Missing Our Buttons and Other Stuff

Yes, we are still alive and yes, we are still full-timing in our Ollie!!  I know some might have thought we would have come to our senses and aborted ship by now....nope not us!!    There just hasn't been a lot of excitement going on...well not much anyway.
                 

These fellows come near our campsite almost every afternoon

We are missing our buttons!!  You know that wonderful button you push and your awning goes out and you push a button and the awning retracts.  Yea, that one!!  We don't have that button.  Why would we want a button that would take away the fun of getting out and working those muscles?  Our awning is manual...nothing is manual anymore except our awning.  What were those folks at Oliver thinking anyway!!

It happened innocently enough.  The little end piece on one of the poles that extend the awning just snapped.  

Hey, any of us can snap can't we??  Well that is exactly what happened to this end of our awning pole.  We called Fiamma and they were on it immediately.  So our little "thingy" part on the end of the pole is making its way to us as I write this.  Problem fixed!!
                    

 The next button that we miss is the one we pushed that sent our automatic Winegard Slimline Satellite Dish up searching for a  satellite so we could surf through channels discovering that there is nothing really worth watching on TV.  This awesome button lived in the cabinet of our Dutch Star.....boy those were the days!!  But think of all the fun we missed going outside and starring at the sky??

It happened innocently, again!!  We currently have the Winegard Carryout G2+ and it was working beautifully!!  
           

We could surf through channels to our hearts content....until Wednesday.  On Wednesday it all stopped and the TV screen told us our satellite couldn't find that special satellite in the sky.  So Mike got busy trying to track down the problem.  It seemed strange that the TV was receiving stations one day and less than 24 hours later....nothing.

The first thing Mike did was move the Winegard around in case a limb or leaf had gotten in the way....nothing.  He moved the Winegard everywhere, really, everywhere.  We even moved sites to see if that would help....nothing.  Our campground is pretty woodsy so we decided that while we were hooked up visiting other sites we might as well drive up the road to a very very open parking lot.....nothing.  So we came to the conclusion it wasn't a tree or leaf, nothing was blocking the satellite.

Looking up from our site, the trees are awesome, but they block the satellite

The problem could still be something wrong with the Winegard itself, the SWM840 which are additional pieces of equipment we bought in order to be able to use our Direct TV Genie receiver.  This receiver would enable us to record shows like we did when we lived in our house.  The suspect in this, with us non-technical folks, is that it just might be the SWM840 since it gets mixed reviews.  In other words, there are people out there that have tried this combination of Genie and SWM and didn't like it or even worse....hated it.  A call is in to Winegard and we, hopefully, will narrow down the problem soon.
                      

A new receiver that works with the Winegard G2+ Carryout that doesn't need a SWM to function is probably going to be the solution.  So no more ability to record a show.  Oh well....life goes on.
              

Mike gets his epidural shot this Wednesday.  This is the shot for his cervical stenosis and pinched nerves.  We are prayerful and hopeful that this shot will relieve his pain and he can avoid surgery!!
Prayers please!!  No more doctor appointments (for awhile) and no more physical therapy so we are free for several weeks!!
                 

In a few days we'll be heading to Hiawassee and the north Georgia mountains to an "Egg Rally."  more on that later.  We will explore around in the mountains a bit to enjoy the beautiful scenery and cooler temperatures.  Got to be back by the end of June for the next round of doctor appointments!!  Sigh!!

Stay well, stay safe and safe travels!             

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.   Psalm 19:1

An Easter Tradition

Last week we finally decided it was time to find our Casita a new home.  We listed the Casita on the Casita forum and the Casita Facebook.  Within one day we had a buyer and our sweet Casita had a new home.  It wasn't easy selling her but she needed a new home with someone who will take her on many camping adventures.  She got just that.  So Monday afternoon we said our good-byes and watched her pull away.
             

Today is Sunday......Easter Sunday!!  It has been a wonderful day.   We usually spend this day at Callaway Gardens.  It has become a family tradition to begin the day at Sunrise Service but there is an hour difference in time so we had to begin this Easter at the Callaway Lodge and Spa for a breakfast buffet at the Piedmont Restaurant.   It was delicious as usual.
               

We then visited the Discovery Center.  It is a beautiful area that just sits nestled among the trees and a lake.
                

Years ago Mike was the Recreational Food and Beverage Director.  He oversaw all things food and beverage in the recreational  arena at Callaway Gardens.  That included overseeing the building of this neat restaurant called The Discovery Cafe.  We even saw a young lady Mike hired when this cafe opened many years ago. She still works there and is now the Supervisor at the cafe.     

After strolling around the Discovery Center for awhile we drove to the Brothers Azalea Bowl.
                      

                  

Of course, we were a little late for the azalea blooms but we did see many beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs.
I really focused on the things of nature that were awakening after a long winters night!! Its so much fun to see the new birth at this time of year.
The Brothers Azalea Bowl has a walking trail that leads to my most favorite place......The Chapel.  I always refer to this area as my "happy place" but actually Callaway itself is my "happy place."
          

While sitting on "my" bench we noticed this guy taking a casual stroll.  This Great Blue Heron usually hangs around the lake by the chapel. I suppose it might just be his "happy place."  He is quite handsome and very laid back.  We snapped a few pictures of him because he posed so nicely.
              

We finished up by driving over to the beach area, another one of Mike's venues.  There is a nice pavilion overlooking a sanded beach. A very nice area especially in the summer.
It wasn't very busy today but when summer vacation comes and the temperatures are warmer it will be hopping.        
        

     

We had a wonderful Easter.  A blessed time of remembering the resurrection of our Lord.  Hope your day was blessed as well.

A Vintage Kind of Day

What a fun day this has been!!!  This weekend Chewacla hosted a vintage camper rally.  I have seen vintage campers on facebook, magazines, Pinterest but not any up close and personal.  Now I have!!
                

This group does their part in giving RVers the reputation as the friendliest people anywhere.  We met the first of several of these folks on Friday when we were taking our walk.  Sherry started talking with us telling us all about the group and just how special each one was. It was apparent they were friends and they meant a lot to each other.  The amazing thing was she talked with us as if she had known us quite some time and we were part of the group.
                     

We returned on Saturday and met just about every one of the owners of these neat little trailers.  They had an "open house" and we were welcomed with open arms.
           

The interesting thing about these little campers is what a personality each has taken on.  Most name their campers and decorate with a theme in mind.  I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.
                     

It is so wonderful to see these vintage campers loved and restored to their former beauty.....no, BETTER than their former beauty.  They aren't just campers....they are part of this amazing group!!
       

Thank you guys for allowing us to visit and enjoy your trailers with you.  It was a special afternoon!!
             

It's Spring..........FINALLY!!!!!!!

                           
Several weeks ago the weather suddenly went from cold (chilly to you up north) to beautiful and rather nice....70s.  Like most people that have endured a long, cold, drab winter we got excited.  So excited in fact that we took nearly all our winter clothes to our storage building bringing the spring/summer attire to Ollie.   You guessed right!!!  Too early!!!  It wasn't long after that the temperatures decided to get colder, wetter and uglier.  We endured....determined to use what we had and not give in.   It paid off......spring has arrived in the south!!!!

Now in the south we really don't have a very long spring.  In fact, it's almost over!!  Today it will be in the mid 80's BUT without the horrible humidity that we will experience later in the season.

We decided to take a walk around the park today and learn more about the settings on my new camera.  I experimented with the manual mode and I would say I'm in the learning mode!!  I found a few interesting sights along the way.
           

You can always tell how excited folks are when they can finally get outside and enjoy some wonderful sunshine!!  The kids are even swimming in the lake....how cool is that!!!!
           

Swimmers are right behind the middle branch on the left

Floaters in the background

Last week I got some great news from my latest CT scan.  I have to have those every so often.   The results showed NO nodules or masses.....all clean and clear!!!!  To God be the glory!!!  If it were not for His grace I believe I would not be doing what I'm doing today.   I have an appointment with my Oncologist Thursday and then Mike has two physical therapy sessions and then we are free to roam some.
We can't roam as far as some but a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered.  Well, he didn't exactly order it but he would if only he understood the joy of RVing, full-timing or just exploring God's creation.
             

My journey is not over with this cancer....or I should say recovery from cancer.  I will be pulled back every 3 months for another year and then every 6 months for 3 more years.
It's ok because I'm ok!!!

We are planning a big trip this fall!!!! If all goes well we plan to travel to the Grand Canyon and see as many as possible of the national parks in that area of Arizona, Utah and Colorado.  I know many of you have seen these places but we never have!!!! How do you say....excited!!!!  So any pointers or tips are gladly welcomed.
             

So hopefully in a week we an do a post from a different view!!  Until then, safe travel nd happy journeys!!!