James Floyd State Park

                     

Tonight we are in Summerville, Georgia which is about 20 miles north of Rome, Georgia.  We are on our way to visit some very special folks...Darrell and Judy Patterson.  We are so excited because it has been way too long since we were together.  In fact, it was back when they were on their ERPU lot at Rainbow Plantation.  Since that time they have purchased a home in the gorgeous Cumberland Plateau area of Crossville, Tennessee. 

                     

                

Our first night we stopped a little more than half way at this gorgeous state park.  This is a definite place to return to and spend some time.  The campsites are large, nicely spaced and extremely clean.  The bathhouse is on the older side but just as clean.  We are sitting on our patio listening to the frogs and crickets and it just doesn't get much better.  This is definitely an "it" place but more than that...it has found my "sweet spot." 

                 

                 

I will stop talking and just let you see some of the sights around James "Sloppy" Floyd State Park.  Enjoy the tour!

                 

                

                

                

               

              

We have a Winner!!!

                               

WHERE:  We decided to return to Chewacla State Park in Auburn, Alabama.  This is a nice quiet campground and just so happens to be only about a mile from our son and his wife.  We wanted to have a short visit with them before heading to Tennessee next week.  The other reason, not that I'm being a pessimist, is that this campground is only about 45 minutes from our home.  Just in case things headed south and the dogs decided to protest.  I am still chuckling over Merikay's comment on our last post...tell them it's the floor or the door.  Oh, if only it were that simple!!

                      

                      

We arrived on Wednesday and got all set up on our site...#8.  Plenty of shade which is nice when it is "southern hot and humid" outside.  We have our patio set up with the comfortable recliners and the fan pointed right at us.  Actually, it is quite comfortable.  

                      

We spend most of our time outside..either hiking/walking with the camera in tow or enjoying our recliners for a nap or good book. .  Daytime went very well.  Even when we went inside to see how things would go they were happy, for the most part, with napping in their baskets or hanging around on the floor.  While walking around, we came across bike trails and even bike ramps for the more skilled bikers. From talking with the ranger, there are a lot of folks that come here on the weekends to go biking on the trails…a good reason for weekday camping!

                       

                                          

Bedtime proved to be a bit challenging!!  Let's just say we went to bed late last night!!  We have come up with a few ideas that might make this a "happy" arrangement for everybody so we decided to extend and stay one more day.  

                      

HOW DID IT GO:   Our 17 and half year old Shih Tzu did great.  We put her on the bed with us some while we read/do computer work and when it was bed time, we put her in her basket and she went right to sleep.  Nick, on the other hand, reacted a bit different.  When we put him in his basket, he looked at us and whined. Well, with a stern voice, I picked him up since he wandered out of his basket, put him back and told him no!  Lucky for us..it worked and we all slept good the entire night.  I must say, we have slept in the same bed for our 31 and half years of marriage, and this was a very different feeling….??

                        

                                   

Been a Bit Boring…

                       

With all the house painting and very high temperatures we haven't been doing anything very exciting lately.  You could go so far as to say we have been pretty boring....and bored!!

                  

With that in mind we decided it was time to do something that involved the Casita. 

We have some very good friends, Darrell and Judy Patterson, that have recently bought a home in the Crossville, Tennessee area and we have wanted to visit with them and see their new home.  They are north of LaGrange, Georgia and therefore the temps should be a tad cooler...hopefully!!!  We were set to head out Tuesday morning after I had my INR blood test on Monday.  Well, Monday my INR showed that my number is pretty low and out of therapeutic range.  Those of you that are familiar with Coumadin/Warfarin understand what that means.  The dosage was altered some and I was commanded to return next Monday for another INR to see if the number is heading in the right direction.  I am hopeful that it will be and we will be heading north next Monday afternoon.

                              

So being that we are terribly disappointed, we are going to try and slip away to a campground near home for a day or two and brush up on our camping skills.  We also want to test out a new sleeping arrangement.

                    

In the Liberty Deluxe (our model of Casita), we can sleep either on a full bed, king bed or twin beds.  We have tried the full bed and like it but the negative side is that whenever the "lucky person" in the back wants to get up and use the bathroom, the other person either gets crawled over or gets up as well.  I have a hard time sleeping in the back... I get a tad claustrophobic back there and I also have to lap my leg outside of the covers in order to sleep happily!!  So I am the "lucky person" that has to get up with the "unlucky person" that has to visit the bathroom. 

                  

Then we tried the king arrangement.  We decided to do the king arrangement this way - leave the cushions set up during the day and then at night bring in the 2 inch memory foam topper, arrange the cushions for sleeping and throw the sheets and blanket on top.  We didn't like this arrangement at all.  This was too much stuff to store in the back of the Xterra and bring in at night and then take back up in the morning.  When in the "king" arrangement, there is no other seating...just a bed.  We love the space the king bed allows but not all the hassle in putting up and taking down the bed.

                          

The most popular arrangement for Liberty Deluxe owners is the twin bed arrangement.  We have extended the benches to 30 inch width and have placed a Spa Sensations bed on each bench.  This is a permanent arrangement. 

                    

We have covered them with red blankets and pillows for color.  We set up our round table at the end of the isle.  During the day we use the beds as more of a daybed and then at night we turn back the blanket and enjoy a good nights sleep...we hope!!!  Why would this not work...you ask??  Well, we have two little spoiled rotten Shih Tzus that always sleep with us.  They will have to sleep on the floor in their baskets.  We aren't sure how they will like this set up.  Hence...a trial run is in order.

                       

Stay tuned for the WHERE (we will go) and HOW (it all turns out).

Even though it has been very hot lately we have some beautiful Black-Eyed Susans in full bloom around our mailbox. 

                     

                     

                     

The Angel Wing Begonias have done their job of attracting many Hummingbirds.  We have noticed that we have several "humming" around sipping the sweet nectar.  Our birds continue to enjoy the feast at the feeders and with all the rain the grass has grown and greened well.

                              

Hope your summer is going good!!!  Stayed tuned for the WHERE and HOW it goes!!!