The Property! July 27, 2011

Finally!   No more just talking about "getting some property" to work on campers. Norm and Jules FOUND the property that they want and are in the process of buying it.

Norm has also already turned in his paperwork telling his bosses that he is retiring in January 2012. What a sweet deal! Sitting around doing nothing and still getting paid! How does THAT work? I need to get a deal like that! Norm told me to put in 28 years like he did and then we can talk about it.

This is it, THE property! Norm & Jules picked out a couple of acres in a small town named Malden before Jules left. Now that Jules is back they are getting all the paperwork signed and finalizing the deal. This is going to be the retirement property where they can work on their old campers and stuff and keep them indoors in the winter. They also are planning on camping on it. I can't wait to move there.

This shot (right) is from the western edge of the property, looking east.

This shot (left) is from the eastern edge of the property, looking west.

This spot is where we will park the campers during the summer. Our own little campground. (The mobile home is just off camera to the right.)

Come spring Norm is planning on building a large barn like thing to work on the campers in. He said he is tired of having to keep covering everything up with tarps when it rains.

Jules told him she didn't care if it was a big building that holds all of the campers or a little one for the one he is working on. Either way, she is going to be in the campground.

The property currently has just a mobile home on it and a metal building that is falling down. 

Talk about a scary place!

Just looking into that shack gave me the willies. No telling what lives in there.

Norm kept bugging me and calling me chicken so I HAD to go in the scary building. I was really nervous, but I did it just to shut him up.

I didn't see anything moving around and I didn't get bit so it was OK. I think Norm wanted me to go in first because he was afraid he would get bit by something. Who's the chicken NOW?

There was a house at one time next to the mobile home. Norm & Jules plan to put up a small log cabin in the future after getting rid of the mobile home. Until then the mobile home will act as a shower house, like at a campground. They are going to do some work on it though to make it nicer while they are using it.

While walking around looking at the mobile home I met a new friend. His name is Jack. He told me he was a donkey but Norm said he was something else that I can't repeat. Its good thing Brock wasn't around to hear Norm when he said it or it would have cost him a dollar for Brock's college fund. 

Jack said he just hangs out near the house. I asked him about the scary building and he said he never goes in there. (Now you tell me...)

Norm and I were suppose to go back out to Malden next week to meet with a guy who takes care of the septic tank. I don't know what a septic tank is but Norm said its probably best that I keep it that way and let the pros take care of it. When I asked Norm what made him a pro he just looked at me funny and said, "I'm paying someone to handle this." I guess that answered my question.

I really wanted to spend more time wandering around on the property and exploring but Norm said we had to get back because it was time to start getting ready for another Vintage Camping Rally. This week we are going to South Bend (Granger) Indiana for the Northern Indiana Rally. That is the rally with naughty gnomes. I'm not a naughty gnome (admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!) so it is going to be interesting to see how things go.

Talk to you soon,

Travis

It's Finally Sunday! July 17, 2011

I didn't think this day would ever get here! We all went to meet Jules at the airport. She only expected Norm to pick her up so it was a surprise when Jules saw all of us. We all were holding our signs and waiting.










Before we left we took some pictures of the signs and Brock was all excited that "Ama" was coming home.

I probably should have taken more pictures, but like Norm, I was too busy hugging Jules. KC's sign was a series of signs. Maybe Joni has some more pictures that I could add.

Sorry it took so long to get this added. It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks! If you are wondering what is wrong with Norm III's face... It is riding his Harley with sunglasses for WAY TOO LONG!! He needs to be out in the sun for a bit without the sunglasses!

What are WE suppose to do? July 13, 2012

OK, I told you early on in this blog (my very first post about my new family) that Jules was the glue that held the family together. She has MORE than proven that statement correct!

I'm really concerned about what we're suppose to do since Jules is out of town. Even Brock is very concerned!

Jules took a trip for two weeks. Yes, just 14 short days. She is in Tennessee. She has been gone for all of 10 days so far and Norm is a basket case! They talk on the phone nightly and they give each other updates about daily happenings. Luckily, Jules comes home this coming Sunday. I didn't know humans can go days on end without eating food!

I've seen Norm eat twice! He made eggs one morning and he ate a frozen dinner thing another day, that's it! The only other thing I saw him eat was when he was sitting on the couch with a Mountain Dew and sunflower seeds. I tell you, I'm starving to death here! I complained Sunday night after he finished off the sunflower seeds KC brought home Saturday afternoon. Norm claimed that he eats at work. Lot of good that does me, he won't take me to work with him. When I mentioned that he works 4 days a week he told me to mind my own business.

I'm not sure what KC & Norm III do for meals though. I think they understand that Norm is basically lost without Jules. Joni, Jason & Brock came over to the pink house on Monday night with food for a cookout. I don't think Norm would have eaten a regular meal if it wasn't for that. I offered to order a pizza for us one night and he told me I had to pay for it. Needless to say I don't carry cash and the pizza guy doesn't take plastic.

Norm & I have been working on a secret project so we have been keeping somewhat busy. I can't show you any pictures of it yet because its a secret. I can tell you about it later and show you the pictures we've been taking as we have been working. I'm sure Norm would thrash me severely if I posted pictures now.

I miss Jules so much that I tried to go see her. When I asked Norm for bus fare he told me to suck it up like the rest of the family or get a job. So I had to devise an alternative way to get him to loosen up on some coin. I told him I was going to send Jules some snacks. He was OK with me rummaging through the cabinets and getting some things together. When I had everything set I asked him if he could mail the container for me. He said he would drop it off at the post office in the morning. Right before he got home from work I put my plan into motion and climbed inside the container. I was all set!

Everything was perfect. On the way to the post office some of the paper packaging tickled my nose and I sneezed. Norm wasn't happy and after finding me hiding said I couldn't send Jules any packages that were bigger than me. I guess I have to wait until Sunday to see her like the rest of the family.

Well, time to get back to work. Besides, running around bugging Norm keeps him on his toes and keeps his mind busy while Jules is gone. Come on Sunday!!!