Sunday, October 24, 2010

October 24, 2010

Wow, time really does fly when you are having fun!!!

Can't believe we have been gone from KY for almost 6 weeks. In that time we have gone from the Central Time Zone to Eastern TZ then back thru Central all the way to Pacific then back to Central, Whew...no wonder I can't keep up!!!

Our travels have taken us thru KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, LA and home to TX for a few days. We left the Rig at Inks Lake SP parked in our site for the next 4 months and headed for a SD by way of Las Vegas!!! I think retirement does something to the sense of direction. LOL We had so much fun in Vegas....found several $1,00 blackjack tables. Mike broke even for the week and I lost less than $20.00. Think that is good for an entire week!!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

September 19, 2010

Okay, okay, okay!!!! Will start writing again.

After a HOT, HOT but very enjoyable summer at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, we are "on the road again". First stop is Pigeon Forge, TN home of Dollywood. We are traveling with our good friends, Bill & Marilyn Theis.

After arriving at Creekside RV Park on Wednesday, we looked around the town, ate at a local Mexican restaurant and came came home and crashed. Thursday... we did more touring of the area and played cards. Once again the guys won....but only by about 3,000 points!!! Friday....drove thru the Smokey Mtns National Park. Beautiful country. Very green!! Saturday....Walmart for groceries, then the guys decided to take a nap...Marilyn and I went to a bead store and once again, creative navigation on the way home!! We did make it back for dinner and to watch the TX game.....Hook 'Em Horns!!!

Today...laundry...Mike said he is out of clean undies...told him to go with out and I got "THE LOOK". Who said guys don't do that????? They were wrong!! So guess what we are doing today.

Friday, June 11, 2010

June 11, 2010

Wow...how time flies when you are having fun!!! There has been so much happening at the hatchery the last 2 weeks....getting ready for the Fishing Derby...the Derby (over 1500 kids)...then picking up Tyler and Zach for a couple of weeks stay. WHEW!!!!

Entertaining the boys has been a challenge. Tyler (14) is not as big a problem as Zach (10). We have visited the Corvette Museum, the Railroad Museum and toured the Wolf Creek Dam. Zach thinks we are doing too much walking and would like to stay home and watch TV. Not gonna happen!!!! So far Zach hasn't liked much of anything I have cooked. "NO" to pancakes, breakfast tacos, sweet rolls, hamburgers, hot dogs...just wants to go out to eat or eat snacks! This afternoon we are going to go play Frisbee golf???? Tomorrow we are going to Mammoth Cave. They both should like that!!!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Busy week!!!!






Okay, it is only Wednesday and I am exhausted!!! Monday (day 0ff) I helped put together over 400 fishing poles. Then off to a 5 minute meeting....3 hours later...on my home.

Tuesday (day off) was the best day. Went on the fish distribution trip to Fort Knox. We took both fish trucks...about 8,500 4 to 5 inch trout. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive to Fort Knox. The fish are released into a stocking pond on the fort where they will remain for another few months until they are about 9 inches long. Then they are released into the streams flowing thru the fort. It was an eventful trip...we got the little truck stuck both coming and going!!!

And today (day off) we had 119 8th graders at the Visitor Center. WHEW!!! They were excited to be out of school for the day but no so interested in learning anything about the hatchery....it was just a day away from school.

So far, that's been my week.....Mike worked 1/2 day Monday before he pulled a muscle in his back. He rested the rest of the day and was fine!!! Then he was off Tuesday and today so he worked on his "honey do" list.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

And the answer is........

We finally got the answer to the question...what is fish production....lots of work~!!! Cleaning the raceways, feeding the fish (several times a day), fish count, etc. Wednesday Mike helped deliver a load of fish to the Daniel Boone National Forrest. 3 hours of driving to the forrest, 2 hours unloading fish and 3 hours driving home. Doesn't sound like it but it is fun!!! Next week I am going on the fish run to Fort Knox.

We had a group of about 100 second graders visit the hatchery today. I love working with the kids...they have such a fun outlook on everything. The boys focused on the dead fish and the girls just wanted to feed the fish!!!

The VC has a descented skunk (Squirt)....so far, I have helped give him a bath and walk him around the VC. I have no problem with any of the creatures EXCEPT the snake...I don't do snakes!!!! As far as I am concerned, the only good snake is a dead snake.

We'll see what new adventures await us tomorrow!!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

On the road again.......

Haven't been keeping up with this blog.....thought our life was boring...as I look back over the last few months, I find we have had many adventures. Here goes!!!!

January was our normal TX winter. Cold, rain and not much fun; however, we were working at Inks Lake State Park with good friends. Pot luck dinners, camp fires and playing cards. Such a hard life!!!

In February we went to Puerta Vallarta with our good friends, Jim & Cathy Brockamp. Such a fun trip. Lots of relaxing around the pool and card playing. Touring the tequila factory was great fun....yummmmm!!

March was a very difficult month....my dad passed away March 9, 2010. I spent most of the month in Brackettville, TX with my mother. Daddy was 95 years old and in poor health but that doesn't make it any easier. He was my real life hero that gave me my love of horses, cattle and the great outdoors. Love you and miss you Daddy. The kids came down with their RVs for a few days. It wasn't the spring break we had planned but so thankful they were able to all be there.

April saw us leaving Inks Lake. We went to Belton, TX to be close to our son, Tim, for a few days before he left. He has a few schools to complete before deploying June 8th for a one year tour of duty in Cuba. Tim had a house fire a few weeks ago so Dad was able to help him with a few projects. Back to Brackettville to help Mom with a few projects at her house. Lucky to be able to spend some time with all of the kids before we leave for KY.

That brings us to May....after taking our beautiful granddaughter, Casey, to a movie and dinner for her birthday, it was time to leave TX for a few months. The trip from TX to KY was VERY stressful!!!! On Monday (5/3)we met our friends, Bill & Marilyn Theis, in Shreveport, LA. The best thing at the casino for us was dinner; however, it was quite profitable for Bill. Next stop was Arkadelphia, AR. on Tuessday. FUN stop....we met other TX friends, Bruce and Ann Shove, along with her brother and sister-in-law for dinner. Wednesday, the Theis' and us went to the Crater of Diamonds State Park to search for diamonds...no diamonds for us! Thursday is when all of the trouble started....we lost the U-joint on the truck climbing a steep hill into Branson, MO. YIKES!!!! The truck and 5th wheel were on a steep incline with no way to move. There was not a big wrecker in the area to pull both truck & 5th wheel. SO it was decided to unhook the 5th wheel....thank goodness our friends were there. Bill hooked onto the 5th wheel and pulled it to the RV park a few miles away. WHEW...made it safe and sound!!! Wrecker took the truck to the repair shop. Unfortunately, they had to order a part and it took several days to arrive. We were scheduled to leave Branson on Saturday (5/8) to arrive for work at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery on Monday (5/10). We finally left Branson Wednesday afternoon, arriving at WCNFH on Thursday afternoon. Amanda, the volunteer coordinator, was so sweet and had no problems with us arriving late. WE ARE HERE SAFE AND SOUND FOR THE NEXT 4 MONTHS!!! LOTS OF THINGS TO DO AND SEE.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

January 9, 2010

Okay, let's start this one more time in 2010.....didn't do good in '09. Since I started on FB, I am having a hard time blogging...no farm, no happy aquarium.

We are enjoying Inks Lake SP. The staff is great as are the other volunteers. Mike is working with the other guys in maintenance. I am updating the kiosks. Right now they are so boring, no one reads them so many of the programs are no well attended. I am trying to give some color and a different theme for each of the 10 kiosks. Wish me luck...have to work with no budget, within TPWD regs and park superintendent approval. It is fun work!!!

Will try to do a better job this year!!