Tuesday 19 July 2022

[damar]

Wow is this month flying.
How is everyone? 
It's raining here so our morning walk is postponed.
I am out of current photos so I'll post a photo of our
recent set up at DDs at the ranch in central FL.

The camper is a 16' Toy Hauler (we can fit both of our motorcycles in it)
it has a galley and shower/commode combo.
Fridge, furnace and AC.
It's a pefect size for the amount of camping we do.
Our tow vehicle is a Toyota Sequoia (4WD)

Other than that..not much going on

   

[Don]

Good morning Patty, thanks for starting the daily.

That is a nice looking little camper you have there. Ours, of course, is still in the repair shop in Knoxville for who knows how long. It has been almost a month since the repair was approved so I figured I'd wait another month then see if they have made any progress getting parts.

I am about to send in a big order to B&H for film and chemicals to mix up my own D-23 developer. That should be interesting.

Other than a visit to the dentist today to have a tooth checked out (I can feel some roughness with my tongue which bugs me) I don't have any other plans for the day. Oh, we got almost a quarter of an inch of rain late yesterday and it is cloudy right now so it could rain some more later.

Hi to any others that check in today.

[damar]

Hi Don,
We went to pick up parts for the RV Sunday and the service area
was full. I hope you don't have to wait too long.

Ours is out of warranty so its DIY. 
The fridge (Norcold) really struggled in the high 90's heat on the road
(its fine once we make camp and switch to elec).
DH is going to install a small fan (from a PC unit) to the outside part of the fridge service area (behind the louvers) to help
the air flow. Seems to be a common problem in the hot climates.

I always load the fridge with cold items and frozen stuff if applicable so we aren't heading out
with it just starting up. We start running the fridge on elec. a few days before we leave.

Dentist: ugh!
Your B&W posted yesterday looks very vintage. I like them!

Hi to all!

[Luv2shoot]

Good morning all.
Looks like we are off to a good start.
Patty, the size of your camper looks perfect.  Not too big, not too small.  Good thing that your DD is so handy and can fix things and even improvise.  You sure can save a lot of money like that not to mention waiting for an opportunity to get an appointment with the repair shop.
I assume that you are on your daughter's property close enough to smell bacon, grits, and eggs coming from the kitchen.  I have no idea what grits are, but it sounded like it was applicable for a healthy southern breakfast. 

Don, I hope they can start the repairs on you trailer soon, especially since it is going to take some time to fix.  Well, hipeully you will have it sooner than you think. 

We are leaving for our trailer this afternoon but only for a few days trip to get our NEW "USED" boat in the water.  I will certainly take photos to share with you.  I cannot believe how excited my son and husband are about this boat.  Good for them, our last boat last 22 years, and still looked practically brand new. 

The last time I was up at our trailer this dragonfly sat on our steps for the longest time allowing me to take its picture.  I never really got a good angle but this was the best that I could come up with.

Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday. 
LORELL

[damar]

That is a cool dragonfly photo, Lorell!!!
It's amazing how mechanically designed they are!
He looks like a Mech Warrior! Cool color!

Congrats on the new boat!! Can't wait to see some photos!
Ahhh lake life!

Grits: Stone ground dried corn or Hominy...(hominy is corn that has been treated to soften the hull)
They are truly delicious and can be served with butter, cheese, bacon (or both).
I prefer mine with a dash of real cinnamon and a drizzle of sweet sorghum syrup. I think Rich prefers his with shrimp?
LOL!
If you're curious, just get a box of instant grits and have some toppings on hand.
(or order them when you go out for breakfast in FL)
I would say they closely resemble Farina/Cream of Wheat in texture.
Gotta go..will be back later!

[Dave]

That appears to be a tidy and efficient camper, damar.

Hi Don. The delay in repairing your camper sounds outrageous.

Lorell, enjoy your "new" boat. Very cool dragonfly photo. As damar indicated, it looks like it was built from metal and miniaturized circuits in a high-tech robotics lab.

My gardening season is limping to an end, with absolutely dismal results. Somebody suggested that maybe I wasn't watering enough, but I don't think that's the case - it's more likely that I was over-watering.

Meanwhile, my wife buys cheap plants at Costco, and they flourish. One of those plants again this year is some variety of cherry tomatoes, and when a few happen to fall to the ground prematurely, she places them on top of a short brick pillar. Here's a photo of that taken yesterday...

   

I'm still working on versions of the still life shot of the Black Krim tomatoes and lemon cucumber. Hope to have something to post by tomorrow.

[Don]

Great dragonfly shot Lorell! One of my favorite subjects.

Good looking veggies Dave.

I love grits, DW not so much. I sometimes have them for breakfast with eggs, and sometimes I grill some shrimp with cajun seasoning and put them in the grits. I used to sweeten them sometimes but don't do that anymore. Don't really care for instant grits though.

In and out of the dentist office in about 15 minutes. Had a bit of a chipped tooth so he broke out the "dremel" tool and went to work. Took about 10 seconds to polish it up and good to go. Best part, no charge!

Now I think I will celebrate with a little nap...

[Rich]

Patty, what a neat spot for camping! Under the live oak trees! Looks like you have everything you need!
Yes, I do instant Quaker Grits. Makes 2 servings in 5 minutes, throw in a hand full of your favorite cheese, stir until melted.. Put cooked shrimp on top! First tasted in South Carolina! They put a gravy on top but I don't.

Don, good luck with the developer!
Lucky you on the tooth!

Lorell, Wow! Good detail on the dragonfly. Not often we see a close up of them!
Have fun boating!

Dave, too bad about your garden. A lot of work with none of the benefits.
DW's tomatoes look healthy.

Here are a couple of crowd shots of the First Friday on Main in July.

[Dreamin]

Patty, that's a cute camper.....just enough for two!  Looks like a nice shady place to camp, too....hope you get your fridge problems worked out....
Don, I am sure you are very frustrated with what's going on with your camper....it's a sign of the times....I sure hope things improve and that parts are easier to get....Good luck with your chemical orders, hope it woks out for you.
Lorell, you will have to try grits sometime...you may like them!  some like them with salt and pepper, some like them with sugar and milk, and some like them with shrimp!!  I'm sure there are other ways, too... Love your dragonfly.....interesting thing about dragonflies.....I had branch in the back yard sticking up, a dragonfly was following me because I stirred up small insects in the grass, and he landed on the stick. I sat down by the stick with camera, that dragonfly would land, fly off, land on my stick again, fly off....over and over!  Try it sometime! They also race me when I'm cutting grass, stirring up small insects for them, I guess? Happy you all got a boat...I miss mine, but too old to deal with it.....but sure was a good time out on the water!! 
Nice candid crowd shots, Rich! Do they have music and food vendors? Craft sales? That's what they do around here....One town has first friday, one has first thursday, etc! Too hot for me to go, though...too hot....
Sorry about your garden, Dave, been that kind of year....cool in spring, now way too hot.....Are those tomatoes a cherry variety? You say they are dropping? Mine usually have to be pulled off the vine, they hold tight! Starting to get a few.....
I made some more zucchini bread! Posted it in food thread.....
I also took a phone shot of our sky yesterday, was very dramtic, but alas, no rain for us. We need it.


   

[Rich]

Thanks Natalie, yes there is music and ya gotta have the food trucks! Not much for crafts. Craft Beer maybe! Yes, it gets pretty hot, especially with all the people.
Pretty cloud formation, sure looks like a thunder head forming.

EDIT to add: I saw the zucchini bread photo...it looks delicious!