A Man, A Jeep, No Real Plan

Amazing Stories and Adventures

#duckduckjeep

We’re Still Here!

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Hello All!

I wish I could tell you all about a grand adventure that we took. I’m currently on fall break and took some days off to allow for an adventure but alas, we have been too busy doing the adventure of every day life to go any where. This does not mean that we haven’t done any thing or not been kept on our toes. By no means at all! We do have Grant.

Concert Together

Clayton Anderson Concert

Tyler did manage to get a few hours of work at a concert. IU put on a few outdoor concerts that were only open to IU students and only allowed like 100 people to attend. Tyler worked the load in and load out. We were supposed to go out that night since we were kid free, but when he gets work as a local, he needs to take it. Starting a new company does take time, so in the meantime work local as much as you can. Tyler being Tyler, came up with the idea of me meeting him there and watching the concert from the outer edge. This was a great night. We got to enjoy each other’s company and then about half way through the show they let us come on in and move closer. Clayton Anderson put on a great show!

Hanging Pots?!

Hanging pots in our kitchen

Tyler has also been working on the house as much as he can in his free time. He recently got some new hardware and rope to put these hanging pots up in our kitchen. I was not 100% on board with the idea at first honestly. I was not able to visualize how it would look. Tyler reassured me that it would look fine, that his mom had hanging pots there when they were living there. Safe to say, I really love having them now. They are a great addition, help to fill such a big space. Hopefully soon we will have tomatoes, and spinach. We also put my spider plant in one to allow it more room to grow.

Kitties!

Lucifer and Tubby on wall outside our door, waiting to try to run in.
Tubby in Caitlyn's sweater while playing darts
Tubby being held like a baby
Tyler holding Tubby, holding the darts
Momma Kitty

We have also had the pleasure of three kitties moving into our garage. They have become some of the most spoiled cats I’ve ever had. Mostly my fault but don’t let Tyler fool you, he loves having them around too. He likes to describe them as farm dogs, the three musketeers, his office staff, and the worlds worst dart partners. They will follow you around where ever you go outside, they get along well, and keep any small critters away. Momma Kitty (inside cat) has not enjoyed having them around. She is very concerned about making sure they stay outside and do NOT come in. Grant also loves having them around, no surprise there. They have been great to help teach him about being gentle and have now given him a daily chore. Feeding them every morning and at night when they get closed up in the garage. Speaking of Grant.

Pumpkin!

Grant craving a pumpkin

This past Sunday, while I was sitting on the couch enjoying a lazy Sunday, Grant comes up to me and says “mommy, I wanna go DO something.” Um….okay. We could go to the store, I need to get some things. OKAY! So away we went. Got to the store and saw the pumpkins out front and thought perfect! We bought a pumpkin and some things to make Halloween themed cookies. He wasn’t as on board with the decorating part of cookies and just wanted to eat them. When it came to the pumpkin, he wanted a T-rex. Kid, I can’t draw that well. Spider. Nope. How about a face. Fine. Proud to say that at 3 years old he is finally willing to at least stick his hand in the pumpkin with a spoon. Still won’t touch the pumpkin guts but it is progress!

Grant's Pumpkin

Ducking

Jeep ducked in Kohl's parking lot

I have also been trying to make sure to place a duck on every Jeep I see. I am waiting for the day Jackson gets another duck but for now, Kyle gets to ride front and center. One day, I ducked a Jeep at our favorite ice cream place here in Bloomington, Bruster’s. It turned out to be the general manager! I wrote A Man, A Jeep, No Real Plan on the bottom of all of them and he found our Facebook page with the post about the ducking. These little ducks may end up being a great advertising for the blog. So if you are here because we placed a duck on your Jeep, welcome! Stay awhile and share with your friends! I hope we made you smile when you saw it.

More to come soon, hopefully

That is basically the highlights of what has been going on. Busy growing in our own ways. Him, creating a business. Me, finishing up school and looking to future careers. Together we have been focusing on Grant and creating a home. Hopefully soon things will settle down at home some so that we can take an adventure, even a small one. Until then, please share with your friends.

Now, go on your own adventure!

-Caitlyn aka Pretty Lady

Caitlyn with Tubby in sweater

Eagle Scouts ladies, get you one!

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Jeff with the canoe

Here we are again!

Finally doing things that we love to do together, going on random adventures. Now that there is a lull in Tyler’s work we are taking full advantage of it.

View with the canoe

I am very proud to say that Tyler planned this whole thing. From what we were doing, to the food, to getting everything we needed, down to even making sure we had a babysitter for the night. Thank you Grammie B!! Ladies, please! Wait for someone who when you say you would like to go do something this weekend together, they take care of it for you.

We only went away for one night because this was the first time that Grant stayed all night with Grammie B, so we didn’t want to overload her. With this in mind, we stayed pretty close to home. We only live about a mile and a half from Lake Monroe. Tyler decided to take me canoeing and camping on Lake Monroe.

Loaded down canoe

Now guys. I have never been canoeing in my life…. I was super nervous to say the least. Especially since for our white water rafting trip I was of no help and was not a huge fan of it. We got to the lake though and loaded the canoe down with all of our supplies. We already have a list of things we won’t be bringing next time to keep the canoe light. Away we went!

Kyle on the canoe

Since we didn’t start until later in the day, I had to work that morning, the waves and wind were an issue. Made paddle a serious workout. We got to the other side where all the campsites are, took almost 2 hours. Once there, it took longer to find a site than we would have liked. Surprisingly, there was a good deal of people out! Tyler thought that with it being mid September that we would be basically the only ones out. Thankfully we did find one that we both liked and one that was farther away from the other sites.

Our view at campsite

A site was secured and we got to work setting it up right away. Tyler then made us some hobo dinner which was delicious! Well, mine was. Tyler’s, well. It kinda ended up on the ground after only a couple of bites. Oh his face! Poor guy. It was like that all night, he was the clumsy one, not me. After dinner, Tyler made friends with the campsite next to us because he managed to forget a cork screw for the wine that we brought. I swear this man makes friends everywhere we go. How did such a major introvert like me ended up with such an extrovert like him? How?

Campsite all set up
Our fire

The bottles were opened and drank. Yes, bottles, plural. Which I didn’t know till yesterday….Oops. We then decided that it was too cold for skinny dipping and to bed we went. I was worried that I would be cold all night but as long as I stayed under our blankets it wasn’t that bad. The next morning we got up and had a raspberry Danish and I had my coffee. Tyler brought things for eggs but decided that it would have added to much time in the clean up process to be worth it. I agreed. The Danish was enough for me. We then tore down and packed up our site and started the paddle back.

Caitlyn rocking the paddle thing

The paddle back was much easier! We started early which meant that the waves and wind hadn’t started yet. I also was finally getting the hang of the whole paddle thing, was able to actually be of help. We made really good time. It only took about 30 to 40 minutes to get a crossed. Needless to say, the next time we do this, we will be starting early and going further up the lake into Salt Creek to get a better, quieter site.

Caitlyn looking hot paddling

Yes! There will be a next time! I enjoyed this adventure so much. It got me out of the house and I got to try something that I have never done before. I have always loved camping and am loving the fact that I am with someone who enjoys it as much as I do. Eagle Scouts ladies, get you one.

Enjoy the pictures and be on the lookout for more random adventures with us. We are considering doing this again for a long weekend next month on my fall break. It’ll be cold!!

-Caitlyn aka Pretty Lady

Trains. Slides. Animals. Oh My!

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Grant posing with the cut out

Hello all!

Things have been pretty laid back here since our last adventure. Tyler gave you an update about him building his new company that has kept him busy. I have started back up with school, my last semester. In addition to school starting up, I have been working more. Jackson is an expensive purchase. I have also started to make the schedule for the cashiers at work.

With all these things going on, we haven’t been able to have much of a family day recently. So Friday when I got home from work, I told Tyler this weekend we needed to go do something fun together. We agreed that Saturday needed to be a chore day, lame. Sunday though we would go do something together. Originally we thought we would go to Spring Mill or McCormick’s Creek. Then Saturday, my sister posted on Facebook about her and her band, Hey Hey, performing at Apple Works on Sunday. To Apple Works we went!

Bridge at Apple Works

Apple Works

Apples Works is an apple orchard in Trafalgar Indiana that has all kinds of family activity things. They have a petting zoo, a maze, a playground, a big enclosed slide, and lots of beautiful scenery to take pictures of. This is where I got my senior year pictures taken actually. I thought this would be a better option for us. Also because I have been wanting to see Briana and the band play for awhile but before COVID it never seemed to work out. Either too far away, playing too late, or somewhere I couldn’t take Grant like a bar.

Waterfall at Apple Works

We got there after their set had begun and Grant did not want to sit. Grant had fallen asleep on the way there so of course he was ready to go by the time we got there. So away we went to explore and play.

Play time

Grant looking out the train window

First thing we had to do was ride the train. Of course. When I say had to, I mean HAD to! The train was $3 per person which seemed like a lot to me but we all piled into the train car and away we went. The train took us all the way around the orchard and back. Grant was in heaven! Waving, saying hi to everyone we saw go by. I also managed to get my new favorite picture of the two of them. See below, I mean seriously! My heart!

Grant sticking his head out the window. Tyler looking very annoyed.

Grant then proceed to play in the mounds of hay they had. This is just what he needed. To be able to play outside that wasn’t at home or at daycare. Run all the energy off little one!

Hay Pile
Tunnel in the hay pile
Grant running around in the hay pile.

Here are some pictures that I got of Grant exploring the grounds. I really do tend to overload the pictures. Sorry!

Grant on a bridge.
Grant in the flowers

We did get to sit and watch the last 15 minutes of the set though thankfully. They did great! If you ever see that the band Hey Hey will be playing close to you, highly recommend you go check them out.

New Game

Once that was all done, including a stop at the gift shop for apple cider, we headed for the car. That is when we saw this little guy on Jackson’s door. On the bottom it said duck duck Jeep. So I googled duck duck Jeep to see what it was. I thought maybe it was a blog like ours. It is actually a game that Jeep owners play. You find a Jeep and stick a rubber duck where they will see it and make sure to put #duckduckjeep on the rubber duck. Tyler and I love this idea! Tyler has already ordered a bunch of them. You bet they will become a part of our adventures. We plan on not only adding the #duckduckjeep but to also put A Man, A Jeep, No Real Plan on them.

#duckduckjeep

Keep your eye out this coming week! We are planning a night away without Grant.

-Caitlyn aka Pretty Lady