Boys and Girls, Are These Pinecones?

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, do you remember the pinecones we found when we were in southern California? (If you are a new reader, this post is linked to the post I am making reference to.) Well now, get a load of these cute little Connecticut pinecones!
It makes me laugh! I guess if you compare the size of the two states, you couldn't expect anything different! I just love it.

I know, I'm too easily amused. But still, I can't get over my God's creativity. I think about how board I get when I make Christmas cookies. I cut a few trees, then a few candy canes, then a few bells--because just one shape gets dull, FAST! I'm guessing when God was creating pine trees (and cones) He entertained himself with variety. A few average ones, a few gigantic ones, a few tiny ones... I hope He enjoyed creating them as much as I enjoy gathering and comparing them.

Find joy in the journey! (And in the forest!)

Highway Rolls on Forever

I feel like I'm trying to come out of a two week coma. Miles and miles, town after town, then suddenly you don't know what state you are in. The last few days have taken us through parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, (and a wrong turn took us through a tiny part of Michigan) Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. And only a few days earlier we drove through parts of Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and then Minnesota.

I don't have jetlag exactly, but I've got some kind of lag going on for sure! The only way I have of knowing where I am is by looking at the campground map that is on my table. It has a Connecticut address on it, so I'm assuming that is where I am. Sometimes as we travel I ask my husband where we are. He usually knows and I feel reassured. But the other day I asked him, and with a glazed deer-in-the-headlight stare, he told me he didn't know. I knew at that point we had been on the road too long!

I managed to take a few pictures along the way this time. They aren't great because roads are bumpy and it is hard to focus on anything whizzing by the window, but I thought you might like to see them anyway.

The interstate we needed to take through Wisconsin was closed because of flooding. We were stuck, over two hours, on the highway until we were finally able to take a detour around washed out bridges and flooded roadways. We had to go about 100 miles out of our way, but we ended up driving through rural Wisconsin. I saw some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen in my life. It was enough to make one want to stand up and sing "America the Beautiful!"

I don't know why I didn't take any pictures of the beautiful farms and hills. I guess I was too busy just trying to take it all in. But here are a few pictures of a small town that fell victim to one of Wisconsin's overflowing rivers.

And on the horizon, more storm clouds were building. We manged to avoid any serious weather conditions as we traveled. God was good and our trip was without incident.


I am thankful that God created my body as He did, so that the images I see are transferred to my brain, my memory, and eventually nestled in my heart to cherish. If my eyes alone tried to hold the beauty of creation I was allowed to see, they would have surely popped! All I can say is that if you have a chance to visit the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania or the farms of Minnesota and Wisconsin, don't pass it up. Words can't describe what you will see.

When we went through Indiana we took a few minutes to visit the RV museum in Elkhart. Being full timers we found it interesting. I had no idea that they even made RVs back in the 1920s and 30s. In the post below you will see pictures I took as we went through Chicago. That's one place I never really wanted to go, but now I can say I've been there.

Chicago

Here are a few pictures I snapped from my shotgun seat as we made our way through Chicago. It took us about two hours to get through the city on the interstate and it was not even rush hour! We had to pay (it seemed) dozens of tolls all the way through the city and its suburbs. At least I can say, "I've been there." We did not have time to stop and sight-see. We really didn't want to.
At times traffic was stop-and-go. At times it was stopped completely. And at times I wanted to cry, "Slow Down!"

Rick did a great job maneuvering our rig through the traffic. I tried to keep my eyes and mouth shut. My fingers were white from clutching the arm rest and I had a tension headache by the time we were through the city, but we made it out alive!

I am a country bumpkin. I know Chicago is a place I would never want to live. All the houses we could see from the interstate were just a few feet apart--so congested--and the high-rise apartment buildings and condominiums are just not my idea of comfortable living.

I think if God asked me to move to Chicago, I'd probably ask to see his credentials.

Rick commented that no job, paying no amount of money could make him live in a city like this where the traffic is so bad, the drivers so crazy, and the trip to work every day so costly. I laughed and reminded him that there are some people that would say that no job, paying no amount of money could make them pick up at a moment's notice, drive over 3000 miles in a two week period of time through such big, congested cities, paying so much for fuel and tolls. To each his own.

It Was Nice While It Lasted

I know I'm not in Louisiana or even the Texas Panhandle when I see a sign like this.

Here are some of the pictures I promised you. I took them as I walked along the trail that runs through the camp ground. Some of the pictures are taken from the bank of the Minnesota River which is one of the campground's boundaries. This bridge crosses a little stream (which is currently swelled far beyond it's usual size) to a beautiful path. I think if you follow this path it will take you all the way to the next town. I won't have the chance to find out for sure.Looking up between the trees in the wooded area--filled with song birds--so peaceful.As I walked along through the trees I saw "open water."

Not really a lake, not really a stream, just "open water."

There is an abundance of cottonwood trees. And they have been doing what cottonwood trees do! Here is a big wad of cotton along the trail. Check out more of my pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lffp/ and you will see one where the cotton almost looks like snow beside the trail. Could one tree possibly have compassion for another tree?

May we all have such a friend when we need one!

Woodpeckers can be heard hammering away in the tree tops. Here is the evidence.

Here is a spot of solitude that I looked forward to using.

And this is the view of the Minnesota River from the bench. But alas, I will not be reading my book in the shade of the maple trees on the bank of the river. Rick's bosses (he has many) have changed their minds AGAIN as to where they think they want him. This afternoon we will pack up and hit the road. This time we are headed for Connecticut. We are not for sure what town we will end up in, but we suspect it will be in the New Heaven area. We are a little disappointed because we like Minnesota, and because we are paying almost $5.00 a gallon for fuel. In the last nine days we have driven over two thousand miles with another 1,300 or more ahead of us by the week's end. We average between eight and nine mpg pulling the camper. (Groan!!!)

Oh well. I feel a bit like Scarlet...I won't think about that now. Tomorrow is another day. The next time I have a chance to post here, who knows where I'll be. So until then---

Another Day, Another City

We made it, safe and sound. Many, many hours on the road and even more $$$ spent on diesel, (OUCH!) but we made it. We are on the southwest side of Minneapolis, MN in a town called Shakopee.

The campground where we are is more of a "campground" and less of a "RV Park" than where we've been lately. And be sure it is no "Resort!" It's not bad though. We've got lots of trees, are located on the banks of the Minnesota River, and down in a valley. It has a restful feel even though we are near railroad tracks and get all the benefits (what ever they may be) of every train whistle blast--morning, noon, and night. Wi-Fi is not available except at the office up the hill. Right now I'm using Rick's wireless cell card, but it won't be available to me all the time. So if I'm able to post very often, I'll be hiking up the hill to the office. That's okay--I can use the exercise. The trees are so thick we can't get a good shot at the southern sky so we can't use our "Dish." Oh no! What am I going to do without the Weather Channel? I guess I'll just have to "Rough It."

I did take a little walk this morning to check out my immediate surroundings. I'll keep you in suspense for now, for a picture is worth --- well you know the rest, and I didn't have my camera with me. Sometimes it amazes me how much our great nation differs from state to state. A week ago I was singing, "Oh give me a home where the crawdads roam," and sweating by 7:00 in the morning. Today I am in the land of 10,000 lakes and I almost needed a jacket while I was on my walk. I'm feeling sorry for any of you suffering in the summer heat. Really, I am! If it makes you feel any better, know that I am enjoying the 68 degree day here an extra amount on your behalf!!! This place is nice in the summer, but I don't think it is where I want to be during the winter. After all, I am a southern gal. But, I'm going to make the most of being so close to the Canadian boarder while I can.

Rick's claims have been rolling in. He has almost 50 at this point. He has booked appointments over two weeks out and still has more to make. He always feels a little overwhelmed the first few days until he gets settled in and starts making his routine work for him. But he is good at what he does, and he'll be closing out files right and left before you know it. But you can pray for his stress level anyway. (Rain is in the forecast and that will slow him down and make him feel behind.)

We are camped in the Minnesota River flood plain. There has already been a lot of rain around here, so I would just as soon see some dry days myself. If we start to float away, I'll let you know.

Check out my map link and my weather link so you can get an idea of where I am and what it is like here. I'll take my camera when I go out next time so check back soon!

Quick Update

We've been caught up in the rush of life and the wind of West Texas.

I've lost track of time and I don't remember what happened when, but Rick's company rushed him to finish up in Louisiana so they could send him up north. So, Tuesday (I think) we left Duson and went to Houston to see daughter #1. Wednesday we headed to Amarillo so Rick could get some more work done on a troublesome tooth. Today is Saturday and Rick is making his phone calls and setting appointments for next week. Tomorrow we will hit the road again with our destination being the west side of Minneapolis, MN.

We've enjoyed getting to see all the kids for just a short time. I will spend the rest of the evening doing some laundry and trying to regroup and prepare for the long trip ahead. (About 1050 miles.) Once again...I'll catch ya on down the road.

Hurricane Season Is Here

So, what are you doing? Ya know it's bad when I'm sitting here watching The Weather Channel. I don't think I'm going to tell you how often I watch The Weather Channel. We have satellite TV. (We carry our dish around with us everywhere we go. I think we get about a billion channels (if you count the Sirius Radio stations) and still there is nothing to watch. So, we watch the weather.

One of my favorite songs is Forever and Ever, Amen. Remember that one verse? I'm gonna love you forever...As long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men.

I guess we are getting old. When I was younger I thought it funny that my mom would call me just to see if we got any rain, and if so, how much. Now I'm calling her to see how much rain she got at her house. (I know she got some because I watch The Weather Channel!) After we discuss the weather, then we often discuss our "old men." I hang up and laugh at myself every time.

Anyway, we watch a lot of The Weather Channel. Part of the reason is because bad weather means beans in the pot for us. Bad weather plus big trees (fallen on houses) might even get us a piece of chicken and some salad to boot. I've heard my husband say, "Trees are our friends." So the weather is of great interest to us.

Now don't get me wrong. We are not heartless vultures. We hurt and pray for the folks whose lives are disrupted and devastated by the storms. But the fact is, when a home is damaged in a storm and the owner needs to collect on his insurance policy so he can have repairs made, my husband is the guy who works to make sure that person gets the cash he needs. Some careers are not glamorous nor favored, but necessary. Such is the undertaker, the janitor, and the catastrophic adjuster.

Now that hurricane season is upon us, (the first tropical storm has already come and gone) I not only watch the weather channel, I check the National Weather Service hurricane page regularly. Even before storms are approaching our coastlines, I am checking out the waves coming off the African coast.

What's that you say? "Get a life?" Yeah, well...it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble.

The moral to this post? Into every life, some storms will come. Watch out, be ready, and thank God for those folks who help you get back on your feet again. (And it never hurts to watch the weather channel.)