Thursday, December 15, 2011

Life is all about change...

As we mentioned in our last posting, we’ve made the decision to stay on the road for the next few years.  That being said, we thought long and hard... talked and talked... and finally came to a sad but hard truth.  The Airstream was great for a one-year adventure and would have made a great art studio after settling down (our original plan).  But if staying on the road for an indefinite period of time is in the works, then a few more amenities, as well as the ability to haul along some more of our stuff, would be nice to have.

Therefore, we went shopping and bought ourselves an early Christmas present: a 40 foot, 2000 American Eagle, Class A diesel motorhome, and an orange Honda Element as our “toad”.



It was with a giant sigh of relief on Heinz’s part that we traded in the F-250 (more and more strange noises) for the Honda.  With many a deep sigh and a few nostalgic tears (especially from me), we are getting ready to put the Airstream up for sale.  But, our new home gives us an additional 90 square feet of living space, and lots of basement storage for all the crafts, tools and outdoor gear.


The new place has some features that the Airstream didn’t and we didn’t realize how much they were missed until we had them again.  As idealistic as we were about going to the camp shower, IT IS nice to have a working shower and full bathroom in your home, ... as well as a built-in washer/dryer, ice maker, dinette, and two couches. We're scheming about how to personalize the interior through the use of colors and textures, but will live in it for a while waiting for the right inspiration to come along before we take the plunge to tweak.  The coach is full of interior cabinetry, and the solid walnut gives off a rich glow at night that imparts a warm and cozy atmosphere - Heinz thinks that with the lights low, it feels like the interior of a boat at night.  If you'd like to see some pictures of the inside, they are available on Photobucket.  Just click on the link and enjoy a tour of our new home.

We’ve moved in and are getting settled into our new home a little at a time.  There are still boxes moving from spot to spot, items getting put away and then moved to some other spot, items that you KNOW you’ve put into the new space but have been lost in the black hole of moving.  You all know the drill, the “ new home syndrome”.  But you’d think that we could find something as simple as a computer cord in 380 square feet!

Besides moving in, we've checked out the local bookstores, caught a great movie (Hugo...Highly recommended!), and spent lots of time with family.  This week Suzi and I went up to Heinz's Aunt Annelee's and helped her make her annual Santa Claus cookies.  Suzi was in charge of eye placement and I got the honor of cutting some of the shapes!

Hurry Suzi, they need to see.

Santa cookies resting and waiting for the red/white glaze to be applied.

Last night I caught the Christmas baking bug myself and made four pans of Potica, a yeast cake with walnut and poppy seed filling.  My mom always made these at this time of year and the smell while baking instantly brought back some wonderful memories of her.

Potica waiting to be glommed down

Decorating in any RV is a little more challenging than in a house, no room for my multitude of Santas for one.  As a result, most of my Santas got swept out in the "get rid of our stuff" storm.  Fortunately, they didn't travel far, as they found a new home with Suzi and Carl.  For our new home, I picked up a tiny tree, and decorated with a few ornaments I could not part with, as well as a new mini-Nativity Angel that I bought in New Mexico (right front).  


That's the latest for now - more to follow after the holiday season is over and we are back on the road.  Here's wishing EVERYONE a wonderful and merry Christmas and a warm and happy New Year!

Heinz and Teresa




Sunday, December 11, 2011

Kicking back in Kansas

Heinz and I are still up in Kansas, kicking back and enjoying being around relatives for the holiday season.  We are still selling off our household goods a little at a time and being reasonably successful between Craigslist and EBay.

Since we haven't been traveling the past few weeks, I got to thinking about all the great places we went since we retired in 2010 and the great people we met.  I thought I'd take a short walk along memory lane for today's post.  Hope you'll bear with me. :)

October 2010 - New England

Leaves turning - New England

Pumpkin patches at their best - New England

Jess and Pete taking us to the LL Bean Mothership - Portland ME

November 2010, California

Saying goodbye to old friends - Fairfield CA

What IS THAT?

One last motorcycle ride with Keith and Jesse - NorCal

Packing up our household good in California - Fairfield CA

December 2010 - Kansas/Louisiana 

The famous Santa cookies by Annelee - Lawrence KS

Cheers (hic!) 

Christmas - Shreveport LA

Takes licking and keeps on ticking - 89 and counting!

Post-present opening exhaustion

January 2011 - Texas

Woke up, got out of bed, and found some ice outside our bed...
23 degrees in San Antonio


Exploring the Mission Trail - San Antonio TX

February - Texas/New Mexico

Swapping Kansas zoysia grass for Texas cactus

Even the horse shoes are bigger in Texas - Marfa TX

Just another beautiful sunset along the way

A southwest Christmas card in the making

Walking 4 1/2 miles of the White Sands National Monument

Petroglyphs 

March - Arizona

Old town - Tucson AZ

Something about this landscape strikes a note with us

The fish are STILL scared - Rose Canyon Lake AZ

Simply magical - Sedona AZ

April - Back in New Mexico

Trout fly fishing Mecca - Navajo Dam NM

Thank you George Michelin and Andy Kim

Shiprock NM

1800s-vintage trading Post - Toadlena NM



Gathering of the Nations - Albuquerque NM

May - Kansas/Texas

The Frankster staking his claim - Overland Park KS

Gretel and Kevin cooking up some steaks - Overland Park KS

The Littlejohn family reunion - Texarkana TX

Trading family stories - Littlejohn family reunion


June - Colorado/Utah/Idaho

Abert's squirrel on Pete/Maureens' porch - Estes Park CO

Sunset at Delicate Arch - Moab UT

Cactus blooms - Moab UT

Sunrise at Arches National Park - Moab UT

Aspen - Park City UT

Lunch on Antelope Island - Salt Lake City UT

Sawtooth National Forest - Idaho

Fourth of July celebration - Mountain Home AFB ID

First salmon ever - Clearwater River ID

July - Alberta, Canada

Trekking northward

Did someone lose a hat?

Fancy Dancer - Calgary Stampede

Chuck wagon racing - Calgary Stampede

Some rodeo action - Calgary Stampede

Meeting new friends - Banff National Park

Another boring view from the Airstream doorway - Canadian Rockies

Looking out the window at one of the many "friends of the day"

Canada in bloom

Pam and Buzz - Jasper Canada

 Got a little color in that water - eh?

August - Montana/So. Dakota/Colorado/Louisiana

 A crappy little camping spot - Ennis MT

 Crappy view from crappy camping spot - Ennis MT

 This trip is all about taking the main highways

Right on time - Yellowstone National Park

Wild flowers - Gallatin National Forest



Annual rally - Sturgis SD

 View from campground - Estes Park CO

 Sunset in Rocky Mountain National Park - Estes Park CO

 Reflections in Bear Lake - Rocky Mountain National Park CO

Marsh family reunion - Estes Park CO

 Rick talking shit

Pops turns.... wait for it.... 90 - Shreveport LA

September - New Mexico/California

 Chasing the chilies - Hatch NM

If only the smell could come through your computer monitor - Hatch NM

 Should have had an Airstream - Silver City NM

Another "friend of the day" 

Campground with character - Silver City NM

Jess sniffin' the roasted chillies - Los Angeles CA

One-year retirement anniversary dinner - San Francisco CA

 Farmer's Market - Napa Valley Ca

A casualty of the Farmer's Market - Napa Valley Ca

October - California to Kansas

 Makin' raisins - Apple Hill CA

 Linda getting lubed after "working us to death" - Apple Hill CA

 Early snow - Mammoth Lakes CA

 The not-so-great fishermen - Mammoth Lakes CA

 Sunset headed towards Wyoming

 Shooting pictures instead of racing - Bonneville Salt Flats

 Passing through - Badlands SD

Festival time in the Plaza - Kansas City MO

As we keep saying, it was a great year, with lots of memories.  But of all the places Heinz and I traveled, and of all the sights we saw, I have to say that the most memorable was one that I never expected to see and will always thank Heinz for showing me:



We'll be hitting the road again just after Christmas and will continue the blog entries then.  Since our one-year travel adventure has been extended indefinitely, our rate of travel will most likely slow, as we attempt to see fewer sights, but spend more time exploring the ones we visit.  The blog will most likely see some changes as well, as we shift focus and experiences.   Stay tuned!