Sometimes we look at sights in nature but don't really see. While hiking in the woods the other day, it became a realization that we need to open our heart and eyes to see the beauty of the simple things in nature with each season. There is so much order and purpose in His creation. God has given us awesome beauty in this world to see and enjoy... if we would but stop to see and feel it. Join us as this blog is about stopping to see the real beauty around us...to touch and feel it... "Through the Lens".

Our Friends

Saturday, March 17, 2018

It's been a while...

It's been awhile since our last post!

Our last night at Rainbow ended with a bang!!  The group...The Crossroad Band came to the clubhouse to entertain and entertain they did!!  They were great musicians, singers and entertainers.  The guy playing the keyboard was actually blind and the way he played...you'd never know!!
It was a great month at Rainbow Plantation and the Gulf Shores area!!  We'll definitely be back!!
       



We left the Escapees Park ( Rainbow Plantation) on March 1st and headed to our home base.  We would only be there a week and then take our son and head to Baton Rouge!
Why Baton Rouge you ask??   He has accepted a job transfer there with his company.  He will no longer be an Auburn Tiger but instead a LSU Tiger.  He works for the company that provides the food service at LSU and after being an LSU fan for many years he's delighted!!

Now the fun part!!!!!   We have had three adults and two doggies in our Oliver for four days and by the time we return to Auburn it will be five days!!  That is too many large bodies in a small area...not to mention the doggies.  One, our 12 year old Shih Tzu Nick, is beyond grumpy because the other doggie is a 2 year old Yorker!  A crazy, slightly oversized Yorkie that my son kinda rescued!!  He's full of himself and has tons of crazy energy!!   It's been a real "trip!!" Our first stop was in the Livingston Parrish at Lakeside RV Resort.  We were there for just overnight, but it really is a good campground.      
Lakeside RV Campground
Our Site at Lakeside
 
When we got to Baton Rouge, we stayed at the KOA there because of a good central location. Sorry, we stayed so busy we didn't take any pics of this campground but the campground is very nice.     

With Stephen (our only child) accepting this position it is obviously going to mean more travel time for us!!  We were thinking, initially, that we would travel and enjoy this awesome lifestyle for maybe 3 years and then part time it after that.  I think this proves...man plans, God laughs as we might be doing this longer.
 The next day, we drove into campus, parked and walked around on campus.  LSU is a beautiful campus and many of the trees are spectacular in size and shape.
 


 




We didn't have time to do too much exploring while in Baton Rouge due to all the things we had to accomplish such as helping Stephen look for a place to live.  While Stephen was on his interview, we stopped by the Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World and toured inside...it is an awesome store and we really enjoyed it.




On our last day we drove downtown and  walked the levee at the Mississippi River!!  We got to watch as a riverboat left dock for Vicksburg and another riverboat docked at the River Front Dock in Baton Rouge.   This riverboat came from New Orleans and was heading to Vicksburg.  I believe the young fellow that was working on the boat said it was a five day riverboat cruise on the Mississippi!!   It would be fun to do a trip like that on the Mississippi River!!    



   
USS Kidd, a Fletcher -class destroyer
After waiting for a ginormous train that had to stop on the tracks while the conductor switched tracks we were on our way back to the truck!!  We stopped for a bite to eat at Swamp Box!!  We were told they had excellent Cajun food.  They were right!        
I had gumbo, Stephen had jambalaya, boudin balls and okra.  Mike red beans and rice with sausage!!  Whew!!!  It has been a very busy 5 days but we managed to get a lot done!!  Tomorrow we leave for Auburn.  We will break all the RV rules....we're driving all the way.  That would be about 7 hours with stops!  That's what we get for traveling with a non-retired person who has to get back to work!!
Now we're all caught up!!  I just have to get caught up with reading and commenting on your blogs!!

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Spring Is In the Air

The weather has been pretty nice lately!!  Even though it's still February the temperatures have started to climb to 78 to 80 degrees!!!  This is a little unseasonable for this time of year but we'll take it!!                     


Mike and I decided to take a little drive around the area to enjoy the beautiful day and started seeing signs of spring!!  It felt good to see the beautiful  blooms, green popping out on trees and the gorgeous azaleas showing their colors!!  What a wonderful time of the year!!        









With all the leaves falling from the trees and the mud from several days of rain the Oliver needed to be washed.  Mike and I worked on this task together and it only took us a couple of hours.  It was a nice afternoon and Ollie sure looked nice when all clean and sparkling!!            


Since we worked so hard we decided to splurge for an ice cream at Mr. Gene's Beans downtown Fairhope.  I had Moose Tracks and Mike had Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough....ahhh perfect!!  Obviously this is a very popular spot and I can see why.  They also offer many varieties of coffee, cappuccino and milk shakes as well as hand dipped ice cream.            

We finished our ice cream just in time to catch this beautiful ending to a very nice day!!