Hey Darlin',
Got a decent night sleep, then went right back at it today. Didn't get everything done, but made a good dent. A trip to the DMV to change over my residency, the insurance company to transfer same, a short stop at Winn-Dixie, then a stop at the trailer repair place to check on my axles and to add a couple more things to the list of repairs. Got back to camp and tracked down where I can get more linoleum for the slide-out floor when that gets finished, then finally ran over to Chelle's for horse-feeding instructions. Finally settled into a salad with tuna and a Christmas movie, first one of the season. I'm skipping my hot tub, because frankly, it's been a hot day and I don't need to get overheated before I go to bed, so nothing left now but a shower and bed. Good night, baby! Love you!

Hiya Sweetie,
Though I woke up once during the night, I managed to get a good night sleep and finally woke up a bit more refreshed, though still deep down tired. After chores, a load of laundry and a deep clean on the camp restrooms, I settled down at my computer to work on social media for the Taste of Goethe, which took awhile to do. I finally settled down late in the day, happy to discover that the unsatisfactory end to Farscape had an additional two part mini-series to close off the series, so I was able to get some more rest with that. My new South African friends, Marc and Nicci, were finally able to bring my tractor back to me, and were kind enough to take two trips in order to bring both the bush hog and the awl back to me, though I'll have to change the awl back myself, which is no big deal. I didn't want them spending any more time on it. He also put in another ground stake for my fence, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. He feels the knots may be the problem, so tomorrow I will finally cut those out and start fresh. If that doesn't work, there's another neighbor who has offered to help (he helped with the retrieval of my runaways the other day), I may get him out here. It might all be moot, though, as I talked, with Ranger Rick about building a permanent corral, using some of the old posts that were pulled last year, (a suggestion made by my friend from Jacksonville to my neighbor when they were both down at Tillis Hill), and Rick mentioned there was also a pile of used planks we might be able to use, so that may come to fruition even faster than I hoped! With those materials and the awl on my tractor, I should be able to create a corral in no time! Anyway, I still didn't get my hot tub in until nearly 9:30, then shower, now bed! I am feeling more rested, so I have high hopes for a constructive day tomorrow. Good night, darlin'! Love you!

Hey Darlin',
Another early morning despite my attempts to sleep late, and another busy day. I'm feeling tired from all this activity, but there were so many little jobs bugging me, I forced myself to do some. I worked on the ice-maker for awhile, defrosting the freezer because I thought maybe the waterline was frozen. I managed to isolate where I was getting water and where I wasn't, though I wish I knew how to use a multi-meter better so I could verify it's the switch, which is what I think it is. I've replaced that before, so I can't believe it's gone again, but it's possible. I put a bigger rubber washer in the breakfast bar lights, they keep coming down when I move, and I've added another issue to my trailer repair list, I'm sure there's a plumbing problem which will require the removal of the basement floor, which will be a royal pain. I did a load of laundry and made up my bed early, and I'm glad I did since now I'm feeling even more exhausted. Went to the Taste of Goethe meeting at Apex, and we got a lot of decisions made, then walked around to set a dog walk area for the pet adoption folks, and put up another set of Jo's signs at the trailhead. It was nearly 5:00 when I got back to camp, and I had a new camper to check in, so it was sunset by the time I was feeding the horses. I had to write my notes from the meeting while they were still fresh, finally made dinner after 6:00. I managed to finish off the Farscapes on the last day of my free trial, though it looks like the channel may have charged my card anyway, so I probably have a fight on my hands over that. Too tired to deal with it now. Finally got into the hot tub after 9:30, and was set to take a shower when I got out, but forgot I had shut off the water heater when I was running the heater in the freezer, so now I'm waiting for hot water. Sigh... I don't see a reprieve anytime soon, I have so much to do in the coming weeks! And not enough of it includes riding! Well, this should build up my stamina, right? Anyway, at least we've been having perfect weather and life is still good! I can live with having too much to do for awhile. Beats sitting around! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hiya Babe,
Woke up before the already early alarm, which gave me an opportunity to do a little planning for the morning, though once the day began, a lot of that changed. Left camp just after 7:30, stopped at the HQ for some ice to keep my deviled eggs cool, and arrived at Tidewater just before 8:00 as planned. My first thought was to check the bathrooms just to make sure they had enough supplies, since I knew there was the Levy County Horse Club coming in for their Christmas Party Pot Luck luncheon, only to discover not only was it under-stocked, it was HORRIBLE!! Both toilets were blocked up and full, there was no toilet paper, no paper towels in one (it was obvious that was what plugged the toilets along with the human waste), and the floors were filthy. What a mess! Obviously my first task was to straighten that out, plunging toilets, etc. Folks starting showing up on schedule, everyone was there except the forest service with their two UTV's. They finally arrived about 15 minutes later. I did a quick strategy meeting and sent two of the teams out on the trails, then had to wait for the second FS guy to run back up to HQ to get more toilet paper and bathroom supplies. Once he got back, we were about ready to go, when we realized that the trimming equipment, loppers, etc. were locked in the first FS guy's truck, so we had to wait for him to get back to open his truck and get what we needed. We finally got on the trail at 10:00, way behind schedule. We had only worked on the first area of concern when we got a call that the folks in the pavilion didn't have power, so I had to drive back and check on the circuit board, though it turned out to only be the GFI circuit which nobody checked. I finally got back to my team, and we raced through the rest of the trail. Fortunately, one of the other teams did a bit more than required, which saved us some time, and we managed to get back to camp at 12:15, a bit after the other teams, but in time for their pot luck lunch. Jo and Logan put up some great new trail signs at the entrance, the yield signs and instructions for non-horse people about what to do when they run into horses. Nice photo op! I stayed afterward and talked with a bunch of people, including the gals running the trail riding concession out of the Black Prong Equestrian Center, which I found to be very helpful, then got back to camp and had another long chat with a couple of campers from Canada, followed by a visit with my new friends from South Africa who stopped by to take some of my deviled eggs with them, and finally settled into my evening, with hot tub, shower, Farscapes and bourbon cocktails! Ready for bed soon, I'm exhausted from all these activities and early mornings! Good for me though, keeps up my stamina. Good night, my sweet! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Another busy day today! Up with an early alarm, on the road by 8:15, down at Yvette's by 8:30, and spent the day doing more tractor work, whatever needed done, but most importantly, getting the fence posts around the walker in. I left around 3:30, came home and started boiling eggs for the deviled eggs I promised for the pot luck tomorrow after the Trail Work Half Day. It wasn't long before I left to drive down to Forest HQ for their Christmas party, a huge pot luck where I ate much more than I needed. I'm pretty used to gaining 7 or 8 pounds during the holidays, and it doesn't look like this year will be any different! Just need to get on track to lose it again. Got back home just before 8:30, finished my deviled eggs, watched a quick Farscape, didn't even take the time to take a hot tub tonight! It's just getting too late, so I'll be off to my shower and bed here very soon. Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hiya Darlin',
Woke up two minutes before my alarm, got right out of bed, and was very glad I didn't have to deal with finding lost horses this morning! Managed to get everything done, happy that my tractor started in this freezing weather (literally, 32 degrees this morning), filled it with fuel and was on my way out when I got stopped by a camper, chatted with them for a few minutes before I finally headed down the road. Arrived at Yvette's second house and was met by the couple that were going to put in a horse walker for her. An interesting couple, originally from South Africa, and we got along immediately. It took a bit of figuring to take off the bush hog and get on the post hole digger, I haven't used it in awhile and it was a bit stiff on the PTO shaft, but we managed to engineer a solution. I then drove it down to Yvette's first house, and we got busy. There were many chores that my tractor made easier, including digging post holes, pulling out old posts, and holding up the arms of the walker while it was put together. We worked all morning until he set some cement for the middle motor, then we went to Willards for lunch. Came back and worked until the end of dusk, before coming back to camp, feeding the horses, blanketing them again, sweeping the bathrooms, and finally mixing a drink and taking my hot tub. I am really loving that last item! Took my shower, watched a few more Farscapes (I have to finish them before my free trial runs out!), ready for bed! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hi Babe,
Woke up to lots of rain, as predicted, and after doing my usual chores, and letting Apollo off the highline for the day, I had every intention of doing some housework, but ended up not in the mood. Other than a load of laundry, I pretty much had a relaxing day, mostly reading or on the computer. I'm having dinner a lot earlier now, and I had just finished when someone came up and called me out, asking if I had lost a couple of horses. Sure enough, somehow Apollo had once again broken through the fence, and with Flash in tow, apparently ended up along the road! This lady was kind enough to drive me up the road about a quarter mile, where there was a whole crowd of people, so evidently they'd been wandering for a while. There was several cars, including a law enforcement car with lights flashing, and a woman with a horse trailer who had already loaded up my boys into it. I got there in the nick of time before I guess she was going to take them home until the owner was found. She kindly drove me back to camp and we unloaded them. Of course, now being close to dinnertime, they were cooperative while I fed them and fixed the fence, once again hitching Apollo to the highline, where he is going to stay until I get the fence working again. I love this neighborhood! So many people came out to help! They even had listed it on the local FB group, and I was able to thank everyone there. So grateful for understanding, equestrian neighbors! Well, by then it was growing dark, so had my hot tub (where my chemical balance is now near perfect!) and my shower and settled down for the rest of the evening, though I got a call from Yvette, she wants to use my tractor for a job tomorrow, so I'm going to have to bundle up (it's supposed to get down to nearly freezing in the morning) and drive my tractor down to her place early. Heading to bed soon! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hiya Darlin',
I'm pretty sure my hot tub is contributing to my sleeping, because I had another great night sleep last night. I was reading in bed, though, when someone came to my door and told me I had loose horses. I quickly got dressed (though not panicked, since I figured they weren't going to go far at breakfast-time) and not surprisingly, found them standing in their paddock, even though the fence was almost completely down. Evidently, Apollo got a bit hungry or determined or something, because he actually broke a couple of posts on his way out of the fence, and it was down enough for Flash to follow, which is highly unusual. But since they were back in and waiting, I simply fed them and rebuilt the fence. I spent a little time trying, once again, to figure out why the charger seems to be working but the fence isn't. Still can't figure it out. Anyway, I finally got that straightened out, had my breakfast, chatted with Rick for a couple of minutes when he stopped by, then headed out of camp for a bit shopping day. Went to the post office to send off a letter to the UK, then went to Tractor Supply for a big order of horse feed, then Publix to pick up my favorite ice cream, eggnog, picking up the very last carton which was way in the back, almost like someone was trying to hide it. I had brought my cooler along with ice in it, hoping that would keep it from melting too much, but I had some delays, so it was a bit soft by the time I put it in the freezer. Oh well, it will hopefully harden up again. Then to Walmart for diesel and shopping, then to the hay place to pick up some more hay. I've been going through almost a bale a day, just trying to keep the guys busy so they WON'T break through the fence, guess I shorted them last night or something. A quick stop at the dollar store, though they didn't have what I wanted, finally home! By the time I got everything put away it was after 4:00, and almost dark by the time I put the hay away. I still have the bags of feed left, but I decided to do them later. I was starving, so I made dinner and watched an hour of the last season of Farscape, having waited to get a 7-day free trial so I could finish it off since it wasn't available on Prime anymore. Then went back to my new schedule, dinner/feed the horses/take a hot tub/take my shower/clean the kitchen/watch a movie (though because of the time frame, watching two more hours of Farscape before doing my blog, taking my Spanish lesson and going to bed! I'm well on my way with that schedule now! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hi Sweetie!
Had a good night sleep, but for some reason, just couldn't get my act together to do much today. I was going to go back to Tidewater and mark the purple trail, but I had a few aches and pains and decided against it. Instead I worked on some overdue paperwork on my computer, then had a movie day with popcorn in the afternoon. After feeding the horses, I finally took my first dunk in my new hot tub! Despite getting down to 32 degrees last night, the tub had heated up to a fabulous 104 degrees, and though it doesn't have super strong jets, there were so many outlets making bubbles (over 100!), it did give me an excellent experience. I did feel relaxed by the time it shut off. I wasn't sure if it had a timer, but it did go off after about 25 minutes, though I'll have to confirm that next time. I tried to start the bubbles again but it wouldn't let me, so I guess there's a set time before you can start it again. Things I'll have to learn, since it didn't have anything in the manual about that! Regardless, it was wonderful to finally add one of the things I have missed about our house, our hot tub! Anyway, it was a quiet, enjoyable day, and I'll have plenty of energy for tomorrow. Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hey Babe!
Well, today's accomplishments made up for yesterdays incompletions. Though it took until 11:00 to get the first load of sand dumps, I was able to make short work of flattening it all out with my little tractor. I'm so glad I have that now! Rick brought two loads of sand and a load of gravel so that I can fix some of the potholes that periodically appear on the roads around the campground. The second load of sand I'll use to fill in some sand holes, and I put a couple of scoops down on my new patio to level it out as well. Once I got fairly straightened out, I moved the trailer over, which took awhile because it was really finicky and I wanted to get it just right, not to mention I had to move all the hay under the gooseneck and essentially put most everything away before I could pull in the slide and move it, but eventually, I got it in exactly where I wanted it. Of course, the sand will have to settle a bit, but I'm so glad that my porch isn't on gravel anymore! I know I'll have to move it again when I take it up to the trailer shop for repairs, but I finally feel like I've made a real start on moving in. Finally settled in for my usual evening, looking forward to a good night sleep! Good night, sweetie! Love you!