PET FEEDER FOR YOUR AGING DOG

Do you have an aging doggie who needs a little assist here and there these days?  My little Yoshi is 15 and slowing down. We decided he needed to have his bowls a little higher for comfort.  First I ordered one on the internet. When it arrived he could have slept in it. It was returned.

 So I decided to see what I could create.  I stopped in at Hobby Lobby and picked up a plastic basket. I turned it upside down and pasted a layer of hobby foam on the bottom. You could also use the skid proof shelf lining, but I thought this would be harder to clean.  I trimmed the foam to fit into the ridge on the bottom of the basket and then glued it down.  The final product was perfect! I put it on his dinner mat to prevent slipping on the tile floor, and presto! It was the perfect height and my little man seems to love it.  Total cost, $7.95 ( I went for the high end basket) but I'm sure you can get one for $1 at the Dollar Store!  Size the basket for your dog's height. This one is 5" tall, but you can find any size and accommodate your pet's favorite bowls.

BACK IN BLOGGER-LAND

Hello out there! It's been a long time since I have posted to my blog! In fact, I thought it had been deleted! I attended the Newmar Kountry Klub International Rally where I reconnected with The Geeks on Tour, and Chris Guld asked me a simple question... "Do you still have your blog?" I didn't know the answer, so I decided to find out. I went looking for my blog. It was there, but I couldn't seem to get into it.  Interestingly enough, I thought it had been deleted, but in reality it was just hiding from me! After a nudge from the Geeks, I found it! As it turns out, I forgot that I had two Google Accounts! Long story short... it was still there. Since it was the start of our journey more than 4 years ago, I decided to go back to the beginning and continue the journey.

We have been primarily in the Orlando area, working at Disney and living in our MoHo. We actually acquired a smaller vehicle, which was appropriately dubbed "Little Mo" for a business that Geoff started, inspecting RVs, sort of like a home inspection for a Motor Home!  Life is good and we continue to make it up as we go along.


Our first stop on the Rally trail was in Crozet, VA at Misty Mountain RV Resort. Inspired by the recent RV pad we bought in Florida, we decided to collect treasured VA River Bottom Rock to complete a waterfall in out Florida garden.  Like a scene out of "The Long, Long Trailer" we collected our rocks, (with the permission of our hosts,) and loaded it in out tow car. Needless to say, the Fit has smelled like a river bottom for the rest of the trip! I can't wait to get started on our waterfall!



After a visit to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, and a round of golf, we moved on to a High School reunion back in Lynchburg, VA at Holy Cross Regional School.  We parked up on the school parking lot and hosted the Pre- and Post-Reunion party for the Class of '73, officially marking the "Turning 60 Year." We were a graduating class of 38, small but mighty!

Note car full of river bottom rock!

While in we made a side trip to Roanoke to meet my new Great-nephew, Gideon Whitt!  Gideon is a happy little boy and a flight to meet. We're hoping to welcome him to "the most magical place on earth" one of these days!

From Lynchburg we moved on to the Newmar Kountry Klub International Rally in Lewisburg, West Virginia. We had a blast catching up with friends we have met along the way, including our friends, the Geeks.

Home Sweet Home...sort of

We are alive and well in Florida!  Have you missed us?  For those of you who wondered, what the heck happened to those Bakers, we got to Florida for Christmas and liked it, so we are still here! I know, you guys up north all had a very mild winter but one does not make a trend!  We have established our residency in Florida on a concrete pad at Thousand Trails Campground in Clermont, Florida. It gives us a place to leave the spare car (which we re-appropriated from Sarah) when we travel and gives us a place to call home.

Geoff quickly found buses to drive here carrying happy little campers to and from the vacations of their dreams. No, he's not working for Disney, he's working for MEARS, the company that does all of Disney's transportation outside the parks. He loves it, and no, he will not be returning to PA to drive!  People have asked us how long we will be here. Our response is... "Until we're not."  We have a lot of Florida to explore, and we're planning a trip to Virginia in June for my 35th Reunion at Mary Washington College.


I have been busy building my SendOutCards business with workshops and other events at Thousand Trails while building my network in Orlando. I also opted for a Disney Annual Pass, as the options for Florida residents are irresistible, but more on that later!


on our way to the Techno-Geek Learning Rally in Bushnell FL next week, to get a "geek-over," but more on that in my next post.  I hope you are all enjoying spring wherever you find yourself.


Laura & Geoff ( and our little dog too!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  It seems like forever since I have been in communication! 

Sarah flew in to join us and we spent a lovely Thanksgiving in Columbia, SC with our friends, Bill & Carol Buck and their family. Then it was on a NC/SC Newmar Rally - Christmas at the Beach - in Myrtle Beach. We had a great time with our Newmar friends and as usual, enjoyed Myrtle Beach.  Then it was on to Orlando to spend Christmas in the sunshine and the shadow of Disney.  We spent Christmas Eve at Universal Studios munching on fish and chips at The Three Broomsticks and riding the Harry Potter ride ... followed by Midnight Mass and  We rung in the New Year with our new friends at Thousand Trails with music and dancing.  

The holidays are over and we are  busily creating the future. Actually, the future is NOW and it's time to GET UP AND GET BUSY!  Geoff has taken a position with a company here in Orlando that he really loves. He's driving coaches for Mears Transportation, taking people to and from their dream vacations.  I, on the other hand, am focusing on building my SendOutCards business.  I just returned from Salt Lake City this weekend where the company announced exciting new options to grow the business.  SendOutCards is on it's way to becoming a household name!  If you haven't sent a card on me, please go to my website at www.LauraSendsCards.com and send one now! It will get printed, stuffed and stamped, and mailed first class with my compliments!

So here we are in Orlando, enjoying the sunshine and settling in for the Winter.  In order to keep from moving around so much while Geoff is working, we have taken a seasonal site at Thousand Trails in Clermont, FL, just down the road from Disney! So if you are vacationing in the area, let us hear from you! Our phone numbers and e-mail haven't changed.

PS: for those of you who followed Yoshi's surgery, he has fully recovered and has more energy than ever.  He has made many new friends here in the park and loves everything except the "sand-spurs".

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Laura, Geoff and Yoshi

ROLLING VS. ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES!

It’s been an interesting few weeks back in PA. Because of Yoshi's surgery and recovery, we ended up extending our time in the area. Yesterday he got a clean bill of health from Dr. Sadanaga at VRC in Malvern. We told him that Yoshi had a blog so he better get it right! Hi stitches would rival anything in my quilt guild! As it turns out Yoshi's tumor was not cancer, lucky little doggie, but it's out all the same.

While I was in the region I had the opportunity to attend a number of DBE (Daughters of the British Empire) events, including the Pennsylvania State Cocktail Party, The Annapolis Fashion Show and the NJ State Luncheon. All lovely events and a good deal of money raised for The Victoria Home in Ossining NY.

We spent our last weekend at the Jersey Shore.  On Friday we visited with Sister James Dolores at Villa Maria by the Sea, the IHM Retreat House in Stone Harbor. Sister James taught at Villa Maria Oak Lawn in Lynchburg Virginia from 1958 to 1966, where my sister and I both graduated.  Sister James is affectionately termed the Mayor of Stone Harbor and is perhaps best known locally for the fundraiser & surfing competition held each year on the “Nun’s Beach” in front of the Retreat House. We were absolutely “wow-ed” by the renovations that she has managed to accomplish over the last 13 years in full-time residence at the shore. She hopes to re-dedicate the newly renovated Chapel next spring upon completion of the stained glass windows rejuvenation and painting.

We set out yesterday for SC but alas, on the beltway in DC the alternator on the MoHo failed. We managed to get it to a Cummins shop in Manassas and by the end of the day today we were back on the road, albeit a day behind schedule.

Tomorrow we will pick up Sarah at the airport in Columbia and join our friends for some Thanksgiving cheer before heading to Myrtle Beach for some golf and hot-tub time at the Marriott Ocean Watch, but more on that later.

We have learned by now that full-time RVing is as much “rolling with the punches” as it is rolling on the road!  Both are part of the experience to be savored.  To our friends, family and fellow RVers, we hope you are spending Thanksgiving in good company enjoying the good life!

On the Road Again!

The Bakers

HALLOWEEN IN THE NORTHEAST...REALLY!

Halloween at Croton-On-Hudson, NY

We spent an eventful Halloween on the Hudson River with an Airstream Rally. Since power went out across the region we were all on generators, but that certainly didn't deter the Airstreamers. They invited us to join their festivities and, of course, we accepted!  They had a propane heated tent!!

Victoria Home, Ossining, NY

In case you are wondering, the reason that we are still in the northeast is because I held a meeting of the Eastern District of the Daughters of the British Empire, the organization that funds and operates four retirement homes in the US, including the Victoria Home in Ossining NY. In spite of the weather, we had an impressive turnout at the Home, even though we had to shorten the meeting once the snow was in full force.  My appreciation and apologies to those who had an arduous trip home.

We made our way back to Pennsylvania last Monday and hung out in the Walmart in Exton. There's a secluded area that RVs can park and be barely noticed, not to mention walking distance to restaurants and shops! You can't beat it.  While we were there Geoff got a few more divots taken out of his scalp and back by the Dermatologist to prevent future skin problems.

Now it looks like Yoshi may need some further medical attention, which may delay our departure from the Northeast!  He had an ultrasound on Friday and they shaved his belly, so we got him a "tres chic" sweater to cover the damage. He will have a biopsy next week to determine the nature of  a bladder tumor and if he needs surgery.  You can visit his facebook page at Yoshi's Great Adventure and leave him your words of encouragement!

It's great to be back on the east coast and we are ready to head south!  Keep your fingers crossed that Yoshi's tumor will be benign and his issues manageable. 

We are enjoying the hospitality to  The Elk's Lodge #2576 where there are 4 Big Rig friendly sites (2 with 30 amp/2 with 30/50 amp) and a bunch of frinedly people! We played the nearby Blue Heron Golf Course Today and are getting ready to join the "Shotgun Bingo" tonight!  This is what life looks like when it's working!!!!

Hugs from all!
Laura, Geoff and Yoshi on the Road... 

GO IRISH! and IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK!

Sr. C and Farley on the move.

Before we left Indiana we took a little road trip to South Bend, Indiana to visit Sr. Carrine... and her little dog (Farley) too! Sister "C" as she is known gave us a tour of the Notre Dame campus that she has called home for the last 19 years.  Sister "C" is the Rector of Farley Hall and has picked up her PhD along the way. We had a real introduction to the landmarks at ND, including "Touchdown Jesus" (sorry, no picture.) 

It was so great to catch up and share stories from our Villa reunion in 2009.  Sister C couldn't make the reunion because it was a home game at ND... understandable!

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame.  What a gorgeous church. I don't know when I've seen a more spectacular tabernacle.

Here we are back in PA!  It's feels a little like what it must be like for the astronauts when they re-enter the earth's atmosphere! All at once we're back in the middle of everything!  We will be in and out for a few days at a time over the next few weeks, seeing a few doctors, making a few social engagements, then it will be off on a southern migration!

 

We are really enjoying the fall colors. tomorrow we are off to the Poconos for a few days. We should be very near the peak, so stay tuned for some great color pictures. Then it's off to the Hudson River for a week, and back in West Chester for a few days in early November.

It's great to be with friends. A special thanks to Caroline & Jim Hilton, whose driveway we are in at the moment!

All the best,

Laura, Geoff & Yoshi!