HAPPY NEW YEAR

Mom, Dad, Lenny and I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. We hope 2011 is a great year for all. Please celebrate responsibly. We will probably be sound asleep when the New Year is ushered in. We lead such an exciting life. Tomorrow we will also be celebrating Lenny's 4th birthday. We are still in South Carolina, having survived a white Christmas. We will remain in South Carolina for the time being as Mom and Dad want to spend as much time as possible with granddaughter Kennedy Rae.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Merry Christmas

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We will be spending the holidays in South Carolina with the family. Mom and Dad are real excited about spending Christmas with granddaughter Kennedy Rae for her first Christmas.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

Thanksgiving And Anniversaries

This upcoming week will be a busy one with Thanksgiving, two anniversaries and one birthday. The anniversaries start tomorrow which is the 4th anniversary of Mom and Dad adopting me into the family. While its only been 4 years, it feels longer than that because of all the traveling we have done and all the places we have been to. Wednesday is daughter-in-law Pat's birthday. This year we are spending Thanksgiving with Dave and Pat and all their dogs. Lenny and I will have a great time. Thursday, besides being Thanksgiving, is also Mom and Dad's 43rd anniversary.

We still do not know when we will be leaving South Carolina. There was a delay in scheduling Mom and Dad's annual doctors appointments so our departure is still up in the air. Of course, the delay does give Mom and Dad more time to see granddaughter Peanut.

We want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy all the turkey!

HAPPY VETERANS' DAY

Mom, Dad, Lenny and I want to wish a Happy Veterans' Day to all the men and women who are serving or have served in our armed forces. We appreciate the sacrifices you and your families have made to keep our country strong. We salute you and thank you!

Back In South Carolina

Last Thursday we arrived back in South Carolina. Our friends, John and Janet, along with their puppy Holly, also arrived here with us. Holly and I are good friends but she does not like Lenny. He is big and intimidates her.

Saturday Mom and Dad were happy as they went to lunch with granddaughter Kennedy Rae, AKA Peanut. Kennedy is growing like a weed and is such a happy, friendly baby. She is a real cutie!

Monday, Mom and Dad went with John and Janet to the Babyland Hospital in Cleveland, GA. Babyland is the birthplace of all Cabbage Patch dolls. You can see, from the picture, all the dolls growing out of the cabbage patch. After touring Babyland, they went to the Alpine community of Helen, GA and had lunch and did some window shopping walking through the town. We had to say goodbye to John, Janet and Holly yesterday as they left for Florida. It was great seeing them again.

Is everyone ready for Halloween?

Finished In Virginia

We have finished our two week stay at Lake Gaston in Virginia. Dad went through withdrawal there without cell phone service or Internet service for the two weeks. We were disappointed with the Lake Gaston Resort Park. Mom and Dad had heard so many good things about the park but it wasn't so great. The roads were very narrow and the sites were very short. The park had a bowling alley but it would cost $13.00 for two people to bowl one game. Mom and Dad didn't do any bowling.

Mom and Dad did take us on the road trip they promised. One day we traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We visited the site on Kill Devil Hills where the Wright Brothers had their first flights with their plane, the Kitty Hawk. We also visited Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Roanoke Island. Roanoke Island is the site of Fort Raleigh and is where the Lost Colony had originally settled in 1585. We also got a lunch at Taco Bell which was quite different from our usual Happy Meals.

Tomorrow we arrive back in South Carolina so Mom and Dad can spend some more time with their granddaughter Peanut. They are real excited about that.

Movin' On

After two wonderful weeks at Forest Lake Thousand Trails in Advance, NC, it is time to move on. Tomorrow we head out for Lake Gaston, VA. We have enjoyed our time at Forest Lake. There are plenty of grassy areas for Lenny and me to play and roll on. One day Mom and Dad went to Charlotte, NC to have lunch with daughter-in-law Pat, who is temporarily working in Charlotte. After lunch, Mom and Dad toured the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is a must for all NASCAR fans. Mom wasn't real excited about it but she knew Dad wanted to go there. Mom did sign Dad up to drive a car in a simulated race. Dad drove Jimmy Johnson's 48 car and only wrecked it two times.

During our stay here, we were pleasantly surprised when our friends Bob and Kathy arrived at the park for a stay. We haven't seen them since last fall. They are such nice people and are dog friendly. Lenny and I enjoy visiting them. One day, Bob and Kathy and Mom and Dad went to an RV show in Greensboro, NC. I guess they didn't see anything that excited them as neither couple bought a new RV. On another day they all went to a flea market and fortunately they didn't bring any fleas home.

In keeping with their hobby of finding historic graves, Mom and Dad did find the graves of Daniel Boone's parents and brother in Mocksville, NC. Daniel lived in Mocksville for several years.

While here, we learned that the Forest Lake Thousand Trails Park is on land once part of the Cooleemee Plantation, which was first purchased by the Hairston family in 1817. The plantation is still owned by the Hairston family. While the plantation is not open to the public, Mom and Dad met a caretaker who was eager to show them the house and outbuildings. The main house, which Mom and Dad call a mansion, is only called a villa by the Hairstons. It was built in 1851 in an Anglo-Grecian style of a Greek cross. The Hairstons also owned plantations in Virginia and were believed to be the largest slave owners and slave traders in the South. There are now two branches of the Hairston family, the white branch which pronounces the name as Harston and the black branch which pronounces the name as it is spelled. Three members of the black branch of the family have gone on to play major league baseball. On Thousand Trails Park land is a pioneer cemetery which predates the Hairston purchase of the land.

When we get to Virginia, Mom and Dad have a couple of day trips, with Happy Meals, planned for us. I will let you know later what the trips were.

We Hit The Road Again

Today we hit the road again. We are now at the Forest Lake Thousand Trails in the big metropolis of Advance, North Carolina. We have a big grassy site so there is plenty of room for Lenny and me to play. The park is fairly quiet now that school is back in session. We will be here for two weeks but nothing major is planned.

Saturday night, Mom and Dad did go to the PBR Greenville Invitational. They had a very enjoyable evening seing the bull riders they have followed on TV. Even though Lenny and I couldn't go, Mom and Dad did buy us a stuffed toy bull named Little Yellow Jacket. Sunday, Mom and Dad went to lunch at Trevor and Sharon's. Dave and Pat were also there so it was a nice family day. Of course, granddaughter Peanut was the center of attention.

Oh, by the way, I celebrated my 4th birthday last Thursday!

Sad News

Our dear friend Geri, (Pat's Mom) lost her battle with cancer this past Wednesday. This next weekend we will not only be celebrating Labor Day but also Mom's birthday. On September 11th, Mom and Dad will be attending a PBR (Professional Bull Riding) Event in Greenville. They are real excited about this as they are avid PBR fans. On September 14th, we will be hitting the road again with stops in North Carolina and Lake Gaston in Virginia. I will be getting more active on the blog as we start traveling again.

HOT CAROLINA

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything recently but we did make it back to South Carolina, where it is HOT and HUMID. During the week, we come to Dave and Pat's to stay with Pat's mom while they are working. Lenny and I like that because we get to play with Dave & Pat's dogs, our cousins, all day. When the day is over, Lenny and I nap all the way back to the trailer as we are tired out from playing so much. Mom an Dad like being back in South Carolina because they get to see more of their grand daughter Peanut, who is growing like a weed and is becoming much more animated. Mom and Dad, not being biased, think Peanut is one gorgeous little girl.

Take care everyone.

Cereal City

We left St Clair and headed to Battle Creek, MI, the home of Kellogg's and its founders. Battle Creek was also the home of Charles Post, founder of Post cereals. While Mom and Dad were taking grave site pictures of Kellogg and Post, they came up on Sojourner Truth's grave. Truth, a former slave who championed women's rights and anti slavery. Battle Creek was a stop on the underground railroad for fleeing slaves during the civil war. From Battle Creek we went to Batesville, IN but had to change our plans so that we could return to South Carolina to help with the care of a family member. More later.

Winding Down St Clair Visit

We are winding down our visit to the St Clair, MI area. Monday morning we head out for a two day stay in the Battle Creek area before heading to Batesville, IN. Lenny and I haven't been real busy while we were here but Mom and Dad have been on the go. One day they went to lunch in the Bay City area with Dad's cousin Carolyn and her husband Charlie. After lunch they stopped in Frankenmuth at the world famous Bronner's Christmas Wonderland store to pick up some Christmas items. Dad says the store is so big and spread out, they give you a map when you go in so you won't get lost. Mom and Dad really enjoyed spending time and visiting with Carolyn and Charlie.

On another day, Mom and Dad went to Henry Ford's Greenfield Village with Dad's cousin Sandra. Dad hadn't seen Sandra in over 28 years. Dad had been to Greenfield Village when he was a young boy and he always wanted to go back. Now that he has done it, he can scratch that off his "bucket list". Greenfield Village is a wonderful historical park set up by Henry Ford. He brought historical buildings to Greenfield Village so they could be preserved and enjoyed by future generations. Some of the sights included one of Thomas Edison's labs, the Wright Brothers' boyhood home and one of their bicycle shops, Noah Webster's home, poet Robert Frost's home and the Heinz House where HJ Heinz made his first product, which wasn't pickles or ketchup but horseradish. There were also old trains and Model T's throughout the park. Henry Ford also built a chapel in the park to honor his mother and mother-in-law. The bell in the chapel's belfry was cast by Paul Revere. After visiting the park, they went into Detroit to Henry Ford's grave to get a picture for their album.

One evening, Mom and Dad went to Sandra's for a wonderful dinner. Another one of Dad's cousins, Mary, was also there. Sandra's son Mike and two of her grandchildren were also there. Dad enjoyed reliving old times with Sandra and Mary.

Lenny and I did see the vet while we were here. Both of us got good reports and Lenny's diet has paid off as he has lost 14 pounds since last December. Since we had a good vet report, Mom and Dad took us into Canada one day. It was Lenny's first trip out of the US. We did some sightseeing and then we had a nice hamburger lunch at A&W.

Lastly, Dad wants to thank the dumpster truck traveling South on I-75 in Pontiac, Friday, for kicking up the rock and providing us with the opportunity to buy a new windshield for our truck.

Take care everyone.

Hello From Michigan

Today we left Ohio and made our way to the Thousand Trails Park in St Clair, Michigan. The first 3 hours of our trip today was in a heavy rainstorm which wasn't any fun. Michigan is the 31st state Lenny has visited since he began traveling with us 16 months ago. Since we are so close, we may even take him into Canada while we are here. We are glad to be out of Ohio where it was so hot with very high humidity. We didn't want to be outside playing in that heat. We did have a shocking experience while in Ohio. Lenny and I each wear a remote trainer collar. If we misbehave, Mom and Dad can hit a tone button to let us know we need to behave. If we don't behave then they can hit the shock button to give us a small shock and then we behave. We were having problems with my collar not working so Mom and Dad called the company. They walked them through some tests and come to find out the remotes had gotten crossed. When Mom or Dad hit my shock button, Lenny was getting shocked. He wasn't the least bit happy about that. Mom and Dad were able to get them reprogrammed so now they work properly. Lenny is happy now that he is not getting my shocks. While in Michigan, we plan to do some sightseeing and also visit the vet to get our annual shots. Later folks!

North Carolina

After three active weeks in South Carolina, highlighted by the birth of grand baby Kennedy Rae, we hitched up this past Sunday and headed for the Forest Lake Thousand Trails near Lexington, NC. Mom and Dad are still Ga Ga about Kennedy. On Wednesday, being one week old, she had her first pediatrician appointment. She gained 7 ounces and now weighs 8 lbs and grew 1/2 inch and is now 20 inches long. She is in great shape.

Monday, Mom and Dad toured the Childress Vineyards and Winery in Lexington. It is owned and operated by NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. According to Mom and Dad, it is a beautiful place and a first class operation. Wednesday, they went to Welcome, NC and toured Richard Childress Racing Headquarters and museum. Dad found it very fascinating as he is a NASCAR fan. NASCAR ownership is definitely not a poor man's operation.

Today was a road trip for me and Lenny. Mom and Dad took us to Mt Airy, NC, better known by many as Mayberry. We toured the town and saw many things from the Andy Griffith Show, from Sheriff Taylors office, car and jail to Floyd's Barber Shop to a statue of Andy & Opie to Andy Griffith's home from 1936 to 1966. Lenny and I got our pictures taken in the jail, in front of the statue and eating lunch of burgers and fries at the Blue Bird Diner. That was the highlight of the day for us. The Blue Bird Diner is pet friendly. They keep a water dish and a bucket of doggie treats out front for their 4 legged friends. We lunched on the front patio.

We leave Monday for Ohio. We will be making a one night stop at a campground on the original Bob Evans Farm, where the Bob Evans Restaurant idea was born.

OUR BUNDLE OF JOY HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Mom and Dad are now the proud grandparents of Kennedy Rae Gordon, born at 7:42 this morning, weighing in at 7 lbs 9 oz. She is a gorgeous little blonde with blue eyes and chubby cheeks. Momma Sharon and Kennedy are doing fantastic. Daddy Trevor is still on cloud nine.

Nothing Could Be Finer.....

.....Than to be in Carolina in the morning. Hi folks, yesterday we arrived back at what seems to be our home away from home, the Thousand Trails Park in Fair Play, South Carolina. We just finished 12 wonderful days at the Mountain Lakes Resort in Langston, Alabama. What a beautiful park, with plenty of room for me and Lenny. The park is on the shore of Guntersville Lake with its' 890 mile shoreline. The lake is part of the Tennessee River waterway. We never realized Alabama had some pretty mountain areas. Mom and Dad's old friends Matt and Connie were parked right beside us. We enjoyed seeing them again and introducing them to Lenny. We are scheduled to be here in South Carolina until June 13th but that is up in the air as we were anxiously awaiting the birth of Mom and Dad's granddaughter Peanut.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day. Take care.

Natchez Trace

Hello from the Natchez Trace in Tennessee. We arrived here last Tuesday and managed to survive the storms that hit Tennessee this past weekend. Our trip to this park from Arkansas took us through McNairy County, TN where we passed the grave and home of "Walking Tall" Sheriff Buford Pusser. We spent the weekend in the trailer with the non-stop rain and continuous tornado warnings. Fortunately there were no tornadoes. It was kind of eerie since Saturday was the first anniversary of this park being hit by two tornadoes last year. The Natchez Trace is a beautiful parkway. Near our park on the Trace is the grave of Meriwether Lewis of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition. We have another week of playing in this park before we head to Alabama where we are scheduled to meet up with Mom and Dad's friends Matt & Connie. It will be nice to see them again after a year and a half.

More later friends.

Half and Half

Last Thursday we left Gordonville for a long weekend in Ashdown, Arkansas. During our journey, we stopped in DeKalb, TX so Mom and Dad could get a picture of another gravesite, that of Dan Blocker who played "Hoss Cartwright" on the TV show Bonanza. We are spending the weekend at the Millwood Landing Golf and RV Resort. What a beautiful park. Today we took a ride into Texarkana so Lenny and I could get our picture taken straddling the state line between Texas and Arkansas. The state line goes right down the middle of the Federal Courthouse and Post Office. Afterwards we were treated to our happy meal hamburgers and fries. Gotta love those little sightseeing road trips! Arkansas is now the 31st state Lenny has visited since he came to live with us 14 months ago. Monday we will be leaving for the Natchez Trace in Tennessee. We will arrive there on Tuesday. This will be Lenny's first trip there so I am anxious to show him around. It's a fun place.

Later folks.

The Gordons In Gordonville

Today we left Thackerville, OK and drove a long 38 miles to the Lake Texoma Thousand Trails in Gordonville, TX. Gordonville is becoming an annual stop for us as this is one of our favorite parks. We enjoyed our two week stay in Thackerville. While Mom and Dad enjoyed spending time with friends John and Janet, Lenny and I had fun playing with our buddy Holly. One day I snuck out of our trailer. Dad didn't have to search hard for me as I ran straight to Holly's motorcoach and was setting on the steps when Dad caught up with me. One day, Mom and Dad went to the Thackerville Third Annual Rattlesnake Roundup put on by the Thackerville Fire Department. They enjoyed seeing many rattlesnakes but at a safe distance behind a barrier. Mom and Dad enjoyed the free seniors' breakfasts at the Winstar Casino. Fortunately, they didn't leave too much money in the slot machines, so they came out ahead. We will be in Gordonville for two weeks of rest and relaxation.

HAPPY EASTER

Lenny and I want to wish our family and friends a Happy Easter. We are enjoying our stay in Oklahoma. Last Sunday was a "doggie day-out" for us. Mom and Dad took us first to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Then we went to Oklahoma City to visit the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. It was very sobering to see the memorial chairs for the victims killed in that tragic event, 19 of who were children. Afterwards, we were treated to our happy meals for lunch. While enjoying lunch we were able to watch a female police officer chase down and capture a shoplifter. That was exciting!

Yesterday Mom and Dad went to the Winstar Casino for a free seniors breakfast. They sure do enjoy the perks of being senior citizens. Also, our Westie pal Holly arrived at the park with her Mom and Dad. We sure do enjoy playtime with her.

All for now, again HAPPY EASTER and please don't eat all the ears on the chocolate bunnie...

GET ALONG LITTLE DOGGIE

Today we are winding up our stay at Tres Rio in Glen Rose, TX. Tomorrow we head to the Red River Ranch RV Park in Oklahoma. We have enjoyed our stay in Glen Rose. This is a real

nice park. The first week we were here was spring break so there were lots of families here but the second week has been very quiet. The weather here for the most part has been beautiful except for the first two days of spring when it was miserably wet, windy and cold. Mom and Dad took me and Lenny to the historic Chisholm Trail. Of course what is the Chisholm Trail without a cattle drive. You have to love those Texas longhorns. Mom and Dad have also taken us down by the river to let us run loose. That has been fun. This past Sunday, Mom and Dad's longtime friends Fel and Molly came down for a visit and to go out for lunch. It was great seeing them. Mom and Dad used to go motorcycle riding with them. We are looking forward to our stay in Oklahoma as our RVing friends John and Janet and their puppy Holly are scheduled to meet up with us there. It will be nice to see them again. I guess this is all for now, take care!

Medina Lake, Texas Hill Country

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. For the past 11 days we have been at the Medina Lake Thousand Trails Park in the Texas hill country. This is one of our favorite parks with the deer, roadrunners and jackrabbits. When we arrived, Lenny and I were surprised to find our long time pals, Taffy and Snickers, were already here with their mommy and daddy, John and Marcia. It has been almost a year since we last saw Taffy and Snickers. We got to play with them for 10 days before they left for Louisiana. Mom and Dad really enjoyed spending time with John and Marcia. They are such good friends. One day, they all went out to dinner to celebrate Marcia's birthday. They wouldn't tell us how old she was though. Mom and Dad really enjoy all of the activities at this park with the games, dances, jam sessions, ice cream socials and wienie roasts. We are real disappointed with Medina Lake. Right now, it is nothing more than a wide spot in the Medina River. The flood gates are open and will remain open until the weak dam is replaced. The weather, for the most part is pretty good. We did have some snow flurries one day and some rain but now it is turning warmer and sunnier.

On March 11, we will be going to Glen Rose, the Dinosaur Capital of Texas, for a two week stay.

Take care folks.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from Columbus, TX, the oldest surveyed and platted Anglo-American town in Texas. We have been here for two weeks. For the most part, the weather has been wet and cold. At least there hasn't been any snow. We will be here until next Thursday then we head for Medina Lake, TX. Last week Mom and Day met Dad's old colleague, Roy Royston and his girlfriend Vicki for a great Mexican dinner. It is always great to spend time with Roy and Vicki. Yesterday, longtime friends, Skeeter and Debbie, came to visit and see our new trailer. They are really neat people as they brought toys and treats for me and Lenny. We hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Lenny's First Trip To The Reservation

Today we left Abita Springs and came to the Coushatta Tribal Reservation near Kinder, LA. We are at the RV park of the Coushatta Casino and Hotel. This is one beautiful park with plenty of room for Lenny and me to run and play. This is Lenny's first trip ever to an Indian Reservation. He doesn't seem to be excited about that fact though. He just likes running in the fields. We enjoyed our 12 days at Abita Springs visiting with Harold and Nina, seeing Mardi Gras getting kicked off and of course the Saints getting to go to the Super Bowl. After the Saints beat the Vikings, the area when GA-GA with fireworks going off most all night. The French Quarter and Bourbon Street were packed with people celebrating. This afternoon Mom and Dad visited the casino and made a small donation. I guess they plan another visit tomorrow afternoon. Thursday morning we will pull out early and make our way to Columbus, TX for a 3 week stay. It will be nice to be back in The Lone Star State.

Mom & Dad Are Excited

Yesterday, Sharon and Trevor posted a sonogram picture of their yet unborn daughter. Mom and Dad are so excited about having a granddaughter that they are "goofy". The picture shows the baby is going to be as beautiful as her Momma. We can't wait for her to be born!!!!!!!!!

We are now in Abita Springs, Louisiana. We arrived here last Thursday, however we did encounter a problem after leaving South Carolina. While spending one night in Alabama on our way here, we suffered a power surge that "fried" both of the TVs. So for 6 days we were without TVs. Mom was suffering withdrawal not being able to see her favorite shows on the Food Channel. Yesterday we got the TVs replaced so Mom and Dad are happy campers again. While here, Mom and Dad have been able to spend time with their friends, Harold and Nina Denton. Sunday they met up with them at the Hollywood Casino for dinner and some entertainment. This evening Mom and Dad are going over to their home for more visiting.

Louisiana is an excited place right now, with the Saints in the NFL playoffs and the upcoming Mardi Gras celebrations. There are Saints and Mardi Gras signs and merchandise all over the place. Lenny and I are enjoying the warmer weather of Louisiana. We are able to be outside more and have met a couple of new friends, Mitzi and Sally. They are fun to play with.

Time To Hit The Road

After three wonderful, but cold, weeks in South Carolina, it is time for us to hit the road. We enjoyed spending the holidays with the kids and getting to see them again. It has been real cold in South Carolina but with the new trailer we have managed to keep ourselves toasty. We loved our other trailer but the new one is so much nicer. We are heading out tomorrow for Abita Springs, LA. We will be spending two weeks in Louisiana before we hit Texas again. We are ready for some warmer weather so we can be outside more. I will keep you updated as our travels progress. Stay safe everyone!