kissalostsoul

I was wrong.  Thank goodness enough of you left comments so I didn’t set my clocks back an hour last night.  Daylight Savings Time doesn’t end, and we don’t fall back on hour until next weekend.  In my defense, I looked on my calendar, and end DST was printed on yesterday’s square.  I have my brother, Carl, to thank for that.  He made the calendar that I have hanging on my fridge.  Maybe he was just trying to add a little excitement to my dull life??  If so, he succeeded.  Emma and I were up early this morning to view the sunrise on her first outs.  Yesterday I had thought to head over to the Skillern Tract to view the morning exodus of egrets and cormorants from the roosting area, but I really had to take care of some laundry chores in the morning.  I was scheduled to work in the VIS (Visitor’s Information Station) this afternoon, so I couldn’t do both.  The laundry won out. As usual for this time of the year, it was a slow day...

As I’m sure many of you know, it’s been pretty hot and dry in Texas this year.  Even though it’s located on the gulf coast, the refuge hasn’t been immune to these conditions.  The pond behind the VIS is dry as a bone.  It hasn’t seemed to inhibit the mosquito population, however.    If there’s one of those little nasty things around, they always seem to find any piece of my exposed skin.  I’m itching away this evening. As I left for the VIS this morning, the cold front that moved through resulted in a 38* temperature.   Brrr!  Since it has been so hot up until this morning, the little heaters hadn’t been moved back to the VIS yet.  I was wearing multiple layers and gloves as I opened shop this morning. The clouds had been blown away overnight, and eventually the sun warmed things up.  The butterfly gardens were alive with gulf fritillaries.  I even found several of their caterpillars.  As I walked the paths, they...

At last, I pulled into the volunteer pads this afternoon about 2:30.  What a relief to finally get here.  I’m rather proud to say that I backed into my assigned site on the first try without any mishaps!  I took my time about it, and I think it helped that I didn’t have an audience.  The pad is cement, but the approach to it is iffy.  It didn’t take me too long to get everything set up for an extended stay.  Of the eight RV spots, this one is my favorite.  I’ve come home for the next two months.  As you can see, the skies were overcast all day, and the winds only increased as I made my way into Texas.  By the time I got here the northerly winds were blowing about 30 mph and cold!  Welcome to Texas.  Here’s what I found on the seat of the picnic table after I set up.  It’s an owl pellet, and it seems this owl dined on a digging rodent.  The owls can’t digest the bones and fur, so they spit them up in pellets. Ever...

Yahooie Louie (siana)!  I don’t have to buy any more ice!  The switch out of the sort of old, broken refrigerator, and the installation of the new working refrigerator was accomplished this morning.  I didn’t transfer the few items I had left soaking in ice until about 3:00 this afternoon.  I wanted to be sure this new one worked first, and I have to tell you that I decided to keep the brushed silver doors.  They fit perfectly, and everything on the outside looks the same.  I may actually make it to Anahuac NWR tomorrow… finally. I did notice a distinct odor coming from the fridge this morning, and when I cleared everything out so it could be removed, I found a hidden boneless chicken breast under the cold water.  P-U!!  It’s been defrosted in there for over two weeks.  I don’t know how I missed throwing it out, but I did.  So you know what I did late this afternoon… grocery shopping!  Now I’ll actually be able to eat something ...

When I last left you, I had just set up at Premiere RV in Scott, LA.  Yesterday, Emma and I had to get lost for a few hours while the techs here took care of all the other things on my list that didn’t involve the refrigerator.  You know, stuff like having the generator serviced after all the use this past summer, oil change for the rig, and having the front end panel adjusted so it wouldn’t pop open as I drive down the road.  One of the techs also looked at and fixed one of my sliding closet doors.  I’ve battled with that thing since day one, and it was just getting worse.  It’s all fixed now.                                 (All pictures tonight are from last year’s stay at Anahuac NWR.) There was no better time for a drive to Suire’s Grocery and Restaurant to have my first shrimp Po’boy of the season. ...

…and made it to Thibodaux's Premiere RV in Scott, LA, without any mishaps.  I even found a way to exit Swinging Bridge RV to avoid most of the huge speed bumps and all of the curbs.  The only problem along the 226 mile drive was that the rest area that I planned to stop at for relief for both Emma and me was closed.  I guess it’s a good thing I don’t drink coffee. Last night, after I had set up for the night, Jerry and Wanda from EggRollings stopped by to say hello.  They are fellow bloggers whose blog I follow, and they were camping at a state park in Jackson, MS.  They camp in a Casita and also do hot air balloon flying.  Many of you know it’s always a hoot to meet fellow bloggers on  the road, and we had a short, but enjoyable meeting.  Wanda even volunteered to hold the ‘wild child’ while I took their picture.  I’ve got full hookups here at Premiere, and even set up the DISH this afternoon.  I need to beef up my DVR recordings a...

According to Marlene König the engagement was confirmed between Prince Dominik zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberbg and Countess Olga zu CastellRüdenhausen. Prince Dominik is the youngest son of Fürst Alois Konstantin zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg and Fürstin Anastasia, née Pricness of Prussia and Coutness Olga is the oldest daughter of Fürst Johann Friedrich zu Castell-Rüdenhausen and Fürstin Maria, née Coutness of Schönborn-Wiesentheid. Countess Oklga is also a cousin ofPprince Georg Friedrich of Prussia as her faterh is one of the brothers of Gergo Friedrich's mother Donata.

After buying three more bags of ice this morning, Emma and I pulled out of the Memphis South RV Park shortly after nine.  There was a 30% chance of showers for the journey, and we found ourselves in that 30% for a couple of hours.  Around noon, a rest area appeared so we pulled in.  As I took Emma out for a walk, I made the customary trip around the rig and toad checking to see that everything looked in order.  It did.  Back inside, as I had a piece of that pumpkin pie I bought yesterday, a bus load of tourists pulled in next to me.  It appeared to be a senior citizens group.  They began to mill around in the parking area, and several were pointing at my rig and chattering away.  Several even took pictures.  Curiosity got the better of me, so I leashed Emma, and we stepped outside.  I was hoping there wasn’t something terribly wrong that I hadn’t noticed.  We barely got down the steps when one of the group came over to talk to me....

In weak moments, I sometimes long for a less exciting (or trauma filled) existence, but it usually doesn’t last long.  Yesterday was a pretty calm day, so I planned for today to be the same.  You know what they say about plans.  After sending two more faxes to Samsung this morning, I decided Emma and I should take the scenic 304 route around Arkabutla Lake.  We started out down US 51 which is four lanes with a 45 mph speed limit.  A couple of miles down the road, the car decided to stop in the middle of the road.  It was like someone was stepping on the brakes!  Didn’t have too much control over the steering, and we were very definitely coming to a quick stop!  I almost made it all the way off of the road, but not quite.  I immediately put on my emergency blinkers and tried to stop shaking long enough to figure out what the heck was going on.  Could Emma have somehow pulled up the emergency brake?…no, that was not possible.  The eng...

When I asked the woman at the front desk of Memphis South RV in Coldwater, MS, what to see in the area tomorrow, her first suggestion was Graceland.  She was shocked when I told her I never cared for Elvis.  I guess maybe it’s un-American, but it’s true.  Now, my brother, Kurt, owned a pair of blue suede shoes back in the day, but Elvis just never did anything for me.  I’m more of a white buck type of person.  Since I want to arrive in Scott, LA, on Monday, I decided to spend two nights here.  My drive today took me through four states, and Memphis was a bit of a pucker drive, but by 1:30 I was set up across from a minuscule pond about 150 yards from I-55.  I’m thinking that tomorrow Emma and I will take the scenic drive around Arkabutla Lake.  I may even stop in at the DeSoto County Museum along the way.  Remember when I had HLS (hairy leg syndrome) a few weeks back?  Well, now I’m developing a new malady with these colder temperatu...

By this morning, the rain had blown away, but there was still quite a breeze outside.  I decided to chance it, and left about 11:00.  I normally leave a lot earlier on a travel day, but since I only planned to drive about 80 miles, it was early enough.  It only took about an hour and a half to get to Sikeston, MO, but I’d had enough by then anyway as the winds increased as I reached my destination. I took a few pictures before I left the Marion Campground & RV Park.   After my experience here, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.  On the minus side, the sites are close together and there is definitely road noise from I-57.  On the plus side, all sites are full hookup with cable and wifi.  There is a large area to walk your dog with poop bags provided.  The laundry is $1.00/load to wash or dry, and the showers were very clean with individually locking doors.  But that is just the ordinary outside appearance. Julie Ross, the m...

The last two days have been windy and raining, so my plans to head for Louisiana have been stymied.  I’m still sitting in Marion, IL.  I don’t like to drive in high winds, and the continuous rain added to my reluctance to leave.  Other rigs have pulled into and out of the campground, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.  Both Emma and I are going a little stir crazy, but I hope we’ll get a little ways down the road tomorrow. In plotting my course, I’ve decided to just do a short jaunt tomorrow to Sikeston, MO.  Since the rig can’t be worked on until next week anyway, I won’t kill myself getting there.  Lambert’s Restaurant is located in Sikeston, and is home to the ‘Throwed Rolls’.   There’s a shuttle from the campground to the restaurant, so I thought I’d give that a try.  As I’ve been perusing campgrounds along my route to Scott, LA, I now have a new requirement for where I’ll be staying this trip.  The campground must sell ice....

I’m not going to go into all the details from today about dealing with Samsung, but let’s just say I will be receiving a full refund for the fridge that I purchased last January.  I’ve decided, depending on the weather, to head out of here tomorrow morning, and set my destination for Thibodeaux’s Premiere RV in Scott, LA. I’ll load up on ice before I leave.  I’m using the bottom freezer compartment of the non-working fridge as a cooler until a new unit can be installed.  It seems there isn’t anyone in southern Illinois willing to remove this fridge for service.    Having only a cooler reminds me of my tenting days. I enjoyed visiting Crab Orchard NWR, but I wish it would have been under different circumstances.  I’ve hooked up the toad, and by the time I go to bed tonight all I’ll have left to do is unhook the water and electric.  My latest plan is to make it just south of Memphis tomorrow afternoon.  Wish me luck in leaving Murphy behind in I...

Each Sunday afternoon in October, the Crab Orchard NWR opens some of its back roads to the public for a self-guided Discovery Tour.  Since I have found myself here on an October Sunday, you can bet I took that tour today.  As you can probably guess, the middle of the afternoon on a hot day doesn’t bode well for seeing much wildlife, but there is a lot of history to this refuge.  It was established the same year I was born and consists of 44,000 acres.  It’s main purpose is protect the lands that provide the needed habitat for migrating and nesting waterfowl. Crab Orchard Lake and many of the refuge ponds were created by the CCC in the 1930’s.  These ruddy ducks are some of the early fall arrivals.  My guess is this great egret may head further south as the season progresses.  Several Civil War veterans are buried in the Hampton Cemetery.  The oldest tombstone dates back to 1855.  There is only access to...

After a scrambled egg breakfast (need to be using things up from the fridge before they go bad), Emma and I headed out for Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.  I stopped at the visitor’s center to get my NWR passport book stamped, and to find out about any hiking trails and the auto tour route.  For quite some time now I’ve been interested in purchasing another hooded sweatshirt with a zipper front.  The couple I have are getting rather worn and dingy.  It has been a fruitless quest up until today.  I found exactly what I was looking for at the visitor’s center, and it even has the refuge logo emblazoned on it.  The day was starting out well! The ranger gave me maps, and after seeing me hobble into the center suggested the Harmony Trail for a hike.  Turns out I’ve got a little ‘hitch in my get-a-long’ today.   Growing older isn’t easy some days.  Besides, I could use a little harmony in my life right now. Harmony Trail is a one mil...