Early Fall Wisconsin 2017

I tried getting out for some photos nearby but think I caught fall a little too early as the colors seem to be peaking now. However, I am on a trajectory of loading things up for our imminent departure, so no time now. Marc will arrive Thursday night and we hope to be wrapped up to travel by Sunday or Monday. 

I headed for Wautoma where the Stoneridge Smokehouse is inside the Piggly Wiggly grocery store and loaded up on their great summer sausage and pit smoked bacon and probably ten pounds of cheese. In addition, I am on a new kick of some Wisconsin brewed dark beers. As Marc commented when I noted I may be running out of fridge space in the RV—we can get regular groceries anywhere but can only get the good WI stuff in Wisconsin, so bring all of it you can!

People around here celebrate fall and Halloween in a big and decorative way and driving through the small village of Wild Rose it seems the town businesses are having a scarecrow contest, which was fun.

Marc is more than ready for the break and is anxious for our time together driving west. He works all the time (including weekends) since he lives at the job site and hasn’t had a day off since leaving here at the beginning of September. Yuma has still been quite warm as well. 

We’re enjoying an Indian Summer of sorts so we won’t have to worry about cold storms or not having water as we travel out of here, like last year. I also just found out some good friends of ours from here are due to be volunteering at the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge (near to Yuma) so we’ll be able to spend some time with them this winter. Boondocking is available across from the visitor center on BLM. Having the small rig to take weekend trips will be handy. 

Enjoy your Fall wherever it finds you!

End of Summer

I’ve run out of steam for doing much more to the yard and house this summer it seems. I may yet get more motivation before leaving but Marc would like to time things for my leaving at least by the final week of October. He will fly out and help me drive out in my RV—apparently, he didn’t like the places I stayed my last trip back and was worried sick about me. 

It will be nice to not have to do all the driving myself and I can practice my backing endeavors with an expert by my side. With two drivers, we can also make more mileage each day, because let’s face it, this isn’t a sightseeing trip. I just really don’t enjoy these traipses back and forth across the country anymore; in fact, am dreading it. 

Once back in Yuma, Marc is going to put me to work, which I will welcome. They will be nearing the point on the project for me to observe, organize, and monitor all the sub-contractors for the punch-list items. For those not in the business that term refers to all the items and little nitpicky things that need correcting towards the end. I make the lists and then keep it updated daily for all units. In addition, I will also take on my litter and sweeping duties so I should easily get at least four hours daily. Both our trailers will be on the job site so it will be very convenient for me not to have to commute from our lot. 

Speaking of Yuma, we're getting some good interest in our lot for sale so I'm looking forward to being there and hopefully meeting some of those who have called on it. Many will be arriving in November so we're really hopeful we can get this sold before the new year! Having decided to take the $20,000+ loss on it at its current pricing, it's the least expensive, most improved RV lot in our prime area so there is no reason it shouldn't sell once the snowbirds all arrive. 

Marc was home at the end of August and able to stay long enough for our 29th anniversary. We celebrated with a bonfire—actually, he finally found time one cool morning to deal with our huge burn pile. I had lost several large branches from some of the front trees plus two years’ worth of yard trimmings and debris so it was becoming an eyesore. In addition to that he finally got our front door painted.

A couple Saturdays ago, I once again helped out the shelter with their bake sale at the Fall O’ Rama. It was a very warm day but things sold well, including all the breads I had made for the occasion. Given the technique I use to make my peasant bread, the process takes two days and I can only make four loaves at a time so I started devoting many hours to the task in August. They upped the pricing on items this year and marked $7/loaf and my bread was still gone before noon. Guess folks really enjoy it! Yes, that is a girl walking her goat: ya gotta love small town celebrations!

It’s been a strange weather year here (as elsewhere) with a relatively cool summer and now a hotter fall with lots of abnormal humidity. Colors are changing but they seem very muted and it’s a rare tree that has reached its normal glory. I’m not certain if I will get many eye candy pictures this year. Guess you’ll just have to tune in next time.

Goodbye Rocket

It’s one of those times when I just haven’t had much to say or blog about. My heart was broken about three weeks ago, when I found it necessary to give up on one of my cats; something Marc and I never do. 

Rocket came from the shelter in Yuma at only nine weeks old. We lost our golden boy Tucker to old age and disease and Rocket then became our sole cat for a couple of years. He was a handsome cat, lean and mean, and I doted on him and spoiled him rotten; no doubt contributing to his later bad behavior as we added additional members to our pet family. He was meant to be an only cat and preferred being outdoors hunting and having little interaction with people, even us. Despite this, he always made a good travel cat, curling up on my lap and not making a sound for eight hours at a time. He made life hell for the other three cats though and they lived in constant threat and stress from his unprovoked attacks. The thought of trying to corral and live with them all crammed into the small trailers this winter was weighing heavily on my mind. I’ve been contemplating getting him another home for the past year or more.

One day, agitated by the sight of our other male cat Jerry, Rocket turned on me and bit me hard on the wrist sinking all four canines deep into tissue. I knew it had to be viewed as the last straw so I immediately started looking for him a new home, an outdoor home. With the help of one of the shelter employees a new home was found, so on a lovely Friday I leashed him up for the last ride we’d take together. I handed him off at the shelter after saying goodbye to his quivering body as he obviously did not understand what was going on; and I headed home, and promptly broke down for two days. It was as bad as if I had to put him down. I think you can read the agony in my face in this last photo the night before, as he sat with me as if knowing something was up.

It's an awful thing to part with an animal that has been with you every day for five years plus, despite if the animal is an asshole in his way. He was also full of his fun little ways and quirks, in the prime of his life and he was a hunter extraordinaire. In fact, that’s the reason his new owner wanted him—to become a barn cat and help clear her 80 acres of rodents and pests. He should be excelling at his new station in life, free of other household pets so he gets the entire thing to himself. I know I couldn’t have asked for a better situation for him but I still miss him dearly and it’s an ache that will be there forever for having to give up on him. Stay safe my dear little Rocket man.

RV Lot: Huge Loss for us—offered at $58,000. Must Sell!

(Given the hurricane activity in Texas and Florida this season, Arizona might be a safer bet!)

Bargain hunters, you will not find another prime location lot improved to this degree for this price in the Yuma Foothills! We are serious and need to get this lot sold!

Lot is in Phase 29 of the Foothills between the two golf courses and is zoned multi-use for RVs, manufactured or stick built construction. It has been improved with raised walls, large entertaining patio, mature landscaping on drip irrigation, two full hookups and small shed. It sits among very nice homes on a quiet street just two blocks from the edge of the desert to the east and all its activities.

The neighborhood is a mix of full time residents and seasonal visitors and has always been extremely safe and very friendly. Most are original owners and almost all are stick built construction. The lot has sewer, water, cable and APS for electric. The shed is 8x8 on cement pad with lots of shelving for storage and a water softener. Also included is an outdoor table and six chairs and a lovely full size cement fountain, all of which sit behind a privacy wall. We can offer immediate possession under a rental agreement until a close of escrow so you can arrive in Yuma knowing you have a beautiful spot for your RV this season!  Repeat: we must sell this season so please make us an offer and we may surprise you! Thanks for looking! (park model pictured has been removed).