THE PORCH IS DONE !!!

WE ARE OFFICALLY OPENING THE PORCH, AND CALLING THE PROJECT DONE !!!  OF COURSE A PROJECT LIKE THIS IS NEVER ENDING AND MARY IS TALKING ABOUT REPAINTING THE INSIDE AFTER WE GET BACK FROM VACATION, AND REX NEVER DID GET THE STEPS STAINED, YET.

NOW, FOR MARY’S FUTURE EPISODE OF ON HGTV I OFFER THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES:

THE NORTH END BEFORE-

 

AFTER-

 

THE SOUTH END BEFORE-

 

AFTER-

 

WE RECENTLY ADDED A COUCH FOR MARY TO SLEEP ON WHILE SHE CHANNEL SURFS, AND AN OAK COMPUTER DESK FOR REX TO USE IN THE WRITING OF THIS BLOG.

WE ARE BOTH HAPPY WITH HOW IT ALL TURNED OUT, AND I’M NOT GOING TO MISS ALL THOSE THRIFT STORE TRIPS.

Lobster

  A little while ago the Smith’s grocery store had “whole cooked lobsters” on sale for $5.99 each.  Just out of curiosity I had to check them out. 

 Aren’t they cute in that red netting?  Who could resist?  Obviously not me.

 Actually they are cute from all sides, not very big, but cute.

 

 

 

Quite honestly there was not much “meat” on them but it was good, I made sort of a half-assed lobster roll and it was a nice change of pace meal.  Then to be frugal, all the shells and guts went into a pot along with some Old Bay and a bay leaf to make some lobster stock.  This winter when we are hungry for soup, lobster bisque will be on the menu!

HAPPY LABOR DAY

HAPPY LABOR DAY EVERYBODY!!! SO ENDS THE SUMMER OF 2011.  IT WAS A VERY TRYING SUMMER FOR THE HAPPY CAMPERS WITH THE AUGUST HEAT WAVE, BUT WE PULLED THROUGH.

WE’D NEVER MADE IT WITHOUT THE ADDITION OF THE ARIZONA ROOM / PORCH THAT WE ADDED LAST SPRING.  WE USE IT NEARLY DAILY AND WE ARE WONDERING HOW MUCH IT WILL GET USED IN THE WINTER MONTHS AHEAD.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS A ROADTRIP HOME TO WISCONSIN WITH MARY’S HONDA.   WE WILL BE LEAVING THE MOHAVE VALLEY ON SEPTEMBER 26TH AND RETURNING ON OCTOBER 16TH.

THE FIRST STOP, NOT COUNTING MARY’S DENTIST, IS THE TORCHLITE PARADE AT OKTOBERFEST IN LA CROSSE WISCONSIN ON THURS SEPT 29.

FOLLOWING THAT WE WILL BE IN GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN TO CATCH UP WITH AS MANY RECHSTEINER’S AS WE CAN FOR THE WEEK-END.

VISITING OUR MOTHERS, IS A BIG PRIORITY OF THE TRIP ALONG WITH OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  THE SCHEDULE IS LOOSE, WEATHER DEPENDENT, AND UNDER FUNDED.

ON THE WAY BACK WEST WE NEED TO HIT SOUTH DAKOTA TO RENEW OUR DRIVER’S LIC, AND WE PLAN TO SPEND A WEEK-END WITH AMY, DANIEL, AND THE BOYS IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.  THIS YEAR OUR VISIT IN ALBUQUERQUE IS ONE WEEK LATE FOR THE GRAND BALLOON FESTIVAL, AND LAST YEAR WE WERE THERE TWO WEEKS TOO EARLY.  MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WE’LL GET IT RIGHT?

OK, ALL YOU SNOWBIRDS OUT THERE, START PACKING UP YOU RV’S AND PLANNING YOUR ROUTES.  WE WILL BE WAITING TO DEAL YOU A BALCKJACK IN THE WARM WINTER WEATHER OF LAUGHLIN, NEVADA.

REX AND MARY

 

Spooner Tails

By Uncle Hans

This is Fiona.  Renee had pet Rats, too,  when she was younger.  (I hope she did not have baboons or alligators, this is all getting a little strange, and it gets worse........) 

She sez once you get one by the tail, they make great pets, and only live a couple of years. well we bought Fiona from the pet store for $5 and got quite a bargain, as you can see..........

..........so, about two weeks after we got her, she started building a very elaborate nest.  And on Sunday morning she delivered 9 "pups".   This is Monday morning.  If you look close there is one pup underneath the pile and it looks a little dusky............

.......but it was all OK, because Fiona ate it and the other 8 are very healthy.  More rat stuff later.

I bet you can't wait!........

By Uncle Hans

Spooner Family News

By Uncle Hans

......Renee and I have been together for a while now and we have decided to start a family.  Sam, of course, doesn't count as he is Renee's by a previous marriage.....................

..........Renee and I both had birds in the past and he fits right in.  He has a huge natural curiosity about anything we are doing, especially eating.  And he will try anything, once...........

.........Renee has taught birds to talk, which I have been skeptical of.  But Damned it he does not already have 3-4 phrases he jabbers.  He is shy around other people so it is just "in the family" for now, but I am sure he will be on a lecture tour before it is all over............

 

There is more new family news, believe it or not.  Just stay tuned................

By Uncle Hans