the day in pictures

Once again we had a chilly, cloudy start to the day. Doesn't happen often so I can handle it.
The only plans we had for today was a gathering of the work campers for a luncheon at the clubhouse. There are 20-25 of them and the managers Don and Jeni catered it. Rudy's BBQ and the food was tasty! Beef, sausage and pork along with slaw, potato salad, beans with onions, jalapenos and pickles. They also supplied drinks, beer,margaritas, soda and tea.

The winter season has started!



the front is moving through and we had a pretty sunset tonight

I love my flowers, don't know their name but they sure are pretty

looking northeast the palms are pretty against the darkening sky. Soon all those sites will be filled with winter Texans

Just heard Taps from the RGV Veterans Cemetery so I'll say good night

We have sun!

Finally a nice day! The sun slowly burned off the clouds enough to warm it up enough to sit out side this afternoon. Jim resealed the hole in the roof. Hopefully that will take care of the leak. I sat trying to do crossword puzzles but I wasn't having much luck so I switched to a book. No go there, I kept thinking of things I needed to do....

So I got the grooming arm out and did some trimming on Boo, he's getting a bit shaggy. Then I resumed my watch from my chair. Jim and I sat and talked, had a beer. Dan stopped by, then Anne joined us and then Amy stopped by.

Anne and I had plans for happy hour and needed to make a run to HEB and Walmart. We made it back just in time for Happy Hour!

Boo relaxing after his short stint on the grooming table.

my cactus pot

even the flamingos were enjoying the sun!

my herb pot

Jim enjoying my company

my lettuce pot is very overgrown!

most of the bushes around here got frosted pretty good but the rose bush is going gangbusters

For happy hour we had little smokies, tater tots, mini quiches, bread and dipping oil, some cheese and crackers and turtle brownies. we sat outside and enjoyed every bite. We heard taps from the RGV Veterans Cemetery and heard the coyotes join in.

Then Dave and Karen came by and the Three Amigos (Dave, Jim and Scotty) had a jam session with their dulcimers. It was interesting and we all sat out until the skeeters chased me in and I guess everyone else too! It was getting dark anyway.

This is Jim's dulcimer and he's doing well in learning how to play it.


Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach

How was your Christmas?

Ours was wonderful! I was awake but stayed in bed for awhile just enjoying the quiet. Of course I was staying warm too! It got a wee bit chilly last night and I really didn't want to get out of bed. When I did, I turned on the furnace then made my coffee. My intention was to let Jim sleep and around 0800 I was going to put the cinnamon buns in the oven to make the house smell good, then wake him. But Boo decided Jim needed to get up!

Once he was up he started giving me gifts....great way to start the day. :) We had fun exchanging our gifts. Speaking of gifts Sonsearae sent us popcorn! It was a gift basket with organic popcorn, oil, salt, seasoning and trail mix all packed in a popcorn bowl from Eden Foods. Popcorn is my favorite salty snack! I like it almost as much as chocolate which Jim gave me as part of my gifts today. My loved ones know my tastes!

After breakfast we just slowly started our day. We had plans to eat out so we played games and watched Good Morning America. Parts of our country got hit with some cold, snowy, rainy weather.

We left around 1330 for dinner. We ladies looked pretty spiffy and our men cleaned up real good too! We were the first to arrive at Hayashi and we went inside (to cold outside to wait for our friends) and got seated at our table. We had just ordered our tea when the rest of our party showed up. There were eight of us, Anne and Scotty, Pat and Vern, Diana and John plus Jim and I. Pat and Vern had never been to a hibachi table and it was fun watching them enjoy the show the chef put on.

Sharing a meal with friends on this Christmas day was perfect! Each family took some food home but that was mostly because we ladies couldn't eat the amount of food that is served.

We got home shortly before 1700 and both Jim and I fixed coffee...then Anne came over to remind us to come over for happy hour. Dan brought down all the ingredients for margaritas! I had my coffee while others drank delicious margaritas. It was really chilly (low 50's) and we were sitting outside. I think several couples were invited, but only a half dozen folks showed up. We did get to hear taps played from the RGV Veterans Cemetery with the coyotes chiming in. Shortly after that Jim and I came home.

We watched The Librarian, Quest for the Spear and Iron Chef. Now it's time for bed

Busy Day!

Yesterday Jim and I stayed busy all day and slept very well last night!

After breakfast for me, Jim skipped it again, I got busy with indoor chores. I threw some clothes in the washer, got dressed and stripped the bed. Sheet day! then I washed the breakfast dishes while Jim went outdoors to do his outdoor chores. One was working on our trikes.

Once the kitchen was cleaned up I got it dirty again! I had a roasted chicken that needed de-boning and I used the carcass to make some chicken stock for soup. Once I had that going I did dishes again, these RV kitchens get cluttered fast. Meanwhile I'm still dong laundry. Jim did some minor fixes on the trikes but determined that they needed a bike doctor.

Anne and I had made plans to go grocery shopping, we each needed a couple things. She came over just as I was straining my chicken stock. OK! change clothes and 15 minutes later we're on our way.

We went to Target and Petco, then we stopped in Chili's for some soup and salad for lunch. I had the black bean soup, which is tasty with the sour cream/cilantro swirl, and a Cesar salad. They brought out chips and salsa and we had more than enough to eat. We brought home half of my soup and the chips and salsa we didn't eat. Then we popped into HEB for the groceries we needed.

Once home I put away my veggies and continued doing laundry. I was able to watch a couple of my soaps, gotta keep up with the stories! I made a pot of chicken soup for our dinner. After working most of the day on the trikes Jim came in and showered and put on his jammies and asked 'what's for dinner'? About this time I get a text from Anne, 'It's Happy Hour'! So Jim changed and we headed next door. I took my tea and the other three had beer. Scotty bought a Cobb Grill and he had it fired up to cook brats. We were invited but I declined, Jim accepted! He never turns down a brat. I brought over some potato salad and everyone had dinner except me, I wasn't all that hungry. Anne brought out the fixins for the brats and the leftover chips and salsa.

While we were outside, Anne got a call from Pat telling us about a flyover of hawks, so we all head out from under cover to look. Turns out it was buzzards but watching them fly over so low is exciting when they number in the hundreds or so. The weather was wonderful for sitting out, we heard taps from the RGV Veterans Cemetery but no coyotes.

I was keeping an eye on the clock so I could watch Dancing with the Stars and just as I was going to go home Don and Jeni (Managers making nightly round) stopped by and then the swallows started flying over! Thousands of them and they kept coming and coming and coming! While all of were watching this fabulous show Pat and Vern walked by with their dogs so we all stood around chatting. Jim had gone home and turned on our outside TV (it's connected to the cable) and I was glancing at Dancing with the Stars. Not sure how long this lasted but it was fun talking with everyone.

Jim and Scotty sat outside watching TV for a bit, I went inside because I could watch TV and continue with my chores. The bed was only partially made and I was hungry by now and had some soup and a biscuit. I watched the rest of the dancing then showered and made the bed.

When I sat back down to finish watching Castle it was half over and I was bushed, that's why I didn't do the blog....

Thus ends another busy day in the valley!