May 29, 2009

We stopped in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a couple of days to see Brent and Jen Walker. Brent sold us two of our motor homes while he was at Lazy Days in Florida. He now works with his brother as the F & I Manager at Walker RV Center in Tulsa. Jen is selling real estate for one of the local builders. They live in nearby Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. We had a great time catching up on all the details of each other’s lives over dinner and then went to see their beautiful home. If you are thinking of relocating to the Tulsa area, keep Jen in mind for a great deal on a new home. If you are wanderers like us and need or want a new fifth-wheel or travel trailer, stop and see Brent. I know they will treat you like family and see that you get a fantastic deal. Some of you that have been to Lazy Days may recognize Brent. He was one of their better sales persons. About a year ago they decided to move back to Brent’s hometown in Oklahoma.

This is our second trip through Oklahoma and we understand why they want to live here. This is a wonderful place and this time we saw some of the magnificent beauty of Eastern Oklahoma with its rolling hills, wooded areas and terrific lakes.

Lake Tenkiller, the deepest, clearest, most beautiful lake in Oklahoma. With nearly 1,300 acres available for camping around Lake Tenkiller and along the Upper and Lower Illinois River, the Tenkiller area is the camper's paradise.

After reading this description in a brochure at a campground, we want to return and spend some time along Lake Tenkiller's shore in this place they call a campers’ paradise. Perhaps some of you would like to join us.

May 24, 2009

We’ve been in Red Bay, Alabama at the Tiffin Motor Home Factory campground for the last two weeks having them make some repairs on our RV. Here they do everything and almost anything. In warranty and out of warranty issues are handled in the same facility. The only difference is who pays – the customer or the company.

There are 93 full-hook up and 8 water-electric hook up campsites that are free if the repairs are in warranty and $10.00 per night if out of warranty. Tiffin prefers to handle any and all service needs and requests. We are experiencing first hand the outstanding Tiffin Customer Service. Bob Tiffin, his sons and the entire Tiffin team truly care about the customer.

Here are a few pictures from Red Bay, Alabama:

This is the walkway thru the center of the repair bays.

Here we are in repair bay #4.

We experienced a few rainy mornings in the campground.

The campground with the repair bays on the left.

This is the runway (overflow area) behind the campground and repair area. This area used to be a small airport.

May 17, 2009

Here in the campground office they sell fresh from the farm bacon, sausage and eggs. So after Church this morning, Vera cooked a fantastic breakfast. We had scrambled eggs with diced potatoes, peppers and a hint of onion. Of course we had some of the outstanding bacon also. I can’t remember when I’ve had bacon that tasted as good. Here is a picture of the Master Chef and her helper.

Later we drove about 40 miles to Florence, Alabama to get Charlotte’s medicines refilled at the nearest Walgreen’s Drug Store. We’ve been told that it is easiest to use Walgreen’s as they are everywhere across this great country. Red Bay, the town we are in at the Tiffin Factory doesn’t have a Walgreen’s so we had a nice little drive through the countryside.

On the way we stopped at the Coon Dog Cemetery. Only actual hunting coon dogs are buried here. We have been told that it is quite an honor to have your dog interred here. As in other parts of the country, hunting is a longstanding tradition in this area and good hunting dogs are highly prized possessions. So it seems only natural that they have their own special place of honor and can be remembered and talked about forever.

There is a fenced monument celebrating the coon hounds barking tree.

This is a pleasant place on a hilltop-overlooking prime hunting woods.

Some of the dogs have simple hand written wooden markers.

Others have elaborate monuments to mark their graves.

Some markers are very unique.

It was an enjoyable stop. As an animal lover, I’m glad we had the privilege of seeing such a wonderful place. It is nice to know that people have such high regard for a good hunting hound that this place was created.

May 15, 2009

Today is Charlotte’s birthday. It is fantastic that we can celebrate this day together. This special day is much more meaningful to us since her stroke in January. I now truly understand what it means to almost loose someone who is not only perfect but also irreplaceable.

We are at the Tiffin Motor Homes factory in Red Bay, Alabama for some repairs on our motor home. We are in the northwest corner of the state and close to Mississippi so tonight we celebrated with Richard and Vera at a family restaurant in Belmont, Mississippi. We had a great dinner and an enjoyable evening with great friends.

Char was excited to get phone calls from Mike and Jill wishing her a Happy Birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE

May 6, 2009

Vera’s sister Christel, her husband, Doug, and her 3-year-old Granddaughter, Ren, came from New York State and stayed with Richard and Vera for a few days. It was great to see them again. We went with them to Disney World a couple of times. They also had fun at Sea World and the local beach in St. Cloud. I’m not sure who had the most fun Ren or the adults. Here are a few pictures of the time we shared with them:

Sometimes Ren let others carry her.

Sometimes everyone waited in a queue.

Ren is ready to go on a Safari.

Good hearted Christel helped others by taking pictures for them.

Ren enjoyed the Lego store at Downtown Disney.

Wee! I love riding this horse. Can we go again?

What a great looking desert.

It was large enough for everyone.

Ren liked the cherry.

Is it really gone?

May 2, 2009

Today Mike and Jan took us to Green Meadows Petting Farm. We spent time riding on a train, enjoying a hayride, seeing and petting many animals. What a great day! It was very therapeutic for all of us. We should do this more often. Here are a couple of pictures.

There were two wagons full of people for the hayride.

Jan volunteered to lead a pony so this little girl could have a fun ride.

People feeding the sheep.

The potbellied pig enjoyed the petting as much as the kids did.

Jan is good at handling animals.

Charlotte got in on the fun petting a baby duck.

One of the many colorful peafowl.

This all white one was beautiful.

We even saw an albino squirrel.

Today was a lot of fun and I don’t think we would have done this by ourselves. Thanks Mike and Jan for a wonderful day.

April 29, 2009

Char’s brother, Bill, and his wife, Jeanette, came from Indiana for a few days to visit with us. It sure was great to see them. Since her stroke, Char talks about Bill all the time. He suffered with shingles for several months and Char worried about him. He is better now and it was good for Char to see that he is okay. Maybe now she can stop worrying about his illness.

We went to downtown Kissimmee to visit a Red Hat store and a very large antique store. It was fun and Jeanette found a few Red Hat things she didn’t have. We visited the local hardware store also. It was established in Kissimmee in 1876 and moved to its new location in 1890. I think Bill likes old hardware stores as much as I do. I’m not sure the ladies enjoyed it as much as we did. I did buy the parts Bill recommended to fix my air chuck/tire gauge for putting air in the RV tires. With Bill’s assistance, I made the modifications and everything works great.

We went to Orlando so they could see their first IKEA store. We spend three hours shopping and had lunch there also. Jeanette saw several things she wanted but was careful and only purchased what she could fit into their almost full car.

Thanks Bill and Jeanette for coming to see us. Your visit was exactly what Char needed.