Tennessee Vols 35 Georgia Bulldogs 14

Are you wondering why the title to our blog has the score for a football game? And one that we have no vested interest in at that? Might be because we were in the thick of all the fans today as we took a trip to the World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville! We had a clue that a game was being played on Friday as we were driving into Knoxville! Lots of cars with flags, pom poms in their back window and even a few that had pom poms secured to the outside of the car! Orange prevailed everywhere you looked! Even the service guys in the Buddy Gregg facility! :-)

In doing a quick search on the internet, I saw that there was a "Sunsphere" in the World's Fair Park downtown. It had recently opened thier 4th floor observatory to the public so we decided to venture down there. Hadn't gone too far when the traffic slowed on the highway and a sign alongside was flashing "Urgent Message tune to am 1620". Quickly tuned in and found that they were advising traffic to avoid the downtown area. Not good for tourists who didn't have an area map, no GPS and only vague directions on how to get where they were going! :-) Since we are California natives, we decided that we wouldn't let the traffic detour us...and it didn't! Glad that we didn't try to go around or make the decision not to go see it! Traffic was nothing!! Oh yeah, it slowed a little, but nothing to write home about! It wasn't long before "game" traffic went one way and we went another! Actually, they should have followed us! We got off following downtown signs, and quickly realized that we were amongst a lot of game traffic and game parking! We found a parking area near the Park and told a very nice attendant that we only wanted to see the Sphere. He let us park right there and off we went! The park is really beautiful and had lots of water features! There was a fountain that the kids loved playing in and would have been great to cool off in - and I would have IF I had dry clothes and a towel! Found the Sphere and the elevator that would take us up to the 4th floor! There was also a big football bash going on up on the 6th floor...you could even hear the music on the 4th floor! There were some great views of the city from up there and a sea of orange all around! From our view we saw a parking lot with lots of canopies set up so we decided to walk and see what it was! What is was, was a lot of tailgate parties for both sides! Lots of orange AND red around! On every corner you could find people looking for tickets and selling tickets as well! The good thing about it...we were going in the opposite direction! Enjoyed walking around the World's Fair park, seeing the view from the sphere and seeing all the Vols and Bulldog fans!

Snow Geese!

The other day while we were at the house it was getting late when a flock of geese came flying overhead. I think they turned and went around in a circle because they came over the house again. They were so low (or our house is so high in the back) that we could actually hear the flapping of their wings! It was so weird! There was hundreds of them...it kind of reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (remember that movie?) They weren't in a very organized formation, but then again...there were a LOT of them! I don't think I've ever seen that many birds flying at one time before!

This morning we left Shirley, AR (where we are parked while building the house) and headed towards Knoxville, TN. We are heading for Buddy Gregg's (a motorhome dealer and service) where we will have our annual service work done on our Aqua Hot (water heater/heating system in the motorhome) and a few other things. Tonight we stopped in Yuma, TN which is beween Memphis and Nashville. We should get into Knoxville tomorrow and will spend the weekend checking out the area while we wait for service on Monday. Originally our plans were to continue on to Urbanna, VA but our plans have changed. We were joining our friends, Rick & Joanne Stone at a Monaco America rally. Unfortunately, they have had to return home and we decided we would wait to go with them another time. They were the only ones we would have known at this rally. Not that that's a bad thing, but our contractor was a little disconcerted that we would be gone for three weeks or more (and I think my mom was a little bit too)! So it really was for the best that we will just take this "short" trip and head back to watch the progress of the house. Troy, our contractor thinks we will be "roughing" in the plumbing and electrical in the next two to three weeks, but I don't know! I hope so, but I'm not holding my breath!

Before we left, we did pick out our plumbing (faucets, tubs, shower, sinks, etc.). I almost forgot one of the best things! Last Saturday we went to a store in Marshall, AR called Roten's ("www.rotensfurniture.com"). Roten's has the absolute MOST moose things in one place than I've ever seen before! It was awesome! I saw so many things that I didn't have and of course, tons of things I MUST have! :-) They had some awesome furniture and tons, and tons of moose things to decorate with! I KNOW we will be going back before we move into the house! We've been to quite a few furniture stores in the past few months. We haven't purchased anything yet, since we have no place to put it, but we have definitely found our dining room and master bedroom furniture! I think we've also picked out our pool table as well! It's almost overwhelming to have to make all the choices for the house and also furniture as well!

Grandparent's Day!

Ashleigh was so excited that Grandparent's Day was coming up! She reminded me several times about the date! She called last night to remind us and wanted to remind me to "bring money for the book fair"! How smart was that for the school to have thier book fair AND Grandparent's Day at the same time? The school is brand new this year and can really use lots of things for the entire school, but the book fair is going to help the library with some much needed things! From the looks of things, they should have made a lot of money since there were a lot of Grandparents buying their grandkids books and other things!
For lunch we had chicken nuggets, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, pineapple tidbits and a roll. We also had our choice of milk, chocolate milk or tea (no tea for kids...just adults)! All for the price of $2.25! Sure can't eat for that at McDonald's! Yummy! The kids that didn't have Grandparent's got to eat their lunch in the gym and have a picnic! The kids that DID have Grandparent's didn't have to eat quite so fast and got to leisurely eat their lunch! Of course, most of them were so excited anyway...that it took longer to eat than normal!

They also had pictures for $5.00/each! Now how can you resist that? Of course, I would have taken my own , in fact, I asked the photographer if he would take one for me. He did, kind of relucantly! I did buy one before I even asked him to take the picture so I didn't feel too bad asking him to use my camera as well! When I asked...no one was waiting in line!

After lunch and taking pictures, Ashleigh got to take us to her classroom and show us around! Since she was one of the last ones back, we didn't stay too long but got to see her desk and where she sits! She was very excited to show a couple of her friends the books that Grandma & Grandpa had bought for her! It was so funny to see the interaction! Her teacher spent a few moments talking to us. She was also very proud to tell us that Ashleigh had just moved up in her reading group...she's in level 8 already and after 4 weeks of school, her teacher told us that they expected them to be at level 4! Way to go Ashleigh! Ashleigh has always loved to have you read to her and one of her favorite things to do is to have a "read along book". Of course, her mom and Grandma have always loved to read!!

We had a fun time today and wish we had the opportunity to do it with all of our grandchildren! It's so hard to think that this year Ashleigh is in 1st grade, Allison is in 2nd, Shae is in 3rd...and it won't be long before Justisse and Brian are starting school as well! Before we know it, we'll be attending our first graduation from high school! Man these kids grow FAST!

The lumber pile is growing smaller!

It's getting pretty exciting as the walls and now the sheeting on the roof are going up! It's so much easier to visualize the house with the exception of all the lumber "inside" the house! It will eventually come out when the roof is all sheeted. The guys have been working hard this week to get the front done so the bricklayer can begin laying the brick on the front. We've been told that it will still be a few weeks before they are done getting the roof "stick" built and get the "paper" on. I hope it's soon that the inside is covered so it doesn't get wet it's already been wet a few times and there are a few ponds after a rain, but mostly because the wood nailed to the floor is holding it there! The garage(s) and the great room were able to have joists because of the long "runs" and the slope of the great room but the rest will be built by hand and therefore take longer. It's been fun to be able to watch the guys and I am amazed at how they can easily walk along the beams or work up in the air!

Do you see the picture with the equipment raised in the air (not sure what the "equipment" is called, except that it goes up a LONG way!)Well, actually there's someone inside the bin, but isn't the bird flying next to it kind of cool? I thought it was, but then, I'm easily entertained! :-)

And finally, Don took a picture of me for a change! I'm not behind the camera! I'm in the great room! :-)

As always, lots of pictures of the progress in our Picasa Web album, it's here...

From California to Arkansas and on to Indiana!

Don and I left California on Tuesday morning, Aug. 28 at 8:30 a.m. We didn't intend to do it, but we ended up driving all through the night! Guess I should mention that although we flew there we ended up driving back in Earl's Cadillac. Earl loved that car! Don decided that since we were building the house and now only had one car that we needed another car. Since you never get what it's worth, he decided to keep his dad's car. We weren't sure it would make it or if we would be buying a car in New Mexico or other parts unknown! We already had to have it towed one of the first days Don used it, but it made it and so did we! At 12:00 noon on Wednesday we pulled into Cabot, Arkansas to pick up Tess from Kim & Tim!! That's 25-1/2 hours only stopping for gas, potty breaks and food! Have to mention that Tess wasn't that excited to see us! I think she had a wonderful time playing with Bandit and Missy, being able to run in the yard and being able to go outside whenever she wanted! Once we got home, she even slept in her crate with her back to us! Not her normal!

Spent some time trying to get my mom unpacked since I had basically left right after her furniture and stuff had arrived! Kim & Tim had gone over while we were gone and helped tremendously where I had to leave off! I knew that we were due to leave again, so I tried to at least get the boxes out of her house!

Took off on Friday heading to Wakarusa, IN to have some things worked on in the motorhome. We had some warranty work done earlier and they still weren't working or fixed properly. Left fairly early in the morning and drove to Stanton, Missouri! It had been raining off and on since we left Arkansas and had let up by the time we stopped. Stopped at the first park, I went to pay and found out that it was the "honor system" (you pick your spot and then pay using an envelope put into a box). We started around a corner and quickly got buried in mud! Don tried a time or two getting out and finally we decided to unhook the car and back out a ways. Tried twice backing up but got stuck once we tried going forward again! A simple solution really...we backed right out of the park! Hooked the car back up and on down the road we went! Decided that we really didn't want to chance getting REALLY stuck! We would have had to unhook the car anyway and the chance of getting satellite was pretty slim! Although we don't generally like staying at KOA (Keep on Adding) parks, that's where we ended up!

Early start the next morning and headed out! Driving through Gray Summit, Pacific and St. Louis brought back lots of memories of when Kim, Nathan and I lived there for a few years in the early 80's! Again we had rain off and on but nothing like the rain we had as we were driving through Indiana north of Indianapolis! Shortly after the radio had an emergency broadcast siren warning of flash floods, flooding, etc. Decided we really wanted to get to Elkhart Saturday so we could have Sunday free. After all the rain and being gone, the coach needed some cleaning inside and out! Ended up getting to Elkhart about 5:00. We found a campsite at Camp Monaco, Elkhart with no problems. Lots of empty spaces on Saturday evening but by Sunday night we were glad that we had gotten there when we did! Sunday was spent cleaning the coach! Don did a nice job shining it up outside and getting all the dust, road grime and muck off!

Monday morning Don was up early and headed into the Monaco lobby to sign us up. They told him that we were in the wrong place! We were supposed to be 8 miles down the road at the Wakrusa facility! Since we were already "ready" to go into the service bay, it was no problem heading out and driving to the other facility! We decided that once we got here...we really like the Elkhart Service Center better! This Service Center has no hook-ups, there is only a dedicated parking lot. The lounge leaves a lot to be desired...in fact, Don and I were the only ones in there almost the entire day on Monday! In Elkhart, a local RV dealer brings donuts on Monday and Wednesday...nothing in Wakarusa! That really ticked me off...I missed the donuts! :-)

Don and I took a journey over to a couple of the Amish furniture stores nearby! Lots of beautiful furniture but right now we have no place to put it if we did get anything! Not to mention that at the rate the house is going...no telling when it might be ready to move into!!

Today is Tess' 3rd birthday! To help her celebrate we took off for a few hours and went to Shipshewana to the Farmer's Market/Flea Market that they have on Tuesday and Wednesday! I wasn't too impressed with the flea market so Don and I went into some of the shops. Found a few things that I couldn't live without and found an awesome bed, dresser and nightstands! The only bad thing is that since it's Amish owned...there is no website! :-(

Thought that we might finished today, but I told Don that more than likely we would be. Sure enough, once we got back...we weren't done! Won't be leaving on Wednesday morning! Might be afternoon, but it won't be in the morning! We can't get back to Shirley (RV Park) before Sunday anyway! The park is having a big "bash" this coming weekend, and they had already told us they would be packed! So there you have it...not sure when we'll head back for Arkansas and might stop off to "see" some things we haven't seen before!

The pictures on this post...lots of Amish around the area! I wanted a picture of one of the buggys driving around and lucked out with four in one! The horse on the end was very small! When I went to take "his" picture...found out there were a few kids inside! The horses must be very used to getting their pictures taken! They looked right at the camera and stood still!

A floor, walls (and a wacko dog)!

Haven't done much updating lately, but you can watch the progress on our house at http://picasaweb.google.com/vickileith/EmeraldIsleGreersFerry. Took Tess over one day when they had put some of the floor joists up. Now there is NOTHING under these...except the ground which was 6 feet or so below! They are spaced something like 16" apart (or whatever they are supposed to be) and Tess is trying to walk on them! Of course, we didn't let her get too far because more than likely one of us would have had to go "rescue" her! We took her down more than once, but she kept on trying to cross them! The good thing was she didn't see the guys walking on them or she would have really been trying to walk across them!

I think it was the same day when she got "trapped" underneath! She was so funny! Barking and barking because she couldn't find the "door" to get out! The sides are still open above the block so she could see out, but she wouldn't jump out that way! She could see us up above, but couldn't figure how to get out of there! I finally had to go down and show her where the doorway was!

We left for California shortly after the first picture was taken. To say that we were disappointed when we returned is an understatement since very little had been accomplished. We were gone for two weeks and all that was done was the floor was laid and the walls were marked on the floor. Once we got home, however they started working on the house again. Not sure how long that will last since we left for Elkhart, IN on Friday! Before we left though...they had begun putting up some walls! It was pretty exciting to see the walls going up! Sure makes it seem more "real"! Don "helped" with standing up two of the walls! I told him that they were going to end up charging

us more when he was in there offering his help! :-)

Between the time that we got back to Greers Ferry and left for Elkhart we spent a day on the lake with Kim, Tim and Ashleigh - in OUR boat!! After more than two years out of the water and a few $$ making sure everything worked right we had a fun day out on the

water! Of course, you always have your doubts if it will run or even start, and after Don fired it up it seemed a little rough, but soon it was just like it always was! Ashleigh and I had a great time in the water! At first she kept telling me "don't let go" but after a little while she was swimming between Tim and I and didn't want anyone holding on to her at all! The water is so clear and felt so good! :-)

Some of the Best Times...

Are those spent with grandchildren! :-) I always love spending time with our grandkids. Whether it's just for a few minutes or all day, it just can't be beat!


Ashleigh & Grandma - Greer's Ferry Lake, AR (Aug. 31, 2007)





Allison & Grandma - San Gabriel, CA (Aug 17, 2007)



Brian, Allison & Grandma - San Gabriel, CA (Aug. 17, 2007)

Brooke & Gary - Aug. 25, 2007

This is the reason we were supposed to go to California in the first place. The marriage of Brooke & Gary on Aug. 25, 2007. Don and I obviously had to go earlier than we had planned because Don's dad got sick and ultimately passed away. We wanted to have the memorial service as soon as possible so that there would be more time between the memorial and the wedding. Brooke has waited a long time to get married. I think if you look at the glow on both her face and Gary's...it was a wait well worth waiting for! She made a beautiful bride and she had a beautiful wedding! Although they weren't there physically, Jane & Earl had a front row seat! :-)

In Loving Memory...

Earl Alexander Leith
May 16, 1918 - August 11, 2007

At long last he's with the love of his life, Jane, once again! We may miss him, but oh, how happy he is to be together with her again! I just know that he will never, ever let go of her again!

I don't know how many of you are aware of it, but Don and I got married on Jane & Earl's anniversary - January 12! I figured it worked so many years for them that it would work for us as well! While we've only got 15 years so far, they had 58 years together!

So...Just what have *I* been up to?

First of all, this house is no longer white, but a nice cheery yellow! It's not our house, but rather, my mom's new house in Fairfield Bay, AR! Ever since we decided to build a home here my mom has been looking at real estate and sending me places to go check out. My sisters really didn't want her to buy something at this stage so when I found this nice little house that had just been completely gutted and remodeled we had to move fast! Rentals around this area go fast and so did we! Based on my opinion and the pictures that I sent her...my mom decided to move into this house! A few days after making this decision...I flew to California to pack up my mom! We didn't waste any time. I had my work cut out for me and work we did! Not only did we manage to pack up all her stuff (she had lived in the same house for over 12 years), but we shipped her car, shipped our boat, rearranged our storage container (with lots of help from my son), had not one but TWO garage sales and were able to fly out on time (on time...that's a later part of this story)!

BTW...see the storage container? That's where all our belongings are that aren't in the motorhome! While it may not look too pretty on the outside, it is so clean inside it's amazing! Actually it really stays quite even temperatured inside as well! It was a great investment instead of paying for storage every month! In anticipation of our move, in a few months (well, o.k. maybe six or so) I had to put everything in boxes and gather up all the "stuff" we had elsewhere! Nathan and I did a lot of packing and arranging to get everything inside so that movers only have to come and load up for the move to AR.

To get the boat ready for transport, I rented a truck (remember I flew here) and pulled it out of the barn it has been stored in for the past two years! Took it to my mom's and cleaned it up a little. The next day it was time to take it to the tire store for four new tires! I told the guy at the tire store that I only "did" forward! I was very proud of myself...never cut any corners too short and was able to back it up, just a little to get it parked while I went into the tire store! Two days later it was picked up and on it's way to Greer's Ferry, AR. It actually made it there before I did!

Moving day arrived and we were ready! The bad news for the day...the load prior to my mom's had taken up more room than they had anticipated. Since they guarantee the pick-up date (and we were flying out the NEXT day), they picked up her stuff, off-loaded it in their storage facility in Temecula and a few days later it was picked up by the driver bringing it to Fairfield Bay! By 2:00 pm we were done, the house was clean and we were on our way! Spent the night at my sister, Kathy's and the next morning she dropped us off at the airport on her way to work!

Since I was flying with my mom's 16-year old cat, Nicole, I flew American Airlines (Nicole flew in the cabin with me, under the seat) and my mom flew by herself on Southwest since it was cheaper! Our flights left within 1 hour of each other. I left first flying to Dallas/Ft. Worth and my mom flew to Las Vegas. We both were to arrive in Little Rock about 30 minutes apart - NOT! I had no trouble with the flight from Ontario to Dallas/Ft. Worth. In fact, even got on the plane in Dallas/Ft. Worth and it departed almost on time! From there, it went from bad to worse! Pull out from the terminal, and head for the runway. The pilot comes on and tells us that there are 10 planes in front of us...it would take about 2-3 minutes each and we would be on our way. Not much later and he comes on and tells us that we're delayed because of weather...and it did begin to rain. A little thunder and more rain and we begin to move. The pilot comes on and tells us that due to the wind change, we are changing runways...from the south runway to the north. Once we all make it to the north runway...no rain! Still didn't take off. The pilot comes on - again - and tells us that the two planes that have left have had to divert quite a bit to get above or around the storm for a smoother flight. Three hours later the pilot once again comes on...we are five planes from taking off...guess what...American Airlines has cancelled our flight! Before we got back to the terminal, I'm on my cell phone trying to get the next available flight out. No such luck! The flight after ours was also cancelled and everything is booked solid! Until the NEXT day! I get a reservation for a flight the NEXT day at 10:30 am. By this time...my mom has already landed in Little Rock and Don is there to pick her up! So, have you ever been in an airport with not one, but at least TWO plane fulls of unhappy customers? We are all wait listed for the next available seat. The bad thing...if you happen to be standing in the right place at the right time, or the staff takes an immediate liking to you...y ou might be on that NEXT flight! To see your name drop from 10th place to 17th place on each remaining flight is a very unpleasant experience! The guy who happened to be sitting next to me in the airplane decided to rent a car and drive back to Little Rock...if I knew then what I would later learn...I would have gone with him! I met three other ladies so it would have been 5 of us (and Nicole)! Anyone that had a Frequent Flyer card, medical condition, etc. took priority and the medical condition I totally understood. American had no compassion for the fact that I was traveling with an animal who had no cat box...and was 16 years old. Oh yeah. While waiting for all the flights, I found an earlier flight...at 7:35 am the NEXT day. O.K. that was better than 10:30 am and would get me back into Little Rock - bad move!!!!

Anyhow, all the flights were running HOURS late...even the next day! After the final flight at midnight left...and none of us made it, we took the shuttle to a hotel that American gave us a "distressed" rate for. Get to the Ramada Inn - South, check-in, fix a make-shift cat box for Nicole and we all went to bed. Remember that none of us knew each other before that ill fated flight at 12:30 pm! It was about 1:30 am when the lights finally all went out! We all woke up very early the next morning. One of the girls mentioned that something had been "biting" her all night. She looked in her bed and there were blood spots all over from where she had scratched herself. Not only that...but there were bugs in the bed! Yuck! Checked out the other bed...and there were a few there as well! Yuck, yuck, yuck! A call to the manager who was there within minutes! Yes, there were bugs...and while he was there...she found one ON her!!! He refunded our money and before he could even return...we were heading out the door. Walking out I happened to notice another bug on her pants leg! Ugh! Needless to say...we itched all day!

So we get back to the airport and go through security for our third time! Now I have a cat and my carry-on bag which has my laptop in it. You have to take the cat out of her carrier AND your laptop has to come out to go through security! Did I mention this was my third time through security? Head for our terminal knowing from the night before that the first flight (remember the one that I changed to at 7:35 am) had already been CANCELLED! By the time I found that out and confirmed a seat, my flight at 10:30 am was already booked. I was able to confirm a seat on the 1:00 pm flight but was wait listed for all that were in between!

One of the other girls got on the 10:30 am flight which was really the 8:30 am flight (I told you they were ALL delayed). Three of us left and we waited and waited! You didn't want to leave the area on the off chance that someone would take a liking to you and get you on an earlier flight. I saw it happen at least four times where someone was at the right place at the right time! The other two girls were on the 10:30 am flight which was now the 12:50 am flight. Before this flight had even arrived they were asking for volunteers to give up their (confirmed) seats for $250 in travel vouchers AND a flight on the next available flight. I didn't think I stood a chance in **** of making this flight! The night before I was #1 on the wait list for today, but after the first flight...I was bumped to #4 and a little later #5! Just didn't make sense! Anyhow, they did end up calling three other people and after calling the next person several times...they finally called my name! Let me tell you...I was never so glad to get on that plane! We took off about 1/2 hour later and I was so glad to arrive in Little Rock airport a little under an hour later! Daughter Kim was there to pick me up and we waited at her house for Don and my mom to arrive. Don had gotten the boat that morning and was putting it in our "new" storage! Indoor storage for a little over $400 - for the year!!! A little late lunch and we were on our way to Greers Ferry!

After our ordeal...Nicole and I were glad to get home. She wasn't too glad to meet that little (o.k. so not so little) black and white thing that lives with us but I know she was glad to get out of her carrier! The next day my mom was able to see her new house and now we're just waiting for the moving van to arrive!