many people are going through it but you do get probably 10-15 minutes to take it in. It is well worth the $10.50 it costs which also gives you a 1/2 film telling the story of the Battle of Gettysburg and also admission to the museum.

Sunday our friends left for Hershey Pa. for a trade show so we are now on our own to explore. We started by doing the first of 3 parts of the self guided tour. It was a beautiful day with the sun finally shinning. We spent probably 4 hours during this part of the trip, stopping to visit and read the monuments which number close to 1600 I believe! I was in particular looking for the 66th infantry from Ohio, they were formed in Urbana Ohio and served in defending Culps Hill. We finally found the monument and spent some time trying to imagine the mass of it all. The rifles firing the bullets zinging by the yelling the cries of pain. Its all so much to take in and should never be skipped during your life time.

From an email I received, thoughts to live by

Keesh and Major

Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.


As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''
The Six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.


On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!