Another day trip is under our belt. (in more ways than one). But no use jumping to the end of the story so early.
We've made the decision to remove the j-couch in the coach (cleaver wording eh!) and replace it with a new recliner. Not that there was much wrong with the old couch but I really needed a better place to plunk down and think about world hunger and space travel and other things of that magnitude. Nothing fancy ... just a chair that I could fall asleep in in something under 10 minutes. We'd actually begun the chair search about a year ago and have tried out quite a few but nothing (other than that $3500 model) felt good enough to buy. Since there was not much chance in me spending that much cash on a chair we needed to find something. We've committed to have the couch taken out in a couple of weeks when in for annual service, so now we have to quicken the pace in finding that 'perfect', affordable chair.
A little internet work and a few phone calls later we decided to head to RV Mecca (you know ... Elkhart Indiana) to check out a few places that made furniture for the RV industry.
So bright and early we headed south to Elkhart. About an 80 mile trip through the farm lands of northern Indiana. Cows and Deere's, horses and buggies. The corn was already above knee high and could be seen by the hundreds of acres everywhere.
I had created a short list of places to visit and plugged the addresses into the GPS and the search began.
First stop was a factory about 15 miles south of Elkhart. Clean and well maintained outside, I was sure this was going to be a worthwhile stop. Upon entering the spacious, well appointed lobby, I spied the receptionist and politely asked where the showroom was. She quickly noted that they just make the furniture there and did not have a show room. For that, I would need to go back into town to one of the retail stores that sold their products. I'm now thinking that maybe I can work that stop in later in the day but thought I'd at least get something so I asked her if she had ever sat in one of the chairs I was interested in buying. "Oh no sir" she replied. "They don't allow us to sit in the chairs we build here and as a matter of fact I've never even seen one". So now I'm thinking maybe this wasn't just a good idea after all and headed back to the car. Our next stop took us about 10 miles further west ... down more country roads ... past a number of well groomed Amish farms, and black buggies with black horse pulling them along side the road.
Our GPS had us turn down an unpaved road and indicated that the next location was about another 1/2 mile or so to our next destination.
We pulled up to a well maintained building in the middle of farm country. With not a car in the parking lot the row of bicycles hinted that this was an Amish run business. We walked inside only to find a big room with lots of furniture but no people. We browsed around for about ten minutes and finally a young Amish woman appeared and offered help. I had a number of questions that she couldn't readily answer to she went to the back and summoned the owner. A tall bearded man in his mid 30's joined us and introduced himself as the owner. We discussed my concerns and we proceeded to try out about every chair in the show room as we talked. Sharon and I both were impressed with the quality, selection and price and decided to buy two of the chairs and a small table. Each properly sized for our respective butts. Since all the furniture is custom built, we'd have to wait until mid-July to get them. We provided a small down payment and each took a little sigh of relief that our hunt for comfortable chairs was over.
As some of you may already know, chair hunting does work up an appetite so we headed back to Elkhart to find something new. As we motored along I passed this big restaurant out in the middle of nowhere that looked pretty good but be drove along for another mile or so before a light bulb went off and said maybe I should turn around and give that place a try. Luckily there was a small business up ahead to make the turn and as luck would have it it was another Amish place that made furniture. However this time it was outdoor furniture make from engineered plastic composites. Wow! what a selection of chairs, tables, kids play houses ... all available in every color of the rainbow. We browsed around a bit and found a number of pieces we liked but since we'd already committed all our furniture money at the last stop we noted the location and headed back to the restaurant. Arriving at the eatery we went inside and quickly noticed aisle upon aisle of homemade cookies, pies, jams, and canned fruit of kind and description. Beyond the back counter was a bevy of young women in white hats and long gingham dresses scurrying around making sandwiches, baking breads and pies and other things all good and wonderful. We each picked out a sandwich and with a few minutes of the young girls brought out our order. The place was clean. The prices were very reasonable. The the food was great.
Since we had made a commitment to ourselves to at least stop at the remaining stores on our list we continued on and after the last stop knew that we had not been hasty, and had indeed purchased from the right manufacturer. It was a good day.
So another day trip is behind us and we finally have some new chairs on the way ...
Still livin' the dream.
Phil
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Preparation
We're heading out to upstate New York to visit my sister at the 2nd annual Brother's and Sister's weekend over the 4th of July so what better a time than to get the coach into the shop for a little service and extra TLC. Since my grand daughters graduation reception is just prior to the trip east, we figured we could get a few important things done before driving the old Trail Blazer across Canada to northern NY.
Speaking of my grand daughter Allison ... and certainly not to brag ... she is one bright cookie. Not only a honors graduate but she also received several scholarships to attend Grand Valley State University. She has a bright future ahead of her and will certainly continue to make her entire family proud.
I'd created my usual check list for all the things I needed checked out on the coach. I'm sure the service people know all the right things to do but they make me feel better by listening to all my little suggestions and ideas. We got the coach across the state without incident, or so we thought. Arriving on the outskirts of Flint we tackled the famous I69 pothole challenge course that continues for several miles. Three lanes of divots and bomb craters that would probably seem right at home in Baghdad. Well I can tell you there were few of these shock busting holes I missed and before the couple of miles passed the damage was done. I could feel something had given way. Oh well ... at least I was almost in sight of the repair shop. I limped into their parking lot, unhooked the toad and checked in. I think they were kidding when they mentioned that they could now think about taking an early retirement now that my coach was there. They laughed. I pretended I didn't hear them.
So as we drove away from our mobile living quarters for the past 8 months, we were a little sad but also a little apprehensive as to what possible problem awaited us when we arrived at our house. Since previous trips have surprised us with everything from floods to raccoon infestation when arriving after a trip, we are just a little edgy pulling into the drive. As luck would have it this time all was well at the home front. What a relief.
Still livin' the dream.
Phil
Speaking of my grand daughter Allison ... and certainly not to brag ... she is one bright cookie. Not only a honors graduate but she also received several scholarships to attend Grand Valley State University. She has a bright future ahead of her and will certainly continue to make her entire family proud.
I'd created my usual check list for all the things I needed checked out on the coach. I'm sure the service people know all the right things to do but they make me feel better by listening to all my little suggestions and ideas. We got the coach across the state without incident, or so we thought. Arriving on the outskirts of Flint we tackled the famous I69 pothole challenge course that continues for several miles. Three lanes of divots and bomb craters that would probably seem right at home in Baghdad. Well I can tell you there were few of these shock busting holes I missed and before the couple of miles passed the damage was done. I could feel something had given way. Oh well ... at least I was almost in sight of the repair shop. I limped into their parking lot, unhooked the toad and checked in. I think they were kidding when they mentioned that they could now think about taking an early retirement now that my coach was there. They laughed. I pretended I didn't hear them.
So as we drove away from our mobile living quarters for the past 8 months, we were a little sad but also a little apprehensive as to what possible problem awaited us when we arrived at our house. Since previous trips have surprised us with everything from floods to raccoon infestation when arriving after a trip, we are just a little edgy pulling into the drive. As luck would have it this time all was well at the home front. What a relief.
Still livin' the dream.
Phil
Friday, June 15, 2012
Things to do this summer
Lots of activities here in South Haven this weekend. Harborfest (www.southhavenharborfest.com) began today and the weather couldn't be better. Temps in the mid-80's and blue skies await festival goers as the unofficial start of summer begins here in Southwest Michigan. On the shores of the Black River, in downtown South Haven with of backdrop of sail and motor boats, crafters of all types have lined the waterway with their tents filled with treasures of all things cleaver and artsy. And did I mention the food tents? I can personally attest to the pulled pork sandwich from one of the local merchants. As good as any Texas pork I've ever had.
And if you're in the mood for a little fun and lots of chaos, come down and watch teams of 10 folks with big wooden paddles in colorfully painted boats churn up the water in the annual dragon boat races. Stroking to the beat of war drums, these hardy oars people race up and down the river to the excitement of the cheering crowds. The Vikings would be proud.
I think I have finally solved my annual problem of dying flowers. We buy flower baskets to hang and annuals to plant around our lot and we then occasionally leave, to either go back home or visit other parts of the state. Sometimes I remember to ask one of my neighbors to water them ... sometimes I forget. When I forget ... the plants die. Or at least look like they have. So this year I've built a neat little watering system that not only waters the hanging baskets but also the flower boxes ... and even the lawn. Since we return to the same lot each year I thought it worthwhile to keep the place looking decent even when we're not here so this little system should be helpful.
Off to the local irrigation company I go and before long I have a battery powered timer, a bunch of 1/2" tubing, and couple of handfuls of little miniature sprayers and drippers and a vague idea of what I was going to build. I laid out and buried the 1/2" tubing creating two different watering zones. One zone each in the front and back of my site. I then added fittings so as I could hook a common garden hose back to the faucet. On the faucet I added the timer and a pressure reducer to bring the water pressure down to 25 psi. That effort pretty well took up the first day. The next morning I began adding the sprayers and other watering fixtures around the site. It looked all set to try but once I turned the water on I soon discovered which fittings hadn't been tightened down so well. Water was squirting in all the wrong places but after a little tightening, the system finally settled in to what I had planned. So call it cleaver and an engineering marvel or just an exercise in just how lazy retirees can get, but the flowers and grass are thriving during the current drought and heat wave we are experiencing.
So twice a day, for about five minutes, I find my lawn chair, and with a cold drink in hand, observe the fruits of my labor. Water spraying around and making everything green. I can thank my old neighbor Mel for pointing out the pleasures of lawn watering to me several years ago. He certainly had it right.
So the lazy days of summer are upon us and life is good.
Still livin' the dream,
Phil
And if you're in the mood for a little fun and lots of chaos, come down and watch teams of 10 folks with big wooden paddles in colorfully painted boats churn up the water in the annual dragon boat races. Stroking to the beat of war drums, these hardy oars people race up and down the river to the excitement of the cheering crowds. The Vikings would be proud.
I think I have finally solved my annual problem of dying flowers. We buy flower baskets to hang and annuals to plant around our lot and we then occasionally leave, to either go back home or visit other parts of the state. Sometimes I remember to ask one of my neighbors to water them ... sometimes I forget. When I forget ... the plants die. Or at least look like they have. So this year I've built a neat little watering system that not only waters the hanging baskets but also the flower boxes ... and even the lawn. Since we return to the same lot each year I thought it worthwhile to keep the place looking decent even when we're not here so this little system should be helpful.
Off to the local irrigation company I go and before long I have a battery powered timer, a bunch of 1/2" tubing, and couple of handfuls of little miniature sprayers and drippers and a vague idea of what I was going to build. I laid out and buried the 1/2" tubing creating two different watering zones. One zone each in the front and back of my site. I then added fittings so as I could hook a common garden hose back to the faucet. On the faucet I added the timer and a pressure reducer to bring the water pressure down to 25 psi. That effort pretty well took up the first day. The next morning I began adding the sprayers and other watering fixtures around the site. It looked all set to try but once I turned the water on I soon discovered which fittings hadn't been tightened down so well. Water was squirting in all the wrong places but after a little tightening, the system finally settled in to what I had planned. So call it cleaver and an engineering marvel or just an exercise in just how lazy retirees can get, but the flowers and grass are thriving during the current drought and heat wave we are experiencing.
So twice a day, for about five minutes, I find my lawn chair, and with a cold drink in hand, observe the fruits of my labor. Water spraying around and making everything green. I can thank my old neighbor Mel for pointing out the pleasures of lawn watering to me several years ago. He certainly had it right.
So the lazy days of summer are upon us and life is good.
Still livin' the dream,
Phil
Friday, June 8, 2012
A little of this ... a little of that
Okay already. I've been a little remiss in writing but we have been busy. Family gatherings, birthday celebrations, the normal medical checkups ... the list goes on.
I've recently set up my ham radio station at the park and have enjoyed a little chatting around the globe with some of my fellow 'hams'. One of my first contacts was with a commercial airline pilot flying 146 passengers in an Airbus 320 from Saint Lucia to Toronto. He was headed north, about 150 miles off the coast of New York city at 37,000 ft. I've not had the opportunity to talk with any 'jet jockeys' ( or as us hams call them ... 'air mobiles' ) before so this was a real treat. I also managed to install an underground watering system for my plants at the sight we're parked on. Since we'll be gone a bit this summer I thought it might save the flowers. It really isn't all that fancy ... just fun to do. When I leave in the fall I'll just disconnect the hoses and it will be ready for next spring. We're also getting ready to take the coach in for service. You know ... just a few things that will still cost an arm and a leg but need to be done. We're looking for a new recliner for the coach as well. Something for my butt to relax in after a long day of relaxing on the patio.
Just a short note on this evenings activities. My grand daughter Allison will graduate from high school next week but tonight was the annual honors program for outstanding seniors. A packed auditorium with beaming parents and grand parents was filled with joy, happiness, and pride for those honored. I don't know how many kids were being honored but it was a magnificent evening with many receiving scholarship awards (including my grand daughter) that will certainly help in financing these next four years. I must admit that I've been a little down on kids in general for lack of initiative (some may call it laziness), and not knowing what they want to do with their lives, but not this group of young adults. This single Michigan high school senior class was awarded over $2.4 million dollars in scholarship money this year alone. When the principal announced that giant number we were all stunned. So my faith in the younger generation is now soaring and with great pride we are eager to see Allison and her classmates grow and prosper.
So there you have it ... the short version.
Still livin' the dream and so happy to see my grand daughter livin' hers.
Phil
I've recently set up my ham radio station at the park and have enjoyed a little chatting around the globe with some of my fellow 'hams'. One of my first contacts was with a commercial airline pilot flying 146 passengers in an Airbus 320 from Saint Lucia to Toronto. He was headed north, about 150 miles off the coast of New York city at 37,000 ft. I've not had the opportunity to talk with any 'jet jockeys' ( or as us hams call them ... 'air mobiles' ) before so this was a real treat. I also managed to install an underground watering system for my plants at the sight we're parked on. Since we'll be gone a bit this summer I thought it might save the flowers. It really isn't all that fancy ... just fun to do. When I leave in the fall I'll just disconnect the hoses and it will be ready for next spring. We're also getting ready to take the coach in for service. You know ... just a few things that will still cost an arm and a leg but need to be done. We're looking for a new recliner for the coach as well. Something for my butt to relax in after a long day of relaxing on the patio.
Just a short note on this evenings activities. My grand daughter Allison will graduate from high school next week but tonight was the annual honors program for outstanding seniors. A packed auditorium with beaming parents and grand parents was filled with joy, happiness, and pride for those honored. I don't know how many kids were being honored but it was a magnificent evening with many receiving scholarship awards (including my grand daughter) that will certainly help in financing these next four years. I must admit that I've been a little down on kids in general for lack of initiative (some may call it laziness), and not knowing what they want to do with their lives, but not this group of young adults. This single Michigan high school senior class was awarded over $2.4 million dollars in scholarship money this year alone. When the principal announced that giant number we were all stunned. So my faith in the younger generation is now soaring and with great pride we are eager to see Allison and her classmates grow and prosper.
So there you have it ... the short version.
Still livin' the dream and so happy to see my grand daughter livin' hers.
Phil
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)