Our cute little bunny

GPS Pros and Cons

We have done the gps thing with more than one device and never to our satisfaction. The constant updating of software was a big drawback to the pricey $300 plus GPS devices. The last time we had to do a tricky turn around with the motorhome was the last time we used it. I have been thinking the new droid phones with gps might be the way to go. Today I read the article below about it and now I am even more convinced it will be the right thing to do for us.

Barb

Droid Smartphone for Navigation

It’s a rare RVer that doesn’t use some type of GPS device to assist in navigation.  When we sold our house and hit the road in 2003, we used the Streets and Trips software on our laptop with a little USB GPS receiver.  A few years later we bought a Garmin dashboard GPS, then a Rand McNally RVND, and now a Magellan.  Those are all great devices and we use them all, but I like using my Droid smartphone with Google Navigation the best!  Why do I love it?  Let me count the ways:

1. It’s in my hand.  I am in the passenger seat – this is not a good thing for a solo driver – but for a navigator, it is so comfortable to hold the device in your hand to be able to adjust your view, search for locations, or change settings.  When I have to manipulate the screen on a device that is mounted to the dash, I have to sit up in my seat and contort my body in order to see the screen and be able to properly use the controls.  If we’re using Streets and Trips on the laptop, that’s easier than the dashboard units, but it’s big and awkward.
2. It’s fast.  My navigation advice is usually needed when Jim is driving according to the dashboard unit and he says something like, “this next turn doesn’t seem right, what should I do?”  I need to quickly get a birds-eye view of where we are vs. where we’re going, and evaluate the choices of how to get there.  With a simple pinch gesture, the Droid responds with what I need – instantly.
3. It’s clear.  Even though it is a tiny screen, the resolution is so good that I can read every description and see every feature.  I can even turn on satellite view and see the trees, rivers, bridges, and buildings.  Any of the other devices seem almost childish in their graphics by comparison.
4. It’s Google.  I can search … and find … anything.  Any campground, park, store, address, restaurant, or service – this is Google, it’s on the Internet and up to date.  Traffic information is quite reliable within about 15 minutes.
5. It’s my smartphone.  My email is on there, so I can look up the email for the campground reservation and touch the address to navigate there, or call the phone number.  Or I can use my Passport America App to find a campground, then just touch ‘directions’ and my Google Navigation takes over with turn-by-turn voice directions to the exact address.  Or I can browse to the website for the Presidential Museum we want to visit – see an address on the web page, touch it, and choose Navigate to there. 

Jason's 3.2 lb Walleye

The Great Grands

Ethan goes fishing

Elise in her Easter Dress

The egg thing and other stuff

The hard BAKED egg idea does work but I will do things a bit different next time. I baked them in the oven at 325 for 30 minutes and they were overdone. Next time we will try 300 degrees for 30 minutes. I plunged them into ice water after baking. The ones that were not overdone peeled okay. I think it is a great idea for cooking a bunch of eggs at a time. In case you do not know what I am talking about-you can hard cook eggs in the oven instead of in boiling water. Place raw eggs in muffin tins and bake for 30 minutes in a 300 degree oven.

I tried a new recipe last night. I liked it and Butch was okay with it. It is so quick and easy I would like to keep it in my group of things I can make in a hurry.

I have been doing things around the house I haven't had time to do all winter. Sorting out paperwork and throwing things away. Cleaning out cupboards and taking inventory of canned goods and other things so I do not duplicate as I return to at least a little bit of cooking.

The Easter Bunny stopped by this morning with a treat for us. The Easter Bunny's name is Darlene!

Why is gas cheaper in...

Why is gas cheaper in one state over another. In a word, taxes. Here is a map of state gas taxes. Click on it to make it large enough to read.

Yellow Rose of Texas

This is one of those keeper pictures. The light was right and the bud was in the perfect stage of growth. This was Jo Brooker's rose bush for awhile and now it belong's to Peggy Gordon.

Morning Bird Songs

Most of this noise is from the Mockingbird 'Droopy'. There is not much to look at but I wanted to share the sounds of a South Texas Morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPqDBdrcmmA

Working Hot

in more ways than one!!

Everything Will Be Okay My Friend | The Entertaining Elf

Everything Will Be Okay My Friend | The Entertaining Elf

Ethan loves a boat

Thanks Nicole. I snipped this picture of Ethan from Facebook

Easter bunny encounter for Elise

Elise with Easter Bunny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3k887NOVO4

Elise hunting Easter eggs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--D9UzEmVxQ

Spring at Bill & Jo's

Quite Beautiful on the river in Arkansas

Elise and the Easter Bunny

Deleting a facebook account

This question came up in Computer class so thought I would post the answer here. Not everyone "likes" Facebook. I ran across this on Facebook! Love that computer lady!!

http://askthecomputerlady.com/questions/2010/05/how-to-delete-facebook-account/

Slowing down

You know what it is like when you have been running and then you slow down and try to catch your breath? The last couple of days have felt that way. I had my yesterday partially planned but then they needed two more shuffleboard players. I reluctantly agreed.
  Butch hired Tony the park worker to wash the motorhome. Just the lower part as Butch had already done the roof. And while they were doing that we went for our daily walk. I suggested we get the walk in before it became too warm and Butch said it is already too warm. I asked what the temp was and he said 73!! Apparently the humidity is making 73 seem mighty warm.
We were invited to Donn and Peggy's for supper and that was a delicious and welcome change. We had turkey and dressing with all the trimmings and it was truly a Thanks Giving feast. Bill and Kay were also guests of Donn and Peggy and we all enjoyed the food and friendship.
Keri sent pictures of my blooming tulips while we were at Donn and Peggy's. Thanks Keri!!

Donn told me he expected to see storm coverage on the blog as we had a doozy of a storm last Thursday evening. McAllen was hit hard with wind, hail and rain but we are 20 miles east of McAllen and we had lightning and heavy rain. 3 1/2 inches in rain gauges in the park. It was more of a storm than I had ever experienced  here in Donna. We did have a similar one in Harlingen while visiting Marlene and Bernard several years ago. It was before we owned a motorhome so it had to be prior to 2000. 

Audio Books

 
How do we do audio books?
I get our audio books from www.audible.com or www.amazon.com. Neither are cheap but they sure make the miles go faster or they are a great alternative to bad TV. I have been a fan of Audible.com for many years. The way to make it cheaper is to join one of their plans. I am currently in a 2 book a month plan for $20 some dollars. I will stay in it for awhile until we get an accumulation of books we haven't listened to and then I will cancel. There isn't any contract so you can jump in or out as you want. I transfer the books to our Mp3 player and then we can listen to them in the car or motorhome by using an adapter. Newer cars might have the connections needed and you wouldn't need an adapter. The adapters are not expensive.

You can also go to the library to get audio books. Cracker Barrel also has an audio book loan program. You pick up a book at one Cracker Barrel and when finished drop it off at another.

Some people have trouble adjusting to listening to audio books and it can take a bit of practice. We always turn it off when we go through cities and construction zones.

It is worth the work to get started!

My Tulips

Thanks Keri!! Since this is the only way I will be enjoying my tulips this season I am so glad she has sent me the picture. Tulips in March in Iowa! Who would ever believe that would happen?!!

Run, Run, Run!

I have been extremely busy with park business this past month trying to get some things done before we take off mid April. Some of it has been spinning my wheels in frustration and I plan to remember those times when the nominating committee comes around to ask about re-election. Being president has been too much like a full time job of late. I am now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and it looks mighty fine.

We want to get down to Padre again before we leave and maybe do some other touristy things as well.

Butch washed the roof of our little home yesterday and halfway through a cane field burn started giving off what we call "Texas Snow", the black charred bits of cane leaf that drift wherever the wind takes it. And the wind took it onto a freshly washed roof.  Butch said,"&*%  *!%* so and so's. " Or something like that. He waited a bit for it to quit snowing and then resumed his work. So he too has had a bit of frustration.
I also have some cleaning I want to get done in the next couple of weeks before departure. I have had some time to work on bracelets. I have done 3 chunky's in the past week and that tells you two things; there is nothing on TV to watch and I do get to sit down come evening. We are still listening to audio books, still listening to "Catching Fire"  and look forward to "Mockingjay" , the second and third books of  "The Hunger Games " trilogy.
Later...

Two lives

We Winter Texans all have essentially two lives. Our summers are very different from our winters. For some it is busier in the summer when they return to their northern climes. For me it is the opposite and I intend to keep it that way. Someone asked me if I planned to "get involved" in our old hometown. The answer is no if it means going to meetings and taking on obligations. Interested? Yes. Involved? No. 12 months of involvement is too many. The season in Texas ends April 1st. I will be helping wrap up getting the hall ready for its summer rest later this week and getting loose ends taken care of and then I am free. My time can once again be my own. I am very ready for that. You might be happy to know that the blog will be more active when I have time to mull over things to share with you.
Till next time...

The Hunger Games

Butch and I listened to The Hunger Games (TV is LOUSY) and then tonight we went to the movie. It was excellent. They followed the book as closely as possible. There were times when I thought of details I was glad I knew from the book that enhanced the movie. It would be very beneficial to read the book first. We are now listening to the second book in the trilogy Catching Fire.

Apps For Your Kindle Fire

 For the friends of mine who have a Kindle Fire and maybe for me in the future!
Click on link:

Apps For Your Kindle Fire

Senior Moments- Brain Farts

And here is  one we seniors can all relate to

http://www.youtube.com/embed/9nndS22Qda0?rel=0

Elise Videos from Grandpa Gary

Elise "coloring": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHlGfUdd41M


Elise with Hat holder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A73XngHw4kc


In the park -
Sliding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSo4OdFqCa4


Swinging: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlltX7FMx4Y


On Horsey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDwTVSZuByU

Peggy gets caught...

reading!!

Costco and Cheddars

Donn and Peggy are Costco members and the Rio Grande Valley now has their first one so she invited us to go with her to have a look-see. And then we went to Pecan Bill's favorite restaurant which is Cheddars. It was very good and I am sure it will not be our last visit.

Classmate Patti Miller

Patti Miller is a classmate of mine...way back when. She has always been an activist and she still is. This is my small way of helping her so have a look at what moves her heart.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/280232377/return-to-freedom-summer-passing-the-torch

Alfred E. Neuman?

This local sports announcer reminds us of Alfred. What do you think? His name is Joel Villanueva on Channel 5. Excellent voice.

Kay S. says: Alfred E. Neuman will work, but every time I see him on TV I think of Alfalfa.

Too Busy Day

Most of my day involved my job as president and it was stressful  and boring to most of you and not much fun to me but putting that aside Butch fielded a phone call to me from my doctors nurse who needed to talk to me and she finally did reach me. It seems a company called Select RX faxed my doctor saying I had requested a back brace and they needed her okay. Since my doctor and I had not discussed a problem with my back she was checking with me to see if this was true. Of course it was not true and I informed her nurse of that. But how many times is a similar situation mishandled with someone receiving a back brace they do not need and Medicare paying someone committing fraud.
It was just one of those days as the song goes.
My job as president is suspended on April 1st and does not resume until November 1st so I can see the end of the tunnel and it is looking very good. wink, wink.
Back with ya'all very soon.

Tulips!!

Keri sent me a picture of MY tulips in MY front yard in IOWA in MARCH!! Can you believe it? They will be bloomed and long gone before we get there.

No envy from those who stayed north this year. It is only a few degrees cooler up there than it is here in sunny South Texas.

Thanks for the picture, Keri. How many of your perennials have shown themselves? 

Gonzales Burgers

This picture is of the place where we purchase Gonzales burgers. It is located on Silver Ave. in Donna but as you can see there is NO sign. Everyone learns where it is. 

You place your order, pay for it and they give you a number.

Then you wait 45 minutes to an hour for them to cook it.

This line is waiting to order.

Our table mates were from Siesta Village and had their food before we did. They shared.

I decided to give them a sign! This is a figment of my imagination.

Butch and I share a sandwich. I cut off 1/3 of it and that is more than enough for me. We skipped supper!

It's been awhile...

It has been awhile as it was pointed out to me yesterday. I said I know the park blog has been getting all the attention. It will not be long until the official season will be over for the winter Texans and I will have some spare time on my hands. That will be good and I am ready.
In about 45 minutes I will be headed to Allen Hall to set up the equipment needed for a presentation by the Border Patrol. They no longer give tours of their local facilities for security reasons. It should be good and I will report on it ASAP.
After the presentation I believe the Gordon's, the Stilson's and we Brooker's are going to Gonzales Burgers for lunch. Need to check on that...
An electrician from Harlingen is supposed to be giving me an estimate to upgrade the electric in Allen Hall. He was supposed to be here yesterday afternoon. I figure he will call while we are at Gonzales Burgers.:-(
And that is close to what it has been like lately.
More later...

Elise this weekend

Grandpa Gary and Grandma Susan getting their Elise time. 

Downstairs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w10jBEGwBvA

Dress Up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXe7OvX4Wjo

Elise Silly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8-o5-SY6jE

Walk a mile in Grandma's shoes

Love the sound of clickety clack!

For Goodness Sake!!!

Where have I been? Well if you check out the Magnolia News Blog you will definitely know. But yesterday Donn, Peggy, Butch and I went to Mexico. Just little old Progreso. Really it is not much like being in Mexico at all. We see many more faces that look like us, old and wrinkled, than we do guys in military gear with guns strapped on their backs. Actually the military presence of years past is no longer evident. I do not know where they went. We did hear they were on the south edge of town at one time but now they say they are not there either. Is it safe to go down there? Probably not. But what we are doing is taking the chance nothing will happen in the few hours we are there and having faith that a higher power will keep us safe. So far it has worked.
While we were there we loaded up on all we will need so another trip will not be necessary and I did pick up the items Marlene Kelley and Jason Brooker asked me to get.
We also stopped at Garcia's for Pancho's and they tasted as good as ever.

Yesterday was a very busy day for me...it started off with a knock on the door and they needed two more players for shuffleboard. It has been a very long time since I have played but I agreed. Near the end of that Kay V. and Irma looked me up because they found a projector. That statement is at the end of a very long story. Kay Voss has been trying to line up a tour of the Border Patrol facility for three years. It is a very popular choice for tours and it was always full but this year she contacted them as soon as she arrived and lined one up for the fall of 2012. They called her on Wednesday and informed her that tours were no longer possible under any circumstances but they would come to the park for a presentation on the 16th at 9:00 AM but they would need a projection screen( we have) a laptop computer (we have) Speakers/ sound system (we have) and a projector(do NOT have). Kay and Irma located a projector so it is on. I did have to take my computer to Allen Hall and hook everything up to make sure it all worked and it does. That was exciting.

Then we went to Mexico. On the way home we stopped by the park where the guy resides who sells the PVC pipe cranes and bought 4. I am adding some of this info because I know the right people read it and will get the message. wink, wink.
Caught a quick nap after we returned and then had to head to the pool hall for the Mixed in-Park Pool league. Last night for that. My partner, Don Harper and I had a very good time playing but we were never in the running for a prize. Butch and his partner, Dorral Guzman, probably had a much better chance but it did not work out for them either.

Whew!! I think I am a little bit up to date.
In about 45 minutes I must head to the little hall for computer class so till next time...

First Week in March 2012

Our friend Everett Beebe is now home and doing well. I understand he had a bit of an emergency due to an allergic reaction to medicine but for the most part he is on the road to recovery. It will be good to see him when we return this spring.
The first week in March in Magnolia Park is busy, hectic and sometimes traumatic. For one thing the election takes place and it is when the officers and board members, I being one of them, find out if their actions of the previous year have met with the approval of our peers. No one can ever have a 100% approval rating and it would be most unrealistic to ever think that was possible. I have been re-elected for another one year term so I have been awarded a pat on the back for subjecting myself to one more year at the helm. It is a part of the process I am always glad to see behind me.
Today is my birthday and I have had special greetings from many directions. It has been a happy one. Two of my birthdays were memorable ones. When I was 8 or 9 I brought a bunch of kids home from school with me in a blizzard for a birthday party my mother knew nothing about. She rose to the occasion. She was good about that sort of emergency. Another birthday of note was when we lived in Denison IA and my birthday happened to be a warm one-much like today in Iowa at about 60 degrees. I decided to wash sheets and hang them on the line. A naughty little neighbor boy painted them with mud.
As people now start heading home things will take on a slower pace here so perhaps I can be more faithful with my posts.
Till next time...

And the beat goes on...

The cold is better. Feeling very much back to normal and that is a good thing. Our friend Everett is getting better. He has all the tubes out and is talking, something that Everett enjoys very much. He and Butch share that trait.
My house still needs cleaned but I will get to it one of these fine days..or not. I am still making bracelets. The latest one is for an auction. I will post a picture of it later.
Jason tells us we are in for bad weather here on Tuesday and when I asked how he came to this conclusion he said because they are supposed to be having 60 degree weather in Iowa. I hope he is wrong about OUR weather. I do remember one birthday of mine ( March 6th) when we lived in Denison Iowa and the weather was so nice that I washed sheets and hung them outside to dry. And then the neighbor boy put mud all over them. I was incensed!! But it did make that birthday a memorable one.
We have been here long enough for Butch to feel a bit bored. He is anxious to get back to Iowa and work on the house. Of course we know the weather up there could get quite ugly yet so he will just have to get over it.
Till next time...

D#@& Cold!!

They do not call this the allergy capital of the world for nothing!! It took me awhile to determine if it was a cold or allergies but I have determined it to be a cold. I am sure you have all heard me rant on how I hate it when I get a cold so we won't go there. I am better now but the last two days have not been my perkiest.

We became friends with Bert and Everett Beebe last summer. We knew them before but moving into their neighborhood made it a natural to get better acquainted and we did. We would stop and visit when we walked by their house and they did the same with us. And Everett was always there to give us a helping hand on the things Butch and I could not do by ourselves. They are great and loving people. The other day their son Brett called to tell us that Everett had a heart attack. Now there are heart attacks and then there are HEART ATTACKS and Everett's was the later. The story as told to me was that they were in the pickup headed for our house to check on it when  Everett stopped the truck in the middle of the road and said. "Oh my God, No!" and slumped over not breathing and no heart beat. Bert called 911 and put the truck in gear. A young fellow came along and asked Bert if she needed help and she said , "Yes, he isn't breathing!" So the two of them started CPR. The police and ambulance were soon on the scene. Everett was life-flighted to Mercy hospital in Des Moines where he remains as a patient and is on a long trip to recovery. He has had surgery with stints put in place. His heart it seems was pretty blocked up. Everetts angels were all where they needed to be to get him help and we are very grateful for that. We need as many good guys like him as we can get.
So all this makes my cold seem petty...and it is.

This is a picture of Everett and Bert when they stopped by last summer. You two are very much on our minds these days. Take care.

Thanks Grandpa Gary!!

Beading expo

This is the McAllen Historical Museum and happens to be very near all the little shops we were looking into.

Last week a group of us who get together and bead...mostly on Wednesday went  to Old McAllen to visit stores that carry beads. Now for you beaders these are not typical bead stores. These are places that carry very inexpensive necklaces and bracelets that can be taken apart and the beads reused. We followed this with a lunch at Fuddruckers in celebration of Peg and Char's birthdays. It was a pleasant break from our usual routines.

On the left Judy and Peg and on the right Barb and Char.

Pictures taken by Jan Foster who is not pictured above.

Happy Birthday Peggy!!

Peggy returned home from a shopping expedition to find her birthday present hanging from a tree!

The Cactus blooms AGAIN!!

The boys gave me this cactus for mothers day several years ago. It was a tiny thing in a tiny pot. It has been repotted many times. It bloomed for the first time in the spring the same year we went to Mississippi to visit Lum and Donna. That would have been 2010. It bloomed again in 2011 while we were in Jefferson. So this will be the third time for blooming. In additon to the bloom already opened there are 4 other nubs, or I guess you would say buds, getting ready to open. It has done well for a travelling cactus!!

Gary's Collage

Gary said one of the projects for his students was to make a collage of pictures of their life so he decided to do the same. Great work Gar...Your Mom gives you an A+

Kid Pictures

It always does my heart good to see pictures of the wee ones. These are compliments of their Mama's. I snipped them from facebook. Love that snipping tool!

Cowboy Ethan

Miss Elise with homemade Play dough

From my sister Theresa...in answer to Leo

Theresa Arts	9:36 AM (6 hours ago)
to me

I'd say yes.

In my reading I have learned that we are in a water recycling process.  We have the global warming to melt a lot of ice, and then we will head into a mini ice age to refreeze the ice, but in the process we recycle the water.  It's a normal process, perhaps sped up by humans, but not caused by humans.  

Also, we are having a wonderful winter, but will have consequences, probably lots of insects and a drought this summer.  You are having a cool, wet winter, but Europe is in a deep freeze.  The last I heard they had a death toll of 200.

So, My take on it is that for the recycling to happen, there will be a change in different areas to redistribute the water and change things up.

That's how I see it.

Love, Teri