OH CHRISTMAS TREE......OH CHRISTMAS TREE......HOW LOVELY ARE YOUR BRANCHES!!

WE OPENED THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WITH  ANTICIPATION,  WERE READY TO SELL CHRISTMAS TREES FOR HOLIDAY HILLS, OUR FIRST WORKAMPING JOB. THE OWNER, DARYL PREDICTED WE WOULD SELL 60 TREES ON FRIDAY, WE SOLD HALF OF THAT.  WE WERE KIND OF BUSY, NEVER A RUSH OF FOLKS LIKE WE THOUGHT.

ALL WEEKEND THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS, WE DID HALF OF WHAT DARYL THOUGHT WE WOULD DO, WHICH WAS DISAPPOINTING. WE DECIDED WE NEEDED MORE SIGNS, SO WE GOT SOME EXTRAS AND PUT THEM UP, IT HELPED A LITTLE,  BUT, OUR SALES WERE DISAPPOINTING. DARYL TOLD US THAT BECAUSE THIS WAS A NEW LOCATION, IT WAS PROBABLY TO BE EXPECTED.  THE LONG HOURS AND HARD WORK KICKED OUR BUTTS EVERY DAY. WHEN WE SAID WE COULD DO ANYTHING FOR A MONTH, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAD NEVER DONE THIS. WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE TREES BEING HEAVY AND DIRTY. DARRELL LOST WEIGHT AND I NIKNAMED HIM "PIGPEN", BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS DIRTY. WE LAY IN BED EXHAUSTED, LAUGHING ABOUT WHAT WE HAD GOTTEN OURSELVES INTO. WE HAD BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO WASH OUR CLOTHES, SHOP FOR GROCERIES, AND GET CHANGE FOR THE BUSINESS.

WE HIRED THREE YOUNG MEN TO HELP US, SAL, JASON, AND DAVID. THEY WERE VERY GOOD HELP, ALWAYS CAME TO WORK, AND ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. THE PICTURE BELOW IS OF SAL.  

AND THIS IS JASON.

AND DAVID, WHO TURNED OUT TO BE SO TALENTED!

HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THE "LITTLE TREES" FOR THE KIDS, AND THEY LOVED THEM!

MADE OUT OF SCRAPS, THEY KIDS TOOK THEM HOME TO DECORATE FOR THEIR ROOMS, WE CREATED ALOT OF GOOD WILL WITH THOSE LITTLE TREES!

THIS YOUNG LADY HAD NEVER HAD A REAL TREE AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED!!

WE TOOK ORDERS FOR A DOZEN TREES TO FLOCK, AND THEN IT STARTED RAINING, JUST BY LUCK AND BY GOLLY, THEY ALL DRIED, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DISAPPOINT OUR CUSTOMERS. DARRELL WAS BUSY FOR 5 DAYS FLOCKING TREES, AND THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL!! 

WE SOLD THIS TREE FOR $149.99. WE LAUGHED, HOLIDAY HILLS CALLED IT A "NATURAL", IT LOOKED LIKE WHAT WE'VE BEEN CUTTING IN THE BLACK HILLS, ALL OUR LIVES. THE COUPLE WERE TICKLED FOR IT, AS THEY HAD LARGE ORNAMENTS, AND NEEDED  A SPARSE TREE TO ACCOMODATE THEIR ORNAMENTS.

THIS IS WHERE I SPENT ALL MY TIME, I WAS THE CASHIER.

ONCE IN A WHILE, I WAS ABLE TO COME OUT OF "THE BOX" AND DO SOME FUN THINGS, LIKE, NETTING A TREE.

MAGGIE AND MARLEE SPENT MANY AN EVENING WITH US OUT IN THE CASHIER'S BOX.

DARRELL SPENT ALOT OF TIME WATERING THE TREES, THEY HAD TO BE WATERED TWICE A DAY AND MISTED AT NIGHT.

 ALL THE GUYS MADE TREES, IT WAS SUCH A TREAT TO SEE HOW EXCITED THE KIDS GOT OVER THEM.HERE THEY ARE ALL LINED UP WAITING FOR THE LITTLE KIDS TO CLAIM THEM AS THEIR OWN.

SAL MADE A CUTE  REINDEER, DAVID COULD NOT LET HIM GET ONE  OVER ON HIM, SO 

HE HAD TO MAKE A FULL BODY REINDEER.....THE COMPETITION WAS ON!!

AND THEN DAVID CAME UP WITH SOMETHING QUITE SPECTACULAR! THIS IS AS CUTE AS IT CAN BE......MADE OUT OF SCRAPS!!

DAVID MADE ONE FOR ME, IT'S THE ONLY CHRISTMAS DECORATION WE HAVE IN THE RV.

THE CHRISTMAS TREES HAVE ARRIVED!!

WE GOT OUR FIRST LOAD OF CHRISTMAS TREES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, THE FIRST LOAD WAS 33  TREES. DARRELL AND I DROVE TO THE WAREHOUSE AND PICKED THEM UP AND WERE BACK AT THE LOT BY 10:30, SALVADOR AND BEAU WERE READY TO GO TO WORK!

WITH A LITTLE DIRECTION FROM DARRELL, THE BOYS STARTED PUTTING THE TREES IN THEIR STANDS,  THEY TOOK RIGHT TO THOSE TREES, WORKED EFFICIENTLY AS A TEAM, AND DARRELL COULD SEE THE 33 TREES WEREN'T GOING TO KEEP THEM BUSY LONG, SO HE WENT AFTER ANOTHER LOAD OF 55  TREES. THEY GOT THROUGH THOSE IN A HURRY TOO! THEY WERE BOTH TIRED BY THE END OF THE DAY, AND DARRELL AND  I FELT VERY FORTUNATE WE HAD FOUND SUCH GOOD HELP FOR US!!!

THIS WAS THE FIRST TREE THAT WE GOT TO SEE UNBANDED, AND THEY ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TREES I HAVE EVER SEEN!! THEY DO KNOW HOW TO GROW CHRISTMAS TREES IN SALEM, OREGON. 

THE NEXT MORNING WHEN WE WENT OUT AND OPENED THE TENT, THE SMELL WAS INCREDIBLE!! IT WAS WORTH DRIVING OUT FROM SOUTH DAKOTA, JUST TO EXPERIENCE THAT SMELL!!

WE ARE  UNOFFICIALLY  OPEN IF SOMEONE WANTS A TREE EARLY,  ONLY WHEN WE ARE OUT WORKING IN THE TENT, BUT THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING IS THE ACTUAL OPENING DAY!!!

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY, AND THE NICEST FOLKS YOU WOULD EVER WANT TO MEET, IT LOOKS ALOT LIKE RAPID CITY  EXCEPT THERE ARE LEAVES ON THE TREES AND THE FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING IN NOVEMBER!!!! WE VISITED THE ALAMO ON FRIDAY, THE WEATHER WAS GORGEOUS!!!

WE WENT DOWN TO THE RIVERWALK, BUT WE DIDN'T ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO SEE MUCH, WE PROMISED OURSELVES WE WILL COME BACK BEFORE WE LEAVE SAN ANTONIO.  WE HAD TO GET BACK TO THE RV BECAUSE ALL OF US MANAGERS WERE HAVING A POTLUCK.THE FIVE OTHER COUPLES ARE, CAL & DIANE, PHIL & MARY, JEFF & GLENDA, MARK & CAROL, GIB & JOY WITH THEIR GRANDSON, DEVON. THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS, AND WE ALL GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER,  TWO OF THE COUPLES SOLD CHRISTMAS TREES IN CALIFORNIA LAST YEAR, NOT FOR HOLIDAY HILLS.THEY SAID IT WAS FUN, BUT HARD WORK AND LONG HOURS, WHICH WE KNEW.

IT WAS A CHILLY EVENING, SO WE ALL TURNED IN EARLY, BECAUSE THE NEXT MORNING AT 10, WE START TRAINING.  WE ALL MET AT THE WAREHOUSE, WE MET OUR BOSSES,  DARYL & ELAINE SMITH, THEY GROW THE TREES IN SALEM, OREGON AND BRING THEM TO SAN ANTONIO TO SELL, THEY'VE DONE THIS SINCE 1988. BRIAN & TERRI AVERY ARE THE TRAINERS. THEY ALL SEEEMED VERY NICE. THE GUYS WENT WITH BRIAN, AND THE GALS WENT WITH TERRI. 

THE GUYS WERE TRAINED IN HANDLING THE TREES, THE GALS IN HANDLING THE MONEY AND CASH  REGISTER.

OUR HEADS WERE SWIMMING BY EVENING, SO MUCH INFORMATION!! WE DIDN'T GET QUITE DONE, SO WE HAD TO RETURN ON SUNDAY, ELAINE TOOK US ALL OUT FOR LUNCH, HAD MY FIRST TASTE  OF TEXAS MEXICAN FOOD.......IT WAS DELICIOUS!!

DARRELL & THE GUYS STARTED SETTING UP THE FIRST TENT SUNDAY, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE JEFF & GLENDAS, NONE OF THE REST OF US KNEW WHERE WE WOULD BE FOR SURE. MONDAY ABOUT 11, TERRI CALLED TELLING US WE WOULD BE AT LOT #4, AND GAVE US DIRECTIONS. I AM SO HAPPY WHERE WE ENDED UP, I LOVE OUR LOT, HOPE WE CAN SELL ALOT OF CHRISTMAS TREES HERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE A CIRCUS TENT, AND I TOLD THE KIDS WE HADN'T JOINED THE CIRCUS!!IT IS 60' W BY 120' AND HOLDS 350 CHRISTMAS TREES!! IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR MAGGIE & MARLEE, WITH AN 8' FENCE ALL THE WAY AROUND, THEY CAN RUN LOOSE AND PLAY BALL, AT LEAST UNTIL WE OPEN.

I AM WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF WALMART, AND THERE IS A JIM'S RESTAURANT RIGHT NEXT DOOR, IF I DON'T FEEL LIKE COOKING. IT IS A VERY BUSY CORNER, BUT WE SIT FAR ENOUGH OFF THE STREET, WHERE IT IS PRETTY QUIET. I LOVE SOUTH TEXAS IN THE WINTER, MOST DAYS IT IS BETWEEN 70 & 80, WITH COOL EVENINGS.

THE "GUYS" CAME IN THE AFTERNOON AND HELPED SET UP THE TENT, THIS WHOLE TRAILER LOAD OF STUFF IS NEEDED TO GET EVERYTHING SET UP.

IT TOOK THE REST OF MONDAY AND ALMOST ALL OF TUESDAY TO GET EVERYTHING SET UP, THE "GUYS" DO THE PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL PART OF THE SETUP. THEN, THEY MOVED ONTO THE NEXT TENT, ETC, UNTIL ALL ARE SET. LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR "ADVENTURE". THE TREES WILL BE ARRIVING AROUND THE 18TH. WE ARE BUSY HIRING HELP, PUT A SIGN ON THE FENCE AND THERE IS SOMEONE HERE ALL THE TIME LOOKING FOR A JOB.

LEAVING RAPID CITY

WE LEFT RAPID CITY ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2011 AT 10:30 A.M. HEADING FOR SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TO OUR FIRST WORKAMPING JOB, SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. WITH TONS OF WISHES FROM  FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR SAFE TRAVEL, WE  HEADED OUT,  WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND  MAGGIE AND MARLEE. WE HAD A GREAT TRAVEL DAY AND ENDED UP IN SEIBERT, COLORADO AT A PASSPORT AMERICA CAMPGROUND, WHICH WAS SMALL, BUT ADEQUATE. AS SOON AS WE HIT THE OKLAHOMA LINE, WE RAN INTO WIND AND STOPPED EARLY DUE TO THE WIND. WE ARRIVED  AT THE TEXAS STATE LINE ABOUT 1:00 P.M.

WE STAYED IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, AT A VERY NICE RV PARK, ALSO A PASSPORT AMERICA PARK,  WITH A SWIMMING POOL AND HOT TUB, WHICH WE ENJOYED BEFORE LEAVING ON TUESDAY MORNING.  WE FOUND ANOTHER PASSPORT AMERICA RV PARK IN BRADY, TEXAS, AND WITH THE HELP OF MRS. GARMIN, WE DROVE RIGHT TO IT. IT WAS ALMOST DARK BY THE TIME WE GOT THERE. IT WAS A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT, AN RV PARK AND TRAILER PARK, IT WAS PRETTY SCARY. WE COULDN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF THERE!! WE LEARNED A GOOD LESSON! WE ARRIVED IN SAN ANTONIO ABOUT NOON ON WEDNESDAY AND WENT RIGHT TO THE EMPTY LOT WHERE ALL THE CHRISTMAS TREE MANAGERS WILL MEET. WE MET CAL AND DIANE, VERY NICE FOLKS, THEY HAD VISITED THE CHRISTMAS TREE WAREHOUSE AND MET ELAINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WILL BE GOING TO LAREDO, TEXAS, 130 MILES FROM HERE. PHIL AND MARY ARRIVED LATER, AND CAL SAID THERE WOULD BE SIX COUPLES HOUSED HERE UNTIL WE WERE ALL ASSIGNED OUR LOTS. 

THERE IS NO WIFI HERE AND NO CABLE TV,  WE BOUGHT A CRICKET MOBILE BROADBAND MODEM AND A CARD FOR 3 G HIGH SPEED INTERNET. WE WANT TO GET OUR DISH HOOKED UP ASAP. SATURDAY, AT 10:00 A.M. WE START TRAINING FOR OUR NEW JOBS.



DARRELL RETIRES!!

WELL, THE DAY FINALLY ARRIVED, THE DAY DARRELL COULD RETIRE,  FRIDAY, OCTOBER, 28,  2011. WE'VE DREAMED ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, HERE IT IS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE....RETIREMENT!!!  I'M GLAD WE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THIS DAY AND ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH HEALTH TO ENJOY IT!  WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE, AND COUNT OUR BLESSINGS EVERYDAY!  THE COMPANY HAD A SMALL PARTY AND CAKE, COWORKERS GAVE CARDS, WELL WISHES,  LIKE, "YOU LUCKY DOG!",  HANDSHAKES AND  HUGS, AND A FEW TEARS (NOT DARRELL'S).  DARRELL DIDN'T SAY, BUT I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE SAD FOR HIM AFTER WORKING THERE FOR 17 YEARS, HE WILL MISS THE FOLKS HE WORKED WITH. CLINT, NIKKI AND I PICKED HIM UP AT 3:45, HE LEFT A LITTLE EARLY, AND WE ALL WENT UP TO ALPINE INN FOR DINNER.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR RETIREMENT, I REMEMBER DARRELL'S CLASS SONG, MOON RIVER, ONE LINE WENT, TWO DRIFTERS OFF TO SEE THE WORLD, THERE'S SUCH A LOT OF WORLD TO SEE! AND WE HOPE  MAYBE , GOD WILLING,  AND THE CREEK DON'T RISE,WE GET TO SEE ALOT OF IT!!

CLOSING ON THE HOUSE & MOVING INTO GUSTOW

On Friday, September 16, 2011, we moved out of the house and into Gustow. Darrell pulled the RV down to Happy Holiday Campground, across from Reptile Gardens, where we will be until the end of October. Bandit is still with us, so we made a special place for him. Everyone here is so friendly and nice, we got to visit with several Workampers, who were willing to share their stories.

After all the downsizing I've done, I realized in a hurry, I still have kept too much "stuff", so I  will spend the next six weeks, organizing and continue downsizing. Even though we bought a new fifth wheel, we have had several minor problems, and we are really glad we have this time to get all the "bugs" worked out before we go on the road. We were both exhausted after the stressful move, and were glad we had finally "arrived".

We love our spot here, it is very quiet with plenty of room to walk the dogs and a small park where we can play with the dogs. The laundromat is close and clean. We discovered pretty quickly what a comfortable, convenient fifth wheel we had bought. We love our King size bed!

The day before we moved out of the house, we went into Kahler Prudential and signed all the necessary paperwork for the house.

We still feel very  fortunate,with  the real estate market the way that it is that we were able to get our house sold in 37 days! 

We definitely felt like we got this accomplished through the Team Effort of Kahler Prudential, Jeremy and ourselves.

On Friday afternoon, Darrell drove into Kahler Prudential Realty and picked up our proceeds for the sale of our house, we wanted to hold the check in our hands, if only for a short time.

  FINALLY.....the fruits of all our labor!!!  All the planning, all the work, it had all paid off, right here in this check, this was our opportunity to go out and live the life we want to live, however crazy that might be to some people. I read something somewhere along the way that really hit home with me. It said something like, how lucky we were to have found  a way of  life we love,  now we have to find  the courage to live it. And that is exactly what I plan on doing!

THE VERY LAST RUMMAGE SALE

We advertised this as our "Everything Must Go" Sale, we had it Saturday and Sunday Sept. 10 & 11, our last weekend in the house, our 16th rummage sale in 2 1/2 years.

Clint and Nikki came down and helped us get set up again. I don't know what we would have done without their help, they came every Friday for the last three rummage sales.

Floyd and Lily brought a trailer load of stuff over. They put the trailer way out front, which added alot of interest.

It was pretty slow, but we all managed to sell some items.

Buck and Thelma came by in the afternoon to add moral support. Hoping Sunday will be better.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALE

 With the house being sold, in only 37 days, and  possession set for " On or Before September 16" we had our  15th  rummage sale on Labor Day Weekend. We advertised it as our "Pre-Moving Sale".

We filled up all the tables again, and with Clint and Nikki's help we moved furniture from the house to the attached garage. So, we had two garages full!   Is it ever going to end????

We were very busy, and sold alot  of the furniture and quite a bit of the rummage  in the lower garage. We even filled up the yard again!

Even though we hadn't advertised to be open Sunday, we decided if we could get a few more items sold, it would make it easier when we moved. We did OK Sunday, and we were glad we had made that decision.

One more to go!

NUMBER 14 RUMMAGE SALE

On Saturday, August 27, from 8:00 to 3:00, we held our 14th. rummage sale in the big detached garage, and a few items placed on the lawn.We  rented 6 tables from the Community Hall, and with Clint and Nikki's help on Friday afternoon, we got set up for the sale. As always, we had more "stuff" than we thought we had.
Customers started arriving by 7:30 and we had a steady stream of people all day long. We sold alot of "stuff", $400 worth, and started taking tables down by early afternoon.

It was a beautiful day for a rummage sale, and we got to visit with quite a few of our "regular customers", I told  a few of the  folks that we plan on having another sale on Saturday, September 3 and the following Saturday, September 10, and told them there would be furniture. Several were interested, and I  brought them inside for a "preview". We were happy and tired by 3,took the rest of the day off.

KAHLER PRUDENTIAL REALTORS

After interviewing a couple of realty companies, we decided to list the house with Kahler Prudential. Jeremy Kahler called us about listing the house and we found him to be a true professional. Jeremy came out took pictures and video and we are very impressed!

Jeremy has done everything he said he would do and he is always on time when he makes an appointment with you. Prudential Realty keeps you informed online how many folks are looking at your website, which is very encouraging. They showed the house  a couple of days after listing and sent feedback online to say how the showing went.

 

I was so impressed with this sign that Jeremy made for us!!  What a Guy! So far, I am very impressed with Kahler Prudential and hope they can get the job done!