June 1- 15, 2026 Getting Into the Swing of Things Here at Echo Lake

1-Mon-We were up at 7:30. After eating breakfast and getting dressed, we walked the dogs around the circle. Next we left for Walmart about 9:20. On our way we saw four deer. Kelly dropped off several life jackets for our loaner program. We got back to the RV by 12:15. We unloaded everything and then watched TV. We rested and relaxed most of the rest of the day. Supper was chicken soup, crackers and berries. 

2-Tue-We were up at 8:00. We did our chores then put out cones by the rocks in the parking lot on the outbound road. People have a tendency to cut the corner short and have problems at the rocks. Kelly was here and then Tony came down. He cut the tree that was blocking Echo Lake Loop Road. I think he wanted out of the office. Steve installed the battery disconnect in the pickup. We put out nine new life jackets. Supper was leftover soup.

Wild Flowers

Tony, left and Kelly. Tony cut that tree out of the road.

Wildflowers

Loaner Lifejackets

3-Wed-We were up about 8:00 today. We did our usual routine. Sydney and Seth were here - they sprayed for weeds. The game warden came out and put the buoy out in the lake for the no wake zone. Steve put jack stands under the RV. We also did weed eating in the morning. We finished our stuff and watched TV and rested. I talked to my sister a long time today. We had hamburgers, french fries and berries for supper. 

4-Thu-We were up at 8:00 this morning. We just walked around the parking lot circle this morning. Steve was waiting for a tele-health visit regarding his back procedure. When that was over, we did weed eating. Next was lunch and relaxation time. Later we hauled off the trash and bought some flowers to put in a pot. Supper was pizza and berries. 

The flower arrangement we made

5-Fri-Another routine day. We had breakfast, did our walk and chores. After eating leftover pizza for lunch we mowed and did some weed eating. 

Wild Roses

6-Sat-We were up about 8:00 AM. We did the chores. Our parking lot was full at 9:30 AM. There was also about 9 cars parked outside the gate. We did make a run to town to haul off the trash. Then we had to go to Sliter's, the UPS store and grocery store. We got back to the RV and Steve installed the headlight switch in the RV. We watched some TV and relaxed. The dust control people were here and put down more chemical for that. Supper was chicken , home fries, romaine lettuce and berries. 

The parking lot is full

More dust control was applied!

Geese

7-Sun-It was pretty routine day here. It rained a lot. We even had some small hail. The temperature was 46-50°, Weather like this does not lend itself to boating, so we were not too busy today. Kelly was here part of the afternoon. Today was my sister Nancy’s heavenly birthday. She would have been 76. She passed away in 2018 unexpectedly. I still miss her. 

For supper I made turkey bacon, eggs, sourdough toast and berries. 

Sundown

8-Mon-It was about 8:30 when I got up today. We did all the regular things. We were sitting inside the RV and a grader and truck from Flathead County pulled into the parking lot. I went to check them out and found they were just taking a break. We left about 11 and hauled off the trash. Then we went on to Kalispell to shop at Tractor Supply ( overalls for Steve) and Dunham Sporting Goods store. We also went to Walmart for supplies. We got home and put away our stuff. Then we had a snack and relaxed. I might have taken a short nap. For supper I fixed Hamburger Helper. 

Flathead County Equipment

Osprey 

Wild Roses

More Wildflowers

9-Tue-We were up and had our breakfast about 8:30. We watched TV til 11ish. It was chilly and rainy today. We checked the bathroom and it was fine. I worked on my blog and we watched TV. Supper was leftover.

10-Wed-We got up about 8:45 today. It was chilly and rainy. We got dressed and got the dogs outside. Then we gathered up the laundry and went to town. We were back to the RV by 1:00. We put away the laundry and had some lunch. We walked the dogs again. For supper I fixed grilled chicken, corn, salad and berries. 

Water is over the dock.

Deer

11-Thu-I got up late today about 9:15. Steve was up at 7:00. We completed our routine morning tasks and took a short walk. Kelly was here and stayed almost two hours. We had a snack and Tony showed up about 30 minutes after Kelly left. He pulled out the dock and left us some 4x4 posts. Steve is going to use them to build steps down to the lake from our site. Supper was turkey kielbasa, home fries, and berries for dessert.

 

It's so pretty out here!

12-Fri-It was a sunny morning and the afternoon was overcast. Steve and I walked around the loop after breakfast. Marsha (my sister in NJ) had an EGD and there was no need for dilation of her esophagus. We did our chores and mowed and weed eated out on the road. After lunch it was overcast and breezy. It rained some. The temperature was 59°. The electricity was out for about 45 minutes this evening. We were glad it came back on quickly! We had cube steak, potatoes, salad and berries for supper.

13-Sat-We completed our morning ritual. After checking the bathroom we walked the loop. Then we sat outside for a bit with the dogs. The mornings here are pretty peaceful. We did some more weed eating by the side of the road. Then Steve sawed down a big brushy plant by the sign. We finished by 11:45. Steve worked on the window shade by the couch. Supper was turkey bacon, eggs, toast, berries.

14-Sun-Well today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday. We trimmed more weeds and Steve took down another big bushy weed on the DNRC side. About 2:30 there was a boat jam out in the parking lot. They finally got unjammed and got on their way. Supper was a turkey burger, rice and mixed vegetables. 

15-Mon-We got up at 7:45. We completed all our chores. Then we loaded the trash and hauled if off. We also went to the post office. The next stop was Walmart and we were back home by 1:15. We put away all our stuff and had a snack. The rest of the day was a bust. Supper was Hamburgers, Ranch Style Beans, salad and berries.

View of the mountains from the trash container site

Sunset at Echo Lake

October 16 - October 31, 2023 More Chores and Routine Stuff

Oct 16 - Monday-Today we started off with  Laundry. Later we loaded up our aluminum cans and sold them. We got $30.00 for about 100 pounds. We are glad to have them gone. Also Buster (dog) tangled a little bit with a skunk last night so we went to Stillwater Mill and got Skunk odor eliminator. We also picked up some Ammonia and moth boalls to put under the shed. They are supposed to repel skunks. We will see. We also went to the courthouse to make sure we are still exempt from property tax due to Steve's VA status. While we were there we talked to the county extension agent about getting soil samples tested for our yard. I made roast, potatoes and carrots in the crock pot. 

Oct 17-Tuesday-We did  all the routine things. Steve started working on tree roots in the back yard. They are in the NE corner of the yard and interfere with our chain link fence. We took the soil samples to the county agent and then stopped by Lindas. In addition, I got a library card and checked out a book. With the library card I can check out electronic books through the app Libby and it doesn't cost anything. WooHoo!

The Rose of Sharon Bush also bit the dust over the summer. Steve dug it up. 

We saw this cute Halloween decoration on our way to dump trash!

 

Oct 18-Wednesday- After breakfast, we had to work on the TV sound. It was mute for some reason. We unplugged the Direct TV Box and it  finally worked. We had to clear some things out so the guy could come and cut down our dying tree. So we loaded junk in the back yard by the tree and hauled it to the dump. Then we burned limbs. We also went to Stillwater and stopped at Staples, Hobby Lobby, Walmart and then home. The nurse from the VA pain management call and we got an appointment for Steve (Back). 

Oct 19-Thursday-I called the VA and got an appointment for Steve to talk to the doctor who does back injections. Kristi  and John cam here about 10:15 (fall break). We visited and then went to lunch at La Macarena. Steve and John put the new chair mats in the computer room They also moved the ramp away from the shed . We took a walk with Kristi and John. They left about 2:15. I think we had a short nap later. Then we had a small supper with Linda and Hazel.

Oct 20-Friday-We left for OKC Va aboearly. We arrived there at 8:30 and our appointment was at 9:30. We headed home about 10 Am and arrived back at the house at 11:)) AM. We rested and had lunch. After lunch we took the pickup for an oil change and stopped at the post office and Homeland. We also made a run to Stillwater to pick up my blood pressure meds - I had to go to two walmarts because the regular one didn't have the medication. So I am achanging my pickup locaiton.Back hom about 5:00 PM.

Oct 21 -Saturday-We were up at 7:03 and got dressed. We moved the RV to the parking lot where the Walmart used to be here in Perry. Now we have O'Reilly's and Tractor Supply there. At 8:30 AM Ben Passow and his wife arrived to cut the tree down in the back yard. . He finished cutting down the tree a little after 1:00 PM. They took a little lunch break. They do a great job. They ground up the stump and also hauled off all the tree remains.We watched OU & OSU play football. I have no idea why I didn't take a picture of the tree before it was cut down, but I did take some after pictures. 

Finished!

Oct 22-Sunday-Well today was pretty routine. We watched football, took a walk. Had a short nap and then supper. I worked on my blog some. It  is sure easy to get behind on the blog.  Also when we are home, it doesn't seem too exciting to write about  our routine things. 

Oct 23-Monday-It was laundry day today.  Then we each worked on different things. I worked on the blog and Steve pulled weeds in the yard. Later we had a nice walk and  did some errands around town. 

Oct 24-Tuesday-We did some routine things and  I worked on the blog. It raining outside so we did not walk. Lunch was leftover pizza. So we have a project, we are going to re-cover our kitchen chairs (4). Steve started working on that and I helped him also. We cut the material and figured out how it was going to lay (stripes across).

Upholstery Material

Oct 25-Wednesday-Today we left for Stillwater about 9:00 AM because I had my routine doctors appointment. It was finished by 10:30 and  I had labs drawn for bloodwork. We went to Hobby Lobby for cushion material for our chairs. We enjoyed lunch at Schlotzsky's. After that it was a stop at Lowes and Walmart

Sky in front of house 6:39 PM

Sky in back of house 6:39 PM

. 

Oct 26-Thursday-I was on the phone making calls for various things, Overhead door, mammogram appointment, orthotics, etc. We took a walk with the dogs, which they love! We got two of the kitchen chairs covered and check out a few more Halloween decorations. We had supper at La Macarena with Linda and Hazel.

Before

After




Moon as seen outside the restaurant

Moon behind our house

Oct 27-Friday-After morning chores we walked. Then we back to working on the kitchen chairs. I was able to schedule a mammogram and again we discussed orthotics with the Stillwater VA. We finished covering the chairs - so it was our goal to finish before Thanksgiving and we did it!

Poopsie (Zoe) and Buster-A couple of really good dogs!

Oct 28-Saturday-We had our routine things to do and then we got ready to got to OKC. We left at about 10 AM to meet Kristi and John at Quail Springs Mall. Today we are all go to see the movie: Killers of the Flower Moon. We really enjoyed the movie even though it was long. Actually the movie stuck pretty close to the book and it helped me understand the book better.  I will re-read the book now. After the movie we ate at Johnny Carinos. When we arrived home we watched OSU beat Cincinnati in football. 

Kristi & John

Oct 29-Sunday-Today was a day spent inside. We watched Dallas win and Kansas City get beat. It was chilly and rain. I made chicken soup and diet Key Lime pie.

Oct 30-Monday-It was laundry day today. We also cleaned out a drawer and some old bills in the computer room It was chilly so we were inside most of the day. Steve's back is giving him fits! I've re-learned that my passions are: RV Travel, Books, History, Reading and Nutrition/Cooking. I say this because those are the types of books I have!

Oct 31-Tuesday-We did routine things today. The man was her at noon to measure our garage  door. We did some errands around town and paid some bills. About 4 PM we decided we needed to winterize the RV because it is supposed to go down to 25°tonight.