Lively living

Lively indeed!

We are living the lively life these days.

Chris (husband) and I are active seniors.

We came home from India early last Thursday morning and started into our routine here in Fairhope.

That routine included taking our new LIV camper back to Americus Georgia to get a replacement AC.

We really didn't want the rooftop, but the under-bunk unit that was ultimately recalled just didn't cool down enough.

We had made the appointment over 6 weeks in advance for the repair.

We left Wednesday to camp overnight and be at the dealership when they opened at 8:30am.

We were told that it would only be a couple of hours......

We left for breakfast and came back only to be told that there was an 

emergency repair that was ahead of us.

But we should be done by 4:30 we were told.

Okay, we hung out for a while, then got lunch and came back for the duration.

Turns out, not only was our AC replaced, but our axle was flipped as well, 

as the tires were rubbing the wheel wells.

We were informed every step of the way, even when the refrigerator problem we also

 had turned out to be a slight wiring problem.

Meanwhile I painted.

And painted...

True to their word, we were done at 4:30.

On the road we went to our next stop at Lake Martin.

Now Lake Martin is a bit tricky as there are lots of back roads and scenic highways to get there.

It was supposed to take up to 3 hours, but with rain and slower driving we were close to dark.

Our wonderful host met us at the top of the driveway and Chris decided on the better part of valor to not try to park the camper down a steep hill.

We put the camper on a flat land at the edge of the road with the van and locked up.

We were shown a lovely guest room with a claw foot bathtub in the bath.

The real reason we were there though...

Dachshund puppies!

Wirehaired to be precise.

I've wanted a wire-haired dachshund for years and another artist had a litter.

We've been in contact for months.

Months of anticipation and anxiety.

Are we ready for puppies right now?

Puppies are a lot of work to train and keep happy.

Chris and I are committed to raising them up right!

Besides, Bandit needs playmates as he's still a very active senior at 12.

We brought them home, and the girls are settling right into our pack, albeit a bit nervously.

Our three dachshunds are all seniors, but they are warming up pretty fast 

to the feisty balls of fur we brought home.

Now, though our Bandit seems to have injured himself, not because of puppies but old age.

We're keeping a close eye on him and crate resting him away from the pups.

If needed, I'll be taking him to the vet on Monday.

Such is life here at the Raccoon Retreat studio.

Dachshund Central in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama

Playful dolphins and angry crabs, Acrylic on canvas, each 5 x 24

Days 65 & 66 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2024