December 19 - 31, 2022 Christmas and Wrapping up 2022

 Dec. 19 - 25

Monday - The routine stays the same most mornings. After the routine things were completed we went to Stillwater to pick up Steve's new orthotics and shoes. The we stopped at Tractor Supply and Walmart Market to finish our shopping. We got home and unloaded our stuff. Next we just took it easy.  Tuesday - Today I went to PT from 12:30 to 1:30 while Steve did errands. At home Steve did some cleaning around the house to get ready for company. I finalized the Christmas cash presents. We met up with Hazel for supper at the Boomerang. Wednesday - Steve was vacuuming and cleaning today. I went to PT. Linda had thought about eating lunch with us - but she decided to get home. For our supper I fixed chicken breasts, brown rice and mixed vegetables.  Thursday - Steve is still cleaning, today it is the kitchen floor. I worked on the computer and completed my PT. Friday - We finally put our packages around the tree. Steve checked the RV heater. It has been really cold here and the kids may sleep in the RV. Maybe not if it is too cold. Austyn and Sky arrived tonight and we took them to La Macarena to eat supper. Linda joined us for supper. Saturday - it's the day before Christmas! Kristi, John, and Logan arrived about 11:30. I made Hobo Soup for lunch. It was yummy and so easy. Supper was at La Macarena here in town. It is our favorite place to eat! Sunday - Merry Christmas! I cracked some cinnamon rolls open for breakfast and then we opened presents. I put the turkey breast in the oven to get it started. We all enjoyed our presents and stocking stuffers. I didn't take many pictures of present opening except for Kristi & John. Because we got them engraved toasting glasses for the wedding. That was special. Then it was on to making appetizers and the remainder of Christmas dinner. After that we all just hung out  and relaxed. Austyn and Sky had to leave today because he had to work. I had cooked a spiral sliced ham also, and supper was ham and cheese crescent rolls. We probably won't need to eat for awhile. 

My Left Should with the new hardware.

We got a little snow on the 22nd

Toasting Glasses

Our Christmas Tree with presents

Dec 26 - 31

Monday - Breakfast today was cereal and or pop tarts. Kristi fixed turkey sandwiches for lunch. We looked at some arches for the wedding and other wedding related planning. Then Kristi, John and Logan had to leave about 2:00 to get back to work. After everyone left Steve and I just relaxed. Our supper consisted of snacks and berries.  Tuesday - Today was routine plus naps. Steve's back is giving him fits. We watched Oklahoma State in their bowl game and they got beat! Darn! I'm glad I didn't put out big bucks to go see it. Tonight we ate at La Macarena with Hazel and Stetson.  Wednesday - Today I went out for PT. After that, it was home for lunch. Steve and I went to Walmart Market for groceries. Then we unloaded everything at home and rested. Thursday - Today is Steve's Birthday! His back is giving him fits! We left for OKC about 3 or so and stopped at Camping World. I got him a new director's chair and an outside mat for his birthday present. Then we met the kids at Hideaway Pizza for his birthday supper. It was great! Friday - I called the pain management nurse to get Steve an appointment. Of course I had to leave a message. And since it is a holiday coming up, we probably won't hear anything for awhile. I had PT. When It was over we had lunch at home. I also did a load of laundry. Whoop Whoop! Saturday - The last day of 2022!  Today I did my PT at home twice. Then we watched football. TCU beat Ohio State in the bowl game. Steve is researching the RV heater. We stayed up to see the new year in and then went to sleep. 

Mary & Steve on his birthday!

May 14 - May 20, 2021 The Journey Continues, And The Road Never Ends!

May 14, Friday

We got up and around. Then we dressed and walked the dogs. We were on the road pretty quickly. It was I-90 West today. We drove about 2 hours to Presha, SD and filled up with gas. Since we were stopped we also walked the dogs and ate lunch. It's kind of funny - because we stopped in this same location last fall when we were headed east to Winnebago. Strange things! Then we were back on the road. About an hour or so later we stopped at a rest stop and took a nap. We had been in road construction for about 10 miles when the rest stop became available. There was a really nice building - but it was only restrooms - there were no tourist brochures! So glad Steve stopped, he was tired. When we got started again we made to Sturgis, SD and stayed at Day’s End Campground. There were plenty of sites. He gave us a site at the back away from the road noise. We were glad to settle in for the night. 

Chamberlain, SD Missouri River

We saw several of these as we headed west on I90. 






The Badlands

                Motorcycles we saw at the Sturgis Days End RV park

May 15, Saturday

We got around and walked the dogs. Then Steve & I went to Deadwood and toured the Tatonka museum. We were back to the RV in time for lunch. Steve felt a little funny - he had a queasy stomach and a headache. So we rested. It rained most of the afternoon. I talked to Marsha. Then I also napped. Napping during a rainstorm is almost a necessity. When we woke up we took off about 5 PM. The dogs were so excited to go on a ride in the pickup. So we drove to Custer State Park and the Iron Mountain Road. We saw lots of Deer, two Bison and several Elk. We drove through the park and were back home about 9:00 PM.

Below are the pictures I took at the museum of the Bison - Kevin Costner funded these sculptures and the museum I believe. It has some memorabilia from the movie "Dances With Wolves" also. 

These are the elk and a lone bison we saw at Custer State Park. 

May 16, Sunday

We woke up early and got on the road about 9 AM. We headed north out of Sturgis through the Northeast corner of Wyoming then on to Montana. We saw lots of Pronghorns (my favorite animals) and deer. We also enjoyed seeing the interesting rock formations. At some point we even passed a bit of the Custer National forest. We arrived at Glendive Montana and stayed at Blue Sky RV Park ($40). It was fine - but you sure notice higher RV park prices up here in Montana. It really only had an electric hookup. There was a place to fill up with water - but we didn’t need any. You fill out your registration and put it in a self pay box.  The owner did come by when we were unhooking the pickup and visited with us. We took the dogs on a tour of Makoshika State Park. It too had a lot of interesting rock formations. The campgrounds were primitive - no hookups. Some were just out on the prairie.  We also found a Fishing Access site on the Yellowstone River in Glendive, MT. 

Nice Building at Ekalaka, MT

Pictures I take as we motor down the road. If you look hard you may see Pronghorns or Deer!

Below are images from Makoshika State Park - Glendive, Montana. I was taking pictures into the setting sun - which is not good. But I took them anyway. I had wanted to see this place because Dinosaurs have been found here. It is otherworldly!

This picture is of the Yellowstone River Fishing Access site at Glendive MT. Blogger puts these pictures in whatever order it chooses. Not what I tell it. 

May 17, Monday

Again we woke up early and left Glendive, MT about 9:15 AM after getting gas. We saw antelope and and little airport at Wolf Point, MT, We also saw dinosaur statues at Glascow MT. We were going to stay here, but we pulled over and napped from noon to 2 or so and had lunch. Then we felt like moving on west. We’ve seen some big tractors here in Northern  Montana. The one we saw at Malta took up the whole bridge! We gassed up again and kept the RV headed west. We got into some bad road construction! Some of the spots were so bad we had to slow down to 15 - 20 mph. We saw a nice old abandoned mission church at Fort Belknap.  We finished our day at Havre RV park and settled in. It was $45/night.

May 18, Tuesday

We slept in til 8 AM. After breakfast we took it easy and then got dressed. We took off about 10:30 AM and drove back to Chinook to view the Bear Paw Battlefield where Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce surrendered and said “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.” It was a lovely drive. We also saw a Charles Russel Statue in town. Then we went back to Havre and picked up a sandwich near the RV Park and took it to the RV to eat. They had nice smoothies also. For supper we went to the Duck Inn and had soup and salad. That just about catches us up. 

 These pictures are at the Bear Paw Battlefield or on the drive south of Chinook to get there.

Charles Russell - Montana/Western Artist statue in the town of Chinook, MT

May 19, Wednesday

On our way out of Havre - we stopped at Walmart to get supplies. Then we were on our way to Great Falls, MT. The temperature started dropping slowly. The next thing you know it started clouding up a bit. Before we got to  Great Falls, there was 8-10 miles of road construction. We had to keep the RV speed 20 - 25 mph. By the time we pulled into the Famcamp the wind had ramped up and it was pretty chilly! We got settled and I did a load of laundry. 

Old Grain Elevators near Havre, MT

Loma MT - The scenery is changing

Marias River






These two shots are near Fort Benton

 

Floweree, MT

Road Construction!

May 20, Thursday

The RV heater was not working when we got up. We don't know what went wrong. It started snowing. I was sitting under my electric blanket with extra clothes on. About 3:30 or so we went to Walmart to see if they had an electric heater before the weather gets worse. We didn't have much luck, they had no heaters and also my meds weren't ready to pick up either. Next we went to North 40 Outfitters and were in luck. They had a heater we could buy. Then we returned to the RV. We ate leftover chili and got the RV warmed up. Later we walked the dogs on the snow a bit. The best thing is to stay inside while this weather blows through. 

It's starting to snow on May 20, 2021 - at Great Falls Malmstrom AFB Famcamp!