Camera Pics

 A Merlin Hawk

Butch and Squeak playing through the glass.

North Out of Texas-Simplified version

In South Texas get on Hwy 281 north.
Hwy 281 N to I-37 N take (exit 133) and get on I-410 N
I 410N to I 35N
I 35 N to Hwy 46W (exit 190)
Hwy 46 to Hwy 281N
Follow 281 N to a few miles south of Jacksboro TX (380)
Take 380 east to Hwy 51- Turn left (north)
Follow Hwy 51N to Gainesville and I 35 N.

The main purpose of these directions is the avoidance of the Austin to Waco section of I 35. If you do it once, especially in an RV you will have a firm understanding of why you need to avoid this section.

Our route home-mostly

I am frequently asked about our route from Iowa to South Texas or South Texas to Iowa. We mix it up usually, sometimes a lot and other times a little here and there. But this is the route we would take if we were making a straight run with out any friends or family visits along the way. This is what we have found to be the best for traffic and the most avoidance of major cities, particularly the stint between Dallas and San Antonio. From Waco to Austin on I 35 is particularly challenging in a motorhome and the years do not seem to make it better.

Here is the link: https://goo.gl/maps/zEozBogyL7m

Camera experimentation

Keep in mind that all of these photos were done as an experiment on my part in the process of becoming acquainted with my new camera. Many of these were taken as I sat in my easy chair inside the motorhome through the unscreened side of my window next to my computer. Most of the birds were in a tree across the street at Donn and Peggy's place.

Mockingbird

Dove

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Dove

Dove

Black bird

Sparrow

Friday rolls around

I am in the computer workshop and not much is happening at the minute so thought I would take a crack at updating.  Butch and I are headed...written later...to Mexico.
So we left the park about 11:30 and we debated driving in versus walking mainly because it is a long walk down to Hectors, probably a mile. But for us walking in is less hassle on many levels. And today we definitely made the right decision. The main street of Progreso was blocked off and we really could not determine why and so we asked a man on the street when we were walking back after visiting Hector. He said, "Nothing really", with a shrug. "They brought in motorcycles." "It isn't amazing." So we made the assumption it was some kind of motorcycle rally.

To back up a bit, Hectors place was very, very busy! For the curious-
Omprazole (prilosec) 360 tabs-$10
Clariton 100 tabs-$4
Diclofenico- 360 tabs-$15
Xarelto 2 boxes of 28 tabs-$66 each
Naproxen(Aleve)-270 tabs-$15
Charlote (for arthritis) 90 tabs-$30
Zyrtec 200tabs-$20

We came back up the street stopping at Jessica's for lunch. Donn and Peggy had told us it was a great place to eat and we have to agree. We ordered Pancho's Tex Mex. They consist of chips covered with refried beans, onions, tomatoes, avacado, chicken and beef with both white and yellow cheese. They were terrific. We also had 2 margaritas, a light coke, and a beer. The bill was $10.50 Oh! I almost forgot we were served a cup of bean soup too! It was also very tasty!

Yesterday's News: Butch and his partner did well in the Olympics yesterday but did not score well.
 I had picked up a pizza from Costco. It was free. I knew that time could be tight for him to get to the pool hall. I also knew he was not going to like the pizza toppings but I really did not have much choice. So I served it on a plate accompanied with tweezers and a fork. He used it all picking off mushrooms and black olives.

Clara Rosalie Davis

Leo and Keri welcome their first granddaughter and fourth grandchild yesterday February 16th 2017.
And here she is!!

                                           Clara Rosalie Davis

It's a creeping up on me...

I am getting older and slower. Taking care of two blogs has always been a challenge for me and especially this time of year. Thanks to the nudge from my friend Bev G. I am trying to catch you all up on what we are doing these days.

This happens to be one of the busiest of weeks because it is the week the Rio Grande Valley Senior Olympics. Butch is in two events. The pool event was held on Monday and he and partner Dick Cleaveland did not place well. Butch said they had plenty of chances but things did not happen for them. The next event for him will be tomorrow's golf. Butch and Mike Jordan will be playing 18 holes at Los Lagos Golf Course in Edinburg TX.
Two events in one week does not sound bad, does it? But let me fill you in on Butch's schedule. Every day of the week from 6:00PM to 8:00pm and sometimes longer he can be found in the pool hall. Tuesdays are golf day. Wednesday is league pool outside the park in the afternoon. Thursdays are also league pool outside the park.
My schedule is Monday crafts if I feel like it. It is more of a social event for me than a craft event. Friday morning is computer workshop and it takes up my entire morning!  I am running for vice president of the association again. It is the best job of all the offices in my opinion however it will be adding more to my schedule.
I have my new camera and I am loving it. It is a learning curve to be sure and I have never had a camera with so many functions. I also bought a book on it at the suggestion of my friend Deon and it has been essential to my understanding of the camera and how to get full use of it.

I purchased the kindle version and have been reading it frequently.
Below are 3 pictures taken with the new camera. Below is Fred Rabe, 92. Fred was halfway across Allen Hall from me with lots of people seated between us. Getting this shot was easy.

 This is a picture of Squeak. Squeak and Butch have a special bond.

 Our friend Bill Stilson, otherwise known as Pecan Bill was the Cribbage Champ this season.

I started a new bracelet yesterday. I have sold a few.

Sometimes I like to sit and do nothing.

This is February in South Texas

Butch brought me a cold from the pool hall again. I am not thankful. We are both going to live through a very unpleasant few days.


I purchased a new camera. It is an upgrade to my Fuji and this time I have a Nikon Super Zoom S9000. A friend of mine here in the park has one and I have been very impressed with her pictures. The phone pictures are fine but the quality is lacking. My photography hobby has been life long but in my youth it was outside my budget as film and developing and a quality camera were too costly. Besides that, every time I read anything about camera settings and lenses my eyes would glaze over. If you start firing numbers at me my mind goes into rejection mode.
Here is a link to the camera I purchased. There is a learning curve to this camera but these days there is to everything with the least bit of technology.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=11127274&InitialSearch=yes&sts=suggestions-pi&typedValue=P900+

6th grade Barbie Brock

😉

100th day!

Here is a conversation between me and my granddaughter Amanda about her daughter Elise on Facebook

Barbara Brooker This is a joke, right? Or is this the latest fashion for 6 year olds?

Like · Reply · 1 · 21 mins

Amanda Sue It was the 100th day of school so they were supposed to dress up like they are 100 years old. It's hard to tell in the picture but her hair was white too.

Like · Reply · 12 mins

Barbara Brooker Amanda Sue Oh shucks! I thought perhaps fashion was finally catching up with me!LOL

Like · Reply · 1 · 7 mins

Amanda Sue Lol, on the 100th day it has. I was not dressed up and got asked if I was 100, so apparently the fashion has caught up with me as well!! 😂

Like · Reply · 6 mins

Book recommendation

Here is a book recommendation from my friend Mickey:
"Have you read "See Me" by Nicholas Sparks. Best book I've listened to ever. Hope I can get to sleep. Scary "

Fun with Pictures

I have been preparing a slideshow  for the parks annual Show and Tell day that takes place each March. In so doing I have had an external hard drive connected to the computer that contains older photos not only from this park but way back to other places we have lived...waaaaay back. It has been fun and very time consuming to be looking these pictures over and I thought I might share some with you all on occasion.

This is my sister Jayne with Angel. Taken in 1995

And this is my niece Karla, Jayne's daughter.

Controlling the Zebra (Computer tip)

Now, do I have your attention? What do zebras have to do with computers you ask? Actually, nothing at all. But we wanted a way to help you remember a very important keyboard shortcut that can help you erase mistakes faster than a Mr.Clean Magic Eraser.

This morning, I wanted to copy 22 files from one folder to another. I selected all 22 files, right-clicked on them, chose “Move to” —> My new folder. Voilà! Just like that all 22 files disappeared from the original folder and appeared in the new folder… just like magic. Not so magic. The original folder was empty. Woe. Woe. Woe. But, luckily I remembered the zebra. That’s how I remember it, because that’s how I first learned it.

As soon as I realized I had moved the files instead of copying them, I just pressed CTRL + Z and all those files were back in their original folder. Like magic. So, I had a second chance to do what I wanted to do – copy the files from one folder to another, not move them.

You can use the zebra in most Windows applications. It’s officially called the “Undo command”, but we think you’ll remember the zebra better. Next time you want to undo something you didn’t mean to do, try CTRL+Z.

Our Jefferson friends

Our Jefferson friends got together at Mickey's house. We miss all of them and the lively conversation that always takes place during these fun times. Mickey took the picture and cooked the food so she isn't in this photo but I thank her for sending it.
.
Left to Right- Dee, Pat, Sue, Dugan, Sharon, Larry, Jack H., Jack L.

Father time and Mother nature

Both of them are up to no good. What used to take me 10 minutes now takes 30 and that is one of the more upbeat things I can tell you about. I have been sorting through pictures I have saved for the past 17 years. I have them all on an external hard drive. I admit I had not sorted and labeled like I should have when I put them on the external drive but I did get them saved at least. It too has been a mixed blessing- always fun to look at old pictures but in so doing something else that you should be doing does not get done.
I do tell people who think their pictures are not flattering, if they wait 10 years they will have a very different opinion. My spare tire is much bigger now than it was 10 years ago!
So for want of something really cool to post I will give you some pictures from an earlier time.

Butch and his sister Marlene at one of the Kelley kids wedding.

I just noticed the photo bomb in the back but I will leave it in.

Butch doing one of his least favorite things to do. This was our mobile home in Cumberland Ia.

Iowa weather report- Carroll and Greene Counties.

Weather Report from Jefferson Iowa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXItYc1glPs&sns=fb

Marlene and Bernard's 66th anniversay

Saturday, Butch and I were invited to help Marlene and Bernard celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary. Bernard related it was a fairly warm January day in Iowa the day they married 66 years ago.
We played several hands of cribbage before going to dinner at Logan's steak house and then several more when we returned. I think the win/lose tally ended up about even. Marlene and I are partners against the guys when we play. We had a very good time and the meal was the best I have enjoyed for quite some time.

My oh my!!

I have been so busy just living life, doing laundry, fixing meals etc. etc. and in the process, I have been neglecting my 14-year-old blog. Even I have trouble believing that I have been so neglectful of my baby blog!
I have been enjoying my friends and two walks a day and whatever little pleasures I bump into through the process.
This morning was computer class and we side-tracked to a Netflix movie of "Babies". I enjoyed it as much the second time as the first.
When Butch gets home from the pool hall we have been tuning in to a series that we keep track of on Netflix. Tonights feature was a new "Hell on Wheels" episode. We have 4 more to go till we are caught up on that one. Fortunately there are many more good selections.
 Public television is a life blood for us in Iowa but in South Texas it is a dismal imitation. In fact in the past week they have not been broadcasting at all for 4 days so far out of the last 7.

Here are a couple of blasts from the past that I randomly picked.

Taken in Hillman Michigan 2010 

Taken in Glidden Iowa in 2012? I think.

Ransomware-More info

Not sure what ransomware is or why you need to know. Here is an article about it.
http://www.thundercloud.net/infoave/new/9-out-of-10-phishing-emails-distribute-ransomware/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thundercloud%2FIapJ+%28Cloudeight+InfoAve+Computer+Tips+%29

yes, you DO need to know.😁

Myrla and Tara

My sister Myrla and her friend Tara at Christmas time. Myrla is the short one.

And a chuckle for you.