We play Bingo in the rec room, once a week, here at the RV park. I won $44.00 this week! I was so excited, you'd have thought I won the lottery. (No, Cindra, I haven't dyed my hair blue yet!)
I'm a winner in many other ways, as well. Not only do we have our families and friends at home, we're so fortunate to be here in the winter, and to have winter friends. Some we keep in touch with, year round. My closest bud here, Diane, is leaving for home this Thursday, and I'm going to miss her.
We've been spending some time working on our itinerary for our trip home, too. I'm excited. A little home sick. A little not wanting to leave the desert - for the colder climate. Besides my family and friends, I am really missing my garden, and am so ready to dig in the dirt! The tulips should be blooming by the time we get home. I planted another 250 bulbs before we left this last fall - and can't even remember where I put them! It'll be fun watching them come up. And I put most of them in the garden, and in my new 'secret' garden - so they are safe from the deer! 
There are several state parks we are going to stay in on our way back North, in Arizona, California and Oregon. There are a few places in Arizona and California that we want to check out for next year, too. Our plan for next winter, is to move around more. Maybe stay one month here and one month there. This five month stretch in one place is just too long for us. We'll be stopping in the 'Olive capital of the World' on the way home, to pick up olives for Cindra, and for T to take home. We'll be staying near Cindra for three or four days. I'm SO excited to see them all. We are so very grateful that we're getting the opportunity to travel, and to see some of the beautiful country everywhere we go.
Packing everything up again, to move, isn't something I'm looking forward to, though. We have to make sure that everything is secure before we hit the road. We don't want to listen to rattles, or have things falling out of cupboards onto our heads. I've got a drawer cleaned out now, to carry my craft supplies for my bookmarks. I can work on them all the way home, as it's easy to get out and put away the materials I need. .
I've got to go outside now. Gourds are calling. I've soaked and scraped skins off of five more gourds - and now have to cut them and clean the insides. Sure wish I could buy them already cleaned. I had a really nice experience at the 'gourd farm' last week. My friend went over with me, as we had some shopping to do in the big city, and errands to run. I hadn't gone to the bank before I went to the gourd farm, and when I picked out my gourds, and a gourding book, my total was $40.00. I use my credit card for everything and never thought about having cash - but when I went to pay, the young man informed me they only take cash or checks. I don't even carry a check book. He then told me that I could just send the money to him! I couldn't believe it. I remarked about how trusting he was, and he said, "Oh, gourders are different, you can trust them". Thankfully, my girlfriend had cash with her - I would not have been comfortable taking their wares and not paying for them right then. And I was still smiling about that 'trust' when I got home - I don't see a lot of that anymore.
Nice, Ma! I love what you've been up to. I can't wait to see you! And all the stuff you will bring me. Yay!
Posted by: cindra | February 26, 2007 at 02:41 PM
I cant believe 5 months has gone this quick. I know I would be excited at seeing the garden again.
Have a great trip back home and show us this side of the pond, a few of the places you visit along the way. Have you told the cat yet? Take care
Posted by: Dave M | February 26, 2007 at 02:54 PM
congratulations on winning at Bingo, that must have been a lot of fun.
Posted by: SilverNeurotic | February 26, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Hi, I'm just dropping by via Cindra's to wish you a Happy Inappropriate Card Day!
Posted by: Diesel | February 26, 2007 at 04:51 PM
Jackie -- I wish it didn't come as such a surprise to hear of someone trusting a stranger.
Posted by: Quilldancer | February 26, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Jackie, More gourd fun AND you won money!!! Hey what a great day. I hope you and T have a safe trip back home. Holly
Posted by: Creekhiker | February 26, 2007 at 05:38 PM
I think blue hair is fetching.
Did you make that bookmark? Nice....
Posted by: Jenn | February 26, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Cindra, as if you need any more 'stuff'! It'll be nice to see what YOU have been up to.
Dave, the time has gone fast...and the time has gone slow...you know what I mean. I'll blog a little along the way. And I can't WAIT to get Ms. Kitty home and let her OUT - she is so overweight now. I was at your site yesterday and I couldn't leave a message. Will try again this morning.
Silver, thanks. It was. I don't usually win games.
Diesel, thanks. And I hope you are recovering nicely from your hysterectomy.
Quilly-Sister, AMEN.
Holly, thanks. It'll be fun to be moving again.
Jenn, I'm just not ready for 'fetching' yet! lol
I made the bookmark, and about 50 other ones...I don't do well when I haven't something to do. So I putter.
Posted by: Jackie | February 27, 2007 at 05:19 AM
I sent my niece to the vet to get food for Cheyenne once and she forgot the card I'd left her. They said no problem that I could pay next time. Even though they know me, I was still pleasantly surprised by that.
Have a great return -- how long will it take you?
Posted by: Alison | February 27, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Alison - it is surprising, in the world today. Sad. We don't drive straight home so when we leave here, we'll still be a month from home. We should be home between the third and fourth week of April - just time to get the cold weather seeds planted!
Posted by: Jackie | February 28, 2007 at 04:57 AM
Okay, and one more question. Where is home?
Posted by: Alison | February 28, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Well congratulations to you dear girl! You are very right, you are a winner for all that you listed yourself and for much more..
What nice talent you have. Those are beautiful bookmarks. I can see where your girls get it from, of course, artsy talent runs in the family's blood. i didn't know about gourds until i read and saw your last post..they are so cute. i'm happy that you not only have much to keep you happy but that you are so good at it too.
there are lots of good people in the world. trusting, caring and respectful. in our cold world sometimes it is easy to forget that and then, you meet someone like the store owner and we are reminded of what is possible for humanity. i'm so happy for you that you ran into one good fellow..now you start seeing how good it felt and feels for me in meeting up with you and your family..
God Bless. Travel safe. Be happy and know you are loved.
Posted by: Chana | February 28, 2007 at 04:46 PM
Jackie your bookmarks are fabulous! I loved the gourd story, if more people were like that, more people would be honest. I'm sure your koi will be stirring soon. Can you hear them calling you?
Posted by: Kat | March 01, 2007 at 04:48 PM
Alison, 'home' for me is in the Pacific Northwest. I'm used to four seasons. I spent four months in your state (El Paso), four years ago, and although I fell in love with the architecture there - I nearly cooked. It was HOT in your state!
Chana, one of those good, trusting, loving people in the world is YOU. You give so much of yourself. Thanks for all the goodness you give me.
Kat, those koi are a long way from calling for anything back at our home. They won't even swim around and leave the bottom of the pond until the water is a consistent 50 degrees. There's a snow storm at home right now - so don't think that water will be heating up any too soon! lol
Posted by: Jackie | March 01, 2007 at 06:11 PM