Two months and a lot has happened

It's been over 2 months since my last post and quite a bit has happened.  Mike and Meredith Ryan spent a month here so we saw them several times.  They are HitchHiker friends.

We went to the new Sunliner Diner for their $5 hamburger night.  We haven't returned but always have $1 tacos Mondays at Cactus Cantina, Shrimp Basket Tuesdays and Sundays, Fridays at De Sotos or Papa Roccos with a large group plus spontaneous get togethers.  Judy and I still enjoy Krystals breakfast.



Here's a picture Jody sent, it's used for promotions at the hospital she works for.

We sold our beloved HitchHiker we have lived in for almost 12 years, it was purchased by a nice couple replacing their 1996 HitchHiker.  They will be using it as snowbirds at Gulf State Park.

BYE BYE HITCHHIKER!

Here she is below being set up on February 12th at the new owners site, we went over to help them their first time.

 Randy spent a week in the UP snowmobiling with friends and spreading his best friend's (Chris) ashes on the trails.

Here's Dustin in the back seat and one of Brianna.

Clayton and Pat came over for a couple days to checkout the new house.  We had movers move the two recliners, couch, small dining table and two chairs, and a small side table into the house February 11th so we moved in to.  There are no major items to finish but several smaller items on our punch list.  The biggie is the walk in shower.  Judy is not happy with the quality so it was agreed that The Grove will have Renato replace it later this spring.  He does GREAT work.  Clayton and Pat have their feet up allowing the robot sweeper that Randy gave us for Christmas do its thing.  Clayton brought us 3 chairs and an outdoor patio table he cleaned up and painted.  Thanks Clayton! 

 Maria celebrated her birthday, I believe it was number 15.

Here's Jody and Renato all spruced up for the Bully Ball charity for bull dogs.

Here's some of the entertainment we have at the new home.  Judy's sitting in our driveway watching a new house across the street being installed.

 How about the tomatoes on the plant we have beside the house. 

Jean.....here's the new house pictures you asked for.  We have also replaced our F350 dually diesel with a used 2018 Chrysler Pacifica minivan.

 

 

 

I started this blog in September of 2007, five months after we started our full time RV adventure.  Since then we had stayed in all 48 lower states and three or four of the Canadian maritime provinces.  Our, especially Judy, only regret is that we didn't go to Alaska.  So, after 11 years and 10 months traveling and living in our HitchHiker we have settled down in Foley, Al.  Future travel will be by minivan to MI to visit our son and Judy's sisters; to GA to see our daughter and her family; to NC to see our granddaughter and her husband; to FL to visit Judy's brother and gal pal.  There will be a few casino trips to Biloxi and elsewhere.  And so, this is the end of my blog.    

 



New home construction update

It seems the activity has picked up on the home's construction.

 

 

In the picture below, taken by a drone, our home is to the left of the pile of red dirt in the lower right corner.  You can see several trucks and trailers around it.  Click on the picture to enlarge it.

The red dirt has been spread out and there's a house there now.

The move has started! Renato's backsplash

It has started!  The house is far from ready as the carpet and flooring has to be installed, the shower tiled, some drywall repairs made inside.  Outside the shed and carport has to be finished and the sunroom built.  We wanted to take advantage of kid slave labor while they are here so we packed stuff in the HitchHiker and moved it to the new house bedroom.  We made 3 or 4 trips with boxes and bags.  This will help a lot.  The new washer/dryer has also been delivered and will be installed when the floor is finished.

 

There's still lots yet to move; cloths, food, pots pans and dishes, the basement, bathroom stuff but we can do the leisurely once the house is done.  I expect that we'll pay another months rent through mid February and close and move into the house in January.

I think Renato got a little bored here and also wanted to do something for us so he spent 2 days putting his mark on the house by tiling the kitchen and both bathroom backsplashes.  The tile he and Judy chose is much nicer than what the builder was planning. THANKS Renato and gofer daughter!

 

   

Our good friends Don & Zola have returned after spending Christmas back in MI with their family..  The 31st is Zola's birthday so we all went to Steamers so they and Jody and Renato could have oysters.  Don brought the birthday cake.  After this we went back to the kids condo and said goodbye to them as they are headed back to GA in the morning.

Just after New Years Devyn and Dan went to visit Jody and Renato the kids and the dogs.  Here's a couple pictures from their visit.  Looks to me like they were having fun.

 

 

 

 

  

Christmas

Jody, Renato and the kids are here for Christmas and are staying at a condo on the beach.  Randy is in MI enjoying work.  Sarcasm there.  When they arrived we met at the Shrimp Basket.  Christmas morning we were at the condo about 9am and the kids were hot to trot to get into their packages.

 

 

Renato prepared a nice meal of honey ham, pork, carrots, cauliflower, taters, fresh baked bread and mushrooms.  We all ate our fill. 

 

The weather has been great with sun and high 60s for the first half of their 9 days here but warn weather is still forecast but with lots of rain the last half.  We have also been to Steamers as they love the oysters there.

                                                      

                                        

The day they arrived we went to the new house so they could check it out.  We returned a couple days later because Judy and I had to meet with Patrick to discuss and plan a few things.  Renato brought us two orange trees he's been growing for 3 or 4 years from seeds.  He purchased a shovel, some good dirt and some fertilizer and planted the trees for us.  Thanks Renato, I see oranges in the future.

Judy still loves palm trees and I was surprised she didn't want one at the house.  Guess what?  The Grove planted some around the pond we are on and there's now one between the house and the pond.

The kids spend one afternoon and evening at OWA, the new Indian amusement park, shops, and convention center and I'm sure casino when Alabama allows them.