Making a decision!

After several weeks of searching online when the internet would work, numerous calls and visits to private sellers, and numerous dealers. The search started. As i stated in the previous post, a motor home was the choice we wanted and esp a diesel engine because of the more power and the engine would last longer. We’d like to explore more areas of beautiful areas but Ms. Southwind struggles with hills, we couldn’t imagine taking her up and down the mountains. Also because of the steps was a huge issue for me. Well after looking, emailing and finding out that most newer motor homes have more steps then the older units. Not only that but the diesel coaches have the door in front of the passenger seat and we both found entry was much harder then MS. Southwind. A tow vehicle that gets good gas mileage are going pretty high right now and are very hard to find. It seems Americans are now thinking more about the economy then size, comfort and what looks good. When i did find a diesel motor home that would fit our needs it was either sold or had numerous problems and we’d be back to where we were now with Ms. Southwind.

Hubby decided to just look at used trucks online as he has wanted another truck ever since i traded his truck for a car i could get in and out of. He was shocked the prices he was seeing on diesel trucks. So then he started looking at fifth wheels as they have been his desire and choice from the time we have started this journey. His preference has been the fifth wheel setup. Because of the steps and other circumstances we opted out and went with the motor home setup. At the time it fit our needs the best. The decision was made to take a day and just look at diesel trucks and fifth wheels. We were amazed the options we had available and how easily the steps were for me compared to the motor homes. Not only that but if the need arises hubby can build me a set of sturdy wooden steps that he can put in the back of the truck.

After getting up very early, going several hundreds of miles and spending 3 days of none stop searching for the right home and vehicle for us. We arrived home tonight exhausted and overwhelmed. We decided to pray some more and ask God for his guidance and so as i write this tonight we still have major decisions to make. We have to decide on what we actually want in all the options that are available to us. It's amazing how God has opened up so many options for us. We have prayed, had others pray for us and really tried to listen to what God wants us to do in this decision making. It’s a huge step for us.

Once again you will have to stay tuned and see what is in the future of the Southwind Adventures. Until next time … have a good one

Life's turns in the road

What a few weeks it has been. Life sure can throw many wrenches into one's path and making hard decisions can be such a challange.

As you all know i have posted about being happy and content inside Ms. Southwind. Not wanting a larger home to live in, not wanting to deal with slide outs, not caring what others think of my home that i love and all that stuff. My hubby on the other hand hasn't felt the same as me for some time. He feels confined at times, would like a bed he could stretch his legs out in, a ceiling that doesn’t feel like is on top of him and esp a home he doesn’t have to duck his head to keep from hitting it. But most importantly a home that meets our daily needs to survive.

I told you back in December about the air conditioner going out, the furnace, There are other major items that need to be repaired. Just last week we had to order 2 new tires and the front end will be aligned as well. We are waiting for the new tires to arrive. So right now Ms. Southwind is not moveable. Living our lifestyle that is not good.

Well little did i know there was new plans in our future. Hubby and I had been discussing the pro’s and con’s of repairing Ms. Southwind to the correct working condition. She is 24 yrs old and more and more things are going to continue to go wrong. Esp moving up and down the road and being used on a daily basis. Hubby has noticed recently several pieces of rust laying underneath and around Ms. Southwind. Rust is becoming much worse underneath and who knows what problems will occur from that. There are other issues that i have not mention as the list goes on and on. It’s been a ruff winter for Ms. Southwind as her age is beginning to catch up with her as she begins to fade down hill fast.

Well after much prayer and consideration of how we want to continue to live our lives. Do we want to move into a stick/brick home and be back to the expenses, putting up with neighbors and being stuck in one place or do we want to continue our journey of exploring and roaming our beautiful country. We weighed the pro’s and con’s. If something happened to one of us what did the other want to do with their life as they moved forward? It was something we both needed to take a good hard look at.

The decision was made .. neither of us wanted to be tied to one place .. neither of us wanted to give up our freedom of moving our home where ever we felt God wanted us to go or even where we ourselves desired to go. Living life on the road of freedom these past 3 yrs have made us realize that we enjoy the freedom. Yes at times there are hardships, esp when something goes wrong. Yes at times you miss your family, with many other things we had to take into consideration happening in our lives in the end, living life on the road where ever home is parked won out.

The decision to start looking at newer rigs was made. We started looking on line and doing some calling around. We first only started looking at gas motor homes. After talking to numerous other motor home owners and our own experience with Ms. Southwind the decision was made to look at diesel RV’s. We found several we liked and it was amazing how close in price they were to the gas RV’s. Every time we found a rig we thought we'd like it would either be already sold or major problems. We also knew that Mrs. Mercury is going to have to be replaced very soon. She is experiencing many things that are in need of repair. Mrs. Mercury has rolled over to 160,000 miles! Her air conditioner doesn’t work and the heater can not be turned off unless you unhook hoses and re connect other hoses. She has a little man inside the dash that never shuts up! He talks from the time she is started to the time you turn her off. We have grown use to the little man but at times he is very annoying! The window is getting worse from our Florida trip .. remember that huge bridge and the horrible wind?

So it’s been decided to look for a new home and tow vehicle because of too many costly repairs. You will have to stay tuned and see what is next in the future of southwind adventures.

where are you?

Okay i haven’t posted in a few weeks due to being down in the back with the cold weather and snow. Then last week i was busy all week long and internet, cell phone and TV reception has been horrible here the past week. I’m surprised to even get this posted.

I did have a some what stressful, exhausting, exciting and in the end thankful week last week. There were so many emotions packed into one week.

Your going to have to wait a bit longer as I am not going to share the news with you all just yet. You will have to wait another week or so to find out .. hmm exciting huh?

I hope your all having a great day

Another snow storm!

Wow, it’s been awhile since i posted but it’s been cold here and i’ve been under the weather and anther snow storm!!

We ended up with around 4-6”. I am not exactly sure, it only lasted a day and then it warmed up and was a muddy mess.

Happy Valentines Day

Hope you all had a great day .. i spent mine mostly laying in bed and doing some bible study. Since I've been down in my back i can say one good thing is i have been able to get some bible study in. I found several places online that i love going to .. all you need is your computer. If you’d like to check them out here they are .. http://www.biblegateway.com/ … http://www.biblestudytools.com/

Here is my gift to you all for V-day. Yep .. heart balloons .. Hope your day was a great one and until next time …

Look it Got to 50!

I have spent most of day taking it easy, my back is still giving me trouble. Although i am happy to say the temp did reach 50 degrees today! I prefer the 60's but i'm not going to complain it's much better then 35 yesterday!

Hopefully it will start warming up and my back will let me get out and enjoy life. I"m sick of being stuck inside and eating everything in site ... until next time ....

Look what Texas Got?

Look what we woke up to this morning!! Hmmm snow in Texas?

Yes I’m still down in the back big time. Yesterday i went to devotions with the ladies but barely made it through and once i got home it was back to bed on the heating pad! Ughh this back!! I spent my entire afternoon and evening in bed and most of this morning. In fact i am posting from bed right now.

This is pretty and they have showed on TV that there are some pretty happy kids .. but my back isn’t liking it and I'm so ready for sunshine!!

A Day of fun

I felt better today so I got up early and got dressed and got my laundry done. They are predicting rain and cold for the rest of the week and i was concerned how the back would hold out since it’s been giving me fits. Of course doing my laundry wasn’t fun but a job that had to be done.

After lunch the fun started. The sun was out and it was a bit on the windy side but tolerable. I was sick of being stuck inside and needed to get out. Hubby and i went to see the piggy’s and they were all basking in the sun.

Of course once mama started yelling they were up and in a mad dash to get to her first.

It was so cute to watch them scramble and trying to get through the fence to reach mama. It brought back such wonderful memories of our farm days when we used to raise piggy’s.

Later it was back to Ms. Southwind as my back was starting to ache and sting again. Ooops it wasn’t ready for a laundry & an afternoon of fun. I decided today to open the dash curtains and check out my flowers and i just had to take some more flower pictures … LOOK!!

This White flower is some type of annual that i planted in Florida and then took it with me when i left. It’s planted in with my rose bush. I was shocked today when i seen it had a bloom.

I knew my geranium had several buds but look how beautiful it is … i am so enjoying these flowers this winter. From now on all my flowers will stay indoors for the winter months. Look what I've missed out on by leaving them outside to fend for themselves.

Still down in the back!

Ughhh i guess i over did it this weekend because i woke up in the middle of the night to go potty and wow, my back is spasm and hurting big time.

I spent the entire day Monday in bed or on the couch on a heating pad. Although i couldn’t of done much of anything else because around lunch time the rain started and it poured buckets. In no time Ms. Southwind was surrounded by water and the poor dogs even had to jump out of Ms. Southwind into about an inch of water. My rug was floating.

Today i have felt better and picked up a bit but i am still taking it easy. My back is very tender and still stinging and burning so until it lets up i will be spending all my time resting inside Ms. Southwind

Hope your all having a good week and until next time …

My weekend

Saturday i had to do laundry. So I spent my morning getting it washed and folded. Later in the afternoon a trip to town to get weekly groceries was in order as well. That night was spent resting as my back is still giving me trouble.

Sunday i got up and went to church after church i went out for lunch at Ryan’s. I don’t believe I've eaten at Ryan’s. It was good but bit on the pricey side in my opinion. Although conversation and fellowship was great. Ron, Dorothy and a new couple Dale & Mona.

My evening was spent doing absolutely nothing and no i did not watch the super bowl as it wasn’t on any of the local channels that i get on the tube.

I am very excited for the Saints and glad that they won. Sorry Colts fans.

Hope you all had a great evening and until next time …

Look at my Flowers!

I haven’t felt good this week, the weather is a bit on the cool side for me and my back has me basically stuck in bed. Ughh I did take a few pictures of my flowers. Look how much this one has grown since the last picture i posted (1-22-10). The best part is look at all the buds on it and I'm so excited and can’t wait til see the blooms. I’ve had this plant since Florida and it was given to me by a friend who said you can’t kill this one. Well he was right so far. My rose bush has a few buds on it as well.

The red blooms have been beautiful on this flower and now the pink ones are blooming ..

Look at the difference a few days can make .. Look at this exact flower now ….

The pink blooms have exploded and it’s absolutely beautiful .. and there are more buds that will be blooming soon. The Texas sun has been good for my flowers. I’m keeping them inside until the chance of freezing temps are gone. It’s made all the difference in my plants.

Today was a beautiful day with the sun shining and temps warm enough to open the door. Although they are predicting a bit on the cooler side again soon. I’m ready for winter to be over and for the sun to come out and dry up all of this rain.

At least i am feeling better and hopefully tomorrow i can get my laundry done and Ms. Southwind cleaned up. Hope your having a great one and staying warm … until next time ….

Still Down in the Back!

I have been down in my back all week long. I have spent the entire week so far in bed and doing absolutely nothing! The weather Mon & Tues was a bit on the cool side .. high 40’s to low 50’s and last night the rain started and today it has rained most of the day and there is a water all around Ms. Southwind and a pond in front.

Until this back let’s up i am stuck in bed. Unfortunately this ole back has to remind me it’s in control and still there.

Hope your week is going better then mine and until next time…..