We had spent the week prior with our friends Ann & Herman visiting all of the thrift stores, Salvation Armys and Goodwills in a 50 mile radius. We found a few things to add to our ever increasing "stuff" collection, but all in all, we reigned in the extraneous spending.
We stayed at Karik Lake in the Blackwater State Forest- and the weather remained good most of the time. There were minimal bugs and though it did rain every day it seemed- it was generally not all day and we had plenty of outdoor time. I have to say though- we were not used to the humidity after the 3 months in the west. We will definitely become reverse snowbirds in the future.
We left for home the Tuesday after Labor Day (9/8/09) and reached our final campground later that afternoon. As you can see, it is shady and has all the comforts of home- oh yea IT IS HOME!!!!, although Bruce did suggest leaving as we stepped out into the hot,humid day. Again- we will be leaving this area next summer too- summer is just too much for us here now that we have experienced the difference. Everything was well in the house except for some issues with the wood flooring in the great room buckling - but Jeremy had already prepared us for that little bit of news. Stepping out of The Beast and walking into a house with an 85% relative humidity made us really realize very quickly why we had that buckling floor. Florida isn't really a place designed for glue down solid wood flooring on a slab floor, there is usually too much moisture in the ground and the concrete, and concrete is somewhat porous and always has cracks. We had put this floor down ourselves several years ago - before they stopped selling it in the state because of the moisture issues, and had never had any problems, even with tropical storm/hurricane rains. Let's add another stressor though - an air conditioner on the fritz. Our AC usually keeps the house and everything in it at 55-65% humidity - but Jacksonville had mucho rain while we were gone, causing standing water around the house and when the AC was nonperforming and the internal humidity increased to at least 85%, it was the rain of doom for that floor. There was nothing to offset any moisture creep- and a solid wood floor, unlike an engineered wood floor, has NO GIVE - my error - it gives, but it gives UPWARD.
Now we are in the process (OK Bruce is in the process)of trying to repair the 2 large areas - one in the middle of the floor and one along a corner wall- but finding the correct glue in something besides a 2 or 5 gallon bucket seems almost insurmountable. I am having a problem even online- but will make a decision today (see - I am helping too) and get something here for early next week. We need about a quart- guess most people don't do repairs- they just rip it up and start over. Not us- we will persevere- but it could take awhile.
In the meantime, we are working on the house, I am trying to clean out ALL of my work clothes (2 store racks with clothes on both sides are currently parked in my dining room- full as I go through things) and of course- all of the quilt shows and programs are on the horizon. So what is next? I have the Quiltfest with Maggi here in Jacksonville tomorrowand the 2 classes Friday & Saturday; I am off to the International Quilt Festival in Houston in mid-October where I will meet Julie & friends, visiting, shopping and again, taking some classes; and then I am taking another class in Paducah at the National Quilt Museum in early October. Bruce will be attending 2 'swap meets" with his friend Bobby in November (Moultrie, Ga & Daytona)looking for that elusive jeep fender and other "cream puff" items. He is already back to visiting the Wednesday flea market and am sure he will find other things to occupy his attention (I have quite a list you can be sure if he can't think of something) We have a short 2 week trip planned right after Christmas up to Prairie Creek located on the Bob Woodruff Reservoir near Benton, AL(between Selma & Montgomery on US 80 for you folks with an Atlas) with our friends Ann & Herman. In February I do a retreat here in Jacksonville and then then Maggi & I are venturing up to Lancaster, PA for the first AQS show there in early March (ooh - cold) & Bruce & bobby have the Spring swap meets - same places (probably same things too. I am pretty sure there are no new pieces, patterns, or projects let alone new materials for old vehicle projects- OK, maybe someone has come up with a new product.) Finally - we are already making plans to be back on the road for 5-6 months with The Beast no later than next April 2010 (with our fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong between now & then)- back to Oregon and other places, but that is for future blogs. I know- it seems I am the one off and he is the one staying all the time- but that is OK with Bruce. He just says- where are you going this week and for how long? - Gotta love this relationship.
So, Vaya Con Dios and I will start this up when we take our next trip in The Beast - unless there is something just so important I need to commemorate it in this blog.(You never know with all those quilt shows and classes!!!) Until then---------
