Beautiful morning, Beautiful Day

This morning I awoke to this beautiful sunrise!

Last nights trivia group was a little larger and the questions were a bit tougher. Despite the more difficult questions, we all had a really good time.  We had two winners, Team SmartyPants came in first and Team Boobie finished second.

Going through some pictures and I found a recipe that Keri shared with me and due to a glitch I had misplaced it. Feel free to give it a try. If it is Keri's recipe you can count on it being a winner.

A Big Deal in Jefferson Iowa!

Read all about in the link below.

http://greenecountynewsonline.com/2018/12/10/silicon-valley-execs-tell-of-their-plans-for-jefferson/#more-49887

Poor Fruitcake(:-(

I have a wonderful recipe for fruitcake and I would love to make it but the ingredients (maraschino cherries and nuts) would cost over $30 to make and then you would have to beg people to eat it!

Here is the recipe and if you decide to make it I would love a slice!

Recipe:   Bernie's Fruitcake     12/16/2007

Category: Holiday

Author:   Bernie Craig

2 C Flour

1 1/2 C Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

4 eggs

3 T butter-room temp.

4 -8 oz. Jars Whole Maraschino Cherries (Drain 3 jars)

2 C Pecan halves or pieces

2 C Walnut halves or pieces

1 LB. Raisins

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Add

remaining ingredients one at a time in the order listed, mix gently.

Pour in an ungreased tube pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Increase heat to 325 degrees and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let cool in pan

then remove. Wrap in foil or plastic and store in the refrigerator. Allow 1 to 2 days for

flavors to mingle before serving.

I never liked fruitcake until I tasted Bernies. :-)

Sunday in the Park

Butch promised to get up early so we could go to breakfast before the rush. And he did! Butch and I have sort of made a tradition of going out to eat on Sunday morning and then doing our grocery shopping. For years we preferred the El Dorado in Alamo TX and that is now where we live-in Alamo, so it was a natural to go to the El Dorado being our favorite and all. But in the nature of things, nothing stays the same and we have been disappointed in the food and the service the last several times we have been there. So a couple of weeks ago we went to the El Dorado in Weslaco across from Big Lots! and for breakfast it has been excellent.  Weird, isn't it?
So back to the beginning we ate at the El Dorado in Weslaco this morning. Shopped at our favorite HEB, also in Weslaco, stopped at our favorite WalMart in Donna before returning home to get our walk in. Butch has been telling me about the Jack Rabbits on the golf course so we circled the course on foot and we indeed did spot one.
And here he is!

I must admit it is fun to watch them run! They run really fast!!

Butch and Dave are now playing golf and I am posting this and going through some old pictures. Liz and Kristi asked me to go shopping with them but having just "shopped" I declined. Hopefully, they will ask again.

Five Important Things

Five Important Things You Can Do to Stay Safe Online During the Holidays

Some computer geeks will tell you to install browser add-ins like safe-site toolbars and to let someone else decide what is safe and what is not. Some will tell you to install a firewall because Windows firewall is no good. There is an endless supply of questionable advice out there, and we know it’s really difficult to figure out who to believe or what to believe.

In our usual, straightforward manner, we are going to tell you 5 things you can do to help you stay safe online this holiday season:

1. Always Use Strong Passwords on sites that deal with personal information, banking or financial transactions.

2. Never click links on websites without thinking. Always think before you click.

3. Always use caution when clicking links in an email. Never click links in email that comes from a bank, credit card company, or other financial institution that asks you to verify a password or your account. If you have a question about your bank account(s), credit cards, other financial institutions, always go directly to their website – or call. Always think before you click.

4. Never do online shopping or banking while using public Wi-Fi like you’ll find at airports, restaurants, hotels, etc. Wait until you’re home.

5. Use good security software, like Emsisoft, that protects you from all kinds of malware: PUPs, ransomware, scamware, Trojans, viruses, etc.

We want to help you stay safe online during the holidays… and always!

Yippie Skippie

Trivia night exceeded my expectations. I have had people stop me on the street to tell me how much they enjoyed it and stop by the moho to do the same. We had 3 teams with a total of 20 people. I am anxious to see how much we grow this next Tuesday night. There are many events throughout this park that each person throws in a nickel, dime, quarter or dollar, depending on what the group decides, as a prize for the winners. As per usual I told them the group decides on the prizes for trivia and it seems they have decided on a quarter per person. If we stay at 3 teams we will stay with just one winner. I am fairly certain we will be having more teams and more winners.

Latest Photos

Butch's hair is growing nicely and he wanted a progress photo. I told him to leave his reading glasses on as I have still not adjusted to the idea of him not wearing glasses. To me, he looks better with them.

The morning walk provided a few photo ops. Horseshoe games are right behind us and it seems to be popular.

 
A Vermilion Flycatcher- Of course, the light was not optimal

Outside the fence, on the far north side of the park is a cabbage field. Being an unpopulated part of the park it will probably become my best site for getting pictures.

If any of you are keeping track of my Netflix choices you may like to know we started watching 'The Kominsky Method' last night and it is funny and very age appropriate for us.

Tuesday's events

Butch was obligated to take me to see A Star is Born after I went with him and sat through the Fantastic Beasts on Monday so after we got our walk done we ate a quick lunch and went to the Cinemark Hollywood theatre in McAllen to see A Star is Born 2018 version. It is a wonderful movie and everything about it was superbly done. We both cried all the way through it. Therapeutic on more than one level. We had to rush home and catch the second show of Jeopardy, fix supper and get ready for the second try at getting trivia to take off.
It worked!
We had 3 teams and they all had fun. The format was new to them and they found that they liked it very much. I have every faith that it will continue to grow in the weeks to come. Word of mouth worked very well the first week.
Butch is off playing pool this morning out of the park and then he is signed up for an in-park competition this afternoon. He is trying to hold it down but not having much luck. He has always been the kind of guy to say yes to almost anything.
So this morning I have decided to get to some heavy cleaning but that isn't happening if I sit here much longer so till next time...

Last Saturday

Last Saturday, we along with Liz and Dave went to Magnolias Garage sales. Saw lots of our old friends and most seemed glad to see us. Some not so much. One suggested we should have stayed and "fight for our park". What she is apparently incapable of understanding is we did for several years to no avail and as it is now there is nothing left to "fight" for and a quick look around the park accentuates that fact.
There is an unwritten rule that when you leave the park you are not welcome to come back and a few people made that very clear so we have probably made our last trip to Magnolia. Anyone with any interest in seeing us are welcome to come our way and they will be warmly welcomed. It also means we will double down on our efforts to embrace the park we have chosen.
We stopped at the fruit market and Don-Wes Flea Market before coming back home. I had my heart set on a pineapple and it has lived up to my expectations. And I have greatly enjoyed the papaya Donn Gordon so generously gifted me. That guy grows a mean papaya!

Sunday- I am so frickin' sick of football I cannot accentuate it vigorously enough! I will be so happy when the season has ended. I do have enough ingenuity to fill my time productively.

Monday- Butch and I went to see the latest Fantastic Beasts movie. Butch liked it. I think I dozed off 2 or 3 times. We are going back tomorrow to see A Star is Born. I know I will like it better. It is the new version with Lady GaGa.

Till next time!

I'm so happy

Simply Walking and taking pics

Thanks, Deon for telling me about the Simply Walking app. Today I walked 1.53 miles and took a few pics. And here they are...
I ran into Liz doing what she does and in so doing I was introduced to Sharon and Gus.

 
When I went by the golf course Butch and Dave happened to be in range for some photos.

 And here is my Christmas Cactus. It has recovered nicely from the trip.

 Traveling is hard on plants.

Turkey for two (repost)

I have purchased my turkey roast for this year. And my stuffing mix. And here is a reposting of the famous Turkey for Two recipe.

Turkey for Two
Did you have a meal with friends and family on the holiday and miss all the turkey and dressing leftovers at your house? Or there are just the two of you and you do not want to cook a big ol' turkey for two people. I discovered an easy way to have it all. Grease the sides of your crockpot or use one of those nifty slow cooker liners ( I swear by the liners). Place a small package of dry stuffing mix in the bottom. Sprinkle with a 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth. Slice an onion and dice a celery stalk and layer on top of stuffing. Place a thawed Butterball 3 pound turkey roast (found in your grocer's freezer) on top of celery and onion. Cook on low all day or high for 4-5 hours and you have the best of both worlds. A scrumptious turkey dinner for two with some for leftovers if you are moderate eaters.

Produce wagon

Thursday is the day the produce wagon comes into the park and it parks right behind us. I bought some fat carrots and a white radish.

First Trivia night and other stuff

Tuesday night was the first trivia night and we had two people. That is a start albeit a tiny one. However, we did proceed and now I have two ambassadors to help me spread the word. They both had a good time and even though it was a small seed to start I do believe it will grow. Keep in mind, they are not familiar with me, the format or the fun it can be. When I did this at Magnolia last January it started off slow there too.
So finally I am back to walking and feeling good about it. Right now the weather is not a factor as it is mild. 70's mostly. So, therefore, I can choose a time to walk without discrimination. As the temperature rises that will change.
Last night we went to a birthday party for Dave. Here is the birthday boy pouring a drink for Fred.

The food was excellent but if I keep eating like this I will have to be rolled back to Iowa.

Caught my eye

I finally was able to get my walk in and I took full advantage. I did get a slow start. When I first started I could feel a toe rubbing and thought uh oh I am working on a blister so I came back home and on the way, I heard these guys playing and singing and they sounded very good and since I knew Bruce I stopped to take a few pics.
C. Randy Parks and Bruce Johnston- C.Randy has a website if you want to check it out. www.reverbnation.com/crandyparks and Randy's son also has a site and he is in Nashville

www.honkytonkdave.com and Randy told me all of his son's songs were written by him.

So then I continued on my return trip, doctored my toe and shed a jacket and took off once again.

Blue sky and yellow flowers always make a good photo.

These folks that live beside these grapefruit are not here yet. Sure hope they have a hunger for it.

There are several of these homes here where they started out as a simple trailer and had the roof put on later. It does wonders to dress a place up

I particularly like this quilt design.

 
Simple but classy Christmas decoration.

This one is more elaborate

  Another angle on our little patch.

Good to have a plan

Desiderata means “things that are desired,” and Ehrmann said he wrote it for himself, “because it counsels those virtues I felt most in need of.”

Though Desiderata was not considered a popular work during Ehrmann’s lifetime, it rose in popularity during the late ’60s and early ’70s. Today, it is making a strong comeback, as parents and grandparents are passing along this wisdom to their loved ones

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,

they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Weather

The weather has been mostly crappie ever since we got here. Cloudy, damp and dark day after day. Gee, almost like being in Iowa! The only difference is it is probably 30 degrees colder there. It has been mostly in the 50s 24/7. The cure for this is an occasional cribbage game with Liz and Dave, watching stuff on Netflix. It was a bit better today so we went for a walk, played some pool and went to Churches Chicken for supper.
On Netflix we watched "Room". It completely captured me and I would highly recommend it. And then last night we watched "The Christmas Chronicles". It was excellent and will grow into a classic.
Butch is off tonight playing pool. Some things have not changed in the move to another park.
There are many things we like about this park and so far it seems likely we will return.
I start the trivia next Tuesday evening and I have expectations of it growing from whatever its beginnings turn out to be. Stephanie, the activity director has assured me that they have been asking when trivia would get started. I look upon that as a good sign.

A great Thanksgiving Dinner

Yes, we went to a Mexican restaurant for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In addition to what you see pictured on this plate, we had rolls, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. It was all quite delicious.

John and Carol are in the background and not remembering the two in the foreground.

We had music and he played a variety and played it very well.

Butch, Roger, Ruth, Connie, and Chuck. Our hostess and cook is talking to the group.

Kristi (sp?) is passing out special napkins.

Cindy and Fred

Dave and Liz throwing back a coke

Grandma's Kitchen

That is my Grandma Z, my aunt, cousins, and sister Theresa in the foreground.
I am certain this was a Thanksgiving.

Plans for the Day

So far I have finished up a trivia set of questions. I have plenty already but I want to make sure the Elks have not had the questions before if they happen to need them for their January Trivia night.

I also did some housekeeping on my blog page. I clicked on a link or two on the sidebar and either they would not go where they were supposed to or there had not been a new entry for sometimes years. So I deleted a few. If you have a suggestion for a replacement tell me and we can add it.

And as a reminder, if you would like to get notifications of new entries of this blog in your email all you need to do is put your email address in the proper place at the bottom of this page. There is probably a verification process so after you enter it go check your email. If all is okay when I write a new entry you will receive an email of it.

We will be going to a Mexican restaurant, El Mana, for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. There will be 16 -20 of our new friends and acquaintances. Check back for pictures.

The Giving of Thanks

Not written by me but well written- Barb

A Time to Give Thanks
Some days it doesn’t feel like I have a lot to be thankful for. The trouble with getting older is everything you remember is painted with the brushes of the past. Those brushes, the echoes and reflections of the past color everything I do today. And sometimes the colors of my memories of moments long past are dull and lifeless and even forlorn – if you can even imagine such colors.

It’s hard to imagine, but I’m sure that when the moments now in my memory were being made the colors probably were bright, dazzling, vibrant and eye-catching. The grass was greener, the autumn leaves were redder, the sky was bluer, the sun was brighter, the days were longer, the seasons shorter, back in the days when my lifetime stretched before me like an endless highway – a highway so long that it disappeared into the horizon. With forever before me, my choices were infinite and unlimited.

It’s funny how life catches up with you. As John Lennon so aptly said “...Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans…“

Now the road that once stretched forever before me, is much shorter and I feel the weight of time slowing me down. My choices are limited not by my imagination but by the constraints of age and the world around me.

My dreams though, are more numerous and more vivid than ever. In my dreams I am ageless and I relive the moments of the past without limits, without age, without constraints. And whether those dreams be good or bad, heavenly or hellish, I am ageless, I am vigorous, I am me.

Thanksgiving is coming up soon and for me, maybe for you too, this time of year lends itself to memories – both good and bad.

My mom died in November – right before Thanksgiving. She died when I was ten. And that memory and all the tears and heartbeat and sadness that it brings is still as fresh as the day it happened. I can smell the flowers around her casket. I can smell the cloying odor of the funeral home. My mom’s face at rest, though cosmetically enhanced, haunts me still. The “what ifs” flood my mind and tears fill my eyes. What would I have become had she lived?

When she died, my life was ripped apart – literally. I had to go to different places after school as my grandparents – my mom’s parents – were so distraught they were unable to be there for me at that time – although later on, they would become the most important people in my young life. Aunts and uncles who, I don’t think really wanted me, allowed me to go to their home after school. I had to wait until my dad picked me up. I felt like a burden on the world. An unwanted problem that no one had the solution for.

Gradually, my grandparents, particularly my grandfather, gave me the love and stability I needed. In fact, my grandfather became my best friend – and to this day I have never had a better, wiser or more loyal friend. He did everything he could to help me achieve whatever goals my dreams conjured up. He ignited my lifelong love of reading by buying me books about Babe Ruth, the solar system, the planets and other topics he knew interested me. I became an avid reader then – I still am. He bought me my first guitar, my first Beatles’ album, encouraged me to follow my musical dreams and write songs.

Then one day, he had a stroke and died – right before my eyes. I was a young man then – no a young boy – but the impact of his death was just as profound and impactful as my mother’s death.

There have been other tragedies in my life, but those I’ve mentioned happened when the tree was young and those became my gnarly roots.

And sometimes, even now, all the memories of my past are colored by those two profound personal tragedies. And sometimes, if I let them, the colors from the past wash out the colors of the now. And with the colors of my life already being muted by the incessant march of time, it would be easy to allow my world to become gray.

But I won’t do that. And I can’t change time – I can’t change my age – I can’t ever be young again. But I can be thankful. I have so many things to be thankful for. And so do you.

I have too many precious things to be thankful for, but here are a few.

I’m thankful for my kids. They’ve remained close to me since they were born. I’ll be going to my youngest son’s house for Thanksgiving this year. My oldest son, who lives closer, comes every week to take me to lunch – we spend time “catching up”- although I’m sure for him it’s not as pleasant a time as it is for me.

I’m thankful that I’m still able to get out every day and walk for an hour. I’ve been out there every day walking in rain, snow, cold and the withering heat of summer. But the days I remember the most was the perfect walking days. And never have I ever taken a walk without being thankful that I’m still able to do it.

I’m thankful for our little business and my partner Darcy. She’s put up with me for a long time – no easy task. And every year we struggle along and at the end of each year we look back and realize we’ve made it.

I’m thankful for all the friends we’ve made along the way. They have supported our small business and helped us through the tough times.

I’m thankful I’ve got a nice place to live. It’s warm and dry. I don’t need a mansion. I’m happy with what I have and thankful for all I have.

We all have a lot to be thankful for – and it isn’t the money you have in the bank. It isn’t the material things you’ve accumulated. It’s not that fancy luxury car in your driveway. The things that you have to be thankful for are easy to find.

Imagine it’s your last day on earth. What things are most important to you? “… and all your money won’t another minute buy…” If you want to know what matters most to you – imagine it’s your last day.

It won’t be your money, your real estate, your stocks, your bonds, your checking account – it won’t be any material thing. It will be the ones who love you and the ones you love. Your family, your friends, your good deeds, and everything you can feel with your good heart. Those are things you’ll be most thankful for on your last day.

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make…”

It’s Thanksgiving. It’s a time for to give thanks. And if you think you have nothing to be thankful for, think again. You do. You have a lot to be thankful for. You may be struggling financially, your health may not be good, you may not be young anymore, you may have had disappointments and let down… but still you do have a lot to be thankful for – and so do I.

It’s a time to give thanks.

Looking up

I stumbled onto a way to improve my delicate condition. I do not know why it occurred to me but I am glad it did. Butch has used a nasal spray for quite a few years and really cannot get along without it. So I decided to see if it would help and it really has helped. I have not had a headache now for 2 whole days! I am using the Costco Kirkland Aller-Flo nasal spray. Much less expensive than Flonase or Nasacort. I am getting tired of talking about how I feel and have been oh so ready to move on! And now I can.
I am set up to start Trivia next Tuesday night at 6:30. The activity director, Stephanie has been very helpful in getting this started. I am ready to get my hand back in. I am also anxious for the other trivia person to get here so I can be a player too.
Butch has been playing pool, golf, and bridge. We all knew he wasn't going to sit still very long. He has found a new partner for outside the park league play. His name is Lonnie Hull and oddly enough he has a Jefferson connection. Lonnie used to work at Parker Industries and American Athletics in his youth. He now lives in the Chicago area but he remembers many people that we mutually know from Jefferson. What are the chances that we would end up in the same park in South Texas? Oh and besides he is one heck of a good pool player. I think they will enjoy each others company.

Liz doing what she does, being a hairdresser. Sometimes she does not have much to work with. Here she works on Dave.

And then it is Butch's turn.

This is our new spot in a new park. Trophy Gardens. We really enjoy the perfect shade we get from the tree. We face west. It is very different having our door opening on the north but it is working out well for us.

Being Hopeful

The road back to health has been longer and more tentative than any in my memory. Perhaps an indication of the years I have traveled on this earth but who the heck wants to admit that! I would get to feeling better and then have another headache and another setback. I thought perhaps I should consult a doctor but since I rarely agree with or like what they tell me I saved it for my last resort. I am still saving it. A couple of days ago I felt well enough to return to my walking routine. I came home and immediately knew I had stepped over the line. So time passed and I felt better and while playing cards in a group the lady beside me started recounting her frequent and sudden headaches and low and behold I found a friend in pain! Symptoms and results were the same and now that I know someone else in the same boat I have a bit more hope there will be an end to it.

Yesterday I once again had a headache. Fought through it to play some pool. Came home and rested a bit and then went on a trip to visit Magnolia friends. I miss them. It is good to talk to them for many reasons and one of them is that we have made the right decision for us. We have not established a predictable routine and it will most likely be a while before we do. Things are still in flux.

This will tell you...

...that I am feeling better!
Here is a computer tip for you. I have had this happen to my computing friends on rare occasion so know some of you will be glad to have this in your bag of tricks.
What to Do If Your Laptop Computer Won't Boot 
A Windows tip 
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10 (all versions)

"This morning my laptop computer would not boot into Windows. The first time it did show the desktop but would not do anything. Shut it down manually with the power button. Second time only got the blue screen of death,. Shut it down and restarted but got the same thing the next time. Fourth time got the desktop but nothing worked and after an hour or so the circle was still spinning. Manually shut it down again. THEN remembered a trick that had worked for me numerous times on my laptops through the years. 

Here is my trick to fix:

* Shut down using the power button - wait until all power lights are off.
* Unplug from electric and unplug all other connections such as your mouse,  USB flash drives, printers, external drives, etc.
* Remove battery (if your battery is removable)
* Wait at least 2 minutes.
* Reinstall battery (if you removed it)
* Plug laptop into electrical power.
* Push the power button. Your computer should now boot up.  If not repeat each step in order. Be patient and don't rush.
* Be sure all is loaded and you can see all the icons.
* If all is well, plug in your mouse (if you use one), external drives, printer, etc.  and allow each to connect before adding another one.

Hope you can share this for all the laptop users and hope it helps. Sure a lot easier than reloading or trying to fix windows..."

Calendar and Simply Walking

Just looked at the calendar and we have been here 3 weeks and two days! I have been sick for 2 of those weeks. I have an impossible time believing I have ever been that sick for that long. I believe that I went straight from a head cold to a nasty sinus infection.
Butch and I went for a walk yesterday. A short walk. He is playing golf this morning so I went for a walk on my own. Deon informed me of an app to map a walking distance. I have been looking for one ever since the one I did have started charging a fee for it. $2.99 a month seemed like way too much to merely know how far you had walked. The one Deon suggested is free and simple. In fact, that is the name of it, Simply Walking. Today is the first time I have used it and it is a keeper.
I walked 34 minutes and 23 seconds-1.53 miles at 2.67 mph-3,832 steps and burned 139 calories. It felt like a hundred miles! Before leaving Jefferson I was walking 2.25 miles per day. It usually took me 40-45 minutes and I arrived home refreshed and ready to start my day. I have a ways to go to recover.

Head and weather

First the head cold, one of the worst I have ever had and closely followed by weather cold for the past 3 days. Not a good start to our South Texas season. I have only been out of the house for brief periods and have not felt well enough to much care.
I am hoping I am on the mend but being optimistic hasn't been working to my utmost satisfaction. We have bounced from 99% humidity for several days running to somewhere in the 30's. They even pointed it out in the weather report that the humidity level was very low. My very tender sinus cavities are saying "What the HEY!" and giving me fits. Still. Today is better...so far. The neti pot, warm moist compresses and a heating pad have been my plan of action with adequate success.
So enough of that ugly news.
My plan for today is to get a walk in for the first time in a long time. I have supper planned. And that is probably as far ahead as I should plan for now.

Stay tuned for better news. Gotta happen, right?

The worm has turned

I awoke this morning feeling 95% normal and ready to return to life as I know it. That is the good news. The bad news is that we are under a freeze warning for tonight and the current temp is 45 degrees with little chance for it to get warmer today. I will be covering my plants tonight or bring them in,
I will have Chili in the crockpot for supper and will be enjoying the day more than I have for the past 10 to be sure. I need one added ingredient for my chili and I told Butch we needed to go to HEB. He does not think that sounds like a good idea. He will do it. He just needs to get used to the idea.

Time goes by...

And we are back home. It is cold enough here that our trip to the store was good. Not crowded. Everyone was bundled up tight. We are back home now and chili is on simmer.
My plan is to scope out some movies for later. A real wintertime day all around. We come here to get away from them but sometimes you cannot avoid it no matter what you do or where you are.

The movies in our area are:
https://www.cinemark.com/texas-southern-border/cinemark-hollywood-usa

But I am guessing we will find something on NetFlix.

Down and Out

Been down and out for over a week. I would get to feeling a bit better and then get smacked with a whiz-bang headache. I won't go into the grizzly details. It is enough to say it has been a roller coaster event. I have never been fond of roller coasters. Each of the last two days I can safely say has been decidedly better. I have been able to do laundry and get meals cooked. My time on the computer has been a fraction of the time it usually is as it seemed to make my ailments considerably worse. So needless to say not much to talk about.

Don Louks has passed. He is the man Butch gives much credit to add to his pool playing skills. Butch and Don enjoyed working on the game and playing as a team. Butch will very much miss him but will think of him every time he picks up a pool cue.

I have been tuning into Facebook on occasion and have gleaned a few photos in the process.

Jason, our youngest son and his lovely wife Laura.

My sister Myrla in the middle with two of her best friends  Craig and Tara Cunningham.

And my sister Theresa who underwent open heart surgery last August and is doing very well

I want one

When I am too old to get my hiney up on the seat of my favorite bike I will want one of these.

https://electrek.co/2018/11/07/screecher-electric-pedal-car/

Winter Texan increase

This is from the RVtravel Newsletter. Butch and I read this every day. This news is a surprise to us. The owners of our previous park (Magnolia RV Resort) should pay particular attention to this sentence, “I would say 99 percent of our Winter Texans are here because they heard about us from somebody else,” Collier said. “Word of mouth is the number one driver of new traffic to the Rio Grande Valley. "
We have always been supporters of the RGV and the park we were in. Cannot with good conscience do that anymore.
Barb

Winter Texans increase after years of decline
November 7, 2018 


The Rio Grande Valley’s Winter Texan population ticked upward last season after nearly a decade of declining numbers. That’s the good news from the latest Winter Texan Survey conducted by the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRVG), according to The Monitor.

The bad news is that household spending appears to be significantly down from the previous season, though officials are not sure why.

According to the latest biennial report published in May, an estimated 106,000 Winter Texans came to the Valley during the 2017-18 winter season. That’s a 10.4% increase from the 2015-16 season, when roughly 96,000 retirees visited the Valley. It’s the first population increase seen in the report since 2009-10.

About 144,000 Winter Texans came to the Valley that year and had been steadily dropping for nine years.

“The cities were not marketing the Valley for 20 years because of budget cuts and everything else,” said Penny Simpson, the survey’s author.

“Our Winter Texan parks have the best resources when it comes to marketing outside the Valley,” said Kristi Collier, whose website, Welcome Home Winter Texans, serves as an online concierge for winter visitors. Collier believes local stakeholders also had a hand in driving the turnaround.

“I would say 99 percent of our Winter Texans are here because they heard about us from somebody else,” Collier said. “Word of mouth is the number one driver of new traffic to the Rio Grande Valley. Still, we are actively working on an ambassador program to educate our residents how to get involved in other (marketing) opportunities up north and spread the message of the Rio Grande Valley and how great it is to winter here.”

Rockin' and Rollin'

Butch and I went over to Magnolia Wednesday afternoon and for the most part, people are optimistic. I certainly hope their optimism pays off. I truly do.
I think I did too much on Wednesday because Thursday I felt like crap again. It did get better as the day progressed but still do not feel like my old self. That is why I have not been timely with adding anything to the blog.

The weather forecast last night was rather gloomy. We have a series of cold fronts coming through in the next week or so, like a train about every 3-4 days. So we are going from humid and 90's to fighting to get out of the 50's in the daytime and staying around that for nighttime temps as well.🙁

The temps have dropped over 10 degrees in the past hour since sitting here. From 76 degrees to 66 degrees. So here is how I see it. We have been holed up for over a week with not feeling well and temps in the 90's and freakishly high humidity to temps in the 50's, rain and the furnace running. I pray for some moderation in all things!!