Come along for the Ride!

I am so glad you are here. Stay with us as we travel everywhere. I hope you will enjoy the ride.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Hunter shooting his bow

Kailey with her bow.

Pops is eating some Zucchini bread that was made by Mary K. Shaffer.

Unexpected Hometime


We were offered a load that was picking up only about 30 miles from us and going to Buffalo, NY. It paid pretty well and we do ok from the Buffalo area usually normally so we accepted and got the load.
After our showers we fueled the truck and then went to our place of pickup. It didn’t take more than 15 minutes to get loaded and get away from there. So now we were figuring our route to Buffalo.
Pops told me that we would be traveling north in a route that was going to go through Beckley, WV. Remember that is where the big bridge is that I hate. But he would be driving by then and maybe I would be sleeping.
So I began the drive and was going north up and over the Smokey Mountains. They are so incredibly beautiful. I never get tired of seeing them. I don’t always like to be the one driving though. They are steep and curvy although this route is not as bad as another one we travel. But I was driving so I drove slow and enjoyed the scenery.
After a while it was Pops’ turn to drive and I sat up front and caught up on my facebook and played some games on the Ipad until it was time to go to sleep. I was, in fact, still awake when we crossed the New River Gorge Bridge. And to make it all worse, there was road construction on the bridge so that it was only one lane going our direction and of course it was the outside lane nearest the edge! Good grief.
Right after crossing that I went to bed.
When I woke up we were at a service plaza near Erie, PA. We made some coffee and took the dogs out and then went for a big walk to other side of the highway to use the restrooms and stretch our legs. Then I began to drive.
It wasn’t long until I crossed the NY state line and was immediately pulled over by a trooper. He said he could hear our tires making a noise and needed to check it out to see if we had a flat tire. He also asked for the laminate instruction for our C link computer. (I was asked for this last week at the weigh station when I was pulled in, our truck does not have one. I was emailed one and printed it out.) I gave the NY trooper the printed copy that I had been emailed and he refused it. He wanted the actual laminated one. He gave me a written warning for not having it with me in the truck. No Fair!
We called our owner and explained what had just happened and they promised to send us one by Monday.
We were predispatched on a load that is picking up in Baltimore and going to Alabama. But it didn’t pick up until Monday so we have the weekend free. Pops and I figured our route options and realized that we could home for the weekend without going more than 50 miles out of route. We were excited.
So once we got the Buffalo load off we headed toward home. It wasn’t very far really but there was no easy way to go. There were no good interstates that way so it was winding, two-lane roads through many small towns with low speed limits and it took most of the day to get home. But we did get there before supper time.
Bill P. wasn’t home from work yet and the kids were coming too. I helped Starla finish making ham pot pie for supper.
I got our laundry started and sorted through the mountain of mail. It was so good to be home unexpectedly. Since we didn’t know we were getting home, we hadn’t any plans so we just got to sit and relax and be part of the family’s weekend. I loved it.
I wanted to see the boys so I asked if they had a few minutes to get together at all. Tom agreed to meet us for breakfast early Saturday because he had ball practice later and then work, and on Sunday he already had plans to go to Pittsburgh to see a ballgame.
Drew also had ball practice and he was going to Shanksville to pick up first so he couldn’t come to breakfast but he could come after practice and bring his friend to the house, then he had to work.
We stayed up late Friday night just enjoying our time with Bill and Starla and the kids were showing Pops how to add games to his Ipad and taking pictures and just having a nice time.
The next morning we got up early and met Tom at Bob Evans for breakfast. We had a real nice visit with him. I am so proud of my kids. We had a good breakfast and talked for a few hours before he had to leave. I gave him a big hug goodbye. I always hate it when its time to part from each other. A little bit of heart always goes along with them.
We went then and got some groceries. I needed to get stuff to make the tres leche cake and spaghetti for tomorrow dinner after church and I wanted to get some stuff for supper tonight too.
Starla used the leftover ham to make ham, green beans and potatoes for lunch on Saturday. Drew came up and introduced us to his friend, Shelbie. She is very nice and we enjoyed our visit with her. She is very pretty too. He met her through a mutual friend and she plays ball on his prison league team.
They hung around for a few hours and then he had to take her home before going to work. He told us that we would see him in the morning at church. He changed into his work clothes before leaving the house. He looks so impressive in his prison guard uniform.
The rest of the day was pretty relaxing. We didn’t do much of anything except just hang out. It was rainy outside and the kids fished a little bit, but we didn’t really do anything else.
On Sunday morning Pops and I got up earlier than everyone else and left for church in time so that I could attend the First Place group. We all have just started a new book by a new author and everything was new and different and the meeting was very good. I love being with these women so much.
It happened to be Pulpit Switch Sunday this week. We have 5 churches in our brotherhood that every month that has 5 Sundays will exchange preachers with one of the other 5. So each congregation get a different preacher on that Sunday. It is an interesting concept and it seems like a nice change of pace for everyone. We were blessed to have Bob Long from Laurel Highlands at Wills Mt. this morning.
Bob had agreed to also bring us our Sunday school lesson and he talked about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity. It was good to discuss this topic.
After Sunday School he preached a sermon on Kingdom Building. I do so appreciate being encouraged with a good sermon and also need the rebuking and correcting that also comes with it.
After church we had our weekly dinner at the church. I made a huge batch of spaghetti and the cake. There was a lot of good food there. I sat with Jeff and Jane. I miss them and their friendship on a regular basis.
I got to give hugs to the 3 young people that had gotten baptized since we left home after Camp Meeting. It seems like our young people are catching on fire spiritually and that is good.
After church we went back to the house and hung out. Kailey and Hunter were target shooting with their bows. They are getting pretty good with them too.
Later in the day we traveled over to Friedens to Laurel Highlands Church of Christ for a hymn sing. Amy and Kacey were there so I got to sit with and visit with them. I also got to see many friends from 6 different churches. Christian friends are the best friends.
This has been a great weekend. Like I said, we didn’t have anything planned for us so we got to do what we wanted, but mainly just relaxed and enjoyed being part of everything that we used to take for granted.
One thing I learned by having this job is never ever take your family, your home, your friends, or your church for granted.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Going in circles, it seems

We left Houston when we accepted a load that was picking up in Oklahoma and going to Arden, NC. It was so very hot. Everywhere looked dried up. The corn fields looked terrible and most of the fields in the south just looked like withered up weed fields. It is bad. And it is so widespread.
We made our pickup at a foundry in Oklahoma. We were hauling a heavy load of cast iron parts.
It is a long trip across the state of Tennessee and up and over the Smokey Mountains to reach our destination.
The state of Tennessee has lighted signs over the interstate warning people to drive safely and it keeps a running tally of the number of traffic deaths in that state so far this year. The number of motorcycle deaths was 69 the last trip through here and now it was showing 72. The auto accidents is showing 544. That is a lot of deaths in one state alone in 6 months time.
At first I thought it was morbid to show this but I realized that it makes it seems so real to see the figures and see them go up each time we pass through.
I woke up and we were already in the lot waiting to get unloaded. It was raining here, really hard too. The man that helped Pops unload told him that they had gotten rain 8 days in a row. Wow, that's a lot of rain.
So we got unloaded and then headed to Greenville, SC which is our place to layover but before we got there we already had another load. It was picking up near Greenville and going to Bay City, TX. So we are making one huge circle.
We made our pickup and got moving. This time since we were so far south we traveled the southern route across to Texas. So we went south to Atlanta and then through Alabama. We stopped for fuel and a shower at the truckstop near Montgomery where I fed the pregnant dog about a month or so ago. I looked for her or any small dogs but didn't see any. We were only there for about an hour and a half though.
Then I drove us through Mississippi and Pops started driving near Slidell, LA.
I stayed awake until we reached Baton Rouge and then I went to bed. I missed the bayous but it was dark anyway.
When I woke up we were in Texas near our delivery site. We were early and had to wait for someone to come unload us. We had to watch a safety video and put on clothing with long pants and long sleeves and Pops had to wear a hard hat and goggles when he got out of the truck. We were inside the gate for less than 15 minutes. Haha.
So now we were going up to Houston for our layover. It was hot and muggy thank goodness our a/c is working.
On the way to Houston we passed by Johnson Space Center. I wish we could visit there but it wouldn't be good to pay to get in and then get a load and have to leave without seeing it. We will come back sometime when we are off or already have a load that doesn't pick up until the next day.
We were on layover but we needed to get some work done on the truck and we needed to do laundry too.
So we went to the Flying J truckstop in Baytown, TX.
On the way there we made a stop at Walmart for groceries and then I went to Ricky's Thick and Juicy Burgers and got us lunch. I am so glad that I found this place.
So once at the truckstop we did get our work done on the truck and got a little rest. The next morning I got all caught up with the laundry and then fixed us some breakfast.
We relaxed and got caught up with all the paperwork and other things that we can't do while moving. We called about a church in the area that is not in our directory. I wanted to ask them some questions to see if they were a church that we would want to attend but no one called us back.
When we got up I called that church again and again no answer and no one called us back. So Pops and I had our own service. We listened to and discussed one of the lessons from our Camp Meeting CDs and then we re-listened to a sermon preached by Daniel Davenport. It was a good sermon and I picked up on so much more this time with no distractions. We had our communion and it was a good service. Although Pops refused to give me any offering. Just kidding.
Later in the afternoon Pops took me to Cracker Barrel for a "date." I have been whining a little about not ever getting to sit at a real table to eat a meal. Well, not a truckstop table either. So we did have a nice meal at a real table. No offense to Cracker Barrel or my own truck cooking either but I would love to have a "real meal, home cooked, at a real table, on real dishes, with real live people to talk to." That's not asking too much is it?
But it was a nice time.
We enjoyed the rest of the evening. We did get some rain too. Although Houston hasn't been having a drought either.
The next morning we got and accepted a load that picked up near Houston and was going to Michigan. Well barely inside Michigan. So I drove us to our pickup point and then headed northeast toward Texarkana. It was a good quiet drive and Pops tried to rest a little. We finally reached Texarkana and then we were on the major interstates. I continued to drive us into Arkansas and toward Little Rock.
Pops started to drive shortly before Little Rock and it wasn't long before I was in bed.
When I woke up we were in Illinois at a rest area and I began to drive. It wasn't long before we got to our destination and got unloaded really quickly. Then we were going to South Bend for layover.
We got offered a military load that was picking up in Sparta, WI. Actually we were offered 3 different loads picking up there. We did accept one and got it. It was picking up the next morning and going to Asheville, NC. So we waited out the evening. I read my book and tried to be really quiet while Pops got some sleep and then when he woke up he drove us to Wisconsin.
He did get to catch another few hours of sleep there too.
I got started driving and drove us onto the base. We have picked up here several times so I knew where to go. We got loaded and got going right away.
Before we got out of the state of WI I got a red light at the weigh station and they told me that I was overweight. I didn't understand this since I was only hauling 723 pounds. But he didn't ticket me just gave me a warning and told me I had to drive with my tag axle down. I still can't understand how that happened, how could I register overweight with so little weight on? But I did run with the axle down the rest of the way. I drove us down through Wisconsin and then lengthwise down through Illinois and almost into Indianapolis and then Pops started to drive.
I talked to Bill P. and Starla on the phone for a little while and then talked to Chad Fatula for a little while too. And then I figured I better get some sleep. I knew that Pops hadn't slept well and I might have to drive early so I went to bed.
I woke up at our destination in North Carolina. It was a military reserve. We had to wait for a little while until our Person of Contact showed up so I took the dogs out for a walk and then got my dishes done and the floors swept. We got unloaded and then drove over to a TA truckstop.
So we made several Big circles this past few days and here we are in NC again. I don't know where we'll go from here but if there is a pattern going on it should either be Texas, Wisconsin or Michigan.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

You mean it's only Wednesday?


Well the Lord brought us to another good church. It was the First Christian Church in Jackson, TN. We didn’t get any response back from a phone call that I made but we decided to go anyway hoping that parking wouldn’t be a problem.
The church building was a big white beautiful building with another very large white building next to it. We saw a large parking lot on the side of the big building and parked there. We waited hoping to see where the people were entering and saw that most were going down some stairs and into what looked like the basement.
It turns out it was the basement. The main air conditioner of the Church building isn’t working so they were having services in the gym/basement of the big building.
We met a family going in at the same time that we were. The woman’s name was Connie and she took us right under her wing. Her husband was Ken and they were the parents of a gorgeous young girl named Mariah.
Connie introduced us to many people including Adam Steele who is the youth minister there. She also showed us to the Sunday School classrooms. The two classes being offered the adults were a class on Romans and one on Ephesians. So since Romans was just taught at our Camp Meeting last week we decided to go to the class on Ephesians.
This class was being taught by a man named Alan. They are just beginning to study this book and this week was the first and so the introduction to the book of Ephesians. There was a lot of history and interesting points brought out during the introduction and what made it even better was that Alan and his wife had actually toured through Ephesus just two years ago.
Pops and I found this class very interesting.
After Sunday School we went back to the gym for services. We found out that this church is looking for a preacher. We don’t know why but I think this congregation seems solid and would be a good ministry for someone.
Anyway the youth minister, Adam brought a good sermon on abiding in the vine. He did a really good job and we enjoyed the services.
We left right after church because we needed to get groceries and we had a pickup this afternoon today too.
Our pickup was a place that was only using a skeleton crew on this Sunday. So we had to wait for someone to come and help us out. Then there was a glitch in the paperwork and we had to have this man hunted down and after about 2 hours we finally got to pull away from there. Now we were on our way to Ontario.
I was driving and Pops was laying down. It had just started to rain. But then it began to rain really hard. We were driving through Nashville and just in the short time while driving around Nashville I saw 4 different accidents due to the rain.
Somewhere near Louisville, KY Pops and I switched over driving and I went to sleep. We were going to Detroit and then just across the Canadian border and in about 8 miles to our delivery.
Pops had to wake me to cross the border and so I stayed awake to help him find our delivery site and then stayed awake to re-cross the border and then I went back to sleep. From border, to delivery, and back to border took about 2 hours total.
So I woke up a little later in the morning and we were parked at a truckstop north of Toledo, OH. Pops was playing with his Ipad and I worked on cleaning up the inside of the truck. It didn’t take too long and then I took the dogs outside to play. We didn’t stay out more than a half hour though because it was hot. It seems to be extra hot all over right now.
A little later in the afternoon we were offered a load that was picking up in West Virginia, that’s right I said WV, and was going to Baldwyn, MS. So we took off for WV. It was going to take most of the day to drive there. And it was slow going because the Ohio turnpike was under construction and then we got onto the back roads that followed the Ohio River for many many miles. It was slow going. Our company kept bugging us about time because the pickup company was closing at 9pm. We did our very best to get there as soon as we could and we did well considering we left Michigan and drove to West Virginia and I am proud to say that we arrived there at 10 minutes to 9.
So we made that pick up and then we were off to Mississippi. While on our way we got a predispatch that picked up in Alabama and was going to East Camden, AR. Wow we were really excited to be moving so well.
So we delivered in Mississippi caught a quick breath and then got on our way toward Huntsville, AL.
It was a nice drive and really didn’t take too long. The city of Decatur, AL is very pretty. We were picking up a Dept. of Defense load so I can’t talk too much about it but it was an easy pickup with nothing really interesting going on at all anyway except that it was raining so very hard that we both got totally soaked while getting in and out of the truck.
The whole pickup there took just over 20 minutes and now we were headed to East Camden, AR. While on the way we got another predispatch so we would deliver and then pick up another load at the same location and then go to Grand Prairie, TX.
I drove us to Memphis and a little ways into Arkansas and then Pops took over driving. I went to sleep. Pops woke me up when we were only about 2 miles from our delivery. We arrived at the gate and had to wait an hour to get inside but once inside they unloaded us and reloaded us right away. That was good. And now off to Texas.
Pops drove us until we got into the Texas Welcome Center and then I drove from there. We had been to this place before so it was pretty easy to find.
We got unloaded right away and then drove back toward Dallas to a truckstop. So here we sit waiting for a load. It is Wednesday and we have had a pretty good week so far. We are getting a few load offers but nothing that we are really interested in just yet. Pops needs to sleep and he is too busy playing on his Ipad.
I have laundry to do but can’t do it until I see if we are going to get a load or not. I want to shower also, but I mostly wanted to catch up on this blog. I know that I have people who will scold me if I get too far behind.
I really want to do better, I always have good intentions, but time always gets away from me.  But anyway here it is.
I have a dear friend, Henry Bounds, that needs your prayers right now. His heart is not good and he is in the hospital with some issues now. The doctors really don’t know how to treat him because everything is just too risky. Please pray for him and his family.
Also, Pops and I would like your prayers too. Please ask that God leads us in the right direction regarding a decision that we need to make. 

Friday, July 6, 2012

Since we left home


We left home after church on Sunday.  It was good to spend an extra Sunday at home. We got a load that was picking up Monday morning in Buffalo, NY and going to Lufkin, TX. We figured if we left on Sunday and drove up to Buffalo we could get there at night and sleep and then make our pickup in the morning already rested and ready to go.
So Pops drove us to Buffalo. It was a pretty uneventful trip. I felt kind of sad and quiet because I realized that it would be probably be a long time until we go home again. We aren’t planning to go back until September.
We drove to a service plaza on the NY turnpike and spent the night there. We got up in the morning and went for a big walk. Then we drove over to our pickup. Our pick up was located right on the shore of Lake Erie. It was an easy pickup however it was a 5ft. wooden cube with a piece inside weighing over 5000 lbs. The company loaded it onto the truck but did not push it back at all so Pops and I working together managed to finally get it moved back further into the truck. It was hard work. And so much for just having my back worked on while home.
Then we were on our way to Texas.
I was driving first and I watched Lake Erie on our right side for many many miles. It was a beautiful sunny day. I drove us to the New York line, through the small part of PA and then into Ohio. It seemed to take a long time to drive through Ohio but finally we made it to Florence, Ky and stopped at a rest area to switch over.
It was hot. Our air conditioner wasn’t working right at the moment for some unknown reason. We only had the dash A/C.
Pops began to drive at this point. Once it got dark and a little cooler, I went to sleep.
When I woke up we were just about to enter Texarkana, TX. We stopped and made coffee and got something to eat and then I started to drive. It was going to be a little slower now because we were going off the interstates and going down more rural roads to Lufkin.
Pops tried to sleep.
Somewhere about 60 miles from our delivery I was driving through a small town and there were many traffic lights. At one point the car in front of me stopped quickly when the light turned yellow and I had to stop quickly also. I felt something go wrong with the brakes. The truck did stop but the brake pedal kept going to the floor and the air tank buzzers were on.
When the light turned green and I took my foot off the pedal, the air built right back up to normal. I put my foot on the brake again and again it drained all the air from the tank and the buzzers came on and the pedal went to the floor, but once again built right back up just as quickly.
So Pops and I talked about this and decided to drive slowly for the remainder of the way and then get it fixed immediately after. So that is what I did. I left a huge space between me and anyone in front of me. And if we came into a small town with lights I basically coasted through without using the throttle too much or the brakes too much.
Finally we reached Lufkin and found our delivery address easily. We got unloaded and then Pops called our truck owners and they found us a repair place real close by.
We drove there and they got us right in. The mechanic found an airline that was not tightened the way it should have been. This was a brand new line that was just put on our truck while we were home. Pops called the mechanic we use when home and told him about what happened.
Anyway, we were now on our way. We were told to go to Houston for layover. It was Tuesday the day before the 4th of July so we figured that we would sit for a couple of days now.
But we were offered a load that picked up in Humble which is right on the way to Houston. It was supposed to deliver today also. So Pops called Fedex to double check to see if we could deliver today because we didn’t want to do such a short load if we had to wait to Thursday to deliver. They assured us that it would deliver today.
So we drove to the airport where we were to pick up the load. When we got there we found out that this load should have picked up over a week ago and the airport was charging a fee to pick it up and we also needed certain paperwork to pick up the load which we didn’t have. So until all of that got straightened up more than 2 hours had gone by, so much for a quick and easy load.
But we finally got it on the truck and then drove to our delivery. We found out on the way that we were going to a big chemical plant and that no pets were allowed so I would have to stand outside the gate with the dogs. Then we found out that no one with facial hair could go inside, so that leaves Pops outside the gate. Well, now he would have to wait with the dogs while I drove the load to the dock. I have never done this before. Pops always does the loading and unloading. I don’t even know how to work the secure bars and it’s all I know to do to open and shut the doors. Oh well, I would do it.
So when we got to Bayer we drove to the gate only to be told that the plant was now closed for the Holiday and we would have to come back on Thursday. We were upset. We are only making a few dollars on this load and to have to sit on it and not get any other load offers was really troubling. We called our truck owners and explained the situation.
It turns out that because of Fedex telling us that the load would deliver today and now it wasn’t, they would owe us detention pay if we decided to sit on the load. Pops and I would make our daily rate for just waiting at the truck stop until Thursday, so we decided to stay with the load.
So we drove to a local Walmart and picked up some groceries and then stayed in their lot for the night.
The next morning we drove over to the truckstop and sat up our tv and got showers and relaxed for the day. Our air conditioner was working again and it was a pretty good day although it felt like a Saturday. We did see some fireworks around the area that evening but the dogs were scared so we didn’t sit outside.
We got up early the next morning and drove over to the delivery site again. Pops had been told that since he wasn’t going into the production area that his facial hair was ok. So I got my chair and a book and me and the dogs waited outside the gate. Really it wasn’t so bad. It was already pretty warm, 86 degrees at 8am. Pops was only gone for 1 hour and 15 minutes. But I didn’t mind because I just read my book.
Then we went back to the Walmart area because there was something that I forgot to buy the other day. While in the parking lot across the street we noticed a place called, Ricky’s Thick and Juicy Burgers. They had a Thursday special of 2 burgers, 2 fries and 2 drinks for $10. Awesome, today is Thursday! So when the place opened I was right there.
They had homemade buns in many flavors. I just got a whole wheat bun, but I got Pops the jalapeno/cheese bun. The burgers were angus burgers and they were big and hand patted. They came with cheese and lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and some kind of secret sauce. The fries were made from real potatoes and they were never frozen. Oh my, everything was so good. I brought one of their takeout menus with me because I will definitely remember this place. If you are in the Houston area, near Baytown off Interstate 10, take exit 792 and go south. Ricky’s is in a plaza across from the Walmart. It is worth looking for. Believe me.
After lunch we drove back to the truckstop and was going to settle in to more tv, but I ended up falling asleep. I guess the early morning sunshine and outdoors combined with a full belly got to me. While I was sleeping Pops got a load offer and accepted it.
He woke me up saying we had to go shortly.
We were picking something up at Houston International Airport and taking it to Memphis. Ok, let’s keep moving, I like this.
So we drove to the airport and we were going into the cargo part. As soon as we got parked a hearse pulled in right beside us. I guess they were making a pick up too. Hmmmm.
It didn’t take long to get our freight. It was one large RKN. That is a container that is refrigerated with dry ice and has to be kept within a 5 degree range. Our range was 20-25 degrees. We had to keep monitoring the container throughout our haul. It was going to Memphis, TN.
I drove for most of the evening and then Pops started to drive once we reached Marshall, TX. He drove us the rest of the way to Memphis while I slept through the night. We got to the airport in Memphis and got unloaded and that was that.
While we were driving to the truckstop to wait we got 2 load offers. Both were good ones. One was picking up Sunday going to Ontario just across the line from Detroit for Monday, and the pay was good. The other one was a military load picking up Monday and delivering Tuesday in New Mexico, the pay was really good. Before we could decide we got a call from Michelle from Fedex and she asked us to please accept the Ontario load so we said yes. But minutes ticked by and the dispatch never came to our computer. So we called in and I talked to Melissa who was in charge of the New Mexico load and she wanted us to take her load. I told her that we really didn’t care we just wanted to go somewhere and had already accepted the other load. About that time all the dispatch started to come to our computer so we were going to Ontario.
This load was picking up in Jackson, TN on Sunday afternoon. So we drove over to Jackson right away. It was only a little over an hour away. Jackson has a nice truckstop that we like. It is the one that flies the Christian flag right with the American flag and it also has that wonderful Chicken on a stick that we like so much.
So now we are relaxing and getting caught up on our paperwork and other stuff. I have found a church to attend on Sunday and then we’ll be on our way.
Keep us in your prayers, please.
This is where I sat and waited while Pops delivered  to Bayer  chemical plant. If you blow up the picture you can see the Bayer Plant just under the big cloud.

This is my burger from Ricky's thick and juicy burgers. It is in Houston and I will go there again. 

The beloved, Chicken on a stick. This can be found at the TA truckstop off exit 68 of Route 40 near Jackson, TN.

Saw this on the internet and I loved the idea. Wonder if it would work with husbands too?

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Last minute changes

I did also want to mention about our family camp that we needed some last minute changes in the schedule. Three men graciously stepped up to the plate. They were Tommy England, Jason Carnley and Patrick Antanucci. Each of these men did a great job and we were very blessed to have them.

Recipe correction


Ok,, so recently I posted the recipe for Tres Leche Cake or Three Milk cake. I don't know if any of you have tried it. I do hope so because It is so very good. Except when I came home I bought the ingredients to make it and when it was done it didn't taste quite like the cake that we enjoyed while in Texas. So I think if you make the following suggestions you can make and enjoy the cake the way it is supposed to be. I have altered this recipe from the one that published already.


Please try it. I believe that you will really like it.





Tres Leche Cake
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2007
Prep Time:
45 min
Inactive Prep Time:
8 hr 0 min
Cook Time:
25 min
Level:
Intermediate
Serves:
1 (13 by 9-inch) cake

Ingredients
For the cake:
  • Vegetable oil
  • 2 cups cake flour, plus extra for pan
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 10 whole eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  •  
For the glaze:
  • 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  •  
For the topping:
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 4 ounces sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
For the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour a 13 by 9-inch metal pan and set aside.
Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder and salt in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
Place the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium speed until fluffy, approximately 1 minute. Decrease the speed to low and with the mixer still running, gradually add the sugar over 1 minute. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl, if necessary. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix to thoroughly combine. Add the vanilla extract and mix to combine. Add the flour mixture to the batter in 3 batches and mix just until combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly.  Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cake is lightly golden and reaches an internal temperature of 200 degrees F.
Remove the cake pan to a cooling rack and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Poke the top of the cake all over with a skewer or fork. Allow the cake to cool completely and then prepare the glaze.
For the glaze:
Whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and the half-and-half in a 1-quart measuring cup. Once combined, pour the glaze over the cake.You do not have to use all of the glaze if it seems like too much to you. Refrigerate the cake overnight.
Topping:
Place the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, whisk together on low until stiff peaks are formed. Change to medium speed and whisk until thick. Spread the topping over the cake and allow to chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Preaching in the Mountains


We came home for our family camp this week. Pops and Bill P. went to the campgrounds for some final touchups in the morning and was to be home by noon, but they never came home all day.
There is no phone at the campground and also no cell phone service so I could not reach them. So I just waited around.
My sister Amy called me and she needed to go to the campgrounds also and she wasn't sure of how to get there so she came here to the house and I drove her down.
I found out that a whole lot of additional work had to be done this day or the camp ground association would charge us a large fee to use the campgrounds. So some of the men decided to stay and get it all done.
It was late until we got home and the kids and everyone was worn out.
Sunday I was excited because I was so anxious to get to see all of my church friends. We were having a guest speaker, Joe Guthrie, today and I love Joe so this was starting out to be a good day.
I got to church by 8:00am so that I could take part in the First Place Meeting. This is a small group of women that meet together one hour before regular services. We have a study that we work on individually throughout the week and then discuss it together on Sundays.
Over the years the women in this group have bonded and we have become very close to each other.
After this we went into the auditorium for Sunday school. This time it was being taught by Jeff.
Jeff, my good friend, is having a lot of medical problems right now and is in need of much prayer, but he still serves the Lord with his talent of teaching whenever he can.
Joe preached a great sermon. He got us ready for the week of camp meeting. I am so excited.
We went home after church to prepare for the kickoff picnic for our camp, and then returned to the campgrounds a little later in the day.
Pops' son, Frankie, and his family came over to the picnic and it was so good to see them. I love it when we get to visit with them.
Some of the preachers and speakers for camp meeting were beginning to roll in with their campers and tents and it was starting to look good.
We had over a hundred people attend the picnic and the evening services of camp meeting.  I love seeing and catching up with friends that I haven't seen in awhile, some of them since last year at this time.
After the picnic the evening got started with some singing and then Bob Long, Neil Gilliland, and Raymond Bennett each brought us a sermon.
After the sermons I checked to see if anything was needed as far as supplies and found out that I would have to make a Walmart run before coming the next day. So Pops and I decided to go now instead of early in the morning.
By the time we got home and got settled down it was close to 1:00am before we got to bed.
The next morning we had to be at the campgrounds by 10:00 because I was leading a women' s session each morning at 10:30.
I was a little worried about my sessions because I haven't taught any lessons in about a year. And since this was such a busy, time filled week I was wondering when I would find time to review and prepare.
So on Monday I wasn't sure how it was going to go. I was given an hour in the schedule. And on Monday I used 58 minutes for my lesson. Whew, that was cutting it close.
The men also had a men's session at the same time in another area of the campgrounds. It was being taught by Neil Gilliland.
At 12:30 each afternoon there was an hour long music session brought to us by Marvin Whiteman. Marv is blind. He has been all his life but he doesn't let it get him down. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is so good with all styles of music and he is loved by everyone.
The speakers for Monday were: Chad Fatula from Wills Mt., Timmy Phillips, Joe Guthrie, Dan Hughes, and Bob Chambers.
Supper was sponsored by Roof Garden Christian Church and it was barbecued chicken, cole slaw, beans, and rolls and then of course we had a variety of pies and desserts prepared by Mary Shaffer, a fantastic cook and baker from Wills Mt. Church of Christ.
Tuesday morning I had to get up really early because I had an appointment with the chiropractor before we even went to the campgrounds.
Then we went to the campgrounds and I got there just in time to get set up for my teaching session. I was being recorded so I had to wear a headset. By the time I got it picked up and put on and made my way to the dining hall it was time to start teaching.
Again we had music by Marv, then the afternoon speakers were David Shively, Bob Long, and Bob Chambers.
During the lunch break I drove a friend to Walmart so that she could pick up some items she needed and I restocked some of the kitchen supplies that were running low.
Supper on Tuesday was sponsored by Central City Christian Church and it was spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and rolls. And of course, desserts by Mary.
The evening speakers were: Joe Guthrie, Daniel Davenport, and David Jones.
Everyone seemed to having a wonderful time, but I was really feeling the effects of too much going on and being busy and also too little sleep. I only got 2 1/2 hours sleep this night. I was going to have a rough day.
I taught my morning lesson and then Pops and I wanted to take his brother, Buck and his wife, Sandy, to lunch. Since not a lot of time is allotted we just decided to go downtown to the Hornets Nest.
It was a good choice to eat there. Everything was good. We were joined by a brand new friend, Larry. He had heard about our campmeeting from someone and wanted to come. He is from Ohio and traveled here and was staying at a hotel in Cumberland for the week. He is a very nice man and it was good getting to know him.
The afternoon speakers were: Randy Reynolds,  Mark Billiter,and Rob Grandi. I missed Rob's sermon though because I was so tired that I went to my car and fell asleep in the backseat. I was awakened about an hour later by my sister. She was here because her church, Laurel Highlands Church of Christ was hosting this evenings meal. They brought homemade chicken potpies, cole slaw and cake. It was good and it gave the ladies from Wills Mt. a nice break from all the work.
This evening we were very fortunate to hear a concert by Art Bush and Rob Grandi. After the concert, my sister had to leave so I hugged her tightly goodbye. I am going to miss her so much. I gave her copies of the three lessons that had already been recorded of my lesson. She gave me a couple of little gifts also. I love her so much.
The evening speakers were: Art Bush and Buck Ryan.
I cannot believe we only had one more day of camp left.
Traditionally the last day of Camp as many of the speakers and their families that can, get together for breakfast and usually we go to Hobo's Restaurant, but this year we decided to go to the Hornets Nest since it was right in town and they agreed to set up a buffet for our group.
There ended up being about 30 of us there that morning. We had a good time of fellowship with each other.
My lesson this morning was long when I practiced it so I trimmed it down and tried to shorten it without losing the major content. I did manage to keep it within the time permitted.
The speakers for this day were: Daniel Davenport, David Jones, Doug Conley, Wayne Jocelyn, Timmy Phillips, and Mark Billiter.
The supper tonight was brought by the Harvester's Class of Will Mt. They served Roast Beef, Mashed potatoes, corn, rolls and gravy, and desserts. It was so good. Everyone thought so. Thank you so much ladies for all of your hard work and preparations for the food for this week. You outdid yourselves.
After all of the services for the evening we went to the Wills Mt. Church of Christ for a baptism. JT Carter was being baptized by Mike Mitchell. Mike is the youth leader at our camp, along with his wife Liz.
JT has been thinking about baptism lately. He told me the last time Pops and I were home that he was almost ready. Our preacher, Chad Fatula, has been talking to him and helping him to understand too.
It was a good ending to our Camp meeting. 
And now it was time to say goodbye to everyone. I always hate this part. I become so close to everyone throughout the week and it is hard to say goodbye. And I especially hate parting with my sisters from Wills Mt.
Pops and I were going back into service at 6am so we had to say goodbye to everyone.
When we got home that night, Pops, Starla and I sorted through all of the money from Camp meeting. Pops is the treasurer and Starla had some money from the Tshirt sale so we stayed up for a couple of hours getting that straightened up so that it could be deposited immediately.
So that was it. Another year of Preaching in the Mountains is over. This was the ninth year and each year is getting better and better. The attendance is getting better. The youth program is growing. Phil Hanze came this year to do our sound and recording of the sermons and lessons. Hehas done a fantastic job. We were so very fortunate to have him and we all hope that he becomes a regular here for us.
I am refreshed. I have so enjoyed this week even though it was at times stressful.
Now it's time to get back to work, back to reality.