We’re leaving Michigan!
Tomorrow starts the migration east via New Stanton PA and the eastern shore.
We’re excited!
Our first stop will include meets with work friends from Bruce’s Pittsburgh time and hopefully a connect with a former pastor and his lovely family, from our time at CT. Weather promises to be cool and sunny. There is also a Frank Lloyd Wright spot to visit.
We have loved Michigan. It is high on our list of states to make as home. Detroit being primary simply for the church we found. It felt like family and Kingdom all at once. Small, intimate, loving and very Biblical.
We will be back!
But this season of travel is planned through December and we won’t sacrifice it simply to settle somewhere. We’ve met so many full time RVer’s and all of them are loving it. We had a warm welcome from a guy named Harry who dropped by our space a couple of weeks ago. Such a joy to talk to him! He encouraged us in this adventure in ways that someone who hasn’t done it never could. Gave us places to visit, advice on how to maintain the unit and expectations about services and campgrounds.
Bruce even wrote about him
Michigan has also given us time to figure out this kind of life. How to shop, maintain the 5th wheel, do laundry, sanitation, cooking, sewing, when to drug the cat, parking, backing, hitching, pulling, and ultimately for Bruce, working.
Did I mention that he landed a long term contract?
Yep, it starts this week! He’s excited to be back in the swing of software customization. He adamantly refuses to take on project management again and has turned down many an interview for them. And he also refuses to enter an office…
Thus the RV life
This month and October will include visits to PA (Pitt and Philly), Chesapeake VA, my nephew in Aulander NC, Hatteras NC and Kitty Hawk, Myrtle Beach SC, Charleston SC and land us by November in Henderson NC, (Asheville for reference).
Holidays in the mountains!
One of our primary reasons for buying this particular 5th wheel was for the xtra room in the middle. I’ve turned it into a sewing space and have used it almost daily. I decided that I’d use this time to learn to traditionally quilt.
It’s harder than it looks
But oh so fun! I’ve had a good time learning to read patterns, piece fabrics, make my corners match, choose fabrics for value, color and print. And I’ve loved taking larger projects to professional long arm quilters for the ‘sandwich’ part of quilting. I’ve had 3 done so far, 2 back in IL and one in MI.
Google for the win
Lately it’s been learning to free motion quilt. A YouTube video, a special foot for my machine, particular thread and needles, it’s a whole new world. Supplies are easy on the road when delivery is possible. Online patterns, Etsy fabrics, but never trivialize the excitement and value of visiting local quilt shops.
It must be what Heaven will be like
Space is limiting my abilities to smaller projects right now. I dream of larger tables, lots of natural light, space for a quilt frame and a sewing machine with some features to make it all more professional.
With the holidays coming, fabrics have exploded into Christmas mode. Never mind fall, it’s all about Elves, Santa, snow, stockings, and beautiful winter scenes.
I’m all in
Another thing we’ve started is listening to books on the road. Right now it’s a single book, but I’ve plans for more. It’s an awesome way to travel. History is a favorite and I’ve plans for David McCullough’s ‘The Wright Brothers’. Currently it’s Abraham Verghese’s ‘The Covenant of Water’. I loved his first book and knew we’d both love this one.
Lastly, we’ve had some fun times with our grandson while here in MI. He’s growing, changing, becoming a strong voice for personhood in his home. Yesterday we fed animals at a little zoo near them. He loved giving carrots to camels, zebras, alpacas and goats. The goats were especially eager…
This adventure is something I never imagined taking in life. Once again, the amazing surprises that come with abandoning, what I believe life should look like, for what life can be like. Letting go of those ‘good neighborhood, schools, resale value, nice church’ for the idea that God plants us where he can make us most fruitful and also continue to change us into the image of his son.
It’s a win/win in my book!
I’ll let you know how it continues to unfold
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