Back to reality

Location, Home

We arrived back home yesterday about 4:30 PM after spending a week in the Bay Area. The drive up was slow because of traffic but coming home was a breeze by comparison.

Besides eating too much, we shopped for bargains, visited Richmond and Point Richmond, and spent one night with friends Jack and Judy south of Ukiah, CA.

Something I never do is watch movies, at least hardly ever. I just don’t think much of the movies being made these days. However,……that being said, I did watch lots of movies this past week. Five or six I believe and enjoyed them all. Thanks Cindy and Gary.

Today it was back to reality! We got all the Christmas decorations down from the garage attic and put up the outside lights, put up the tree, which had a light problem (more on that later), decorated the tree, and more or less put up all the other decorations. As usual, we have way more decorations than we need. I suggested to Clyda that we could forgo all this if we sold the house and lived in the RV. No room there for “extras” which would be nice. Sigh…..I guess that won’t happen.

As to the “light problem”, I bought this tree with all the lights installed so all I do is plug it in. Alas, one half string didn’t work. It had multiple burned out bulbs which mystifies me. Craig helped me check some but we finally decided to turn that part of the tree to the wall and trouble shoot the problem after the holidays. The tree looks fine even with those lights out.

I am working on our travel plans for after the holidays. Part of those plans fell into place today with the arrival of an invitation for a 50th anniversary reception in Indio, CA in January. It will be our first stop for the winter.

Not much new

Location, Home

I actually left the car at the dealers for two days as it was done late on Thursday and I didn’t want to fight traffic to pick it up. I did pick it up Friday morning and the safety items added were a piece of plastic near the visor over each door. It matches and looks like it came with the car so no big deal.

I picked up a cold so am lying low for a few days.

I also need to make a selection for my Medicare supplement as my former employer dropped our insurance. It came down to cost so I elected to go on Clyda’s insurance but I get to keep my own doctors. No vision care coverage so we will pay for our exams and buy glasses in Mexico. Much cheaper that way.

I have been reading all the RV blogs and am jealous of those folks who are situated in their winter RV parks already. Getting anxious to go myself.

It is raining right now and flash flood warnings are up for the burn area. I don’t think too much rain is expected.

We will be leaving for the bay area tomorrow for Thanksgiving with friends and a few extra days of bumming around.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and special congratulations to my niece Angela, her husband Jim, and son AJ, on the birth of their second son yesterday. Way to go!!!

Chasing mice

Location, Home

I took the car in for lube, oil, and filter this morning. It also needs a safety recall item installed. I decided to just leave the car and came home by the courtesy van. They called later and said that 2 items need to be installed so I will just leave it until tomorrow.

I removed the stove from the RV to check a potential problem with the oven burner. It sounds like a blow torch when it gets hot. I couldn’t find any visual problem so I hooked up a propane tank to it and ran it for 2 hours with no problem. I reinstalled it in the RV and ran it and still can’t repeat the problem.

I also have been doing mouse patrol. I don’t have any mice right now but the little buggers have been getting in too frequently. I sealed all places in the forward bay where they might get in and also found what I think is the real culprit over the rear tanks where all the wires, water, pipes, etc come through the floor. There are 3 large holes to bring all this in so I filled them with expanding foam. I hope this cures the problem. I still have a few places in the frame where they might get in so will work on those tomorrow.

I have started to think about what we might do after the first of the year as far as travels go. A little planning gets the old Hitch-Itch going, that’s for sure.

Fires in California

Location, Home

I am sure everyone knows about the devastating fire near here in Montecito which destroyed so many homes. They had such terrible winds which drove the fires everywhere while here about 12 miles away we had no wind at all.

I have been on to the local city and county websites for information as they have listed residences by street address which have burned. I have a friend who along with her husband owned three houses in the burned area. It looks like all three burned. One was unoccupied as it was sliding down the hill, one they lived in up the street while building a new house further up the street. The new house was finished and cost a bunch of money. All gone now. Down the hill from the original house was one owned by someone I worked with. That house is gone also. All burned in a matter of minutes. Most people barely had time to get in their cars and leave.

Wedding reception

Location, Home

On Saturday we traveled to Thousand Oaks, CA to attend our nieces wedding reception. Chelsea and Steve were married in Maui on October 18th with just a small wedding party, hence the blowout reception on Saturday night. And what a blowout it was. Chelsea had planned it all and it turned out perfectly with cocktails on the patio, tables for eight with black table cloths with black and white runners, large table center pieces with votive candles and flowers, and great food.

Place cards.


Table center piece.



Beautiful tables set for eight.



Chelsea and Steve.



Clyda’s sister Candi is here from Washington state for the reception and to see friends. She will leave for home on Saturday. She and Clyda have been busy going here and there.

I have been unloading the trailer and truck. I dumped and flushed the tanks today. I still need to remove everything from the forward bay to see if there is any more mouse evidence and check the under carriage to see where they might be getting in.

Home from Death Valley

Location, Home

Just a quick note tonight as I had a really long drive today. I left Death Valley at 7:20 AM and arrived home at 4:20 PM, a 9 hour drive. I did make a few stops but still, it is a long drive.

More later.

Groceries and.....

Location, Death Valley

The weather changed on Friday. It was very hot during the day but as evening came the wind came up and so did the temperature. The wind did die about 10:30 PM but the temps stayed high. It was in the high 80’s at 3:30 in the morning. Sleeping was miserable.

About 7:15 AM on Friday, it started to sprinkle. It did this off and on until about noon. It didn’t stop our annual chorizo and eggs breakfast. That, along with refried beans and burritos makes a breakfast of champions.

Saturday was a busy day as we had grocery shopping to do. We drove to Shoshone, CA for their annual Death Valley Days which run all this weekend. The weather was mild with no wind which is unusual for this time of year. After looking at the crafts for sale and browsing the new and very good display of women in Death Valley at the museum, we drove to Tecopa and the hot springs. This is an annual stop for us. It cost $5 for all day but we only spend about 20 minutes in the hot water. After a shower we enter the pool to soak. Men and women each have their own pools as no clothes or bathing suits are allowed. Birthday suits only, thank you.

Refreshed, we move on to China Ranch, south of Tecopa for a date shake. This is a real high light on a warm day.

Back to Shoshone then on to Pahrump, NV for propane, lunch, groceries and fuel before heading back to Death Valley. Mean while, there is a black cloud to the west which looks ominous to say the least. Shortly after leaving Pahrump we run into rain which is heavy at times especially at Death Valley Junction. The rain ends as we enter Death Valley and descend below sea level. The sun and clouds make for breath taking scenery around us as the hills light up.

It had rained in the valley while we were gone but we had a very pleasant evening around the campfire.