"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime"-MARK TWAIN

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Yippee! Short Sleeves

 

We arrived at Gunter Hill COE campground around 3 PM on Friday. Located just out from Montgomery, AL.  As we drove through the campground we saw that a few friends were already here.

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Our site was only 185 feet long.  Didn’t know if we were going to get the Casita and truck both safely on.  Glad that I knew how to back a trailer well.

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As we were to be here for nine days, I went all out.  The Univ. of Arkansas easy up went over the 8 foot table.  It brings lots of comments as we are LSU fans, and have the appropriate signs on the truck.  The awning is out, and staked securely.  Seven chairs scattered around. And, a load of firewood delivered to the site.

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Recently renovated, this is the nicest Federal campground we have visited.  Great paved roads, concrete sites, and full hookups make it a deal, even without the geezer pass.  Lots of space between sites and there are dozens of prime sites.  Haven’t seen a one that I would complain about among the 75 sites, here.

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Being Sunday afternoon, most of the weekenders are pulling out, and fiberglass can be seen shining through the trees in both directions.  Another day or so and we will have taken over Catoma loop.  It’s going to be a great week.

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View from my chair.

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Oh, almost forgot.  The sun is shining and I’m in a short sleeve shirt.  Maybe shorts, tomorrow……….

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

A Bit Early!

 

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Seems as if my post from a couple of weeks ago contained some gross errors.  It was reported that Spring had finally arrived here in the deep South.  Though there were signs of that actually happening, I should have paid more attention to that groundhog that lives someplace up North. 

It was eighty degrees here Sunday.  A beautiful day that had me out loading some stuff into the truck, checking tire pressures on the truck and Casita, and getting excited about getting on the road again.  Woke yesterday (Monday) morning to temps around 33 degrees, wind chill of 21, and snow flurries.  Quite a change.

This morning we have a temperature of 29, freezing rain and sleet.

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I’m sure all the blooms that may remain on the fruit trees are covered in a sheen of ice.

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The prediction is for it to change to rain soon.  Sure hope so, but you know how those announcements and predictions go……..jc

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Spring is Sprung; or something like that!

 

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You know Spring is just days away in our part of the Country, due to a very unique occurrence.  It isn’t the first Crocus to bloom, or the Redbuds bursting to life, overnight.  Nothing so peaceful and calm.

It’s the first major tornado watch of the year.  That’s how we gauge Spring’s arrival.  Two weeks ago, we were thawing out from our third snow/ice event of the year.  Today it’s 85*, with lots of juicy humidity.  A nice little cold front is approaching at fifty miles per hour.  Where and when these two systems meet later this evening could bring some fireworks.  Hopefully it won’t be as bad as the talking heads on the television make it out to be. 

There are other signs scattered around the home place.  A few trees are showing buds.

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Daffodils and Crocus are peeking out of the cold ground, and beginning to bloom.  Sorry to say, I don’t know the difference between one and the other.

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The armadillo’s have started digging up the yard.

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And, the blueberry bush’s are about to burst out in bloom.

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All are signs that Old Man Winter is on his way out.  Not to say that he doesn’t have another blow or two, just that he’s going to lose out real soon, now.  Once the first blooms appear, it seems a rush by all to play catch up.  I predict that within two or three weeks we’ll be green all over.  Just in time for Green Eggs and Ham.