Spring has Sprung!
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Perry’s brother Paul & his wife Cyndi ventured up to Ft Yargo from Jacksonville for a week’s vacation. They arrived on Saturday & we joined them today. Our campsites are next to one another, which was a trick as the park is scheduled to be full during local school’s Spring Break. They have one of the few waterfront sites at the moment – once the lake gets full again after the much needed repairs forced it to be drained, it will look fabulous again. We are just a step closer to the wooded lots in Campground #1, where we hosted a few months back. Both sites are wonderful & we are “Happy Campers.”
Stepping back a day … On Saturday, Lily came to our house just after lunch & we ventured over to the park to greet the Florida Barton’s. Lily enjoyed playing with their three pups & then a quick trip to the playground. We went to Mystico for dinner just outside the park & then back to our house where Lily spent the night. A movie with Pops made for a very sleepy little girl so we delayed our normal “chat” until the morning. It was fun then just as the nighttime chats are. This time I told her about our dog Kaki who was our fur baby when Robby was born on Adak Island in Alaska. The day I brought my new baby home, Kaki (a big girl of nearly 80 lbs) climbed up on the couch & sniffed him from one end to the other. She then jumped down & immediately threw up. That detail made Lily giggle. After that, Kaki became Robby’s best friend & protector. Kaki allowed Robby to climb all over her, sleep on her back or crawl under her chest as she was sitting & use her front legs as if he was driving a car. Lily had plenty to giggle about with the stories of Kaki.
After cereal & popcorn (when at Honey’s house, anything goes) on Sunday morning, we took a ride back to Ft Yargo so we could get campsites next to the Florida Barton’s before anyone else. We then went to The Living History Society’s Market Faire by the old fort. This is their 18th year doing it (I think) & it was fantastic. These people come to Ft Yargo every third weekend of the month & LIVE the life as if it were the late 1700’s. The dress, the crafts, the food, everything is authentic & the public is always welcome to stop by & learn about life during that time. The Market Faire is their once a year BIG event with even more people participating, selling their handcrafted wears & such. We had Lily’s silhouette done by a lovely young woman who is a talented artist. She made two & framed them for us. We had to drop Lily off at her other grandparents house not far from the park & Lily gave Mary the second silhouette. We’ll have to get one done for her to give to Lisa, soon.
Perry & Beth went back to the house & got Wilbur hooked up to the truck (the packing & stocking of food was completed on Friday) & drove back to the park with the Sugar & Spice. Once our campsite was set up & we felt settled, we went over to Paul & Cyndi’s campsite to have dinner. Cyndi made the most awesome steaks, baked potatoes & asparagus ever. Beth brought a nice salad & we feasted. The men folk sat outside & bonded as only brother’s do but the wives retreated to their respective trailers for an early night of sleep. Bliss.
Monday, April 3, 2017
The day began with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage & toast for all four Barton’s at our campsite. When it became apparent the day would not only be wet but stormy as well, we headed to our house in Statham. Spice had her Pet Gummies to calm her down but FIVE dogs in the house was a bark fest.
Perry & Paul went to Buford to get a National Park Pass for Perry. He’s 62 so he only had to pay $10 (usually $80 annually). His new Senior Pass doesn’t ever have to be renewed either. AND it gets him 50% off camping at ANY National Park in the country. Cool beans. The men also went to Camper World in Oakwood – a camper’s toy store. The rains & wind provided plenty of reason to drive EXTRA careful while they were out & about.
Meanwhile, Cyndi & Beth decided to make 2 large batches of Cool It! Cyndi wanted to know the secret to this Air Conditioning in a Bottle we introduced her to at breakfast. It’s a dream for those sudden Hot Flashes women experience at a certain age. During the preparation, the Peppermint & Menthol Crystals will knock you over if you aren’t expecting it though – powerful stuff indeed. The soap Beth made a couple days ago had to be unmolded & cut (about 250 bars) so we could use the molds again. Cyndi is also a soapmaker so Beth showed her the way she lines all of her wood molds & Cyndi practiced on all 18 as Beth set up lye & fragrance for mixing the soap the following day. Since our soap is Olive Oil only, it is made at room temperature so not heating of oils & butters is required. It’s ready to go as soon as we are ready to mix.
When the men folk got back to the house, we loaded up the fur babies & headed back to camp. The rains had stopped & all had been rinsed by nature. Beth had taken some salmon steaks out so Perry & Paul grilled them – nothing added – on the grill. Cyndi made broccoli & Beth made buttered noodles & a salad. The consensus is the salmon was far too “fishy” tasting. You win some, you lose some.
It was a busy day for all of us & we made it a short night with no evening libations around the fire.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Beth received a good sized wholesale order during the night so, after our regular big breakfast, she went home to gather the goods & make the delivery to the mountains. The sun was out & proved to be a pleasant ride.
Paul & Perry felt “ambitious” & decided to take the LONG hiking trail around the lake at Ft Yargo. They made it but were sooooo soar when they got back that they were both hobbling around like old men. They used some of Beth’s Muscle Balm which proved to be most helpful. Cyndi had stayed in camp & enjoyed a good book & time with her pups. The guys were gone so long they missed going to Casey’s for lunch – boooooo!
Beth stopped at the awesome Jamar Farms Market on her way back from her delivery & picked up a big, freshly made strawberry cake to celebrate Cyndi’s birthday at dinner. We had marinated some pork loins in jelly earlier in the day so dinner was planned in advance. Robby & Lisa delivered Lily to camp to spend the night as it is Spring Break for her & she NEEDS to rough it some. BAHA! So, we enjoyed a great meal & strawberry birthday cake & a celebration for Cyndi.
The guys were so very tired we made it an early night. And Lily was so tired she fell asleep on the floor while Perry & I were getting the camper converted to a bedroom. When we got her up to get into the bed, she mumbled something about our night time “talk” would have to wait for morning. Her eyes were shut before her head hit the pillow.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
The news reporters were scaring us with all their predictions of wild storms headed our way. And Lisa was also worried about Lily being in what amounts to a tin can during said storms. So, we climbed in the vehicles at daybreak & returned to Statham. Spice got her calming gummies & all five dogs settled in for a day in the house.
We called Chris & Suzy Humble who drove over to meet us at Waffle House per Lily’s request. The seven of us had a good time visiting & just being together. The Humble’s drove their golf cart but we offered Suzy a ride home in the car because the rain was coming down in buckets. Chris LOVES the rain & took the opportunity to drive through many puddles on the way home. Crazy guy!
Beth mixed the soap we had prepared a couple days before, labeled the Cool It! bottles & made three batches of liquid soap to keep herself busy – storms scare her. Perry, Paul, Cyndi & Lily enjoyed watching several movies while the rains, lightening & thunder continued.
We had pork chops cooking in the crockpot all day so, when Robby & Lisa came to pick up Lily they stayed for dinner & some much needed family time. After the three left for home, we cleaned up & headed back to camp. The four of us had more strawberry cake before we ended the day.
However, an additional storm came through camp at about 11:30. It was FRIGHTENING but no damaged was done to the trailers or cars, just to our nerves. And Spice’s sanity.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
We had breakfast in camp & then Beth ran home to get a couple mail orders out. The guys took a much shorter walk in the woods & then took Cyndi to Winder so they could get their Casey’s fix. NEVER a disappointment.
We all had a laid back day at camp, chillin’, nappin’ & such. The park was FULL of families with children enjoying Spring Break but many of them pulled up stakes & headed home early when those storms came through. There were still a good many determined to get their full week in – good to see the kids riding bikes & having fun.
We cooked burgers on the grill, made with some awesome Buffalo meat from Charles & Rhyse Potts’ farm. Delish! And we had even more of that huge strawberry cake for desert. The men folk enjoyed libations before bed but we girls were well into dreamland before they decided to retire.
Friday, April 7, 2017
Beth made one last breakfast before the time came to return Wilbur to his home. Clean up followed & packing up was easy & quick. Perry & Beth left for home before 11 & were set up in the backyard by noon.
Beth had her requisite soak in the jets upon her return while Perry napped on the couch. It’s what makes us happy.
Paul & Cyndi, & Robby, Lisa & Lily met us at Longhorns in Bethlehem for dinner. It was fun being together & we have so enjoyed the week with the Jacksonville Barton’s!
Life is good! And not all who wander are lost!
