Does The Wind EVER Stop Blowing In Kansas?

We were really hoping for some nice weather on Saturday but that didn't happen!  The sun did come out a little bit in the afternoon so Joleen headed out with Glenn to see what they could catch!

 Yes, that's a snake above - a bull snake as we used to call them in Iowa!  My exercise each day was to walk the 1 mile nature trail - it's a great hard packed trail through a few trees and then through a meadow.  There are signs all along the way for you to read on the different animals, terrain and plants.  So each morning and each evening I would walk it ( most of the time in the WIND) and that way I could still eat all I wanted to and not feel bad about it!!

As I was walking the path, luckily I saw the snake before I stepped on it as it slithered right in front of me!!  And later that day, I saw another snake as I was looking out the front window of the 5th wheel - it went right by the picnic table and down into the grass!  YIKES - I am NOT fond of snakes!!

Joleen didn't catch any fish but Glenn caught enough that we could make a meal out of it before Joleen headed back to Salina!

Sunday was Glenn's 64th birthday!  He celebrated by going fishing - his favorite past time!!

 I spent Sunday and Monday just reading - actually read 4 books while I was in Kansas!!  We did get a little bit of sun one day so I hightailed it out of the camper and caught a few rays!

Sunday night a horrible wind storm came through - I thought the 5th wheel was going to go flying at times!!  But it soon passed..................

Another view of our campsite.

 Monday dawned BEAUTIFUL with very little wind!!  Glenn was so happy to NOT have to fight the wind all day - and it was the first night (and only night) we got to have a campfire!!

 And there was a gorgeous sunset that evening!

 Tuesday morning it was time to load the boat back up (he left it in the water right below our campsite each evening) and the wind came up big time but he did get it loaded OK.

 Once again, we hooked it all up and were set to head back to Colorado!

We had just got on the interstate when Glenn thought he saw something fly out the back from the corner of his eye - we pulled over as he thought it was his fishing net but it wasn't so he assumed it was his imagination.  When we got home and I went out later that evening to get my makeup bag, I saw the screen by my side of the bed just hanging so went to fix it and lo and behold, the ENTIRE WINDOW was gone....................somehow it must have came unhooked and the wind must have caught it just right and ripped it off - that's what Glenn had seen!  So now we have to find a new window for the 5th wheel!  Other than that and the unrelenting wind, it was a great trip!!!

Kansas Fishing Trip

FINALLY - it was time to act retired and go on a trip!  We planned a fishing trip to Cedar Bluff State Park outside of Wakeeney, Ks and headed out for a 6 night stay!

I enjoyed planning the meals and packing the 5th wheel with everything we would need - Glenn handled all the "getting ready" part of the truck, 5th wheel and boat!  Yes, we would be pulling both the 5th wheel and the boat!

It did take a little bit of maneuvering to get everything hooked up and WOW did we look long - that's because we were - 65 feet long to be exact!  I could hardly get a picture!

 Luckily the drive out was uneventful!  We did stop about 4 times the first hour to check everything out but it was all pulling nicely and people seemed to stay out of our way!  Glenn had the bright idea to put a sign on the back that said "student driver" - I thought "senior driver" would be better!!  Of course we didn't though..............

We stopped at the nicest rest area I have ever been to right inside the Kansas line - I do have to say that Kansas has nice rest areas - I sure can't say that for Colorado!!  They had a huge info center and handed you a nice road map and info when you walked in and had free coffee and lots of info to browse through!

It did take us a lot longer to get there than what I expected - mainly due to the fact that we couldn't go 75 mph and it was windy - oh that Kansas wind - we fought it the entire time we were there!!  Of course since it was the middle of the week, we had the campground to ourselves.  We opted to do the wilderness section so we couldn't plug in but Glenn had the generator and we had a can to get extra water so knew that wouldn't be a problem!  Glenn picked out the spot we wanted and soon we were set up!

He was up bright and early to go fishing despite the wind!  See this big window at the back of the 5th wheel?  I spent most of my time sitting in front of it in the easy chair reading!!

 And I had a nice view of the lake!!

 Yes, I would have rather been outside reading but the wind was bad - I had rolled out the awning to sit underneath but had to roll it right  back up as I was sure the wind was going to rip it!  So between the horrible wind and the cloudy dark weather, I spent most of the time inside the trailer!  But I wasn't complaining - I had books to read!!

I loved looking at all these dead trees in the lake - Glenn enjoyed fishing around them although he did snag a lot!

 Friday morning we were up and going pretty early (but found out the clock in the 5th wheel was losing time so we were later than we thought!) and headed to Salina to visit my good friend Joleen!!  It was about a 2 hour drive there and we picked up Joleen and headed out to Derek and Becca's business!  I had been there before but Glenn wanted the tour and was quite impressed with all the cars Derek was working on and the ones in the showroom!

 It was great seeing Becca and her kids again too!  Then we went back to Joleen's house for lunch!  Joleen has bought a really nice house and I was so glad I finally got to see it!  Her garden and flowers out back are beautiful!!

 Since Joleen was driving out to our campsite to spend the night and fish, Glenn headed back to fish and I stayed awhile with Joleen.  She took me to the place where she works part time, a really cool store with a little bit of everything in it and then to the garden plot where she has put in a lot of time with the master gardeners.  The plot was really pretty with all the flowers and shrubs!

 We headed back to the campsite then and stopped so I could take a picture of this Lutheran limestone church out in the country - it was pretty unique looking!!

It was SO windy when we got out there that Joleen opted not to fish that evening but just hang out with me and play games!  We all got a great nights' sleep and of course woke up to cool weather and wind again the next day........................To Be Cont'd

If ONLY I Had Seen It......

When I returned from my trip to Lake Havasu, I noticed Glenn had his swim trunks hanging on a post out on the deck - I asked him about it (as we usually don't even wear suits when it's just the two of us) and he told me he had a feeling the neighbor might drop by when he was in the hot tub so decided to put on his trunks.

I decided I would just go ahead and wash them up with my clothes so went out and grabbed them and lo and behold, they were NOT his trunks!!  They were my old gray capris!!!  (very baggy on me and a cinch waist)  I laughed and laughed and asked Glenn about them and he said he thought they fit kind of strange but they were in his cubby so he thought they were his.

Of course I couldn't get him to put them back on but did take a picture so you can laugh with me!!

Furniture and Stone

Every day we seem to be doing something on the house!  And slowly it's shaping up even more!  The furniture arrived for the lower level and that was fun to set it in place so I could finally decorate downstairs!

 Glenn has been busy putting shingles on the back of the house and working on the stone in the front of the house!  The stone really looks nice on the chimney and he'll put accent logs on the sides of it.

 Notice the smoke stack on the roof which also has rock - he still has 1 1/2 sides left to finish.

A lot done - a lot more to do!!

Party Party

Gwyn's 1st birthday isn't until May 18th but the party was early so we could all attend!  Jessi had the house decorated really cute and served snacks and drinks while a couple of games were played.  Gwyn opened her gifts in two different segments and was the most animated child I have ever seen as she saw what was in the packages!!

 Gwyn's not sure what to think of this large cupcake but she soon started getting her fingers into it - very daintily I might add!!

 It's always fun to stand around and watch a little one eat, especially when it's sugar!!  The grownups feasted on a massive chocolate cake - extremely rich and oh so good!!

 After Gwyn's party, we sent the guys and the kids (minus Gwyn who took a nap) over to Jaime's house to relax for a while and then cook us dinner!  We girls vegged out and talked and I made white peach daiquiris and they were great!!  Then we headed over for burgers that Brad grilled and some sides - the guys even cleaned up!!

I opened my Mothers Day gift from the girls - my 2015 blog book printed out!!  Oh how I LOVE LOVE LOVE this gift every year!!

 We had Kylan open his birthday gift since we didn't know if we would be back up to Denver before his birthday!

 I always bring Hostess cupcakes if we're not there for the actual birthday party and that has to suffice for a birthday cake - the kids sure don't seem to mind that!!

 And then Glenn received his gift from all the kids - a really nice lounge chair to take camping!!  He looked at me after he got it and said "So what are you going to sit in?"   And about that time Jessi brings out ANOTHER lounge chair and says to me, Happy Early Birthday!!!  AWESOME - we have matching relaxing chairs for our camping trip - what a perfect gift!!!

 Sunday morning Jessi, Jaime and I went out for coffee - Jill's had went home the night before - and we thoroughly enjoyed that!!

I had fun reading Gwyn a book where you put your fingers through the peep holes and she just loved it!  Jessi was snapping pictures so just had to post a couple of them as they're so cute!!

 Glenn and Evan planted part of the garden that morning - Glenn always enjoys doing projects when he's up in Denver!

After a quick stop at Jaime's, we headed back to the mountains  -  another fantastic weekend in Denver!

Weekend Craziness

You know us - we try to jam pack everything we can in a weekend when we go to Denver and this last weekend was no exception!  Besides Mothers' Day weekend, we were also celebrating Gwyn's 1st birthday, Kylan's 9th birthday, Glenn's 64th birthday plus a soccer game to attend!

Friday was a beautiful day and we had a nice trip to Denver after doing some errands in town.  Because we left earlier than expected, we went to Jessi's office to get chiropractic treatments.  Gary was manning the front desk since Jessi's helper was out of town and the kids were all there since there was no school that day!  Jessi was celebrating her 5th year in business and last week was Cinco de Mayo week so we wore sombreros and chili pepper necklaces and stuffed ourselves with chips and salsa!

Gary fixed us a great dinner while Jessi and the kids and I went for a walk!  And Kenzie decided she wanted a tea party so I certainly obliged!!  Check out her new hair cut - gosh it makes her look older!

 Jill's arrived a little later that evening but stopped over to drop off Aleah and pick up Evan to take back to Jaime's for a sleepover.  And guess what Jill brought me?  A bouquet of lilacs - my favorite flower - I couldn't get enough of smelling them all weekend!

 Saturday morning Jessi and Gary went to work and took Gwyn - Glenn, Aleah, Kenzie and I headed over to Jaime's but not before stopping by to get coffee!  And after we arrived,  this is what the kitchen table looked like - Robby said all we needed were some cups of Starbucks coffee sitting there with these 4 laptops....................and we complain about the kids being on technology!!

 Whoops - a couple of pictures out of sync here - but an awfully cute picture of Jill and Gwyn before her party!!

 Gwyn kept us entertained dancing to the music from her stand up toy - she was a riot bouncing up and down and shaking her arm!

 OK - back to the morning - we all headed over to the soccer field for Kylans' game - LUCKILY Jaime had plenty of coats and sweatshirts to hand out because I certainly didn't pack for cold weather!  I really thought we would be sitting in the sun sweating - instead we were freezing!!  The poor little guys had to cover up with blankets when they would come out of the game!

 Kylan played great and his team won!!  Here's a picture of us trying to keep warm on the sidelines!

 Then it was back to Jaime's for a bite of lunch and over to Jessi's for Gwyn's 1st birthday party!  Check out these cute little girls!!

To Be Cont'd........................

Lower Level Progress

While I was gone to Lake Havasu, Glenn worked on texturing and painting the guest bedroom, along with laying the carpet!  It was exciting to come home to that! 

I was expecting to put a daybed in the guest bedroom along with the queen bed but that didn't happen - there just wasn't room - so I did a little play area for the kids and I know they'll love that!

 And while I was in Savannah, Glenn textured and painted the bathroom (except for the corners which I did when I got home) my chosen color of light gray!  I loved decorating the bathroom with what I had purchased and I think it really came out nice!  The canvas pictures I ordered arrived today so they'll get hung soon!

 Next on the list was painting the large family room - I was thrilled when Glenn told me he decided to spray the paint on - saved me hours and hours as I'm not a fast painter!

And finally it was time to put down the floor - which meant I spent a long time scraping texture and paint off the floor so it would be nice and smooth for the vinyl planks!  Poor Glenn spent many, many  hours on his knees putting the floor down but it turned out beautiful!!

Now that the snow is pretty much gone, Glenn has to concentrate on the outside once again - he has to finish putting the rock around the bottom of the house in front and on the chimney, along with the smokestack on the roof.  He also bought wooden shingles which he is putting on the back side of the house and it's looking great!  And he also is going to rebuild the front deck as he just put a temporary one up to pass inspection.  The weather has been great the last couple of days so he can work on the rocks in the morning when the sun is hitting there and do the shingles in the afternoon when the sun moves to the back of the house!

A fishing trip to Kansas is in the works soon so we're kicking everything in high gear and REALLY looking forward to using the 5th wheel for the first time in 2 years!!