Ahhhh ...... !!!

NOW THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT !!!

FRESH MORREL MUSHROOMS, FRYING IN HOT BUTTER.  CAN YOU SMELL 'EM?  OH MAN ARE THEY GOOD !!!

I THINK THE SPRINGTIME MORREL MUSHROOMS ARE HALF THE REASON I MADE THE TRIP TO BEGIN WITH.  I HAVE A NEW EXCUSE FOR BUYING THEM, INSTEAD OF HEADING OUT TO THE WOODS TO SEARCH FOR THEM, IT'S A BAD YEAR FOR TICKS IN THE WOODS.  THAT'S THIS YEAR'S STORY AND I'M STICKING WITH IT.

NOW CHECKOUT THIS SIGN FROM AN INTERSTATE REST STOP IN IOWA.

NO RANT TODAY ........

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK A POUND OF MUSHROOMS SELLS FOR?

She Didn't Forget!!

Remember the other day when I thought Mary forgot my birthday?  I was wrong, turns out she just decided to give me my gift when they left so I would have something new to  play with while they were gone!  They actually bought me something,  my toys are usually things that are just around, like an empty beer box or shoe strings.

Isn't it nice??  A nice new toy to occupy me while they are gone. 

Thanks!!

Susie-Q

AN EASY TRAIL

TODAY'S TRAIL WAS A MIGHT EASIER ALONG THE THE EASTERN SHORE OF THE MISSOURI RIVER AND ON INTO THE SIOUX NATION.  CAN YOU TELL WE'VE SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS DAYS LISTENING TO WESTERN BOOKS ON CD AS WE DRIVE?

WE PAST SIOUX CITY, IOWA, SIOUX CITY NEBRASKA, AND NORTH SIOUX CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA ON OUR WAY TO SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.  WE HAVE ENJOYED OUR AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN SIOUX FALLS. 

 THE OFFICE LADY WE DID OUR BUSINESS WITH WAS SO NICE AND PROVIDED US WITH A $59 COUPON ON A $130 HOTEL ROOM.  THE PRETTY ASSISTANT MANAGER THAT CHECKED US INTO THE HOTEL WAS ALSO VERY NICE AND TOOK CARE OF MAILING SOME BUSINESS PAPERS FOR US.

  THE LADY AT THE HY-VEE LIQUOR DEPOT, EXPLAINED THE SOUTH DAKOTA SMOKING LAWS AND VERY PLEASANTLY DIRECTED US TO OLD CHICAGO, AN ITALIAN BAR AND GRILL THAT ALLOWED SMOKING.  SHE ALSO REMINDED US TO GAS UP UP OUT FRONT OF THE HY-VEE AT TWELVE CENTS PER GALLON OFF WITH OUR STORE RECEIPT.

BRENT OUR WAITER, AT OLE CHICAGO, KEPT "GRANDMA JACK'S"  GLASS FULL AND MY MILLER BEER BOTTLE NEVER GOT EMPTY.   WE ENJOYED AN ITALIAN SALAD AND REAL COD FISH AND CHIPS FOR LUNCH.

MARY SAID, " THE PEOPLE OF SIOUX FALLS ARE SURE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL TODAY".  YOU KNOW MARY, YOU ARE RIGHT!  THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF SIOUX FALLS,  SOUTH DAKOTA.  YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?

THEY ALL SPEAK ENGLISH AND THEY ARE ALL WHITE!!!  MAN, WE'VE BEEN OUT WEST A LONG TIME !!!   I'M JUST A SAY'IN. 

 PUT UP THE HONDA, YONDER UNDER THAT SHADY COTTONWOOD TREE WILL YA, PARD?

HIT THE ROAD JACK

IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK ON THE ROAD, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY A ROAD TRIP WITH THE HONDA AND NOT WITH THE CAMPER.  WE ARE HEADED TO WISCONSIN TO VISIT FAMILY, FROM GRANDMA TO GRANDCHILDREN.

THE FIRST DAY ON THE ROAD HAD US HEADED STRAIGHT EAST ON INTERSTATE 40.  LAST WEEK INTERSTATE 40 WAS CLOSED A COUPLE OF TIMES DUE TO WINTER SNOWS AROUND FLAGSTAFF.  THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE WHITE, AND THERE WERE STILL SNOW BANKS ALONG THE INTERSTATE, BUT THE ROAD WAS DRY AND SUNNY.

IN NEW MEXICO HOWEVER INTERSTATE 40 WAS CLOSED DOWN TWO HOURS DUE TO A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.  WE WERE ONLY 10 VEHICLES BACK AND HAD FRONT ROW SEATS TO SEE THE EMERGENCY CREWS IN ACTION.  IT WAS A ONE LANE CONSTRUCTION AREA AND A MOTORCYCLE WITH TWO PASSENGERS HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND ONE OF THEM TOOK A LONG TIME TO SCRAP UP OFF THE PAVEMENT.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE SCENE.  YOU CAN SEE THEY ALSO CLOSED DOWN THE WEST BOUND LANES TO LAND THE MEDICAL HELICOPTER.  THE FIRST VICTIM WAS LOADED RATHER QUICKLY INTO A REGULAR AMBULANCE, HOWEVER THE SECOND VICTIM WAS SLOWLY LOADED INTO THE HELICOPTER, AND EVEN FROM TEN VEHICLES BACK YOU COULD SEE THEM DOING CPR FOR OVER AN HOUR.  HE MAY HAVE LEFT THE SCENE AS A VICTIM, BUT I'M GUESSING HE ENDED UP AS A ORGAN DONOR BY THE END OF THE DAY.

ENOUGH OF THAT.  DESPITE THE TWO HOUR DELAY WE MADE OUR 700 MILE GOAL OF TUCUMCARI IN THE DAYLIGHT.  WE BELLIED UP TO THE BAR AT THE LIZARD LOUNGE WHERE WE SPENT TWO DAYS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE STUCK IN TUCUMCARI BY HIGH WINDS ON A TRIP WITH THE CAMPER.

WE WERE ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN CLOSING ALL THEIR REST AREAS ACROSS THE STATE, DUE TO THE GLOOM AND DOOM OF THE ECONOMY.

THE SECOND DAY IS BASICALLY DRIVING ACROSS KANSAS.  IF YOU THINK DRIVING ACROSS KANSAS ON I-80 TAKES FOREVER, YOU OUGHT TO TRY DOING THE DIAGONAL ON TWO LANE STATE HIGHWAYS.  YOU'VE GOT TO SLOW DOWN FOR EVERY GRAIN SILO PODUNK TOWN.  AFTER FOUR HOURS, MARY, WHO DOES ALL THE DRIVING, WAS FED UP AND AT WICHITA  HEADED THE OLE HONDA UP ON TO THE KANSAS TURNPIKE WHERE SHE SAILED ON AT 70 MPH TILL SHE GOT TO MISSOURI.

WE MADE OUR 700 MILES ON THE DAY, AND WILL ARRIVE EARLY TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN SIOUX FALLS, SD OUR FIRST STOP FOR SOME BUSINESS THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN OUR LEGAL STATE OF RESIDENCE.

Belated Birthday

By Susie-Q


I knew Mary would screw up and forget somebody's Birthday, and guess what?  She forgot ME !!!  Yup, yesterday was my first birthday.  Of course in human years that makes me 15.

It's been an interesting year with the Happy Campers raising me and teaching me the ways of RV life.  Now that I'm a teenager it's ME teaching them.  Neither one of them are really "Cat People", and they still have a lot to learn.

Last month when they brought home an outdoor dog kennel I laid it on them.  I am A Cat and love living inside the RV.  I'm not going for a walk on a leash, and I'm sure as hell not sitting outside in a wire cage.  Normally I'm easy going and don't have anything to say, kinda like Rex, but put me in cage outside and I'll howell and cry for as long as it takes.  Steve, the neighbor, even threaten to call the society for the prevention to the cruelty of animals.

Geees, are they stupid or what?  They put me out there a second day, although they gave up in a couple of hours the second day.  That was it.  I high tailed it to deep in the closet where they could never find me and spent a week.  I could hear them out there sweetly calling my name and shaking my treat box, but...... Screw That!!

Just to show you how SLOW they are about Cats, after being in hiding for seven days, and no cute little black pussy cat around to entertain them,  they finally got up in the middle of the night while I was out in the front room eating and closed the closet doors.  I peaked outside, and the big wire cage was GONE.  I guess I won that round.

The current on going problem is my habit of scratching.  I mean I can't help it.  When you wake up from a Cat Nap it's the natural thing to do, stretch and scratch with my front paws.  When they remind me, I stop instantly and give them that sweet, "I'm so sorry, I forgot look".  

They have pretty much decided to take me to Green Bay and have Uncle Neil, the vet, remove my front claws.  OUCH, can you imagine?  Have your finger nails pulled out with a pliers?  I think NOT !!!   Even Dick Cheney wouldn't sign off on torture like that.

To combat them, I have a two phase plan.  First I called a meeting and explained to them why they got a cat last summer in the first place.  To eliminate and catch mice.  Have you seen any mouse turds in the kitchen lately?  Are you returning to Oatman, land of the mice, to camp again this coming summer?  How can I preform my duties if you take away my number one weapon?  MY CLAWS  !!!

The second phase has been on going.......  the Happy Campers are heading to Wisconsin for a vacation soon.  Part of their plan is to take me along (to Green Bay) and they began taking me for rides in the car, talking about a litter box for the car, my favorite red bed in the car, etc.  I HATE RIDING IN THE CAR  !!!

Come on guys........  I'm like 15 years old now, and old enough to stay home by myself.  Do you really want a whining cat in the car for a 4,000 mile road trip?  Do I really give a shit about meeting Grandma, and a slug of grandchildren?  Now I've never met a child before, but I'm guessing I hate kids.   I'll be good at home, I promise !

I thought it was a losing battle, until today.  They started laying down the rules while they are gone to Wisconsin on vacation:

* Don't run the A/C lower than 90 degrees
* No teenage parties
* There's an extra bag of Cat food behind the living room chair
* Do not jump on top of the slide out
* No tomcats in here, either neutered or not neutered.
* Stay out of Grandma Jack's whiskey


They are leaving on Monday for Wisconsin, Let's hope they don't change their minds.  Hmmmm......  I wonder if those closet doors are left open, I may need to hide out for a few days.

Susie-Q

Happy Birthday Eddie!!

Edward David Saucer is five years old today!!


Happy Birthday  Eddie!!


Eat lots of cake!!

Health Fair

Last Saturday I went to a Health Fair at Western Arizonia Regional Medical Center on Silver Creek. 

Everything was set up in the parking lot.  There was reps from most of the local medical community and as well as doctors and nurses on hand to answer questions and explain what their specialties are.

The event was pretty well attended and I got my blood pressure taken, a glucose reading, and blood drawn for cholestrol screening.  AND

too many goodies to mention.  I should have taken a bag...my arm got pretty full!!

All in all I thought it was worth my time.

Some Of My Favorites

Rex recently posted about his favorite cactus flowers so I decided I'd like to show of couple of springtime plants I like.

This is a smoke tree.  It is a really beautiful pink color.  This tree grows along the road like brush.  When we were in Independence, Missouri a few years ago we were shown a tree that is  one of the largest smoke trees in Iowa.  However it was a brownish, black instead of pink so I guess they come in more than one color, but the pink is by far my favorite.  Sadly, on the reservation the last couple of years, they have been clearing the growth along the roads so a lot of these have disappeared. 

This is a bottle brush tree....a small one.  At the library in Laughlin there is one about 10 feet tall.

A close up of one of the "bottle brushes".  This beautiful red color is really eye-chatching.  Love this plant and, like lilacs, only around for a short time.  Spring everywhere has beautiful scenry to enjoy.

Asparagus Spooner Style

By Uncle Hans

Mary's recent blog on food inspired us to give one idea a try. I love asparagus and I love ham. Together they are a "sure-winner" combination. I could not find prosciutto at the Economart so I used shaved Black Forest ham............

.........Grandma was curious about me wrapping asparagus with ham and came to watch............

...........17 minutes at 350 degrees, they didn't last long after they came out. Renee , Grandma, and Renee's son's girlfriend, Shannon, scarfed them down (well, maybe I had a couple)..........

...........Renee doesn't like asparagus, but had no problem with the "ham disguise". Hell, you could wrap a toothbrush in ham and it would taste OK.............

Thanks Mary!!

Happy Birthday Chad!!

Happy Birthday Chad!!


On the 18th of April '75
Hardly A Man Is Still Alive
Who Remembers The Famous Day And Year
Of The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere


This poem always runs through my mind on Chad's birthday.  And when I decided to credit the poet, I was amazed:  That is not how the poem begins.  Here it is:


www.poemofquotes.com/henrywadsworthlongfellow/paul-reveres-ride.php


Glad I had the right poet!


Happy Birthday Chad!!

Beer Run

By Uncle Hans

On Saturday I realized I had insufficient Bud Lite for the visit of Barry and Laura, which would lead to the arrival of Jake, Laurel, and Hannah. I went into the convenience store, our closest is a Holiday. There was a red truck that caught me eye.........

.......The turkey season was open but an hour or so when this fellow turned up at the Holiday, which is also a game registration station in the boonies here in Spooner.......

In Wisconsin, the opening weekend is for kids only. The adults have to wait until the following weekend. Kinda neat. This one was collected bu a 14 year old boy and the red truck was driven by a woman, also in camouflage, which looked suspiciously like his mother.

Hey. The family that kills together, .....well, .........you just can fill in the blank........

It's just a different culture in the rural areas. Its neither right or wrong. This was also the weekend of the famous Spooner Gun show held in the Elementary school. Link to the blog I wrote on that a few years ago.

Unbelievable.......

Uncle Hans

The Ice Goes Out

By Uncle Hans

Mom recently visited us at Cable Lake for a couple of weeks. We timed the visit so she could see the ice go off the lake. Spring is so early (about three weeks ahead of schedule) that she almost missed it. This is the day after her arrival..........

........you can see that the ice sheet is "impinging" on the corner of the dock/boat lift. I have had this thing in the lake year-round for 10 years without any damage. Just lucky, I guess, because the ice sometimes wreaks havoc with docks left in over the winter........

.....here the sheet has moved past the dock, but the damage is done...........

....here the ice is about half out. The process usually takes about 24 hours. You can see that the dock is crooked. The boat lift is probably twisted beyond repair, although you cannot see it from this picture...........

....here just some ice on the other side of the lake left........

Grandma was involved with a lot of activities during her 20 day stay. We washed out the van............

..........someone gave us a paddleboat (long story) so I powerwashed it and took it next door to the resort for the kids to use. If we need it, I know where it is.........

Renee started her collection of flowers in a south-facing window. In a few weeks, these plants will move outside. Believe it or not, it is not recommended to do this until May 30 as there is risk of damaging frost until then........

....Grandma spent a fair amount of time watching TV as we were busy with our "day jobs"...............

....we had an Easter dinner with a few friends........

.... we drafted Grandma into helping with the spring leaf raking and yard clean-up. It was a beautiful day and kinda fun...............

....this last weekend, Barry and Laura came from Green Bay for a visit. They carried Grandma home.

We enjoyed her visit............

By Uncle Hans

STAN

WHILE WE WERE IN VEGAS WE MET UP WITH AN OLE NORTHEAST IOWA FRIEND AND FAITHFUL BLOG READER STAN, FROM MONONA, IOWA.

NOW HERE'S A COUPLE OF VERY HAPPY IOWA BOYS ENJOYING TWO-FOR-ONE BEERS AT BENNY'S BULLPEN IN THE HISTORIC BINION'S HORSESHOE CASINO!!!

WE GOT CAUGHT UP VISITING, AFTER ALL IT'S BEEN OVER TEN YEARS, AND MANAGED NOT TO BORE MARY TOO MUCH TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, TRAINS, CATS, VEGAS, AND CRAPS.  WE TAUGHT STAN A COUPLE OF CHEAP TRICKS ABOUT TWO-FOR-ONE DRINK COUPONS, AND $1 HOT DOGS TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT BEER.

OF COURSE CRAPS STRATEGY CALLS FOR A CRAPS GAME.

STAN, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YA BUDDY !!

VEGAS

I'VE SAID MANY MANY TIMES, FOR A LONG LONG TIME THAT, "LAS VEGAS IS MY FAVORITE PLACE ON THE PLANET!"  HERE'S ONE OF THE REASONS.....

WE  MADE IT TO VEGAS TO CELEBRATE MARY'S BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK-END AND ENJOYED THE FITZ HOTEL A LOT MORE THAN OUR CUSTOMARY VEGAS CLUB, ALTHOUGH ON A WALK-ABOUT WE STOPPED AT THE VEGAS CLUB TO CHECK ON NAY, OUR FAVORITE BARTENDER.  TURNS OUT SHE HAD BEEN ON VACATION THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

GAMING DIDN'T GO SO WELL ON THIS TRIP, SO WE DIDN'T MEET OUR GOAL OF A FREE TRIP TO VEGAS.  NO BIG LOSSES, BUT THE LAST TWO TRIPS OUR GAMING PAID FOR THE TRIPS SO I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

WE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF MEETING UP WITH PAULIE.

IN TRUE TRADITION WE WE DISCUSSED THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY,SOLVED THE PROBLEMS OF THE CASINO WORLD, AND KNOCKED DOWN SOME ICE COLD BEERS.

BUT THE HELL WITH THE GLOOM AND DOOM, LET'S SEE ANOTHER SHOT OF THAT VEGAS SHOW GIRL......

I LOVE LAS VEGAS !!!

PICKING ON JOEY

I REMEMBER WHEN EDDIE WAS JOEY'S AGE AND I POSTED A NOT SO FLATTERING PICTURE OF HIM,  SO WHEN AMY POSTED JOEY'S TEMPER TANTRUM ON HER BLOG I COULDN'T RESIST STEALING IT AND POSTING IT HERE.







NEEDLESS TO SAY BEING 2,269 MILES AWAY FROM THIS LIVE ACTION I GOT QUITE A BELLY LAUGH OUT OF THE VIDEO.


JOEY IS REALLY A LUCKY BOY HAVING VISITED DISNEY WORLD EVERY YEAR OF OF HIS LIFE, AND AS THE FAMILY PREPARES TO MOVE FROM THE SUNNY BEACHES OF PANAMA  CITY FLORIDA TO THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, I'M SURE THIS TRIP WAS VERY SPECIAL.


IF YOU'RE A FAN OF DISNEY WORLD, OR MY GRANDCHILDREN, NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO CLICK ON THIS LINK TO AMY'S BLOG AND READ THE LAST FEW DAYS.

 SAUCER SHENANIGANS BLOG

(EDITOR'S NOTE: BLOGGING HAS BEEN SLOW LATELY, BUT THIS WEEK UNCLE HANS IS COMING UP, MARY'S WORKING ON A COUPLE, REX HAS A COUPLE VEGAS STORIES, AND SUSIE-Q HAS BEEN TYPING ON MARY'S 'PUTER AS WELL, SO TUNE IN OFTEN.)

Dessert

Ok so we had a parting of the minds when it comes to dessert too.

 

This is what Rex needs for his ice cream dessert....magic shell chocolate and butterscotch.  Yum, Yum!!!!!!

Mary needs blueberries, lemon sorbet, and  Limoncello (to macerate the blueberries in).

Doesn't that look yummy??  Believe me IT WAS!!