MY BEACH TIME SELFIES

Had to break camp this morning to go and dump my tanks.  A bit inconvenient as I had to close the awning, remove the windshield cover, unhook the electric and water hose, and move my chairs out of the way.  My control panel reading is not accurate so I felt I should empty the tanks every 3 days, just to be safe.  I'm going home in 3 days so I'm good for now.

Went alone to the beach today.  Rode my bike around and then parked by a picnic table that had been dragged near the water's edge.  Perfect spot.  I set  up my chair and propped my feet up on the table and read my June issue of Coastal Living Magazine.  It was really windy and I was glad that it blew the bugs away.  Didn't get bit by any sandflies... not once.

The Gulf was rough and roared loudly.  There were many seagulls gathering on a section of beach and when they took off into the air it was a sight to see.  Most of the campers have gone and I had the beach all to myself, which I like.

Am getting a good tan and lots of exercise.   Feeling great.

Got back to the RV and the little doggies were so happy to see me.  Got lots of kisses from Cha Bu.

Doggie kisses.

They love to sit on the picnic table and watch people go by. 

Weather forecast gives Thunder Showers so may go home early.  Picked up all the outside stuff and placed everything inside the camper and am now crowded inside with little room to walk.  I didn't want my bike getting wet so it sits in the RV. 

 I still have to stop at Pat's house on my way out to pick up the rest of my left over items from the garage sale.  It's just a few boxes that can fit on the beds. Not as big a load as it was coming over here, so that's good.

Got an email today requesting an appointment to visit my K-Nine Bungalow Pet Sitting Service.  They need a sitter for June 7 - 13.  Really excited about this.  It will be my second overnight sitting job.  My new business is taking off.  Here I go.....

AFTERNOON SWIM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

Took the doggies for a swim this afternoon.  Xi Shi loves the water and gets so excited she runs in circles.  However, Cha Bu is a little afraid of the waves.  I had to coax her into the water and she resisted for a good while.  Eventually she did go into the water on her own.

 They both played together and hopped and jumped on each other.  It was so cute to watch them chase one another.

There was an awful lot of sea weed on the beach today.

Once we got to the bath house I rinsed them off at the outside shower.  They were not happy with me for that.

Poor wet little Cha Bu looks so pitiful.

Xi Shi dried off pretty fast as her hair is cut short.

They had a good time and took a nap when we got back to the RV.

Great day.

GRAND ISLE- ISLAND WIDE GARAGE SALE - MY BEST DAY EVER!

Arrived at my friend Pat's house and he helped me get situated in his yard.  We removed my second load of things to sell and placed them in one of his storage sheds.  I carried 6 boxes with me this trip and had previously stored about the same amount at his house on my last trip to the island.

Took out the folding bike and doggie cart and put them in his garage.   Now I had room to move around the RV.  We put down the ground matts and he loaned me some tables to display some of my artwork.  He also put out two fans to help keep things cool.

 I blew up some colorful balloons and tied them to my awning.  Also put up my easels.  The rest of the set up will be done the morning of the sale.

Now it was time to chill and have a visit with Pat and his friend Elaine.  They decided to boil some shrimp and invited me to join them in the outside kitchen.  Some of their friends came by and I had a nice time.  The shrimp were delicious.

Dancing for shrimp.

My babies were patiently waiting for my return to the RV.

NOW FOR THE BIG DAY

Woke up at 6:00 and ate a quick breakfast then started to unload all of my boxes.  Around 7:30 a customer drove up but I had to tell her to return at 8:00 when the sale was to begin.  

I had canvas paintings, fine art prints, pillows, DVD movies, clothes, and books I have written.

I don't know how many DVDs were in that box but they all sold for 2 for a dollar.

Right at 8:00, just when I finished placing all items and putting up my signs, the first customer showed up. 

I couldn't believe that my Rou Garou of Mandalay Swamp was my first sale of the day.  The lady is from Baton Rouge and just loved it.  I had almost decided not to sell it because it is one of my favorites but I will have to paint another one for me.

I sold 17 canvas paintings, 14 books, all the pillows, clothes, and all the DVDs.

There was always a customer in my booth from 8:00 to 2:00 when it usually slows down. 

The sale ended at 3:00.... and I was exhausted.  

I counted my cash box and it came out to $1000.00.  The best I've ever done.  That's the good news.  Now for the bad.

Right around lunch time I could feel my blood sugar dropping so I asked Pat to watch the booth so I could go into the RV to get something to eat.  I pulled on the door and guess what.  Yes, I was locked out!  The dogs had hung around the passenger window in order to see me and had hit the door lock button.  

Then my stress level rose and my blood sugar fell quickly.  Pat went to his house to make me a sandwich and call the lock smith.  While I ate my sandwich Pat tried to use a tool he had made to unlock the door.  Well, after several tries the tool fell into the door and that is where it will stay as I am not taking the door apart to get it out.

The locksmith came over within minutes and had the door opened in seconds at a charge of $75.00 and with tax it was $81.00.  That put a dent into my haul for the day. 

Xi Shi Quan spent most of the day leaning on the door so she could see me.  I wasn't mad at her but boy was I angry with myself.  I swore a long time ago that I would never leave the keys inside the RV when I am outside.  Not sure what I was thinking on this day to do that.

When everyone left and I had picked up all of the remaining items, I went up the street and bought some fried chicken and had a nice supper then watched a movie and slept till 10:00 the next morning.  I was

exhausted. 

I sat outside under the awning and had my morning coffee when out comes Pat from his house with a covered plate of food for me.  Pancakes and sausage... great breakfast, it was delicious.  

Thanks Pat.  You're the greatest.

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Now I'm at the Grand Isle State Park and will spend the rest of the week here.

Doggies sharing a chair.

Purchased a new windshield cover and boy does it make a difference inside the RV.  It's the one with the screens and I just love it.

Packed up the doggies in their cart and rode the electric bike out to the pier this morning.

Took them off leash and let them walk freely.  They were well behaved and came to me when I called them.

Trawling boats fishing near the beach.

I counted 20 boats fishing right off the beach.

This afternoon we're going to ride the bike off of the park and onto the town beach so the doggies can play in the water.

LAID BACK, RELAXING DAY AT THE BEACH

I didn't feel like toting the doggies to the beach today so just walked them around the park a couple of times.  I did go alone to sit for awhile by the breaking waves this morning and read my Coastal Living Magazine. Later this afternoon I stayed in and watched some movies and napped.

When the sun was setting I took the dogs to the covered deck near the bath house and we sat for a time and looked out over the beach where there were a few tenters and some folks walking along the shoreline.  Very nice.  It was windy and that helped blow the gnats away.  They are really bad this week.

The campground is packed today and lots of kids running around and parents playing loud music.  Not what I like at all.  I prefer to camp here in the winter when it is quiet.

My beautiful Xi Shi Quan.

Precious Cha Bu Khan.

We're going home tomorrow but will be back in a few weeks.  I reserved 4 days at the end of May.  Probably will be my last trip here as I don't like to camp in the hot summer months.

GARAGE SALE PREP

Loaded up the Pleasure Way with items for the Grand Isle Island Wide Garage Sale to be held at the end of this month and took them to my friend Pat's house on the island.  He will store the boxes for me in one of his sheds.  When I return on the 23rd for the sale, I'll be bringing another load with me.  I have so much stuff to sell that it will take two loads.

After unloading the RV and visiting with Pat for awhile, I checked into the State Park for 3 nights.  The RV was so full this trip that I was not able to bring my bike or doggie cart.  I did manage to pack the beach cart as it is light weight and folds down.  Before I got the electric bike, this was the way we got around the beach with our chairs and ice chest.  I only had one Shih Tzu at the time so she would ride in the netting part of the cart along with the 2 beach chairs.  

Today, I put the smaller dog in the top portion and Xi Shi in the bottom netting.  I was able to hang the beach chair and ice chest on the handles and off we went to the town beach off of the State Park.  There are still signs up stating No Dogs Allowed On Beach.... crap... so we had to make that long trek down the beach.

We had a nice time but boy was it hard to push that beach cart through soft sand.  To get off the park onto the town beach is about half a mile.  I didn't realize how out of shape I am in.  I was heaving and out of breath half way there.  Of course, I should remember that I'm pushing two dogs now so the load is heavier.

Little Cha Bu had never ridden in the beach cart and couldn't wait to jump out of it.  There was no zippered enclosure to hold her in as there is in the red doggie cart so she knew she could jump out.  However, she enjoyed the ride but when we got to our spot she could't wait for me to pick her up and she jumped out.  That's a pretty high perch she jumped from but I didn't think she would do it so I wasn't looking when she jumped.

She is thinking how she can stand up and then jump out.

Thinking ... is this too high for me to jump?

Thinking... am I going to get the command to jump from Momi?

She jumped right after I took this photo.  She's a spunky one.

Nap time.