Hot, Cool, Hot, Cool....Wet!

Wichita is home to the Nuway -- loose meat burger and rootbeer

7-6-15:  Headed back to Wichita today.  The forecast isn't looking too sporty. But we'll see how far we can make it.

so far, so good on the Cimarron Turnpike - nearly there

just as soon as we arrived at Air Capital and got set up, the bottom fell out

gully washer

Glad to have made it and set up before the storms rolled in!

see the baby birds in Justin's and Brooke's hanging basket?

7-7-15:  Justin fixed his famous meatballs for us tonite. When we got to Douglass, we scouted out a couple of homes that we want to look at.  While driving around, we spotted a red fox running through the streets of Douglass.  Tho we saw it 3 times, we just couldn't get a pic.

Jane Bowman, Realtor

7-8-15:  The temps were perfect this morning for a walk at Derby High Park!  So excited to still be getting in 6 miles!

David and I have been talking about semi-settling in the Wichita area in order to be able to spend more day-to-day time with the grandsons.  Our friend and realtor in Texarkana, Jeannine Spicer, hooked us up with a realtor here.  Jane is with Coldwell and is the perfect realtor for us. She is super efficient, not high-pressure, and has a great sense of humor.  So today she took us to some homes that we'd found online in Douglass.

7-9-15:  Looked at a home in Mulvane this evening with Jane.

7-10-15:  Today Jane showed us 3 homes in Winfield.  Winfield is a charming little Midwest town with many refurbished, historical homes. Although it's not where the grandsons live, it is where Justin and Brooke work.  So we think we could be of some help to them there, too. We narrowed down our online search to these 3 places.  I loved all 3 of them.  David loved one of them.  We came home ready to talk about making an offer!

7-11-15:  Well, after much consideration we decided to continue fulltiming a few more years. But when/if we do decide to settle in this area, we know which realtor to call! Thanks, Jane!!

Pluto

7-14-15:  NASA released some magnificent new pix of Pluto today! Pluto was discovered in 1930, but de-planatized in 2006.  I don't know......looks like a planet to me!

After much to-do with replacing the turbo in our truck and hoping we could hang onto it long enough for it to become a classy looking antique, David decided for his peace of mind that we need a new one.  He searched online and found a dealer in Rockwall who had exactly what he needs. He's packed and ready to drive down there tomorrow.  The dealer called him and told him that tho she had put the keys in her desk, someone took them out and sold the truck!  The search online continues.

RIP, Jon

7-15-15:  Last month David and Gus played in a golf tournament to benefit former student, Jon Cannon in Texarkana.  Sadly, today Jon lost his battle with cancer.  

Gotta hold your twizzlers just right during a game of UNO

7-16-15:  David and the dealer in Rockwall found another truck in the metroplex that will work.  So off he went today to get it. About the time he reached Denton, she called him and said when she went to look at the truck, it had single rear wheels. Since he was nearly there, he decided to go on in and talk with her and just spend the night in the area.

Rocky and I stayed home so Justin and Brooke could have a date weekend.   Andrew and Asher came over and we gamed all night!  It was way too hot to get out and do anything around the RV Park....and my truck is in the DFW area.

the time came when Rocky required a little walk

and the trash had to be taken out

again with the twizzler

Andrew doesn't need a bed, he can just use Rocky's

Asher  found out Rocky likes to drink out of a cup

he used to do this when he was a puppy

looks like it came right back to him

Meanwhile, Andrew is chillin in Rocky's bed while watching Wild Crats

David and the dealer found another truck which will be acquired in the morning, delivered to Rockwall, and brought home to Wichita.

old on the left, one like the new one on the right

7-17-15:  David got home late tonight with the new wheels.  Worked out nicely.

watching baseball at the Pizza Hut

7-18-15:  Enjoyed our boys these past couple of days!  They are sweethearts!

Hog Wild BBQ right off the bat

7-19-15:  Scott and Brenda Schnelle passed through Wichita for an overnighter at ACRV.  We got to know them a few years ago in Branson where we all workamped together at the Dewey. Great to see them again.

one of the Navy memorials on the Riverwalk in Wichita

at the Arkansas riverwalk with Exploration Place behind us

where the Little Arkansas meets the Arkansas at Keeper of the Plains

Keeper of the Plains

what about "let's make a face" did ya'll not understand?

Scott and Brenda

We pretty much had the riverwalk to ourselves.........because it was about 100 degrees. But that's just a little practice heat for them.  They are heading to Florida. Great seeing these 2 and talking to them about their new plans!  And THX for the craft ideas, Brenda!

7-20-15:  Enjoyed a daytrip to Emporia today to meet Kyle and Vickey Q!  We met them a couple of winters ago at JCRV and they became expert Panties players!

giving face-making instructions

now Vickey understands "let's make a face"

Vickey is a great quilter and taught me a lot about sewing at Johnson Creek.  She is still one of my go-to peeps when I have a question.  Kyle rec'd a heart transplant 4 or 5 years ago and is doing great!  We so enjoyed our visit with them and learning about some of their traveling plans!

spiderwort

Enjoyed some of the wildflowers at the rv park tonight on my walk.  Tons of Prairie Sunflowers and now the Spiderwort is popping.

ATM scanners that are being placed around the Wichita area

7-22-15:  Some of the big news in Wichita and surrounding towns is that the ATM's are not safe right now.  Texarkana is having the same issue with a different kind of scanner at gas pumps.

a few extra geese stopped by at Derby High Park

there are always several cicadas on the trail in the mornings

shedding its skin

bagworm inching its way along the trail

a nearly solid black goose

pretty spiderweb

7-22-15:  Finally a break in the heat, so David and I hit the trail at Derby this morning for our walk.  I could get my walk in much quicker if I didn't stop to take so many pix.  But I do love nature!

Mr Jack Keazer

This afternoon we stopped in to see sister-in-law, Karen's dad at his new abode in Wichita.  What a sweatheart!

gettin' ready to Jamberry!

7-23-15: Although I don't know a lot of folks in Wichita, I thought I'd have a Jamberry party for Brooke at the RV Park. I'd asked her what the minimum amount of people in attendance would be in order for it to be worth her time to drive over.  She said 3-5 is a good number.  Whew!  Got 4!  Luckily she drummed up some business online as well by setting me up with a Facebook party.

my first time to try the wraps -- I think I ll have fun with them (4 wraps and polish)

Heather's are 4 polished and a wrap

McClintock Gals - Heather, Sheila, and Brooke

and their pretty nails and laquer

Fun afternoon and now I'm looking forward to getting all the nail goodies that I get just for having the parties!


7-31-15:  Welp, we ended up July here by going to the boys' VBS wrap-up!  We really enjoyed it but forgot to take pix!

We know we're in for some more super hot days in August, but plan to enjoy ourselves anyway!

Much love from the Heartland!

Ram, Jam, and One Hot Doggie