Living a tropical life

Things rust - - one of the things I needed to do was replace the screws around all of the windows

don't know if they were an inferior product or not - but I found them to be unsightly. Luckily they were easily removable with a 1/4 socket and my screw gun (well, a few required use of vise grips). There are still some that need working on but they are behind the window awnings in the front of the house.
This is what it looks like with the new screws:

much cleaner - worth the effort.   Just letting you know that I am keeping busy .................

Busy days - lots to do

Along with trying to fit all of our "stuff" into the place, we arranged to have some repairs done and on of the main items involved the plantings in the front of the house.
OLD VIEW:

this was a sort of traditional look - and thanks to our son for spreading mulch last year - but the boxwoods nerver grew well and were all 'sticks' and the grasses just grew wildly and caught all of the oak leaves from the large tree next door.


NEW LOOK:

this is in the "Less is More" category - - - we will have sod put in as soon as we regroup - the soil has more in common with a golf course than a lawn ( and the 'commonality' is a sand trap!). MK asked for two ceramic planting pots to be placed in the ground near the decorative 'sand dollar' - into which she plans to put 'seasonal' flowers during the time we are here....

Scottsboro, Alabama

As many of you who follow this blog know, MK loves to find "interesting" things for us to see and do as we travel. We use the sites "RoadsideAmerica.com" and WLRA.com (Worlds Largest Roadside Attractions) and also look at Factorytoursusa.com. This place is one that she has wanted to visit for several years and we said, 'Sometime when we go down I -75 we have to take the time to go to:

Yep - this is where YOU can buy things that people have lost when their baggage goes unclaimed! Fascinating, Fun, Fabulous Deals. We spent several hours there - electronics, clothing, shoes - - - everything people take on holidays. Even saw a brand new, one piece motorcycle race suit (size: Small) !  Saw lots of size 16 basketball shoes (I think some team had to play barefoot - they were orange and white). MK's favorite Canon camera broke - the lens became skewed and doesn't work very well at all - we found a replacement there !  for about a third of what she paid for hers (plus this is newer with more megapixels and better zoom).  Plan a trip to Chattanooga and then take the drive to Scottsboro - it is worth the trip!


BLATANT COMMERCIAL CONTENT:
We belong to PASSPORT AMERICA - it is one of several 1/2 price camping clubs - the dues are close to $50 per year   BUT    IT    WORKS - - - on this trip south we have stayed at three of the participating parks   and we have saved $60 already  with at least one more to go. If you travel in a camping vehicle - you need to check this out. I will gladly explain more if you wish to write me.  BUT, also, if you decide it is for you, please put Mary down as a reference since we get a reward (we'll send you her club member # for you to add to your application). Here is an interesting CG we are staying at - the site available was 'at the top of the hill' - that is what the lady said on the phone.

and there we are - - - - waaaaaaaaay up on the left - - - what a view !!!

three campgrounds - the first was an older type with oak lined narrow roadways - the second was a very modern one with all of the amenities but certainly wasn't 'charming' - and the third is one of the strangest, built onto the hillside like this - has 50 amp electric, water, sewer and cable tv so it is good from that perspective + we are getting a nice breeze from the valley to our far side - tomorrow we "camp" in a "Friends Driveway Campground" for two nights and then we boogey on down - most likely spending one additional night on the road.  Look Out B Bay  here we come !!!!!