MOTOR HOME REPAIRS…NEW WHEEL SEALS

Tuesday, January 31 – Paul took the motor home to the repair shop this morning to have the leaking front wheel bearing seal replaced.

If you read our blog regularly, you'll remember on our way to the Rio Grande Valley in December, we had to stop frequently to check the wheel bearing oil and add oil several times.

Upon inspection, the repair shop decided to go ahead and replace both front seals. We had this work done at Remy Truck & Auto Repair.  They were recommended by several people here at the RV Park.

The work was well done with the only problem being the long wait for parts to be delivered to the shop. Why don't they give the customer the option to run to the warehouse and pick-up these parts? Paul is not a very patient person and sitting for hours waiting for parts to be delivered drives him crazy.

He arrived at the repair facility about 8:30 a.m. After checking part numbers and looking over the problem parts were ordered. That was about 9:30. Parts were finally delivered at 2:30 p.m....JEESH!!!

Using an extension on the socket wrench to remove the time.

A jack is placed under the motor home before the wheel is removed.

Holding the heavy wheel in place while bearings are removed, and oil is drained.

The old oil is drained from the wheel.

Here is the axle spindle after the wheel and bearings are removed. You can see the brake shoes.

Here the serviceman carefully taps the seal into place

Seal in place a wheel is ready to be placed back on spindle.

These are the bearings that allow the wheel to spin on the axle.

Seal is in place. It is the inner ring and holds the bearing in the wheel hub.

Preparing the outer bearing and placing them inside the wheel.

The wheel lug nuts are hand torqued with an extension on the wrench.

The work was completed at 5:00 p.m., and Paul wanted to drive the MH for awhile to check the repairs and to exercise the engine and generator after sitting here at Hidden Valley Ranch for a month. So it was almost 6:00 by the time he returned to the RV Park. We got all hooked-up and finished setting-up just before dark......CRIPES!

Marsha and Bella were homeless all day waiting for Paul to get home with the MH. Marsha visited with some friends that stopped over, and Bella wondered what happened to her home....LOL

Where is my home? (Not so good a picture. Marsha had to take it with her outdated phone.)

Poor thing. She had such a rough day!

All-in-all, things worked-out, and we hope that takes care of the leaking bearing seals.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

BASKETS, BASKETS AND MORE BASKETS

Saturday, January 28 - FINALLY…Marsha has found some time to do a blog on all her baskets that she gave for Christmas gifts. She worked days on each of her baskets and made each one different. She used some of her dyed pine needles, sinew, special thread, beads and each one had one of her special gold pine needles from the moon tree. (If you don't know about the moon tree, you can read about it here.)She said every one that received a basket was thrilled to have one.

Chris, our sister-in-law, told Marsha…"If you ever think of making me a basket, I would like coasters. Can you do that?" Marsha said, "Is that a challenge?" Here is a little secret about Marsha…she loves challenges. She made Chris four and put cork on the back of each. We tested them with ice in a glass, and they kept the water off the table just fine.

This is her first cracker basket with handles. Marsha used walnut slices in each handle. She gave this to her brother, Mark's, girlfriend, Christina.

For a special friend, Red - that we taught with for years, she did her first three-level wrap design. She gave it to Red before Christmas, but he saved it to open Christmas morning. He called Marsha and told her how much he loved it. Glad you are enjoying it, Red! Miss you!

When our daughter, Kelly, saw Marsha's first baskets, she said she would like a smaller one. Marsha kept this in mind when she made Kelly's. She also wanted to do something special. This is her first basket using beads and an agate (stone) for the bottom. She was very happy with the finished product. Kelly was thrilled to receive this gift. (If you look closely, you can see the special gold pine needle in the top left area.)

She also puts her name on the bottom of each basket and dates it.

Carrie received Marsha's first attempt in making her biggest basket. This is her first attempt making these types of handles and a new stitch called the split stitch. Marsha thought it turned out just like she envisioned it. Carrie can't wait to have her next party and show it off.

Two happy girls.

Now she is biting at the bit to get started on her next basket using the tiles we had painted in Mexico. Before she can begin, we are in the process of deciding what best to use as the mounting material. When the first one is completed, you can be sure she will take some photos. We can share it because she is actually doing one for US to keep. This is a FIRST!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

 

NUEVA PROGRESO, MEXICO PART 2

Monday, January 25, Part 2 - While are tiles were being painted by Alfonzo, we headed down to the Mercado for lunch and some famous Margaritas.

Who should we meet outside the restaurant but Jose, Alfonzo's brother. He is also extremely talented. He too paints only with spray paint, cardboard and plastic bags. Can you tell how bashful he is…LOL

Well, of course Marsha had to stop and look. Thirty-five dollars later we walked out with five more tiles and a beautiful black/white bottle to decorate the motorhome. She will be using the tiles in her baskets so we can't show you all of them. Some of our readers might receive them as a gift.

We really enjoy Arriba Restaurant and Bar.

We share a customary bowl of taco chips and a plate of Enchiladas. Of course we took part in the two for one price margaritas. Our favorite entertainer was there blaring out the tunes.

Marsha had to get into the action right away.

The margaritas must have been working their magic, because Paul got up and did the chicken dance. Yes, that is him in the blue shirt and grey hat.

We finished up our shopping and headed back to the border. We paid our 25 cents to pass through the turnstile, had our passports scanned, and returned to the USA without even a “welcome home” from the security folks.

As soon as you enter the USA, there is a little ice cream store. On our first trip here with our friends, Norm and Donna, we stopped there to have some ice cream. It is a tradition of theirs to stop and have a 2 for $2 banana split. Not wanting to break tradition, we stopped and had one. There are lots of people in there. Paul was looking back to be sure I hadn't left him.

For $1 each, they give a really good banana split.

It was a wonderful day. We had great check ups, super shopping, danced with the locals and ate our way through Progreso. We will probably go back at least one more time before heading out the end of February.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!