Wild West Cabin at Double S Ranch

Dave and I started our first remodeling project. We tore out the paneling and trim in the Wild West Cabin at the Deer Lake Cabins on the Double S Ranch.

 

   

    

The Wild West Cabin is next to our RV, so I cleared a path  so we could easily get back and forth without falling in holes, or tripping on the vines and roots that were coming out  of the ground. It is much nicer and easier to haul the tools back and forth.

Tomorrow we will put up plastic on the outside walls and start taking up the floors. We will then find out from Stan and Sally what else they would like done.

Dave and I work great together and it has been fun working with him again like I did when our business, TF Tiling and Remodeling first got going.

Technorati Tags: TF Tiling and Remodeling,Deer Lake Cabins,Wild West

Deer Lake Cabin’s Double S Ranch

One of many beautiful views at the Double S Ranch in Scroggins, Texas.
We are getting settled in and finding our way around and getting to know some of the animals and staff.
Everybody here is so nice and so down to earth, it is a very comfortable atmosphere. When we first got here we met the first animal, a grey kitten that came up to eat Shadow’s food.
The next day we saw the cat again, but this time Shiner was with us. The cat survived its encounter with the two dogs.
Dave and I were riding on the mules  
to the different horse stables on the ranch, (they are spread out). When we got up by the youngest horses, we saw several deer in the pen with the horses!

The deer are all over the place on the ranch, I rarely go out with out seeing a half dozen of them! We are told that there are also Bob Cat’s, Mountain Lions, Wild Boars, Coyote and other critters around too; than goodness I haven’t seen them!
On our way back to our RV we stopped ran into Johnny, one of the ranch workers. He owns some of the horses here. He takes care of a lot of the horses, in particular the cutting horses. He trains and works with them.
Stan and Sally, the owners of the ranch have cattle that they keep on the ranch for training purposes. Some day I hope to watch him while he works.
Shiner follows Shadow and I everywhere we go, she sleeps in our camper at night, the first night she slept under the table, the second night she started whining when we went up to bed.
She apparently wanted to be closer so I drug her dog bed up to the bathroom and open the door to our room. She just kept looking up at the bed, and then over by the foot of the bed where Shadow Sleeps, I know she is working on getting even closer!
  When we let her outside she will lay in front of the window, I have to pull the shade so I don’t feel guilty leaving her outside while I feed Shadow!

Technorati Tags: Deer Lake Cabins,Double S Ranch,East Texas,Horses,Ranch Dog,Shiner,RV

Double S Ranch Deer Lake Cabins Nov. 27

We got to the ranch before noon, Kathy one of the employees met us at the gate and got us safely to our RV spot.

We had to stop and trim a few trees in order to get through, but we made it!

They had hooked up an RV site just for us and our stay! They put in water, 50 amp electric and Sewer! When we were driving to our spot, one of the horses was very curios and watched us closely while we were parking our RV. I later found out his name is Bandit and he is a Stallion, he watched us very carefully. I already claimed him as one of my favorites!

The grounds are just BEAUTIFUL! They got us set up with a couple of Mules and or golf carts to get around the 850 plus acres on the ranch.

When I went to the office to get the mule, I met Shiner the ranch dog, who greeted me with kisses! I drove the mule back to the RV which is about a half mile away and helped Dave set up the rest of the Camper.

We were a little concerned how Shadow was going to do with the cats on the ranch, (he does fine with house cats, but I wasn’t sure how he would do with wild/pet outside cats. It didn’t take long to figure that one out, we were putting out rugs and stuff and a beautiful grey cat showed up under the camper.

Shadow did awesome, he tried sniffing, she swatted at him and told him that cats rule! She then proceeded to eat his dog food that was on his rug in front of the RV! Then I put out two water bowls on opposite sides of the rug. Shadow is drinking out of one and the cat is drinking from the other;  I wished I could have gotten a photo of his first cat encounter here!

Later Angie, another employee gave us a tour and showed us all around the ranch. This is when Shadow got to meet Shiner. After the normal dog sniffing party they engaged in some dog play, so I think they are going to get along just great!

We got back just shy of dusk, so we had time to take a short walk to look at the lake near our camper. It was a great way to complete our first day.

The only downfalls are 3 TV channels (I liked only having one in Dragoon so Dave can’t Surf all the time LOL)

No internet, I could handle that for a week or two but I don’t think I would want to go without it all winter.  I later found out that the owners are working on getting internet on this part of the ranch, so it may not be an issue after all!

I guess we are going to get to meet the owners, Stan and Sally on Thursday, so we look forward to that. Tomorrow I look forward to getting over by some of the horses and Introducing myself!

Technorati Tags: deer Lake Cabin's,double S Ranch,horses,dogs,employees.

2011-2012 Fourth Year of Winter RVing the Southern States.

We left WI on Friday Morning the 25th of November, Shadow’s Birthday. We drove about 12 hours with stops and spent the night in a Truck Stop in Poplar Bluffs, Arkansas.

We were going to stay in the Wal-Mart parking lot, but the squealing tires and young kids hanging around didn’t leave us feeling any to safe!

The Truck Stop was just outside of town, it was small but a nice place to spend the night.

Day Two: Drove with stops for about 7 hours and spent the night at the Atlanta State Park. We were very surprised to find out that you can fish in any Texas state park WITHOUT a Texas fishing license! That is REALLY awesome! Unfortunately for us it was raining and cold; so other than a short walk we didn’t do anything outside the RV.

We played some cribbage and that was about it.

We are both excited to find out what the Ranch we are headed for is going to be like. The photos of it look beautiful. It is the Deer Lake Cabin’s Double S Ranch in Scroggin’s, Texas. They hired Dave to do some remodeling and other maintenance types of things.

We have talked to the owners on the phone, they sound nice and we are hoping that the place is as pretty as the photos and the owner’s are as nice as they seem!

I guess we will find out soon!

Technorati Tags: Double S Ranch,Deer Lake Cabin's,Scroggin's,Texas,Fishing in Texas State Parks,RVing.

Thank You for those of you who have responded to our Ad

We have a couple of promising leads for work for this winter, and are very excited to be getting on the road again! I might have an opportunity to be around some horses and that REALLY makes me happy!

I am not sure our whole winter is filled, so please continue to contact us if you are interested in hiring us.

Once we are on the road, I will try to get some more exciting blog entries on here instead of work related and resumes!

In the meantime enjoy some of my favorite entries: Just click on any of these titles for the posting.

When do Rattlesnakes come out of hibernation? 


How To Get Your Partner To Stop Snoring


11 Tips for safe Hiking in the Desert:

I was starting to lose hope

Contractor With RV Looking For Seasonal Work: Development / Excavation or Any Type of work.

This would be my husbands idea job! We are a Semi retired RVing couple looking for work in a warmer climate for the winter months (the end of November 2011 – the first week in April.  Last year I cleared trees and and leveled the ground.  I also planted new trees in the new area in the camp ground. I also formed up cement patios pads, also installed patio pavers, ran electrical and sewage piping for new sites.
This was at the KOA in Blythe California, This park was located right on the Colorado River, While we were here, I also did some remodeling work. Put a bathroom in the living quarters for their regular maintenance man!  This was in Arcadia Louisiana, where I also did some grounds work and some building repairs. Dave has farm experience and has his CDL license. He can drive just about anything. (If there is something he hasn’t driven, I am sure he could learn VERY quickly! 
Cindy and Shadow did some public speaking and education.
 
We also recovered a lost wedding ring for a friend of the owner of the resort. They hired someone two years ago to find the ring and had no luck. But with my assistant Shadow;
   and my Minelab x terra 705 metal detector, we  took turns digging   and we found it!
We also cleaned up the swimming beach of broken glass, bottle tops and all sorts of things lurking under the sand!

These are just some of the jobs we can do and are available for hire starting the end of November. You can continue to scroll down this page or go to my most recent entry's and you will find cover letters, resume, job experiences and if you want to know ALL about us, keep on reading!
There are some pretty funny stories, heart touching moments and RV tips that we have shared on the road. The most viewed pages include these: When do Rattle Snakes Come out of Hibernation, 11 Tips for Safe Hiking, and Dave locking himself in the tool shed! Look around, have fun. If you are interested in hiring us for any amount of time for this winter, please send me an email.
I will send you more information, answer questions and etc.

Technorati Tags: Work Camping Couple,Excavation,Landscape,Electrical,Sewer,Installing Patio Pavers,Metal Detecting,Finds,For Hire.

Professional Couple Looking For Ranch Work For Winter of 2011- 2012 in a Warm Climate

Preferred States: Texas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and etc.

My husband Dave & I are leaving WI in late November we are looking for work. We are Responsible, Quiet, Don’t Drink or Smoke & have No Criminal Record!

We own and operate a small family business called TF Tiling and Remodeling LLC. We have been in this business for the past 11 years. All of our customers could be used as references, because we have never had one that wasn’t 100% satisfied!

Dave’s skill level and work ethic is the key to our success. He does an excellent job no matter how big or small. He works hard, gets the jobs done on time and requires no supervision. He has done all sorts of carpentry work ranging from small repairs to building a house! (I can send you photos of past jobs upon request). He also can operate just about any type of heavy machinery and he does have a CDL license! (Commercial Drivers License).

(Make sure you read through the whole posting so you know what we do besides tile and remodeling work)!

You can hire 1 of us or both of us, for 1 week or a few months! We would love to find a temporary job that will last anywhere from one week to a couple of months. We would prefer a place where we can hook up our RV. All we really need is electricity; but sewer and water would be fantastic! We have a beautiful 40’ fifth wheel Toy Hauler. Dave brings all of his tools with him and he can use our truck to pick up supplies!

We can do all different kinds of work, but are the happiest when it is on a horse ranch! We love the animals the atmosphere and the work!

We have a dog and love being someplace where he doesn’t always have to be tied up!

Last year Dave was hired to refurbished FEMA trailers, remodel cabins, Casita's, and park models. He remodeled a cook house, built new troughs, fence repairs and all kinds of general maintenance. (I don’t consider Dave to be a “Jack” of all trades; he is more like the “Master” of all trades)!

I (Cindy) did general work around horses including mucking, brushing and making improvements to their stalls. I was told by a ranch owner that I would be and excellent imprinter. I felt humbled by such a compliment! (I was a therapist for 26 years) so when it comes to interpersonal communication it comes to me naturally. What I didn't know is that the horses seem to benefit from these skills too!

I have also been hired to do metal detecting work on private property. Last year I was hired by a ranch owner in Arizona and recovered civil war relics for them.

Dave has taken the back position on many trail rides even in rough terrain. He really enjoys riding and socializing with everyone, I know he would love to do the whole dude ranch thing where he could cook and sit around the fire and talk to the guests! For me, I can do the socializing thing, but honestly I’d rather be talking to the horses! Neither of us has a whole lot of experience pertaining to horses, but what we lack in or knowledge we make up for with love and we learn quickly!

Depending on the type of work you would have for us would depend on the wage we would ask for. If it is work that any general hire could do; I am sure your normal hourly rate would be acceptable. If you are looking for the skills of a professional Contractor, a fair wage would need to be offered. We would consider any amenities such as RV hook ups, Wi-Fi, cable and etc. as part of the wage.

I have a photo album on Picasa (Google's Photo Page) This has photos of us and some of our past jobs. It will show you some of our adventures as well. Click on the photo below it will bring you to the photo album, (when you get there click on any photo to make it larger then use the arrow by the photo to go through them).

RV Work

If you are interested in discussing this further, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Thank You in advance for your consideration of our resume.

Cindy and Dave

Resume from a couple who live in their RV for the 2011-2012 winter. Workamping Couple

Looking for jobs down south for the winter.
 A week or two of work or several weeks. Horse Ranches would be a BIG plus!


 Our Resume is below. Be sure to check out the blog for a lot of other information!


About us:
We are in our late 40’s, down to earth, honest, hard working people. Most people find us likeable; we do not drink or smoke, we are responsible, clean and quiet!  We have never been arrested and both could easily pass a background check! We started traveling to southern states from November to April in 2009. 


We have an  11 year old Border Collie Mix, he is Canine Certified and can go into nursing homes and hospitals. He loves to perform and make people laugh. (At the Yogi Bear resort, he became the golf cart mascot; he rode on the gulf cart while we escorted Campers to their camp location. He was the talk of the town, but don’t tell YOGI!


Types of Jobs we had while traveling: Bathroom Remodels, Installed Ceramic Tile, Built skirting and decks for park models, Paint and trim work, installed siding, Installed patio paver's, tree removal, and ditch digging. 
We have also had several jobs that didn't require contractor skills! We have done miscellaneous camp ground hosting duties, bar and grill, horse ranches, horse grooming, mucking and general maintenance and repairs.

Our Qualifications: 
We own and operate a successful Tiling and Remodeling business in Wisconsin and have our own liability insurance. Our small family Company was started in 2001 We have non stop work when we are back home and haven't advertised in over 8 years!
By treating our customers and their homes the way we would want to be treated, keeping our appointments and time lines and by providing top quality work has kept us going just by word of mouth.

Dave’s Qualifications:  He is a contractor by trade and can do most any type or building and repair work. His favorite work activities are jobs that require power tools or operating heavy equipment! He has a valid CDL (but no Fed Med card). He can drive anything from a Bob Cat to an 18 wheeler. He has experience landscaping, working on farms dairy labs and etc. Dave's work ethic, knowledge base, and skill level are top notch! (He has most of his tools with him, so if you hire him for a project you don’t have to worry about that)!
Limitations: Dave has no physical limitations and is willing to work 15 to 40 hours per week.


More about Cindy’s Qualifications:  I am not anywhere near as handy as Dave, (LOL) but here is some information about me: I am a licensed therapist certified by the State of WI. I worked in Behavioral Health as a therapist for 25 years. Prior to my disability, (I have nerve damage in my leg) I also worked with Dave in our business and we drove team for a local trucking company. I still hold a CDL License (no Fed Med Card). I have some computer skills: making flyers, announcements, business cards, web pages, blogs and more. I can place ads online for advertising or selling, however I am not good with excel or office programs. I prefer to work in places that my dog can go; therefore I prefer to with animals instead of people. I can do a lot of work from our RV for your office. I will gladly work in the office, if Shadow can come inside .


References From Other RV Parks and Resorts:
Brandon Johnson: Owner: (800) 562-3948 KOA (Colorado River) Blythe, CA
Ray Worshen: Owner: (318) 263-2437 Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days Arcadia ,LA
Linda Kelly: Owner: (520) 586-7533 Triangle T Guest Ranch Dragoon, AZ
Ken Butschek: Owner: (512) 266-8001 La Hacienda RV Resort Austin TX.
Nick Kuklenski: Owner: (817) 874-1035 Lone Oaks RV Valley View, TX
John Kaylor: Manager:   (260) 687-1114 Yogi Bear Resort Pelahatchie, MS
John Werchan: Caretaker: (830) 796-3510 Camp Sionito San Antonio, TX

If you are interested, please contact us.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Dave and Cindy S

Technorati Tags: working Couple,Resume,workamping,for hire,horse ranch,2011- 2012 winter season,southern states.

RVer’s Looking for work for hire, or Barter for two weeks to two months during the winter of 2011-2012

Dave and Cindy
are looking for  work as work campers or just to barter some work hours for RV hook ups. for the winter of 2011 –2012.
We prefer horse ranches or anything with animals looking mainly at these states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Arizona (someplace with minimal snow and mild temperatures)!
We leave WI toward the end of November, then we just  head south and stop at places where we find work.
We aren’t looking for a 3 month position, we like to move around so we can see more things on our travels. (we would consider a three month term depending on the circumstances).
The blog entry before this one has more information on the type of work we do and has more of our personal information on it as well. I have a link to that entry toward the end of this writing.
I will be doing several entries with our work experience in the next week or two, so come back and look again to see if we might be just the couple you are looking for!
We started workamping in random places in 2008, at that time we didn’t even know there was a term for this: “workamper”, we learned about that the following year!
Our first RV job was one we landed just by stopping and talking with the owner- We told him that we were looking to barter some work for full RV hook ups. The next thing I knew we were parking our rig and staying for a while at the Lone Oak RV Park in Valley View, Texas. 
Dave did mostly maintenance work while we were there.
Shadow (our dog) and I got our first introduction to  some ranch animals and spent our time around them when I wasn’t helping Dave. I hadn’t been around ranch animals for over 30 years; and Shadow had never been around them before! They had Horses, Llama's, Goat and Sheep!

I loved being near the animals, but truth be told, I was too afraid to go in by them or let a horse eat out of my hand!
(If you put the word “horse” in my search bar on the blog you will find out how much that has changed in the past 3 years)!
I am now the happiest when I am around horses, my connection with them is really strong. I really hope we can find work on a horse ranch or several different horse ranches this winter! 
Dave can mend or fix nearly anything, and I love working outside in stalls with horses in them. I don’t mind mucking, brushing or just talking to them for hours on end!
Please Click right here to see our work history and qualifications. (this is a look at my previous blog entry which is like our resume so you can  see what other work experiences we have working on a Ranch or RV Resort).
Then check back in a day or two where I will outline our next job while on the road in our RV- Like I said, I would prefer to work on a horse ranch, but mainly we just need work. If you have any job for us please contact us.

Technorati Tags: Work Camp,Barter,Horse Ranch,Texas,RV,Couple,Resume,Workamp,2011 2012 winter work,hard working couple