http://www.blogger.com/html?blogID=4316350785635987648 Cave Dwellings: THE TURTLE COTTAGE
Cave Dwellings

Buckhorn Creek, Lake O' The Pines, Jefferson, TX

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

THE TURTLE COTTAGE

    Yesterday I drove up to Elgin to see my sis. She has been in and out of 2 different hospitals and 2 different nursing homes many assorted times lately… Her quality of life really stinks right now, and she is slowly going down a very slippery path where most anything could happen.  I have been thinking about what could happen when we leave here for our “mecca” South, and have wondered on many occasions if I should leave.  But, as this all began about the end of July, she has come to the point where I think she will never be able to go home, and will be living in the nursing home for the remainder of her life.

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  I have also decided that Dennis and I are going to go ahead with our plans to leave next Monday morning with the Hiker in tow…There is nothing more I can do here for her, and this could go on for another month…or another year.  I call her on the phone regularly..(sometimes I have to call her husband to FIND her, she moves around so much..I told her I need to attach a GPS to her behind so I know where to find her…Luckily, she has a great sense of humor)…And so, we will leave Monday morning…letting life lead wherever it may.  We are only a phone call , flight, or truck ride away…and it’s time to get McGuyver and myself on the road..together again!

  On a lighter note, yesterday, after seeing Darlene, I met an old college girlfriend for lunch.  I hadn’t seen Peggy since 1969, so it was a great reunion.  We went to a place called Golden Corral for the luncheon buffet. We both laughed when Peggy said we wanted the Sr. Citizen price..I looked behind me to see who she was talking about…we hadn’t been together since we were 20  years old..and now we were Sr. Citizens..Lots of water under THAT bridge, to be sure.

  After lunch we took a ride …Peg wanted to show me some of the more “unique” homes in the St. Charles, IL. area. She is a huge fan of the architect, Frank Lloyd Wright , and is very knowledgeable about various types of architecture.

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Peggy calls this house “money gone wrong”….Not the most inviting home I’ve ever seen.  I thought the landscaping was one of those Prairie Grass yards, but she said it was just weeds.

 

 

 

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This is Turtle Cottage…It sits high up on a hill that goes down to the Fox River….and it is really lovely….

Note the two fireplaces…and the pumpkins on the roof…Peg calls this an “Arts and Crafts” style home.

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        IF  YOU LOOK CLOSELY IN THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT, YOU WILL SEE 2 TURTLES……..

 

 

ONE IN FRONT OF THE FOUNTAIN, AND ONE BACK BY THE PORCH…..

 

 

 

 

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…..AND THE ONE BY THE PORCH MOVED…I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK…PEGGY LAUGHED…OBVIOUSLY SHE KNEW THAT MR. TORTOISE WAS A LIVING ,BREATHING “WATCH TORTOISE”…..WHO WOULD WALK THROUGH THE GATE WITH THIS GUY CREEPING AROUND??….I ‘LL BET HE IS A BIG HIT  ON HALLOWEEN!!! (I’D BE AFRAID SOMEONE WOULD FIND HIM AN ATTRACTIVE FELLOW, AND STEAL HIM!!  I THOUGHT HIS SHELL TO BE BEAUTIFUL!!)

   It was a great day, and just what I needed to cheer me up after visiting the nursing home….I’m soooo glad Peggy and I re-connected after so long…Like I said….just what the mental health DOC prescribed for me!!

Over the years living with McGuyver and watching him very meticulously start his campfires, I decided to surprise him and get one started before he came home…..

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I learned the “teepee” stacking of wood by closely watching Dennis…a little newspaper stuffed carefully underneath helps, too….    

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  So, the weather today was EXTREMELY windy..but not as bad as what Judy and Emma were in the middle of in Texas.  That is the only problem with RV’ing in very dangerous weather…Ya gotta have a structure to run to…unless you sleep through the warning, which is what McGuyver and I did once…

 

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This one is for you, Nellie and Jonathan…….

This little critter wandered across our driveway the other day…I walked up to him and tried to jump around so he wouldn’t find the Hiker and decide to hitch a free ride South for the winter….He finally got tired of watching me make a total fool of myself, and he wandered into the brush…He just BETTER NOT show up somewhere in Louisiana, feasting on left over Cajun food crumbs in our camper!!!!!

THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME…DENNIS AND I ARE JUST LIVIN’ LIFE…AND HAPPY TO BE HERE!!

14 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about your sister. Thanks for the pictures. Those are some interesting houses.

    I really loved the turtle.

    Travel Safe

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  2. Sorry about your sister, she is in my prayers. The turtle is beautiful.

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  3. Sorry to hear about your sister, but I think you are making the right decision about heading south. As you say, you are never far away.

    That's quite the Turtle. I don't think I'd want rotting pumpkins on my house though - better get those suckers down right after Halloween.

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  4. Remember, the answer to "are you a turtle" You bet your sweet a-- I am. That's an oldie, I am so jealous you guys are getting to bail out on monday. Your header picture says it all. Have a high Life light for me Dennis. I hope your sister does better , but you are doing the right thing getting away for a break is what you guys need. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  5. Thanks for the shout out. I hope I've left that miserable weather behind! So sorry about your sis. Carpe diem!

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  6. sorry to hear about your sister, DD..great shots of the Turtle Cottage..love that style of house!
    Cheers to you and Dennis..you need to head south..life does go on as hard as it will be to leave your sister..I don't think she would want you waiting around..like you said you will be a plane ride away if the need arises!!
    by the way...I don't mind reading your ramblings..sometimes that's all I do is ramble too!!!

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  7. We are in a similar situation with my 94 year old Uncle but like you we made the decision to go. We are Power of Attorney for him & I sure hope nothing happens this winter. We'll be on the road about 6 days behind you.........

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  8. You better rent yourself a cat! I'm telling ya...he will make a feast of the critter before the critter even gets all the way across the sidewalk!

    I'm glad you got to hang out with your friend. Kinda gets lonely for girlfriends out here on the road. Not lonely enough to start making friends with the meece though!

    I'm sure your sister wants you enjoy life and make lots of great new memories, and not miss out on living. I'm sure she loves you to pieces, and wants you to be happy. That's what sisters do!

    Can't wait to see what kind of trouble you get into on an RV trip!!! This is gonna be gooooood!

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  9. Is there a prize for the longest comment? Hey, I'm just askin! :)

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  10. Or maybe a prize for the most comments on one post? No?

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  11. Well, it's not a sin to ask!!! Please don't make me sit in time out for taking over your comments page mom.

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  12. Great post today. I'm glad you are going to hit the road in a few days.

    The tortoise is beautiful. We have a Russian Tortoise, well he is our grandsons, his Mamma won't let him have it at home. I often wonder what we will do when we hit the road since they live to be 75.

    You know if that critter ever did make it into cajun country, HE would be dinner. ;)

    Have a great day!

    Connie

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  13. I feel that you have done all you can for your sister, so it's time to take care of yourselves.

    I also thought the turtles were not real, what lovely creatures!

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