Sunday, January 24, 2016

Keeping Busy And Starting A Search

 

Here it is almost February and time to figure out what I’m going to do and where I’m going to be for this Summer.

In the meantime I have been keeping busy.  I’ve spent some time with Nick and Jennie, the other Camp Hosts.  I went to their rig for New Year’s Eve.  We had some wine and snacks, played cards and celebrated midnight (in New York) with a Champgne toast.

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The Holidays took it’s toll on the waist, with all the sweet stuff that I had on hand.  Even a few pounds is too much to keep on.  I am most tempted when I get bored, so I have been keeping the hands occupied.  Before Christmas it was Loom Knitting gifts.  In the Christmas decor is a small doll that my mother had made, so I thought that I would try to make one.  The result is a doll made out of muslin with an armature inside with polyester fill around it. She is about 10” and her arms and legs can be bent.  She also has yarn hair.  In addition to the doll I have also been creating a wardrobe for her.

Of course, she needed panties.     I also crocheted a coat.

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She also needed nightgowns,  The one with the scotties is like one of mine.

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She has a robe that matches one that I made for myself.

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I made a pair of overalls and a jacket and hat from left over fabric from the bench that she is on.

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Then there is a blouse, coulots, (sp ?), and a scottie skirt.

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She even has a camp host uniform made from sweatshirt material

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and she has a crocheted blanket that goes with a larger baby blanket.

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On my days off this past week, I thought that I would check out Bodega Dunes State Campground.  There are some beautiful beaches along the coast as well as some great surf.

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Below is what one  of the Camp Host’s site looks like. 

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The week before I checked out the campground at Lake Salono County park.  There, there are three levels rising up from the river.  (no pics)

One of my other options is to possibly find an RV Park to rent a space and find a JOB.  I’m not sure that is something that I want to do, but it is an option.

I am currently the only camp host until February.  Nick and Jennie left last Thursday.  I will certainly miss them.  We made a good team.

I guess that I will close for now.  I have to go lock the front gate soon.  I hope that you all are staying warm and dry.

Thanks for visiting

iphone 6 156  I’m going to miss them too.

Susan and Angel

Saturday, January 16, 2016

So Long 2015 and Happy 2016

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                    I don’t know about you but this past year has just flown by for me.

Last winter I was in Santa Cruz and was anxious to get back to camp hosting.  So early in March I moved back to J  D Grant in site 12 as the only camp host.  I met a lot of nice people. As usual Angel was a big hit.  I am so glad that she survived being bit by a rattle snake.  She is a joy to have around and loves to cuddle.

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I was glad to finally get another car so that it didn’t take an hour to drive back up the mountain when it should have taken only 20 minutes.

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                                                         Good Bye Subaru

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                                                                 Hello Mini

Soon after, I made the move to China Camp in San Rafael just north of San Francisco.  I have been here since September 27th as the 2nd camp host.  The other camp hosts left the first week in November. I moved over to the other site which was a little bit bigger so that I could open my back compartments.  Then in mid November the new camp hosts, Jennie and Nick arrived.  We each are available for 30 hours a week. I work mornings and they work afternoons and evenings. It ends up that we just back each other up as needed and take time off when ever we need or want to do something during our scheduled on time.  We make a great team.  They will be here until the end of January and be heading home to southern California.  There will be a new couple that will come in February.

Every now and then something will happen in the park where emergency services are required.  In this case, a bicyclist became dehydrated and was unable to continue her ride.  They had to air lift her off the mountain to an ambulance here in our parking lot.IMG_1788 IMG_1789 Nick talked to the CHP helicopter crew while Jennie and I stayed back and observed. There are a lot hikers and bikers coming and going here in the park and campground.  Most weekends, the campground has been full until Thanksgiving with open sites during the week, however, there has been fewer campers each week.  During the last two weeks there has been, maybe a half a dozen campers.  For nearly a week there were NO reservations at all, only and occasional walk-in.  Since there wasn’t anything happening,  Jennie and Nick took a week to go home to spend Christmas with their grandkids.        

The Saturday before they left, we went into San Rafael to the annual Lighted Boat Parade.  Below are just a sampling of the boats.  Most were just lighted, but many had music or carolers.

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                                  We also enjoyed these lighted bikes.

The Sunday before Christmas, Ted invited me to Brunch with Mark, his roommate and friends to a Vegan restaurant in Oakland.  We had a great time.

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                                               Mark, Leslie and Ted

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Ted took a panoramic photo with my phone starting with me, Rochelle, (Mark’s girlfriend), James, (who works with Mark), Mark, Ted and Leslie, (Ted’s girlfriend).

Below are all Vegan dishes.  Sorry, I don’t remember what they were, but they were good.

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With fewer people in the park,  Angel would let me know when the turkeys,squirrels and deer made their way across the parking lot. (For now pictured are just the turkeys)

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Christmas came and went, although, Ranger Dan invited Lorraine and me for Christmas Dinner with his family.  We had a good time.  Ted and Leslie came over on Saturday, the day after to celebrate and exchange gifts after going out for lunch at an Italian restaurant in San Rafael.

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Even Angel got in on the fun, opening her presents, dog treats and a new fleece jacket. She likes it , because she likes to stay warm.

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This is what I woke up to discover this morning, ice in the parking lot, fog and the bird bath frozen.        

There will be  a lot of campers tonight celebrating the New Year.  They sure are made of a lot sturdier stuff than me.  It will be really cold, (upper 20*s) I like to stay warm.                    

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I’m hoping that my water doesn’t freeze. It almost did last weekend, but it warmed up fairly quick.

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So, to all I wish you a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Thanks for visiting

IMG_1857 It was soooooo     cold this morning, I snuggled into Mom’s sweater.

Susan and Angel