Santa, Do You Hear Me Now?

The big day is fast approaching, and I'm awishing that we would be with the little ones. It is always such a joy to see the look on their faces. We will just have to rile on memories and our imagination.

We have just been staying busy around the resort. Did play in the golf tournament Friday, and the course was very playable after all the rain we had. In fact it was in great shape, and a very challenging course. I played with 3 men, and I'm sure the first few holes they were wondering "why them"? I had not played in a few months so I was just hoping not to whiff the ball, but after a bit my game came back and I could hold my head up. And my team did come in first. There were so many birds in the lakes it was hard to keep your mind on the game. On one of the lakes there was a flock of the huge white pelicans and it was like watching a ballet. They all swam together, stop, and all stick there heads in the water, butts in the air, just like it was all choreographed. Then they would do it all over again. And no I did not have a camera. The next time I play that course I surely will.

Did make a batch of fudge, so have all these plates made up to pass to the neighbors, and to take to the parties that are going on. Every activity has its own party, so there are plenty. We are meeting a couple we met this summer for lunch tomorrow, which we are looking forward to.

Wishing everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Christmas in the Air

When you haul me all around the country,

I don't complain. Never leaving the RV to

play outside, all part of the bargain.

BUT

this is too much, I have limits!

(she actually wore that collar for days)

The weather sure is different this year compared to last. It has been wet, maybe not to the point that you would say it is raining, but certainly a heavy wet fog, which usually turns into a brief break through of sun, in the afternoon. Now today that did not even happen, and tomorrow is promising to be more of the same. But, there is no snow, the wind has been a gentle breeze, so I'm not complaining.

Okay now I'm complaining, three inches of rain in the last day.

Should have finished this post the other day. LOL

All this week is having to do with getting all the Christmas food baskets together, presents wrapped, getting ready for delivery to the homes of the less fortunate. They have 100 families on the receiving end of this project. The year round residents work on this the whole year, so this is just the end result of a lot of dedication from many truly caring people.

They told us this was something that you could only truly appreciate by seeing it come

together. Unbelievable! I had thought it was like a few things for Christmas dinner and gifts

for the children. Well, it was boxes and boxes of food for each family plus the gifts.

Chuck packed for a family of 5 and there were 11 boxes of food, plus sacks of

oranges and grapefruit. The way they had this organized was wonderful.

Each family's boxes had tape of different color

so it was easy to see that a family entire donation

was all there when you were loading.

They would bring a cart with the food

and give each allotment according to

the number in the family.

All boxed, now just to load them up.

Took at least one car/truck for each load.

Teachers from the schools that coordinated the lists of needy families were on hand, along with the local police, and they led us to the families. They asked that no pictures be taken of this, which was understandable. It was an uplifting experience, yet at the same time so sad.

Our humongous site!

But this is a great park, we have extended for another month, just hope the weather gets better, we liked it so much better last year. Tomorrow we are playing golf in a tournament, and I'm not playing with Chuck. Not sure who my team is, but hope they have a sense of humor as I have not played for a couple of months. Can't imagine what the course will be like after all the rain we had the other day. Could be they will change it to water polo.

Christmas is all taken care of. They are having a big dinner with small potlucks of tables of 20, with the park furnishing the ham and turkey. The people at our table are a hoot, so know that we will have a great time. We have done this before and it works so good. There are two large club houses here, so they can easily accommodate everyone.

Merry Christmas to all, we are so lucky to be where we are, doing what we want, when we want, but best of all with who we want. God Bless.

Warm Days & Hearts

Matilda playing Santa

We have gotten settled right in. Have met a lot of nice people already. A very happy

friendly resort atmosphere. We are already thinking that

we will be extending our stay here. Other than our day to day to

day activities, which I'm not that big on writing about,

days are just going by. Golf, cards, pool and even going to try our hand at shuffleboard.

We are planning to help with the food baskets

and the delivery of them. Plus there are

several parties in the plans. Have not been into Mexico yet. There was

a serious shoot out there a few days ago, and they are telling

the people that cross over to do volunteer work to give it

some time before coming over. Works for me, they use

real bullets over there! So when we do go

will be sure and leave word where we have

went, you know, just in case.

Got my Christmas packages in the mail

yesterday, and beginning to think

it would be cheaper to send them first class, especially

to California. Cost as much to mail them as buy them!

Well, this is all for now, big hugs, remember to smell

the roses, especially during the "season".

Inhale............Exhale

My Hard Work in One Picture

Everything in it's place, which took me hours, hope it all don't

come crashing down.

(click to enlarge)

It Can't Be December!

Where did the time go? I swear we were not that busy and although we were under the weather for a few days, there just is no excuse for my being so remiss in up dating the blog.

Okay, enough.

We spent our time in Victoria mostly checking out the restaurants. Did find a few that were quite good, and seen a couple of great movies. The Blind Side is fabulous, and Old Dogs, was a good laugh out loud movie. It did not have good reviews, but I've come to the conclusion when that is the case it will be a good movie for us average.......well maybe below average people. Speaking for myself only.

Gator

We went with Donna and Nolan one day to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see the whopping cranes as they migrate to that area. Actually the only cranes we seen were in the learning center/gift shop. But we did come across some gators and a wild hog with three little ones. Getting out of the truck was not an option as the mosquitoes were flying in hordes. When the truck stopped they covered the windows just drooling. Only place I've seen them like this was in Alaska.

We had planned to move the first of the month to Choke Canyon State Park for a few days, and being it is only about 50 miles from San Antonio, we could do the night lights and still drive back to the RV. But the weather just did not want to

cooperate. We had lots of rain for a few days, nice over Thanksgiving, but the forecast

for the days we had plans, just were miserable.

And looking in the rear view mirror, we made

the right choice, as they are even having snow.

So we are settled down in the Rio Grande Valley, and

the weather is still not all that good. But

it is looking up starting tomorrow.

Today I worked on Christmas decorations. Hung a 18 foot garland over the living room

slide, and will hang my ornaments on it. Christmas has always been my

passion, I would decorate for days, but all those are in storage. So one of

my little indulgences has been buying an ornament from different areas we have

spent time in. Being as we have been on the road for almost 3 years I have

acquired quite a few. And they all have memories of

our new life.

Beautiful pavilion

We decided to stay at Alamo Palms here in the valley, and although the site are

on the small side, think it will do us just fine. Lots of activities and we are close to everything.

But we only booked for a month, that way

if it does not suit us

we are off.

Hope that every ones Thanksgiving

was wonderful.