Texas Snow!

 

Yes, it has been awhile since I have updated.  Yes, we made it to Odessa, and yes, we have been visiting my aunt and cousins.  

This is our setup at Mesquite Oasis RV Park.  There is an area for the work camp, and then areas for families.  Work camps are mostly for guys that work out in the oil fields.  

So, being out here in the oil fields has one huge drawback.  Well, it’s a drawback for Road Hog and I.  If the wind is just right, it smells like we are camping in the middle of the oil fields.  And Ok, we are in the middle of the oil fields, but still!  I guess there is another drawback, and that is there are thousands of goat-heads!  The other name for them is Puncture Vine.  And poor Tully!  These goat heads stick everywhere! Do you know how painful it is when a little dog has to squat to pee?  Poor thing! Mostly she holds it until we get to Aunt Jackie’s house because her yard doesn’t have any goat heads.

God’s Country.  I’m not sure if this is a new RV park, or an old one, but it isn’t open.  God’s Country reminds me of when I used to visit my aunt and uncle in Texas and my Uncle Mo used to always tell me that I was now in God’s Country.  We would argue back and forth about where God’s Country really is.  I always thought that God’s Country was where I lived at the time, Washington state.  Well, it turns out Uncle Mo was right.  Because of Washington’s governor, Washington is not God’s Country.  Uncle Mo, may he Rest In Peace, is really in God’s Country.

We have nothing but sunshine here in the lone star state.  All the animals are relaxed, and enjoying our down time.

Tully really hates the goat heads.

Can you tell the cats apart?  Ethel Louise has less than half a tail, and is carrying her holiday weight from 10 years go.  Lucy has bright green/yellow eyes and she doesn’t have to worry about her weight.  It’s kind of funny that they match our floor and rugs! 😂

We spent Thanksgiving with my relatives, and guess what happened Friday?  Yes, lots of snow.  It was a relief for Tully because she could now walk without goat heads sticking in her paws!  We weren’t too worried about the snow since it is getting up in the 50’s today.

Whose idea was it to winter in Texas?!  Hey, it isn’t 80 degrees! Summer is apparently over.   Whoohoo!

We will be here until December 2nd, then we will be moving to San Angelo, and on December 6th, it will be on to Pipe Creek, TX to relax for 3 months!  

Leaving In The Morning For Odessa!

 

I knew something was not right when I watched Road Hog pour the rest of his beer down the drain last night. He wasn’t feeling good and was up most of last night.  We found a walk in clinic in Eastland and he came out of there with a couple of prescriptions.  

Then we went down the road to the local pharmacy to pick up his meds.  Road Hog has a UTI, and he was in pain.  He is feeling better, and hopefully he will be well enough to drive us to Odessa in the morning.

The weather has been cold! But still lots of sunshine!  There is a winter weather advisory for Odessa that Aunt Jackie told me about, but I think we will be able to slip and slide in.  We normally don’t travel on weekends, but this is how it worked out for Odessa.  And we can’t wait!

Cisco, TX

 

We got on the road this morning shortly after 9:30.  And yet another sunny day to be driving!  

God Bless Texas!  I have noticed with driving riding in all of these different states, Texas does their state proud by flying their state flag about as much as the American flag.  Why don’t other states do this?  It is so patriotic!  

God Bless America and God Bless Texas!  Come on other states! Fly some flags!

Can you tell we are heading to west Texas?  😁

We had a scare on this drive.  Yes, on I-20 west, same highway as our blow out!  We were driving along, had about another hour before getting to Cisco, and then the loud alarm came on and our dash was saying Trailer Disconnected!!  Oh Lordy! What now?  I looked in the back and our trailer was still there.  We pulled over, put the flashing lights on, and I said to Road Hog that it must be a plug somewhere.  Road Hog went to check and found that the plug from the trailer came disconnected from the truck.  Yes, it was bumpy there for a while so the plug worked itself out.  He plugged it back and our heart rate went back to normal.  Whew! 

Here is our set up.  Road Hog is holding a beer.😂

This is the view behind us.  It is the city of Eastland, TX.

On To Cisco, TX

 

Tyler Oaks RV Park is so nice!  It has a couple of ponds, that come with geese and ducks.

The weather has been great…mid 50’s during the days and low 40’s during the night.  The people have been awesome.  Everyone that we have met have been so nice.

I have gotten out our little blankets and all the animals trade off and on during the day.  Here is Ethel Louise enjoying one of my blankets.  If you look right now, this minute, Tully is enjoying it and Ethel is enjoying another one.  Sometimes I have to say, you kids settle down!  I have 3 blankets out and it seems like one wants what the other has.  

New day, new bug.  This one is called Texas bow-legged bug.  I found this on my shower sky light.  It looks bow-legged doesn’t it? 😂 They eat plants and crops so Road Hog took care of it for me.

Tomorrow we are off to Cisco, TX to a place called Wild Country RV Resort.  We will be there 2 days, then arrive in Odessa on Saturday! I am so looking forward to Odessa!  Aunt Jackie - we are almost there!

Week-End In Texas

Yesterday was Veterans Day!  Thank you to all the Veterans!  Most of my family are Veterans, as is Road Hogs.  Also, a lot of our friends!  Thank you!!

We had a change in weather yesterday.  Thunderstorms and lots of rain.

We even had to use the heat last night, and today.  We have the heat going along with the fireplace.  And we are toasty warm.  We got up this morning at 36 degrees, and tonight we have a weather advisory for freezing weather.  Nice!  Today the sun is out, the puddles are gone, and a high of 50 degrees.  My kind of weather!

After a lot of investigating by Road Hog, we picked this up yesterday.  It is an On The Go Water Softener.  It seems as if we have hard water wherever we go.  We have been looking for this brand and this size for months.  Camping World is right across the street from where we are camping, and they had it in stock.  Now the good news….Camping World had it priced at $350.  On line Camping World had it advertised for $283, and Amazon had it advertised for $273.  Guess what we paid?  Yes, $273.  What a deal!  Ask Road Hog if he notices a difference, and remember, he is a man.  Ask me, and I will tell you what a huge change this is.  My clothes are softer coming out of the dryer, my skin and hair are softer, we can drink water out of the faucet, and just so much better than hard water!  No more hard water stains!  We have 2 water filters outside, and one inside for our fridge.  We do drink water coming out of the dispenser on the fridge, but now we can use the faucet for coffee and for the animals.  Such a win win situation.

Today is slow cooker carnitas day!  This is one of the last gifts my dad gave me before he passed away.  My favorite slow cooker, given to me back about 1995.  It isn’t as fancy as the new slow cookers out there, but it works so well!  The pot comes off the burner for easy washing, (just ask Road Hog!), and it has 4 settings.  Carnitas is a cold weather meal, and because of dad, it’s happening!

Tyler, Texas!

 

Here is a photo I took last night on our last night in Louisiana.  It gets so dark so early!

We left a little bit before 10.  We would have left a lot sooner but someone walking by stopped and had a lot of questions.  No problem, we weren’t in a hurry.

Isn’t this awesome?  What a great way to thank their first responders!  We should do that in every town.  I’m not sure if every town has a tower though.

We are so excited to be back in Texas!  The roads were a bit better too!

Not a whole lot of traffic.  If anything, there were sure a lot of truckers and their 18 wheelers.  Thank you truckers!

Here is our setup.  We are in a very nice park, and they close and lock the gate at 8 pm.  They give out the code if you are out later than 8.  Yeah, I don’t see that happening. 😂

We had a 4 hour drive today and the animals are pooped.  It is like they did the driving!  Here is Ethel Louise sleeping on her blanket.

And Lucy stretched out on the couch pillows.

Then my Tully, who doesn’t take her bug eyes off of me.  She is such a great traveler.  We really lucked out with our animals!

Road Hog barbecued up some chicken and sweet potatoes.  

Since we have stayed in Tyler last year, (at a different park), we will go to the post office to pick up our mail, and then on to the store we love named Fresh.  What exciting lives we live!  We are scheduled to have thunderstorms tomorrow, and some rain.  No problem because we will be in low temps at night!  Whoohoo!

Duck Commander!

 

Does this building look familiar?  We used to watch this show every week.

This is where Duck Dynasty was filmed.  

We went through their store where they were selling duck calls, clothes, hats, and everything in between.

There was even a couple of ducks outside in their pen.

The ducks had a lot of water, and shade.  But man, it sure didn’t smell sweet!

So I noticed this nest when I was walking Tully this morning.  Right in the middle of the photo is a branch with a bunch of dead leaves, and it was all woven together by a web.  Eww!  I don’t want to know what big momma made this!

Tomorrow it is on to Tyler, Texas!  We have missed Texas!  I think we are staying a week, then on to Odessa, Texas to see Aunt Jackie.  Whoohoo!

Alligator Country!

 

Here we are in Monroe, Louisiana, at Ouachita RV Park.  We were on the road, leaving Mississippi, about 9:30.  Kind of warm, kind of muggy, but at least it isn’t raining!

This sign kind of reminded me of the great man Johnny Cash.  Yeah, I’m going to Jackson, look out Jackson town.

I take offense to this sign.  How did anyone even know I was going that way?

God bless America! 🇺🇸

We had to go over the mighty Mississippi.

Welcome to Louisiana!  Where the heat and humidity slaps you in the face! 85 degrees!  Yesterday the record was broke here in Monroe!  It’s still summer!

Drive like a boss!  I think every vehicle should a sign like this.  Drive like Road Hog!

Once again, we were on I-20 West.  This is the same highway we were on, in another state, when we had a blow out.  

We have had really hot, humid days, and tonight, all the windows will be closed, and the air conditioner running.  I mean, come on!  Who can sleep in 70 degree weather?  Not me!  I hear through the grapevine that the PNW is having some very cold weather.  Send some this way!

We have the sun hitting the door all day long.  And what about these ants?!  Did you know that the smaller these ants are, the bigger the bite?  Ask me how I know!  We carry DE, (diatomaceous earth, food grade), and we sprinkle it around our trailer and on the ants nests.  We used this at the farm too.  In the goat barn and in my coops.  It is excellent stuff and safe for animals.  It gets rid of all the different kinds of bugs.  

This pond/lake is beside the RV park.  They have a fence all around it because of gators.  I didn’t see any but I was told that there has been six alligators taken from around this area, but I don’t know where they were taken from.  Could be miles from here. Or it could be right over that fence.  I won’t be here long enough to find out.

I kind of imagine gators living out there.  

For dinner tonight we had shrimp tacos with homemade mango salsa.  It has been forever that we have made this.  I make extra salsa to eat with scoop chips the next day.

This is a pretty good size park.  Lots of nice people.  We are here until Thursday, then on to Tyler, Texas!