One of the things about friends

Is that it's just so good to be with them ... it's such a warm and sniggly feeling to hang out with pals .... two feet or four ... it's just a good thing (oh please, I was NOT quoting Martha there trust me I would NEVER quote Martha, never, ever ever!)

I had mentioned in my previous post (or perhaps the one before that) that last weekend our friends Richie and Mary (and Arlo's best friend Casey) had been here in Middleboro with us ~ above is a photo that I finally loaded from my phone to the laptop - Casey and Arlo trying to get a drink of water from the same bowl at the same time - it was pretty comical - Arlo being 89.3 pounds and Casey weighing ..... um maybe 70 pounds (???)

Friends .... last night "Moelicious" came to Middleboro to hang out with us - it was so so so much fun to spend time with her again. Maureen and I worked together for several years but prior to that Maureen and Rick's wife Nancy (Patrick's Mom) had a long long long history (fond history) that Maureen and I figured out about the second day we worked together (it was that darned Weymouth craziness - UGH I guess I was a victim of it at that point - in a GOOD way!). In addition to that (or to continue the connection I guess), Chad had done architectural drawings for a remodel of a restaurant in Weymouth that Maureen's grandfather owned many years ago, one of Rick's old stomping grounds and a place that Donna (sister of Rick's wife, Pat's Mom ~ Nancy) had worked at for quite some time, many years ago .... are y'all confused with all that? Sorry, but it is ALL good stuff .... warm, loving, good stuff.

Anyway, when Maureen (aka "Moelicious" - Rick gave her that name .... what can I say?) would visit us at this campground years ago she always delighted in the garnishes I'd do for the "vacation cocktails" I'd create for us ... example above and below. Does Maureen have the most beautiful smile or what!?! I've missed you lots Maureen and was so happy to see you last night ...

Today was a great day for us Whelan's .... Rick got on his bike to attend to a Social Security error of great significance ~ he had a great ride ... Sir and I did a couple walks around the campground, then Sir got to go swimming at a close by herring run (inactive at this time of year) then he and I went for a nice ride to the "wood man" (where we buy our campfire wood) and came home and we just "chilled" outside (well were we really chilling if it was 85 degrees - probably not but we had a great mental chill - much needed after a week that was pretty intense - too intense) and Rick returned a couple hours later and was pretty happy to just join the Arlo/Tracey chillfest!

In closing this post I am trying to fathom the things that Walter Cronkite (R.I.P.) had seen in his life, in his career .... gosh, how many events ~ wonderful, historical, awesome, sad ~ it surely ran the gamete .... what a life he had, what a career he had.

"And that's the way it is"

No pictures, no video ;-(

Appreciated your comment Bethalene - I swear you and "Good Paul" are the only two that have stuck with me through these post "pauses". I still can't seem to upload the video (Rick told me a long time ago not to whine on the blog about my technical inability (read challenges) so I won't go there!

Rick and I have gotten through three days of labs, scans and doctors appointments. The BEST BEST BEST was yesterday when Rick's cancer doctor "cleared" him for another year.

While waiting for me to get done with my doctor Rick ran into an old friend JJ - who was more surprised to see the other I'm not sure!

This evening around our our campfire (much to Rick's chagrin ~ perhaps a topic for another "slow post" post) this evening I asked Rick how his doctor was (they have a looooooong history together) and if Dr. Carl had asked about Rick's travels (as he usually does) and Rick's reply among other things was that Dr. Carl had asked him if he had learned any new skills along the way! Isn't that an interesting question?!?! I am certain I will still be pondering that at 3:00 AM. I was trying to recall when was the last time I "learned a new skill" and I guess it would have been within the last six months (thankfully, because I was certain my mind was far beyond (and not in a GOOD way) learning ...) how to finally do a "proper" quilt binding by hand. I've been quilting for about 100 (alright maybe 35) years and finally "got it" with the binding thing!

So when was the last time YOU learned a "new skill"? I just LOVE that question.

Now with medical appointments almost over we will work on our "to do" list (see even in a motor home we have that flippin' list) ... not to mention a list of things we need to take care of in our "old area".

Speaking of our "old area" we had a WONDERFUL dinner with our former neighbors last night and I was delighted that the boys - Joe and Patrick - remembered us! I had very very VERY mixed emotions about seeing our old house ... it was in fact, bittersweet, BUT the new owner (a single guy in his late 20's or early 30's) has really done a fabulous job on the yard (he wasn't home - thankfully or not) ... he has put lots and lots of work into what I thought was a nice yard - he put me to shame .... it was so very sad to see my perennials gone - some of them had a family history - they were offspring from my Mom's gorgeous gardens, but that is a price you pay when you sell a property with gardens I guess! But the yard now is far superior to what we left! I really wanted to see inside the house because I knew from talking with him two years ago he had MAJOR plans and I really would loved to have seem the results ... Maybe it was a "blessing in disguise" that he wasn't there - who knows. I guess I will "let the mystery be". I was delighted with what I saw however, and didn't have a "nervous breakdown" over it.

That's it for this post I guess ... off to la la land (!!!!) for me.

Back in MA

We left New Hampshire last Friday and arrived at our "old stomping grounds". We are at a KOA in Middleboro where we often came for weekends when when we were in Whitman.

Our friends Richie and Mary and Arlo's best friend Casey were here with us for the weekend - we often camped together in the old days ... it was a great time.

This week is health week for us - lab work yesterday, Rick's scan this morning and doctor this afternoon and we both have doctor appointments tomorrow. After these appointments it is sort of hang loose and relax time. Tonight we are having dinner at our old neighbors - can't wait to see them.

Hopefully I'll get myself to the laundry room here soon. Rick discovered a major lint buildup in the dryer vent in the coach and we haven't had a chance to rectify it so until then it's community laundry areas, which is alright by me - at least it's quicker!

Below is Sir and his new toy from Snoopy. Arlo just loves this chicken. I took a couple videos of him playing with and "talking" to his chicken but can't seem to upload them ~ gonna keep trying though because it is pretty funny.

It's a bird, it's a plane

WOW ~ HOLY MACKEREL ...... I THINK IT IS ... NO IT CAN'T BE .... IS IT REALLY THE SUN?

After constant rain for the last several weeks it finally happened!

A few days ago we were in Concord (in the car of course) and stopped at a restaurant in Hopkinton on the way home (actually, I think it was the day of my trip to the Concord Hospital) - check out this old Cadillac - Rick was pretty impressed!

Last weekend we went to visit my nephew and his wife and son (Owen, Jess and Brayden). Below are Rick and Brayden looking over some old (really old) Peck family photos. Brayden is quite a bundle of energy - I had forgotten how much energy and 23 month old has, but boy is he entertaining and just a funny funny little boy who LOVES his dog!

And once again, proof of what a tough life Sir Arlo has!

We are still in New Hampshire but headed to Middleboro, MA on Friday for a couple weeks before leaving New England. Rick will have his doctors appointments while we are staying in Middleboro. We will be heading to the Peck Family Christmas BBQ on August 1 then may or may not be heading to a motorhome rally in VT before heading to the Great Lakes before starting our journey south to the Keys!! Yippy, the Keys again!

A week later

I don't know if I mentioned in my last post that we had moved to a different site (same campground, different site) and no longer have the campgrounds wifi and we are under so many trees and down a hill that we can't get our satellite - hence not so frequent posts!

Anyway, Rick and the group went back up to Laconia on Saturday (I sat this one out as well because I'd been to the hospital the day before to find out I now have bronchitis). Sunday evening we were at Pat and Beth's fro Father's Day and spent the night so I am on their internet connection!

It has rained constantly here for the past week and a half. There was one break on Tuesday I think it was so we were able to get the bikes out and ride for a couple hours. Rain is predicted for the rest of the week, but at this point SUN is predicted for the coming weekend - we will all keep our fingers crossed on that one. Hopefully we can get the bikes out again!

I was so frustrated the other day with the hospital deal, but after several days of going into these coughing fits and not being able to catch my breath Rick convinced me it was time to do something. There are not walk in facilities or urgent care facilities in these parts so Blue Cross sent us to the e.r. at Concord Hospital! Seems like a hell of a waste of money to use an e.r. for such a thing, but that was the only option.

We will be in NH for another couple weeks then to MA for two weeks after which we head to NY and VT for a couple weeks (doing a rally in VT we think) then heading to the Great Lakes.

That's the brief post for today - hopefully the next one won't be a week away or as brief!

Yesterday Rick headed up to the Laconia (on his bike - it is the start of Laconia bike week) area with friends Richie and Frankie.

I headed out to an Artisans Faire in Hillsboro Center. Hillsboro Center is different from Hillsboro and about five miles north (??). The rain finally took a break and it was a lovely sunny day. Check out this tree that was in the "yard" where the faire was. That is a hole right through the tree! One of those weird things I guess that just catch my eye sometimes!

Hillsboro Center was a beautiful little town with gorgeous old homes on lovely acreage. The tree however was the only photo I took!

Today we are off to Chad and Amy's to meet Amy's mom. Arlo will be going with us so he will meet Indie. Chad thought it would be best if they met at a dog park (good idea as it is "neutral territory") and hopefully they would be worn out and wouldn't run around like nuts on Chad's hardwood floors, probably making all kinds of racket for the landlords who live below. It is however raining, pouring (the break was so nice yesterday but didn't last long enough for sure) so I don't know if we will still be meeting at the dog park. I think it may be "weird" to me to be back in Boston.

The weather for the rest of the week is ~ you guessed it ... rain. We have no plans although we had discussed a bike trip to Laconia on Friday - we shall see. We need to find Arlo sitting for probably Thursday and Friday nights if we do that. Also, Sir needs to visit a vet this week for a rabies shot and heart worm test - so I guess that gives us something to do part of one day.

I did finish the quilt I'd been working on yesterday while Rick was gone. Other than that I continue to have this mental block about my sewing machine. I have some hemming to do on a couple pair of pants and there is a quilt store in Henniker that I'd like to visit - I am looking for a fabric with small flamingos to do a wall hanging for the bedroom - where I intended the flip-flop wall hanging (that turned out to be a table topper) to go. I have the best intentions and then get lazy and sit doing word searches or reading (not to mention eating and drinking and expanding, ever expanding). But at least I am feeling better!

remember the song?

Whose lyrics are........

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY ....... Like how 'bout 60 days from now .....

j.c. get this flipping rain AWAY .... can't stand anymore cold, rain, rain, rain, rain, cold, rain, cold, rain, rain, cold, cold, cold .... We've had the heat on four mornings in a row ....

I used to HATE it when my mother in law would sit on my/our deck wearing blankets and sweaters commenting on how cold it was. Yes, it used to irk the heck out of me ... my thought was, you know what, it is cold here in MA in April/May and you should know it after spending how many years in the area .... well ..... history is repeating itself isn't it .... and yes, it is MID june .... UGH UGH UGH cold damp ... sweaters and afghans ......