Orange Beach, AL Revisited . . . (Y2D346-7)

I don't know quite what it is about moving from one park to another that causes me to CLEAN, CLEAN, and CLEAN some more but it happens almost every time we move from one park to another. We left on Tuesday, stayed in Lake Charles that night, then at Cracker Barrel near Moss Point, Mississippi last night.

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of Kristen's death . . . great sadness in remembering that day but so thankful for many wonderful memories.

We enjoy staying at Cracker Barrel in our travels. They have RV parking in the rear. We rarely use their parking because of towing our car . . . we are a little longer than their RV parking places, so we usually parallel park in the rear lot and farthest strip from the restaurant. We eat dinner there, stay overnight and revisit the restaurant for breakfast.

I had trout for dinner and buttermilk pancakes with 2 eggs and turkey sausage this morning. I also got Tony's grits. Mr. Sandy waited on us and made a fresh pot of coffee . . . I had 2 and a half cup. It was delicious!

When we arrived and got set up I started in the bedroom. Picked up everything off the floor, vacuumed, dusted, and started more laundry. I moved things back into place so Tony could nap after he got all the stuff done outside. It was a little warm out and I was concerned. He took a break and had a cold Dr. Pepper and some water.

Next was the living room and bath. I began with the air filters in the bedroom and living room. They needed cleaning. Then vacuumed the screens and cabinet tops, etc. then the floor, mopped, then finished with the carpet vacuuming. There is not much but it collects so much dog hair it is amazing.

My Gators were placed back in their rightful place on the dash. Things that were on the table were repositioned in different places. My ivy that was getting too big for the table was placed by the African Violet and my other plants behind the sofa on the shelf. They will all get good sun in that window the week we are here.

TVs had to be reporgrammed also. Antennae had to be repositioned to get the best reception. It started sprinkling a couple of times. Tony went in and out getting chairs set up, tables placed where they will be needed. He set up some lights for the exterior and even put out my plant hanger with my fern. I moved the big remote controlled fan outside. We do not use it inside, however, Tony had place it inside at one point thinking it might be a good idea . . . NOT.

I also moved the Ziploc storage container with the swimming towels to the outside storage. It had been taking up the passenger seat space.

Blankets that covered the seats and backs of the sofas were removed for laundry. Babe's bed needed washing. Jack's just needed vacuuming.

I took a break and made a large bowl of tuna fish salad. I had multigrain crackers and regular bread in case Tony wanted a sandwich. A tomato was sliced and we took a break to eat. The crackers were so good with the salad. Tony ate the crackers too. That surprised me but they were exceptionally good crackers.

After finishing getting dishes cleaned up and put away, then finishing up the last of the cleaning in the front, I filled the sink with warm water and Babe took the plunge . . . she was in real need of a bath. She always protests but I'm glad she still has some spunk.

Babe in 2009 with great dreams . . .

Her right eye had a crusty sleeper I had to soften and while washing her face and neck the eye tooth that had been sticking out at an odd angle finally came out. The last time we had her teeth cleaned the vet told us it would probably fall out on its own. He did not want to pull it because of the risk of bleeding.

After getting all the soap off her I wrapped her in a towel and handed her to Tony. The cleanup of the sink area was a major disinfecting issue but handled in due time.

Next . . . Jack. He knew it and avoided me. I got everthing ready in the shower. Finally he was in the shower and behaving just as I expected . . . like a perfect gentleman. I soaped him up really well and he took it like a little man. By the time I was finished with Jack Tony had pretty well dried Babe as well as could be and he took Jack.

After getting the shower cleaned I began brushing Babe. She likes that as well as she liked her bath. LOL! I try to do that in stages. A little on each side of the rear . . . give her a break . . . than go to the front . . . then head and back again. I was not successful in getting all the hair balls out but made good progress.

She seemed so comfortable we put her on the bed and she slept a couple of hours. I took my shower, then Tony took his. When she woke I began scratching her head . . . she had not let me do that for a long time. Tony and I could only conclude that her tooth must have been bothering her and now she was rid of that nuisance. Jack came over, gave her a kiss and sniffed her. They both smelled good!

She ate a good dinner and went back to sleep. I had washed her bed so she had a clean one to nap in.

We changed our sheet and I will be doing laundry until we leave here it seems. Perhaps I will take some down to the laundry tomorrow.

I began putting the bulletin together tonight and will finish it tomorrow. We will all sleep good tonight . . . clean, exhausted, and glad to be settled for the next week.