New State Sticker – Michigan
August 4, 2023 We’ve added our state sticker for Michigan.
Read More New State Sticker – MichiganAuthor: Julia
I am a retired software solutions architect. I have been married to my husband, Bruce, for over forty years. We went full-time RVing for 3.5 years and saw much of the United States. After deciding to stop RVing, we bought a ranch house halfway up a hill on five acres. After Bruce and I talked about names for our five acres, we settled on Blackberry Homestead as a homage to the wild blackberries on the hill. We are working on creating our homestead. I love cooking and enjoy sharing recipes. I am also an artist, and I’ll share my current projects. Gardening and reading are my favorite hobbies.
Getting Set Up at Spaulding Lake Campground in Niles, Michigan
August 4, 2023 On July 22 (Saturday), we got the RV parked, unhitched, and leveled, Bruce opened the RV and started putting out the slides. I watched the slides come out on the outside of the RV and using the walkie talkie, let Bruce know that we had no problems. I went to get Nox […]
Read More Getting Set Up at Spaulding Lake Campground in Niles, MichiganHeading to Michigan from Illinois
August 3, 2023 On Friday (July 21st), we started completing our checklist to leave Hickory Grove Campground in Illinois. On Saturday (July 22nd), we finished our checklist to leave and pulled out just after 9:00 AM. Since our site had trees that were close together at the end of the campsite, to pull out I […]
Read More Heading to Michigan from IllinoisPictures from Hikes on the Hennepin Canal Trail in Illinois
August 3, 2023 Here are some pictures of wildlife (animal and plant) along the Hennepin Canal Trail that I took the last week we were at Hickory Grove Campground. I was very surprised to discover the lotus species was native to the Americans. The campground was magical in the evenings as the fireflies started their […]
Read More Pictures from Hikes on the Hennepin Canal Trail in IllinoisNox and the Donkeys Next Door
July 31, 2023 While we were at Hickory Grove Campground in Illinois, Nox discovered the next door neighbors kept a horse, two donkeys, chickens, and a Guinea Hen. When I was growing up, my grandmother had some Guinea Hens that she let roam in her garden. You may know them as Guinea Fowl. Nox didn’t […]
Read More Nox and the Donkeys Next DoorDinner in Wyanet, Illinois
July 30, 2023 We rode into Wyanet, Illinois on July 3. There was a Filipino restaurant I wanted to try in Wyanet. I have an aunt who is from the Philippines. I remember that she would bring the most delicious food to my grandparents on Thanksgiving or Christmas. The food at Harley-K was so delicious! […]
Read More Dinner in Wyanet, IllinoisRegular Living Task – Truck Oil Change
July 30, 2023 Cliff, the Big Red Truck, started telling us it needed an oil and oil filter change. Bruce decided the truck would’ve counted down to needing the oil and filter changed while we were towing the RV to Michigan. He was able to get an appointment to get the truck’s oil and filter […]
Read More Regular Living Task – Truck Oil ChangeVisiting Tampico, Illinois, the Birthplace of Ronald Reagan – Part 4
July 29, 2023 After we finished our tour and dropped a $20 in the donation box, we looked at the brochure to see what else we might see in Tampico. The brochure mentions the various buildings the Reagans lived in and the park Ronald Reagan played in. It also covered the churches the Reagans attended. […]
Read More Visiting Tampico, Illinois, the Birthplace of Ronald Reagan – Part 4Visiting Tampico, Illinois, the Birthplace of President Ronald Reagan – Part 3
July 28, 2023 We toured the restored 1920’s bank downstairs from the Reagans’ apartment. The bank failed during the Great Depression. The bank’s paperwork, books, and furniture was carried into the basement and forgotten. When the building was being renovated to be a museum, the bank’s paperwork, books, and furniture were discovered in excellent shape […]
Read More Visiting Tampico, Illinois, the Birthplace of President Ronald Reagan – Part 3Visiting Tampico, Illinois, the Birthplace of President Ronald Reagan – Part 2
July 27, 2023 The next part of the tour was through the beautifully restored bank. We then climbed the stairs to the apartment Ronald Reagan was born in. It was a three bedroom apartment, heated by wood stoves. There was no running water, so water had to be carried into the apartment. There was an […]
Read More Visiting Tampico, Illinois, the Birthplace of President Ronald Reagan – Part 2
