{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "The Grand Adventure on Marshmallow Ranch", "icon": "https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2026/36/1962506.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/", "feed_url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/05/27/the-calm-after-the-storm.html", "title": "The Calm After the Storm", "content_html": "\n
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Just when I was totally overwhelmed with camping and traveling and putting a camper up and down in the rain and doing it all by myself…along comes God and says, “Here…take a nice nap. And when you wake up, I’ll have something pretty for you to see!”

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I awoke yesterday morning to a chilly, gray, wet day that was thankfully not actively raining. I only had to drive through a little bit of drizzle a couple of times. I had my eye out for a coffee shop and was prepared to get a cuppa joe and a pastry when I saw…the sign! Perkins Pancake Shop!!! JUST what the doctor ordered. There is no schedule when you’re camping so I pulled in and sat down away from others. And enjoyed the HECK out of a nice hot breakfast with really GREAT coffee! I gave the waitperson a very nice tip because she was working her tail off. I wrote “God Bless You…have a great day!” on the receipt. It’s the little things.

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What a mood lifter! I toodled through the Iowa farmland as the early morning fog was lifting. The windmills reached their arms high, disappearing into the low hanging clouds, slicing through the air to bring much needed electricity a la Mother Nature. The fertile black earth has been furrowed and planted and neat rows of spring green corn is sprouting up everywhere. Herds of black cattle with their babies in tow dotted the fields on either side of the road. The constant hum of the wheels on the road set the backdrop of my silent journey east.

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I crossed the Mighty Mississippi at Davenport, Iowa keeping my eyes carefully on the single lane crossing the bridge. It’s “orange cone season” for sure. As I turned south on I-74, I watched the sky growing heavy and dark in the direction I was heading. I often ask Siri multiple questions as I drive. For instance, she can tell me, based on my speed and the local traffic, just how long it should take me to get to my destination. When I asked her what the weather was doing in Galesburg, Illinois, she confirms my suspicions. There was a thunderstorm when I was heading.

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Fortunately, the storm was moving northeast while I was moving southeast and I did not have to put the camper up in the rain. I had it set up in no time and settled inside to eat my lunch and stretch out for a nap. I was awakened by the sound of rain on the roof and lay there listening. I love that sound. After a while, the rain stopped and the light outside turned golden. I grabbed my phone and headed down the through the tunnel of trees to the lake where I knew a spectacular sunset was coming. 

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All those beautiful clouds reflected the most gorgeous light down across the lake and into my very soul. God reminds us that…even in the darkest of times…there is beauty in His creation. I hold onto His promises in times like these and remember this is not my home. I’m just passing through. 

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And with that, I leave you with His handiwork.

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Allison Lake Storey Campground - Galesburg, Illinois

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“And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”

\nMatthew 8:26 ESV\n
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Ok, y’all…western Kansas is flat…and windy…and flat. And, did I say windy??? Wowza! We’re talking wind-tunnel windy! We’re not in Kansas, Toto windy! When we set up the camper, I had to make sure Mr. FixIt had a tight hold on his side then we threw a rope over the top to anchor it down. I took it down yesterday morning between gusts and all went well.

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Traveling east on I-70 was a little different yesterday with all that wind. It buffeted me around a little and it took more concentration to drive. It was a long driving day…about six hours or so. So by the time we got to our campsite, I was a little over stimulated. And when I get over stimulated, I get snippy. It’s nothing personal, but the person who will catch the brunt of that snippiness will be the person in front of my face. And we all know who that will be…my beloved Mr. FixIt. 

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I recognize it. I hate it. But, it’s also hard to stop. So, when we arrived at the campground last night, as he started to get out of the camper to direct me back into the site, I placed my hand gently on his arm and said softly… “Please just stay here in the truck with me, will you?” Without saying a word, he shut the door. I backed into the campsite with the slightest self-correction of my angle, and placed it perfectly. Then I asked him to please go back and tell me when I was back far enough to still be able to put the rear stabilizing jacks down. He did. And…just like that…it was done. No snippy. No frustration. No feeling bad afterwards. I think we may just have stumbled on the solution to the “I’m sorry for what I said when I was backing up the camper” problem!

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Carol #2, me (camp hair…don’t care! , and Carol #1

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When I realized the other night that I had vastly overestimated our ability to drive all the way to Salina, Kansas the first day…I got out the iPad, opened the app “RV Parky” and reconfigured our itinerary. I realized this would put us in the Topeka area the second night. And, my dear friend Carol #1 lives in Topeka! I texted her as soon as I knew where we were camping and she and a friend, Carol #2, came over. Carol #1 has been following Marshmallow Ranch since before Mr. Virgo died. It was so good to see her. We ordered Chinese food and sat around until the mosquitos started to eat us alive. I hated to say goodbye, but we promised to connect again in the future!

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Lake Shawnee Campground - Topeka, KS

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I stumbled on a real treasure of a campground here. Lake Shawnee Campground is actually a city park operated by the City of Topeka. There’s a large lake and a lovely campground right on the shore with lots of big trees for shade. And, it’s only $24 for a site with electric and water! It was super easy to get to from the interstate. It was incredibly clean and quiet and our site was right across from the bathhouse.

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Eastern Kansas is so much prettier than western. About the time you get to Salina, you start to see some changes in the topography. The grasses are greener and there are some rolling hills. Then you enter the Flint Hills and there are trees! As we travel east, there will be more trees and hills in Missouri. We will camp in “The Show Me State” tonight at a place I’ve never been and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with you. In the meantime, we’ll enjoy our coffee alongside the lake shore this morning before we head out on the open road. 

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“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

\nProverbs 3:6 ESV\n
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When I was backing into our campsite at Lake McConaughy the other night, Mr. FixIt called out to me to say the driver’s side brake light was out on the camper. That means no turn signal, or flashers, or brake light on that side. Not good when you’re traveling with a camper. The guy behind you needs to know where you’re going. We stopped on the way out of Ogallala to get a new bulb, but we had to duct tape the red plastic lens on because the little clip that held it on was broken. That worked fine till we could fix it properly.

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We sleep out in the camper when we visit people as long as it’s not too hot. We can turn the AC on if we have to, but we prefer not to if we can help it. I like that because we aren’t in anyone’s way, we can stay up and talk, and sleep in. Given the two hour time difference between Colorado and West Virginia, we try to stay on our same schedule as much as possible. It makes it easier to adjust when you go back home. And, when you are a guest for an extended stay, it helps to not be under foot. Even though we are as much family here as anything else, Ben Franklin is the one who said, “Fish and houseguests begin to smell after three days.” 

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My son-in-law’s brother and his family arrived yesterday morning with breakfast burritos from Luna’s…our favorite neighborhood Mexican restaurant down the road. We had a lovely visit and when they left, Mr. FixIt and I went to Gander RV to buy the replacement light to fix Birdie’s broken blinker. We visited with the family most of the afternoon. The guys went to get Popeye’s chicken sandwiches for lunch. Mr. FixIt watched the last half of the WVU game and I stretched out for a little snooze. 

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When the sun dipped low in the west, Mr. FixIt and Ben went out to turn the water on in the irrigation ditches then they replaced the broken tail light. By then it was time for pie. We do love to eat! Around 9:00, the guys walked back up to turn off the water in the ditch and that was the end of our first full day of vacation.

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We did get some good news yesterday. Daughter #2 was upset the day we arrived because she found out her boss has covid and she wasn’t feeling terrific. She went to get tested yesterday and it was negative, thank God! We were so worried for her because, even though she is fully vaccinated, she has asthma so we sure didn’t want her to get this terrible virus. AND, besides that…we haven’t seen each other since their wedding in August 2019! It would have been a double tragedy to not get to hug my baby because of covid!!!

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So, I get to see my Moon Pie today!!! I cannot wait to squeeze her tight!!! Tell everyone you love them, people. Time is a commodity we cannot afford to waste!

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“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

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James 4:14 ESV

\n\n", "date_published": "2021-09-05T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/09/05/fixing-birdies-blinker.html", "tags": ["Health","Colorado","Family","Travel","The Grand Adventure","Birdie"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/09/03/the-grand-prairie-and-birdies.html", "title": "The Grand Prairie and Birdie’s Grand Adventure", "content_html": "\n
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If we were just meandering around the country with absolutely no agenda, there are some places we would have stopped and explored some more. Like…oodles of antique stores and quilt shops, for one thing. And there were some interesting museums that explored the history of pioneers heading west. I would love to see that some day. But I’m ready to see my kids!

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We left Two Rivers State Recreation Area in Waterloo, Nebraska yesterday morning. The day broke cloudy and cool which made for great sleeping weather and driving was easy on the eyes. Since we were so far north of I-80, “Mavis” the GPS took us due south on US-77. What a great road! Seventy miles per hour four lane with NO traffic. Unfortunately, it was over all too soon and we were off to the dodgems of the long haul truckers heading west. We passed through several rainstorms but they weren’t nearly as heavy as the once we saw earlier in the week.

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The Grand Prairie really amazes me. Long stretches of fields filled with thousands of round bales of hay. Soybeans and corn and grains of every variety as far as the eye could see. But the one thing that takes my breath away is the blanket of yellow Prairie Sunflowers. These aren’t the big heads of cultivated sunflowers grown for seed, oil, and other byproducts. These are wild and gangly and….everywhere! They look a lot like what we call Black-Eyed Susans back home. When we arrived at our campsite last night, the whole place was surrounded by fields of these beautiful flowers that make me smile. 

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As we were driving along, I noticed a dark moving “cloud” and immediately caught my breath. 

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“Look! A murmuration of birds!”

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A murmuration is when a flock of birds fly together and as they soar around, they come together and expand, and create moving shapes in the sky. They are mesmerizing. They flew up from the fields of corn, did their sky dance, and just as rapidly…settled back down into the field again. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a really big murmuration…and this one could be seen from quite a distance.

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We decided to cut our day in half yesterday and stop at Lake McConaughy in Ogallala, Nebraska. I’ve never been here and it was such a shock to come over the hill and see this huge body of water. The next thing you notice is how low the water level has fallen. The entire west is in a mega drought. I’ve seen reservoirs drop, but this is shocking. The lake is still huge and a major source of recreation in the area. Just about every license plate in the campground was Colorado. We were really lucky we hit the place yesterday, because they are booked for the next several days for Labor Day Weekend.

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One “benefit” of the low water level is the broad, sandy beaches left exposed. People rush here to camp right down on the sand and by last evening, it was beginning to resemble Ft. Lauderdale. It was fun to watch. These huge tractors with massive tires towed the campers and 5th wheels down to the beach and backed them into their places. Then, when it’s time for the campers to leave, the tractors come back and haul them back up to the parking lots and their owners hook up and head on home. I’ve never seen anything like it.

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Everything has been working well with the camper. And, as with all mechanical things, little stuff needs tended to from time to time. As I was backing into the campsite yesterday afternoon, when Mr. FixIt noticed the brake light on the drivers side was burned out. He went to pop off the lens and found it was glued on. This happens frequently because the lens attaches to the light fixture itself with two small plastic hooks. It’s very easy to break one of those hooks when changing a burned out light bulb. And the easiest fix is with glue. We will need to do a permanent fix with new rear light fixtures. They aren’t very expensive. We can order them from Amazon if we can’t find them at a trailer supply store in Denver. No big deal.

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Everything in life requires maintenance. I’ve been enjoying the “tuneup” traveling with my sweetheart has afforded me. I think Birdie is the best camper we could have bought to keep us in close quarters. And hours in a pickup truck, toodling across the miles is an excellent way to keep the communication going. Every time Mr. FixIt and I take a trip, we always say “That was the BEST one!” 

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And yet…each one gets better!

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“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

\nPsalm 141:3 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-09-03T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/09/03/the-grand-prairie-and-birdies.html", "tags": ["Camping","The Grand Adventure","Comfort","Road Trip","Marriage","Birdie"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/09/01/we-beat-ida-but.html", "title": "We Beat Ida, But…..", "content_html": "\n
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The Cornfields of Illinois

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There was a cold front that swept down through the Great Plains yesterday and it brought TONS of moisture with it. We woke up yesterday and took our time getting the camper packed, but as soon as we pulled out of the campground, it started sprinkling. We needed to check the air in the trailer tires. It took three stops to find an air pump that worked. I have my portable compressor with me, but we forgot to pack an extension cord. Just as Mr. FixIt was adding air to the tires, the sky opened and he was pretty wet when he got back in the truck.

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We stayed Monday night at Grandpa’s Farm Campground in Richmond, Indiana. We stayed there once before when the bearings went out on the big camper a few years ago. I stayed there on my way across country several times and love it. When we got on I-70 West, we’d only gone a few miles when there was a sign saying there would be major construction delays and to get off at the next exit. I don’t know why we didn’t, but it wasn’t long till we were sitting in a parking lot. Between the heavy rain and the construction, our 4.5 hour drive turned into about a 9.5 hour journey. 

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It wasn’t all bad, though. The middle of the day was stellar. The sky was clear and we drove through the gorgeous farms of Indiana and Illinois passing field after field of God’s bounty…corn, soybeans, sunflowers. We drove by Pekin and Peoria…both places my grandparents lived. Three of their children were born in Pekin. We finally got to our campground last night around 5:45. It had been raining so hard and I couldn’t imagine setting up this camper in that. I was afraid we’d have to sit in the truck till the storm let up, but we prayed that God would give us a window…and that the camper would be dry inside. He delivered on both counts and we were snug and dry inside before it started to pour again.

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The View From Our Campsite Last Night….Cool and Wet!

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We thank God profusely for travel mercies and the blessings he bestows on us. And we thank you for your good thoughts and prayers for our safety. It takes a village!

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“Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

\nJames 5:18 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-09-01T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/09/01/we-beat-ida-but.html", "tags": ["Travel","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","God","Road Trip","Birdie"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/08/31/outrunning-the-rains-of-ida.html", "title": "Outrunning the Rains of Ida", "content_html": "\n
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We seem to have left West Virginia at a most opportune moment. As we drove across the flat farmlands of Ohio yesterday, we put more and more miles between us and the heavy rains that are the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The forecast over the weekend said our home could see 1-4” of rain by Thursday. Our day, however, was lovely. The skies were overcast so there wasn’t any blinding glare on the windshield. It was a decent 80 degrees, but still didn’t feel terribly hot out there.

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I am so glad we packed the camper and truck on Sunday night. It rained in the night, so the camper was buttoned up tight. That only left a few things to bring out yesterday morning. That also meant we didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn. There was no rushing or last minute worries. We took Pumpkin to the Kitty Hilton and hit the road officially at about 11:00. We got to our campsite at 4:30. We stopped a couple of places along the way. A nice rest area. An RV dealer. (We saw the campers like ours that have the dormers on the ends so we wanted to check them out. For $18,000…I’ll make do with what we have, thank you!) We stopped for something to eat. It was a very easy day.

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When we got to the campsite, we each did the next thing that needed doing. Once we were set up, we turned the AC on and stretched out for a little rest. Evenings will be harder on Mr. FixIt than they will be for me. I don’t watch TV but he sits down with it every night. No TV in this camper, so he’s entertaining himself in other ways…puttering and wandering about chatting with other campers. He loves that sort of thing. He did bring me a Drumstick Ice Cream…so he made big points on that one!

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Rain is predicted overnight. Not the rain from Ida…just the typical rains of an August in the MidWest. Undoubtedly, we will have to close up the camper in the rain this morning. I asked an A-Frame Camper group on Facebook if it was normal to get a little water inside when you open and close the camper and they assured me it was. Any water inside a camper freaks me out, but this isn’t enough to cause damage. The most common comment was, “Hey…we figure it’s still better than camping in a flooded tent!” And that, I suppose, is quite true.

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Tonight we will end up in Illinois for the night. I’m trying to stay in State Parks as much as possible this trip. I’ll let you know how it goes! Have a good day today!

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“Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.””

\nActs 14:17 ESV\n
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For the day before a Grand Adventure, we were pretty mellow. Mr. FixIt finished mowing the back yard and did some fixit things around the house. Our house sitters came and learned the ropes and picked up all the keys. The laundry is all done and folded and either packed or put away. The footlocker we use for our camp kitchen has been restocked and is ready to load up in the back of the truck. Our totes are being filled with clothes and shoes at the last minute. The hanging clothes are waiting in the wings. Food gets picked up at a shop near our destination to keep things simple. The clean bed linens will be put on this morning as it was raining hard during the last hours of light yesterday afternoon.

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I’m trying to keep things super simple on this trip. This little camper is REALLY little. No storage space to speak of so we need to be creative. The totes will fit under the twin bed. Two of the milk crates with shoes fit in a cabinet under one end of the twin bed. The other two, with towels and bathing supplies go under the big bed. I bought some suction cup hooks to hang towels and things on. I’ve even entered our first destination in the GPS already. I think we’re pretty well set!

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We’re both pretty tired. Saturday was a very long, hot day filled with hard work for both of us. I ended up getting sick from the heat. I wasn’t as careful as I have been…drank water instead of my electrolyte drink, and really should have waited longer after eating to go out and finish the mowing. At this stage of the game, saying you’d think I knew better is a pretty moot point. But, I bounced back fast…no worse for the wear.

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Luckily, this camper is not at all difficult to tow. I have a feeling my days of hauling a big 30’ camper across the country are over. I know…never say never, but that big girl wears me out. This little gizmo is a dream to pull so I’m thinking it’ll be much more fun. Oh, and of all things, that terrible pain I had in my hip is GONE. I prayed over it. I iced it, I rubbed CBD lotion on it. I took NSAIDs for it. I even had my friend Marion send some Reiki energy. By yesterday morning, it was just gone which was SUCH a relief. I was so worried it was going to dampen our trip. 

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Thank you, God…for all you do for us!

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“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

\nPsalm 121:1-8 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-08-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/08/30/birdies-grand-adventure-shes-off.html", "tags": ["Travel","The Grand Adventure","Road Trip","Birdie"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/23/day-burning-down-my-memories.html", "title": "Day 158: Burning Down My Memories", "content_html": "\n
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I was a new widow when I bought my first camper. A little 16’ job with everything I needed. I miss that little camper...the original TOW-Wanda. I still regret trading her in for the big behemoth I own now, but...water under the bridge, you know.

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I always wanted a camper although I had never pulled one. I camped in a tent a couple of times and once drove cross country in an old VW Poptop Van, but actually having my own camper eluded me. 

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I tried to get Hubby #2 to buy one and he refused. It never occurred to me to go out and buy one myself. I wasn’t brave enough to do such a thing back then. But Mr. Virgo understood my wanderlust and, while not an avid camper himself, was anxious to see that I got to do all the fun things I wanted.

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When he died suddenly while we were looking at the camper for our retirement, I thought my dreams would end there. But, something stirred within me almost from the beginning of widowhood. I was determined to have that camper and found a way to make it work.

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Little TOW-Wanda came into my life just a few weeks after the funeral. I carefully stocked her and as soon as the spring snows melted, I was off on The Grand Adventure through the wilderness and backroads of Colorado by myself.

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I am so glad there were no forest fires to speak of that summer, or I might have lost the heart for this fun way of life. I traveled a circle clear around the state at least twice in those three months. One particularly beautiful stretch was heading west on Colorado Route 14 through Poudre Canyon. I hadn’t been through there since the High Park Fire of 2012 the year before. It was devastating to see the blackened vegetation...the trees standing like gnarled fingers pointing to the sky.

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I drove to the far west end where the fire had spared the canyon. I found an empty campsite right on the edge of the Cache la Poudre River and backed in. It was early in the camping season. The kids were still in school, and I had just about every campground I went to all to myself. 

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I had camped in Rocky Mountain National Park for a few days prior to my arrival in Poudre Canyon. I saw wildlife galore on that trip...elk, deer, turkey, mink, ermine, marmot, Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, moose, coyotes. Everything except a bear. The last morning at this campsite, I talked with Mr. Virgo...as I did most mornings. I thanked him for bringing all the beautiful animals to enjoy...I really appreciated them. But, could he please just bring me at least one bear???

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I packed up and headed west on Colorado 14 and began the long, steady climb up to Cameron Pass. By the time I got to Joe Wright Reservoir, my engine was getting a little hot. I decided to pull in the parking area and gaze at the still frozen water. Signs of spring were coming to the high country as the fresh green leaves were popping out on the aspen trees and the undergrowth was beginning to show signs of life. Finally, when the engine and transmission were cooled, I took off to the tip top of the pass.

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I had just crested the pass at 10, 249’ and began the slow descent down when I noticed the most odd thing. Someone had placed a huge statue of a bear, right along the highway where it makes a sharp bend to the right. I slowed down to look at it, then realized...to my sheer delight...it was a real, live bear! Standing on the edge of the road, the sheer drop off behind him. I stopped the truck and stared. Thank God there wasn’t someone coming along behind me! I tried to snap a photo of the bear, but the memory was full on my phone and by the time I reached for my digital camera, it had disappeared over the edge. I realized that memory was for me alone. 

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I don’t believe I have seen another bear in the wilds of Colorado since that one magical morning on Cameron Pass. And now...Cameron Pass is burning, as is much of Colorado and points west. Climate change has brought increasing drought and prevailing winds so the fires continue to become worse and worse.

\n\n\n

I don’t know when, or if, I will ever have the opportunity to go on an adventure like that again. But I must say...the memories of those three months pulling my camper through the majestic Rocky Mountains have never faded and remind me of God’s reckless love for me...to grace me with these memories that still fill my heart.

\n\n\n

❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“God is the one who rules the whole earth, and we that live here are merely insects. He spread out the heavens like a curtain or an open tent.”

\nIsaiah 40:22 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-23T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/23/day-burning-down-my-memories.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","God","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Widow","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/31/seeking-comfort-in-an-uncomfortable.html", "title": "Seeking Comfort in an Uncomfortable World", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
“Travel brings me comfort in an uncomfortable world.”
\n\n\n

Well, dear ones...this is it. The last day of the year. The last day of a decade. And oh...what a time it has been. At the beginning of it, I was happily married to Mr. Virgo...living in Denver and not much liking that part, except for being in close proximity to my children. Not that I got to see them much. I was very focused on my husband and didn’t see past the end of my nose. A major regret.

\n\n\n

Three years into this decade, my life stopped when Mr. Virgo died unexpectedly...and I set out to create a new life with a new me. I sold the only home I had ever owned on my own. I made some bad decisions...but I’ve also made some good ones. I’ve driven tens of thousands of miles. I settled into and lived in the home of my heart on a beautiful farm that’s been in my family for nearly ninety years.

\n\n\n

I’ve connected with some really wonderful people, and reconnected with people I’ve known for a lifetime. I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words as I poured out my grief and my heart and my love into the ether sphere. I married a man I initially set eyes on when I was six years old.

\n\n\n

I gained people. And...I lost people I loved dearly.

\n\n\n

I totaled a truck and escaped with nothing worse than a small brain bleed that left me struggling to remember things for a couple of years, which filled me with fear. This last year, things finally started to fire on all cylinders in my poor noggin and I feel more like myself than I have in a very long time.

\n\n\n

I’ve aged a hundred years in some ways. I’ve gotten much younger in others.

\n\n\n

I got a cat. Well...she got me.

\n\n\n

I gained a huge extended family and I’m now not only a grandma....I am a GREAT grandma to two little ones with a third one due any day now. I am a GiGi, to be exact. A Mom and a mother-in-law and a Nana and a GiGi. A sister and a friend and a wife. How cool is that?

\n\n\n

I went to Church Sunday night and Pastor Justin asked us to think about who we were before we were saved. In that moment, I realized THAT’S what has been hovering in the back of my mind as I contemplate the end of this decade. Because it was the beginning of the previous decade when my life very nearly came to an end.

\n\n\n

I let myself cry as the music wafted over me, the Holy Spirit covering...filling me with his Love. My life has moments of demarcation with lines in the sand marking the points between “before” and “after”. The overdose. My mom’s death. Finding Jesus. Meeting, then losing, Mr. Virgo.

\n\n\n

Finding ME.

\n\n\n

Finding love again.

\n\n\n

Marrying a wonderful man.

\n\n\n

All while traveling. I get bored being in the same place too long. I need to seek new horizons from time to time. I need to get away and “blow off some stink” every once in a while. I need to recharge...away from everyone and everything I know. I need to go where no one knows me and rest in the anonymity that comes with the unfamiliar. 

\n\n\n

I get uncomfortable when I become too comfortable. When things start to get too predictable, I need to shake things up. I tried to count how many houses and apartments I’ve lived in during my lifetime and I lost track. I crave change. Thank goodness I’m married to a very understanding man. It makes me easier to live with, I think.

\n\n\n

I don’t usually travel like I did this year...not since I was on the road with the camper after Mr. Virgo died. It was different this time. It was harder to be away from my sweetheart. Partly because I genuinely love being with him and partly because I’m older now and I have intimate experience with loss. Things have changed. There’s more to lose now. I’m not sure how much I’ll travel in the coming year...but I’m sure it won’t be quite like 2019.

\n\n\n

We’re heading out tonight for a family bowling party to ring in the New Year. I can’t remember the last time I bowled. I can’t remember the last time I was out past 10:00! I have to remind myself...I’m only 66. There will be plenty of time to lay down when I’m dead and gone, right?

\n\n\n

Maybe I can take a nap before we go.

\n\n\n

Happy New Year, my dear ones! If you are struggling, may 2020 bring you peace, prosperity, and good health. You are so loved.

\n\n\n

Thank you. Truly...thank you for being here all these years. I am eternally grateful for the connections I have made through this page.

\n\n\n

Be blessed!

\n\n\n

Ginny

\n\n\n

❤️

\n\n\n

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

\n\n\n

Psalms 96:1-3 NIV

\n\n\n

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

\n\n\n

Psalms 90:12 NIV

\n\n\n

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

\n\n\n

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

\n\n", "date_published": "2019-12-31T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/31/seeking-comfort-in-an-uncomfortable.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Aging","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow","Marriage","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/23/freda-the-ford-got-new.html", "title": "Freda the Ford Got New Shoes!", "content_html": "

\"New “New tires for the truck! Getting ready for the next Grand Adventure!”

\n

I’ve been putting off getting new tires for my truck, but with a five month epic camping trip coming up, I couldn’t wait any longer. Mr. FixIt scoured the internet and found a good set of Michelin tires through Walmart. You pretty much have to order tires and wait for them anymore. Not that many places carry a big inventory.

\n

We went out for supper after I finished with the tire ordeal (three and a half hours for a predicted one and a half hour wait). When we came out of the restaurant, we decided to take my truck for a spin on the interstate so we could feel and make sure the tires were balanced correctly. And…we had to go to Sam’s.

\n

One of my readers sent a message asking me which exact mattress we purchased (a Queen Size Sealy “Mattress-to-Go” 12” Luxury Memory Foam Mattress) so I went on the Sam’s app to copy the link. And what did I find? The same mattress we paid $499 for, and was delivered to the house the day before, was now $100 cheaper! We discussed it over dinner and decided to go back to Sam’s and complain.

\n

The little gal at the customer service desk was so sweet, but she couldn’t really help us because we ordered the mattress via the .com route and their numbers/system is different than the club’s. She gave me the phone number for the .com people and after being on hold for-ev-er, I was connected to the “Sealy People”. I explained to Gina, the very helpful agent, that I probably wouldn’t say a thing if the mattress was $20 cheaper the next day, but $100 is a little bit hard to swallow. 

\n

You know what she did? She said, “I can totally understand. Let me fix that.” I heard the tap-tap-tap of a keyboard in the background. “There! I credited your account the $100. Well, $100 plus tax. Is there anything else I can do for you today?”

\n

Are you kidding? It was that easy! I said, “No. But I have to tell you…you made my day!” Kudos to Gina in Customer Service at Sam’s Club. She rocks!

\n

When we went back out to the truck, I saw something on my front tire. I went in for a close look and there were little areas that looked like the tread was separating from the tire. Neither Mr. FixIt nor I have ever seen something like that, so now I have to take the truck back in this morning and have the tire folks at Walmart have a peek at the tires. It’s always something, isn’t it?

\n

This afternoon I have an appointment at the Ford dealer to have them go over the truck and make sure there’s nothing lurking in the background that needs fixed. I have to give my Ford dealer kudos, as well. They never try to push something unnecessary on me. As a matter of fact, when I had them do this last year, they didn’t even charge me. I love those guys!

\n

I’m getting all my ducks in a row so when I head out on the next Grand Adventure, I’ll be confident and secure in my towing equipment. When women travel alone, they should do all their homework ahead of time so there isn’t a crazy rush at the end. I’ve learned this from entirely too much experience, I’m afraid. This is getting exciting! 

\n

❤️

\n
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”\n

Proverbs 22:3 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-23T01:30:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/23/freda-the-ford-got-new.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","The Grand Adventure","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Courage","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/13/a-vivid-imagination.html", "title": "A Vivid Imagination", "content_html": "

\"Snow-cone “The moment I saw this, I knew it was the answer to my dream!”

\n

I was probably about ten years old when I got my first (and only) childhood bike for Christmas. I remember lusting after the sleek English racers I saw some of the bigger kids riding. Oooooo, the idea of all those gears and the trendy dropped handlebars and the hand brakes…I could just picture myself tooling around the world, peddling that bike, looking ever so sporty and sophisticated. I had a vivid imagination!

\n

Christmas morning came. I jumped up out of bed in my worn and tattered flannel jammies, and ran to the living room. There, leaning on its kickstand in the middle of the living room, was a brand new shiny blue bicycle! It wasn’t an English racer. It didn’t have any bells and whistles. It was a heavy, single speed monstrosity from Sears with the label “J. C. Higgins”. It was a sturdy, reliable bike and it didn’t take me long to figure out Mom couldn’t afford that trendy bicycle. I was darned lucky to have this one and not some hand-me-down from one of my cousins.

\n

I used to ride that bike all over the neighborhood. The following summer was the first time Mom let us stay home unsupervised. I played outside from first thing in the morning till I needed to be in to start supper before my folks got home from work. I remember having this intense fantasy of riding my bicycle to Canada. I envisioned panniers on the back…before I even knew what panniers were. I pictured what I would pack in there. I had read The Boxcar Children a dozen times so I knew just what I would need to survive on my own.

\n

In my ten-year-old brain, I had it all figured out. I would need money to survive so I would need to either get a job or sell something. The Christmas Wishbook from Sears arrived that fall and I ran to my room with it to figure out how I was going to raise funds for this epic adventure. And there it was! A snow-cone maker!!! My friends and I LOVED snow-cones! I figured if I had one of these babies, I could set up a stand out in front of the house and blow all those Lemonade Stands out of the water. I mean…who could resist a great snow-cone on a hot summer day, right???

\n

I look back at my youthful exuberance and my little girl naïveté and smile. I was sure I would sell a gazillion snow-cones from this cute little plastic gizmo. Just as sure as I would ride my bike to Canada. Well, I never rode my bike to Canada. I didn’t get the snow-cone maker. But I’ve been on lots of adventures. And, I’ve done things I never thought I could do. And now…I’m going to get to have another GRAND adventure and they’re handing me the camper to do it in!

\n

Believe me…I know how blessed I am to get this opportunity. Between now and the middle of September when I pick it up, I need to plan out an epic road trip. I’m thinking it would be really awesome to combine this with several Meet & Greets and get a chance to meet you wonderful “Ranchers” along the way! I’m just in the formulating stage but I’m thinking this could turn out to be….

\n

Ginny McKinney’s R-Pod-196 Adventure!

\n

Stay tuned to Marshmallow Ranch for details as plans fall into place!!!

\n

❤️

\n
“For nothing will be impossible with God.\"”\n

Luke 1:37 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-13T01:30:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/13/a-vivid-imagination.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Peace","Humbled","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/11/a-farm-girl-at-heartsans.html", "title": "A Farm Girl at Heart...sans Shoes", "content_html": "

\"Sitting ‘Sitting on the tailgate of my truck…drinking coffee and soaking up summer!”

\n

I hate wearing shoes. I know it’s so stereotypically West Virginian, but I do not wear shoes unless I absolutely have to. Mr. FixIt emptied the truck yesterday morning so I went out with my mug of coffee and sat on the tailgate, contemplating my bare feet and the beautiful sounds of an August day in the country.

\nIt wasn’t long after I finished my morning brew when I heard Mr. FixIt start up the push mower and I knew it was time to get to work. I ran to town to fill up the gas cans. Once I got back home, I hooked up my headphones and hopped on the riding mower. It could have waited till Monday, growth-wise. But the next two days are supposed to be 95 degrees and rainy. So, you know what they say...you gotta make hay when the sun shines!\n

I love watching the seasons changing here in my home state. Some of the trees already have some yellowing leaves on them. And you can tell a difference in the texture of the grass at this time of year. It’s tougher and harder to weed eat. I left home the 27th of June. There was a whole lot of growth between then and now and there are a lot of branches hanging over the edge of the fields. I’m going to have to get out there with the loppers again.

\n

As soon as I got home the other night, I could just feel the stress leave my shoulders and neck. I can sit outside and listen to the night sounds instead of the constant hum of traffic in the background. As I sat basking in the velvet night air, I thought over all the places we saw over the last several weeks. It was such a wonderful vacation. And, as always, it’s both good to be home and sad that it’s over.

\n

❤️

\n
“The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.””\n

Judges 18:6 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-11T01:30:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/11/a-farm-girl-at-heartsans.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","goRVing","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/30/americas-bread-basket-is-baking.html", "title": "America’s Bread Basket is Baking!", "content_html": "

\"Snaps “Clockwise from top left: My rig in the summer sun in Kansas, the long straight stretch that is Kansas…look how green!, my digital laser thermometer that I use to check my hub temperatures at every stop, me looking decidedly fresher in the AM than I was by evening!”

\n

You know you are getting into farm and ranch land when you start seeing billboards advertising bovine genetics and DEKALB seed corn. I left the Lazy Day Campground in Danville, Missouri yesterday morning about 8:00. It was a very long, very HOT day. A section of I-70 was closed at Kansas City so I took the recommended detour. I recognized it as the route I usually take anyway to avoid downtown. There is one interchange on the interstate near the city where you have to get from the right hand side onramp to a left hand side exit in less than 1/4 mile. Pulling a camper makes that a real challenge, let me tell you!!! At least it wasn’t with big TOW-Wanda on a Friday night at rush hour. We have to look for the little things!

\n

When I was emptying the tanks on the camper before I left yesterday, it wasn’t 8:00 yet and the sun would take the hide right off of you. The temperature quickly soared to the high 90’s and by the time I was halfway through Kansas, it was 100. The low was only expected to go down to 80 so I stopped and got a hotel room. When I first got in the room, I cranked up the air conditioner and stretched out on the bed. I texted Mr. FixIt and said, “I am NEVER doing this again!!!” He texted back that I don’t have to. I’m holding him to it! 

\n

Ok, it was the third day. It was hard. It was hot. I was tired and probably a little hungry and dehydrated. And knowing I have over 350 more miles to go had me feeling really sorry for myself there for a few minutes. But, once I rested for a while and got something to eat and drink, I felt a ton better. When I stop tonight, it’s going to be at my son-in-law’s parents’ house so I’ll be with family. It’s going to take me a week to rest up and acclimate to the altitude. Mr. FixIt will join me on the 13th so that time will pass quickly.

\n

I had a lot of time to think about this as I was driving yesterday. I don’t like being this far away from Mr. FixIt. I thought about that from every angle. I asked myself if it was co-dependency. I don’t think it’s that at all. I do all kinds of things without him and I don’t need to be attached at the hip. I talked with my dear friend Deneene about this last night. She lost her husband unexpectedly about a year after Mr. Virgo died. She is also recently remarried. We decided it’s not co-dependency at all. It’s the fact that we KNOW what can happen and how quickly it can come. I don’t think it’s that I’m doing something without him. It’s that I’m doing something so far away from him and I can’t get to him quickly. THAT I don’t like at all.

\n

Still, it is fun in many ways. I’ve seen some beautiful countryside. The sky was blue and wide open. I’ve forgotten what that looks like living in West Virginia. (I took the picture while driving but my phone was in a cradle and all I did was touch the screen. No eyes off the road for me!) I don’t have anything pressing to do once I get to Denver so I can relax and catch up on my rest, keep myself really hydrated to counteract the altitude, knit, write, and visit with my Colorado peeps. I could not believe how green Kansas is. They had the same long, drawn out, wet spring everyone else had. It is so hard to believe the temperature is in the high 90’s in Colorado and one week ago they had two feet of snow. Crazy weather!

\n

Oh, see that picture bottom right? That’s my digital laser thermometer. After burning up an axle in Indiana two summer ago, I check my hubs religiously…every time I stop and get out of the truck. I know you can just put your hand down there and feel if it’s hot, but how hot is too hot and if it IS that hot, you’ll burn the heck out of your hand. I keep watch on it and it’s always between 100-110. That’s perfect. If it goes up, it means the bearings need grease.

\n

Well, I’m on the last leg of this Grand Adventure. The last leg of the first part of it, anyway! It’s just me and Jesus…making our way west!

\n

❤️

\n

“….“The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.”

\n

Genesis 31:49 ESV

\n

#Separation, #Marriage, #Adventure

\n", "date_published": "2019-06-30T01:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/30/americas-bread-basket-is-baking.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Fear","Courage","Aging","Choices","Change","Widow","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/28/road-trip-cant-keep-a.html", "title": "Road Trip: Can’t Keep a Good Gal Down!", "content_html": "

\"A “A Shady Spot”

\n

If you would have asked me at 10:00 Wednesday night, I would have told you (as I told you this morning) there was NO WAY I was going to leave for Colorado yesterday morning. Ahhhh…but, once I got past the icky stomach, took my tummy medicine, and slept a solid eight hours, it was a whole different ballgame.

\n

Because I was getting up and down, I slept in the guest room so I wouldn’t wake up Mr. FixIt. I awoke before dawn…around 5:00…and felt great. I read my devotionals and caught up on some correspondence then my sweetheart came to check on me around 7:00. I met him with a big smile and said I was good to go! He smiled back with relief. He doesn’t like it when I’m sick anymore that the other way around.

\n

It took a couple of hours to finish packing the truck and camper and I was on the road by 9:00. My first stop was Walmart to pick up a few things. I had some things to return. I got back to the camper and put away my purchases and got in the truck. There were my return items sitting on the front seat. Oy! I really didn’t want to cart them to Colorado so I went back in and stood in a long, slow line. But, it’s done and I was out before too long.

\n

The next and final stop was gas and a great big drink to stay hydrated on my trip. The young gal behind the counter was very excited because she is leaving on vacation today. Her very first camping trip! Well, I turned right back around and talked with her for awhile! I sure hope she has a grand time and decides to keep right on camping! Those first few camping trips are critical. You’ll either love it or hate it.

\n

It was really hot yesterday and about midway through my drive, I pulled over into a rest area to stretch out on my bed. Well, it was over 90 degrees! Of course, when you pull into a rest area, there’s no electricity, so no AC. You need to improvise. The last time I drove cross country alone, I stopped in Kansas for a rest and needed to do something to cool off. I had a tiny little battery fan and a cold pack from the freezer. It worked ever so slightly, but it wasn’t long before the cold pack was melted and that was the end of that.

\n

When I was at Walmart yesterday, I bought two 10” fans that are powered by fan and batteries. I’ve also taken to carrying a very large bottle of water that I keep in the freezer of the camper. Went I stretched out on my bed yesterday, I sat the large frozen container in a basin and put the fan behind it. I also had three water bottles I had frozen. I set them up in front of the other fan. I positioned myself in front of the cool air and had a lovely mini siesta. Perfect! I popped all the bottles back in the freezer before I pulled back on the highway.

\n

\"Hillbilly “Hillbilly Air Conditioner!”

\n

That right there is a little hillbilly ingenuity. Appalachians are a resourceful lot. I arrived at my favorite little campground in Richmond, Indiana at around 5:30…had supper from my slow cooker and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings as the sun went down. I tried to keep from turning on the AC, but it was still 85 degrees at 8:00 and I was done with the heat by that time. I’ve never slept all night with the AC on in this little camper. It’s pretty noisy in this tiny little space.

\n

I wrote early last night so I could have a good solid night’s sleep. Yesterday was a long day, but I didn’t get very far. That’s usually how it works on the first day out. For me, anyway. I monitored all the systems on the camper and the truck and everything worked just as it should so I don’t foresee any difficulties. As always, I say my prayers for travel mercies. I appreciate when you do, as well.

\n

Have a beautiful Friday!!!

\n

❤️

\n
“Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.”\n

Psalms 140:4 ESV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-06-28T01:30:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/28/road-trip-cant-keep-a.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Courage","Choices","Change","Widow","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/25/road-trip-falling-into-place.html", "title": "Road Trip: Falling Into Place", "content_html": "

 

\n

\"Tonneau “Tonneau Cover for a Pickup”

\n

My old truck had a fiberglass topper on it. It was really nice. I had the top lined with a carpet liner as well as a carpet bed liner. I had a couple of garment rods, a light, and two 12v outlets installed as well. It had a rack on the roof for my kayak. It was a sweet setup. Then, when my truck was totaled, the topper and all it’s accouterments went with it.

\n

My new-to-me truck just has a plastic bed liner. There have been many times I have wished I had some way to tote things on my trips without necessarily having them visible to anyone who parks right beside us. I happened to mention this to Mr. FixIt the other day. He doesn’t forget things like this. We’ll get back to that in a minute.

\n

A lot of things fell into place yesterday. First, we thought we might need new tires before I head to Denver. Mr. FixIt called all around and finally found a suitable pair for a reasonable price at Sam’s, but still…mounted and balanced…four tires were going to cost nearly $800! A chunk of change, to be sure. That’s the price of owning a truck.

\n

We signed in at the tire desk, ordered the four tires, and paid for them. It was going to take about two hours so we started wandering around the store. About ten minutes later, they paged me overhead and we went back to the auto department. It turns out, I had a little over half the tread left on the tires and he didn’t want me to buy something I didn’t need.

\n

How refreshing! Thank you, Brandon!

\n

I did ask them, since they already had the truck back there, to please rotate the tires so they did that. As we were looking around the store, Mr. FixIt got a text. He said he had found a used tonneau cover for my truck for $150. I texted the woman selling it. She asked if I could also use a carpet bed liner! Well, yes…as a matter of fact. She then went on to tell me she was sick and tired of advertising stuff and if I wanted them both, she would sell them together for $75. Score! Now I can have a cover over my stuff during the Colorado trip.

\n

We went to pick up our mail at the post office and there was my new water pump for the camper. Mr. FixIt can get that put in for me today, I can clean out my camper and restock it, run to town, change the oil on the truck, and leave for my trip west…maybe on Wednesday! I am really looking forward to seeing my kids and grandkids so if everything lines up like this, I’ll be on my way sooner rather than later.

\n

Another road trip, Ranchers! Head ‘em up…move ‘em out!

\n

❤️

\n
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”\n

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-06-25T01:30:20-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/25/road-trip-falling-into-place.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Peace","Wisdom","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/16/little-vintage-campers.html", "title": "Little Vintage Campers", "content_html": "

\"Little “Little vintage campers…how many people were IN this thing?”

\n

Yesterday, Mr. FixIt and I were having breakfast when he picked up his phone to show me something. He watches Facebook Marketplace closely because, you know, you never know when you might need one more thing, right? Anyway, there was an ad in there for a 1969 Shasta Compact camper. Swoon! Anyone who knows anything about campers knows Shasta is kind of a status symbol for campers. This particular one was being converted into a food trailer, but it’s too small for the job so the people are trying to unload it. It’s gutted already, no leaks, towable, new tires, and only $500. Not bad.

\n

We contacted the gal and as one might imagine, she already has people coming to look at it, so the chance of me even getting to see it are pretty slim. And, like I need another project! Anyway, if I get to see it, I’ll take pics and show you.

\n

Thinking about tiny little campers got me to looking at vintage camping art and photos. Look at this tiny little camper. Now, look at how many people there are camping. Wow! It’s like one of those clown cars where clowns keep coming out one after another! Cars were a lot heavier and more powerful back then so you would see the family car pulling a really big trailer. Do you remember the movie Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made called The Long, Long, Long Trailer? It was huge but they pulled it with a convertible!

\n

I never camped as a kid, but I remember going over to a friend’s house and they had a camper. Us kids were allowed to go in it and use it like a playhouse. I remember being absolutely mesmerized by it and I wanted one in the worst way. I was always married to non-campers till Mr. FixIt came along. Now we have four campers between us and I am preparing to convert an old minivan into a mini campervan. Oh yeah…I REALLY need another camper! ?‍♀️

\n

❤️

\n
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'”\n

Luke 14:28-30 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-16T02:30:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/16/little-vintage-campers.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Love","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/05/visiting-towwanda.html", "title": "Visiting TOW-Wanda", "content_html": "

\"iPad “Visiting TOW-Wanda!”

\n

I don’t get to spend as much time camping as I used to and I don’t like it. But, there are things that need to be done…mowing, keeping house, cooking, cleaning. Such is the life of “sticks & bricks.” I am very fortunate that Mr. FixIt lives on five acres and I can keep TOW-Wanda here with me. When we came back from camping last time, we parked beside the building/shop/garage and plugged in. I wanted to be able to clean and run the sweeper so I needed electric.

\n

Unfortunately, the electric in the building is not enough to power both the AC in TOW-Wanda and the pump for the pool, so the pool wins. That means I can’t go out and just hang out there in the camper unless it’s cool enough. Even the nights can be terrible hot and stuffy. The last couple of nights have been really cool. Last night was predicted to get down to fifty-six. So, I took my iPad and my phone and my little lap desk and went out for some me time to write my post.

\n

I’ve been looking back at my adventures in this camper. It’s hard to believe I bought TOW-Wanda almost four years ago! I had Little TOW-Wanda for a year-and-a-half before that. When I think of what I did so soon after losing Mr. Virgo…buying a camper and taking off for three months in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado…I sometimes wonder how on earth I did that. And, would I…could I…do that again. I don’t know. I suppose the answer is yes, but I was in the throes of grief when I did that. I wonder if that might have clouded my judgement a little. It didn’t seem so at the time but hindsight says it was a very brave thing to do.

\n

I’m certainly not sorry I went on such a quest. I learned a lot about myself during that trip, and the subsequent two years spent largely in this travel trailer going everywhere from South Dakota to South Carolina and all points in between. It was healing and liberating. I met so many wonderful people. I saw so many beautiful places. It was quite the adventure and gave me a lot of space to heal on this grief path.

\n

I was thinking of pulling the camper with me to Colorado this summer, but with the price of gas so high and my MPG so low when I’m towing, it isn’t cost effective. Besides, it takes me three days each way when I tow the camper there and that’s six days I don’t have this time. I’ll just get a cheap flight and rent a car when I get there this year. It seems to be working out that I take the camper every other year to Colorado. That might work out for the best.

\n

In the meantime, I will get out here as often as I can to spend some time “faux camping” at the Ponderosa. I hope we can get out a few times this summer and enjoy the great outdoors. There are a lot of wonderful state parks in West Virginia. You can rest assured, where I go…you “go”. Virtual travel can still be fun!

\n

❤️

\n

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-05T01:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/05/visiting-towwanda.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","goRVing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/24/home-again.html", "title": "Home Again", "content_html": "

\"Beaver “Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool, Ohio”

\n

I’ve always promised my family and friends that I wouldn’t reveal where I am while I am actually there, especially if I am traveling alone. Even though Mr. FixIt joined me for part of this trip, I still adhere to that basic rule of safety. Beaver Creek State Park is one of my all time favorite camping destinations. Part of that is the surroundings. Part is the relatively close proximity to my home. I love the drive up Ohio Route 7 as it meanders along the beautiful Ohio River. And…if you’re on the Ohio side, you are looking at the rolling hills and dense woodlands of West Virginia beyond the smooth water.

\n

The best part of a Girl Camping trip is, of course, the friends you know and meet when you get there. These are friends for life and there’s a lot of love and laughter and encouragement that grows from those interactions. As I drove home yesterday, my heart was full.

\n

Mavis, my GPS, tells me it takes two hours and fifty-seven minutes to drive to Beaver Creek State Park. I left there at 11:00 and got home at 5:00. Granted, there was one rest area stop. But there were several places where the road was down to one lane due to land slides and we had to take turns. Then there was my LEAST favorite part of camping…dumping the black and grey water tanks. There is a really good dump station at the West Virginia Welcome Center in Williamstown that I always stop at. It takes me a good forty-five minutes to clean my tanks, but it’s necessary to do a good job.

\n

I had a few things going on with the camper this trip. One is, a leak has developed. Mr. FixIt got the ladder out for me and I think I found where the problem is. A seal on the top front edge of the camper is aging and cracked. The seals are only good for a few years and they need to be replaced so I guess it’s that time. When I was pumping up my tires before I left yesterday morning, I noticed the outside edge of one of them is shredding slightly. I need to check into that. Also, when I got home, I placed my hand on each hub and one was too hot to comfortably rest my hand on it. I need to tear into that and probably repack the bearings. There is a kind of hub you can get that has a valve on it and you can top off the grease before you travel just to make sure it is well lubricated. The downside of trailer ownership…constant maintenance.

\n

So, I’m home. The baby birds in the cypress tree out front are feathering out and they had their little beaks aimed high waiting for mama. The rabbits have eaten all but four bean plants in the garden, but the tomatoes are looking great. My pink dogwood is thriving. The irises and peonies are in full bloom. There is standing water around the yard from all the heavy rains in the last week. And, as I write this, I can hear the whip-poor-will in the hedgerow along the creek on the far side of the field. I’m sore all over from lugging and toting and hooking up and driving the camper so I’m calling it a night. When you read this, we’ll be mowing out at the farm and doing laundry. What a wonderful trip it has been. ❤️

\n

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭90:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-24T01:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/24/home-again.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/23/winding-down.html", "title": "Winding Down", "content_html": "

\"Hand “Knitting projects”

\n

I always hate the end of a trip. The goodbyes. The packing up and cleaning and laundry. The pulling away from a really great camping spot. No more owls overhead. No more gals sitting around a table full of food. No more all day knitting sessions. No more leisurely naps in the afternoon. sigh

\n

Mr. FixIt left yesterday morning. We’ve had boatloads of rain so he needed to get back and check the basement. Also, I’m sure sitting around all day while the girls knit wasn’t high on his to do list. He was a great sport though. He went fishing one night, hiking one day, and exploring the area another day.

\n

Today, I head home. Another Girl Camper trip is in the books. I wonder where I’ll head next on this Grand Adventure? ❤️

\n

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-23T01:30:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/23/winding-down.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","goRVing","Grace","Peace","Presence","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/18/a-birds-eye-view.html", "title": "A Bird's Eye View", "content_html": "\"Satellite\n

Have you ever gone on Google Earth and looked at the places you know? I remember one winter day before Mr. Virgo died. I was missing home…the dense, green woods and dusky purple mountains of West Virginia. Google Earth was still relatively new and they had just added the “street view” feature. I plugged in the address for Grandma’s farm, clicked on the little man icon, and…viola! I was “standing” in front of the farmhouse! I was SO excited! I quickly moved the map so I could “drive” down the two-lane blacktop the three miles, taking in every turn, house, and tree. It was mesmerizing. I could “go home” anytime I wanted to! I have “traveled” to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, London to ogle Big Ben, Rome to see the ancient ruins…all from the comfort of the easy chair in my living room.

\n

The other night, Mr. FixIt was doing a little virtual traveling and he stumbled upon this. TOW-Wanda! MY camper…sitting right where I park her in the summer! I know approximately when this was. This is mostly uber cool…and, a little bit spooky in a Big-Brother-is-watching-you sort of way. It’s a good thing there was no nude sunbathing going on…for a vast number of reasons! ?

\n

This satellite photo was taken about fifteen months after Mr. Virgo died. I had been full-timing in my camper for about seven months at this point. I was interviewed yesterday for another episode of Janine Pettit’s Girl Camper podcast. This time we talked about full-timing…dream vs. reality. I’ll post a link when it goes live.

\n

Living on the farm has been such a treat that I’ve hardly thought about whether I miss all that time I spent on the road. The answer is yes…and no. Could I do that again? Yes! Would I? Maybe. I’m a lot more awake and aware now than I was back then. Grief brain may have clouded my judgement sometimes. But I’ve never regretted having that time alone out in the wilderness and backroads. I was so free and life was pared down to the bare essentials. There’s something to be said for simplicity. Janine asked me if I ever found myself lonely and I’m not sure I properly answered. I’m a people person. I’m gregarious and thrive in a place where I can have regular contact with people I know and love…friends and family that love me for who I am and I can let my hair down. I think that was the driving force behind allowing the Siren Song of the farm to lure me into planting some roots…at least for a while. And now…I have Mr. FixIt. We both love to travel and we never stay put for too long. But I’m looking forward to some nesting this winter. That’s the goodness of fall…it invites us to put another log on the fire, brew a nice cup of tea, and read a good book. The campers are put away for the season and I’m ready to be a homebody for a while. ❤️

\n

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-18T01:30:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/18/a-birds-eye-view.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/17/getting-bolder-stories-not-stuff.html", "title": "Getting Bolder: Stories, Not Stuff", "content_html": "

\"Stories,Today’s post is a link to my most recent installment of “Getting Bolder” on the Sisters on the Fly blog. ❤️

\n

www.sistersonthefly.com/getting-b…

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“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-17T01:30:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/17/getting-bolder-stories-not-stuff.html", "tags": ["Faith","Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/04/my-lovehate-relationship.html", "title": "My Love-Hate Relationship", "content_html": "\"\"\n

“It’s part of the camping experience!” This is the justifying battle cry of the die hard camper when it comes to the subject of campfires. But I have a distinct love-hate relationship with them. I love the crackling of the wood and the shower of sparks you get when you throw another log on. I love the welcome blast of heat when the night air has chilled me to the bone. I love splitting wood and the satisfaction of seeing a plentiful stack ready for a long winter. I burned wood as my primary source of heat for four long, cold Colorado winters and I cut, hauled, split, and stacked wood for four long, hot summers. I love a wood fire. I love a wood burning stove with a pot of stew bubbling on top in a cast iron Dutch oven.

\n

Those things I love…AND hate. I hate wasting natural resources and polluting the atmosphere. I hate the dirt and bugs you drag into your house when you burn wood. I hate spending all that time cutting, hauling, splitting and stacking only to watch all that hard work go up in smoke. And speaking of smoke….that is the number one thing I hate about a campfire. Seriously, it doesn’t matter WHERE I sit in the Sister circle around the campfire, the smoke ALWAYS comes straight at me. I get up and move…here it comes. Move back…it’ll find me. And I can’t breathe. It chokes me, hurts my lungs, burns my eyes, and I guarantee you everything I own will smell like I’ve been fighting a forest fire for a month. The worst thing is when the campfire dies down, you go to bed, and you lie there in your camper, windows open, hoping to catch a cool breeze or hear the owls, but noooooooo….in wafts this dank smell of wet ash and smoke mixed with fog and dew…creeping over the campground, up the outside wall, through the window and fills my camper. I’m forced to either close the windows and roast or leave them open and cough.

\n

This makes me sound like a boat load of fun to go camping with, doesn’t it? I try really hard to rein it in while I’m camping with others because I truly understand the campfire is a huge part of the camping experience for most people. So I play musical chairs a lot and try not to look too ticked off when the smoke inevitably finds me. But when I’m camping alone, I pull out my propane fire ring (this is the one I use but there are others Camp Chef Compact and Portable Outdoor Camping Gas Fire Ring with Lava Rock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GSGSRFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vAn1zbZZ9SE81 ). I set up my chair, turn that bad boy on, roast a marshmallow or two, enjoy the heat, relish in the clear air, and turn it off at the end of the evening. No smoldering ashes to worry about setting the woods on fire. No smoke laying low over the campground and sneaking into my camper. No smelly hair, clothes, bedding, etc. I swear…when Mr. FixIt kissed me goodnight…he tasted like smoke. I kissed him anyway…I’m such a martyr.

\n

I love to camp and I love the looks and sounds of the campfire and the time shared with friends sitting around it. But if I had my druthers, I’d light up the gas fire and call it good. ❤️

\n

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”\n‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:28-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-04T01:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/04/my-lovehate-relationship.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Love","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/03/the-hickory-tussock-caterpillar.html", "title": "The Hickory Tussock Caterpillar", "content_html": "\"Hickory\n

When my youngest was little, there were certain words she had trouble pronouncing. Me being a wordy, I had to correct her. We once were in the sewing center. She was crawling around and pulled herself up on the chair and babbled something. I asked her to slow down and enunciate so I could understand her. And she did. We never spoke baby talk to her. She would have called this a “capetiller”. There were mazagines" and “hopistol”. “Ambliance” and “swanich”. These are wonderful memories.

\n

This particular “capetiller” was rummaging around in the leaves by the campfire at Beaver Creek State Park yesterday morning. It’s one of those that can leave you with an itchy rash much like poison ivy so it’s best to leave them alone. There are several caterpillars that sting and irritate the skin so you should wear gardening gloves when picking up leaves this time of year.

\n

The drive home from camping was uneventful. It was getting dark by the time we hit Parkersburg so we took the camper over to Mr. FixIt’s house and we’ll clean it out today. I emptied the tanks and the clean water reservoir. Now we can winterize it.

\n

I’m truly looking forward to some down time. It will give me time to reflect on the wonderful people I’ve met, the beautiful sites I have seen, and the wonderful times I have shared with family and friends and especially with Mr. FixIt. I am so blessed. ❤️

\n

“and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.”\n‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-03T01:30:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/03/the-hickory-tussock-caterpillar.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/02/the-last-hurrah.html", "title": "The Last Hurrah", "content_html": "\"1937\n

Hanging up the camper for the season is always so sad but TOW-Wanda will stay at the farm with me for a little while longer. I’ll need to clean her out really well and winterize her. We’re still up in the air about travel plans for February and March so I need to have her ready to face freezing weather.

\n\"Making\n

Yesterday was glorious. The Girl Campers gathered midweek at Beaver Creek State Park in Lisbon, Ohio and stayed through the weekend. A lot of time was spent around the campfire talking, laughing, and bonding. Hugs were plentiful as many broke camp yesterday and headed home. We had more gals in tents this year. We had a couple of gals who had minivans set up with beds in them which I found intriguing. It got really cold the last couple of nights (down into the 30’s!) so these gals are hardy souls! As Janine Pettit says… Girl Campers…we go places and we do things!"

\n\"Wooden\n

Some of the gals painted tennis shoes. One gal made kettle corn over the fire in a cast iron Dutch oven. She used a handmade wooden paddle that I coveted. I used a sandwich iron for the first time and grilled a sandwich of cream cheese with cinnamon butter on the outside. We visited the Pioneer Village where they use an old grist mill. I purchased some freshly ground corn meal and buckwheat flour. Then last evening, a 1937 International towed a little camper into the campground and I was smitten! I love old cars and this one was pretty funky.

\n\"Painted\n\"Old\n

We didn’t hear any owls last night. They seem to move around from place to place within the park. Beaver Creek is such a gorgeous place. This is my fourth time camping here. It’s only about four hours from home so it’s pretty easy to get here and I love the camphost. She’s a dear friend of mine. We are going to an apple orchard today before we head back to the farm. There’s lots to do at home to prepare for winter and it’s coming on fast. ❤️

\n

“So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.”

\n

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭24:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-02T01:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/02/the-last-hurrah.html", "tags": ["Travel","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/01/camping.html", "title": "Camping", "content_html": "\"Woman\n

I went to church camp when I was thirteen. I remember having a wonderful time but I don’t quite remember what we did. My camping excursion this week has seriously felt like BEING at camp. This State Park (which I will name Monday) has the best naturalist. He organized a fly fishing class yesterday afternoon. Five of us went and had a grand time. One gal caught a little fish and was so excited. We were excited FOR her. We didn’t have waders. I had rubber rain boots and I promptly filled them by stepping in too deep. So I just kept on going and waded in up to my hips. I didn’t catch anything but it didn’t matter.

\n\"Stream\n

Our next activity was the “stream stomp”. We held a net across and below rocks in a riffle and someone would pick up the rock. The net would catch any little critters that had been hiding under the rock. Some children who were camping nearby joined in and it was so much fun watching them giggle and squeal over the crawfish and hellgrammites (dragonfly nymphs) that landed in our nets.

\n

I spent much of the afternoon with the publisher/editor of Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine for an article they are doing about the Girl Campers. I was thrilled to represent this great group of gals and talk about Janine Pettit and all of her hard work with her podcasts. Gail Bable, the camphost of this park, joined me for some photos. I’ll let you know when the article comes out.

\n\"Woman\n

The next thing on the agenda was an archery lesson. I can’t remember when I last shot a bow but I remember I loved it. I originally learned archery in high school. It turns out, I’m a pretty good shot.

\n\"Ohio\n

The day ended with 27 people around a campfire listening to the park naturalist give a talk on honeybees. The entire day was fun and fascinating and one I will long remember. ❤️

\n

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.””\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-01T01:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/01/camping.html", "tags": ["Travel","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","goRVing","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/15/ooooompapa.html", "title": "Ooooom-Pa-Pa!", "content_html": "\"Menu\n

I arrived at the Country Living Fair in the early afternoon yesterday and met my Girl Camper friends. We had to wait our turn to pull the three campers into the grounds so we sat around and nibbled on finger foods and caught up with what’s been going on in each other’s lives. Girl Camper extraordinaire, Janine Pettit, regaled us with stories of her epic month long trip to the National Parks out west this summer. Gail shared that her daughter is going to live overseas for a year. Jill was excited about her new-to-her Airstream she recently redecorated. I shared the article from the Fidelity online magazine. Sisters and Girl Campers always pick up where we left off the last time.

\n

I don’t know if you’ve ever gone to a Country Living Fair but the amount of work that goes on in the background to set something up this massive and intricate is astounding. We drove in on cue when it was our turn. The area where we set up is pretty tight and it took a great deal of maneuvering to get all three campers in just right. I’m glad I have some mad backing up skills because they came in handy yesterday!

\n

Once the three campers were set up, they had to be “staged”. You’ve all seen those cute campers in the magazines with all the vintage collectibles or great quilts or baskets of flowers? All those things were placed there with an eye much more skilled than mine. When these girls were finished, it looked just like a photo shoot! I can’t wait to take pictures today!

\n

As I walked through the fair grounds, the displays were eye candy for someone who cannot resist the colorful, glossy pages of Country Living Magazine. It’s like the magazine itself has come alive…its pages exploding on the grounds all around you! Antiques, linens, rusty farm implements, artsy clothing and jewelry…you name it, it’s here. Including the kitchen sink. It’s truly one of the most beautiful fairs of its kind in the country. I’m so looking forward to browsing when I can.

\n

I’ve read Country Living Magazine for years. Now that I’m living a country life, it would be so easy to accumulate too much stuff again and, seriously…I really don’t want to go through that kind of downsizing ever again. I carefully curate what comes in my house now. I only have what is useful and I know to be beautiful. The trouble is…there is SO much that I find beautiful. So my third measure is…Would I rather have this “thing” or go someplace with that money. Experience over stuff wins just about every time.

\n

We ended the evening at a German restaurant where the highlight of the evening was a group of dinner guests playing cowbells to the tune “Edelweiss”. You can’t make this stuff up!

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Stay tuned…I may not be able to resist some extra posts today when I see something pretty! ❤️

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“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-09-15T01:55:43-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/15/ooooompapa.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Country Living Fair"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/06/sisters-on-the-fly.html", "title": "Sisters on the Fly", "content_html": "

\"Sisters \"\" \"\"

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What is Sisters on the Fly?

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It’s the world’s largest outdoor adventure group for women. We have affected the lives of over 9,000 women from around the world. Our motto is “We have more fun than anyone!” And it’s true! Sister gatherings are jam packed with fun and we turn women into girls.

\n

What do the Sisters do at their gatherings?

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We do a number of things! Some of us fly fish. Some ride horses or mountain bikes. We love to go junkin’ and eat great food. Some hike. Some play and listen to music. Whatever floats your boat. And speaking of floating your boat, we are going to ride the sternwheeler on the Ohio River over to visit the Blennerhassett Mansion this week. We love to eat so we’re going to have an old fashioned weenie roast. My Pop-Pop whittled the end of sharp sticks for roasting weenies and marshmallows. We’ll serve them the WV way with sauce and slaw. We are playing music and listening to music and maybe even clog dance. Sisters will try just about anything!

\n

How can I be a Sister?

\n

You can have more fun that anyone by heading over to www.sistersonthfly.com and signing up. Dues are $70 a year and there are gatherings of every interest all around the globe.

\n

What kind of women become Sisters on the Fly?

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Bold women. Shy women. Women with campers. Women with tents. Women who prefer the lodge or a fine hotel or a cabin. Single women. Taken women. Married women. Widowed women. Young women. Old women. Key word is Women. No men. (Sorry, guys!) No kids. (Sorry, kids!) and, no pets.

\n

These gals love to eat! I shopped yesterday. Such a wise shopper I have become. This big grocery cart ended up costing $150! I was impressed. We will see how the menu and activities go over. I’ve done the planning, the shopping and the prep. As my friend V says…it’s time for the fun! ❤️

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“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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(Photos from older Sisters on the Fly gatherings.)

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-06T01:55:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/06/sisters-on-the-fly.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","Love","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/24/ahhhhindiana.html", "title": "Ahhhh...Indiana!", "content_html": "\"Waze\n

I’m beginning to really like this state. I have been to Bloomington in the south. I’ve been back and forth along the I-70 corridor countless times. I spent a weekend here in Richmond in December 2015 when my daughter graduated from Miami University. And now I’m on my third camping excursion here. We picked TOW-Wanda up yesterday and she’s pretty as can be. They detailed her after putting on the new axle. I checked the hub temperature with my new infrared digital thermometer after driving a few miles and it was right around 97-98°. It may give me a false sense of security since the service guy told me “if it’s too hot, it’s too late.”

\n

Just after we turned onto I-70 from I-77, we came to a standstill. As far as we could see, cars and trucks filled the highway like a parking lot in all three lanes. I was just telling Mr. FixIt I wished I had the extension app on my Garmin GPS to tell me about traffic when I remembered Waze. Some of my Sisters on the Fly friends were just discussing the merits of this free GPS app that is populated by user input. I had tried it a couple of years ago and didn’t like it so I took it off. I figured I couldn’t lose anything and I was sitting in a giant parking lot on the interstate so I downloaded the app and turned it on. Sure enough, it showed my location and several people up ahead posted what was going on…a car fire. When we finally started moving, there was not one, but two burned out shells of cars alongside the highway. I’ll have to see if I can find a news story about it because it was pretty impressive. I have unlimited data on my cell phone so I kept Waze running. Whenever there was a hazard, a policeman, or even a pothole in the roadway, the app let me know with an electronic voice. I’ll be using it whenever I drive.

\n

The other thing I wanted to tell you about was this really cool tool I bought at Costco. I’ve been wanting a windshield mount for my cell phone and found a package of two at Costco when we were in Colorado. I gave one to Mr. FixIt for his truck and I put the other in mine. Now I can run Waze AND my GPS as I drive and have an unobstructed view of the road. I can answer calls hands free. I can even ask Siri to read my text messages and answer them by dictating and never take my eyes off the road.

\n

If you find yourself in Richmond, Indiana in need of RV services…see Matt Green at Camping World. If you need a great campsite that’s easily accessible, check out Grandpa’s Farm Campground. And if you want a really great meal, go to O’Charley’s. Excellent! There are my PSA’s of the day. Helpful hints for your traveling pleasure…and, I get to sleep in TOW-Wanda again!!! ❤️

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“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-24T01:55:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/24/ahhhhindiana.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","New Ideas","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/10/road-trip-day-thirtysomethinghome-kinda.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Thirty-Something...\"Home! Kinda.\"", "content_html": "\"Burned\n

Yesterday was lovely. We went out for breakfast then headed to Camping World to check on the trailer. They were still working on locating an axle. We elected to take the wheel with the nearly shredded tire to Walmart and get a new one. Easy peasy. Then, to kill some time, we went to New Paris and browsed the antique stores. By 4:00 we decided it was best to go check in on the trailer again. Bad news. The replacement axle isn’t sitting on a shelf someplace. They don’t make them until they’re ordered. And, they take ten days to make. So the camper won’t be ready for at least two weeks!

\n

Ok. Change of plans. It was already 4:30. We swung around back and emptied everything we would need out of the camper. We threw away any food that wouldn’t stay fresh in the fridge, even though they assured us they would keep the trailer plugged in. We stuffed as much as we could in the truck and headed to dinner at a dive along the highway. Then we left Richmond, Indiana and headed for Cleveland to pick up Mr. FixIt’s truck. He left it parked there when he flew to Colorado. We picked it up, filled both trucks with gas, stopped at McDonald’s for coffee and headed for home. It was 1:15 by the time we got to Parkersburg and it would have been another hour to the farm. I called Mr. FixIt behind me and said I’d had enough…so we stopped at his place and I’ll head on in the morning.

\n

We’ll go on another road trip in a couple of weeks and pick up TOW-Wanda. We’ll talk more tomorrow about how this fiasco happened and what to do to avoid it in the future. In the meantime, I’m done. Thank you, God…for protecting us and keeping us safe during our travels. ❤️

\n

“The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-10T01:55:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/10/road-trip-day-thirtysomethinghome-kinda.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/09/road-trip-day-thirtytwocrap.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Thirty-Two...\"Crap!\"", "content_html": "\"Burnt\n

One of the most important things I’ve learned about camping is this…check, check, and double-check everything. When I had that blowout a couple years ago, I learned to check the air pressure every single time I tow…whether it’s to the end of the driveway or across the state. I learned this from Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi of RV Family Travel Atlas and Janine Pettit of Girl Camper Podcast. Now I check my tires religiously.

\n

Day before yesterday, we stopped in a rest area and when I got back in the truck, I walked around…checking to make sure everything looked good. We were fifty miles from the campground. That stretch of I-70 was particularly rough…to the point we had to slow way down. We got to the campground and did a lot of routine maintenance things. I dumped the tanks and cleaned them out. I picked up inside the camper and got set up for the evening, and cooked supper. After the dishes were done and put away, we got those showers we were so anxiously awaiting and crashed. We were both exhausted and slept like logs.

\n

Yesterday morning, I was unhooking things and Mr. FixIt was checking the air pressure in the tires. When he got to the driver’s side rear tire he said, “Whoa, babe…come look at this. This isn’t good.” The rubber cover was missing off the hub and you could see down into the bearing housing. I knew when I got close and looked at the grease that we did indeed have a problem. The grease was packed with flecks of shiny metal…the bearings had been disintegrated. Luckily there was a Camping World four miles back so we very slowly, very carefully took the camper over.

\n

After tearing it apart and checking into the other wheels, they believe the last person who repacked my bearings (which I just had done this spring) had tightened the nut down too hard which doesn’t allow for the expansion of the bearings when they get hot. The end cap made of rubber blew off with the resulting pressure and shot all the hot grease out, leaving nothing to lubricate the bearings. Consequently, the casing got so hot it literally melted the bearing housing. The only thing that kept the wheel from flying off was a $2.00 cotter pin. Thank God it wasn’t worse…no one was injured. But the bad news is, it didn’t make any noise and we didn’t detect anything in the operation of the trailer in any way, so we drove on it at 60mph for 50 miles or so. That was hot enough to etch the spindle and the whole axle needs replaced. They are working hard to find me one…even if they have to send someone up to the Starcraft factory up in Elkhart.

\n

But, here’s the thing…when I had the blowout two years ago, the repairman forgot to put the dust cover back over the hub. When I had the hubs repacked last time, the shop didn’t have one. I’ve thought of it off and on but never got around to it. And, since I wasn’t actually checking the temperature of the hubs, if that dust cover WOULD have been in place, I never would have seen there was a problem. This was, quite literally, a disaster waiting to happen and it’s a miracle no one was injured.

\n

So, we have an unexpected adventure…exploring Richmond, Indiana and the Old National Road…home of some pretty great antique stores. We found a room for $60 and had dinner at Cracker Barrel. Yes, this is inconvenient. Yes, the repair is going to be expensive. But, we are safe…we are together…and God has us in the palms of his hands. Life is good! ❤️

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“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19-20‬ ‭MSG‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-09T01:55:16-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/09/road-trip-day-thirtytwocrap.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Grace","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/08/road-trip-day-thirtyonecamping-in.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Thirty-One...\"Camping in Comfort!\"", "content_html": "\"Paulaner\n

OMGosh! After camping two nights in parking lots, Grandpa’s Farm Campground is just what the doctor ordered. Mr. FixIt and I were up at the crack of dawn and dragged our sorry butts into the IHOP for breakfast. Coffee, coffee, coffee. I slept maybe three pharmaceutically induced hours to the refrains of a hundred diesel engines idling all night. Ok, there were…like, twenty-five, ok? All I’m sayin’ is…it sounded like the 10th Armored Division were on maneuvers in my living room. Have I ever mentioned I’m grumpy in the mornings if I don’t sleep well and coffee is delayed by the briefest of moments? I thought not…I hate to tarnish my pristine reputation. Oy.

\n

After breakfast, we sat down with the Atlas and the RV Campground Directory and figured out how long we wanted to drive today. It put us right in the vicinity of Richmond, IN…a very cute little burg. I was in Richmond when Daughter #1 graduated from college a few miles away in Oxford, Ohio at the Miami University. I stopped at this campground on my way out to Colorado this summer. It’s the one I found on a Saturday night when I was contemplating how sorry I was that I’d miss church the next morning, only to find out they have Campground Church every Sunday. It’s run by a lovely family. There is some road noise in the early evening, but it soon dies down after folks get home from work. There’s also a rushing stream along the edge of the campground that you can hear at night. AAA got me a discount and a full hookup site was $32.50. As soon as I got everything hooked up, I turned on the hot water heater so we could enjoy hot showers for the first time in three days! Heavenly!

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But, here’s the very coolest thing….Mr. FixIt DROVE for me all but the first hour. We were tooling along and I just hadn’t had enough sleep or enough coffee. We pulled into a service station, got my pillows and blankets out of the trailer, and I crawled into the passenger side and slept for two hours. When I woke up, I marveled at the decadence of having someone drive me around…pulling my camper with confidence, being just as careful of her as I am. It felt amazing…this giving over some control after having to do everything by myself for so long. The thing is, I kept hanging onto that control…long after I had a capable partner to help me. It was liberating in the totally opposite way of women’s liberation. It felt inclusive, a communal effort. And I was in hog heaven!

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We got to the campground by 3:00 which allows for so much more of an evening than midnight does. Mr. FixIt went for a walk while I wrote this post so we could just enjoy the evening without interruptions. We cooked a nice dinner and sat outside listening to the many sounds of the campground. What a precious treat this man is. Thank you God for safe travels. And thank You for bringing me such a wonderful man to enjoy! ❤️

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“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”\n‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:23-24‬ ‭NIV

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Mr. FixIt was in an automotive store picking up a part for my truck when I was preparing to leave on this trip. He was telling the sales guy about all the trouble I was having getting out of town with the camper. They guy handed him the part and said, “Well, it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out.” Mr. FixIt laughed and said, “I don’t know…everything is an adventure with Ginny McKinney!” He gets me! Yesterday was no exception.

\n

It took us thirteen hours to get from Denver t this Walmart. The drive on the two-lane was amazingly beautiful. The terrain is sand hills giving way to intermittent flat and rolling fields of corn, soybeans, and what not. There is supposed to be a bad storm this morning in western Kansas and Nebraska so we wanted to put plenty of distance between us and the weather so we kept driving. We stopped in McCook, NE so I could stretch out and take a nap. That gave me my second wind.

\n

We stopped to eat at a historical marker for the Texas-Ogallala Trail where cattle drives crossed the plains. It was so much more fun having a traveling companion. He could Google in real time things I asked about.

\n

While the views were wonderful and the roads so much easier to travel without all the truckers, finding a campsite was nearly impossible. There just isn’t the traffic on these back roads to warrant a campground and the couple we saw signs for were impossible to find in the dark. Hence the decision to find a Walmart. I searched in my Garmin and found one about thirty miles away. After eleven miles into it, we made a turn and there was a small sign that said “Bridge Out, 21 miles”. I looked at the GPS and it said to turn in 21 miles. I called the Walmart and they said the bridge was out right where you turn to come into town so we had to take a detour. It added 27 miles to our trip but we were committed at that point. We pressed on and arrived at the store 2 minutes before they closed. We immediately went inside and spoke to the person in charge, asked where we should park, and thanked them profusely. We fell into bed with great relief.

\n

Yes…everything is an adventure with Ginny McKinney! ❤️

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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”\n‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-06T01:55:49-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/06/road-trip-day-thirtycamping-at.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/05/road-trip-day-twentynineon-the.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-Nine...\"On the Road Again!\"", "content_html": "\"Sometimes\n

This is the hard part…saying goodbye. I don’t like goodbyes. I miss my kids and my grands when I’m in West Virginia. I wish we lived closer. At one point I was ready to move back to Colorado. But man…the cost of living is nearing the breaking posing for most people and it has gotten so incredibly crowded. As much as I will miss my girls, I am longing for home…for the peacefulness of the country…for smaller towns and fewer crowds.

\n

We had a great day yesterday. We fussed around getting the camper cleaned and ready for travel. We did laundry and visited with my son-in-law’s parents, then went to Little’s Art Camp program. She displayed several art pieces and played the violin. Afterwards, we had 14 for a family dinner and that will have to do till next time. We’ve decided to drive the back roads and see what a cross road trip was like in the days of the two-lane blacktop. We’ll follow a river into the sand hills of the western prairie. Our progress will be slow, but I’ll check in and share with you. This is an entirely new experience for me and I’m looking forward to it! ❤️

\n

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ”

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For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:4, 10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-05T01:55:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/05/road-trip-day-twentynineon-the.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/04/road-trip-day-twentyeightdancing.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-Eight...\"Dancing\"", "content_html": "\"Feet\n

I love listening to live music. We met Daughter #1 and the grands for dinner then attended the outdoor concert at Flatirons Crossing…a large mall in Louisville, CO. They left at intermission so when the band started up again, I led Mr. FixIt out on the dance floor for the second half. I love to dance, but my 64-year-old knees were screaming in protest before long. I’ll pay for it today, I’m afraid.

\n

Yesterday was spent running errands like getting the oil changed on the truck for the trip back. Today is cleaning, doing laundry, packing. We all get to attend Little’s presentation at the end of art camp this afternoon then one last family gathering before we head out in the morning. It’s been a fast month and I’ll miss my babies. I’m already planning our return trip around Christmas! I know this isn’t much of a post…just touching base as we tie up loose ends before we leave. ❤️

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“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-04T01:55:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/04/road-trip-day-twentyeightdancing.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Strong Women","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/03/road-trip-day-twentysevenwhen-your.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-Seven...\"When Your Mom Dies\"", "content_html": "\"View\n

My friend, Fred, lost his mom yesterday. We got the word while we were visiting Buffalo Bill’s grave. It made me think of my mom. It made me think back to when my oldest was about three and Mom came out to Colorado for a visit. I brought her up here and we sat on this very bench. She was well and happy and healthy and I thought I’d have her forever. Years later, my mom got sick suddenly and was gone in five days.

\n

Nature tells us our parents will age and eventually die, leaving us to go on as best we can without them. But, at least for me, we never are prepared for how we’ll feel when the time comes and we have to say goodbye to our source…the giver of life, the nurturer, the teacher, the nurse, the chauffeur, the disciplinarian, the confidant. We’re never ready…we’re blindsided with the enormity of the loss. Incredulous as it may seem, this larger-than-life woman had the audacity to grow old and leave me.

\n

It’s been thirteen years since I lost my mom. I still want to call her every Sunday evening. I think of something to share with her then sadly remember she is gone. And now Fred is a member of the club of orphans…his mom gone away from him. He is alone. My heart is with him and his family.

\n

We enjoyed the visit to Lookout Mountain yesterday. And, last night I spent the evening with all my girls. Mr. FixIt takes great pics and it was so much fun to laugh and share funny stories. Stories about their dad…and Mr. Virgo…and Grammy. We hated to break away and end the evening. We vowed to talk more often. Another day done. Another day filled with love. ❤️

\n

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-03T01:55:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/03/road-trip-day-twentysevenwhen-your.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","The Grand Adventure","Grace","Wisdom","Aging","Fitness Friday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/02/road-trip-day-twentysixon-sharing.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-Six...\"On Sharing\"", "content_html": "\"Daisies\"\n

There has been a major shift within me this trip. I wasn’t sure going into this vacation how I would react sharing the space that is mine in Colorado with both Mr. Virgo’s memory and Mr. FixIt’s presence. How would everything fit? At home on the farm in West Virginia, Mr. Virgo only occupies space in my mind and heart as well as what few tangible things I have kept that were his. Here, he lives in the mountains, he sits in the sunsets, he whispers in the wind that blows through the trees. He’s everywhere. Would he distract me too much? How would I feel entertaining two men…one very much here, the other very much real but not here?

\n

I took this wonderful man to “meet” Mr. Virgo and I needn’t have worried. He respected my space. He listened intently. He waited patiently. And at the perfect moment, he walked up behind me, wrapped me in his arms and said, “I’m so sorry, Ginny. I know this was so hard for you. You’ve been through so much and you are very brave.” His arms were a comfort. My fingers intertwined with his as I leaned back against him. I felt his warm breath in my hair. For a moment, I remembered what this same position felt like with Mr. Virgo. Then I let it go…like a feather on a breeze…dancing and floating away from me.

\n

Time has allowed me perspective and healing. Choice has brought me ever onward and upward. Prayer has given me strength where there was none. Mr. FixIt has given me…Love. Hope. Trust. Joy. Peace. Companionship. Friendship. Laughter. Stability. Comfort. Contact. Connection. I am grateful. This shift has a lot to do with all of the above. Sharing this space with my new love is helping me to, yet again, redefine its meaning. Redefine who I am…redefine my “status”. I know it’s different for everyone. For me, at four and a half years…it’s a choice. I choose love. It is my purpose in life. It is the one thing I am to practice, to hone my skill at. To emulate in a Christ-like way. Not just my love for Mr. FixIt or Mr. Virgo…but for everyone.

\n

I’ve been asked when I will share a picture of Mr. FixIt with you. And the answer is…not in his lifetime. Not a definable picture, anyway. Distance, maybe. From the back, sure. His hands, definitely. He has the hands of a hard-working man and I love them. But I won’t be sharing his name or his face because those are mine. I share everything else with you…my pain, my fears, my hopes, my joys, my struggles, and my triumphs. I do so without reservation as this is my platform…my purpose. I share to spread love and promote healing. This one great thing…this glimpse into who he really is in real life…is the one tangible thing I will fervently protect.

\n

Yesterday was a day shared with loved ones. My heart is full. ❤️

\n

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”\n1 Corinthians 13:2-7 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-02T01:55:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/02/road-trip-day-twentysixon-sharing.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/01/road-trip-day-twentyfivelife-is.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-Five...\"Life is Better at the Ranch\"", "content_html": "\"Life\n

The trip out west is winding down. The kids are busy with camps and getting ready for school so there isn’t as much time for visiting. I could spend another month showing Mr. FixIt around Colorado, but there are things that need tending to back home. I was going to stay till the end of August so I could attend a Sisters on the Fly event. However, I am hosting a Sisters event in WV the first week of September and there are still so many details to take care of and I want it to be memorable for the gals. So, I’m heading back east this weekend. I’m not going to put Mr. FixIt on the plane…he’s going to drive back with me. We have found an alternate route that will take us along the America River on a two lane and off the wicked roar of the interstate. I’m looking forward to an easier ride home with good company.

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Our last days here will consist of family time and perhaps a drive to Colorado Springs to the Garden of the Gods and Pike’s Peak. Yesterday was laundry day (I ironed a shirt! gasp!), lunch out with my son-in-law’s parents, a little nap in the afternoon, dinner with the family, and a trip to my favorite antique store. The Brass Armadillo is huge and would take a full day to browse. We only had a couple of hours but we did our best to see as much as possible. It floors me to go into an “antique” store and see the things we grew up using and playing with. I mean, really…antiques? How is that possible when we keep getting younger?

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I loved the Ranch sign. And the angel wings were awesome. The trailer with wings was adorable. I didn’t buy a thing, although there were so many things I could see owning. I can’t shop anymore without envisioning the work involved with downsizing when I sold my house and got rid of 95% of my personal belongings. It was so incredibly difficult and I don’t ever want to do that again. I already own too much stuff! I want to keep my life light and not be burdened by the weight of possessions. I love stuff. I love that my friends dig their stuff and want to keep it around them. I totally get that. It’s going to be interesting to see how things unfold as my relationship with Mr. FixIt moves forward. Ohhhh, he’s as big a pack rat as I am!

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Today’s a day of helping my daughter while Mr. FixIt entertains himself. He can find his way around Denver with the GPS. I hope you all have an incredible day! ❤️

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“He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ””\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-01T01:55:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/01/road-trip-day-twentyfivelife-is.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/31/road-trip-day-twentyfourin-jesus.html", "title": "Road Trip, Day Twenty-Four...\"In Jesus' Name\"", "content_html": "\"On\n

Whew….some Mondays we just have to go to church here at the Ranch. Especially when I’ve heard a sermon like yesterday. Let me tell you a little bit about how God works in my life. There’s a church here in Denver that I really like…Red Rocks Church. It’s very much like my home church in West Virginia…contemporary, progressive, energetic. I love it and couldn’t wait to take Mr. FixIt. Red Rocks Church has four campuses plus a prison outreach. One campus has the pastor live and all the others watch a live feed on the big screen in their respective churches. I usually go to the Arvada campus, but I really wanted Mr. FixIt to hear the sermon live. I was planning to drive down to the Littleton Campus in order to accomplish that. I’m always quick to get ready but yesterday I just couldn’t seem to get it together. I couldn’t believe it when I looked at the clock and saw we would be lucky to make it to the local satellite church. We made a bee line and got there in time to grab a cup of coffee and get seated. As we were walking into the sanctuary, a volunteer said, “You’re in for a treat today…the pastor is here live with an amazing message!” I couldn’t believe it. If we would have left on time to get to the other church, we would have been watching the pastor on the big screen! God fascinates me. His ways are so mysterious. His love is so complete.

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The message yesterday was about the Samaritan woman at the well again. The pastor spoke about five words and how they relate to all of us. Pain. Prison. Power. Platform. Purpose. The Samaritan woman had suffered pain…as we all have. She was living in a self-imposed prison of isolation as she avoided interacting with others. Then she had an encounter with Jesus at the well and experienced His power. She used her experiences of Pain, Prison, and Power as her Platform from which she could share her testimony. This allowed her to live her Purpose.

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I don’t know about you, but I struggled for nearly sixty years trying to figure out what my purpose is in this life. I hadn’t done a very good job being a wife until my third marriage. I didn’t feel I had been a very good mother, although I tried and I did the best I could with the knowledge and experiences I possessed at the time. It wasn’t till I lost Mr. Virgo and spent three months in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado that I discovered my purpose is to love. To accomplish this, I have built this new life from the ashes of who I was before the fires of grief changed me.

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The pastor used an example of someone who has turned her pain into her platform. At seven years old, Gabriella has had more pain than you can imagine. After a diagnosis of leukemia, it has been this innocent child who teaches the doctors and nurses…and, anyone in earshot, really…about Jesus. She comforts her mother when she worries about her and says “Don’t worry…God’s got this!” As they were taking her into surgery to place the port for chemo, this brave little girl only said three words but she said them over and over for two hours before they wheeled her into the OR. “In Jesus’ name…In Jesus’ name…In Jesus’ name.” When the folks from the Make a Wish Foundation contacted Gabs and her parents to find out her wish, she couldn’t think of what to ask for. She didn’t need anything. Finally, after weeks of contemplation, she decided last Saturday what she wanted. She wanted to preach at Red Rocks Church. So, yesterday, this beautiful little angel…just a wisp of a thing in her flower halo…bravely marched out onto the stage in front of hundreds of strangers. She held her notes in one hand, the microphone in the other, and she told us about her friend, Jesus. And how He holds us in the palm of his hand. She said we don’t need to be afraid because when she was afraid before her chemo, it was Jesus who comforted her. She said that was why she had wanted to be “bapatized”…because she loved Jesus. I’m telling you…that was the most powerful service I have ever attended. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place and I was so grateful to have been in the front row to witness it live.

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The rest of the day was beautiful. We drove up to the top of Mt. Evans after church. At 14,134 feet elevation, we were quite literally in the clouds. After the power of witnessing the faith of that child, standing on top of the world seemed almost inconsequential. Afterward, we went to Central City for supper and to wait out the Sunday evening traffic returning to Denver. By the time we were back and told our stories of the day to our family, we were spent. Yes, some Mondays I just have to take you to church. This was one. ❤️

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“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭14:13-14‬ ‭NIV

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#Jesus, #wisdom, #faith

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-31T01:55:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/31/road-trip-day-twentyfourin-jesus.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Peaceful Moments","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/30/road-trip-day-twentythreeback-across.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-Three...\"Back Across the Divide\"", "content_html": "\"Camper\n

I don’t think the trip back to Denver was quite as difficult as going over. Yesterday was overcast, rainy, and much cooler and that helped keep the transmission temperature down. That and the fact that the eastbound approach to the Eisenhower Tunnel is a much more gradual slope. But Vail Pass? Brutal! It is so steep I drove much of it at less than twenty-five miles per hour and the transmission temp still shot up to 232 degrees! I had to pull off the road three times to let the truck cool down. I tried the trick of staying in third gear and that didn’t help. I have vowed never to pull this camper with this truck over these mountains…ever again. It was too stressful and I was exhausted when I was done. But, we arrived safely and got parked back under the tree at my son-in-law’s parents’ house so all is right with the world.

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We camped the last three nights at Redstone Campground in Redstone, Colorado. What a beautiful place. The campsites are broad and private. We couldn’t even see the next site and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. The camp host told us there had only been one bear sighting in camp this summer and that was back in May. I was kind of surprised because the campsite was literally surrounded with shrubs that were loaded with all kinds of berries. We paid for a double site in order to maintain privacy. If someone took the other side, our door would literally open up on the neighbor’s camper, so it was worth the extra expense.

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When we returned to Denver, we took our son-in-law’s parents out for dinner at Culver’s. It’s a hamburger place but we had salads that were quite good. After dinner, we went for a drive and went to see the new Light Rail Station in Westminster. Denver is developing a wonderful train system that will soon be completed. You can now catch the train into downtown Denver and be at Union Station in eleven minutes. Senior Citizen rate is $2.60 round trip. You can’t park downtown for that! We’ll take the train down just for the experience while we’re here. Maybe we’ll go to the Art Museum.

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There is so much to do and see in Colorado. And, I don’t think it is my imagination when I say there are more people here than there was when I left three years ago. Granted, I’ve been living a fairly solitary existence, but this is crazy! It felt like being in a bee hive. There are people everywhere. I especially noticed when we went to Maroon Bells near Aspen. Here we were, in one of the most picturesque settings in the stat…bus after bus emptying tourists from all over the globe out onto a parking lot. Paths spread out in every direction like tentacles and there were people wherever you looked…scrambling in every direction…grasping for their moment in the sun. It made me cringe. It made me sad. I think maybe the economy is allowing people to vacation again and there does seem to be an awful lot of people camping these days. Colorado is a desirable destination and it IS high summer tourist season so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised…but it was surprising nonetheless.

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Regardless of how busy everyplace was, Mr. Fix and I had a fabulous time and we made wonderful memories. After all, that was the goal. Mission accomplished! ❤️

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“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-30T01:55:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/30/road-trip-day-twentythreeback-across.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/29/road-trip-day-twentytwoa-night.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-Two...\"A Night on the Town\"", "content_html": "\"A\n

After a busy day sightseeing, we visited with my “surrogate parents” and my sweet brother. We walked around town and looked at the darling shops of downtown Glenwood Springs and chose one of my favorite restaurants for dinner…The Riviera Supper Club. So, I’m out on the town with my man as I jot this note to you…and this is “all she wrote” for today. We will head back to the campground (NO cell service or WiFi…yay!!!) We’ll head back to Denver tomorrow! ❤️

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“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.”\n‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-29T01:55:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/29/road-trip-day-twentytwoa-night.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/28/road-trip-day-twentyoneexploring.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-One...\"Exploring!\"", "content_html": "\"Maroon\n

Seriously…have you seen anything more beautiful than this??? Maroon Bells…the most photographed scene in Colorado. Mr. FixIt has never been to Colorado and I’m trying to jam in as many amazing sights I can in the short time we are up here in the mountains. We got our exercise yesterday! We started with The Ritz Carlton Club in Aspen Highlands to see Mr. Virgo’s Memorial. They planted a tree and laid a plaque in his honor off the patio of his restaurant in the hotel. It has grown about three feet since they planted it. I felt him all around me there. He loved that restaurant and the view. After paying our respects and talking to some of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ritz Carlton, we took the shuttle up to Maroon Bells Wilderness Area and hiked around the lake and through meadows of mountain wildflowers in their prime. The Colorado sky did not disappoint, and even though we didn’t see the bear Mr. FixIt wanted to see, he had a grand time. By the time we finished our hike we were famished. We took the shuttle\nbus back into Aspen Highlands and drove into Aspen for a late lunch. We walked the streets, people watching and browsing through the shops till it was time to head back to the camper. There was live music in the park last night and we didn’t want to miss that. We have no cell or phone service in the campground so I have to post when I have service somewhere. If I miss a day, don’t worry…it just means I didn’t come to town.

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It was another beautiful day in the Rockies. The night sky is so incredibly black you can’t see your hand in front of your face but the stars??? OMGosh! You can see the entire Milky Way! They’re so close it feels like you can touch them. Amazing! ❤️

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““But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭12:7-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-28T01:55:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/28/road-trip-day-twentyoneexploring.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/27/road-trip-day-twentyoneold-home.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty-one...\"Old Home Week\"", "content_html": "\"Woman\n

There are moments in life that you would like to freeze and keep forever, aren’t there? Yesterday was just such a day. The part came in for the camper and Mr. FixIt went to pick it up while I packed up and got the camper ready to haul it to our next site. It was a really easy, short trip without any hills to speak of and we were there in no time. There was only one little glitch. The campsite I had reserved was a group site and there was someone coming to stay right beside us…which kind of defeated the point. Fortunately, there was another site nearby that was even better and we got set up quickly and headed to Marble for lunch at Slow Groovin’ BBQ. It was there I met Kevin from Grand Rapids, MI. Kevin is doing what many young college grads do…he’s finding his groove and he couldn’t have picked a better place than here! As many of these stories, it all started with a blown engine and this person knew that person and off he is on an adventure. (Note to Kevin’s mom…you raised a fine young man. He’s polite and friendly and has great dreams. I know you must be very proud of him. He says you worry. I understand but…he’ll be careful. He misses you and all his nieces and nephews.) Anyway, Kevin was a bright spot in our day and it was a delight to meet him.

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After lunch, we headed to Glenwood Springs to listen to live music in the park. The Black Lillies from Nashville were the highlight of the night and they were awesome! This is my old stomping grounds. I moved here as a young doctor’s wife in 1986. I ran into people who have known me, supported me, and cheered me on through every incarnation I went through since then. It was such a treat to introduce Mr. FixIt to so many of my longtime friends. He had a blast!

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Today we are off to explore Aspen! Stay tuned!!! ❤️

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“I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭104:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-27T01:55:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/27/road-trip-day-twentyoneold-home.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/26/road-trip-day-twentyanother-day.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twenty...\"Another Day in Paradise\"", "content_html": "\"Rifle\n

Last week I reported to you that Mr. Virgo was in my dreams two nights running saying he was leaving me. He appeared again Sunday night. In this dream I found out that he had some sort of neurological problem and that’s why he decided to go on and not try to come back. He was brought to me in a black limousine. They told me he was coming and that I could see him the way he would have looked had he survived the heart attack. When the car pulled up, he rolled down the window and he had obvious neurological damage, yet in the dream, he could still stand. He got out of the limo and looked at me so sad. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.” He said it was HE who was sorry he had to leave me like that. I pulled away from him and said, “You know how much I love you, right?” He said of course he did. I said, “Well, I’ve met someone wonderful and I love him, too. I can’t leave him now.” His eyes softened and he wrapped me in his arms and whispered into my hair, “It’s ok. It’s ok. It’s ok.” And…I woke up. Three times in a week he’s been in my dreams and he hasn’t been here that much in the last four and a half years. I think it’s because I’ve brought Mr. FixIt here to Colorado…turf that, up until now, belonged to Mr. Virgo and me.

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It was still dark…the first hint of daylight tinting the eastern sky. I lay there quietly, listening to the soft breathing of this wonderful man I have come to love. “It’s ok. It’s ok. It’s ok.” I smiled in the darkness, snuggled closer, and went back to sleep.

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We were up bright and early yesterday. Lots to do…doctor’s appointment and pick up the replacement thermostat (it’s still not in after two more stops in the RV dealer). We went out for breakfast then stopped to visit Mr. Virgo’s grave. I left one of the painted rocks that I’ve found recently that said “I love your smile!” It made ME smile. Then I took Mr. FixIt up to Rifle Falls State Park. In all the years I lived here, I had never been there. We hiked up to the top, took lots of pictures, and headed back to town to take my brother out to dinner again. Afterwards, we stopped at the grocery store and ran into Rob and Jordan, two young men from Virginia who had built this funky trailer from scratch and are on a five month trek across the country. They have a YouTube channel called Fantasy Jive ( www.youtube.com/channel/U… ) What an adventure!

\n\"#CruisinCabana\"\n

A trip to Lowe’s rounded out the day. We needed some wire connectors and wire stripper for the thermostat project. With the groceries put away, we finally had time to sit in our new chairs and listen to the river rushing through the canyon as the sun set. We stayed the last two nights at Glenwood Canyon Resort…one of the most beautiful places to camp in Colorado, in my opinion. While the sites are rather close together, there’s nothing like sitting and staring up at the steep canyon walls directly across the river from your campsite. Trains run through the canyon at all hours, but if you’re like me, they make you smile.

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Today we break camp and head on to our next stop on this adventure. Stay tuned to see what we are up to next!❤️

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“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-26T01:55:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/26/road-trip-day-twentyanother-day.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/25/road-trip-day-nineteenthe-long.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Nineteen...\"The Long Slog\"", "content_html": "\"Wiring\n

“Eula Faye” is my F-150…a beauty for sure, but she lacks guts. As I figured, climbing these mountains pulling TOW-Wanda was brutal and pushed her to her limits. I watched fearfully as the transmission temperature steadily climbed, maxing out at 232 degree. I immediately moved off the side of the highway and let her cool back down to her baseline of 194 before starting again. Consequently, it was a very long drive to our campsite on the Western Slope. It was 94 degrees when we unhooked at 3:00. I went in to start the air conditioner to start cooling off the camper when It wouldn’t work…again. It just so happens, we are camping 27 miles from the RV dealer where I bought this camper so I immediately called to see if they were open. We drove straight over and arrived 15 minutes before closing time. We took the old thermostat with us and they ordered us the replacement part. It will arrive by noon today.

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I don’t like to say bad things about a business because they could just be having an off day or maybe here was a miscommunication. As we left town yesterday, we stopped at Camper World to get a replacement thermostat as they are a Starcraft Dealer. There were three men behind the parts counter and I got three different answers. The general consensus was the part is obsolete. I couldn’t imagine that to be true as this is a 2015 camper. The young guy went back in the back and brought a thermostat us and said, “This will work.” I looked at the thermostat and back at him. My thermostat has a six wire harness. The one he brought up was nine. When I pointed this out he said, “Just don’t hook up three of them.” Right. I ignored him and turned to the one closest to me who was at least tying to help me by looking up the actual part number. Then he told me it wasn’t in his computer so it must be obsolete. I asked him if the company who manufactured the thermostat had a replacement part number. He had no idea how to contact them. Finally, I excused myself, spent fifteen minutes researching on Google and found the approved replacement thermostat from RVUpgrades.com. I did buy two padded club chairs that are much more comfortable than the ones I bought last winter. Then I left.

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Hopefully the new part from the dealer on the Western Slope will work and we’ll have the AC back. Fortunately, the temperature cooled off enough to made sleeping more comfortable, and it is supposed to cool off later in the week.

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We took my brother to dinner last night. It was so, so good to see him! We’ll visit again today. I know this isn’t a profound and insightful post. My trip posts are just there to let you know what I’m up to, places I think you might be interested in, and the wonderful people I meet along the way. Like Rick…the helpful hardware man at Ace. Rick has been following Marshmallow Ranch for at least two years. When I pulled into the neighborhood Ace store yesterday to top off my propane tanks, Rick came out to help me and greet me with a great big hug! He was so excited to meet Mr. FixIt. We stood and visited for quite some time. When I came back out from paying for the propane, he asked if he could pray with us for safety for our trip and blessings for our relationship. I went to the truck and got Mr. Fixit and we stood right there in the parking lot of the Ace Hardware and prayed together. It was very touching. So, even though the truck struggled, even though the AC wouldn’t work, even though it was hot and sticky trying to sleep…I let it all roll off me like water off a duck’s back. Blessings abound! ❤️

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“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.””\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-25T01:55:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/25/road-trip-day-nineteenthe-long.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Grace","God","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/24/road-trip-day-eighteenfort-collins.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Eighteen...\"Fort Collins\"", "content_html": "\"EPIC\n

Located sixty-five miles north of Denver, Fort Collins is a bustling college town with plenty to see and do. Shopping, restaurants and abundant recreational opportunities will keep you occupied for days. We gathered as a family to cheer on our oldest grandchild as she competed in the State Swim Meet. She did very well, carving time off her personal bests. Her greatest competition is herself. She is humble and hard working. It was a joy and honor to attend and watch the young woman she is becoming.

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We all stayed in the Historic Timnath Hotel located just across I-25 in the little village of Timnath. Now a private residence, this lovely building has been lovingly restored and was quite comfortable to stay in and cook our meals. You can rent it on Air B&B. I am so grateful to have such a loving extended family. We especially enjoyed sitting out on the balcony talking till late as we enjoyed the cool of the evening.

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Last night, the rest of the family came over and fifteen of us celebrated the 88th birthday of the matriarch of the family. It was such a delight! Today we head to the mountains for a week of camping. I’m a little nervous about pulling the camper up real mountains with this truck. I’ll feel much better when I get this first day behind me. We need to stop at Camping World and buy a new thermostat for the air conditioner. It has become unreliable. I did manage to get it to work by using a can of compressed air to clean out any dust and dirt that has accumulated on the switch contacts. But there is nothing worse than arriving at a campground in the heat of July or August only to discover the AC isn’t working. Better to just fix it.

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I hope you have a Happy Monday! ❤️

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“You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because GOD will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:23-26‬ ‭MSG‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-24T01:55:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/24/road-trip-day-eighteenfort-collins.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Grace","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/23/road-trip-day-seventeenfamily-first.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Seventeen...\"Family First\"", "content_html": "



I’ve known Mr. FixIt for nearly fifty years. He’s gregarious and fun and funny. He’s everyone’s best friend and, just like me, he has never known a stranger. He fits into every crowd, can talk on a number of subjects, and always has something to contribute to conversations. When I found myself with the opportunity to be in a relationship with my long time friend, of course I jumped at the chance. I had no doubt that he would fit right into my family. It’s like he’s always been a part of us and I couldn’t be happier. You know, Mr. Virgo wasn’t my first marriage. There were two before him. My daughter laughs and calls me Elizabeth…as in Taylor. It wasn’t my plan to have this many men in my life. It was my destiny.

Yesterday was the best day! Family time, time spent exploring Fort Collins, and then the other grandparents joined us in the afternoon. My daughter and son-in-law went to a wedding and the grandparents and grandchildren stayed home and cooked a nice dinner. Afterwards we all sat on the deck and visited as the sun set. We watched the bats come out and pick off the mosquitoes. We watched the neighborhood rabbits forage in the overgrown yard of an abandoned house across the street. Just after dusk, we heard the calls of a pack of coyotes beyond the river. The oppressive heat of the day gave way to the first cool breeze of the night and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief. I try to spend every moment I can sitting outdoors when the weather permits it. Winters seem so dreadfully long when I can’t go out after dark and enjoy the front porch.

Today is an action packed day of fun with the grandchildren then we head back to Denver to prepare for our camping adventure that begins on Monday. I can’t wait to tell you about the campgrounds and all the sites we will be visiting in the coming week. I get to see my brother and my friends and make more introductions. I am so blessed! ❤️

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-23T03:55:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/23/road-trip-day-seventeenfamily-first.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/22/road-trip-day-sixteentour-director.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Sixteen...\"Tour Director\"", "content_html": "\"Rocky\n

I get the biggest kick out of showing people places they’ve never seen…especially when it’s a place I love so much. Colorado was my home for forty years and it’s truly spectacular. Mr. FixIt has never been here so I’m having a blast watching him explore. Yesterday we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park. We no sooner got there till the skies opened up and a major thunderstorm blew in. I pulled into the parking area at Sheep Lake and turned off the engine. Mr. FixIt asked what we were looking at. I pointed up high in the mountains and said, “See that lightning? That’s where we’re going. I’m going to wait till it breaks up a bit.” He looked up at the high peaks and I could read a lot on his face. “Cool!” “Man, that’s high!” “I’ve got the coolest girlfriend on the planet!” Well, ok…I could be projecting that last part. lol

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Once the storm let up a little, we proceeded on through the park and turned right to go up Old Fall River Road. To me, that’s the only way to approach Trail Ridge Road from the east. We drove past the site where the flash flood several years ago brought down an alluvial fan for the record books. Shortly after the falls at the fan, you jog to the right and start up the mountain on a narrow, single lane dirt road with no guard rails. Majesty comes into view at every turn, be it waterfalls or sheer drop offs, abundant wildlife or above-treeline vistas. Mr. FixIt said his neck hurt from flipping his head back and forth trying to take it all in. The road is seven-and-a-half miles long and with all the stops and pulling over to let the faster cars by, it took five hours. But, that included a stop for coffee at the restaurant at the top of Trail Ridge Road. It was 49 degrees and really windy at the top. You seriously feel like you’re on top of the world up there. Mr. FixIt was beside himself!

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We are staying with my kids, grandkids, and son-in-law’s parents in a historic hotel and have the whole place to ourselves. We got back in time last night to grill burgers and have salad and corn on the cob. Summer is such a wonderful time of year. Mr. FixIt kept thanking me all day for showing him such a good time. It is so incredibly sweet when you’re on the happy side of life, isn’t it? To be appreciated…and told so??? What a gift that we get to give away to each other! Life is so good! ❤️

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“In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-22T01:55:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/22/road-trip-day-sixteentour-director.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Grace","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/18/road-trip-day-twelvehe-sent.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Twelve...\"He Sent Me Birds\"", "content_html": "\"Two\n

Sometimes it takes a couple days of cogitation before I recognize a sign. You’ve heard me say many times that Mr. Virgo sends me birds to let me know he is near. Strictly speaking, souls in Heaven have no connection to us here on earth. Dogma dictates our loved ones cannot see or contact us. I can’t quote you a scripture to support this, but I would not doubt there is one. That being said, since the Discovery Channel has not sent a team of investigators and a film crew to the other side and brought back photographic evidence of what Heaven is like, I prefer to believe our loved ones can and do watch out for us. It gives me hope. I physically saw Mr. Virgo’s spirit leave his body. I know for a fact the spiritual realm is real. Therefore, I believe he sends me birds.

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The first such occurrence happened early on after Mr. Virgo died unexpectedly of a heart attack. It was late summer and I had recently returned from my three month sojourn in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado. For the first eighteen months, I brought a good sized rock to place around the perimeter of Mr. Virgo’s grave. I had just placed several rocks from my trip and sat back in the car next to his grave so I could get out of the sun. I was overcome with grief and laid my head on the steering wheel and sobbed…that loud, raspy, snotty cry that comes in the early weeks and months after such a profound loss. As I started to regain some control, I heard a bird…fairly close…singing. I looked to my left, and there…on the boundary post not three feet from me…was a mountain bluebird. He was looking straight at me, singing his bluebird song, and tilting his head this way and that as he watched me…intently. I held my breath, afraid to move because I didn’t want to scare him away. He stayed there for the longest time, then finally flew off into a thicket across the road.

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For months, every time I went to the cemetery, bluebirds would come. First one, then two…then five, eight, twelve! Flocks of bluebirds! One warm spring day a year after Mr. Virgo’s death, I had the door open and my feet propped up on the door handle. Suddenly, three bluebirds swooped down and landed on the top of the open door. Two more flew in and rested on the side view mirror. I was stunned! As I traveled, birds would come sit near me. One morning in Missouri, as I was programming my GPS, I heard a tap, tap, tapping on the driver’s side window. I looked and there was a goldfinch sitting on the little edge of door, tapping on the glass. This has continued on and on…for four and a half years.

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Saturday night, I had a dream. A nightmare, really. Mr. Virgo is seldom in my dreams. As a matter of fact, my dream life has largely vanished since his death. But Saturday night, he came and sat on my bed. He looked at me and said he was leaving. I woke up in tears. It felt like a “breaking up with you” kind of leaving. It tugged at the far corners of the abandonment issues I have largely put to rest. It didn’t feel good and made me a little sad. Then, Sunday night…the owls came. Two BIG Great Horned Owls…in the daylight…in a highly urban area…50 feet from me. They sat there in the tree for twenty minutes or so…softly hooting…when first one, then the other, soared on silent wings off to another area. It didn’t really occur to me that Mr. Virgo could have sent those owls…until the second dream.

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Sunday night, he came again. This time he was…softer somehow. Hazy. Ethereal. His voice was thinner…farther off. Again, Mr. Virgo told me he was going away. This time it felt…kinder, gentler. I woke up and lay there in the dark. This didn’t feel like abandonment. This felt like putting the binding on a quilt, tucking the ends in neat and tidy before placing the anchor stitch. Mr. Virgo was saying goodbye. I’ve felt him with me many times in the last four and a half years. Little has seen him. She told me every time he looks at me, he smiles. She was six at the time. I think he knows I’m really, truly ok. I think he knows I’m safe with Mr. FixIt. I think he knows he doesn’t have to watch over me anymore. Does this mean my grief is “over”? No…it means it’s morphed into yet another form. This shape-shifting beast has been largely tamed at this point. It will raise its head every now and again, but for the most part…it is healed. Scarred, but healed. Maybe this has more to do with ME letting go.

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I will always notice the birds and I will smile in remembrance. But, I will never again think of them as coming from Mr. Virgo. ❤️

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“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”\n‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-18T01:55:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/18/road-trip-day-twelvehe-sent.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Love","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/17/road-trip-day-elevenyou-are.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Eleven...\"You Are Worthy\"", "content_html": "\"1\n

Ok, we’re going to church here in a little bit…fair warning. But first, I want to share something cool that happened. As I settled in TOW-Wanda last night after a fun-filled day with the family, I heard the soft hoot of an owl. A Great Horned Owl, to be precise. I jumped up and quietly opened the camper door only to see a pair of huge owls sitting in the tree about 50-60 feet away from where I stood…in awe, I might add. This is not something one sees ordinarily. Not in the daylight and not in a large urban area. I wish Little could have been here…she is really into Harry Potter right now. She would have loved to see the owls.

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Little went to church with me and really had a wonderful time. She enjoyed the worship team. She brought up points from the sermon during the day and told me I need to take her whenever I go there. We went to a friend’s house in the afternoon to help her paint her kitchen then, after a little quiet time in the afternoon, we attended a graduation party. It was a beautiful day.

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Yesterday’s sermon was about the Samaritan woman at the well. The story goes, Jesus is waiting by a well while his disciples went for food. It was noon when a Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water. Jesus asked her to draw a drink for him and she objected. Jews and Samaritans did not mix company. The pastor has, of course, read this passage countless times, but recent events altered his interpretation. Last week, he and his family went on a trip to Africa to check on Missionaries they are working with. One morning, they went to the well at the base of a mountain and it was crowded with women and children from the villages above…filling their water containers to haul back up the mountain to their homes. Just to survive. And the next day and the next would find them doing the same thing. One would think the drudgery of hauling heavy loads of water back up the mountainside would create a dismal mood at the well. But, that wasn’t the case. There was much laughter, hugging, the sharing of news and stories among this community of women. This was their only social outlet…their only time to get the love and support we all so desperately need in our lives. Then they headed home, their containers full, till they descended the next morning.

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As the pastor watched this activity, he thought of the Samaritan woman and a line from the scripture struck him in a way it never had before. It said the woman came to the well at about noon. Now, noon is the hottest time of the day. No one would come to the well at such a time and try to haul heavy containers of water. Why would she have chosen to come when the others were not there? What was going on in her life that would cause her to forego a sense of community. His answer lay in the rest of the scripture. The Samaritan woman had been married and divorced five times. She was living with a man who was not her husband. She was well aware of what the others thought of her and she just couldn’t face the scrutiny, the judgement, the name-calling and whispers. She was ashamed. She felt unworthy. Till she had a chance encounter with Jesus and He taught her that her worth comes from God…not from the opinions of others. That she was just as worthy in His eyes as any other.

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How many times have you felt unworthy? How many times have you avoided interactions with others out of fear of condemnation? How many times have you shut down simply because it was easier than facing what others throw at you? I know I spent far too many years feeling unworthy of love, of respect, of kindness. The child of an alcoholic, the victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of two different men…these things set me up for low self-esteem and all the resultant destructive behaviors one does to cope. It wasn’t until I felt the unconditional love of a Father I had never known that I began to recognize my worth. I believe God sent Mr. Virgo to talk some sense into me and love some of that pain away.

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You are worthy. You are loved. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you are “less than” or “unloveable”. It simply is not true. God doesn’t want you to wait till you have your act together to come talk with Him. He loves you exactly where you are, exactly how you are, in spite of what is going on in your life. That is the message from the sermon yesterday and I just felt I needed to share that with you today. It’s Motivation Monday…time to straighten up your crown and own your worth today, dear ones. ❤️

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“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”\n‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-17T01:55:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/17/road-trip-day-elevenyou-are.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Love","God","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/16/road-trip-day-tenshe-is.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Ten...\"She Is My Crown\"", "content_html": "\"Girl\n

Dear God in Heaven…thank you for bringing this small human into my life! She and her sister are the delights of my life. Yesterday was our semi-annual “Nana and Little’s Day of Fun!” Each grandchild gets to pick and choose what they want to do with Nana, where and what they want to eat, and how the day and night will play out. Big is thirteen now so we pretty much go shopping and have lunch although last summer she did want to go to the Denver Aquarium with me. Little is only ten and she is still all about the fun we can have. Her day is always centered around shopping, doing a craft or baking, and a sleepover in TOW-Wanda. She told everyone at the mall what the significance of the day was and what we’ve done and what we’re going to do. She’s like me…gregarious, funny, creative. Her sister is the thinker, brilliant, caring…strong and tender.

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Little always comes up with the funniest things. She is deep and profound and hilariously, seriously funny. Our first stop was 2nd & Charles…a bookstore where you can sell or trade your old books, movies, CD’s…even vinyl. There are three bins out front filled with free stuff. Yesterday, I picked up a book by Michael Moore, a cookbook with gluten free recipes, a Dr. Who Christmas Ornament still in the box, and Audubon’s Field Guide on Insects and Spiders of North America. Not a bad haul. As little and I rummaged through what was left in the bins, she came across a coloring activity sheet from either a Sunday School or Vacation Bible School. Jesus was standing with several children and someone had placed a sticker over his mouth. Little turned to me and said…“Nana…I can’t tell if this is Jesus or a Jedi.” For some reason that just totally cracked us both up and the more we laughed, the funnier it got. Joy…sheer joy. This is my reward for being puked on at 3:00am…for putting up with a sassy pants teenaged girl…for the pain of letting her grow and get married and move to the opposite end of the country. This. This sweet child and her sister.

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Last night was dinner out with the other grandparents and a viewing of the first Harry Potter movie with popcorn. We “camped” in the driveway in TOW-Wanda. This morning is church with my girl. My heart is so full. ❤️

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“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-16T01:55:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/16/road-trip-day-tenshe-is.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Love","Wisdom","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/14/road-trip-day-eightwhat-a.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Eight...\"What a Feeling!\"", "content_html": "\"Altitude\n

There’s nothing like feeling really good after feeling really bad. I was so miserable Wednesday…too tired, too much junk food, too much altitude, not enough water and I was laid low. Nancy, one of my Colorado readers, sent me a message yesterday first thing and suggested I try to find some “Altitude Adjustment”…a nutritional supplement that helps your body adjust to the changes our bodies go through at elevation. I don’t know the science behind it, but if they told me twirling a chicken over my head would have made me feel better, I’d have been heading to the nearest barnyard. I was willing to try anything because I didn’t want to spend another day miserable. Nancy even offered to meet me halfway to deliver some if I needed her to. I called the number on the back of the package from the picture she sent and got the name of the nearest store that carried Altitude Adjustment and took it right away. I drank three bottles of water. My son-in-law’s mom insisted I eat something and made me an egg sandwich. And within an hour, I felt great. I spent the day out with my daughter and grandchildren and last night we all got together to celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. It was a great day!

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Also, my latest post on the Sisters on the Fly Blog series “Getting Bolder” went live yesterday. It is always so exciting to see that! You can catch it here…

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www.sistersonthefly.com/getting-b…

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Thank you for your kind words of support yesterday. I never feel entirely alone with God..and all of you out there! ❤️

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“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.””\n‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-14T01:55:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/14/road-trip-day-eightwhat-a.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/12/road-trip-day-sixi-made.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Six...\"I Made It!\"", "content_html": "\"GPS\"\n

OMGosh! I thought it was going to take forever to get here. With the long drive day on Monday, I was sure hoping today would go better. My good friend Diane called me Monday night and said, “I’m waiting to read about the fun part in this. Why on earth are you doing this if it’s so miserable?” And, my answer depends on when you ask. If you would have asked me Monday evening, I’d be hard pressed to come up with a good reason. But, if you asked me Thursday and Friday when I was camping with my gal pals, I’d tell you that’s the best. And if you ask me right this minute while TOW-Wanda is tucked in the shade at Ben and Sue’s house and my grandkids are here, I’d tell you this is the best. And, on the 24th, when Mr. FixIt and I head to the high country to camp for a week, I’ll tell you that’s the best. I will tell you this…the very worst day pulling a camper cross-country through Kansas in July at 103 degrees with no air conditioning STILL beats the very best day at work…hands down!

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Yesterday wasn’t as windy so the trailer wasn’t getting buffeted around so it was a much easier drive. It wasn’t quite so hot. It was a relatively short drive day. And, I slept eleven hours Monday night so I was rearing to go! I love a road trip…even when things don’t always go smoothly. It presents me with opportunities to work out problems on my own. And, even though I have this wonderful man in my life now, I’ll still be traveling on my own sometimes. It’s what I do. I’m not giving that part of my new life away. I’m accommodating Mr. FixIt INTO my new life, just as he is accommodating me into his.

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As I was driving along yesterday morning, I finally came across a Starbucks that was easily accessible. Yay! But what I found in the truck stop store was a bigger WOW! I love those big truck stop stores. They always have hard-to-find accessories. When I was in the wreck in February, everything made it out of my truck except the piece that attaches my Garmin GPS to the windshield. I had jury rigged something that sort of worked until the afternoon sun melted the adhesive. I found the replacement piece in that truck stop store yesterday and I was ecstatic! Problem solved. And, this mount is even better than the original! Score!

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I’m really looking forward to some lay-low days with family this week. I want to thank God first and foremost for travel mercies and thank all of you for your prayers and love and light sent out for my protection. I didn’t even see a single fender bender. God is the best and you all are, too! ❤️

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“Here’s what will happen. While you’re out among the nations where GOD has dispersed you and the blessings and curses come in just the way I have set them before you, and you and your children take them seriously and come back to GOD, your God, and obey him with your whole heart and soul according to everything that I command you today, GOD, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, GOD, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors.”\n‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:1-5‬ ‭MSG‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-12T01:55:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/12/road-trip-day-sixi-made.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/11/road-trip-day-fiveso-near.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Five...\"So Near, Yet So Far\"", "content_html": "Battery powered \"air conditioner\"\n

When I hooked up my camper Sunday night at the Kan-Do Kampground in Montgomery City, Missouri, the temp was in the 90’s and I was hot and tired. However, no matter what I tried, the air conditioning in TOW-Wanda would not come on. Therefore, the only things I had to cool me off were two fans and the exhaust fan in the bathroom. That drew the heat out somewhat, but still, I didn’t get to sleep till around midnight. I woke up at 2:30 yesterday morning and try as I might, further sleep eluded me. I laid there till the sky started to lighten around 5:00 then I got up and started putting stuff away, got dressed, closed the windows, and unhooked the camper from the water and electric. I pulled out at 6:15 and headed east in the cool of the day…73 degrees. It was rather windy on the plains so my top speed was 55 most of the day. Gas/pit stops were brief and I finally pulled into a rest area around 12:30 to stretch out for a 30 minute power nap. Only problem was…it was 92 degrees by then and the camper was stifling. All of a sudden, I had a brilliant idea. Gail, one of the Girl Campers had a little fan she let me borrow the second night at Beaver Creek State Park when I didn’t have electricity. The fan had a small drawer that you put ice in and the air cooled as it blew over it. I went to my freezer in my camper, took out two frozen bottles of water and a frozen cooler insert and sat them in front of my battery powered fan. It worked like a charm and offered me about 30 minutes of cool air which was delightful. Once I started losing the chill, I popped everything back in the freezer, put the fan away, and got back on the road. I drove till 4:30pm and just didn’t have it in me to go another five hours from Hays, Kansas to the Denver suburbs. I pulled into a name-brand hotel, negotiated my best deal, parked the camper, and was safely ensconced in my room by 5:00…a bubble bath drawn. The temperature was a staggering 100 degrees and I refused to take the chance of finding a campsite and not having AC. The campsites aren’t great out here anyway. I brought some food in from the kitchen in the camper and wrote this early so I could roost with the chickens. Today is another day. I’ll get there rested instead of having to sleep all day. Today is Daughter #1’s birthday!!! The truck and camper did fine yesterday, but I had forgotten how much work this big camper is to pull. I’m looking forward to having the little vintage camper refurbished and I can take it instead of this big one. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow! Thank you, Lord…for the travel mercies thus far. ❤️

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“in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭NIV‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-11T01:55:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/11/road-trip-day-fiveso-near.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/10/road-trip-day.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day 4", "content_html": "\"Trim\n

This is the part of the trip where I’m always ready to be there yet I have a long way to go. It would be one thing if I were just meandering along without an agenda, but I’ve got grandbabies to see and I’m ready to be there NOW! Between not being able to drive over 60 (you shouldn’t drive over 65 while towing anyway!) and all the construction zones at 45-55mph, this trip feels like it takes forever. I always stop every four hours, stretch, get a bite to eat, use the facilities, and stretch out on the bed for a power nap of 30 minutes or so. When I stopped at 5:30 yesterday, I walked around to the passenger side of the camper and about a third of the trim over the wheel well was flapping in the breeze. I took it off then went to Walmart for a package of nuts and bolts to screw it back on securely. By the time I was done with all that, it was after 8:00. I started watching for signs for campgrounds and before long I had a site secured in Kan-Do Kampground. I really enjoyed speaking with the owner at checkin…she was a hoot!

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It was pretty hot and stuffy when I pulled in so as soon as I got the electric hooked up, I flipped on the AC and…nothing. The switch “hesitated” a couple of times last year so I imagine it needs fixed. It seems like an awful lot of “bugs” are showing up this year. I don’t know if that’s normal or not, but I don’t like it.

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Church yesterday morning was very nice. A lot of people attended. I’m going to try to get an early start this morning but don’t know if I’ll make it all the way to Denver today. Safety first! ❤️

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“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.””\n‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-10T01:55:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/10/road-trip-day.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","goRVing","Love","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/09/road-trip-day-three.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Three", "content_html": "\"Campfire\"\n

I had to say goodbye for now to my Girl Camper friends yesterday morning. I hit the road about 8:30 after enjoying coffee and breakfast burritos with the early birds. Hookup was easy and after doing my safety check and checking the air in my tires (thank you Jeremy and Stephany of RV Family Travel Atlas!) I was on the road in no time. I did find this new truck can’t tow nearly as fast or stable as the ole one. It must have something to do with that rear axle ration. It was still a little windy yesterday so that might have been a contributing factor. I can’t drive much over 60mph with this truck but then again, you shouldn’t tow over 65 anyway so it’s probably just as well. Maybe I’ll look at trucks in Colorado. The 373 rear axle ratio is much more available out there.

\n

I really took it easy yesterday. At lunch time, I pulled into a rest area and had lunch and a little power nap. I stopped at Camping World and bought extension mirrors so I can see around the back of my camper. I also bought some covers for the bedroom windows. The first thing I did when I bought this camper is take out the valances and shades. I hated them. But, when I travel alone and nap in the rest areas by the truckers, I’d just as soon not be so visible from the outside. I bought some Command Hooks and two cat litter mats that were the perfect size. I stuck the hooks on the outside of the camper and hung the mats over the windows on the outside. That way I still get air circulation when I open the windows. Brilliant!

\n

I pulled into another rest area at supper time and ate and stretched out again. I guess I needed to catch up with a little sleep. One thing I do when I drive is think about stuff. And I talk things over with God. It’s our special alone time. I was telling him how much I hated missing church this weekend. Especially since our pastor is coming back from vacation today. My plan for driving this trip was drive, stop, eat, nap, repeat. I really had no intention of camping in RV parks. When I was in Camping World, I saw the new RV Campground directory…their three inch thick book listing all the campgrounds that give a Good Sam discount as well as many other. I’ve always found it very helpful. When I woke up from my nap, Spirit told me to look in the book for the closest RV park. I know better than to question so I did and there was one three or four exits away called…get this…Grandpa’s Farm Campground. There were others, but that’s the one that jumped out at me. I called. They had one site left. I took it and was there in ten minutes. There was a group of about thirty people out on the front lawn playing bingo as I pulled in. Located right on the bank of a rushing stream, the sites were nicely spaced down at the end where I was parked. Full hookup with Wifi was $34.50 with the Good Sam discount, tax included. As I was signing in, I noticed on the map “This campground is run by a Christian family.” Camp Church is at 8:30 in the morning…free coffee and donuts at 8:15! Isn’t God good to provide a safe, clean place with church in the great outdoors?

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I took advantage of the full hookups to do some housekeeping last night. The tanks needed emptying and I hooked up to city water, turned on the hot water heater, and took probably the best shower of my life. And that did me in for the night. I always write my posts at night before I go to bed. I have to get into the Word when I write and search for the perfect scripture to go with it so this becomes my evening meditation. Another day safe, and closer to my babies. Mr. FixIt arrived safely in Florida last evening so I am very grateful for that as well. Have a happy Sunday! ❤️

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-09T01:55:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/09/road-trip-day-three.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","goRVing","God","Wisdom","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/08/fun-around-a-campfire.html", "title": "Fun Around a Campfire", "content_html": "\"Hitch\n

Traveling on a cross-country road trip, you must be flexible whenever possible. Yesterday’s forecast had severe thunderstorm warnings off and on all day with winds predicted to top 50mph. I don’t know if you have ever driven in winds like that or not, but it is ill-advised to do so while towing a camper. I figured if I was going to be overtaken by severe storms, I would just as soon be in a campground with a bunch of girls I know so I stayed put another night. Today is another day. As it turns out, I would have driven right through those bad storms as they were right along the way I would have been traveling so it’s a good thing I stayed where I was.

\n\"Morning\n

Yesterday was a lovely, lazy day filled with naps and reading, conversation and laughter, and plenty of good food. Too much good food. I did have to move my camper…twice. I had only reserved a site for one night and it was booked for last night. I moved and set up at another site but didn’t think to go online and reserve it. I just filled out the reservation form. After I got everything set up, I took a nap then got a call from the park employees telling me the site I was in had just gotten booked. So, off I went again. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t long enough to stay hooked up so I had to disconnect. That’s ok…I’m a pro at hooking up and unhooking this trailer now. It’s no big deal.

\n\"Beaver\n

The purpose of stopping here to camp just a few hours from the farm was to surprise the head Girl Camper, Janine Pettit, and her good friend, Mary Brennan Morey, as they begin a four week tour of several national parks, including Yellowstone and Glacier. If you haven’t checked out the Girl Camper Facebook page or the Girl Camper podcast series, you really should. Not only are they informative, but they are just plain fun! I filmed Janine yesterday doing her F-150 Fitness Routine that she learned from MizzFitness herself, Bianca Jade. Janine is going to stay fit on the road by doing this routine every day as she explores the highways and byways of America.

\n\"View\n

There’s nothing like spending time with other women who are camping enthusiasts. Sharing knowledge, stories, and camaraderie is such a bonding experience and we forge life-long friendships over the campfire. I never would have dreamed how important my girlfriends would turn out to be at this stage of my life. ❤️

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“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

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‭‭John‬ ‭15:12-14‬ ‭NIV

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-08T01:55:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/08/fun-around-a-campfire.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","Wisdom","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/07/on-the-road-again.html", "title": "On the Road Again!", "content_html": "\"www.marshmallowranch.com\"\n

Oh, I love a good surprise! Some of the local Girl Campers gathered to surprise our fearless leader, Head Girl Camper Janine Pettit yesterday. She and fellow Girl Camper Mari pulled into the campground to find half our crew sitting around the picnic table. The other half arrive tomorrow. Janine was so excited…she jumped out of her truck and squealed and did the happy dance right there. She called me to catch up Wednesday and I never let on I’d be waiting for her yesterday when she pulled in. I told her I was leaving for Colorado instead. What a fun surprise!

\n\"Girl\n

Camping in the rain. It’s sloppy and chilly and such a respite from the intense heat and humidity we’ve had this past week. I really don’t mind it. I didn’t unhook the camper as I am more than likely heading west this morning…depending on the weather. If it looks like severe storms in the Midwest, I may stay here one more day. I love sleeping to the sound of rain on a camper roof! I hardly slept Wednesday night in anticipation of leaving.

\n\"Queen\n

Mr. FixIt is heading to Florida today. While we miss each other when we’re apart, I love how supportive he is of my writing and travel. I explained when we first started dating that he would have to share me with the world. I told him about my travels and speaking engagements. He did two things. First, he told me if I ever need someone to carry my bags, he’s my man. And second…he went out and got an iPhone so we can FaceTime while we’re apart. I like seeing him every day. Ahhh…new love. It is a beautiful thing!

\n\"Hollow\n

I’ll keep you apprised of my travels as I move along. Oh, I love a road trip! ❤️

\n\"Two\n

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-07T01:55:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/07/on-the-road-again.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","goRVing","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/06/beware-the-wolf.html", "title": "Beware the Wolf", "content_html": "\"Wolf\n

The other day when I wrote the post announcing my new love, one of my readers noticed the ring in the picture and remarked it was big and she certainly hoped I hadn’t loaned Mr. FixIt the money to buy it. At first, I was a little offended. After all, she doesn’t know me or Mr. FixIt. I always like to respond in some way to everyone who takes the time to write comments on my blog. This time I waited a couple of days to respond. I knew there was a teaching moment in there. I just wanted to make sure it was the right lesson.

\n

Once I took the time to think through what my reader had said, I realized her intent was honorable…and quite legitimate. She knew a widow who had fallen prey to a scam artist and she lost everything. She now lives in an efficiency apartment with her worldly goods and a small pension. My initial response was much like what one of the following articles states…“Well, that couldn’t possibly happen to me!” Come on, it’s not like ANYONE gets up one morning and says, “Gosh, I think I’ll go out and fall in love and lose all my money today.” Lonely, mostly older women who are single, divorced, or widowed are quite often approached by scam artists posing as single, divorced, or widowed men…most often on Facebook and dating sites. They strike at our most vulnerable moments…the holidays. They know we are alone. They know they can’t get us all…but they can get some and that keeps them coming back for more.

\n

I have received countless unsolicited friend requests from “military men” and “foreign contractors” with handsome profile pictures. When I last tried match.com a couple of years ago, the most common trait of the men who approached me online were 6'2", Catholic, a widower, retired, and had a mid six-figure income. Seriously…if a man is that good looking and has that much money, he sure as the dickens doesn’t need to troll on match.com to find dates. He’s going to (more than likely) hook up with that 40-something tennis player down at the country club. Once you see these phonies, you recognize them and you can move on. They are banking on the newbies…the most nervous, the scared, the most unsure, the most vulnerable. I bit once before I figured it out. I have no idea what he took from me. My profile, most likely. Somewhere out there, there could be a fake profile with my picture, trying to scam widowers. I hate that, but there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

\n

Back when I was attempting to date, I had no problem running a background check on someone who expressed an interest in me. I started out with a simple Google search. Then I contracted with a reputable background search company and placed an order. Within a few hours, I received a fairly detailed report. You do need to have the person’s birthday to get more accurate results so there would more than likely need to be some initial contact, but it’s easy and can save you a lot of heartache down the road. The most accurate indicator is your gut. If this guy seems too good to be true, he probably is. Move on if there are doubts. It’s just not worth losing a minute’s rest over.

\n

The problem with this kind of crime is, it often goes unreported out of embarrassment. No one wants to admit to falling for a scam. There are legitimately wonderful, fully available, honorable men out there. They often don’t come forward though. They don’t want to come on too strong. And they don’t want to get shot down. If you want to be in a relationship and no one is beating a path to your door, try starting a conversation in the produce section of the local market or the library or church. Try NOT to be a Casserole Queen…that semi-desperate woman who pounces on every new widower or divorced man in the neighborhood and shows up with the best fried chicken in five counties. Because…there’s going to be fifteen other Casserole Queens right behind you. Be the one who is different, who can offer something the others can’t. Mr. FixIt is a mechanically adept individual. It just impresses the heck out of him that I can back a camper up on a dime and have a nickel left over and mow the lawn in a single session. Beyond the fact that we’ve been friends for nearly half a century, I have some mad skills in areas that interest him. That’s what good men look for…good women who are interesting and can bring something to the table. One whiff of desperation will send him packing. It should work that way for you as well. If a man comes on too strong or wants too much too fast, don’t worry about hurting their feelings. You have no one to look out for your best interests but yourself. Listen to your gut. Choose “alone” over “Mr. Wrong”.

\n

Today I head out on my big trip!!! I’ll be giving you the play-by-play but I won’t divulge my exact location in real time. I’ll tell you about the campgrounds and sites the day after I leave them. This is for my own safety. While I’ll miss the heck out of Mr. FixIt…I’m so excited to see my babies! And, I love a road trip!!!

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Here are some articles for reference.

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dmediamom.com/2015/11/1…

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www.google.com/amp/amp.t…

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www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti…

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www.agingcare.com/articles/…

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❤️

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“How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:17-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-06T01:55:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/06/beware-the-wolf.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","The Grand Adventure","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/05/a-room-with-a-view.html", "title": "A Room With A View", "content_html": "

\n\"Greenery\n

The last few nights have been insufferably hot and muggy in the farmhouse. There is a room air conditioner in the living room, but unless you’re sleeping on the couch, it doesn’t effectively cool down the house and ends up running up the electric bill to no avail. The best alternative is TOW-Wanda. Equipped with fans and open windows, it’s been pretty darned comfortable out there. I will miss this view of the bank along the driveway here at the farm. The lush green of West Virginia summers may bring bugs and humidity, but the foliage is a sight to see any given day of the week. Colorado is semi-arid so it is a sharp contrast from here. At least it’s a dry heat, right?

\n

I emptied out the belly of the camper yesterday and cleaned the floors. I reorganized the contents of the big tub of odds and ends I keep down there. After repacking, I cleaned out the fridge, scrubbed the floors and vacuumed the carpets. The pantry needs vacuumed and wiped out then restocked. The bathroom needs a good scrubbing and I need to organize the storage under the bed and in various cabinets. Since this new truck doesn’t have the torque the old one had, I need to be more conscious about my weight.

\n

I’ve made a list of last minute items for the trip. I’ll go into town for those today. Tomorrow I head out on another segment of The Grand Adventure. The longest Mr. FixIt and I have been separated was when I went to Colorado for a month at Christmas. We didn’t like it one bit. I so wanted to tell you about that homecoming back then but it was not the right time. I can tell you now. I flew in and out of Dayton because it is SO much cheaper and my dear friend Cindy lets me park at her house so I don’t have to pay for parking. That drive to the farm from Dayton felt like it took forever. I knew Mr. FixIt was at the farm waiting for me and I could hardly contain myself. It was after dark when I pulled into the driveway and I stopped dead in my tracks. For the first time since I was a child, the house was decorated. There were trees lit on the front porch and a large lit-up star on the second floor above the porch between the two windows! It made me cry. I jumped out of my truck and ran into the house squealing like a little girl. Mr. FixIt walked out from the living room and I stopped, mouth agape. He was wearing charcoal dress pants, a crisp white shirt, and a red sweater vest. He took my breath away and I knew…anyone who would do this for me was a keeper. He knew how much Christmas means to me and how much I love this house. He knew I missed having a country Christmas at the farm, so he made sure I had one on my return. What a wonderful guy!

\n

My babies live in Colorado. I have to see them as often as I can. In the meantime, Mr. FixIt has obligations he must attend to here. We couldn’t stand the thought of being apart two whole months so he’s flying out to join me for three weeks in the middle of my trip so he can meet the family. We’ll go camping and sightseeing as he has never spent time in Colorado. The kitties are covered, the farm is being watched, my sweetheart is coming to see me, and I get to spend quality time with my girls! What’s not to love about that? Sweetness. Sheer sweetness! ❤️

\n

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:9-12‬ ‭NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-05T01:55:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/05/a-room-with-a-view.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","God","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/02/towwanda-is-home.html", "title": "TOW-Wanda is Home!", "content_html": "\"Starcraft\n

First of all…OMGosh! Your response to my post yesterday was more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you all so much for the lovely comments, likes, and shares. You warmed my heart! I was so worried that introducing a new party to this adventure would change the dynamic and people would drop away. It turns out, more people tuned in so we’re off to a good start in this new chapter of Mr. FixIt and me! Of course, grief is a lifelong process so I will still touch base on how that affects me as we go along. Ever the teacher.

\n

There’s an interesting timbre to this new man. None of the men I have been with in my sixty-four years were mechanically inclined. Mr. FixIt, however, is a mechanical engineer and a lifelong camper. Imagine how difficult it was for him to sit back and watch as I hooked up and unhooked my camper. Oh…this is entirely new territory for this guy! He wanted to do the heavy stuff for me, and while I certainly could have sandbagged and let him, I still will be traveling alone some of the time so I need to keep up my skills and know for certain how things have been hooked up. I know, I know…control issues. I asked him sweetly to wait till I got what I needed to do done, then I would share some of the other duties. I also told him when we camp in his campers (he has two!) I will sit in a chair and watch him till he has a job for me to do. I made it up to him by doing all the cooking and fixed some pretty fabulous meals! He did a wonderful job changing out the gas lines for me and helped me troubleshoot the electrical bug we had. He doesn’t get the name Mr. FixIt for nothing!

\n

When we arrived home I told him I needed to back the camper into the driveway rather than pull it in like I usually do. With the vintage camper up at the end of the drive, there was no room to get the truck out and around the camper. Our road is a narrow country lane and the driveway is tight. I have to say, I totally impressed Mr. FixIt with my mad backing skills! He was bragging about me at dinner Friday night when we met 20 of our classmates at a local Italian restaurant. I don’t think this guy has ever run across a woman like me. He just looks at me in amazement. It makes me smile.

\n

I washed the exterior of the camper yesterday. It hadn’t been cleaned since I was in Myrtle Beach in September of 2015. It looks so much nicer now. I need to do a deep cleaning inside in the next few days, reorganize, and pack her up for the trip cross country. I leave Thursday. I am traveling alone so I won’t be divulging my exact location when I’m there, but I’ll be checking in daily to give you progress reports and tips for traveling solo in a camper. Mr. FixIt gets to come join me in a couple of weeks and meet the family. That’s exciting!!! In the meantime, he’ll be holding down the fort for me and keep the farm going.

\n

Back off girls…I saw him first! ❤️

\n

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”\n‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-07-02T01:55:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/02/towwanda-is-home.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","goRVing","Love","God","Wisdom","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/16/she-followed-me-home.html", "title": "She Followed Me Home!", "content_html": "\"1967\n

Those of you who have been here from the beginning know I really, really wanted a vintage camper when I started this adventure. I listened to Mr. Virgo’s advice…posthumously…and bought a new camper. It was probably the right decision at the time because I lacked the necessary skills and stamina to deal with a camper that needed fixing up. Now though…now I’m good and really excited to start a new adventure. And this time I’m going vintage!!!

\n

It’s about a 40 minute drive into town from the farm along a twisty, turny two lane blacktop. I’ve driven it 1,000 times but about a week ago, a darling little two seater Mercedes convertible was sitting out in the field in front of a house. I spun around to get a second look. That was exactly the car Mr. Virgo dreamed of! Soon though, it wasn’t the Mercedes that caught my eye. It was this baby…tucked in beside the house with a tarp over her head. My heart raced. I drove down the road and turned around and came back. I passed some folks leaving as I pulled in the drive. They backed up and asked if I was there to see the Mercedes. I said, “No…I just wanted to come see this little camper here. Is she for sale?” The lady said, “How much will you give me for her?” The gentleman was kind enough to get the key and show me inside. They had bought the camper to glamp it up for their daughter. All but the back end has been gutted. They ran into time constraints and they were about to get back to it when the mom broke her ankle. The next day is when I showed up. She was exactly my price. I can fix her up the way I want her, and I was an answer to their problem as well. It was definitely a God thing. I need this little girl right now. We are both spreading our wings.

\n

I want to get her water tight and road worthy quickly. I’d love to take her with me to Colorado. Then I could work on her while I visit my family and have her ready when I go to the big Sisters on the Fly gathering called Rocky Mountain Hi in August! Then Girl Campers in September. Man, I’d have to really push to get that done but I might be able to! We’ll see. I’ve wanted her for a long, long time. I just needed to find her.

\n

Isn’t it interesting that Mr. Virgo’s favorite car would be out in front of a house with a tiny camper that needed a new home? There are no coincidences…I was guided there…without a doubt. She’s a 1967 Franklin, a rather rare travel trailer. I’m going to decorate her inside in shabby chic white with pale green and pink. She’s going to be a girly-girl camper. I’m so in love! ❤️

\n

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-16T01:55:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/16/she-followed-me-home.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/31/the-best-laid-plans.html", "title": "The Best Laid Plans...", "content_html": "\"Young\n

What was it John Lennon said? “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Or some such thing. The plan was to stay in Florida another week but my traveling companion got called back home so within two hours, we were packed up and on the road. You have to fly by the seat of your pants when you are with me!

\n

Saying goodbye to the beach, for now…and hello to new adventures! And what is better than another foray into the wonderful world of Georgia Barbecue? This time, it was The Copper Pig in Brunswick, GA. After feeding the alligators in the pond out front, you walk through the indoor Farmer’s Market to the restaurant. The decor sports such notable signs as “Turkey Eggs…when available” and “Whole Goat Sold Here”. Gulp. Remember the other day after the ray incident when I said I might turn vegetarian? Well, this was…after all…barbecue. In Georgia. I ordered my favorite non-vegetarian meal of ribs with a side of collard greens and cole slaw. And threw in corn bread for good measure. Top that off with a tall glass of sweet tea and I was in…forgive the term…hog heaven! Southern slaw is a vinegary affair, unlike the creamy variety I am accustomed to. It’s not entirely to my liking, I’m afraid. And the collards…I asked for vinegar to put on them. I was presented with a small jar of pale green peppers in vinegar. The top of the jar had a small hole so I gamely sprinkled on what I thought would be a liberal amount of vinegar and promptly set off the fire alarms in my mouth! Wowza! I’m not sure the collards actually had a flavor…maybe bacon? But again, once doused in liquid lava, I was hard pressed to taste anything anyway. The cornbread was dry. Sigh. I looked at my ribs and sent up a little prayer that they would redeem this episode of “Heartburn Haven”. I was not disappointed. The ribs were utterly swoon-worthy! Fork tender, fall off the bone, juicy, smoky morsels fit for the gods. I really wasn’t terribly hungry at that point so I picked all the meat off the bones and proceeded to taste the three BBQ sauces on the table. “Carolina Sauce”, like the slaw, is vinegar based but has a heavy mustard flavor. Not my thing. I moved on to “Sweet”. Liquid brown sugar, to be precise. Still…pretty darned yummy. Last was “Sweetheat”. Ok, now we’re talking. Sweet, smoky, tangy, with just the right heat to make you barely break out in a sweat on your upper lip. The kind that would make you wince if you had a little cut on your lip but not cry like a little girl. Perfect! I asked for a plastic container with a lid…food service variety. Not that styrofoam to-go box. This had to withstand ice in the cooler. I took both the “Sweet” and “Sweetheat” sauces and applied them liberally over the rib meat I had dissected on my plate, mixed it up, and applied more of each…like hot fudge on a pork sundae. I popped the container into the ice chest in the back of the truck and headed north.

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I don’t know if you’ve ever driven through Georgia and the Carolinas, but there are LONG stretches of…trees. Both sides…nothing but trees. And dead armadillos. Lots of time to think when you’re driving through there. I was moseying along the interstate when I stopped in Rockhill at a Starbucks, grabbed a plastic fork and a latte, dropped the tailgate of the pickup and pulled the BBQ out of the cooler. My friend and I took turns dipping in and stuffing our faces with big forkfuls of the most divine mess of smoky goodness I think I have ever tasted. Oh, my…I want to go do it again just to say I did!

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Back on the road, happy tummy, latte-laden, I was fueled for the last 6 hours of the marathon drive from Florida to West Virginia…something I have never experienced. I’ll let you know tomorrow if I am likely to ever experience it again. My bum was pretty weary by the time I wrote this last night after dark.

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Sadly, I had to cancel my appearance at a church in Crescent City scheduled for tomorrow night. We may be able to work out a way where I can appear by Skype. I hated to cancel but there was no alternative. When you travel with another person, you are each at the mercy of the other’s sudden schedule changes. I’m a really flexible person, and thankfully, so are my hosts at the church I was to appear at.

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By the time you read this, I am back at the farm. What a difference a day makes, huh? ❤️

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“For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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I don’t know what else to say…yesterday was another perfect day. It was a little hot. Well, ok…it was a LOT hot. The heat index at 10:30 this morning was 108 degrees! I did what I do every morning…I sat on the front deck with my coffee…reading and writing then came in when it got too warm. I actually started reading a novel yesterday. I haven’t read a book for entertainment for a long, long time. I couldn’t concentrate enough to read after I lost Mr. Virgo. Then I couldn’t read because I didn’t want to taint my writing. Someone gave me a copy of The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins so I stuck it in one of my bags and brought it with me…just in case. It feels good to let my mind get lost in someone else’s words for a change.

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Once the pool became shaded by the building as the sun started to the west, I went out and swam and sat by the pool and read. I went on several walks along the beach yesterday and actually baked chicken and rice for dinner with a salad. Cooking is another thing I never did for myself in those early months and years of widowhood. Life is taking on tinges of normalcy…like a painting when it gets to the point you can tell what it is. I feel whole again…as whole as I can possibly feel, I think.

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I’m different now. Different in many ways. Good ways. Healthy ways. My moods are much more predictable…much less erratic. I don’t feel a frantic urgency to move and go and change locations in order to outrun my loss. I meet it head on. I relish my memories more than I fear my pain now and that is a pretty comfortable place to be. I’m happy. I never dreamed four years ago that I would ever feel happy again. But, here it is…greeting me every morning. Seeing me off to dream every night. I am so grateful for these moments.

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I’m really looking forward to seeing my Colorado family in a few weeks. I miss them terribly! The girls are growing way too fast! These next three months will be filled with more travels. I have another week here then off to Tennessee for a couple of days then back to the farm for a couple of weeks before I head west. Thanks for traveling along with me…it’s really nice knowing you all are here! ❤️

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“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”\n‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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I didn’t go anywhere yesterday. I sat out on the front deck with my coffee for a couple of hours then took a short walk on the beach. It was already getting hot and oh so crowded, so I came back to the condo and sat on the front deck for another two hours reading and writing. True decadence. I cooked a nice supper and went down with a chair to sit on the beach for sunset. I had a lovely conversation with several people and was gifted this photo of myself. I have to tell you this…and I’m not being vain or self-aggrandizing. But, it’s been a long, long time since I felt this beautiful. It was such a peaceful day. The sun was setting. The mist began to settle in on the beach and my skin felt dewy and fresh. I even had a glass of my “merlot”…a dealcoholized wine made by Fré that I really enjoy…as I watched the people strolling up and down the shoreline. Some 40-year-olds tossed a football back and forth. A little 12-year-old girl practiced on her surf board. I sat out till long after dark, watching the stars come out and the moon slowly set. I saw two huge shooting stars overhead and counted my many, many blessings. I had heard there were fireworks scheduled after the concert down at the pavilion by the pier. I saw two or three small ones but it didn’t amount to much. Then I walked up the beach with a flashlight looking for crabs and jellyfish. I saw a few, and also the first seagulls I’ve seen during this trip…only three or four of them. Lots and lots of pelicans, though.

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So that was my day…peaceful, joyful, happy, and oh so grateful!

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“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ ❤️

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I spent the entire day on the beach and almost all of it was under the cover of a canopy. Still, I got overheated. I think the sea breeze is deceiving…the breeze blows and gives you the impression that you are cooling off but if you don’t drink enough fluids, and I know I don’t normally, you will pay for it later. But still, it was a gorgeous, perfect beach day. I parked down on the beach so I wouldn’t have to carry stuff down and back up to the condo and that was so handy…I can now see why people park there. It was really busy on the beach yesterday so I can imagine it will only get worse over the weekend. I love the constant parade of cars driving up and down the beach. Muscle cars, sports cars, jacked-up pickup trucks slowly cruise by, the music of the driver’s generation blaring through the open windows. My favorite was this guy in the yellow hot rod, flames painted down the sides, surf board sticking out of the rumble seat. So very cool! I had to smile at the 60-something guy, rocking his sensible sedan, grooving to some ‘60-something music from his stock stereo. Uber cool!

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There was some bit of excitement on the pier along about noon. One of the fishermen hooked something that was obviously big and it started really putting up a fight. It took the guy (plus two or three other guys taking shifts helping him) at least three to four hours to get this thing into shore. As time passed and the fight was apparent, more and more people showed up on the beach to watch this guy work…hard. I moseyed over to get a closer look and perhaps capture a photo of what appeared for all intents and purposes to be a trophy catch. There must have been a hundred people there when all of a sudden the word started trickling through the crowd that the guy had hooked a ray. What started out as something exciting soon turned into something fairly horrifying.

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When he got the ray within a few yards of the shore, he went out with a grappling hook to bring it in and the crowd went ballistic. There were shouts of “Let it go!” and “No! Don’t kill it…you don’t need to gaff it!” But, this angler was determined he was keeping this catch and it made me very sad, and sickened, to see this beautiful, old, HUGE ray waving its wings in a frantic attempt to escape. It must have weighed 200 pounds, easy. The grappling hook tore at the flesh of this stunning creature and I had to turn away. The crowd became bold and started moving in on the anglers, three of them now trying to land this ray. Apparently, the crowd thought the ray was a manta, which is protected. But, still…it was pretty big and really impressive and the crowd didn’t want to see it killed. Things got heated. First a lifeguard, then two beach security guards, then several policemen arrived. People started getting arrested. I sat at a safe distance watching through binoculars as the scene played out before me. Finally, the fishermen managed to hoist the ray up to the pier, the crowd dispersed, and it was business as usual. But I couldn’t get the image of that magnificent ray with a wingspan as big as a car, going up, up, up and out of sight. And for what? Was he going to eat it? I can’t imagine a three-hundred pound ray being very tasty. I’ve never seen one mounted and hung on a wall. So, that leaves getting his picture taken so he could have bragging rights and that just didn’t sit well with me. I felt sick for hours afterwards. He could have easily cut the line and let this dinosaur of the deep live to fight another day. The hook would have soon rusted away.

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That definitely put a damper on the day for me. I don’t understand how someone could kill that ray for sport. At first I was on the side of the angler…it was his catch. But when I saw the ray, and what he had to do to land it, I think I became a vegetarian. It was senseless to me and just made me sad. If I go out on the beach again today, it won’t be for as long, and it will definitely be further from the fishing pier. ❤️

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““Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭12:7-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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After four days of stormy, grey skies, yesterday was stunning in Daytona Beach. I had a slow start to my day, enjoying coffee on the deck, before I headed out for a day of fun in the sun. First stop was the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Billed as one of the tallest lighthouses on the east coast, they didn’t mention it was narrower and the stairs are steeper. OMGosh…what a workout! They didn’t have the windows open so it was stuffy and close. But I just took my time and plugged right along. The view from the top was well worth the climb. You could see the ocean, the Halifax River, the Indian River, the Ponce Inlet, and various salt marshes. On a really clear day, you can see Cape Canaveral. It was stellar!

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After the lighthouse, I drove north to Tomoka State Park. I have reservations there for a couple of weeks next winter and since I was so close, I thought I would check it out. What a gorgeous place! Lots of live oak canopy dripping with Spanish moss. A large variety of palm trees and dense underbrush gives each space a feeling of privacy. I imagine it’s going to be pretty “buggy” and, of course, there are snakes and alligators. But hey…it’s Florida and it’s warm and there’s no snow, right? There are 97 campsites and all have electric and water hookup. You can only stay for two weeks at a time in Florida State Parks and this will be the last one on my two month trip. Seeing it in person was really exciting and makes next winter’s trip more real.

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It was time for a late lunch after traipsing around the state park so I headed to the Boardwalk and Pier at Daytona Beach. Lunch on the patio of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company was relaxing and delicious. Jambalaya! By this time it was 5:00 and the sun was really baking. I walked down the way and out onto the pier and watched the fishermen for a while. I finally gave in and made my way back to the condo for the evening. It was a fun and delightfully tiring day. The crowds will start coming in today for the Memorial Day weekend. Can you believe that? Time really flies when you’re having fun. I’m sticking close to the condo the next few days. The beach will be crowded but not as bad here in the southern region as it will be closer to downtown and the race track. Thanks for traveling with me! ❤️

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“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-26T01:55:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/26/the-lighthouse.html", "tags": ["Travel","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/25/were-not-in-kansas.html", "title": "We're Not in Kansas", "content_html": "\"1956\n

What a crazy weather day in the south yesterday. After a relatively calm morning walk on the beach, the weather continued to amp up till the Weather Channel reported multiple tornadoes. Daytona Beach was under a tornado watch most of the afternoon. Wave after wave of severe thunderstorms drove through the area, blowing the deck furniture all over. I’m glad I got a chance to get out Monday evening and explore a little.

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As I was heading south to check out New Smyrna Beach, I saw an antique car restorer and decided to stop on my way back. There were some absolutely gorgeous cars there. This particular beauty is a 1956 Chevy BelAir. Restored in a two tone with black and a striking chartreuse green, it looked so much more impressive than the black and white I remember. There was a woman who lived down the road from the farm who had one of these when I was a kid. I have always loved the ‘56 and ‘57 Chevys. Couldn’t you just imagine a tiny canned ham camper being towed behind one of these babies?

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I went out and about again last night. I was driving through a beautiful neighborhood when I saw a sign advertising a small fiberglass camper…a Trillium. It was so sweet and small and would be perfect if it wasn’t $16.5K! Not possible. The lady selling it was lovely and we had a nice chat as she told me of her travels in the little camper. I think she was disappointed that I didn’t take it. I went grocery shopping and stopped at Starbucks on the way home. I love a decaf Americano late in the evening.

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As I am writing this, the storms have passed on out to sea. I’m sitting on the deck, a lovely sea breeze rolling in over the waves. It is a sensible 73 degrees and a light sweater is plenty to keep me comfortable as I count my many blessings. I had a wonderful conversation with the powers that be at Sisters on the Fly today and I am signed up to write a monthly post on their website under the branded column they created for me…“Getting Bolder”. I took a little hiatus after the accident in February and it seems they missed me. I’m looking forward to getting back in the saddle, so to speak, and share some stories and showcase some amazing Sisters who are also Getting Bolder. It was another beautiful day! ❤️

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“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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I love these guys. Sort of mini pterodactyls. They fly in and land on the piers and posts and give you the stink eye looking for handouts. They’re rough and battle-worn soldiers of the sea. You can sit on the beach and see big splashes far from shore where they dive down, down, down…tucking their wings in tight, stretching their beak and neck straight out and cut right into the water. They come up with their catch and swiggle and wiggle their heads around till they swallow their prey. It’s awesome to watch.

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Yesterday was day two on this segment of The Grand Adventure. I had a big breakfast and headed out to the beach. There seems to be a constant breeze coming in off the ocean which makes the 86° and 100% humidity bearable. I did not know you can drive on Daytona Beach. The beach here is very wide at low tide and it is smooth and hard. It costs $10 a day to drive your car out but then you have all your stuff handy and it’s a quick and easy set up and break down. The sand is tan, soft and fine between your fingers and has gold glittery bits that shine in the sun. It’s a very clean beach, very few shells, and no trash. I am quite impressed. I walked at least two miles on the beach. I came back and soaked in the jacuzzi tub (because they have one) and took a nap (because I could!).

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I can sit on the front patio of this condo and see the Halifax River across the road and from the side patio I see the ocean. This is a long, skinny island much like the barrier island of the Outer Banks. The water is a bluish-grey and is very clean. I am further down than the typical touristy areas so it’s pretty quiet.

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I wandered around a bit yesterday afternoon and walked through New Smyrna Beach. I stopped for an excellent meal at Blackbeard’s Inn. OMGosh! They bring a bucket of hot rolls and fresh cinnamon buns to the table first. Fresh, HOT cinnamon buns that are to die for and totally NOT gluten free! Swoon. I had salad bar (I could have made a meal of the pickled beets!), a generous serving of coconut shrimp, baked potato, and steamed broccoli. Oh, just roll me home! The server asked if I saved room for dessert, and while that homemade key lime pie sounded divine, I demurred. I’ll have to walk a lot more than two miles today to make up for last night’s meal!!!

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I’m looking forward to the coming days when the rains are gone and I can lay out on the beach at night and count the stars. I know it’s only been two days but I’m already a relaxed noodle. Thank you God for your gift of the sea! ❤️

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“He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-24T01:55:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/24/paradise-found.html", "tags": ["Travel","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/23/hallelujah-anyway.html", "title": "Hallelujah Anyway!", "content_html": "

h\"Penny

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Anne Lamott wrote a poignant book about blessing whatever comes into your life…good, bad, indifferent. Because it has all come for a purpose, even if that purpose is merely to thank God it isn’t worse. Being grateful in spite of the messiness of life is truly a gift you can give yourself…and others. When you shout “Hallelujah Anyway”, you demonstrate gratitude, forbearance, and joy to those who may look to you for guidance. I love that! I’m going to remember to say “Hallelujah Anyway” when things don’t always go smoothly. I certainly didn’t need to shout it yesterday because I could not have possibly experienced a more beautiful day than I did my first day in Daytona Beach!

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I had a lovely sleep-in then fixed my coffee and sat outside watching the waves not 100 steps away. As I counted my blessings, I added a huge thank you to the friend who made this trip happen and the friend that loaned this stunning condo. I changed and went to the beach for a couple of hours. Even though the temperature was up in the eighties, the breeze coming in off the ocean was divine. I went for a long walk down the beach and back. As I was walking under the pier, I was thinking about Ms. Lamott’s book and all the times I’ve been challenged in the last four years and I still managed to say “Hallelujah Anyway!” Just then, I looked down and this penny was right in front of me. Delight surged through me as I picked it up. Well, Hallelujah Anyway!

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I came in to clean up and head out for lunch. I ate in a seafood place called Down Under and I’m afraid I was “underwhelmed”. The first couple of hush puppies were wonderful, but the refill was doughy. The cole slaw was marginal. The fries were good, but who needs fries, right? The crab cakes were terribly disappointing. Doughy, undercooked, beige disks that were truly sad. But, lesson learned. Don’t eat at a place under a bridge, right? Oy!

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After lunch, I headed to Target to pick up a few groceries. I love Target…much better than Walmart. Clean, well stocked, friendly staff, and a Starbucks…what’s not to love? Afterward, I stopped at the Daytona Speedway and poked around. That place is HUGE. There were the remnants of an RV show in the parking lot so that was fun.

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Once the groceries were put away back at the condo, I curled up for a nap to catch up from the long drive. When I got up, I fixed a tray of carrots with French Onion dip, grapes, raspberries, hummus with pretzel chips, hard boiled eggs and dealcoholized Merlot and carried it out to the deck. Just as I finished, the sky opened up and I was presented with a lovely chorus of lightning and thunder! Oh my….this was just the perfect ending to a perfect day. As I write this, I’m curled up in bed in the master suite with the door flung wide, catching the cool sea breeze and listening to the rush of water…both from the rain and the ocean. The sound of tires on wet pavement marks the adventurous souls out in spite of the weather. I can just hear them as they creep along, the rain making it difficult to see the road, their vacation plans only slightly ruffled by a late spring thunderstorm as they mutter, “Hallelujah Anyway! Look where I am!!!” ❤️

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“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”\n‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-23T01:55:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/23/hallelujah-anyway.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","God","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/21/road-tripthe-grand-adventure-continues.html", "title": "Road Trip...The Grand Adventure Continues!", "content_html": "\"Little\n

OMGosh! I miss the open road! Traveling along the highways and byways of this beautiful country is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world to do. I’ve been stationary the majority of the last nine months and I miss TOW-Wanda. By the time you read this, I will be several hours into my drive to Florida. I didn’t want to miss church last night so I went then headed out on the road. Cooler of snacks and ample tunes makes for a good time. I love driving at night. There isn’t as much traffic and it’s cooler. I drive till I’m ready to call it a night, then pull in to an area with a bunch of hotels and search my hotels.com app for the best deal in the area.

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This picture is little TOW-Wanda at Steamboat Lake State Park. I look at this picture and remember that trip into the wilderness and back roads of Colorado. It’s hard to imagine I did all that so soon after losing Mr. Virgo. The memories of that trip are fuzzy. I was still in shock, trying to navigate the world alone for the first time in my life, really. It’s like a slide show in my mind now. I have pictures and my early posts to remind me where I was…physically and emotionally. I was so lost emotionally. I have continued writing the stories of my life because I want those who have just boarded this ship to know that life gets better. Calmer seas are coming, even if you cannot envision them. I promise…you will be different, but you CAN find joy again. Just keep looking. As I headed out from the farm yesterday, cats and lawn care covered, my heart sang in the sunshine and all was right in the world!!!

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Destination…Daytona Beach! You get to come along vicariously!!! I’ll post pictures! ❤️

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“Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them. They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive. You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because GOD will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:21-26‬ ‭MSG‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-21T01:55:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/21/road-tripthe-grand-adventure-continues.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/30/home-sweet-home.html", "title": "Home Sweet Home", "content_html": "\"Painted\n

The trip home was far less eventful than the trip last weekend. Thank God, there were no accidents along the way. I stopped for one last incredible latte at Sweet T’s in Duck and left behind the painted rock that I had found in Wytheville on the way down. I hope someone finds it and hides it somewhere else. I loved the sentiment on many levels…“Believe”.

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Even though the trip was uneventful, it was long and exhausting. Eleven hours with three or four stops along the way to stretch my legs. I saw things I’d never seen before. I drove through the tunnel under the Chesapeake Bay. That was pretty neat. A tad disconcerting to think of all that water above me, I have to admit. I saw the big aircraft carriers in Newport News. I loved all the bridges going across the expanses of water in the south. It’s so open and free. This week is “Bike Week” on the Outer Banks. I’ll bet I passed, at the very least, a thousand motorcycles on their way down to the beach and I counted my lucky stars they weren’t there during my quiet getaway.

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As I drove home yesterday, I was particularly struck by the beauty of Western Virginia and Eastern West Virginia. The hills are solid and green, green, green. That brilliant spring green that hurts the eyes. The redbud and dogwood were all but gone save for the highest hills. There’s still some in my little holler. And, I was greeted by blooms on the rhododendron!!! I can’t wait to see it in the light of day. There was a lot of rain while I was gone and the lawn needs to be mowed soon.

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Th truck was emptied and the items in the cooler were stowed away by 10:00 last night. Kitties had been fed and came to say hello. And, another adventure is in the books! I am grateful for the opportunity to go to the beach. I am equally grateful to be safely ensconced in my humble surroundings here on the farm. I find peace and joy wherever I go. ❤️

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“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-30T01:55:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/30/home-sweet-home.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/29/life-is-a-beautiful-thing.html", "title": "Life is a Beautiful Thing", "content_html": "\"Woman\n

Life is about choices. Every day we are faced with the choice to rise up and grab life by the tail and wring every ounce of, what…joy, love, happiness, laughter, beauty, energy, excitement, sweetness? All that and more await us every day. Even if you struggle with depression, anxiety, grief, sadness, fear, loss….there is room for choices in your life.

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Two weeks after Mr. Virgo died, I had a choice to make. I could die, metaphorically. Or I could live…really live. With joy and abundance. It was not easy. Especially early on. But I made every day count. I looked for joyful things to put in front of me to make life bearable. I surprised myself with joy. And, the more times I chose joy, the lighter my load became. It wasn’t overnight by any stretch of the imagination. But bit by bit, every positive choice helped bring me up from the abyss into the light.

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Travel has been one of the joys that has helped me the most in my grief. Whether alone or with a friend or group of friends, seeing new places, challenging myself in different situations, and finding new parts of myself has been an amazing journey of growth and self-discovery. This trip has been no exception. I am very grateful I got to tag along with a friend in a gifted week at a timeshare. It was a lot of fun as well as relaxing.

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Choices. Choose life. Choose joy. Choose laughter. Choose gratitude. I know. It’s not easy. Even in my darkest days of grief, I could surprise myself with joy…if even for just a moment. Moments build and time changes things. Whoever said time heals all wounds lied. It doesn’t. But you can build strong scars that show how hard you loved..how hard you fought. Just keep making positive choices. ❤️

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“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-04-29T01:55:01-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/29/life-is-a-beautiful-thing.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","God","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/27/god-moments.html", "title": "God Moments", "content_html": "\"Sunset\n

Yesterday dawned dark and grey again. Every day I’ve been here has been cloudy for the biggest portion of the day with tons of rain. Have I let it get in the way of enjoying myself? Heck no! It’s actually put me in just the right places at just the right times. After breakfast, I headed to the north end of the island to visit the Currituck Lighthouse. I was amazed when I got there and saw a man dangling from the tippy top. He was bolting down cables wrapped around the top of the lighthouse to secure it for another hundred years. I thought maybe they were not allowing visitors in but that wasn’t the case. While the other two lighthouses were $4 and $5, the Currituck is $10. I did not see National Parks people there so I assume it is not a government facility.

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When I got to the top, there was a couple there. I struck up a conversation with the woman. She is an artist camping in the area. She showed me some pictures of her plein air work and she is really quite good! (Her card is in the truck so I’ll have to share her work later.) I shared my blog. We are both faith based and we offered each other loving encouragement standing right there at the top of 222 stairs under cloudy skies. We marveled at our God’s goodness and how He moves in our lives…and the sun broke through the clouds. What a wonderful confirmation!

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We could see a large yellow house from the top of the lighthouse. My next stop was a tour of this home…Whalehead. A gentleman’s wife was was not allowed to participate in any of the hunt clubs in New England because she was a woman. Her forward thinking husband bought a large track of land and built his wife her own hunting lodge so she could do whatever she wanted. It was a lovely home and offered alotofinsight into the history of duck hunting in the area.

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After the tour, hunger got the better of me and I went in search of great seafood. Fresh blue point oysters on the half shell were divine. Fish tacos were good. Not quite the same at the day before. After browsing through a few shops and remembering I need nothing, I drove back to the condo, changed, and hit the beach. The tide was coming in and I kept pulling further and further back. As I prepared to leave, there were a few people standing at the top of the stairs chatting. I detected a subtle hint of a British accent in the woman. When I asked where she was from, she said Newbury/Thatcham area in England. I about fell over! That’s where I lived in 1973 and 1974! We chatted for a long time and compared notes. It was so exciting. I’ve run into people from England, sure. But never from the small village in which I lived. What a treat!

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Finally, I noticed the tinge of gold on the clouds and realized I was about to see my first sunset of the week. I went across the main road to the restaurant and walked out on their back deck in time to catch…this. It almost made me cry, it was so beautiful. It was a day full of God winks and angel kisses. There are no coincidences. I felt so blessed and loved and full of light when I finally strolled back to the condo at day’s end. These are the days that bring me good sleep…the sound sleep of a day well lived. ❤️

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”\n‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-27T01:55:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/27/god-moments.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","God","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/26/the-tempest.html", "title": "The Tempest", "content_html": "\"Stormy\n

Yesterday was one of those days that was so jam packed with fun activities and sights seen that I really should have written them all down. The sun was out this morning so I made a bee-line for the local coffee shop then hit the beach. I soaked up every sight, sound and smell as I sipped my latte. Then I grabbed a quick breakfast in the condo before I headed south. My goal was to travel clear down to the tip of the island, which I did, but that beautiful sunny sky turned dark and threatening so fast. I can see how sailors get in trouble so fast with the changing face of the sea.

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I stopped at Bodie Island to climb the lighthouse and as soon as I purchased my ticket and got to the door, the first clap of thunder could be heard in the distance. That automatically closed the lighthouse for tours. It was raining hard by the time I got back to my truck.

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I decided to press on and head south. Even though I drove through the worst rain, by the time I got to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the sky had cleared considerably. It turned into a beautiful afternoon. I visited the beach in several areas, wandered through shops, and had the best fish tacos of all time at Sandbar & Grill in Buxton.

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The weather has not offered a good sunset or sunrise yet. It got really misty and foggy by the time I got back to the condo. The weather is supposed to be wonderful the rest of the week. I’m hoping I get some good beach time before I have to leave on Saturday. ❤️

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“Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-26T01:55:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/26/the-tempest.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/25/life-is-sweet-on-the.html", "title": "Life is Sweet on the OBX", "content_html": "\"The\n

Oh, my…I have discovered the subtle intricacies of North Carolina BBQ. A totally different experience from the bold, smoky heat of the BBQ I’m used to out west, Carolina BBQ sauce is vinegar based. Slightly sweet, slightly tart with a mild heat that just wakes up your tongue. And the meat? Heavenly! I had a sampler platter from High Cotton BBQ in Kitty Hawk yesterday afternoon that was to die for. While I was a little disappointed in the ribs (the meat was fairly chewy even though it did fall from the bone), the pork was succulent and melt-in-your mouth perfection and the brisket was only slightly less so. All this was accompanied by collard greens that were perfect and a wonderful crisp coleslaw. I opted for fries because I like the crisp, salty contrast to the tender meat, even though I didn’t even eat half of them. Trust me, there was no room for dessert and a long walk was definitely in order afterwards.

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It was another cool day yesterday…cloudy with occasional glimpses of the sun. I started out the day with a fabulous latte from Sweet T’s Coffee House. Subtle hints of chocolate made this nectar of the gods my go-to brew for my entire (and any future) stay. Afterwards, I had a plate of farm-fresh scrambled eggs and a steaming bowl of the perfect mix of coarse ground yellow and white grits at Stack ’em High Pancakes and So Forth. I left off the bacon in exchange for butter on the grits. No bread either. Fabulous!

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No trip to Kitty Hawk is complete without a visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial? (My $10 Senior Pass from the National Parks Service pays again! You can get yours at age 62!) It was fascinating to see the actual flights marked in distance down the makeshift airstrip. Four flights in all…each going further and further. I stood there with goose bumps thinking of the young brothers taking turns trying out their new contraption, the onlookers cheering and throwing their hats in the air. To think, in all of recorded history, more has been accomplished in the last 114 years than in all the rest combined as far as technology. These bicycle mechanics created a flying machine and now, spacecraft are recording the outer regions of our current capabilities at the edges of our galaxy. It is a marvel.

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We are forecasted gale-force winds and rain today. It will be another lay-low day, listening to the rain and wind, curled up with a good book and cup of tea. The rest of the week is supposed to be hot and sunny…solid beach time. Life is sweet on the OBX! I am so blessed to be able to travel. I live a pretty frugal life in order to do this. My mantra now is experiences over stuff. ❤️

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“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”\n‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:30-32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-25T01:55:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/25/life-is-sweet-on-the.html", "tags": ["Travel","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/23/the-outer-banks.html", "title": "The Outer Banks", "content_html": "\"Outer\n

Think “Wright Brothers”. Think “Cape Hatteras” and “lighthouses” and “sand” and “surf”. It was 86° and sunshine when I got here at 3:00. Four hours later there had been a heavy rain and it dropped down to 60°. Welcome to springtime on the Outer Banks. The complex I have the good fortune of staying in is half empty right now with only the occasional sound of children playing on the beach or in the nearby pool. In six weeks, it will be an entirely different place. This is my favorite time to travel…off season.

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Unfortunately the next few days will be rainy and cool but by Wednesday it will be warm and sunny again. The rainy days are best spent doing the touristy thing and looking at monuments and shopping. Not to mention relaxing, taking naps, reading and writing.

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\"\" Frankie Faison at arrivals for Marvel’’s LUKE CAGE Premiere on NETFLIX, AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 Theater, New York, NY September 28, 2016. Photo By: Patrick Cashin/Everett Collection

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I saw a man at breakfast this morning. He looked so familiar but I couldn’t place him. Turned out he was Frankie Faison. He’s an actor who has been in lots of television shows and movies. What a gentle and funny man he was. So gracious. He kept stopping by and adding a funny line to the last interaction. By the time he left, I was laughing hysterically at him. It’s a fun start already. I love the kind of vacation that remains largely unplanned and you never know what’s around the corner.

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Oh, I saw my first alligator in the wild today! ❤️

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“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:133‬ ‭NIV‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-23T01:55:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/23/the-outer-banks.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/12/a-country-mile.html", "title": "A Country Mile", "content_html": "\"hat\n

I had one of the best days ever yesterday. It was absolutely the perfect culmination of my vacation. I’ve been in Bristol visiting my cousin and his wife. I love them so much. I was in 1st grade when Tommy went in the Navy. He came back on leave once in his Navy whites and I fell in love. I was ten. I’ve always been close to Tommy and Suzy so visiting them is a treat I treasure.

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Yesterday we took the buggy and rode all around the dam and the river road. We went to the market and bought local apples and sourwood honey. We came back for lunch then drove into town. We went to Bristol Motor Speedway and actually walked inside. That was pretty cool. While I’ve never understood the allure of NASCAR, I’m open to the experience. We came back home and I took a nap before dinner. Then, our dinner guests arrived.

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I met Mark and Barb here a year and a half ago. I had attended church with my cousins and a large contingent got together for lunch after. There must have been thirty of us spread out over three tables. I remember marvelling over these beautifully poised southern women mothering their children. Teaching them to be social…gently correcting and guiding them through the interactions that are required of polite young people. It was charming and refreshing.

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Mark sat at my left that day and we instantly bonded over stories of fly fishing on the Frying Pan River. Both Mark and his wife are doctors so we had lots in common. Last night the discussion varied from education to book recommendations…food and wine to colleges…football to travel. Genealogy to neuroplasticity. There was much love and laughter and very stimulating conversation. It was icing on the vacation cake.

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Today is a travel day. I’m heading home to the farm. As much as I would love to go back to Florida this very minute, the party has to be over sometime. So, I’m on the road again.\n❤️?❤️

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“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”\n‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭NIV‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-12T02:55:49-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/12/a-country-mile.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/09/historic-downtown-savannah.html", "title": "Historic Downtown Savannah", "content_html": "\"The\n

I’m not even going to bother telling you about the place I stayed at St. Augustine Beach. It was a tired, run-down beachfront hotel that was pretty heavily damaged on the oceanfront side during the last hurricane. It WAS fairly inexpensive for beachfront. And I COULD see the ocean from the balcony. It was quiet and clean. They did have to come put a new AC/Heater unit in because mine didn’t work. It had a mini fridge and microwave, which was nice. It was $77/night. Not bad, but I wouldn’t stay there again.

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Savannah, however, is an entirely different story. Thirteen years ago, when my mother died, I brought my older brother to Florida for the vacation our mom had promised him. We drove through Savannah and I was charmed. I can’t remember where we stayed back then, but when we drove to the River Walk, we came through an enchanting neighborhood with square parks every other intersection, gorgeous trees with their crooked arms draped gracefully with Spanish Moss, and delightful Victorian homes. I swore if I ever came back, I would stay in the Historic District.

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As I prepared to leave St. Augustine yesterday morning, I talked myself out of a B&B or one of the trendy historic hotels in the old district because I spent my bigger budget on beach accommodations. But I thought I’d just take a peek on the Hotel.com app to see if there was something affordable. Lo and behold, I found a room at $77 and snatched it up. When I received the confirmation, it was via text on the cell phone. And…it was a room in a Victorian house right in that beautiful neighborhood I was looking at! Not only that, my hosts said I had my pick of rooms and I had the whole house to myself!

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Oh. Em. Geeeee! This place is amazing. It’s a four story home but the top floor is locked for storage. There are two bedrooms on each floor and a three bedroom apartment at the garden level. Tall ceilings, soft grey walls, crisp white trim, fireplaces everywhere, gorgeous wide plank hardwood floors. Breakfast was in the fridge when I got here. Off street parking was free. All for the unbelievably low price of $77 per night! Score!!! It’s called The DuLinn on York.

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What a great way to wrap up my road trip, pretty much. I will probably have one more night in a hotel before I get to my cousin’s in Bristol, Tennessee on Friday. Unless I drive all the way in tomorrow. I’m by no means ready to go back to the snowy/rainy cold of late winter in West Virginia, but this trip broke the season up and the sunshine was just what the doctor ordered. And, spring comes early on the farm. I’m looking forward to the dogwood and redbud blooming late next month. Spring is my favorite season…it holds such promise. ❤️

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-09T02:55:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/09/historic-downtown-savannah.html", "tags": ["Travel","Hope","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/08/st-augustine.html", "title": "St. Augustine", "content_html": "\"St.\n

This is probably my favorite town on this trip. St. Augustine is our nations oldest city. Home of Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, Castillo de San Marcos, Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, and the Colonial Quarter. The Cathedral was magnificent. I lit a candle for Mr. Virgo since he was a Catholic. The Castillo, or Fort Matanzas National Monument (which I entered free with my Senior National Parks Card), was very interesting. I was intrigued by the coquina, a kind of limestone formed from shells and sand, from which the structure is made. I climbed the 219 steps to the top of the lighthouse. The views were magnificent from up there. I even got brave enough to look over the edge! I spent the majority of the day wandering through the little shops in the Colonial Quarter. I ate lunch in a Cuban restaurant. The temperature got up to 78 and it rained briefly at around 6:00 as I was walking back to my car. It was an absolutely gorgeous day.

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I’m heading to Savannah, GA today. Another historical city. And, I’ll get to visit with one of my nieces.

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On the road again… ❤️

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-08T02:55:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/08/st-augustine.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/06/sigh.html", "title": "Sigh", "content_html": "\"Sunset\n

I hate leaving. What a beautiful week it’s been. Beauty and fun at every turn. I was hoping for a gorgeous sunset for the last night and, while it wasn’t colorful, Florida did not disappoint. If money was no object and I could have anything I wished, I would live on the farm in West Virginia in the spring and fall, Colorado in summer and at Christmas, and Florida the rest of the time. But, until I WIN the Powerball, I’ll settle for getting here for even a little bit of a break in January or February. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

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I had the opportunity to see my dear friend, Lionel, yesterday. I haven’t seen him since my mother died thirteen years ago. My mom had promised my brother a trip to Florida that spring but she died before they could go. I stepped in and brought my brother down to Disney World. Gary has cerebral palsy and had never done anything like that. Lionel drove over from Tampa to spend the day with Gary and I. It was so wonderful to see him and his beautiful family (I got to see all three of his kids!) and spend a few hours catching up over some pretty decent Mexican food yesterday.

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I got back to Clearwater in time for this one last sunset. I noticed a large group of people down the beach and walked into the middle of a big Super Bowl party…just in time to catch the National Anthem. My heart swelled with hope and pride when I turned to the woman beside me and the man on the other side…standing, hats off, hands on their hearts…singing, some crying with the emotion of the moment. I cheered along with the crowd when they panned to show the soldiers watching from overseas. It was beautiful to share this moment with complete strangers and feel that human relationship. There is hope for a better tomorrow. There is always hope.

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I leave today for St. Augustine. I’ll stay there a couple of nights and I’ll have to get up early to catch the sunrise. Keep following along…we’ve still got a week of fun ahead of us! Let’s go! ❤️

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“Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-06T02:55:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/06/sigh.html", "tags": ["Travel","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/05/another-day-in-paradise.html", "title": "Another Day in Paradise", "content_html": "\"Pool\n

The wind was pretty cool yesterday so I only stayed at the beach 30 minutes before I chucked that idea and headed back to the hotel pool. This is a little slice of heaven right here. The buildings blocked the wind and it was really nice.

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No meals out yesterday except for an iced coffee at McDonald’s. Didn’t drive the car anywhere either. I needed a lay low day since today I’m heading to Tampa to see a friend I’ve known for 40 years. I love the place I’m staying and it’s three weeks till the season starts here so it’s pretty reasonable, comparatively. It’s the size of a one bedroom apartment and really quite livable. I cooked dinner last night…pork chop, baked potato, and steamed broccoli.

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After dinner, I walked down to the pier where I caught that great violinist that I posted last night. He was the nicest young man…Cal Morris. You can catch him on YouTube and on his website at www.calmorrismusic.com. I went out on the pier to catch the sunset and look at the wares of the street vendors. It was a beautiful evening.

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So, one more day on the Gulf side and I head to the Atlantic. It has been so wonderful here. I’ve never really gone someplace warm during January-February and I swear, I will do this every year if I have to eat beans and rice to do it. This trip has helped with the winter blues…tremendously. I might bring TOW-Wanda down next winter and stay a while! ❤️

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“Sunshine is sweet; it is good to see the light of day. People ought to enjoy every day of their lives, no matter how long they live. But they should also remember this: You will be dead a long time. Everything that happens then is useless. Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young; be happy while you are young. Do whatever your heart desires, whatever you want to do. But remember that God will judge you for everything you do.”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11:7-9‬ ‭NCV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-05T02:55:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/05/another-day-in-paradise.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/04/time-is-short.html", "title": "Time is Short", "content_html": "\"Words\n

I was walking on the beach the other evening and stumbled upon these words in the sand. “Time is Short”. Tears instantly stung the backs of my eyes when I thought of who wrote such wisdom where surely the tide would soon erase all evidence of their presence here. I found a chair nearby and watched as the sun slowly settled into the sea and thought of Mr. Virgo and how short our time together was. In the grand scheme of things, he was gone in a heart beat at 62.

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Time really IS short in retrospect. When you are busy doing life stuff, it seems to stretch out forever in front of you…much like when we were kids at the start of summer vacation. Here I am, two more nights on the beach and I have to start wending my way home. Time IS short.

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So, is it possible to slow down time? If we savor each moment, and really LIVE in it, it may not actually slow the passage of time, but we can expand our lives and experiences. That’s easy to do when you’re sitting on the beach in Florida. It’s more difficult when you’re working your butt off and your good friend dies and you hit a deer with the car that only had five payments left like a friend of mine. That kind of stuff brings time to a brutal, grueling grind. She’s got a great attitude, though. It’s just another thing to go through and there will be better days ahead.

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Time is short. Anyone who has experienced loss is well aware of this. I am grateful to have some time and distance between losing Mr. Virgo and sitting on this beach watching another gorgeous Florida sunset. Yet, these words made me feel. ❤️

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“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”\n‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-04T02:55:20-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/04/time-is-short.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/03/old-friends-and-friday-fitness.html", "title": "Old Friends and Friday Fitness", "content_html": "\"Artist\n

I remember Color Day like it was yesterday. Our senior class had a designated day a few weeks before graduation where we had activities, built floats for a parade, and got to skip school to celebrate. Gail was literally the cutest kid in our class. Tiny, little petite spitfire comes to mind when I think of her. We knew each other pretty well although we didn’t hang out at each other’s house. But, as is often the case, Facebook has allowed us to rewrite history and develop close friendships with classmates we hardly knew. At least, that’s the way it’s been for me.

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I saw Gail at the high school reunion in August and we all danced together. I knew she bought a place in Florida in the fall but didn’t realize she was this close to me until I saw a picture on her page of a place I was literally standing in. I texted her and we met for dinner last night. The Original Crabby Bill’s at 401 Gulf Avenue in Indian Rocks Beach was a happening place when we got there. It was packed and rightfully so. Yummy seafood, live music, and beach party atmosphere made for a loud but fun evening.

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Since today is Fitness Friday, I’m recommitting to going out to play more. It’s just so difficult to keep up a good exercise program in the winter. I’ve walked at least four miles a day since I got to Florida so I’m going to keep going. I have kept off the weight I lost last year, but my muscle tone is definitely not as good as it was going into hibernation. I remember going to WV for a visit back in the late ’70s to introduce the future Hubby #2 to the family. We went for a run and my Uncle Bob laughed out loud at us running on purpose. They were farmers. Work was how they got their exercise. I may have to be resourceful out on the farm, but there are ways to work out without driving into town to a gym. There’s a perfectly good road to walk and hills to climb and they’re free.

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As for nutrition, lots of fresh seafood, salads and fruit, combined with increased physical activity and this just might turn into a weight loss vacation instead of the customary five pounds of self-indulgence that normally comes after two weeks of eating in restaurants. Win-win!

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Important PSA…wear sunscreen!!! I had a melanoma in situ in 2005 so it’s important for me to protect my skin. You, too! ❤️

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-03T02:55:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/03/old-friends-and-friday-fitness.html", "tags": ["Travel","Strong Women","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fitness Friday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/02/the-perfect-day.html", "title": "The Perfect Day", "content_html": "\"Palm\n

What an incredible day yesterday was! The temperature got up to 72. I walked nearly four miles on the beach, went back to my hotel and played in the pool and played in the sun. Then went for a long drive all the way down the peninsula to Pass-A-Grille Beach. Turned around and stopped at the shops at John’s Pass near Madeira Beach. Watched yet another beautiful Florida sunset and ended the night by taking myself out for dinner at The Conch Republic. Yummy seafood there and a fun ambiance! Got back to my hotel and was whupped so I’m sharing a post I wrote a couple years ago that someone else shared yesterday. It’s fairly timely.

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Florida sunshine is being good to me! ❤️

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”\n‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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www.facebook.com/Marshmall…

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-02T02:55:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/02/the-perfect-day.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/02/01/bounty.html", "title": "Bounty", "content_html": "\"Pirate\n

I love Greek food. Spanakopita, dolmas, gyros, baklava…oooooh, I love it all! There’s a baked ziti that has a thick savory custard-like layer over it that’s SO good. I’m sure none of it is good for me, but if I get the opportunity to have Greek food, I don’t miss out. So, yesterday I headed for Tarpon Springs…the “sponge capital of the world”. And home to tons of Greek restaurants. Sixteen years ago, I ate at Pappas Restaurant but it closed a few years ago. I opted for Hellas Restaurant and Bakery. OMGosh! While the food was really quite good, the bakery was amazing! I stood in there and looked at every single item offered. I didn’t buy a single sweet…but they looked marvelous! Instead, I walked my three miles along the piers and walkways of town.

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I ended the day watching the sunset over the Gulf and caught this Pirate Ship going out for a sunset cruise. There were fishermen catching drum and feeding them to the egrets and pelicans. Here and there musicians set up their open cases to busk for cash. The weather was warmer and hit near 70. It is supposed to be even warmer today. It was an absolutely pristine day. As I sat in the late afternoon sun, I could feel the life force flowing back into me. I have a friend living in Alaska…like, NORTHERN Alaska, just shy of the arctic circle. She goes months without seeing the sun at all. I can’t imagine that. I am so happy to be soaking up some sunshine this week. ❤️

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-02-01T02:55:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/02/01/bounty.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/01/31/the-grand-adventure-brown-pelican.html", "title": "THE GRAND ADVENTURE 2017: \"BROWN PELICAN ON THE PIER\"", "content_html": "\"Brown\n

Day 3: Splitting the drive into three days made the day of arrival an easy three hours or so. My total drive time was exactly 17 hours and just over 1,000 miles. I didn’t break any speed records and stopped as I needed to stretch my legs and have a snack. And…I spent a whopping $61 in gas to get down here! Hotels were $137 including tax. Food was around $20 because I brought most of it from home. Since I love to drive, I don’t count my time because the drive is half the fun and all the entertainment. My room is budget but certainly not cut rate. It has a pool and kitchen and is very close to the beach. There is a grocery about a mile and half away so I bought what I will need for the week for $85. I’m thrilled to have pulled this off without spending a mint! I don’t think I will ever go a whole winter without seeing the sun again.

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I could hardly wait to get to the beach. It is unseasonably cool here right now. The high yesterday was 62 but, since it snowed in West Virginia, I will take 62 and sunshine on a beach any day of the week! I have been in Florida in January when it was so cold, we had to wear our ski parkas, hats and gloves to Disney World. By midweek it will be in the mid-70’s so I’m good with that.

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One of the first times I ever traveled alone was a year after Hubby #2 and I split up. I came to Florida to visit my sister/friend from high school. I drove all over the state. From Jacksonville to Tarpon Springs…Sanibel to Captiva to Naples…Ft. Lauderdale to Flagler Beach to Kissimmee and back to Jacksonville. It was a wonderful trip. Traveling alone takes courage and planning but it’s doable in one way or another, regardless of your budget.

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So, I’m here safe and sound. I’m in a safe area and a secure hotel. I’m getting the lay of the land and looking for fun things to do. I’ll keep sending youthese little “picture postcards”!

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““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-01-31T03:00:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/01/31/the-grand-adventure-brown-pelican.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/09/15/the-end-is-just-a.html", "title": "The End is Just a Beginning", "content_html": "\n
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I pulled TOW-Wanda away from the river yesterday. I had her all hooked up and I stood across the road in the field, debating. Should I walk over and stand on the deck one last time and soak up this view I have come to love or just move on? I chose to move on. I've known all along my time at the river was a gift with a shelf life. I got selfish...I wanted more. More time. More days languishing on the deck. More sights, sounds, and smells of life on the river. The bottom line is, the place was not mine. It was a privilege to live there as long as I did and I appreciate my friends letting me stay there all this time.

\n\n\n

TOW-Wanda is getting some warranty work done and then we'll find some other place to stay. I'll still be at the farm for a little while getting the fleas under control. One thing I have learned is to be flexible. That's how you land on your feet.

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Life is an adventure!

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❤️

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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

\n‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-09-15T01:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/09/15/the-end-is-just-a.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Change","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/07/14/towwanda-grande.html", "title": "TOW-Wanda Grande", "content_html": "\n
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I've had the big trailer for 9 months now. She's 29'5\" from the hitch to the spare tire on the back. That's long when you're used to 16'. Add the truck and I'm a good 42' long with a topper and a kayak. I'm definitely haulin'!

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This life isn't for everybody. I've had women drop their jaw when they learn I live full time in this thing. Most men want to give me a high five. I tried explaining to someone how I don't like sleeping inside houses now because they make me feel claustrophobic. It's not the SIZE…it's the idea of being cooped up in one spot. I feel sorry for people whose views never change. They don't know the joy of taking off on vacation and packing everything you own. You literally have everything you need right behind you. I love traveling and pulling over at lunch time to fix something to eat, stretching out for a little siesta, then heading back out on the open road.

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I am a vagabond. A meanderer. I live a bohemian life. But I am a realist. There are a few drawbacks to living like this. Gas isn't cheap so if you can spend long stretches of time in one spot it sure helps the budget. This reduces the wear and tear on both your vehicle and your camper. There's not a ton of storage so I have a rule…if something comes in, something else has to go out. The sinks and countertops and stovetop are lower than those in a conventional sticks and bricks home and believe it or not, that discourages me from cooking sometimes. It's just awkward. The wastewater tanks have to be emptied when you're dry docked, as I am a good portion of the time. That means hooking this monstrosity up and hauling it across town to the nearest RV dump. And, because it's so big and hooking up is such a chore, I am far less likely to take off and go on a spontaneous adventure.

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That being said…it's mine. I own it, lock stock and memory foam mattress and the security of that alone makes everything else worthwhile. Yes, I love my life…my little house on wheels.

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God Bless this Trailer Home!

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❤

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\"By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.\"

\nHebrews 11:9-10\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-07-14T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/07/14/towwanda-grande.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","goRVing","Downsizing","Widow","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/29/serenity.html", "title": "Serenity", "content_html": "\n
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\n\n\n

This was my view last night as I sat on the patio visiting with my friends. This is such a magical place. I've posted from here many times and its beauty never ceases to amaze me. The mountain you see in the distance is Mesa Verde, home of the Ancient Ones…the Cliff Dwellers. There's good energy here. But alas…it was just a short stay this time as I head out on the road again today. Not at all sure where I'm heading. Footloose and fancy free…that's me!

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Sue and I had some good discussions about my book this weekend which will involve some revisions but will make it even better. I'm looking forward to getting this done.

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I'll send pics of the sights today.

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❤

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\"He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.\"

\nPsalm 104:19\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-29T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/29/serenity.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/28/tent-camping.html", "title": "Tent Camping", "content_html": "\n
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Ok, it's probably been 35 years since I slept in a tent. It was quite the adventure. In all actuality, I slept fairly well. I made sure the food was locked up in the car and I slept with my gun within reach, especially since the camp host said there are bears there regularly. I woke up once during the night to use the facilities and it was a bright enough moon to see so I wasn't worried. The lady in the campsite next to me just marveled that I camp alone. Gosh, it wasn't like I was alone. The campground I stayed at had eight loops so there were plenty of people there.

\n\n\n

It was a really long day though. I was up early and made it to Montrose in time to meet one of our fellow Ranchers for lunch. I was thinking of stopping at Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgeway but by the time I got there it was 93 degrees. I just could not make myself go in. I did stop in Ouray at Mouse's Chocolates…my all time favorite candy store. Then I hightailed it to Durango to take the yoga class my friend teaches. Afterwards we had dinner then came to her house. I saw some incredible scenery driving through the mountains today. God's country!

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❤

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\"He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.\"

\nJob 26:8\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/28/tent-camping.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/26/exhausted.html", "title": "Exhausted", "content_html": "\n
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It took me 12 hours but I finally got here! What a day!

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I need to give this a lot of thought. I'm beginning to wonder if this trailer is just way too big. It's not that I can't handle a rig this size. Pulling and parking aren't a problem. But I can't be ruining a vehicle by towing this behemoth. I've missed little TOW-Wanda almost from the get go. I bought the big one with the idea it would be parked on the farm and remain fairly stationary. The little trailer was so easy to just up and go somewhere. I am finding myself far less inclined to take off and camp for a weekend when it means hauling this 'house' around. I could sell it and buy two smaller trailers. One for CO and one for WV. That way I wouldn't have to drag it across the country. Or just one that better fits my needs. I don't know…it's just something I'm giving thought to. I swear, at this rate I'm going to own my bike, my kayak, and a duffle bag!

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❤

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\n

\"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.\"

\nProverbs 13:12\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-26T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/26/exhausted.html", "tags": ["Colorado","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Choices","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/24/getting-ready-to-roll.html", "title": "Getting Ready to Roll!", "content_html": "\n
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After a quick trip to the mountains this past weekend for Strawberry Days, I am preparing to hit the road for my mid-summer break. I got the cover on my kayak to protect it from the sun. It will be stored on my truck most of the time anyway so I needed to protect it since UV light kills kayaks. Next, I need to get a bunch of the stuff out of the back of the truck and reduce my load. I'll be heading out Thursday. I'll be going back through Glenwood to Ridgeway then over the Dallas Divide to Durango for a few days. I'll be camping there with one of my dearest friends with a dual goal in mind…catching up and discussing my book. It's time to get it published and move on to the next thing. Now that I have the majority of my downsizing out of the way, I have more free time to devote to writing and redeveloping my web presence. But first….some much needed R&R. Just peace, and quiet, and water, and a good book. Maybe a little fishing. Sigh.

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I did something SO fun yesterday! I got a private message from one of our fellow \"Ranchers\" last week asking me if I would be interested in meeting her for coffee. Since she lives near IKEA, and I needed to return something there, we met in the cafeteria and visited for two hours. It was not only fun, it was touching and oh so humbling to know this gal has been reading my blog for TWO YEARS! Thank you for the invite, Konnie…I had a blast!

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❤

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\"Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.\"

\n1 Samuel 20:42\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/24/getting-ready-to-roll.html", "tags": ["Colorado","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/17/wanderlust.html", "title": "Wanderlust", "content_html": "\n
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I've got it again. There's a festival in the mountains this weekend. I think I might run up there and catch some live music and a funnel cake! I'm making plans for my next big trip. I'm leaving 6/26 for a circuit of Colorado. I'm visiting family and friends, hitting a music festival in Snowmass, then heading to my friend's place overlooking Mesa Verde. We're going to discuss my book and push to get it published this year. I need to be back in Denver by the 3rd for a concert I bought tickets for two months ago. I'll be free till the kids return on the 8th from their vacation then I will have my babies for a week. The next month will fly by!

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I bought a pickleball paddle today! I'm looking for a place where I can learn this fun game. People everywhere are playing it. It's a cross between tennis, badminton, and ping-pong played with a paddle and a wiffleball. It's played on a court half the size of a regular tennis court. Boomers are doing it because it's easier on the knees. It's something I can learn to play and take anywhere. Low investment. High yield of fun!

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I love living in this camper. It's as close to living outside as I can get and still have walls and a roof around me. I am living on two acres, parked between the shed and the garden. I can lay in bed at night and hear the trains passing through. You would hardly know I'm really only about a half mile from a very busy intersection in a major suburb of Denver. I'm very comfortable here. I am most appreciative of my son-in law's parents for allowing me to stay here for the summer.

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❤

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\n

\"Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.\"

\nProverbs 27:8\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-17T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/17/wanderlust.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/04/stormy-weather.html", "title": "Stormy Weather", "content_html": "\n
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Wouldn't you know it? I drove through the worst rain of my life when I moved to West Virginia in October. Up till yesterday, the roads were dry. I left Columbia around 10:00am and I didn't go five miles before the skies opened up and it was shades of October all over again. It rained hard till I got to the west of Kansas City. Then I started getting notices on my cell phone of severe storms hitting Denver and heading east. When I got to Hays, Kansas they were under a tornado watch till 2:00 this morning. There were no campsites till Goodland, KS (which is closer to the storms) so I decided to stay last night in a motel. Better to be safe than sorry. As it turned out, the storms turned north.

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I should be cruising into Denver by mid afternoon. I can't wait to see my kids and grandkids!!! And, at the same time, I'm missing my West Virginia friends and family already. I'm missing the river. My heart is in two places.

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❤

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\n

\"Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”

\nGenesis 48:11\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/04/stormy-weather.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/03/moonrise.html", "title": "Moonrise", "content_html": "\n
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Too bad this photo doesn't do last night's moonrise justice but I had to take it with my cell phone. My good camera is under the couch in the back of the camper and just wasn't accessible. It was a beauty!

\n\n\n

I stayed the night near Columbia, Missouri last night. I'll probably shoot for western Kansas tomorrow night to avoid severe storms predicted for tomorrow evening then slide on into Denver Thursday. I've been amazed how light the truck traffic has been but wait till tomorrow. It's always bad in Kansas. Things are going smoothly. I took a break midway to see the Lincoln family cabin. Tourist services told me how to get there. It was about 20 miles off the highway. When I got there it was closed which was disappointing. I got back on the highway and just kept on going.

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Feeling good, the truck and trailer are operating well, gas is a full dollar cheaper than when I came out in October and I'm getting one whole mile per gallon more than the last trip across country. My iTunes is keeping me occupied and the occasional phone call. Life is sweet!

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❤

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\n

\"Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.\"

\nProverbs 22:17-18\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-03T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/03/moonrise.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/02/good-morning-from-indiana.html", "title": "Good Morning from Indiana!", "content_html": "\n
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\n\n\n

I didn't sleep well Sunday night. Most people left the campground right after the music was over, but several stayed and some people took advantage of the empty field and drove ATVs around all night. So, needless to say, I slept sporadically.

\n\n\n

I was going to stay overnight last night with my friend in Troy, Ohio but she has been blessed with a ton of real estate business so I'll visit with her on my way back. I drove till 2:00 in the afternoon then pulled into a rest area for a 2 hour nap. I drove for another couple of hours before stopping for the night. As I have done in the past, I won't be revealing exactly where I am each day. This is to appease my safety conscious family and friends. But it's a very nice, clean, quiet, safe RV Resort just off the interstate. My adventure of the day was a yucky one. My black water tank was full and unfortunately was clogged so emptying it was a yucky chore. But I got it done. Thank God for the shower in this camper!

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I love to drive. I do some of my best thinking while I'm driving. One of my dearest friends asked me last night how it feels to be traveling alone again. I had so much company in the last few months that I was seldom really off by myself. And it's interesting. It's different this time. Not boring. Not really lonely. But I feel room in my life and in my heart. Not an emptiness like I felt before. Not an urgency to replace something I've lost to fill up that void either. No, this is different. I feel a space opening up in me. A place of peace…of ease…of calm. Like the soothing flow of a river after making it through rough water. I'm not sure what this is yet or what it means, but it feels good.

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❤

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\"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.\"

\nEzekiel 36:26\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-02T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/02/good-morning-from-indiana.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Comfort","Widow","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/01/peace-love-rock-roll.html", "title": "Peace. Love. Rock \u0026 Roll!", "content_html": "\n
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\n\n\n

Ok…that was just about the most fun weekend I've ever had. I know, I say that a lot but this was quite the experience. I took this panorama of the campground to give you some idea how huge this place was. Yesterday's music was awesome! Merle Haggard was the headliner and wrapped up the weekend. He did a great job. But, for me, the highlight was Brandi Carlile! OMGosh, she put on an absolutely amazing performance. And I came away with a new group that I'm looking forward to following…Elephant Revival. They are a Colorado based band and the lead vocalist is fabulous. Unfortunately, the two days they perform in Colorado this year are days I'm already booked.

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I feel so energized by this experience. There was such a good energy here. Everyone got along. Friendships were formed. I made new friends. I learned new music. It was peaceful. It was full of love and cooperation. I didn't see a single negative thing. The place was kept clean. A full 95% of the trash generated is being recycled! 95%! That is absolutely amazing!

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Everywhere I go I meet the most interesting and beautiful people. Tonga was a joy and she's connecting me with this really cool earth mother in Colorado. The guy in the coffee shop has read Marshmallow Ranch! I let the girls camping next to us use my power strip to charge their phones. They left us a gift of bread from the Farmer's Market.

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I'm so happy I don't watch TV or the news because my world is a beautiful place!

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❤

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\"“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

\nMark 9:50\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-01T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/01/peace-love-rock-roll.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Peace","Widow","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/05/30/tent-city.html", "title": "Tent City", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
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This is amazing. Every day more people come and squeeze into any available space in the campground. I've never seen anything like it! I hope to get a panoramic view of the field tomorrow. Thank GOD it hasn't rained. This field isn't referred to as \"Mudville\" for nothing! We were brilliant…we selected the family camping area so it is really quiet. At least it is right now because the late show is still going on.

\n\n\n

I'm sitting outside my \"home\" as I write this. I'm trying to imagine. What if this was how we all HAD to live? Crammed together in a field. People living in makeshift tents, screen rooms, old buses and vans. Large, energy guzzling RVs and travel trailers like mine. What if this was our real home? Water and food would soon become an issue. As would sanitation. Rains would turn this lovely new-mown hay field into a boggy quagmire. Tempers would soon flair. The sense of peace and love and community created by the joint intention of the gathering would soon be lost…given away to fear and greed and envy. Fight or flight. You see it in third world countries every day. I experienced it in the jungles of Mexico many years ago.

\n\n\n

As I'm sitting here, I look at my \"home\" and I'm filled with humble gratitude. I am positively affluent! I have a clean, safe place to live. I am free to live wherever I choose. I am so very grateful for everything God has blessed me with. Truly.

\n\n\n

❤

\n\n\n
\n

\"Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.\"

\nPsalm 47:1\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-05-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/05/30/tent-city.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude","Courage","Peaceful Moments","Downsizing","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/05/28/live-the-life.html", "title": "Live the Life", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

Well, the sun has set on this chapter of my Grand Adventure. For those of you who are relatively new, here's a recap. Husband died, sold the house, bought a trailer, gave everything away, moved to West Virginia to take care of Aunt, didn't work out, house sat for six weeks, lived in my camper on the banks of the Ohio River during the worst winter WV has seen in many years (without running water!), listened to tons of live music, renewed friendships and made lots of new ones, bought a bike and a kayak, downsized even more, and now I'm heading for the Nelsonville Music Festival then back to Colorado for the summer. Whew…I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

\n\n\n

This was an expensive lesson I learned here. I paid to move things here. If I would have known the time with my aunt was going to be so short, I would have done things differently. I think the biggest take away is to never make assumptions. Always communicate your needs and desires clearly and listen to the spoken and unspoken words of others. Don't put all your eggs in one basket…have a contingency plan. Forgive. Nurture relationships. Appreciate your surroundings. Pray…a lot! And remember Who guides you through this wilderness.

\n\n\n

I ran errands all day yesterday, but the most satisfying thing happened at dusk. I fit the last thing into the back of the pickup truck like the last piece of a puzzle. There's no more room…but I own nothing else so it really doesn't matter. To stand back and look at my handiwork was gratifying. To stand back and marvel that every single thing I own is resting on eight wheels was pretty humbling. Well, minus the items stored in my friend's basement but I'll be going through those in the fall and getting rid of more.

\n\n\n

I did it! I simplified my life. Now, the only thing left is to LIVE it. Wanna come along???

\n\n\n

❤

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\n

\"My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.\"

\nPsalm 131:1-2\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-05-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/05/28/live-the-life.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Wisdom","Downsizing","Widow","Road Trip","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/04/27/sisters-and.html", "title": "Sisters #1 and #2", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

Well, this was a really fun week and hard to believe we're heading out on the road already. We'll stay in Kentucky tonight then on home tomorrow.

\n\n\n

We got to spend time with Maurrie and Becky…the original Sisters, of Sisters on the Fly. They are the greatest girls and I'm proud to be their Sister.

\n\n\n

I was interviewed yesterday for a story about brave girl campers. What an honor! I'll share it with you when it's been published. There may be an opportunity coming up that I'll let you in on once the details are worked out. Not to be cryptic, but I don't want to jinx anything. ;-)

\n\n\n

A good time was had by all! I'll post more photos of the fair when I get home!

\n\n\n

❤ y'all!

\n\n\n
\n

\"We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.\"

\n1 Thessalonians 2:6\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-04-27T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/04/27/sisters-and.html", "tags": ["Travel","Sisters on the Fly","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Road Trip","Memories","Country Living Fair"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/04/25/my-travel-buddys-trailer.html", "title": "My Travel Buddy's Trailer", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
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Wow, what a day! Slow start then headed to the Country Living Fair. I didn't find anything for decorating my camper. I did, however, find a cute little summer dress. :-)

\n\n\n
\"\"
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We've walked a hundred miles today! Ok, maybe not a hundred, but a lot! We're heading back to the park to prepare for the party tonight. BBQ and live music! Yeehaw!!!

\n\n", "date_published": "2015-04-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/04/25/my-travel-buddys-trailer.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Road Trip","Country Living Fair"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/04/22/road-trip.html", "title": "Road Trip", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

My travel friend picked this place to camp the first night. She did good…it's beautiful! A little over halfway to Nashville!!!

\n\n\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

\"TOW-Wanda Grande\" and \"Crackin' Rosie\"! Travel buddies!

\n\n\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

Mmmmm…sautéed garlic mushrooms on veggie burgers with melted Brie. Divine!

\n\n\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

They are preparing for the Rolex Race this weekend.

\n\n\n
\"\"
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My travel buddy this trip.

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\"\"
\n\n\n

We rode our bikes around the complex a little to stretch our legs.

\n\n", "date_published": "2015-04-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/04/22/road-trip.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/04/20/the-grand-adventure.html", "title": "The Grand Adventure", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

The summer after Mr. Virgo died, I began what I referred to as \"The Grand Adventure\". Not only was I going out in the world to do and see things I had never experienced before, I was also doing it all alone…for the first time in my life. I had taken respite weekends before, but nothing like I was about to face. It was daunting and exhilarating, melancholic and joyful. It was a time of many violent shifts in my psyche, my mood, my thinking. I wasn't at all sure I could DO it…period. Let alone, do it alone. But I knew I needed to. I needed to take the first step down the path or I would never make it through the valley of death that is grief.

\n\n\n

After buying Little TOW-Wanda and getting some obligations taken care of, I took off for the hills. I circled Colorado twice in three months and then took my oldest daughter and her family to see Mt. Rushmore. Those months alone on the road were exactly what I needed. I connected with my broken heart. I allowed myself the gut-wrenching sobs that come with that kind of pain. I explored places inside me that had never seen the light of day. It was cathartic and exhausting and allowed me to crawl out of the wreckage…at least the initial crash.

\n\n\n

Grief is a crazy thing. It transforms you in ways you never, ever considered. And, as uncomfortable and painful as it is, it's an easy place to stay. It's much easier to pull the covers over your head and to be excused by society with \"Oh, poor dear…she lost her husband, don't you know.\" Complicated grief is an actual diagnosis. Every grief is different. Each person walks his/her own path. As incredible as it may seem, you can get too comfortable in your pain when moving through it seems insurmountable. After all, who looks at a fire and says \"Oh, yeah! I can walk through that!\" Especially when you can't see the other side. The thing is, there are pockets of sweetness along the path that you'll never know are there until you stumble upon them in the flames. And these sweet spots are SO worth the journey.

\n\n\n

The Grand Adventure, Part 2 saw me selling my house, drastically downsizing, and reincarnating my little 16' camper into TOW-Wanda Grande, the behemoth \"Porta Party\" that I call home. My first stop has been WV, beloved home of my youth. And, if you've been following along this whole time, you'll know the initial intent was to care for an elderly aunt on the family farm but that ended at Christmas. It's very sad that the relationship has been permanently damaged, I'm afraid. But the sweet spots inside that painful scenario brought me to the river, and to further opportunities for healing and growth. I will be forever grateful to my friends for allowing me to live on their property. It's been a scene of transformation and I am peaceful.

\n\n\n

This week will see the beginning of Part 3 as The Grand Adventure continues. A friend and I head out Tuesday for parts south. I am thrilled to see what is around the next bend and will bring you along with pictures and commentary. I wonder what delicious, juicy, excitement life will bring me next?

\n\n\n

❤

\n\n\n
\n

\"Thus they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD journeying in front of them for the three days, to seek out a resting place for them. The cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.\"

\nNumbers 10:33-34\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-04-20T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/04/20/the-grand-adventure.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","goRVing","Courage","Widow","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/17/wild-wonderful-west-virginia.html", "title": "Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!!!", "content_html": "

\"west “Welcome to Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!”

\n

I crossed the Ohio River before dark singing “Almost Heaven….”!!! I went to a rest area and cleaned out the tanks. Headed straight to Outback to have a great big, juicy burger and fries, called my cousin and my aunt to let them know I’m here, texted the kids, and called a friend where I was invited to stay the night. I’ll head out to the farm today so I don’t have to drive in the dark on twisty, curvy roads!

\n

Now, here’s the deal…there’s no WiFi at the farm yet. Also, no cell service…so I’m going to be unplugged for awhile. There’s much to be done to settle in. My belongings will be delivered on Wednesday so I need to prepare a space to store it all. I need to figure out the best place for the trailer to be parked and get power to it. Much work to be done and I need to decompress. While I certainly didn’t push myself, the last few months have been fairly stressful. I’m going to enjoy some downtime with family and friends and I’ll catch up with you as I can!

\n

Thanks for traveling along with me. You all really kept me company during this amazing journey! I love you all!!! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-17T01:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/17/wild-wonderful-west-virginia.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/16/one-state-away.html", "title": "One State Away!!!", "content_html": "

\"ohio “One State Away!!!”

\n

It’s hard to see on that sign, but it says OHIO. And what’s after Ohio???? Why, WV, of course!!!

\n

I was so proud of myself yesterday morning. I got the truck backed up and it didn’t take more than 2 or 3 tries to get it lined up with the hitch. I had the trailer hooked up in no time!!!

\n

I arrived at my friend’s house at noon, just north of Dayton. Cindy and I met in 1974. We were Air Force wives, young and newly married. I was pregnant with my first and Cindy organized a baby shower for me. She contacted my family back home and had them send me presents. When we sat down to open gifts, she made sure I opened my family’s gifts first and when I saw the tags, I just cried. It was so touching and indicative of the kind, caring friend she has turned out to be over the last 40 years. We were remarking last evening how military friendships are deeper than most. When you are stationed so far away from home, you make your friends your family. What a treat it is to see her. I’m amazed…neither one of us have changed a bit!

\n

Today I head to an RV dealer to get the trailer checked for that leak and have it winterized. Then I’ll have one more camp out night before I head to WV. I don’t want to be driving out in the country after dark in this rig. OMGosh! I’m almost there!!! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-16T01:30:33-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/16/one-state-away.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Grace","Courage","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/15/hey-that-turtle-is-beating.html", "title": "Hey, That Turtle is Beating Me!", "content_html": "

\"vintage “OLD RV!”

\n

Ok, I’ve been taking my sweet time crawling across America. I’d love to say I’ve meandered down cute little two lane highways, stopping in interesting little villages along the way to sample the local color. I’d love to say I stopped in quaint little orchards to sample cider, bob for apples, and take my chances with the ring toss and try to win one of Fannie Arbuckle’s world famous Apple Pies. I wish I had arm loads of darling antiques and bolts of fabulous cloth for the precious little curtains I’m sure to make for the trailer. Maybe even a jar of homemade apple butter from the Farmer’s Market where Art Froderburg whittles the Statue of Liberty on the head of matchsticks. But, alas….this is not the trip I had. I have seen I-70. Since I picked up my trailer eight days ago. I-70, I-270, I-470….are you getting where I’m coming from here? I’ve seen trucks. The backs of truck, the fronts of trucks, the sides of trucks. I’ve seen the blur of cars as they pass me like I’m in a funeral procession. My only score on this trip was a Chapstick in a truck stop. I know the price of gas all the way across the country. I got to visit some dear friends because they had the foresight to live near I-70. I’ve seen some really nice RV Parks. I got to stay in a hotel one night to avoid my own personal re telling of the Wizard of Oz.

\n

Ok, it hasn’t been the magical, mystery tour I had hoped it would be. But I actually unhooked my trailer all by myself. I figured out where rain was coming in and fixed it, albeit temporarily with camo duct tape! I met some fellow road warriors who were very nice. I met my FB friend and some new Sisters on the Fly​. I played in my playhouse. I started reading a great book that was a gift from a friend. I Facetimed with my grandchildren. I stopped and took naps when I wanted. I cooked what I wanted. I had great coffee every morning that didn’t cost $5 a cup. I’ve enjoyed the changes in the weather and the colors. I’ve told a lot of people about Mr. Virgo and my book and Marshmallow Ranch. I’ve shared my love of God by example. I am rested, relaxed, full, happy. I am free. <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-15T01:30:43-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/15/hey-that-turtle-is-beating.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Growth","goRVing","Grace","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/13/the-other-half.html", "title": "The Other Half", "content_html": "

\"missouri\" “Map of Missouri”

\n

I stayed in Columbia, MO Saturday night at Cottonwood Landing RV Park. It was clean and the people were friendly but the trailers were pretty much crammed together like sardines in a can. I love trailer people though. They are always so nice and watch out for each other. The couple next to me that night were from New Mexico. They had been summering in the Adirondacks and were on their way home. As soon as people find out I’m traveling alone, their parental instincts come out and they always tell me to let them know if I need anything. I have never once felt threatened or uneasy when I’m parked next to one of the big rigs….motor homes that cost ten times the value of a house. You can just about bet there’s a woman and a gun in one of them.

\n

The days are running together. I certainly haven’t been pushing myself at all to get across the country but I’m well into the other half of my trip now. Lots of rain and I’ve been warned severe weather is ahead so I’m keeping an eye out. I did take on some water again last night but not as bad as the first time. I’m glad I made the appointment to get it checked at a dealer this week. Crossing the Mississippi River yesterday was pretty cool! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-13T01:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/13/the-other-half.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Courage","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/12/sisters-in-kansas.html", "title": "Sisters in Kansas", "content_html": "
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\"four “Sisters on the Fly in Kansas”

\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\nMy dear friend Carol (second from left) and me (far right) met up with two more Sisters for coffee at Panera this morning in Topeka. Anywhere you go, you can just about guarantee you're going to have a Sister, in the truest sense of the word, within a short drive of you. I cannot tell you how much this organization has been a gift to me in the last year and a half. If you have the opportunity, I really would encourage you to join. It's so empowering!\n

I settled in my next camp before the sun set. Had a nice dinner, met the “next door neighbors”, and enjoyed catching up with friends and family with the events of the day. I’m telling you, this is a special life I’m living here! \"\"

\n
\n", "date_published": "2014-10-12T01:30:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/12/sisters-in-kansas.html", "tags": ["Travel","Strong Women","Sisters on the Fly","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","goRVing","Courage","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/11/git-yer-motor-runnin.html", "title": "Git yer motor runnin'..", "content_html": "

\"travel “Travel. As much as you can. As far as you can. As long as you can. Life’s not meant to be lived in one place.”

\n

Head out on the highway! Met my Marshmallow Ranch buddy and fellow Sister on the Fly​, Carol! What an awesome lady!!! We talked for 10 hours straight yesterday and were both exhausted last night when we finally gave up and went to bed. We are supposed to meet some other Sisters for coffee this morning then I head out on the road again! Are we there yet?

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-11T01:30:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/11/git-yer-motor-runnin.html", "tags": ["Sisters on the Fly","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Gratitude","goRVing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/10/dancing-in-the-rain.html", "title": "Dancing in the Rain", "content_html": "

\"dancing “Dancing in the Rain!”

\n

Well, ok…not literally. But I dance in my head. My brain is set to “Be Happy!” just about all the time. Until about 6:30 last night. I was preparing to take a shower when I noticed water standing on the floor in the bathroom. I followed it and found I have a big leak somewhere in the front driver’s side of the trailer. It rained SO hard here yesterday afternoon. It was really impressive. I think it’s either the seal around the door to the pass through under my bed or where the trim meets the body. I really don’t think it’s coming from the roof. I never had one bit of trouble with little TOW-Wanda. This is frustrating but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed with seals or caulk. I’m seriously considering making a stop at the Starcraft factory in Elkhart, Indiana on my way cross country!

\n

I am so excited for today! In the early days of Marshmallow Ranch, one of my readers and I struck up a conversation about loss and living a juicy life. She really wanted to do what I was doing in TOW-Wanda but lacked the confidence to do so. After awhile she decided if I could do it, so could she so she bought a trailer and joined Sisters on the Fly. I’m SO proud of her! I get to meet her today and tomorrow there is a meet and greet with some fellow Sisters on the Fly​! I can’t wait! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-10T01:30:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/10/dancing-in-the-rain.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","goRVing","Courage","Downsizing","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/09/kansas.html", "title": "Kansas!", "content_html": "

\"kansas “The Flatlands…Kansas”

\n

“Kansas” is the Sioux word for “flat”! Flat, flat, flat! Kansas excels at flatness. It gets an A+ in flat! But, dang….you sure can see a long ways off. It has it’s own beauty. I saw gorgeous fields of wheat and sunflowers yesterday. Large feedlots full of fat cattle. Grain silos, farmers harvesting crops. Winter wheat a new green against the brown harvest. Thank you, Kansas…for working hard to fill our bellies!

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-09T01:30:35-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/09/kansas.html", "tags": ["Travel","Prayer","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","goRVing","Courage","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/02/building-a-lifeone-word-at.html", "title": "Building a Life...One Word at a Time", "content_html": "

\"labrynth\" “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

\n

I have been on retreat for the last few days with my dear sister/friend, Sue. I have also been struggling a little lately. Nothing major, just par for the course on the long road of life. A particularly bumpy spot but not totally unexpected given the stressors I’m working with.

\n

The day I arrived, I walked through the midden pile and spotted a couple particularly beautiful painted potsherds on the ground. Even though I know better than to disturb them, I picked them up…marveling at the fact they were over 800 years old, hand built by the “Ancient Ones”. I slipped them in my pocket without thinking and at the end of the day, I found them resting on the counter of TOW-Wanda’s little kitchen.

\n

I didn’t sleep well that night. The next day we hiked and had a grand day, but at nightfall, I found myself ill. All day Monday I was disturbed by something. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong. Tuesday morning, while feeling a bit better physically, I just didn’t feel right. Agitated, antsy, anxious…all I wanted to do was hook up TOW-Wanda and get out of town. I texted Sue and told her my plans had changed, I couldn’t settle my mind and write so I was moving on. Sue, in her Earth-Mother wisdom said, “Soon, you must lite somewhere and write this book. I will love you and support any decision you make, but I’m going to start kicking you in the butt a little bit. But first, go walk the labyrinth.”

\n

I packed up, hooked up TOW-Wanda, and even though it was already in the 90’s, I headed for the back pasture to walk the labyrinth. For those who are unfamiliar, a labyrinth is a walking meditation. A path is walked slowly with intention as you wend your way toward the “center of the universe”. You can present a thought, a question, a problem to the universe and walk to the center where you may be presented with an answer. By the time you wend your way out, if the answer still feels good, you can go with that. My question was “What is wrong with me? What is bothering me and making me feel so unsettled?” Then I began to walk. After 30 seconds or so, you begin to relax, your focus becomes centered on the rhythmic crunch of your shoes on the ground, and by the time you reach the center, you are really open and paying attention. As I stood still in the “center of the universe” I was given a very clear message. “You must put them back.” I knew immediately what this was about. I was NOT supposed to take the potsherds away. The spirits here want what is theirs. When I emerged from the other side of the labyrinth, the message was even clearer. I went back to the trailer and rummaged around to find the beautiful potsherds and carried them back to the midden pile. I ceremoniously deposited them beneath a sage bush and immediately felt fine. No anxiety, no agitation…only peaceful stillness. It was amazing!

\n

I thought back over Sue’s words. “Soon you must lite and write this book.” For the most part, it is written…it’s just making myself sit down and put it together. Over lunch yesterday, I told Sue that I knew she was right. I also knew I was putting it off because it’s not pretty diving back into the pain of the last year. I’ll be at the family farm in West Virginia soon. It’s the home of my heart. I made a commitment to Sue, and myself, to spend that time writing…pulling things together while the emotion is still fresh…while the words are richer and closer to the source.

\n

I can dream of a house I will build. I can walk through it in my mind and see, feel, smell each room. But, until I pick up the hammer, it’s all just a dream. The time has come to pick up my hammer and get this done. I will be out of cell range for three weeks from July 13th to August 4th. You and I will be disconnected for the first time in a year and a half. But I need to do this. Thank you in advance for your support and love while I journey a little while on my own. I love you all.

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-02T01:30:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/02/building-a-lifeone-word-at.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Growth","Fear","Courage","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/06/30/road-trip-into-the-wild.html", "title": "Road Trip Into the Wild", "content_html": "

I saw lots of beautiful, wild places on this last road trip! Here are a couple of photos.

\n

\"wild “Wild Hot Springs - Reno, Colorado

\n

It was nearly 100 degrees the day Sue and I stopped here. The water was almost too hot to get into. The spring has been dug out and lined with rocks and cement with a sandy bottom. It is deep enough to get down in up to your neck. It was SO hot, we couldn’t stay in long, but every time we got out, the horseflies came and bit us. It was awful! We didn’t stay there too long. I think it would be wonderful in the winter.

\n

\"long “Climbing into the wilds of Colorado.”

\n

My friend Sue and I went over Red Mountain Pass and caught this long view of the far mountain above tree line. So many vistas look like paintings out west. There is a rare and wild beauty in the wilderness of Colorado.

\n", "date_published": "2014-06-30T01:30:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/06/30/road-trip-into-the-wild.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Grace","Courage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/06/27/on-the-road-again.html", "title": "On The Road Again", "content_html": "

\"ford “On the road again!”

\n

I found out Wednesday that I have the next two weeks off. It has been really hot and dry so I’m heading for the hills! While contemplating where to go, I made a rather rash decision thinking I might head for California. That would be epic! Alas, it was dusk before I made it 100 miles. It was still 90 degrees and I hadn’t even hit the desert yet. I filled up with gas and thought I should calculate mileage/price per gallon. When I discovered the trip would cost a month’s mortgage in gas alone, I quite quickly changed my mind and decided to stay in state. (So sorry, Patti!)

\n

I pulled into an RV park that is close enough to the train tracks to enjoy the sound but far enough away to not be disturbing. I awoke to a beautiful day and took my sweet time getting ready to see the sights. Heading into the high country! (picture: TOW-Wanda stops at Starbucks. She can’t help herself!)

\n", "date_published": "2014-06-27T01:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/06/27/on-the-road-again.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Growth","goRVing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/04/28/til-next-time.html", "title": "'Til Next Time", "content_html": "

\"vintage “Cowgirl Caravan”

\n

Ok, remember your very favorite slumber party when you were a girl. Now, picture that very same slumber party but this time there’s fifty girls, you can do whatever you want for four days, and you’re not going to get in trouble. (Well, ok….at least no one is going to TELL on you!)

\n

That’s what a Sisters on the Fly​ event is like. I feel like I got to sit at the cool kids table because we’re ALL cool kids! I remember when I was in my thirties and it occurred to me I had forgotten how to play. We get so caught up in our families and work and responsibilities that we push that playful girl into the background. SOTF makes girls out of women. It’s a safe place to let off steam and act silly and laugh till…well, you know. We can dress up in silly outfits and wear tiaras and tutus with our cowgirl boots. We can smoke a cigar or streak through the campground nekkid and earn a merit badge for it! (That actually happened on this trip. If there was a CPR badge, I might have streaked because anyone who witnessed it would be at grave risk!) Fun….just plain fun! Can’t wait for the next gathering. I have found my tribe.

\n

Happy Trails!

\n", "date_published": "2014-04-28T01:30:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/04/28/til-next-time.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Growth","goRVing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/04/06/orvis-hot-springs-ridgway-co.html", "title": "Orvis Hot Springs - Ridgway, CO", "content_html": "

\"orvis “Orvis Hot Springs - Ridgeway, Colorado”

\n

What a delightful way to end my two week sabbatical. My friend, Sue, joined me yesterday. We soaked at Orvis Hot Springs. Interestingly, it is clothing optional (gasp!) and while I have no problem going topless, I could not go the full Monty. Which was a darned good thing because I ran into a little gal that I work with. While she is young and fit, I am….ummmm, NOT and I would have hated to be responsible for her having to seek therapy over the trauma of my nakedness! lol

\n

After our soak, we headed into Ouray for a lovely Mexican food extravaganza. We hit some of the shops and what trip to Ouray would be complete without a stop at Mouse’s Chocolates? We went back to the room. I napped off my lunch while Sue read. Then we began the 100 Miles in 100 Days challenge. We walked 1.18 miles in the snow. She had me download an app by Nike called Nike+ Running which mapped out my walk, distance, and time. It even talks to you as you walk telling you when you reached a mile and what your time was. I think you can program it to cheer. I wonder if you can program it to go out for pizza or bring you some ice cream? No, wait…that would be counterproductive, yet an intriguing idea.

\n

After our walk, we headed back to Orvis for a nice soak in the lithium waters. It was actively snowing by then and it was truly divine. We closed down the pool and headed back to the motel. We stayed at Riverside Inn and Cabins which is right on the river and is perfectly fine and affordable.

\n

I am rested, refreshed, mellow and ready for my next move. I ordered a piece of equipment that will help me make my jewelry faster and it should be delivered at the first of the week. I have some orders to make and now I should be able to build up some inventory for art shows/sales.

\n

I am stopping in Grand Junction today to talk to a woman about ways to make TOW-Wanda look like a vintage trailer. That should be interesting.

\n

I am ready to go home. I am ready for spring. I am so grateful and I offer that as my prayer for today. Thanks for traveling with me…I enjoyed your company. We’ll be heading back out, you and I, on April 18th so stay tuned and be ready for more adventures!

\n", "date_published": "2014-04-06T01:30:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/04/06/orvis-hot-springs-ridgway-co.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Growth"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/04/02/mr-virgos-photography.html", "title": "Mr. Virgo's Photography", "content_html": "

\"artistic “Mr. Virgo’s Photography”

\n

Today is my beautiful #2 daughter’s 24th birthday! Happy birthday, sweetheart…I love you so much!!!

\n

I spent a pretty mellow day yesterday sitting in TOW-Wanda listening to music, writing, gazing out at the view watching the prairie dogs chasing each other around the field. It was windy again and pretty chilly. I went in to Dolores to pick up some supplies. They have the cutest little market there with homemade pies and lots of natural foods. Farm fresh eggs!

\n

I know I waited till the last minute, but I tried late Sunday night to sign up for insurance. I have COBRA through Mr. Virgo’s employer but man…it is SO expensive. With the deadline looming, I thought I should check it out to see if I could get something more affordable. I have heard such horror stories about the system and how confusing and difficult it is to navigate. My friend Sue encouraged me to try so I went on the website and called at the same time. I figured that would cover my bases. I must admit, the website for Colorado is a bit confusing. I was on hold for an hour when they came on and took my name and number because there was currently a five hour wait. They asked for a time they could call me on Tuesday and told me that because I had made the attempt before the cutoff time, I would still be able to apply. They called exactly when they told me they would and they took my information. The whole process was extremely easy and I was covered within 20 minutes. MUCH cheaper than the COBRA coverage which will be greatly appreciated. And, I can keep my regular doctor. I am so grateful!

\n

I worked on my book for most of the day. That always leaves me feeling a bit melancholy thinking about my man. For the most part, I do really well these days. But when you are immersed in it for a period of time, you can’t help but stir up deep seated feelings. I went through my collection of photos Mr. Virgo took through the years. This one is one of my favorites. It’s like a painting. He took this when we lived in Denver. The light was perfect and made the reds in our sofa as well as his holster really glow. When I got rid of his guns, these were two that I kept. They were his favorites and remind me of him. A mountain man in a suit. A cowboy in a 5 Star hotel. He was so rich and deep. My love for him is a bottomless well…a source of great comfort in his absence. I miss him so.

\n", "date_published": "2014-04-02T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/04/02/mr-virgos-photography.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Grief","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/03/28/springtime-in-the-desert.html", "title": "Springtime in the Desert!", "content_html": "

\"lawn “Waiting for Summer!”

\n

I didn’t realize how close Albuquerque is to Santa Fe. It wasn’t long at all till I was here. There is an RV park I’m going to check out before I leave and I’ll post pictures.

\n

I visited with my friend and had dinner. I met his lady friend and she’s very nice. We talked from 3-9 and I’m exhausted! I’m heading up to Durango tomorrow morning. I’m really looking forward to friend time and staying in one place for a week. I’m taking a yoga class tomorrow evening that she teaches.

\n

I had a little scare this afternoon. When I unhitched the trailer, it shifted and dragged the hitch 4" to the left. Fortunately it stopped without bending the tongue jack. I hooked it back up to the car and repositioned it and it worked fine. I’m going to the RV place tomorrow and get better chocks.

\n

Happy Friday!!!

\n", "date_published": "2014-03-28T01:30:43-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/03/28/springtime-in-the-desert.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","Courage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/03/13/springtime-in-the-rockies.html", "title": "Springtime in the Rockies", "content_html": "

\"camper “Springtime in the Rockies”

\n

I headed to the lake Sunday afternoon. I needed to be alone with my thoughts and memories. The anniversary of Mr. Virgo’s death has come and gone. I loved being in the trailer alone. I talked to him. I cried for him. I wrote…and read…and prayed…and napped. I stared at the water and the birds. I listened to the wind and the geese. And I let it go. This year. This awful, heart-breaking, life-changing yet beautiful, blessed year. This change came from a 12 month gestation to birth a different version of me. Older, wiser, deeper. Grief knocked off some of those sharp edges and has humbled me in ways I never knew. And now? Now I’m ready to face whatever comes my way! I’m ready to tackle new projects. Travel to new places. Finish writing my book. Keep writing here. Take more pictures. Make more jewelry. Enter speaker training (not all who train are chosen, but it is a skill I can use anyway!). Paint. Learn. Grow. Teach. Fish. Hike. Camp.

\n

Life is a precious gift. I don’t want to miss one single moment of it. So, I’m heading off to watch my grandchildren sing in the chorus of their first stage production!!!

\n

I’ll get back to you from the road!

\n

<3 Ginny

\n", "date_published": "2014-03-13T01:30:18-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/03/13/springtime-in-the-rockies.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Growth","goRVing","Wisdom","Courage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/09/14/mr-virgos-cross-weminuche-wilderness.html", "title": "Mr. Virgo's Cross - Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado", "content_html": "

\"cross “Mr. Virgo’s Cross”

\n

This is where I left Mr. Virgo’s lock of hair when I hiked into the wilderness this summer to say good-bye and leave him in the place he loved the most. As I have negotiated this path, I have come upon stumbling blocks which could have made me falter. It’s what we do with those stumbling blocks that determine our direction…up or down.

\n

A few weeks ago, I realized I had not seen postings for awhile from a person I considered a friend and family member. After doing some investigation, I realized this person had not only unfriended me on FB, but had also disconnected from my children’s pages as well as Mr. Virgo’s. I was hurt and confused. I reached out, in the off chance that this was accidental and received no response. After giving it some time, I accepted that this person intentionally disconnected.

\n

When something like this happens, you can choose many responses. You can go into self-blame mode and try to figure out what on earth you did wrong. My thought on this is, after a quick inventory of your own behaviors, self-deprecation accomplishes nothing but pain and damage to your own self esteem. Of course, if it’s something you have done, by all means you should apologize and try to make it right. You could always get mad and say negative things about the person, but we all know that’s not productive…one of the perks of being ‘of a certain age’.

\n

I don’t know what precipitated this. Perhaps I wasn’t grieving in a way she felt was appropriate. Perhaps I posted something that hurt her feelings. Maybe the fact that I have found love again so quickly makes her feel my love for Mr. Virgo wasn’t genuine. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I can only control my own response and choose how to feel. So, here is my choice. I choose love. I choose to turn this stumbling block into a stepping stone and move upward. I sent her a text to let her know I was thinking of her and that I am praying for her. I wish her well. I enjoyed knowing her. I am not less of a person because she chooses not to be in our lives. Besides, we will see each other again on the other side and will have Eternity to figure it out.

\n", "date_published": "2013-09-14T01:30:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/09/14/mr-virgos-cross-weminuche-wilderness.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Grief","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/08/28/sisters-on-the-fly.html", "title": "Sisters on the Fly #3537", "content_html": "

\"Sisters “Ginny in Sisters Regalia”

\n

Oh, this is just too much fun! Sisters on the Fly makes girls out of women. What are you doing in your life that let’s your “little girl” come out to play?

\n", "date_published": "2013-08-28T01:30:36-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/08/28/sisters-on-the-fly.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Sisters on the Fly","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","goRVing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/08/17/sisters-on-the-fly-do.html", "title": "Sisters on the Fly do Estes Park!", "content_html": "

\"camper “TOW-Wanda!”

\n

One of the first things I did when Mr. Virgo died was join the Sisters on the Fly. The largest women’s outdoor adventure club in America, SOTF offers women the opportunity to gather and travel together in the safety of groups.

\n

\"woman “A favorite jacket…it came from a Nashville entertainer.”

\n

Women helping women. Learning to be girls again. Offering a hand up to the newbies.

\n

\"woman “Ginny getting her cowgirl on!”

\n

You can learn to fly fish or cook in a Dutch oven…start a campfire or ride a horse. You can earn badges for lots of fun categories. It is truly the most fun ever and is helping sooth my painful heart.

\n

\"cute “Cute Camper”

\n

I took off on August 14th and stayed till the 17th in beautiful Estes Park. Camping with a hundred other like-minded women goes a long way toward making you feel empowered. Grief often makes you feel powerless.

\n

\"artist “Artist painting off Old Fall River Road”

\n", "date_published": "2013-08-17T01:30:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/08/17/sisters-on-the-fly-do.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Growth","New Ideas"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/08/04/snow.html", "title": "Snow!", "content_html": "

\"Snow Snow on Pike’s Peak

\n

I know you probably cannot see this, but there was fresh SNOW on the top of Pike’s Peak this evening on my way home from Colorado Springs! The clouds rode low in the sky, heavy storms pounded the front range. It was SO beautiful. Ever have one of those perfect moments when you see something exquisite, feel the love of an old friend, and every song on the radio speaks your name? THAT was my day!

\n", "date_published": "2013-08-04T01:30:58-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/08/04/snow.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/28/tunnel-on-needles-highway-custer.html", "title": "TUNNEL ON NEEDLES HIGHWAY - CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA", "content_html": "\"Tunnel\n

On our way to see the Crazy Horse Monument. There were places on the Needles Highway that we had to fold in the side mirrors to get through the tunnels! Fun!

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-28T02:00:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/28/tunnel-on-needles-highway-custer.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/27/mount-rushmore-south-dakota.html", "title": "MOUNT RUSHMORE, SOUTH DAKOTA", "content_html": "\"Mount\n

Way cool! So much fun being with family!

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-27T02:00:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/27/mount-rushmore-south-dakota.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/27/bear-country-usa-south-dakota.html", "title": "BEAR COUNTRY USA - SOUTH DAKOTA", "content_html": "\"Bear\n

Bear in Bear Country USA Park, South Dakota.

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-27T02:00:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/27/bear-country-usa-south-dakota.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/27/apatosaurus-rapid-city-south-dakota.html", "title": "APATOSAURUS - RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA", "content_html": "\"Apatosaurus,\n

Who knew?

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-27T02:00:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/27/apatosaurus-rapid-city-south-dakota.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/26/trailer-ornament.html", "title": "TRAILER ORNAMENT", "content_html": "\"Tiny\n

After a very long day at work, I headed for Denver. In order to cut an hour off my day, I drove down last night and slept in the trailer in the parking lot behind the office. It was a pretty easy commute this morning!

\n

Arrived in Denver at 10 and we’re getting up early to head for Mt. Rushmore! I’ll post when I see something interesting.

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-26T02:00:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/26/trailer-ornament.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/26/wyoming-state-line.html", "title": "WYOMING STATE LINE", "content_html": "\"Family\n", "date_published": "2013-07-26T02:00:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/26/wyoming-state-line.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/23/mesa-verde-colorado.html", "title": "MESA VERDE, COLORADO", "content_html": "\"Mesa\n

This is one of Mr. Virgo’s pictures. I am sure you can see the difference in the quality of his photos and mine, but I keep trying.

\n

Last night I reached a turning point in my grief process. Every person’s grief is different and no two people run on the same schedule. I was beginning to feel as though I was holding a heavy weight in my lap and it was getting more difficult to stand up. I know that is probably hard for you to believe because I really haven’t sat still very long since my husband died. I felt the heavy burden of grief was keeping me from moving forward in my life so, even though it has only been a little over four months, I made a decision.

\n

In my mind, I built a beautiful shelf with hand carved animals on the trim. Dark wood with a warm finish. On that shelf was an ornately carved box. I took the box down and carefully and lovingly placed my memories of my sweet Mr. Virgo inside. I wrote a long letter and thanked him for every single thing I could remember him doing for me and placed it in the box beside him. Then, in my mind, I placed this precious box on that beautiful shelf. Now I can go by and smile and talk to my man. I can cry with him if I need to. I can take it down and hold it again when I feel it’s necessary for my wellbeing. And now I feel lighter and can stand up again. It’s a beautiful thing.

\n

I’m heading out Friday on the next phase of the Grand Adventure…Mt. Rushmore, Grand Mesa, Chicago, Estes Park, Colorado Springs… Stay tuned for updates and photos!

\n

Thank you for all the new “likes” and welcome to Marshmallow Ranch!

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-23T02:00:20-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/23/mesa-verde-colorado.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/21/independence-pass-above-aspen-colorado.html", "title": "INDEPENDENCE PASS ABOVE ASPEN, COLORADO", "content_html": "\"Independence\n

(yes, I stopped the car, Valerie!)

\n

Just got back from church. It was held at a private campground today with 10 Baptisms and a potluck. Doesn’t get much better than that!

\n

I am cleaning out the trailer and Expedition today in preparation for the trip to Mt. Rushmore on Friday. My daughter Julie is so worried we won’t fit everyone in because I carry a boatload of stuff around with me. Just have to prove her wrong! :-)

\n

Hope your day is as beautiful as mine is!

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-21T02:00:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/21/independence-pass-above-aspen-colorado.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/19/upper-frying-pan-river-above.html", "title": "UPPER FRYING PAN RIVER ABOVE BASALT, COLORADO", "content_html": "\"Upper\n

Here fishy, fishy, fishy!

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-19T02:00:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/19/upper-frying-pan-river-above.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/26/glamping-with-mary-jane-and.html", "title": "GLAMPING WITH MARY JANE AND FLY FISHING - CONTEMPLATION", "content_html": "\"Glamping\n

I have discovered my nemesis. I have coped really well with everything over the last few months. Remarkably well. Then last weekend when I was at a town festival, a gentleman standing next to me started choking and all I could do was stand there. The man needed the Heimlich maneuver and even though I have worked in medicine for over forty years, I was frozen. All I could see in my mind’s eye was my husband in the ER. It really shook me and I had to sit down. Then today, I got a call at 4:30 from my 23-year-old who has been running a fever for 3 days. Once I got her settled back down with instructions and got off the phone, I had a full-blown panic attack from worrying about her health. I understand logically what’s going on but there is no logic when you are in the throes of anxiety. The darkest hour is just before dawn

\n

We are like electric cars when we are recovering from trauma. We tend to toodle along till we run out of juice and have to plug in to recharge. That recharge comes from those we love. Use it too often, you leave them drained. Become drained yourself and when someone else needs to connect to you for your energy, you can’t help them out. I’ve been keeping late nights and early mornings the last several days preparing for this trip tomorrow. When my daughter called, I’m afraid I didn’t have much left to give and I’m sorry.

\n

I’m doing well, for the most part. I need to remember this is a process, I need to take care of myself by getting enough sleep, eating right, staying hydrated, and offering myself the same service I offer to others…kindness and compassion.

\n

Hugs,

\n

Ginny

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-26T02:00:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/26/glamping-with-mary-jane-and.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/25/piedra-river-ranch-weminuche-wilderness.html", "title": "PIEDRA RIVER RANCH - WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS, NEAR PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO", "content_html": "\"Piedra\n

I think this would be one of the most beautiful places to live. Mr. Virgo and I lived not too far from here in 2008 for about a year. I was a little disturbed that the trees didn’t fully leaf out till June, but what little time we had off together was absolutely beautiful. We often drove up Pagosa Boulevard out and back down Plumtaw Road to Piedra Road. We made a day of it and hiked and had picnics. This ranch was pretty much the end of the road in this one section and it really is stunning. It was a beautiful summer, except for the part where Mr. Virgo wrecked the ATV and was in the hospital for a week, but that’s a story for another day.

\n

It was all good till the leaves started falling off in August. Then I realized just how high we were, and it wasn’t from something we were smoking! Winter came with a vengeance. It started snowing on the first of December. We probably had a foot of snow on the ground. One night when we went to bed, it was snowing but didn’t think anything of it. When I got up the next morning and went in to make coffee, I noticed I couldn’t see out of the kitchen window. But sometimes the snow blows sideways and sticks to windows so again, I didn’t think anything of it. We got ready for work and decided to drive in together. We raised the garage door and there, as far as you could see, in a very nice level plane, was 5 feet of snow! I know this because I am 5'5" and this snow came to my nose! Have I mentioned that I really HATE snow? I know, I’ve lived in Colorado since 1975 and I really HATE snow. And the older I get, the more I hate it. That year, it snowed 7 feet of snow in less than 2 weeks. It snowed so much that they ran out of places to put it. Thank goodness that job only lasted till January and we were out of there. So yes, in this picture, it is a beautiful, peaceful place to live.

\n

I have decided this winter is going to be different. I am going to go somewhere where the sun shines and the sea whispers my name. Where I can bury my toes in the sand and my nose in a book. Where I can have little drinks with exotic ingredients and paper umbrellas brought to me in my chaise lounge. Someplace warm and wonderful. I have a friend who lives in Belize who has been after me for the last 13 years to come visit her. I think I just might do that come January or February. Yep, gonna hit the cheapo airfare sites and give myself something wonderful to look forward to! But first, I am heading home to the beautiful hills of West Virginia. My home of origin. I’m heading out of here tomorrow and will visit with my daughters. Hubby #1 and his family are in town visiting so I get to see them. Then my brother and I will fly to WV on Thursday. Lots of fun things are planned there so I will take lots of pictures and post as I can. Cell and Internet are spotty in the Mountain State.

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Talk to you soon!

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Hugs,

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Ginny

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-25T02:00:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/25/piedra-river-ranch-weminuche-wilderness.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/22/rainbow-trout-chapman-dam-campground.html", "title": "RAINBOW TROUT - CHAPMAN DAM CAMPGROUND", "content_html": "\"Rainbow\n

Today was busy…dentist, eyeglass place to install new lenses in my glasses, but then off to the first afternoon/evening of Strawberry Days. Fun seeing people I hadn’t seen since LAST Strawberry Days and great music. I caught the trout Wednesday afternoon. Let’s see…

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$80 for 4 days campsite fee\n$36 for Colorado Fishing License\n$30 for half a tank of gas up and back\n$55 for new Rod & Reel\n$ 5 for worms\n$10,000 for trailer

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That trout cost me $10,206! It was REALLY, REALLY tasty!

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-22T02:00:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/22/rainbow-trout-chapman-dam-campground.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Grief","Hope","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/22/bull-snake-dolores-colorado.html", "title": "BULL SNAKE - DOLORES, COLORADO", "content_html": "\"Bull\n

This is the real prairie dog hunter! Sue and I were walking around her property and we came very close to stepping on this guy. He was huge! Yikes!

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-22T02:00:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/22/bull-snake-dolores-colorado.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Overcoming Obstacles","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/15/bear-creek-falls-above-the.html", "title": "BEAR CREEK FALLS ABOVE THE BOX CANYON - OURAY, COLORADO", "content_html": "\"Box\n

As a widow, I have been finding myself still having trouble making a real meal. I mean a real, fix-a-few-things-and-sit-at-the-table-and-eat kind of meal. I had dinner with my dear, “little brother” last night and he cooked. It was a simple meal…an Indian dish served over rice. But it kick-started me into rethinking my dining habits.

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Mr. Virgo did his PhD thesis on the loss of real dining as a society, so meals in our home were an occasion. I know I have spoken of this before, but thought I would revisit the issue since it has been three months since he died and I’m still not really cooking the kind of meal I could sit down and savor.

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My food preferences have changed drastically over these last months. Mr. Virgo was an Irish, meat-and-potatoes man and rather than cook two meals, I ate the same thing. I gained weight. I never slept well. I had headaches. I was pre-diabetic last time I had my blood checked. Not good things. After I started getting my appetite back, I really was SO hungry for fresh, fresh, fresh foods. Salads, steamed veggies, and crisp, cool fruit became my mainstay. I do have fish once in awhile. I love tofu and I eat eggs a few times a week. I am sleeping better and have no headaches. I haven’t had my blood retested, but I am sure things are better there, as well.

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When I went to the store today, I made up my mind that today I would cook. I would have a real meal and take the time to sit down and really taste the food God has been so gracious to provide for me. I love this time of year when the market is full of yummy choices in the produce department. Tonight I nibbled on a few garlic and herb pita chips dipped in spicy, three pepper hummus while I prepared my meal. For my main course, I had wild mushroom agnolotti with Mediterranean olive, sun-dried tomato, and lemon bruschetta and some shaved, aged Parmesan topping. I also had a few lightly steamed asparagus spears and an ear of bi-color corn. I loved how the lemon in the bruschetta gave off a pleasing aroma as it sat on the warm pasta. The crisp, fresh bite of the asparagus was a lovely contrast and what isn’t to love about a gold and white ear of sweet corn?

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Of course, it’s different not having someone to converse with over the evening meal. I don’t have TV and I swear I’ll never eat another meal in front of one as long as I live. So, I read some of an Oprah magazine. The topic? Loving the age you are! How wonderful life is. I hope you all have a grand evening, as well.

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Ginny

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#grief, #widow, #travel, #dining

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-15T02:00:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/15/bear-creek-falls-above-the.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/15/red-mountain-pass-on-the.html", "title": "RED MOUNTAIN PASS ON THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY", "content_html": "\"Red\n

Another shot from The Grand Adventure, Part 2. My friend, Sue, and I had just watched the Iron Horse Classic where crazy people race the train from Durango to Silverton. For those of you who have driven that, you know what a major deal that would be. For those who have done it, I’m sorry I called you crazy. :-)

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-15T02:00:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/15/red-mountain-pass-on-the.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/12/great-horned-owl-rocky-mountain.html", "title": "GREAT HORNED OWL: ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK", "content_html": "\"Great\n

When Mr. Virgo and I traveled, we were always on the lookout for wildlife…which we seldom saw. This trip is amazing…wildlife around every corner…literally!!! Thank you, sweetheart! \"\"

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-12T02:00:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/12/great-horned-owl-rocky-mountain.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/12/sisters-on-the-fly-and.html", "title": "SISTERS ON THE FLY AND MY TOW-WANDA SAVED ME", "content_html": "\"Sisters\n

And there she is….TOW-Wanda! Dressed in all her finery at the “Home on the Grange” event for Sisters on the Fly! I knew that coat was going to come in handy some day!

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-12T02:00:51-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/12/sisters-on-the-fly-and.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/12/old-homestead-sylvan-lake-state.html", "title": "OLD HOMESTEAD, SYLVAN LAKE STATE PARK - EAGLE, COLORADO", "content_html": "\"Old\n

Tomorrow is my 60th birthday. I never dreamed when I celebrated my 59th that it would be my last birthday with Mr. Virgo. It’s funny how just when you thought you had it all figured out, life hands you something you need to learn how to handle to survive. But, as my dear friend Patty tells me, it’s not whether you survive that counts. It’s whether you can thrive that counts…a sort of “Bloom where you are planted” theory. I like that. So, here’s what I did today. I went out and bought a fly-fishing rod and reel and booked a guided wade trip for July 18th when the Green Drakes are hatching and I’m going to learn a new skill that will not only give me something fun to do, but will also help me meet other like-minded individuals to expand my social circle. I’m telling you, if my 60’s are as much fun as my 50’s were, I’m in for a heck of a treat!!!

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-12T02:00:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/12/old-homestead-sylvan-lake-state.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/06/11/the-grand-adventure-continues.html", "title": "THE GRAND ADVENTURE CONTINUES", "content_html": "\"Desert\n

Wow, the last couple of weeks flew by. I stayed off the grid for most of it. I didn’t have electricity, cell service or Internet and I’m telling you, there’s something to be said for getting away from everything. I went first to the Front Range to stay the night then off to my first Sisters on the Fly Event, which was a complete blast! I met some great gals. We had an event at the Altona Grange and gave tours of our trailers and raised money for both the Grange and for Casting for Recovery, a charity that provides fly fishing expeditions for breast cancer patients and survivors. On Sunday, 6/2, I drove on up to Rocky Mountain National Park and stayed two nights, then back to Denver to watch the grandchildren. We “practice camped” in their other grandma’s driveway. What a hoot! Then on Thursday night, I drove up into the Poudre Canyon. I guess I really didn’t know how bad the fire was up there last year. It was pretty devastated. I stayed one night in Dutch George Campground near the west end of the canyon where the fire damage wasn’t so bad. I love sleeping next to a river…very soothing.

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While I’ve been on this trip, I have seen more wildlife than all of our travels combined with the exception of the trip to Yellowstone last year. Dan was the on that always saw bears when we lived in Pagosa Springs and I never saw one in Colorado, and I’ve lived here since 1975. So, I was talking to Mr. Virgo and thanked him for bringing all the animals to me to see on this trip. Then I chided him for not bringing me a bear. Last Friday morning I left early to head west toward Steamboat Springs. I was on CO 14 heading west and if you have never been over that way, you MUST put it on your bucket list. You climb and climb till to reach the top of Cameron Pass which is over 10,000 feet. There’s a reservoir at the top that was still half frozen so I parked in the lot to give the engine a chance to cool down. After awhile I took off down the other side. Just a little ways down, there is a pull off where you can get an amazing view and then the road has a sharp turn to the right. Just as I cam around that turn, there was the most beautiful, BIG bear standing alongside the road, not 15 feet from me. I reached for my camera and the disk was full! Argh! By the time I got my cell cameral open and ready, he just went right over the side of the bank and out of view. Mr. Virgo brought me my bear and I suppose it was just for him and me to have. Pretty neat!

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When I got to Steamboat, I decided to keep going up to Steamboat Lake State Park and camped there for two days. I left there yesterday morning and decided to squeeze one more day into the trip and stayed at Sylvan Lake State Park south of Eagle. I have driven by that sign a zillion times and never went there. WOW! If you haven’t been there, that is another thing to put on your bucket list. The most amazing thing about it was the lack of pine beetle damage. So many places are just devastated with the majority of the pine trees dead and it’s been long enough now that they are falling and being removed. The valley up by Sylvan Lake honestly looks like Colorado did before the pine beetle infestation. The only bad part was, even on a Sunday, it was pretty packed, pretty noisy, and very smoky.

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I got up early today and headed home. It’s so hot here compared to the alpine campgrounds I’ve been staying in. I emptied out the car and the trailer and everything is where I left it in the living room. Tomorrow I’ll start putting it away and doing laundry. Part 2 of the Grand adventure is over. I have met many wonderful people. I have made some great connections for my jewelry. But one of the best things that happened was connecting with women, telling them of my loss, and demonstrating to them that just because our spouses die, doesn’t mean we do and there is no reason why we can’t move forward, with whatever means we have available, and still have a life and create more joyful memories. I have tons of pictures and I found that I can’t put too many out at a time or it floods your page. So, while I am fussing around the house over the next couple of weeks, preparing for Part 3 of the Grand Adventure, I will post some of the better shots of Parts 1 and 2.

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In the meantime, the Ritz Carlton where Mr. Virgo worked, is having a memorial service for him tomorrow and will plant a tree and place a plaque in his memory. This of course brings up lots of feelings, but now I can think of the happy things we did together and when I talk to people about him, I glow and tell people how wonderful he was and how grateful I am that I had him in my life. I am looking forward to the conversations I will have with his coworkers tomorrow.

\n", "date_published": "2013-06-11T02:00:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/06/11/the-grand-adventure-continues.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Sisters on the Fly","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/05/23/time-flies.html", "title": "TIME FLIES", "content_html": "

You know you are having a grand vacation when you have no idea what day it is! Well, either that or I’m getting that “Old Timer’s Disease”! I’ve taken some great pictures but have not been anywhere near wi-fi to post them. I arrived in Durango yesterday, did a little retail therapy, met up with my good friend, Sue Hakanson and went out for dinner. Stayed up late catching up. I browsed more stores today and went to the park and made some more jewelry and garden markers. I love my portable studio! Meeting Sue again tonight and taking the trailer to Dolores. The 4 day weekend is jam packed with fun events…pedicures, dining, Ouray, Orvis Hot Springs, Silverton for the Iron Horse bike race…..just fun, fun, fun! Will be heading home for a couple of days on either Monday or Tuesday then off to the Front Range for a Rockies game and my first Sisters on the Fly event! I’ll post pics later!

\n", "date_published": "2013-05-23T02:00:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/05/23/time-flies.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/05/20/treasure-falls.html", "title": "TREASURE FALLS", "content_html": "
\"Treasure
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Day 8, 9, & 10: Grand Adventure - Part 1
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Well, as you can tell, the internet doesn't work at the RV park in Pagosa Springs. Hooray for Libraries! I had a beautiful drive down on Saturday. Another Colorado blue blaster day! As I was coming over Poncha Pass I was reminded of the first time Mr. Virgo and I traveled to Pagosa for the job interview that led us to move there. We drove through a blizzard so bad that he watched the GPS and told me when the next turn was coming! Oh my gosh, that had to be the worst conditions I have ever driven in since moving here in 1986. When we finally got to Pagosa, he had to force his door open because there was about an inch of ice frozen over the whole car. He had to spray it all down to melt off enough to open the other doors. Ahhh, the memories!
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This cold or allergies or whatever it is has really kicked my hiney this weekend and I slept a lot. Not a bad thing, but I'm not doing the adventurous things I had hoped to do. I went to the hot springs yesterday for a soak (NOT as clean as the ones in Glenwood, for those of you who are interested.). Then I had one of the best massages I have ever had! I got some lunch and went back to the trailer and thought I would just lay down for a few minutes to read and 5 HOURS later I woke up. I believe I am on the other side of the worst of it and things are looking up from here!
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Today, I met my friend Jenny for lunch. What a treat! We worked together for the year we lived here and it was so nice to catch up. She told me another gal we worked with, Sherri, worked at the bakery so I stopped to visit her while I had a nice cup of tea. (Oh, by the way...that was while it was SNOWING outside! Only lasted for 5 minutes, but still...it was white stuff coming out of the sky where there is no earthly reason for it to on May 20th!) Such a nice day.
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I have been thinking a lot about the grief process and have come to the conclusion it is much like childbirth. Once you get into it, you can only move forward. And, you can read all about it and take classes and talk to a hundred people, but when it is your turn, you do what comes naturally, just like you do when giving birth. I no longer feel the crushing pain I felt initially. I don't cry as much as I did. I can think of something my husband said or that we did together and smile now, at least more often than not. I was talking with my friend at lunch about this today and she shared something she felt when she was grieving the loss of someone she loved. She said when she got to the point where I am right now, she was ready to join the human race again...to move past that initial phase of numbness. But she was concerned about what others might think. Would they think she was being callous and unfeeling? Would they think she maybe didn't care for her loved one the way she said she had? Would they think she had forgotten him or was denying her true feelings? Maybe she didn't grieve the right way or the length of time that was considered appropriate? I can relate to this. I am ready to stop rending my garments and live my life and explore and figure out who I want to be this time around. What do I want my legacy to look like? Do I really need this big house to rattle around in and spend a fortune on upkeep, not to mention the time and energy it takes to maintain it? Do I really need all this...stuff? This in no way means I have forgotten Mr. Virgo. It doesn't mean that I don't wish with all my heart that things were different and he could share this journey with me. What it means is, HE died...I didn't. And he would kick my behind into next week if he thought I was sitting home in the dark while the world went on without me.
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So, that's where I am today. Looking towards the horizon ahead of me, wondering what is over the next hill that I can learn from and experience. I am so thrilled you are traveling with me! Today's picture is of the mist coming off of Treasure Falls near Pagosa Springs.
\n", "date_published": "2013-05-20T02:00:18-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/05/20/treasure-falls.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/05/17/collegiate-peaks.html", "title": "COLLEGIATE PEAKS", "content_html": "\"Collegiate\n

Here’s a view of the Collegiate Peaks without the trailer in the way. Isn’t this stunning? This was taken Day 6 of the Grand Adventure, Part 1.

\n", "date_published": "2013-05-17T02:00:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/05/17/collegiate-peaks.html", "tags": ["Travel","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/05/17/days-of-the-grand-adventure.html", "title": "DAYS 6 \u0026 7 OF THE GRAND ADVENTURE", "content_html": "\"Small\n

Days 6 & 7 of the Grand Adventure, Part One:

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I got a good early start yesterday and drove to Salida. Stopped at Mr. Virgo’s and my favorite breakfast place on that stretch of road. We used to stop there all the time when we lived in Pagosa Springs. What a gorgeous, sunny, blue-blaster day! I stopped and took this photo of TOW-Wanda parked at the scenic overlook near Buena Vista. Those are the Collegiate Peaks behind her.

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Got to the RV park and backed my trailer into her spot, slick as a whistle! I am right by the Arkansas River and fortunately it’s early in the season so there are no bugs. Unfortunately, I caught my OWN kind of bug. I stayed with family in Denver and they had been passing something around and of course, by the time I got here, I was sick. :-( I haven’t done much more than sleep and read, but you know, there is not much prettier a place to be if you aren’t feeling well. I’m loaded up on Zyrtec and Aleve and made myself a big, spicy bowl of soup and I’m feeling much better.

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I went into town to visit my friend, Emile. She is doing so well and her consignment shop, Free the Monkey, is going gangbusters. If you ever find yourself in Salida, look her up. (I bought a beautiful black sweater from Jones New York for 7.95!) Had a little emotional moment today. Whenever Dan and I traveled, we always bought a Christmas ornament to remind us of where we had been. There is a little Christmas store here and I went in to browse, and carry on the tradition. I looked around and went back in the back to have a tearful moment, then came back out and chose a beautiful metallic-embossed aspen leaf. Mr. Virgo loved aspen trees. As I was leaving the shop, there was a Western themed tree and there, hanging just for me to see was…an armadillo. Now, you wouldn’t think that was funny, but I burst out laughing. Mr. Virgo used to tell me a story about the armadillos in Texas. His golden retriever would chase them. Then he would mimic the sound the armadillo made as it ran and I’d lose it laughing at him…this big, mountain man going “nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn”. So, I bought that one too and will laugh every time I see it!

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Tomorrow, I’m up early and heading to Pagosa Springs. I am really looking forward to hanging out at the hot springs and soaking! Maybe a massage? Once I get settled there I can work on some jewelry and herb garden markers. Talk to you soon!

\n", "date_published": "2013-05-17T02:00:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/05/17/days-of-the-grand-adventure.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/05/13/the-grand-adventure.html", "title": "THE GRAND ADVENTURE", "content_html": "

The snow is melting in the high country and I am off on an adventure…The Grand Adventure, to be exact. I tried reading self-help grief books and they just did not speak to me so I am going to go out and grieve in my own way…one campfire at a time! My first stop has been in Denver to visit with my family and get my camper stocked up for my trip. My mail is being held. My neighbor’s are keeping an eye out on the house. My only responsibility it to me…to listen to my heart and follow where it leads. TOW-Wanda!

\n", "date_published": "2013-05-13T02:00:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/05/13/the-grand-adventure.html", "tags": ["Grief","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure"] } ] }