Friday, 10/16/26, Windy and Cold, Only got up to 53 degrees here in Arkansas, went for two walks, ate at Papa’s Mexican Restaurant, played 3-13, so much fun just hanging out together. Tomorrow many of our friends get here, praying for their safe trip

One of these three puppies will be ours.  They are all so cute!

Bill relaxing outside.  We had to put our awning in because it was so windy with 44 mph gusts

We took a beautiful ride on another amazing country road

Max and Wookie in Muskegon. They went there to look at the huge waves.  Melissa took videos.  So amazing to see waves like that.  Wow! 

It was cold and wet there.  Melissa knows how to bundle up

The waves were going right over the lighthouse.  They were also going over the pier not to far behind Melissa and Bruce

Melissa took this picture of the beautiful sunset

This kiddo looks so cute.  I sure am missing my sweet boy!

 Got up at 8:30 today.  It was cold outside in the low 50’s with high winds and gusts up to 44 mph.  We put our awning in last night when it started getting windy.  We saw it was supposed to get really windy today, so we kept it in.  We got ready and ate cereal for breakfast.  At noon, we went for a walk around the whole campground so got a mile walk in.  We walked extra trying to find Al and Lucy’s spot so Bill could take a picture of it and send it to them.  We came back and played a game of 3-13.  I won by over 100 this time.  We went for another walk after we were done.  I talked to Vikki and Kimmy on the phone a lot.  We had a group call.  They were excited that they got their free birthday breakfast at Denny’s and it was so good.  I love how they can go together and get the same birthday treats.  Another nice thing about being twins.  We met a lady named Karen here who is a twin.  She loved that our twin had twins.  She and her husband Dan were so nice.  We came back to the camper for a while and sat outside.  It was very nice out there with the sun shining.  In the evening, we went on some rides down back roads.  They were so much fun to ride on.  We had seen these roads and wondered where they went, so decided to explore.  What a fun time.  They were in the woods so the wind didn’t bother us.  Just enjoyed riding on them.  We went to Papa’s Mexican Restaurant after we were done riding.  Bill had nachos and I had a wet burrito.  I got the lunch special, since we were there before 5.  The food was really good and we both brought some home.  We also brought lots of chips and salsa home.  

It was starting to cool down more on our ride back to the campground.  We were both dressed warm though and I have a heated seat so didn’t get cold.  We played another game of 3-13 which I lost by a few points and then played dice which I won by a few points.  We sure are enjoying our time together.  

I worked on my blog after that.  

Thursday, 10/15/26, Slept in, took our showers in the camper, love having full hookup, went on Motorcycle ride,talked to Vikki and she said there are new pictures of the puppies, went to Walmart, went to McDonalds, back and relaxed at camper, talked to Vikki and talked to Melissa

Bill relaxing this morning

Went on a motorcycle ride on one of our favorite hilly and curvy roads

Passed this plane on the ground with the propeller to the left of it.  Don’t know the story behind it.

Puppies at 5 weeks old

Pancake

Toast

Muffin
 

Donut

Biscuit

Bagel

Waffle

They are all so cute

The Kiln is loaded to maximum capacity and there is a new electric box so it can now be used again. 

The Russells have been very busy...this is only part of what they have made that’s still in the house.

 We slept in again.  Starting Saturday, we will have to be getting up early, so we are enjoying a few relaxing mornings.  I got up before Bill and did my Bible reading and prayer books.   I made my coffee and had his set to go when he got up so he could just push the button.  He drank a protein drink and I had a banana for breakfast.  I took my shower while he was reading his Bible.  It is a really nice shower.  After he finished reading his Bible and did his prayer books, he took his shower.  

We ate lunch, then went for a ride.  We went down one of our favorite roads that is super curvy and hilly.  It wasn’t as thrilling as riding down that curvy downhill road the other day with the motorhome pulling the trailer.  It was 85 degrees out, but this road was nice and shaded so it felt nice and cool riding.  We went by the Air B & B we stayed at with Ziggy one year.  It sure is easier staying on Iron Mountain where everything goes on.  We went to Walmart for a few things, then went to McDonald’s and I got a Mocha Frappe.  Bill didn’t get anything.  We came home and I worked some on my blog and Bill took a nap.  I talked to Vikki and Melissa for a while.  We all loved looking at the new puppy pictures.

Bill and I played a game of 3-13 and the only time one of us was negative was Bill the first hand.  This time we were both very positive, but during the last hand Bill became more positive than me by lots of points and lost.  

Wes and Gayla made it as far as Lexington today.  They started out when it was 51 degrees out.  It was 80 degrees when they got to Lexington.  

I talked to Kimmy and we enjoyed going over the puppy pictures too.  They got their new electric box in the barn, so are able to use the Kiln now.  They have it loaded to capacity, and will be running it soon.  They also lots on their cupboards to go in the kiln, and more on shelves.  I am so happy for them to be able to get lots made for their busy season.  I love all the things they make.  They are my favorite potters.  Eli doesn’t have his MRI appt. yet.  It sure is taking a long time.  No fun to have to be on crutches.  I’m glad Kimmy’s doctor appt. went well and she got a good report.  

Bill and I rode on the trike to the Chopping Block for dinner.  It is a nice restaurant with good food.  It was packed when we got there but empty when we left.  It was around 7 when we got there.  

I finished my blog when we got back.  

Wednesday, 10/14/26, Quiet relaxing day at the campground, went for a walk around the campground, did some visiting, sent Wes and Gayla a picture of their campsite, went into Mena, walked through shops downtown, went to Bealls, played cards in the afternoon and at night,

Took pictures for Wes and Gayla of their campsite and showed them this is what is across the road from them

A little ways down the road is the sidewalk and steps going into the pavilion where services are held and dinner is served

Bill on our walk through the woods

Our camper is parked at the top of the hill on the right side of the road at the end

Bill did a great job parking the camper and set up was quick and easy

We went on a nice ride into Mena where we walked downtown through the shops and then went to Bealls, which is my favorite store in Florida.  I was so happy when I found out they had one here.  It is such a nice store.

Bill trying the donkey hat on for me...we need to put it farther down on our face so it’s eyes show.  He is ready to squeeze so his ears go up

Ta Da

Our friends grandsons from Petosky...Nick in the orange is running 100 miles from Petosky to Alpena.  He ran it in 23 hrs. and 30 minutes.  Finished 23rd out of 215 other runners, 3rd place in his age group.  Just amazing!  I can’t imagine running for 100 miles.  His brother Peter ran a ways with him to cheer him on.  

 We slept in til 8.  I made my coffee and set the Keurig to make Bill’s.  All he had to do was push the button.  Bill read his Bible while I got ready.  I went outside and read my Bible.  It was already getting warm and was 75 degrees out.  We got three 5 minute downpours today.  There is a fire ban here, so rain is a good thing.   We walked around and took a picture of Wes and Gayla’s campsite and surroundings and sent them to them.  We talked to a couple of CMA guys sitting by a tent.  We knew Joe, but not the other person.  We got introduced.  He was from Louisiana.  We talked to them for a while, then walked into the pavilion and looked around.  Then we walked back up the hill to our camper. We played a game of 3-13.  Bill won by a few points.  We rode the trike into Mena and walked around downtown in some nice shops.  Bill bought a visor extender for a dollar.  Then we went to Beall's and I got a couple of cute things for the kitchen and bathroom, and two cute tops for $11 each.  Bill saw that it was supposed to rain, so we left and headed back to the camper.  After we got in the camper,  Bill said he couldn’t find his second wallet.  He thought about it and remembered taking it out of his pocket in the bathroom and setting it down.  He headed back to get it, while I called and let someone know.  This really nice kid with Down syndrome, that I noticed working in the store being so kind to people, answered the phone.  When I told him what happened, he said he would check to see if it was still there.  He had it by the time Bill got back there which took about 10 minutes.  Bill was happy to have it back and so was I.  I had spaghetti made by the time he got back and we ate that and some delicious rolls from Lambert’s for dinner.  I hung the curtain in the camper that goes in the hallway of the camper.  Ziggy will be coming to stay with us next Tuesday through Saturday.  He has stayed with us a few times in the motor home and we stayed with him at an Air B&B.  We are on the go so much here and meals are provided most of the time, plus we go out to our favorite restaurants during the rally, so it’s pretty easy going here.

I talked to Vikki for a while.  She said her arms where she needed injections are feeling better.  She and Peyton went to our house today and Peyton got the mail and brought in the trash bin, while Vikki watered my indoor plants, checked Kit Kat’s cat food and checked on my fish.  All was well.  Thanks Vikki and Peyton, we sure appreciate you helping us out.  

We played a game of 3-13 and we both were negative the whole game except Bill in the first hand and me in King and Ace rounds.  I won the last round where we play 2’s are wild so stuck Bill with some points and got myself back into negative again.  Bill won again, but not by much.  We played dice after that and I won, but not by much.  We had lots of fun.

We read our devotions, then I worked on my blog.

Tuesday, 10/13/26, Went to Buc-ee’s after we ate breakfast in the camper, drove most of the day, making a few stops, got to Iron Mt. at around 4:30, talked to Gayla, talked to Vikki

We got to Buc-ee’s at around 9.  It was only about 4 miles from the Cracker Barrel we stayed at.

Great deal on gas for what we’ve seen.  $3.67 so we filled up 

;

Huge Jerkey department

The guys made all different breakfast sandwiches with egg, cheese and brisket or turkey.

They had the different sandwiches in containers according to what kind they were

We got 4 big cookies for $1 each

Took this selfie with the sign in the background before we left

Tonight Bill let me sit on the winning side of the table.  I have lost the last two nights at everything, so I told him last night I needed to sit on the side he was on.  Me -54 and he got stuck in the last hand with lots of points that took him to 78

We played dice afterwards and I shook at least 4 thousand point shakes.  Then I shook the 200 I needed to win in the first shake once I was close enough to 10,000.  It sure was fun sitting on the winning side of the table lol.

We drove most of the day after getting to Buc-ee’s, shopping and then getting back on the rode.  It was a nice day with it being cloudy which helped with the hot day, not feeling so hot.  It was 90 degrees out.  We stopped at a gas station to use the restroom on our way through the country.  We found just the donkey hat we need.  The ears pop up on this one.

This road was long with many signs saying steep incline, sharp curves.  Yikes, I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride. Bill did a great job driving.  The road was very narrow with washouts on the shoulders in lots of places.  Scary!  Very thankful when we got off that mountain road.  Ozarks!!!