LAKE PEND OREILLE

(Pronounced Ponderay)

CAMP HOST COVERED DISH

 

THE PATIO

Hmmm were do I start.
OK tell you about our supper club.  Many off the volunteers decide we should have a pot luck dinner once a week and exchange our recipes.  Having great cooks you always have a full plate. Then we have happy hour and movie night. Then we move to campsites to enjoy a fire and more social time.  We have a few host that are locals and have a wealth of info to share about the area and always give the heads up on the do's and don'ts.  They have sparked our interest to make a trip to Canada  . Just a few hours from us and we are told the hot springs are a must do. Always adding to the our list.
Friday evening we joined a couple park rangers and the locals of Bayview at the local floating patio and bar.  The restaurant floats on Pend Oreille Lake. Which is so relaxing the awesome sunsets, the mallards swimming by and begging for french fries. This small charming town of 621 boating is the recreation of choice. You have many natives willing to give you a tour of the lake scenic view that is so worth your time.
Saturday the City of Coeur D Alene had a BBQ cook -off. Belonging to a BBQ team we headed to the city to check things out. This was their first year to have the event. I can say they got it right the first try. They had about 20 to 25 teams. An entertainment area, play grounds for kids and many vendors. This will fast become a growing annual event.
We left the fairgrounds and headed downtown. The city also having a classic car show and auction.  The people here take such pride in their cars and restoring old cars. They had a parade of cars of 200 entries. Amazing the amount of time, money, and pride invested.
Downtown CDA has many outside cafes. The weather is so perfect"O" you can sit hours people watching. We choose Mexican dinner.  Not bad not bad at all. 
Sunday being father's day Harry wanted to smoke some meat.  SO that's exactly what he did. He smoked a  beef brisket that melts in your mouth and 2 slabs of baby back ribs that fall off the bone.  I made some potato salad, a pot of pinto beans [cooked in my new pressure cooker which no cook should be with out], grilled corn on the cob and garlic bread.  Yep true Texas grub. So proud of our cooking we had some friend over. Rustic food but a touch of dinning elegant.   
Rock and Mary have a new puppy a great dane. Solid shinny black huge and clumsy but so loving.  Being around Rowdy has got me yearning for another pet. My heart still aches with the passing of Killer.  We shall see.
It is lunch time and my wonderful hubby has warmed his fabulous meat   come on guys his brisket.
Anyway I shall chat later.
Be safe XOXOXO
Juju

June 13th

THE BRIDE

THE WEDDING PARTY

Good morning all.  Hope all is well and your day will be a blessing. 
I must tell you about a wedding.  A REDNECK wedding.  Yes Mam that took place here at Farragut State Park in our group camp area.  I can understand having an outdoor wedding. After all the weather is perfect.  The grounds are lush with green trees,  kaleidoscope of wild flowers, plenty room for all the guest, a large fire rig to throw the ceremonial beer bottles.  The ideal play game.  The bride wore a traditional white wedding dress with black lace trim and black beading of the bodice.  Her orange hair stylish with a black bow. She carried bouquet of red roses placed in her BUD LIGHT BOTTLE. She two stepped down the aisle were the proud groom  dressed in short black crop pants, unmatched knee socks and army boots. Sporting a bright blue Mohawk.  With the gleam in each other eyes and a smile showing off their pearly bubba teeth. You just knew this was a shotgun  marriage meant to be.
One I will probably never see again.  After the ceremony things really cranked up, music, dancing, beer.
They had a bounce where turns taken by the wedding party to punch each other out. Sometime during the night the happily married couple was seen riding off in the sunset to the sound of banjo and guitar music. The only thing missing was Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable guy.  Yes my friends this kind of entertainment is priceless. 
Our week started off wet, and cool.  Wednesday we finally got a break in the rain. That evening  I hosted a coffee and dessert party for a few of the camp host. So much fun to exchange our travel experience.  Not to mention the many do's and don't's.
It is not convenient to leave the park every day to get dinner. So I am cooking alot and I am pleased to know I am not bad at all. We have had Mexican food rita's and fajitas.  Pasta, Pizza, wine and cheese.  Beef rib eyes with Bourbon. Chinese fried rice, egg rolls, and beer. Just to name a few that  I have found a new shot for mojito's. The liquor stores are open on Sunday. I shall take a short ride for items called for in the recipe book.  A sunny afternoon sitting outside with a refreshing drink. Life is good.
Time to say good bye. I feel the need for a nap. We all gather for breakfast on Sundays and exchange our weeks BS. Wed. we have movie night and Thurs. is our supper club night.
Be safe,
Juju

Good Morning

Howdy again. A good Saturday morning to all. A very nice sunny day here.  The high today a balmy 66. I suppose I will have to stay outside in the heat with a good book.  Have a nice roaring fire.  Then there is a Mule festival in a nearby town. Might be nice to walk the streets listen to music enjoy street food. Browse the many craft booths. Then there is the town of Coeur D' Alene the downtown has many sidewalk cafes were you can sit a lazy afternoon to  people watch. If people watching is not your thing. Take a brisk walk around the lake. The west has the best great outdoors.
My grandson Cody has made the all star team. He shall have a busy summer playing ball. June the 27th is his birthday he will be 8. Ryan shall be a teenager on June 15. Hard to believe I have grandchildren that old, being I am soooo young!!!!!!
Wednesday morning here at the park we had an orientation for the parks volunteers. The rangers giving us the do's and the don'ts  but mainly a reason to get together for a pot luck and visit with one another. Golly some great cooks here. Some of us lady's will try and compose a cookbook or some sort of recipe exchange. You never can have too many good eats. America has a lot of restaurants and fast food chains. Keeping the tradition of home cooking I feel my grandmother smiling down at me. Besides  home cooked food is just better.
Farragut SP is a very large park. The camp grounds can accommodate many different size trailers. There is several sites for tent camping, and log cabins for renting. The design of the park is family friendly. If you want a quite weekend you are in the right place. 
I need to get dressed and moving. Don't want to be inside on such a beautiful day.
All be safe
Juju

Hello again. Harry and I are having a great time here in Idaho this park is huge and so much to do. A very nice place to vacation. The park was jammed full memorial weekend. Our area is for group campers, and campers will be boon docking. We had tent campers, and a few small trailers.  They came prepared [must had been in scouts] because some brought generators. We had 6 families that did just that. The weather was raining and chilly temps. it was in the mid 50's with lows 40' at night. However the people here in the Northwest are accustomed to what ever mother nature will dish out. Harry and I enjoyed the comfort of our trailer and fireplace, we are tuff.
Sunday morning several of the volunteers met for breakfast at a local cafe.  I thought I was at an all you could eat buffet, the portions are huge. Pancakes the size of a hubcap, pounds of thick crispy bacon.  Biscuits the size of Texas smothered in sausage gravy.{No grits. I did bring my own.} We choose a BLT served with fries or onion rings. I took half home for lunch. Next Sunday maybe just coffee. 
This parks has about 57 volunteers through out the season. A fun group of people. Always such a treat to listen to others adventures. There is a couple from IO. who have chosen the full time life. We have new play mates as they will be in Texas this fall.  Being able to travel we meet such fun people. I am often ask do I have any regrets about selling our home and living like gypsies.  My answer is NO.
My life is priceless. I will admit to missing my children, and grandchildren.  Cody made all stars, I do miss not being able to see him play.
This morning we heard the bears had a nice midnight buffet by the dumpsters. I can't blame them. Some of the campers this weekend had a feast. The seafood boils to grilled hot dogs.  A yummy smorgasbord.
Well guys that just about covers this week.  So all be safe.
Juju

Farragut State Park Idaho

Hello,  How are you?  Harry and I are now at Farrgut State Park, Athol Idaho.  We shall be camp host this season for the park.  We will be the eyes and ears for the Locust Grove camp area.
We arrived April 28th and spent a few days at Blackwell RV park in Coeur D Alene. We wanted to have time with our very special friends Roc and Mary.  Both being natives of Idaho they give you all the heads up on what to do and not. Mary is a wonderful cook always a delight to have dinner with them. After dinner we are learning to play Pinochle a fun game but I still have a long way to go in order to master the game. Mary being a sweetheart asures me I have potential.   
CDA is a awesome town population about 32,000. May be a small town but has all the excitement of a big city.    Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Fine Dining, Shopping for the Best, Wines & Wine Tasting  something for all ages. Having friends in the area gives us a advantage. Enjoying all the local favorites.    
There are  several small towns and each have a unique history. The scenery is breath taking, snow a top the moutains peaks, lush pine trees as tall as skyscrapers. Clouds a brillant white that float endless in the blue sky.  My friends,  I find myself falling deeper in love each passing day with North Iadho.
The hometown people are friendly they make you feel right at home. Loving it !!!!!!!!!
Let me tell you a little about camp host. Job description clean restrooms, mowing, using weed wacker cleaning fire rigs,washing pinic tables and raking camp sites, sweeping patios, in general tidy tidy.
I know you are thinking what have we gotten ourselves into. Really it sounds much worse than it is.
The park is equipped with a lot of machines that does the bulk of the work for you.  Pour a little simple green on the pinic tables then wash down with the water hose.  Same with bathroom simple green in toilets give em a flush, a splash in the sink turn the water on and your done. Riding mowers put your I POD in the ears and off I go done in about 30 min.  The leaf blowers does all the sweeping of the camp sites. We will also sell bundles of fire woods. Believe me this is not a bad gig. Know different than maintaing a yard back home, much nicer weather and loving the outdoors. The weather is wonderful daytime highs usually mild 70's and night air can be a little chilly 50 to 55.  This past week a cold front did come through with our area under a freeze warning, mainly for tender vegetation. This being the middle of May I am still able to wear my boots and sweaters pretty cool huh. [hmm a pun] you can't do that in Texas.
Saturday evening we had a welcome pot luck for all the camp host.  There are 8 couples who volunteer for the season.  Although Roy and Sue will leave Tues. they came early march to get the park up and running for early birds campers. They are also Texans the Dallas area. Lovely people and a true Texas accent. Two couples live here in the CDA area, we have a couple from Iowa, Neveda, and Arizona.
They will be a few more as the season progress.  The park ranger in charge of the camp host is a hoot she has many fun things planned activies. To name a few  supper club,  happy hours,  game night, a ride on a pontoon boat,  ladies night in Bayview,  Sunday morning country boy breakfast in Athol. Not sure when we will get the work done. She and her boyfriend [Jason also park ranger] are buying a home they are planning a patio party.  So much to to do so little time.
Bye for now. All be safe.
XOXOX
Juju

Roswell New mexico

As we leave Texas and enter the Land Of  Enchantment. Setting our clocks to moutain time our bodies have trouble making the change. Todays scenery was full of desert dried weeds, brown straw that replace grass, rocks, sand, pebbles and lots of prickley pears catcus. ( I rememebering dating a prick he was a creep. That is another story.) Somehow in this vast land of nothing you do find an Oais.  Large home surrounded by emearld green lawns huge shade trees, you might think you are in Ireland or is it a mirage. We arrived at Town and Country RV park here in Roswell, about two'ish. Made us some tuna sandwiches and watched TV.   Took a short walk to a stop in shop for a bag of ice, and ice cream sandwich for dessert. We did exercise!! We only have a 3 to 4 hour drive tomorrow.
Maureen called us last night to tell us that Cody hit a hard solid homerun.  As he crossed homeplate he had a grin from ear to ear.  He was the team hero for the game.  Ryan has been accepted to the junior national honor society. He has decided to cut his hair. He has thick wavy hair like his mom. Being a granny I needed to do some bragging.
We are having fun with punch dub you know when you see a VW Beetle.
Just a short chat tonight, The Good Wife is coming on gotta watch it.
Be safe and XOXO to all
Juju

Texas in my rear view mirror

I'm back.  Hope you guys have not forgotten me.  It has been a long time since my last post. Let's just say Juju had writters block.
Harry and I are finally on the road. First stop Boerne, we plan to spend time with our baby girl. Lisa now lives in San Antonio so we have a lot to catch up. Our favorite thing SHOPPING and do we shop.  This weekend is Fiesta San Antonio, lots of music, river float parade, food, drinks, and wall to wall people. FUN FUN.  There is a Mexican resturant that we enjoy dinning at, they have good salsa and margaritas.They also have a great bakery just about any type of sweets you could want. 
Did I mention that Lisa has moved and now has a third floor apartment. Not to worry I have a new knee. It keeps going and going,and going I just wish I could.Yep what we do for our children. Gonna miss you Lisa Pooh!!!!!!!
Sunday we visited Hill Country Christian Church. They had a guest speaker an added bonus to our visit, with a covered dish dinner after the service. The best Happy Hour.
Being Monday morning it was time to move on.  Next stop will be Fort Stockton TX.  We did have nice driving weather. Some what cool and not having to turn AC on, saving diesel is a big plus. As we drove the highway the Texas wild flowers were abundant, Bluebonnets, Indain paint brush, yellow and white daisies. Such a spectacular sight, and as a native Texan we look forward to the spring flowers. If you get a chance take a ride to admire nature at it's best. 
I chose to cook supper the RV park has a cafe but I didn't feel like going out. Besides home cooking is always better and  I am a great cook.  Harry can take me to breakfast in the morning. Wow I sound boring. So I guess it is time for me say so long.
Be safe and I shall chat later
XXOO
Juju