#atozchallenge...E-Easter

I could give you the dictionary definition of Easter, but I won’t. As I have not spent Easter out on the road traveling as of yet I will instead tell you what Easter was like for me as a child.

My Grandmother was a professional seamstress and my Mother grew up learning how to sew as well, so every Easter I had a new outfit to hunt Easter eggs in. It didn’t matter if we didn’t go to church, until many years later, It was important that I look nice for that very special day as we always had company and photos taken. 

The week before, Mom and I would head out to the fabric store to look a patterns and material. Even at an early age I was always included in the decision making of what I was going to wear. I could be a stubborn child and once the outfit was made if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t wear it. So Grandma and Mom learned quickly to include me. Did I like this color, that fabric, did it feel good, what about that pattern? 

Typical Easter Dress

of the 50's

Once I gave my approval the various purchases were made and off we would go to the house to busy ourselves in getting my Easter outfit made. Even at the tender age of five, I was given the task of ironing the pattern. What!? Put an iron in a kids hands?  Yup, I learned to iron my daddy’s hankies by the time I was 4 with a cold iron, Grandma would slowly increase the heat over time and explain to me about getting burned. I did a few times. It only took once or twice of me getting burned for me to stop touching the face plate. Ice helps plus a sucker!

Mom would clear the kitchen table and we would lay out the material and place the pattern on top, measuring, pinning then cutting.  After getting it all cut out and carefully folded, mom would start sewing the pieces together and slowly a beautiful to me dress would appear! I would stand on a chair and mom or grandma would pin in the hem of the dress making sure that it hit at my knee or just below. Of course I had to have my crinolines on to make the skirt flair so the hem would be correct. Pin it without the crinolines and it could be a disaster! Once done the dress was press and hung with care until Easter morn. In some respects I feel my Brother felt left out as Mom bought his outfit. It wasn’t until I was about 13 before I started getting a store bought outfit for Easter.

On Friday Mom and I would head to the store to grocery shop and then to the liquor store.  She would always get a Manischewitz Red Cream Sherry.  We kids would always get a very small glass of it. Boy was it good!

The day before Easter, Mom and Grandma would hard boil 4 dozen eggs. Frank, my brother, and I had a most wonderful time coloring 3 dozen eggs. We would make two toned eggs, write on them, mix

colors and we got to where we were making our own colors and not buying the store bought dyes. We always had a blast. We also learned not to put the eggs once dyed in the refrigerator as they would sweat when we brought them back out, all the color would come off, not good!

Frank and I were so excited to get a visit from the Easter Bunny on Easter morn.  When we got up we would get dressed up in our new outfits and go into the living room and there would be our Easter baskets filled with peeps and a big chocolate bunny and lots of candy and of course our dyed Easter eggs.  How did the Easter Bunny know where to find our Easter eggs!?

After having breakfast and devouring some of the candy in our baskets, unbeknownst to us one of our parents had slipped out and hidden our eggs outside

and returned the baskets to their spots empty and waiting for us to partake in the hunt. Mom or Dad would come in and proclaim the Easter Bunny had made off with our eggs and we had better go find them.  Out the door we would rush with our baskets and 

begin the frantic hunt while mom would film it on the old Bell & Howell 8mm movie camera.

Oh such fun, Frank and I would hide eggs on and off all day long. Our cousins would come in from Texas and join us and we would hunt together. Some Easters were so blistering cold we would have to hunt in the house and occasionally  we would loose an egg and weeks later suffer the consequences of the rotten egg smell until we would find it in the couch. YUCK!

One year I got a baby duck for Easter, I named him Quack. He eventually went to my Grandma's house to live with her chickens.

Mother and grandma would spend the afternoon in the kitchen preparing Easter dinner, Dad would fix

 

the ham.  As I got older I was in charge of the deviled eggs, hence the extra dozen eggs as we didn’t use the hunting eggs for the deviled eggs. The table was set with ham, green bean casserole, corn, scalloped potatoes, deviled eggs  yeast rolls fresh butter, Manischewitz wine and grandma’s famous chocolate cake. My mother’s cousin, who was a local baker always brought over a lemon chess pie, boy was it good!
After dinner we all would pitch in and get the kitchen cleaned up as the TV Network was going to show the “Ten Commandments” with Charlton Heston. Back then there were only 3 stations unlike today where there are a plethora of choices.

Inside Trinity Episcopal 

Church, Tulsa, OK

At the age of 14 my mother and I joined the Episcopal church and Easter took on a whole new meaning.  Easter for me is a time for reflection, renewal and hope.

Whatever Easter means to you, I hope you fill your day with love.

Happy Easter!

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#atozchallenge...D-Driving School...

Early Morning Sunrise in Drumright Oklahoma

How did I end up in Driving School? Well so happens on the way back home from seeing my Cousins Jill and Harriett after my trip to Washington DC, I did a two day layover in New Stanton, PA due to bad weather. When the weather cleared and it was time for me to hit the road again I headed down the road apiece until I came to a Love’s Truck Stop.  As I pulled in to get gas,  I noticed the end metal barrier protecting the pumps had been damaged and angled myself away from it. I fueled up and proceeded to pull forward to make my turn right when all of a sudden I am hearing the most gosh awful noise that sounded like hell put the hurt on someone or something. I put Izzy in park, jumped out and ran around to the back. Oh Lord Almighty, what had I done?

In making the turn I did not give myself enough room to clear the damaged barrier that was laying at least 3 feet out of position.  I thought I had. Had the barrier been in its correct position I would have made the turn with no problems with no damage to my rig. I had caught the seam at the back end of Izzy on the barrier and pulled the whole back cap off on the driver side almost to the top and tore the bottom off the cap! UGH!

I managed to finish my turn and pulled Izzy and Libby around to the back of the truck stop,  went in and bought duct-tape and start the biggest tape job you ever saw. After about an hour of tapping the rear back-up light and turn signal back in place and securing the cap in place, I was back on the road, cursing myself for being so, so stupid! Thank goodness Libby was not damaged in the fray.

After the Repair

Before the Repair

I got Izzy into the repair shop that I had been doing business with for the past 30 years. Klassic Kars of Purcell, OK  Duane Lester has always done wonderful work, this time was no different. I decided not to submit the claim to insurance but to pay for it out of my own pocket instead $1,800.00  In the long run it was cheaper to do so.

 Once home I joined RVing Women, a women’s group of RVers and noticed they were going to have an RV Driving School here in Oklahoma in October about two weeks before their National Convention that I had signed up to go to.  I made the decision to go to the driving school for women only. Taught by several certified Women truck drivers.  The cost was very reasonable for the two day course $265.00 if you were an RVing Women member.

Boondocking on the Parking Lot

There is a truck driving school in Drumright, Oklahoma with a 3 mile driving course, with parking lanes, parallel parking grids and back in parking.  You have 4 hours each day of classwork, and 4 hours each day of driving the course and learning how to handle your rig.

You drive your rig to the school and stay on-site, boondock so to speak, as there are no hook-ups. Friday evening everyone assembles and goes to a wonderful restaurant about a mile down the road and has dinner together. The food is good and reasonable.  Saturday morning class starts at 8am and goes till 5 with an hour for lunch.  Lunch is on your own. Dinner is on your own. A group of us went to the grocery store to pick up dinner supplies.  I think I got some hamburger and salad fixings. Sunday, class again starts early and finished up by 4:30 and a graduation was held for us.

We had quite a diverse group. Some had big 40ft diesel pushers, one had a pull behind trailer, several had Class C’s, 2 or 3 of us had Class A rigs.  Some of the husbands went and played golf while their wives learned to drive the rigs. Some of the ladies had their partners with them, some of the ladies were solo like me. One of the ladies had her cousin with her as they were going to be going on a cross country trip.

Some were learning hand signals to help the driver with backing into a space, or like me you have to use your mirrors and back-up camera and use your judgement as to when you are in.  I like to get out and place a chair where I want the end of my rig to be or where I want my rear tires to be because I’m

not always going to have help (My daughter goes with me on some of my trips). We learned how to pre-check our rigs before taking a trip, all fluids, tire pressure, battery and make sure we run our generators at least one hour a month. We watched films on how to control a rig with a blow out. How to control a rig that drops off the pavement, what not to do. We learned how to drive between cones without knocking them over. It takes patience and skill plus a slow speed.  Backing into my driveway has always been a big bugaboo for me, I was all over the place. Now I am not. I put it in there as smooth as glass. My neighbors are always amazed at my driving prowess.

For those women who are afraid of driving a Class A or big Diesel Pusher, don’t be. The women who took the course with me were reluctant to drive their rigs when they first started the course, when

we finished, they were the ones behind the wheel pulling away with confidence with their husbands or significant others as co-pilots. With each driving session I saw these women’s confidence build and smiles spread across their faces as they realized they could drive their rigs with conviction.

Like I have always said, “Take that bull by the horns and throw it down, you will never know you can’t do something if you don’t try!”

 

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#atozchallenge...C-Washington or Bust...CHERRY BLOSSOMS...

Finally we got to see what we came to Washington to see...CHERRY BLOSSOMS!

It had been either too cold, windy, rainy or not enough sun for them to bloom. We had been to the park on Easter Sunday and had only spied one blossom open and had an idea as to what to expect, but to see 1900 trees in bloom is awe inspiring!

The only Cherry Blossom blooming on Easter Sunday

We started the morning with a trip into DC on the Metro and got off at Navy Square. We wandered through the gardens of the National Art Museum then was getting ready to go into National Archives Building when we were stopped by the female security guard which told us that the building was closed for the rest of the day due to a power failure. Well dang, we really wanted to see the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Hmm...we wondered why we were seeing lots of black SUV vehicles with big light racks behind them zipping around town heading towards the White House. 

It was Spring Break in Washington, therefore there were lots of school kids there on special bus tours.

Kids everywhere! It was fun just to sit and watch them. Christie and I decided to call a Pedicab and take a tour of the Tidal basin where the Cherry blossoms are. We heard they were blooming.  It was not the most ideal day for shooting pictures but you do with it what you can. 

Robert our Pedicab host, driver and tour-guide was

wonderful and very knowledgeable about the DC area and knew where to get the best shots.  We decided on the 2 hour tour. It cost about $200.00 but was worth every penny. He had photos of what buildings in the area looked like before updates, told us about the Washington Monument and why the different colors of marble were in it. He even pointed out the hitch hiking business men thumbing for a ride, these are business men looking for rides

out to their cars located in the outlying parking lots in the outlying districts. If you ever get to Washington, I highly suggest Robert and his Pedicab. He won't disappoint. 

After our tour, Robert dropped us off at Navy Square,

from there we walked two blocks North and one block east to the DC Chop House. We decided to splurge on Christie's last night in DC. The only way I was able to make it was good meds, my back brace, cane and the arm of my wonderful daughter. 

The DC Chop House was at one time a bank, with beautiful marble columns and great spaces. They have their

own in-house brewery. Christie got a Bourbon Stout, I got a lovely wine. I had a sip of her stout and it was out of this world.  Normally I don't like beer but this was very good.

 You drink it at room temperature.  The table bread is cornbread and some of the best I have ever had. I ordered a stuffed pork chop with roasted veggies and garlic mashed potatoes.  Christie had a steak and garlic mashed potatoes.

It was all so good and by far the most expensive dinner we had in DC. With the tip it came in just shy of a Benjamin.  I will say this, you are missing out if you pass up the DC Chop House. You really need to put it on your must eat at list if you go to Washington DC.

Christie and I just had enough time to make it back to the Metro before they shut it down for the evening. We got back, let the dogs out and hit the hay after discussing our day, and what a day we had.

It was great and I would do it again, rain and all! Although sunshine next time would be great!

Now for some shut-eye as we have to get up early tomorrow.

#AtoZchallenge...B-Beyond the Beyond...

While sitting in my motorhome thinking about nothing really, but about everything and how I got to this point. Where do I want to go on my adventures?  What do I want to do? What do I want to see? What is out there beyond the beyond? 

How did I start this journey?  After Dave passed away I knew I had to continue the journey that we had planned for, talked about, started downsizing for. If I didn't, I would become stagnant, stale and no imagination would revive me. We had started after we came back from a vacation in 2006 and meeting some wonderful people, Bobbie and Jim Chapman who at that time were full-time RVers. They showed us that we could live our dream and live comfortably out on the road, travel and see this country.  We were working toward that when tragedy struck and I no longer had my partner to help see me through this.  However I had my girls who supported my decision to continue the dream their daddy and I had.

After doing some looking, it seemed like I found the perfect motorhome for me. It was exactly what I was looking for and the price was right. Yes, it needed some work, but like any stick and brick home what home doesn't.  Things just seem to fall in place. Some RV friends decided to go from a motorhome to a 5th Wheel and truck and decided they didn't need their toad (car towed behind their motorhome) It was only a year old and already had the tow equipment on it.  I bought it for far less than it was worth. Thanks Earlene and Victor!

I then bought the motorhome for what was left on the bank note, far less than what it was worth. I put new tires on it and brought it up to road worthiness. All the while thinking "What the hell am I doing or think I'm doing? I must be nuts!" However, how was I ever going to know what was out in the beyond if I didn't stick my nose out the door? Will I forever be this scared woman afraid of my shadow if I don't square my shoulders and say "Get with it Smeal, Dave expects better of you!"

Yes Dave would have expected better of me.  I had to learn how to drive all over again.  I know that sounds strange, but true. Dave did all the driving...everywhere!  If I had to go somewhere Dave took me. So for 17 years Dave pretty much did all the driving.  It was quite something for me to be driving again.  I was not use to it, how was I going to drive a behemoth like a 35ft. motorhome? I had driven a 15ft van before and towed a trailer in my concession days. Now I was going to drive a 35ft motorhome and tow a car behind it. 49ft in all. Oh bother!  I have had more women come up to me and say they couldn't do it, they're too afraid. Really, there is nothing to be afraid of, matter of fact it's kind of fun! I really enjoy it. The only time I don't enjoy it is when there is heavy truck traffic and high wind and rain. I will not drive in rain...period!

Learning about my motorhome is ongoing. There is always something new to learn about it. Something that must be done to keep it in shape, just like a home. But that is to be expected. 
Otherwise it would fall apart in short order.

What is out there in the beyond? What do I want to do? Well I have one trip under my belt, a trip to Washington DC that I am still blogging about. Several RV rallies, a couple of camping trips and several winter stays down south.

Where do I want to go?
The Grand Canyon
Big Bend National Park
The Grand Tetons
Colorado, Southfork, Big Meadow
Alaska
Alberta
The Great Southwest
The Great Northwest
British Columbia, to see Dave's sister
Oregon, to see a friend
Back to Washington DC
Do a fall foliage tour of the East
Visit natural hot springs and soak in them
See more of Oklahoma
See more of Texas
Just GO BY GOLLY!

The one thing about being out on the road, you meet the nicest people. I have joined several RV clubs and have partaken in the activities the clubs provide and have had a wonderful time doing so.

So what is out beyond the beyond? Anything I want it to be. My imagination, to explore what I want to explore. I have met many solo women RVers who travel the open road exploring their beyond. What is your beyond? Are you willing to find out?

Okay...What will C bring us tomorrow?

Happy trails!

#AtoZChallange...Arithmatic...

When I started this venture a little over 2 years and 4 months ago I failed to apply arithmetic
to all that would be necessary to function in this lifestyle. I was, as one would say, flying by the seat of my pants. I did manage to purchase my beloved motorhome Izzy, a 2005, 35 ft. Winnebago Voyage, for $35,000.00. $16,300.00 for a tow vehicle to get around in and all the necessary items to make sure I got to where I was going, hence Hetty my Garmin, she may be little, but she is mighty in the way she leads me around! And let's not forget our instant battery charger, a must have if you don't have a trickle charger from your motorhome to the car.

What they didn't tell me was what all I was going to put into it to make it road worthy to my specifications. First I put on new tires and front end alignment to the tune of almost $3,000.00. A tune up, generator work, oil change and the list grew longer by the day, weeks and months.

Izzy has been in the shop more than I have had her. I figure I have pumped about an extra $10,000.00+ into her and that is not even gas or campground fees for camping. That's just getting her ready for our great adventures, hopefully our great adventures! 

Has it been worth it? Hopefully yes, as we start to venture out more on our big trips that are planned this spring, summer and fall.  

Hmm, I wonder what B has in store for us?

Happy Trails!

Washington or Bust...Washington Slept Here...

We were up early Monday morning as we wanted an early start to go see Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington. After the morning chores we were on the road headed off to Virginia. It was a beautiful drive along the parkway. The trees were starting to show color, flowers in full bloom and a certain sweetness to the air that only spring can bring. 

We arrived at Mount Vernon got parked and made our way to the entrance.  The ticket price was not bad at all, which included the distillery tour and house tour as well.  Senior price of $16.00, Adult admission $17.00.  We got the recorders for the talking tour for $6.00 each and I got a complementary wheelchair as I knew I would not be able to walk the grounds as they were far too extensive. I did push the wheelchair for a good part of the way so I would get exercise but Christie got a full workout getting me up and down the hills of Mount Vernon on the pea gravel paths. She was offered help by several men but declined as she needed her cardio workout for her crossfit exercise plan. 

Mount Vernon is a living history lesson. Every person there speaks the language of the period and is in period dress. You really have to be on your toes and have good listening skills to catch all of it. I really enjoyed my conversation with the young man who was George Washington's Nephew. Capitol just capitol!  There is so much to see and take in, you need to go back several times just too really see it all.

The view of the Potomac from the house is beautiful. The National Park Service has done an outstanding job of keeping the area in its natural state.  When you look across the Potomac you will not see any commercial businesses, it is still as George and Martha would have seen it except for the cell phone towers on top of the hills. 

Washington's choice of design and color for the interior of the house was very interesting. Quite modern for that day, quite bold I would say and it was he that designed everything down to the design on the crown molding.  The house was under renovation while we were there. There is a lot that goes into keeping up a 258 year old house and grounds. The kitchen of the house is separate from the main house. I can't imagine the meals that were cooked in those quarters in comparison to our modern appliances of today, but after getting one of the Washington cookbooks, I marvel at the culinary skills and delights of Gilbert Stuart, Washington's Chef. 

Mount Vernon was once made up of 5 farms and the land holdings were vast. Washington was ahead of his time as a Gentleman farmer and as an innovative conservationist. He introduced ideas that are still being used to this day in conservation farming as they are still viable. 

We took the tour of the house and saw the room and bed that Washington died in. Had they had antibiotics back then he would have lived but Doctors bled him to death due to a throat infection called epiglottises, after he had been out surveying and marking trees to be cut down. Martha Washington moved from their shared second floor bedroom up to a third floor bedroom and remained there until her death in 1802.

We went down to the bottom of the hill below the main house to where George and Martha are entombed. Not far from there is the Slave Memorial which is beautifully done and a wonderful place to sit and reflect. 

We need to thank a lady by the name of Ann Pamela Cunningham of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association for leading the charge of women of this

Ann Pamela Cunningham

nation to save Mount Vernon which was falling into disrepair after Washington's death. Without her tenacity this piece of Americana would have been lost to all generations. 

We were getting hungry as we headed to the lunch hall we spied Martha Washington's Reception House, a delightful structure where teas and small gatherings were permitted, was open so we went in. There was Martha in the flesh talking in first person. 

Martha Washington telling stories
about life at Mount Vernon

 She was an absolute delight, answering our questions. I don't know how George could stand to be parted from her. In her youth, she was a true beauty, I can see why he was so smitten by her. 

We had just missed the cut off time to have Chestnut soup in the restaurant so we settled for the cafe instead and had "fast food" and were rewarded with patriotic music of the times played on a fife by a corpsmen of the music brigade.   Afterwards we headed back to the museum and took the tour through and was wowed all over again. Such an amazing place. Keeping an eye on our time as we still had the distillery to get to we headed off to the souvenir shop and loaded up on goodies. 

Christie went to get the car and I waited with our haul. We ended up going the wrong direction and had to find a place to turn around to get going the right direction. We found the distillery which still works. They still make rye whiskey and other fine spirits there from grains grown and grist at the grist mill on the Mount Vernon Plantation. For Christie's birthday I bought her a bottle of Rye Whiskey. I don't think she has opened it yet. The instructions are to take a very tiny sip of it before you actually had a larger sip or it will land you on you keister. 

We had a wonderful day at Mount Vernon but the day was not over yet. We went back into Washington to the Jefferson Memorial.  The sun was starting its slide into the western horizon casting a beautiful brightness across the grounds and structure. Christie had seen the Jefferson Memorial before, but this was my first time. Two words...Awe inspiring! 

We wandered around the structure, Christie outside, me inside. On the inside of the memorial are some of the famous words of Jefferson.  Trying to capture the statue at just the right moment was not going to happen on this day. 

We did spy a wounded warrior and had a wonderful and meaningful conversation with his wife. It was amazing the resolve of this young man. In our hearts we knew there was no way he would ever be able to go back to the battlefield but don't tell him that. That was his goal and you just didn't tell him any different. We left him and his wife with tears in our eyes but smiles on our faces and hope in our hearts for his recovery.

Dinner was simple fare at good ole IHOP.  Breakfast for dinner...always good!

From this point forward until I have access to my photos, photos will be limited. I will try to make a photo blog of my trip in the future. 

I WAS ROBBED AND COACH WAS TRASHED!!!!

There is nothing like calling the service repair place to see how they are coming along on your rig to find out they just discovered that your coach had been broken into and completely trashed and you were robbed. UGH! Can I say a swear word here? S#!T

There is a deep feeling of utter dispare in the the pit of my stomach because I have no idea as to how bad it is.  On top of that I am recovering from eye surgery and am suppose to be taking it easy. DOUBLE SWEAR! 

This was on Friday, December 4 at about 11:00 a.m. The owner of the repair shop tried to call the police but they said I had to call them and be there when they arrived. I hopped into my car and headed out to Oklahoma City thinking "I didn't need this right now, I just need my rig to be fixed and to be on the road heading south." Needless to say I was not a happy camper. 

I pulled into the lot, got the keys to the rig and found a ladder to get up into the rig as there's no power to the steps. I was hesitant to open the door not

knowing what I would find. What greeted me for the moment was a nightmare as I had to be very careful not to disturb a crime scene.  

I called the police and reported the break-in. While waiting for them I did a quick look about to see what if anything had been taken. Whoever had been in my coach had taken most everything in the overhead bins out and dumped it on the floor.  They ripped up a Dooney and Bourke wallet looking for money.  They maybe got all of $3.00, the wallet was worth more than what they took.

Looking at the destruction was overwhelming, however it could have been so much worse. They could have taken the syrup, mustard and ketchup and emptied the bottles all over the place. They could have taken all of my Tastefully Simple stock that I had in the rig and stole it or dumped it all over the place which they didn't. So for
that I am blessed and very thankful that they didn't.

Officer Moon came out and took a report and pictures. She was very nice and had a calming effect, I liked her. She kind of reminded me of "Officer Janko on Blue Bloods." She did the Oklahoma City Police Department South-side proud as far as I am concerned. 

Once the report was made and pictures taken, I had to lock up and head back to Norman for a Doctor's appointment.  The second shot of a two stage Pneumonia vaccine that takes a year to administer but I will never have to have it again. I went to bed totally exhausted and my arm was in pain as the shot hurt like a son of a gun. I could barely lift my arm to get my jammies on. I woke up in the middle of the night suddenly thinking that I did not remember seeing the hood of my coach.  Did they take that too? Needless to say I didn't get much sleep.

I called shop first thing Saturday morning to check on the hood and they had it stored in the shop. Whew!!! One less thing to worry about. Later that morning I went to a Winnebago Club Christmas luncheon at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.  It was very nice and the food was very good. Anything to take my mind off the present situation.  Anyone can go and have a nice lunch there. Afterwards I headed back over to the shop where the coach was and started cleaning up and getting things put back where they belong. 

It was then when I realized the vandals had stolen my new fireplace heater.  I had just purchased it at the beginning of October and was looking forward to using it this winter to warm my coach. Looks like I will have to add it to the police report. 

One of the things that I thought they had made off with was the Christmas presents for the boys but low and behold I found them.  They had been pulled out and dumped on the far side of the bed, but not broken, small wonder since some of the gifts had been made from fragile balsa wood. 

I spent the rest of the afternoon getting the coach put back together and looking like normal.  It was close to 5:00 p.m. when I started to shut things down as I was running out of daylight.  I did a double check on the windows and discovered the vandals had unlocked a large side window in the coach so I got that relocked. I guess they thought they would come back and get more...wrong! 

I went back into the shop to give the owner my keys for the evening. He looked at me and remarked that he couldn't see how I could be smiling to which I remarked, "I can either let this get me down or I can see good things come from it and I choose the latter!" He came over and gave me a big hug then turned to a customer and said " She always has a smile on her face!" 

A lot of people will ask if I have any recourse. No, not really. There was no damage to the coach. The item taken does not meet the minimum deduction for insurance. It will be easier for me to just replace it. It is just time out of my day...sweat labor if you will that I will pay. In 19 years the owner has only been hit 3 times, not enough to install razor wire and fencing or guard dogs. He does have cameras but the police do nothing unless it is a violent crime. So as they say S.O.L. 

I have many blessings in my life.  This little incident turned out to be a blessing.  There is so much that could have been so bad. I figure it was kids who really didn't know what they had in front of them. There was so much for them to take or destroy, they had no idea.  If all they took was a fireplace heater, then they needed it more than I did. I can replace it. I can forgive them, for it is in my heart to do so. Isn't that what Christmas is about? Love and forgiveness? 

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!