Eventful morning.

You will have to go see the other blog (www.magnolianews.blogspot.com ) to see the full story but it has been a busy one. Laundry, cleaning, a walk, the hawk and who knows what all! Spring has arrived. Birds are building nests and I hope to get some good pictures of this later. A grackle is building a nest in Donn and Peggy's tree in front of their house across the street from us. It gives me a very good view of the tree and the nest.  Fall, winter and spring seem to all blend together here. Some of the trees are losing their leaves. The releafing will begin in late January and February.

Butch is off to another park playing pool this afternoon and I am working on decluttering the house. It reaches a certain level and then simply must be tackled. Today is the day!!

Several more Elise videos

I do not feel one bit guilty putting all these Elise videos on here. If you aren't into baby videos or if your connection is such that it takes forever for them to load they are easily skipped over. Butch and I are so lucky we can keep up with her progress through the videos.

Elise playing at Mall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Te5pbvQvrM

Reindeer blowing nose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De13L26vN1s

Making Santa Cookies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7m2x4EhAzU

Elise and her Santa gifts videos

I assure you Elise got way too many gifts for Christmas. The videos are from when she opened just one of her favorites from Santa:

 1. http://youtu.be/ntabkzxw150

2. http://youtu.be/Vd1USgLLXDQ

3. http://youtu.be/jDkw2idZzgU

4. http://youtu.be/KGC2vmnM2so

5. http://youtu.be/bkpcSqBQ1Rs

Elise being polite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzoR3brT-uk

Every now and then...

Something special comes my way. This brought the tears...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WxjZB5S_g7s#t=0s

Elise Videos

Elise wants to draw: http://youtu.be/3Gof5Iwh1hw

Elise with Candy canes: http://youtu.be/JGZRB1NY4S0

Elise is Ornery: http://youtu.be/hT6R7lB_vQY

Sunshine!!

All it takes is a bit of sun to turn everything around down here. Today there are people in the pool and the sun is shining brightly, windows and doors are wide open. People are out and about and all returns to normal. Amazing what a little sun can do. We have had a period of very cloudy, dark, damp, drizzly weather so we all feel we deserve this respite.
Butch is getting a double dose of golf today. It was park golf day this morning and he is going back with Jim Rader for a second round this afternoon. They had to bring the wimps back home before they could continue playing. Butch shot a 32 this morning on nine holes. That perked him up a bit.
Christmas Dinner was very nicely done again this year. It always amazes me how people step up and get things done when they see the need. 
The years end is but a few days away. It happens so fast! I am sure that 7 year-olds would argue that fact but this near 70 year old thinks they are whizzing by.
Our friends Donn and Peggy went for Christmas eve services to their church down here in Alamo TX. As the church emptied after services the pastor was standing at the door saying "Feliz Navidad" to all who were leaving. Donn answered him with "Gesundheit"! Before you think that is inappropriate I might remind you that Gesundheit means God bless you and thus it was entirely appropriate. The pastor saw the humor and got a chuckle out of it.
I thought it was more than a little clever. So to all of you I say Gesundheit!!

Droopy on Christmas Morning 2011

Elise December 2011

I knew I would be getting some Elise pictures soon from Grandpa Gary and lo and behold here they are.

Link of the Day

This site features free gift tags in loads of designs in multiple
categories, including, 'natch, Christmas. Select one or more designs you
like (they are formatted in Word and PDF), download and start printing!


http://www.freeprintablegifttags.net/

Droopy

Droopy has become a park pet. Droopy has many different names but I call him/her Droopy. Droopy is a mockingbird that has one wing, his left one, that droops and hinders his flight. He has been here for at least 3 years. Since Angel is in kitty heaven Butch decided to "take in" Droopy and has been feeding him peanuts. Today I was in the kitchen by the stove and I could hear a bird chirping in the vent above my head. I told Butch that I think your bird wants fed. Sure enough. Butch opened the door and Droop hopped over to him on the roof and just as much said I am here! Of course, Butch wasted no time feeding his new best friend. I found a picture of Droopy. It is from 2008. I will try to get a new one soon.

Droop spends a fair amount of time at Pecan Bill's place too waiting for Bill to drop him a morsel. One of his other names is Lefty.

Oh Lordy

Been very busy. Of course the season is known for that but my busy has more to do with Presidential,computer and other duties than with the hustle and bustle of the season. I think it is the combo of all that. Hopefully it is.
I planned to call for a haircut appointment today but it completely left my mind with all the other things that popped up. The truth be known some days are quiet with no requests and other days it seems to pile up big. Like snowdrifts!! We are hearing about the big storm blowing through north of here. I do not know if the weather is a factor but we had residents of the park heading back to their other home in Oklahoma when they had a bad accident in Tyler Texas. The mister of the couple is in the midst of fighting bone cancer and in fact had a chemo treatment just before heading north. He had some broken bones in the accident. The missus of the pair is in critical condition. It has kind of discombobulated the park residents to have one of our own going through this major trauma. We may have differences at times but just as in any other family we all pull together and care for each other in times like this.
When Butch signed up with AARP (United Health Care) insurance we received info of different benefits we could receive because of the AARP membership. A 20 % discount at Denny's restaurants is one of those bennies. We had supper at Denny's last night and saved us between 3 and 4 dollars by using the AARP card. We met and  told some other folks in the park about it and they too saved. Now if we can just remember to use it!!
Later...

Winter weather

Winter time in S S T (Sunny South Texas) is decidedly different than winter time anywhere else. Some full timers I know who have wintered in the big three, Arizona, Texas and Florida tell me that the only place you will not find freezing temperatures is in the southern tip of Texas and the lower third of Florida and I know from experience that on rare occasions it happens here as well. We are not getting freezing temperatures but we are getting damp drizzly weather with cool temperatures. It is hovering in the 50's under cloudy skies. Not exactly what one would call pleasant but it is what we call winter here. We hope for a short one.
Butch and I cleaned house yesterday. Later I worked on a bracelet and he wandered off to the pool hall.

The mail came and with it the paperwork from the insurance company I have been waiting for since the middle of November. I had given up on it yesterday and went with a different company. I hope that aggravation is in the past. Butch's supplement to Medicare will be with a different company than mine. It shouldn't be a problem.

We have tentative plans  to go to Hidalgo TX for the Festival of lights but not exactly anxious to go in the rain. We also have plans to get to South Padre but the evil red tide is still an issue and until it is gone it is not wise to go there and irritate our upper respiratory systems. Geezzzz...just one of those things.

Kindle Fire

Interesting computer class today and it ended up being a look at Kindle Fire. It took a bit to get on to it but after Peggy taught us all about swiping it went easier. We also looked at www.pixelofink.com to see about getting free books. We set up the Amazon account and "purchased" a free book to run through the process. I am sure it may be just a beginning. It is great really as I get to learn about it before I purchase one. That is in the future of course. As always I often learn more than the students. They do not believe me when I say that but it is true!

Help with cakes

On my agenda for this morning is to help make cakes for after the parade tomorrow night. Butch says he plans to go to the flea market with the guys.
My homework keeps piling up but one can always do homework, Right? Maybe sometime in January I can get to it.
I had "lost" one of my favorite bracelets. I somehow knew in the back of my mind that I had stuck it somewhere. When you travel in a motorhome you frequently will stick something away in a cranny somewhere and forget which cranny it is in. Last night as I was digging around in my pajama drawer and I found my bracelet. It was a happy moment for me. Speaking of bracelets ...when we came down I planned to really get ahead on my bracelet making and I have made a few that were ordered. But to get ahead or be creative in design just has not happened. I usually bead in the evening and lately I have lacked the energy.  I continue to be hopeful however.
Till next time...

Two days

We have been sort of holed up for two days. It rained on Saturday pretty much all day. We went up to the hall for breakfast; Yesterday was better but it was cool and misty most of the day. Went to the hall for ice cream at 5:30. Crowd was a bit larger than normal so they tell me. I think it may have been because we had been penned up a bit more than normal and we mad mixers of Magnolia park were ready to see other people.

 Butch played shuffleboard and I went for a walk this morning. Crafts this afternoon for me. Butch, Pecan Bill, Donn and Dean went on an excursion to Harbor Freight. They stopped at Juniors and Butch brought home T-Bone steaks. They were $2.99 a pound. Earlier in the day Peggy had invited us to supper. Butch brought home steaks and I TOTALLY FORGOT our dinner invitation!!! I felt about an inch and a half tall. I swear I woke up one morning very recently and I became old. Just that suddenly. I hope I can wake up soon and find I have returned to "middle-age".
Oh by the way...the steaks were pretty good. It is hard to compare to Iowa corn-fed beef but for $2.99 a pound they were very good.
Well that catches you up. Kay says to me she needed to get her Christmas letter done but really didn't have much to say. I said say( Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Our year was the same ol', same ol'.) Actually after the year Kay and Bill had last year (same ol') was welcome I am sure.

Frozen Cranberry Salad

A friend I met through Swedish weaving (Susan Helms) mentioned this recipe on Facebook so I requested it and she happily obliged. It sounds like a wonderful make ahead recipe.

• Mom's Frozen Cranberry and Banana Salad
  
  1-20 oz pineapple tidbits (drained)
  5 medium firm bananas halved
  1-16 oz whole cranberry sauce
  1/2 c sugar
  1-12 oz carton thawed cool whip
  1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
   
  Stir together and freeze, keeps good in freezer for a good month Take out just a little ahead of time and cut and eat. it is really good. my family likes it for dessert even. Tastes alot better than it sounds.
  
  Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!
  We eat it before it thaws much.

Rainy Day

I know we are obliged to grin and bear it but we had an all day rain yesterday and they say we have more coming in the next two days. When it rains in sunny South Texas it does not disappear quickly. The land beneath our feet was sea bottom in its past life so being mostly sand the water sits on top for a while before seeping to lower levels. This area has not seen these kinds of rain for nearly a year so they are very very happy...and we are happy for them.
The following is taken from a facebook posting of friends of ours from another park. I thought this phenomenon would be interesting to the folks up north, especially lineman.

Elaine Lindeman

Our power went off at 700am this morning and we just got it back at 530pm. According to news the terribly dry season caused the poles to be dry and insulators full of dust. During our storm this morning a number of poles caught fire. Of the 6000 without power only 3000 have been restored. I don't know what all our people depending on oxygen are doing.

 It is forecast to be sunny and 79 by Tuesday and that is the way it goes here!

ConsumerSearch.com

Link of the Day

ConsumerSearch.com

http://www.consumersearch.com/

"ConsumerSearch.com reviews hundreds of product reviews, analyzes them,
distills the information shoppers need and recommends which products are
the best."

Weekend

The weekend is approaching and for me it is a quieter time. Oddly enough the flurry of park activity is mostly through the week. The weekend gets here and many people take off for other parts of the valley to do other activities- like South Padre Island where we have not been as yet. It does not look like it will happen this weekend however as we are forecasted rain. Rain has not happened here for quite some time so we cannot fault them for being glad and grateful for the rain despite the fact it is landing here on a weekend.
As Butch and I have traveled around the valley we have noticed the fruit on the trees is very small. At first I thought I was seeing oranges but as it turned out we were seeing grapefruit. Grapefruit needs rain at the right times like any other crop but it also needs a cold snap. It makes the fruit sweeter. I believe they harvest 3 crops from the trees in one year. I do not think the current crop will be one they brag about.

The latest member of the family. A gift from Donn and Peggy. 

Interesting Day

Actually it started during the night...Butch started kicking me vigorously. I said, "WHAT are you doing?!!!" He said,"Sorry, I was dreaming I was in India in the bush and a wild pig had me down and I was kicking it to get it away from me."  That was a bit scary...
Today we went to Mexico to pick up some meds for us and Marlene. Short, quick trip in and back out again. The military presence is now in the southern part of town and no tourists see them at all. It used to be they were right on the bridge entrance/exit . There has been a bunch of cleaning up. The town looks pretty good really.
After that we stopped at H. E. B. to pick up a few groceries. It was lunch time by then so we went to Whataburger for lunch. Butch and I were in a booth with me facing the interior of the building. I saw a fellow digging around in the pepper condiments container. It looked strange and that is what caught my attention. People do not paw around in the pepper packets. They pick up a couple of packets and move on. Less than a minute later another young fellow comes along and digs around in the pepper packets, picks out something and carefully wraps it in a napkin and puts it in his pocket. He looked over his shoulder once when he did this. I was looking right at him but he did not make eye contact with me. The first fellow comes back again and "gets more pepper". It is the first time I have ever witnessed a drug deal but it was very obvious to me that is what was happening. I was giving Butch the play by play as it happened.
It all made for an interesting day.

Memories

Memories came flooding back. I was 13. We lived at 503 W. Head St. in Jefferson IA and it was Christmas night 1957. A fire started and I woke up and screamed at my mother. She ran down the stairs. I dropped out of a second story window. We awakened my grandmother and two sisters who were in the other side of the duplex house not knowing that my 10 year old brother had returned to his bed on our side. He perished in the fire.
I read this news headline and story and remembered all the above as if it happened yesterday.
 http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111206/NEWS/111206001/1001/?source=nletter-news

Thought for today

I was thinking this morning that it is coming up on 10 years of keeping this blog! Can you believe it? I hardly can. I remember how excited I was to start it and thought what a fun way to journal our life. At first there wasn't a way to add pictures but that came along. And it made it much easier for me. If I were too busy to write much then I could slap on a couple of pictures in a hurry. Then people started telling me they really liked the pictures. They are worth a thousand words. Lately I have written more than posting pictures. We have been in sunny South Texas for so many years now that I most likely have taken pictures of many of the local attractions. And we have become so enmeshed in the park and it's activities that we rarely leave it. It might sound a bit like I plan to end it and that is not it at all. The fun stuff and interesting posts may not be as plentiful as in years past but I plan to continue as long as my chubby little hands can hit a keyboard.
December is a busy month in the park and my duties as president of the association sometimes leaves me little time and if you feel the need to give me a nudge or if there is something you would like to know more about do not hesitate to let me know.
I will just keep blogging along!

Elise's videos

Found time to upload.

On Halloween riding our new car

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9vwk7RQKqg

 

Elise Loves Wiley:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7oMcjDmVZM

Elise being a cleaning brat:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP6CvepHowE

Elise stares at herself:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSLH8faFRrw

Elise in her Rocking Chair:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JxEr94gK8

Friends

Friends Donn and Peggy have arrived from Nevada. Donn being an Iowa boy gets very hungry for a pork tenderloin and living in Nevada they are not plentiful. He knows and likes the ones they prepare at Riverside. So a group of us made our way over for a tenderloin.

Many of us had enough for supper too. Pictured are Donn and Peggy, Bill and Kay Dean and Rozetta and Butch.

Wednesday last

We had a fun day giving new arrivals Rozetta and Dean Fiscus an overview of the park and surrounding area. Ate at Fat Daddy's. It is not usually one of our first stops but was this year. More by chance than anything else.
The weather has been gorgeous! Perfect temps-low humidity and very little wind. As with weather everywhere we have no idea how long it will last but we are all enjoying it while it is here. Every now and then when showing someone new around they will make a comment about something that sparks something to remind you that you might be taking things for granted. Rozetta was basking in the sunshine and reminding me that the Midwest in winter can be without sunshine for long periods of time. Oh yes, I remember those times now. I remember thinking, "If only the sun would shine. Just for a day or two!" There could be weeks of no sunshine. One thing about it when Spring arrives for those Midwesterners they are oh so grateful for the warm temps and sparkling sunshine. Just like the song- "You don't know what you've got till its gone".
Friends Donn and Peggy should be on the road and arriving on the weekend. The Cleaveland's, Dick and Leslie will be here middle of next week. Oh Yes, we have been busy but it is about to pick up speed.

I have run across a couple of quotes this week that have stuck with me. One is "Holding a grudge is like letting someone live in your head rent free." and the other is "Happiness is the bit of time between having too little and too much."

So much happening

My sister Theresa called me from the Creston Hospital yesterday telling me that she had a heart episode in the middle of the night and woke her daughter to take her to the hospital. She had back pain with pain down her arms to her elbows. She said on a  pain scale of 1- 10 it was about a 3 but she did think it had to be heart related. They transferred her to Methodist in Des Moines and she underwent a angiogram  this morning. She has a couple of partial blocks and they put a stint in for one and will treat the other with meds. Bottom line she is a lucky woman and plans to make some lifestyle changes. She gave her daughter Tara quite a scare. Needless to say she has been much on my mind and I am so glad the outcome is such that it is. Stay healthy ya'all!!!
My Lexmark printer-new in April- gave me trouble and after much tech support hoopla they sent me a new one. Got it today but no time to get it hooked up. Trouble with the USPS and not getting our mail. Trouble with getting mail in a timely manner to insurance people and getting return forms needed. I do not even like typing about it. We have had a whole bunch of tiny details that needed attention on many things but first something else had to happen first. On a frustration level of 1-10 it is about a 9. I want very much for these little sniggling things to get resolved so I can get on with my happy little life. Maybe tomorrow...

Lexi misses Butch

Doesn't she look sad?

Elise with bells a ringing

Grandpa Gary  says:

I am obviously biased but I think this video is THE BEST for getting ready for the holiday season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD9VLSEzKRI&feature=youtu.be

Ooops!

I hit the publish button too fast! For those of you who receive email updates you will not see the pictures until you go to the blog. www.brooker3.blogspot.com
Sorry about that!

El Dorado

Last night Toomire's and Brooker's went to the El Dorado for supper. It was good but perhaps not quite as good as I remembered it to be. I ordered a taco salad with fajita chicken. What that means is a regular taco salad but the chicken in it is prepared in the same manner as their fajitas. They are usually quite good but this time I am not sure the cook understood what I wanted. Butch had chicken quesadillas as did Bob. Kitti had sour cream enchiladas. She said they went a little overboard on the sour cream. There is a new El Dorado in Weslaco across the street south from the H.E.B. It is affiliated with the Alamo restaurant we were in last night and they have been open about a month. We plan to give it a try. It is much closer for us.

Yesterday we set up a fantastic light. They were popular in the seventies. My mother purchased one and enjoyed it for awhile and the gave it to Scott and Myrla. I told Myrla I would like to borrow it sometime and she agreed so this year it will be our Christmas tree. I plan to keep it going past Christmas too as I really like it. It is a fibre optic light but a special one as they do not make them like this one anymore. I know because I have looked for years. You can sometimes find them on ebay but they want a bundle for them.
I took several pictures of the light as it changed colors.

Miss Elise from her Grandma Susan

We ate at Dairy Queen for supper last week, and of course had to have ice cream for dessert.  I think she liked it.  :) She is such a hoot!!  I’m amazed that Amanda got any good pictures – because we were laughing so hard!  Thought you guys would all enjoy these pics.  I think we can all safely say she gets her eating from her papa!!  HA!

Thanksgiving Day

Butch and I went up to Allen Hall and enjoyed the fantastic meal put together by many capable hands.  We came home and took the usual heavy meal nap after which we waded through this big pile of Black Friday ads.

We did not find one item worth the effort of going out into the masses to purchase. Someone else will have to buy enough to make up for our lack of patriotic duty. Wink, wink.

‎"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It

 turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie

I do not know who she is but I like what she says.

Thanks Giving

Tomorrow is the big day. We will be having our thanks giving meal with 150 of our South Texas friends. I plan to tell them and you my thoughts of thanks giving as it is my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving day and Christmas both suffer a similar malady in that they are too often thought of as just another holiday. The family gathers together and eats an enormous amount of food, maybe plays some games, maybe have a few disagreements and then return to their homes and jobs. For a very long time this day has been my favorite holiday because some people do take time to truly reflect on the meaning of the day. Giving thanks from the heart for all we have. Dwelling on what we are blessed with and forgetting what we lack. Some people seem to have difficulty thinking of what they are thankful for. I have difficulty thinking of something I lack! How many times do we say things like, Thank God I was there at just the right time? Isn't it lucky how that turned out?  If we acknowledge those moments for the miracles they are and take just a moment to be sincerely thankful from the bottom of our hearts it is amazing how they multiply and suddenly our days are filled with miracles from morning to night.
So I thank each of you for being our friend and adding so much to our lives and this day of Thanksgiving.

Tuesday is a golf day

Butch had surgery on his back 6 weeks ago today. He has done well, behaved himself and done his exercises. He is very happy to be here and healthy and able to do all the things he has done in years past.
I still feel like I am playing catch up but it is getting better. I am weighing between going to play golf or staying home and washing bedding...still haven't decided. It is amazing how quickly the time fills up!
There is still a bit of a gap between what I want to do (Make bracelets and visit with friends) and what I need to do (wash bedding and clean house) but it will resolve itself shortly. Have a good one!!

It takes awhile

It always takes awhile to settle in...a little bit like moving to a new town. A getting reacquainted process needs to take place and we are still a bit in that period. It is one of the reasons I like to get here earlier. It gives me a head start so I am not adjusting at the same time everyone else is.
I bought a new printer last spring and then about 6 weeks ago it quit working for me. My computer did not recognize it. I know, I know...we have all been there. So I didn't want to deal with it then so I waited till we got here. Today I called  Lexmark and after lots of doing this and that including turning the printer upside down and shaking it at least 5 times they are sending me a new one. My patience is tested to the max when things do not work as they should. Fortunately I am much more patient with people.
It is hot here now and we are running the AC. It is also a routine we are very familiar with. It gets hot for a few days and then a cold front breezes through and we have a few cool days and then it heats up again. What fluctuates is the time periods of each cycle. Fortunately the warm ones outnumber the cold ones or at least we hope so.

Arrived in Sunny Cool South Texas!

The trip down from San Antonio was cool,calm and collected. It was a great trip but we do forget that it is a long way down here. I vow to have a audio book ready for the return trip. One we can get excited about. I had one ready for this trip but it was one we had for awhile and neither of us were anxious to get to it. The miles do fly by when you are listening to a good book.
Now is when I become a bit schizophrenic with the blog as I keep this one going, my first love, and the one for Magnolia Park as well. So you will want to check on both I hope. A link to the Magnolia Blog is on the left. You can also scroll to the bottom of that one and sign up for email updates just as you can with this one.

There are so many things to do when we get here. My favorite grocery store, H.E.B. is one of our first stops, and then we must resume our walks and note all the changes in the park and visit with everyone we meet. We have already done quite a bit of greeting but they are all giving us time to settle in before we have extended conversations.
A cool front has reached the valley. A bit unusual for this time of year. We were obviously acclimated to the north because it did not feel all that cool, that is until the sun went down.
Till next time!

Wednesdays Travel

We left the Leisure Time RV Park located on highway 82 in northern Texas shortly before 8:00 AM heading south to Sattler TX which is located near Canyon Lake north of San Antonio. It was more like our travels of the past as Butch did not take as many breaks as he did the first of the week but he assured me he was feeling fine. His stamina for driving long periods without stopping has always amazed me.
We had a problem with our kitchen faucet when we arrived in north Texas. We could not get any water out of it! The bathroom worked fine, it was just the kitchen. We figured the Oklahoma roads had something to do with it. So after our arrival at Rio Raft Park Butch tore into it and found a calcium buildup that had come loose ( Oklahoma roads) and blocked the water line. It was quite a chore to get it freed up but he did and we were back in business with water in the kitchen.
Later on our friends Terry and Lisa Linder stopped by and we had a nice long visit and before we knew it it was way past our bedtime.
 Butch is sleeping in this morning. Our first part of the next leg will be going through San Antonio so we want him rested and alert. We should arrive in the Rio Grande Valley this afternoon.
Later...

Tuesday!!

We left the casino early for us-about 7:30 AM. We encountered some fog but it burned off about 9:00 AM. Oklahoma roads are awful!!! They should be ashamed of themselves having guests of their state travel on roads such as those. It made us even more anxious to get to Texas. We are staying in the park we usually do near Whitesboro TX but they have raised their prices $5 each of the past two years. They are no longer a bargain and when we pulled in we were the only people here. AND then we hooked up to water and the water pressure is practically non-existent. That cinched it. We will be scoping out different parks for our next trip through this area.
Somewhere in Oklahoma Butch looked in the rear view mirror and said, "That looks like Bob and Kitti Toomire!". And sure enough it was! They will get to Magnolia far sooner than we will but Bob may get himself another ticket in the process too. :-) We will most likely go out for supper with them when we get there. We usually do. But we also usually beat them getting there too.
So tomorrow morning bright and early we will be on our way. We have a couple of destinations in mind and Butch's stamina will determine which it might be. It is now looking like we will arrive on Thursday rather than Friday.
We are doing great and getting very anxious to see all our park friends.

Monday, Monday

We left Peculiar headed south and decided to find a spot for lunch near Joplin. Not much of the storm damage is visible from the Interstate by the way. Right at the Missouri state line we noticed a casino and thought that would be a good place to stop for lunch. They have big parking lots. We did pull off to the side in the casino parking lot to have lunch and a fellow who was staying at the Casino RV Park came by with his dog and informed us the RV park was free if you went in to register. You can stay 3 nights free and it is $15 after that. After a few minutes discussion we decided to stop for the night. It is about 60 to 70 miles short of our planned destination but the planned destination was also going to cost us $25 at Big Cabin OK. We went into the casino and registered. Ate lunch. The price was a little high but the meal was abundant and very tasty. Then we decided to play for a little while promising we would lose no more than what it would have cost us to stay in an average RV park. We played the penny slots. At least I did. Butch played the quarter machines for awhile but switched to the pennies. He won $40 and I won $4 and we were there for at least two hours. We left feeling we were big winners all around.
While we were eating lunch Butch asked what state we were in because Butch thought we had not crossed the stateline as yet on the interstate. He said the hotel was in Missouri, the RV park is in Kansas and the casino is in Oklahoma. Now how cool is that?!! So tonight we will be sleeping in Kansas.
When we leave we always have a plan but it is never set in cement.
We still plan to stay nearWhitesboro TX. But we might change our mind too. We'll see. The boys used to say,"We'll see means "No". But then as now that was not always the case. 

Weekend with the kids

We spent the weekend with our Missouri kids. I will let the pictures I shot speak for themselves.

She pulled a bit of a conniption when Grandpa pulled her off the mower to try the slide. She likes being outdoors and she likes the mower. 

It is morning and she is brushing her teeth.

Grandma Susan is assisting

Anyone for golf?

Peculiar MO

We are in Peculiar MO and we arrived without incident as I always like to say. Gary came by shortly after arrival and we made our way to East Lynne where Elise resides with her parents Amanda and Brad. Susan was  entertaining Elise when we pulled up but as soon as she saw her Grandpa that is where she wanted to be.
Our little Elise is growing like a weed. She is 18 months now. I captured some of her entertaining moments during the evening.

Story time with Grandpa Gary

Can you see the mischief in her eyes? 

Puckered up for a kiss

Send off

Denise and Jack had a little sendoff for us last night that included several grown up kids from our youth. We had a great time with much laughter and shared stories. It will be great to return to our old/new circle of friends next spring.
We did not get the 4-5 inches of heavy wet snow that parts of Iowa did but we have been enclosed in our little cocoon for several days trying to conserve what heat we could. Last night and today have been the coldest thus far with the high so far standing at 39 degrees. Butch said he was tired of being a shut in and I must agree. He could not get me to agree to a walk today. Too much wind and cold.
So here we sit waiting for tomorrow to take off. We have done all the preparation. We have started the engine to make sure it is okay. We have brought up the leveling legs to make sure they will raise. Our welcome mat is picked up and stored away. The plants that I plan to save are on board.
So in the morning we will hitch up the car and go to Sparky's to fuel up, head east to Ogden then south to 141 east to pick up I-35 south and we will be on our way to warmer climes. We will have a 3 night stay in Missouri to see kids, grand kids and great grand Elise before heading on further south. I am not sure of Internet connections on the way but will write when and if I can.

Details. It is all in the details. It does take us longer to pack up and go when we have been sitting in one spot for awhile but we have been working on it and have everything in order to be ready  for final approach on Friday morning. Butch is itchy. He likes to drive and is ready to be behind the wheel and headed south. I am too of course. But one of my growth things in my life is that I am 100% better about living in the moment than I was in my youth. So I am enjoying the day. The sun is shining and we went for a nice long walk this morning wearing winter coats, hats and gloves. We have all the shades pulled because it helps to keep out the cold so I am looking forward to having them open when we arrive in warmer climes.
Tonight we are meeting with friends for a drink. Tomorrow night we will be going out to supper with Leo and Keri. Saying our goodbyes for the winter. See you next spring in Iowa and if you are in Texas we will be seeing you soon.

More of Elise

from her mamas phone:

From Gary in Lees Summit MO

Gary Brooker gbrookermo@yahoo.com

11:19 PM

I am a long ways from where this latest earthquake happened but I felt it and knew what it was. First for me. Good thing we are far enough away to stay away from major damage. I was watching things perched up high like vases and pictures to see if they were going to topple. It's only been a few minutes from the happening but I found info on this government web site.

 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usb0006klz.php

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

  Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant ... Asian factories are kicking into high

gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --

merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This

year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine

concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift

giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes

there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in

a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates

from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some

health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American  owned

detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a

book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down

the Benjamin’s on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift

receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or

driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift

certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about

a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this

isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town

Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or

motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a

local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is

struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin

their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery

and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave

your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at

your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to  buy another ten thousand Chinese

lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about

fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to

burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that

China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about

US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow

their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our

communities, and  the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion

groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in

your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations,

and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other,

and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Busy Elise