A Hike A Cookout and Happy Independence Day and Canada Day

We are now officially halfway through our 6 weeks!!  Mike has 3 more weeks in which to wear the neck brace!  As with most things like this you get tired of the confinement both with neck movement and overall confinement in activities.   After 3 weeks of holding your head in one position your neck muscles just want to go in a different direction.  When we saw the doctor last week he was pleased with Mike's progress and said all things looked good.  So 3 more weeks!!
We took an easy walk/hike this week on one of the trails in Chewacla State Park. 

Trail in Chewacla

Interesting mushrooms on this tree

More of the trail in Chewacla

 It was an easy trail...don't need to maneuver around roots, slopes and rocks on harder trails.  We enjoyed just being in nature and the trees that surrounded us.  We did meet a family along the way that were also out for a morning stroll.  I'm hoping we were a little better looking than they were.  Ugly aren't they?

Bless their hearts, they just look so ugly...

Our son has been coming by to visit and lend a hand as needed!!  So glad he's nearby and such a good help.  He's helped us a few times with Oliver maintenance such as cleaning out the gutter by the awning that gets lots of tree "stuff" in it and then when the air conditioner is on the water rolls down the sides bringing with it that lovely stain.  He also has to clean the roof...I'm too short even on the ladder!!

We had a cookout on July 3rd anticipating a rainy 4th!!!  I had bought some shrimp from  Gulf Shores when we were there this past winter and I wanted to cook them before freezer burn might get them. 

Some of the Gulf Coast shrimp for the kabobs

 Also, it clears up some  space in an already small freezer.  So Mike deveined them and made up a marinade for them and Stephen brought broccoli and rice.  I had some yellow and red pepper and white and purple onion so we made a nice skewer with the vegetables and shrimp 

Let the preparations begin

Lightly grilled peppers and onions for the kabobs

Stephen is putting the kabobs together

and steamed the broccoli and he had already cooked the rice at his house.   I also got two bags of fresh blueberries from a friend so I made some fresh blueberry cobbler.  We had a really nice dinner and Stephen cooked it all on our Blackstone Grill!!!  YUM!!      

Tasty Shrimp Kabobs

Today is July 4th and as expected we have had a rainy day.  That is good and bad!!  We needed the rain but it kinda puts a damper on all the cookouts people might have planned.  The campground is not full which is pretty surprising but I'm not complaining!!  I guess I'm getting older and sometimes the weekend or holiday crowds kinda grind on my nerves.  Plus I'm the one walking Asher, the 85 pound English Cream Golden puppy that wants to meet and greet every person he sees.  He's still learning how to walk correctly, which means not pulling me over on the leash or running up to hug every person he sees.  We have done pretty good but have a long way to go.  I've learned to put him in a sit whenever we see someone and I'm using treats when he listens.  He's getting better!!        

Asher waiting for a reward treat

Asher is leashed in two separate places

Asher is a happy camper

I bought him a new harness that is suppose to help with the pulling when walking.  I was skeptical when I first heard about it from my blog friend, Micky Werk but he has been wearing it now for about 4 days and I see a world of difference in his walking.  This harness clips underneath and it also has a clip on top of his neck.  I bought a leash that has two leads and I clip him underneath and on top.  The leash is called a "training leash" and it is rather short.  Our goal is to get him to walk on a loose leash!!  I think we'll make it but it will take some time and training.  Growing out of the puppy stage will also help.  Thanks, Micky for the recommendation!!  

We could not leave our little Nick out of the pics

So we are taking things one day at a time!!  Not as many left and we'll be able to see what physical therapy has in store in 3 weeks.  The doctor talked like most of the PT will be teaching Mike what exercises he needs to do and then doing those at home.  If that is the case, we might be able to get the wheels rolling!!  Hitch itch is a serious ailment!!

A nice sunset at Chewacla State Park

I hope all of our American readers had a Happy Independence Day!!  I hope you enjoyed it doing whatever makes you happy as we celebrate our freedoms.  To our Canadian readers I hope you had a wonderful Canada Day!!  
Thanks for stopping by and visiting with us!!

Surgery Day Arrived

Well, the day finally arrived for my surgery.  We had to be at the hospital at 6:30 Wednesday morning.  So we got up quite early and arrived a few minutes before 6:30 thinking the surgery would be around 8 am.  We waited and waited and waited....       

 waiting before the surgery

Four hours later they finally took me back…talk about getting tired of the wait. The actual surgery started around 11:30 and a couple hours later... the surgery was over. The wait was much longer than the surgery.

     

I just got to my room after recovery

                

Well, now I wear my hard collar for 6 weeks

The next afternoon they released me to go home...much to my satisfaction.  Recoup and heal at home is always best. Now nurse Gerri takes over and tends to me.

When we got home to the campground, I wanted to sit outside for a bit and get fresh air and hear the nature around us.            

The neurosurgeon told us that walking was really good and would help the healing process.  The next day Stephen came over and we all walked around the campground and to the lake...What better healing than in God's creation and the beauty of the sun glistening through the trees and haze.

And of course a trip to the donut store is always a good thought for healing...at least according to me.

On a different note, Gerri has been the real hero in all of this.  She has taken on the responsibility of all of her tasks and added the things that I usually did.  She has done and is doing a remarkable job and I cannot begin to say thank you for all you have done. 

 Gerri herself is only 4 years out from her battle with cancer, I know she is tired and sometimes exhausted, but she still keeps at it.

THANK YOU GERRI!

Settling In

The big day is coming!!!   Mike’s surgery is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 8:30!!
We have been busy getting things in order for an extended stay here at Chewacla State Park!!  We were in a beautiful site all tucked away in the woods but we quickly discovered that those trees liked to deposit little reminders of their beauty all over the roof of the Oliver!!   The tiny area behind the awning and the gutter was a debris collector!!!  Since Mike is going to be out of commission for several months the cleaning of the roof and awning and gutter would become my job!!   I don’t mind washing and cleaning the Oliver while Mike heals but this job was constant!!!    When the debris collects the water from rain or the A/C runs a brown looking stain down the front and back sides of the Oliver.  This stain looks awful against a white fiberglass rig!!!
           

So off we went in search of a nice site but a bit more open from trees.  We found a rather large site very near the campground host and closer to the front of loop 2.  We have the Oliver parked and the patio set up as well as our Clam!!!  We will place the zero gravity chairs in there along with our TV.  This gives us a great outdoor area to rest and relax in while Mike is busy growing bone at his fusion!!
We can watch a little TV, read or take a nap!!   I’m also closer to the laundry area as well!!!  Did I ever tell you I hate doing laundry🙁!!!  I sure miss our washer/dryer combo we had in our motorhome!!
                     

This site puts us much closer to the lake!!  We walked down there a few nights ago with Stephen and Asher!!  Asher has never been exposed to much water in his first year!!  He probably saw the lake as a huge water bowl!!  We hope to take many many walks to the lake with him this summer!!  We will put him on his 16 ft leash so he can actually walk, splash or just stare at the water.  Our hope is that he’ll learn to love the water....after all he’s a water dog!!!
              

So that is what we’ve been up to lately!!  The big surgery day is Wednesday and we are both looking forward to getting this surgery done so Mike can once again feel better (no pain) and begin to regain the strength in his arms and the ability to look up, reach up and all those things we all take for granite!!  We are beyond ready to get this Oliver moving!!!

On Monday Mike and I went to Little Italy in Auburn to get some really good pizza before his surgery day...man, was it good!
                       

Thank you for dropping by and remember to enjoy each day to its fullest!!!

A Day at the Park

We arrived at Chewacla State Park and found the site we liked the best for our extended stay while waiting and recouperating from surgery.  Our site  is very spacious and nestled in the woods.  To the far left we have some chairs set around for when we want to have a fire in the fire pit. 

The weather, even though a bit warm, has been beautiful so we decided to walk a trail at Town Creek Park in Auburn.  It is a really nice park and the trails are easy to maneuver. Below is one of the entrances to the trails.
           

Once you round the last of the walkway entrance there is an open view of the pond and gazebo overlooking the pond.
     

We were enjoying our walk so much, we decided to cross the road and walk a part of the trail we had not been on yet.  This area is a Historic Tree Trail which the picture below will explain.  It really is awesome with a lot of incredible history about each tree.

There were trees from acorns or seedlings from all over the country...one was from the tree at the Jefferson Memorial. Another from George Washington's Mount Vernon and others like that.

For Auburn, there was a tree grown from an acorn from the oaks at Toomer's Corner.

We thoroughly enjoyed our walk and especially the history of the trees along the Historic Tree Trail.

It was a good day and a grand way to pass time waiting for Mike's surgery.

The Journey Begins

Sunset at the pier Mobile bay

So the journey begins!!  For the past 2 1/2 years Mike has been actively avoiding surgery on his cervical stenosis. Who wants surgery anyway?   The neurosurgeon in Columbus, Georgia told him 2 1/2 years ago that it would only get worse....and he was spot on.                 

On the way to Jessie's in Magnolia Springs

About 4 months ago the pain decided to take on a new high!!  The pain increased and now both arms are involved.  He has lost strength in both arms and is unable to look up.  But most of all the pain is constant.  He saw a neurosurgeon in Mobile, Alabama who examined him and had an updated MRI done.  Sure enough....it's gotten worse.               

Fountain at the pier in Fairhope

So tomorrow morning we will be traveling to Auburn and our "home" base of Chewacla State Park where we will be hunkering down for the surgery and recuperation.   Mike sees his neurosurgeon in Columbus, Thursday May 9th and we should have a date for surgery soon after that.                    

Boardwalk at the pier Fairhope

The surgery itself sounds horrible but doesn't all surgery??  The doctor assured us he "does this all the time!"   They will make the incision in the front (kinda like slitting your throat) and move the muscles and structures aside so he can get to the spinal cord where he will remove the bone spurs, disc and replace with a cadaver and plate with screws to hold it in place.  Mike will wear a soft collar and possibly a hard collar for several weeks following surgery.  He will be unable to lift, drive or do much for several weeks.  It varies with different people and different situations.  Our job will be to take care of the incision and do all the things to heal....such as eating healthy and walking walking walking!!!!   We can handle that!!               

The good news....when this is complete and Mike has healed we will be able to do more, go further and Mike will not be in pain. 
Those of you that wish...we would love to have your prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery!!  

Small marina at the pier

So Sunday morning we will say our "see ya laters" to the Gulf Shores area...specifically Escapees Rainbow Plantation!!  

Our cameras caught some sights on our last, for now, trip to the Fairhope Pier!  Hope you enjoy!!

Meeting Up with Good Friends

One thing that sets this lifestyle apart from all the others is the people you meet along the way!!  We have met some wonderful RVers that became lifelong friends!!

When we heard Mike and Peggy Evringham we’re heading to Rainbow Plantation (Escapees Park in Summerdale, Alabama) we knew we had to go there.  We found a site and got all set up to meet up with Mike and Peggy.

Our site at Rainbow Plantation

When Mike and Peggy arrived there were plenty of hugs all around!!  We started our week of feasting at the last supper at the clubhouse.  A buffet of all that was left over...you know, you can’t carry this food over the next 7 to 8 months!!  So everyone gathered at the clubhouse for food and fellowship!!             

Our friends at Rainbow Plantation

The eating continued through the week with Big Daddy’s Grill, Saracenos and Mellow Mushroom!!  We enjoyed time with Mike and Peggy, Don and Gloria Martin and Norm and Linda Payne.  All longtime  good friends!!!  It was a lot of fun catching up and sharing travel adventures which included Mike and Peggy’s recent trip to Israel.  They toured the Holy Lands with a group led by Mike Huckabee.  What a wonderful trip and awesome pictures and video!!!

The fun didn’t stop there.  We left on Wednesday to travel the very short distance to Meaher State Park in Spanish Fort, Alabama. 

Our site at Meaher

Our friend's site

 This state park is just outside Mobile right on Mobile Bay!!  This is  where  we connected with John and Ellie Souva!!   We last saw John and Ellie 4 years ago!!  Even though distance in miles separated us we continued to stay in touch and our friendship flourished!!  We had the pleasure of meeting John’s mom, Millie on this trip!!  She is just delightful and traveled and camped most of her life!!  Such interesting stories!!    

Sunset at Meaher State Park

The weather hasn’t been too cooperative though!  Wednesday was beautiful and we all managed to get some walking in around the campground.  This is a very nice state park with full hookups!!

Boardwalk to the Delta

We walked what the gate called “The Gateway to the Delta”.  This is a very nice path that leads to a boardwalk through a delta area.  On this walk we saw a ribbon snake, a Nutria, a Prothonotary Warbler (so pretty) some black birds and ducks.  A nice walk!!         

                

Prothonotary Warbler

See the Nutria in the middle

Ribbon Snake

On the other end of the campground there is a very nice pier to walk and on this day several fishermen and women were catching a few Crappie.

Meager State Park

After a rainy Thursday we ventured down to the pier where we were told there were a couple quite large gators.  Sure enough they were there just floating in the still water.  There were also four gators right out from the shore on our way back to the camper.  We were hoping for more movement from them since it’s mating season but this morning and afternoon they just wanted to float!!

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

A wonderful lunch was enjoyed by the five of us at Ed’s Seafood!!  Delicious!!  We sat on the covered patio overlooking the bay!!!  

Ed's Seafood Restaurant covered patio

Good friends, good food and blessed fellowship!!

It has been a grand week!!!