Adventure awaits those who dare to wander!

High winds and rain delayed our departure on

 this great adventure by a day but we decided to

 get on the road before the next batch of cold

 arrived in Ohio, despite the fact we both had

 come down with a rare cold!

We decided on a route that would take us on some highways that we had yet to travel. Sad fact is that there has been so much flooding that it was all we could see from the time we left; traveling down I-75 to I-71 west then taking I-65 south to I-40 west through Nashville, Memphis and Little Rock.

Our first night was parked right across from the Sheperdsville Government Office in Kentucky with this beautiful Christmas display of lights.

 

Luckily, no accidents along the way but I found it interesting that not many deer as far as roadkill but yet I saw a total of 6 coyotes, 2 turkey vultures, an owl and two young armadillos! The owl was quite a sad sight, as I have only witnessed an owl in the wild twice, both very recently. My only encounter with an armadillo was in the Texas bayou on a short nature walk when I was startled by one! He could have cared less.

We stopped for lunch along this cute little church.

Although the forecast was for cloudy conditions, we were blessed with a blue sky streaked with wisps of billowing transparent white. It surely made for a cheerful drive!

Tonight we are in a charming place called Ramblin Fever RV Park in  Mt. Pleasant, TX. Nice park, nice people!

Tomorrow we should arrive in the Austin area for some days of exploration and start of  my '30 paintings in 30 days' for January. Hoping I can stay on track for that!

Why I lost my heart....

This is one of the views I was blessed to experience with my own eyes last winter while camping in the Superstition Mountains of Apache Junction, Arizona. Can you see why I am so excited about returning?


There is a lot of gray green and brownish gray in AZ in the winter but when you have sunsets like this, it makes it all that more spectacular! As an artist, it is difficult for me to even think I could capture this beauty in paint but I certainly am going to try.......over and over!

Countdown begins...

as I prepare to make this life-changing move to the west, specifically Arizona, I pause to reflect on all that is being left behind. So many wonderful friends, as well as dear family members but as others that have gone before me say........."they will visit you often!", so this is an official invite for you all to come explore Arizona with me as soon as I have a house. Or you can choose to come sooner and stay in the motorhome if you like camping as much as I do!

Happy to be able to stay here in Ohio for the holidays and spend Christmas with those I love before hitting the road. Planning to check out Austin, Fredricksburg and San Antonio in Texas before making a beeline for Arizona. If I am lucky, I will get in a little plein air painting while in Texas. Excited to see this area for the first time. Check another one off that bucket list!

Speaking of bucket lists, do you have one? Seems I keep adding to it, but I have checked off quite a few these last couple of years. Somehow, Europe just keeps getting bumped down the list as I find more beautiful and exciting places to explore right here in the good ole USA...