Getting Ready to Leave

We are currently getting ready to leave for the winter. It got really cold last night, 30 degrees F., even before that with the rain we have been having, H said he was ready for some warm weather. A few winters away and I don't think we could stand the cold for a whole season.
Then, of course, nothing ever goes smoothly. We attempted to start the furnace in the RV yesterday, it kept clicking but would not come on. We tried for a half an hour, doing everything we could think of and that the book said, then called the repairman, as I was on the line with him, H wiggled a wire and the blower then the pilot light came on. We were not looking forward to another big repair bill, we had to replace the cooling unit on the frig in early summer.
We just have to pack a few more things in, then we are off in mid October.
My brother takes care of things while we are gone, good to have someone who can do that for us.

Cool September

Autumn is coming really fast, it was 37 degrees F this AM. The day is sunny but remains cool. H has been busy working on Moose(our 5th wheel), going to get two new tires. Next week the truck goes in for a check-up. We want everything to be in good shape when we leave next month. Looking forward to seeing our new friends from last winter. And of course the travel to Arizona. H and I both love traveling. I think Hobbes is also getting anxious to leave, he has been climbing in his carry case and sitting there. We don't use it here, because he can go out whenever he wants on the screened in porch.
Today I worked in the house, just doing weekly cleaning, but it is so nice when you can open the windows and not worry about the humidity taking over.
Tonight I work at the clinic where I volunteer, tomorrow at my summer job in Home Health. H gets to cook tomorrow. Our agreement is that on days I work, he cooks. I found out he doesn't like planning ahead for meals, so sometimes it is late when we eat.

Already August

I don't know where the summer has gone, we are in the dog days of August now. It has been a cool summer until this weekend, it was in the 90's on Saturday and very humid. Today is cooler but still in the high 80's. The pictures are of tomato worms that were on our plants. these 2 are dead now, but we will have to keep checking.

Our garden is producing lots now. The tomatoes are getting ripe, we have been eating and giving away beets, lettuce, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, eggplant and snow peas. we have only cucumber plant that survived, so not too many cukes.

H takes care of the garden, as I am working this summer in Home Health. Just 2 to 3 days a week. I am glad I decided to do it and that there was a job available at the right time.

My sister and her husband have been helping us with mowing Mom's yard this summer, they also have spent lots of time cleaning out and organizing Mom's possessions. Family has taken most things, especially items that will help them remember Mom and Dad and growing up on the farm.

Another 2 months and we will be back on the road, we have some things to do to Moose before we leave, but are waiting for cooler weather.

Birthday Party

Nikki's birthday was a week ago Friday, they had a party at the cottage on Sunday. As you can see from the pictures, we had a good time.

Shark! Shark!!! Oops, sorry, I guess it is a whale.
Some of the boys up by the cottage.
Nikki and her cake, she doesn't look forty!

Wild Times

We encountered this hungry squirrel in Vermilion last weekend.
Here he is checking to make sure the peanut is good.
Profile for the camera.
After eating numerous peanuts and burying several, he needed a nap on the park bench. Lake Erie in the background.

Independence Day

Parade in Linwood Park in Vermilion, Ohio. This was also the 125th anniversary of Linwood Park.

Veterans of WWII were honored.
H kayaking on Lake Erie.
Terry helping H get the kayak in the water.

July 4th was lots of fun, we went to Vermilion to spend the weekend with Nikki and family. Saturday was cloudy, but the temps were comfortable. That evening we built a fire on the beach for s'mores, and watched the fireworks. There were fireworks going off over our heads. People at the far ends of the beach were doing them, as well as some people just a few hundred yards from us. These were really good fireworks, not just bottle rockets. Besides these , we could also see the firework displays at Cedar Point, Put-in-Bay, and Lorain. We watched for over an hour.
Sunday we woke up to beautiful sunshine and warm temps. Really nice weekend!

Killdeers

About a month ago, a Killdeer laid 4 eggs, 1 a day for 4 days, in the middle of our driveway. We put up a fence around it so no one would drive over it or scare them off. After 28 to 29 days, they finally hatched. All 4 hatched on Tuesday, they come out with feathers and can walk out of the nest when the feathers are dry. I worked Tuesday so was really fortunate the birds were still around when I got home. The picture above and below are of the mother or father, I can't tell which, doing the broken wing act to get my attention away from the nest.

This is the portrait of 4 baby Killdeer on the day they were hatched.