Ready, Set, Go!

Just a few more days before we are on the road again.  Everything checked out with Chucks eye and he has his glasses ordered, which they promised to have ready come tomorrow, Friday.  They have Territory days in Old Colorado City, so we have decided to stay through the Memorial Day week-end and then get on our way.

I have been going to an Acupuncturist for the last week hoping to get some relief from my pain ,but does not seem to be of any help…damn.  Have a few more visits scheduled so will continue, very, very frustrating. Still above the ground, so that is good news.  Chuck played golf for the first time today, and he was quite happy to be back out there.  Said he only had one bad hole where the course ate his lunch.  The weather was gorgeous today, seemed like summer has gotten here finally. 

We have not done much the last few weeks.  Did fix a big spaghetti feed for some of our park neighbors and Cyndi & John.  Seen a few movies, a really wicked one….The Daughter, with Kevin Costner, not sure if I’m recommending it but it certainly  was different. 

Looking at our route upon leaving and what we are hoping to take in before getting to Vegas.  Have the Arches, Brice Canyon and  Zion.  Hope that the weather lets us get it in, hoping is about all we can do. 

Looking forward to having the wheels a’rolling, funny isn’t it?  Guess we were meant to roam.  Life is good. 

            

Still In Holding Pattern

Chucks visit to the eye doctor yesterday was a mixed diagnosis, the swelling in the back of the eye was getting better and to expedite the healing, it was decided to inject a shot directly into the eye.  Needless to say this was something that I did not witness.  By next week they are hoping that he will be able to have a prescription for eyeglasses, and once he has those on his face, our butts will be setting in the truck heading down the road, can’t wait to get my arms around our grandson.  We are meeting up with them in Las Vegas, once our plans come together.

We have some nice neighbors here, and went to the movies with them the other night.  Seen Letters to Julia, and it was actually pretty good, even though you knew the whole story before going in.  Took a run to Cripple Creek with Cyndi and John, (daughter an son-in-law) Friday night.  Cripple Creek, once a old mining town, is now a little gambling town about 60 miles from here, up in the mountains.  They are really hurting what with the recession, and offering all kinds of deals.  We went for the seafood buffet, which was wonderful.  Huge crab legs, great shrimp, prime rib, all for 22 dollars a person, but it gets better, it was 2 for one!  Of course Chuck left enough in the machines to help cover the extra cost, I broke even but the kids did well, and we left while they were still way up.  Coming out there was about 3 inches of snow on the car, but the roads were clear, and we made it back safely.  

That about does it for the week, other than going to the store, trying to find a few thing in storage, throwing something at the TV when the cowboys lost to the brothers, cheering when Russell lost again. 

Spring Time in the Rockies aka What Next?

What can I say?  We are enjoying our visit with our daughter and her family, and getting to spend Mothers days with them was a special treat.  Having our wonderful SIL fix us all a feast was also ranked high, but getting to eat out on their lovely deck over looking some of the spectacular scenery, priceless.  Some how it worked out to a 90 minute window when the weather was wonderful, which has been in very short supply since we have been here. 

 Garden of the Gods

Chuck has recovered nicely from his hernia surgery, but the cataract attempt was not as successful, although there is still hope that it will continue to improve.  Until it does there will be no second surgery on the other eye.  Our total living area became mighty small during his recuperation, swear we were living in a closet, and the weather did nothing to make it easier.  I made one awful nurse Hachette. My aches and pains have lessened greatly, but the doctor I’ve been seeing wanted me to make an appointment with a rheumatologist, but it is proving impossible.  Around here they are booking in to August or later, tried California, but they are very selective, although have not made too many calls.  Just so I can function is all I ask, and I’m doing okay now.  Thank goodness. 

Cherry Trees

The cherry trees are breathtaking, but it is strange to see the trees just starting to green up, seems like we have been in spring time for the last 3 months. 

Have done a little remodeling, took out the table and chairs, and the big  sleeper sofa.  Ordered a daybed on line (free shipping/no tax) and put that in.  We, make that I, felt like we would be happier with that as it would give us more relaxing space.  Of course it would not fit where the other sofa was, about an inch too wide, so we now have the chairs at the back.  Once we get to Elkhart we will have something built that will work for the dining/craft table.  Also plan to have a few folding chairs, as we added a desk chair for the computer.  All in all think we took off 500 pounds if not more, as there were other items in the basement that went into storage. 

We are still hoping to leave here in a few weeks, heading for Vegas and the Grand Canyon, and then on to California.  Our grandson has had a change of heart about “not” playing all-stars, but think we can still work it out to where he will get to spend some time traveling with us.  Sure looking forward to getting to spend some time with him, it has been way too long.  Up until we went full-time he was in and out of our home all the time, and I loved it, he had a way of making every special, and keeping us young.  Wiped away tear.

Sitting here watching two mallard ducks flout down the creek that sits below us, they are so funny.  They fly back up and do it all over again.  And then there are the squirrels waiting for some one to toss them there dinner.

They even have their own table nailed to a tree!

Hope the sun is shining on one and all, life is good.

One Month At A Time

Days have turned into weeks, and my posting has been nil, nada and plain just not there, so will make a try at get caught up.

After leaving the RGV we spent a few days in Corpus Christi, and then we were off to Bourne, meeting up with friends for the “full-timers” rally.  Of course as usual we had to have a pre-rally to get in shape for the rally!  It was great seeing everyone and getting acquainted with some wonderful people that we had only heard or read about. 

 

There were some great card games, food, happy hours, food, seminars, food and on it goes.  Molly put on a class of blogging that was very informative, and we had a impromptu  lesson on wire wrapping, loved that one, as had never tried anything like that before, an it was amazing how at the end when you started pulling the wires it all came together.

 

Then there was a geo caching seminar, and off they went in the rain to try there hand at it, with success. Some of our group put on a very entertaining skit one night,

http://www.youtube.com/user/kcallander989#p/a/u/0/wWxAhScpRGI 

another night there was the brown bag exchange.  There was tacos-in-a-bag, and biscuits and gravy breakfast, and yes, it is all about FOOD.    Well, must have a little vino to bring it all together.

All good times must end, and hugs and waves were in order, but knowing that we will once again meet in Goshen for either Nick’s rally or the Escapees, come August.

We left Bourne on a should we, shouldn’t we note, as the weather was not looking too friendly, but we did fine.  We had a few showers, but all in all it was good.   Traveled about 300 miles, and about the same the next day.  Had meant to stay at the “free” campground in  , but there was road construction and the entrance was blocked, so we went down the road to another that we had stayed at before.  Did not even unhook, just took to the road in the morning and made it into Colorado Springs.  We are at a campground that we have stayed at before, and the only plus is that it is about 6 blocks from our daughter home.  That and the back of our 5er hangs over a river, so it is very private in that respect.

We were here to help celebrate our SIL’s birthday Wednesday at a very unique restaurant that was constructed around an airplane.  The great-grandchildren enjoyed that.

Guess you could say that “we” are in for repairs, Chuck is having hernia surgery and I have some weird thing going on with my joints an muscles.  I made a trip to urgent care and they ran some tests and I will be seeing a doctor Monday, hope they have some answers.  Chuck is scheduled to have his surgery done Wednesday, as an out patient, at least we are on the docket. 

So that about catches me up, hoping to get on the road once again soon. 

The 11th Street Cowboy Bar

This whole post is pulled off of Bob and Molly’s blog;  blatant out right thievery, but she does it sooooo much better and they are having me cook dinner so that is my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

 

  In the little town of Bandera, which is known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, you will find The 11th Street Cowboy Bar.  There are some things that are just “purely Texan” and the 11th Street Cowboy Bar is one of them.

On most Wednesday evenings in pretty weather, they fire up HUGE charcoal grills…..

….and you bring your own steaks to cook on these big, hot, grills.  For $5.00, you get a large cooked-to-perfection baked potato, salad with all the fixin’s,  and hot rolls.   Oh, and a plate to put your steak on!!! (Bring your own steak knife!)   Then you gather around and cook your steaks and share a Texas style meal and listen to some of the best Country Western bands around….with lots of two-steppin’ on the outdoor dance floor.

If you wander thru this Cowboy Bar and Grill, you will find the most unusual decor……

   …..rumor has it that they will give you free beer for your bra…..(thanks, but, No thanks!:) )

Thanks to some gorgeous weather and great friends, we shared a really fun evening in Bandera this week…..

Bill and Helen…..

Lynette, Gregg, Chuck and Kathy…A few of the girls checking out the entry to the ladies room…hmmmm….. big grins there :)……

…more of the group waving back at us….Mary and Rich…..

..and then it was time to say GoodNite, …Gregg, Bob and Bill, chattin’ up the Indian……

…it was a night to remember, Texas style for sure!   More good memories, made and shared, and lots to be grateful for!!!

Shop Till They Drop (guys that is)

We took off for Fredericksburg today and  started at the Wild seed Farms.  There were many flowers in bloom and it was great to just walk around enjoying the sights and the many shops they had.  The country side on the way there was totally in bloom and truly awesome.

Bluebells, red bells and purple bells.

Poppy field in bloom

 

From there is was lunch time, sorry no pictures, but Chuck and Mac ate so much that Bob had to literally haul them out.

From there it was on to some serious shopping at many of the original shops, and you might expect to see on the nightly news where the economy has picked up rather well in this area.

Bob waiting patiently for the women shoppers.

Tomorrow it is off to the Biker Bar for dinner.  Nothing but the best for us!  Life is Good!

Corpus, Rockport & Wind

We arrived in Corpus with some of the best gas mileage ever, almost 13 miles per gallon, needless to say we had a tailwind  most of the way.  If we could have put up a sail we would have arrived with more gas than we departed with….lol.  With the exception of yesterday we have been blessed with the that wind.

Dinner?

After getting settled in the Navy campground, in the humongous sites, and getting recommendations of seafood restaurants we were off to dinner at Snoopy’s.  It was okay, nothing special, but we enjoyed eating on the bay and watching the antics of all the birds. The fishermen coming in would dump their left over bait and the birds sure knew it.  They were all waiting for their free hand out. The next day we were off to the beach up the coast into Rockport, actually scouted out Alice Fay’s for a  late lunch, and the fish there was great.  Did mention the Rockport gang to the waitress as the reason we were there, but got this blank look, so evidently she had no idea.  We were on a hunt for whoppers and not sure if we found them or not as they were so far away.  They were in a meadow by the '”the big tree”.  The tree is estimated to be over 1000 years old.  The flowers were just beautiful in that area.

Whooper's????????

It was an awesome day, could not have asked for better weather and we just put zed around being tourists.  Yesterday took us to the Botanical Gardens,and the roses were fabulous, but would not put it on a bucket list.

 

Always said that Chuck could fall asleep on a rock, and this was very deceptive, but it is all rock.

But no, he is not asleep.  Although touring the gardens was not one of the things he especially wanted to do, so thank you dear, for humoring me.

Tomorrow we will be moving to Bourne, looking forward to meeting up with friends both new and old.  If you ever find yourself behind the “Damnearahouse” be sure give us a honk.

Happy Easter

Tomorrow will see our wheels turning, as we are leaving the valley.  We plan on going to Corpus Christi for a week or so.  The Navy has a nice campground that is right on the beach, where we planning on staying. 

This park is so empty, almost everyone but the people who live here year round are gone, except a few Canadians who are holding off till the last day. 

We have enjoyed our stay here very much, Chuck gets to play as much cards and golf as he wants, which leaves me free to do as much or as little as I like.

We are in the process of revamp our travel plans, which will revolve around how quickly Chuck will be able to get a small hernia taken care of in Colorado Springs.  Instead of picking our grandson up in California and heading north to Washington, we plan to fly him into Los Vegas, and go from there.  Think that there is a lot more to entertain him in that part of the country, San Diego, Disneyland, so he is sure to be happy with it.

The wind is blowing today, hopeful it will die down some, glad that we have such a short trip tomorrow, got to ease back into the travel mode.

Hope all have a wonderful Easter, life is good.

Too Good Not To Share

Children Writing About the Ocean...
1) - This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly, age 6)
2) - Oysters' balls are called pearls. (Jerry, age 6)
3) - If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you don't have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. (age 7)
4) - Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend any more. (Kylie, age 6)
5) - A dolphin breaths through an a$$hole on the top of its head.
(Billy, age 8)
6) - My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and pots and comes back with crabs. (Millie, age 6)
7) - When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn't blow the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. (William, age 7)
8) - Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? 
(Helen, age 6)
9) - I'm not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write. (Amy, age 6)
10) - Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves in to chargers. (Christopher, age 7)
11) - When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6)
12) - Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Divers can't go down alone, so they have to go down on each other. (Becky, age 8)
13) - On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water fired right up her big fat butt. (Julie, age 7)
14) - The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don't drown I don't know. (Bobby, age 6)
15) - My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean. What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom. (James, age 7)

I’m Bald

Well, almost that is.  This is the 3rd time since we have been here that I’ve had my hair cut, all by the same person.  The first time was good, the second perfect, but this time it is so short. that all I have is cow licks.  I’m sure it will grow and the world won’t end, but third time was suppose to be a charm.

Getting closer to the time of leaving here, have people coming to wash and wax the fiver Friday.  Glad that we are having it done, don’t like Chuck up on the roof. Park is getting emptier by the day.  We debated making a reservation for next year, but decided that we did not want to be committed to being here at a certain time, or for that matter , even to being here next year.  Very seldom do we make reservations, we are more of the whatever, when ever, maybe never type of people.

We made it to Rudy’s Bar B Q last night and it was soooo good.  Brought a lot home, so we will have dinner tonight with more of the same.  Also saw the movie Bounty Hunter, which was better than I thought it would be.  Other than that we have been just hanging out here doing a lot of this and that.

Life is good.

Smelling the Orange Blossoms

There are three trees around our rig and the smell is heavenly.  Sure glad that we don’t have allergies.  Weather has gotten ever so nice, time for the swimming pool, need to get some color back, as the foul weather has taken it’s toll on my tan. This is more like what we have come to expect here in Texas, warm to hot and windy. 

 

Texas Bluebells

We are seeing a lot of our new friends leave, as they are making their way home, although most of the Canadians are putting off the move for a few more weeks.  We are getting that ole “hitch itch” too.  Our last bridge lesson is next week and Chuck has a doctors appointment for the 26th and after that we are free. We are planning a big loop around the country this coming year, from here up to Colorado Springs over into the lower half of Utah, on to the Grand Canyon, California, where we will pick up our grandson, then a meandering trip up into Washington.  We will fly him home once he’s tired of us and we will continue on to Indiana for the Escapees & Nicks rally’s.  From there over to the east coast and down to Key West and back up the west coast of Florida and follow the shoreline, as much as possible back to the RGV by January.  If your going to make a plan it might as well be a big one, and this one makes me tired just writing about it.  

We are on cable here, so we had our dish put on inactive, which means we can not use the dvr, but there was a channel from Canada that had the Amazing Race on at 6, so I was able to get my race fix and make it to out Sunday night card game at 7.  But once daylight savings time kicked in that no longer works, so last night had to make a big choice.  DARN!  We have so enjoyed our time spent at this park, though the spaces are extremely tight.  There are some premier sites in among the park models that are quite spacious and we are planning on reserving one of those if possible, just have to decide on a date for our arrival here. 

Got our taxes done, renewed our passports, even though I sent in some pictures of some “old” people.  Life is good.   

Finally Made It To Mexico

Sign that greets entering Mexico

Made the run over the border yesterday, and we had a great time. Had my super shrimp cocktail at the Red Snapper, along with 2 margaritas. Sound like a great diet to me! But it is working great and that is all I care about. Picked up a few meds, 10 videos, couple of things for the great grandkids for Easter….AND a “PRADA” purse for 25 dollars. LOL….Been looking for a lime green one, also got another one for a gift, but in red.

Will be the last time we probably make that trip this year as our passports expire in a few days. Guess I better get that taken care of while I’m thinking of it, out of sight, out of mind, has been kicking in on me. Have to start writing them notes that I’ve laughed at Chuck for doing it for years.

Today it was bridge lessons in the morning, ran home for lunch, and back to a session playing with the “big dogs”. Those are the people who really are out to cut your throat, I’m being a bit unfair, there are a lot of fun people, but a few take the game waaaaay to seriously. But it sure feels good when you can beat them at their own game.

Princess Kylee’s 2nd birthday

Sure wish we could have been there, she is growing just too fast. Her mother made the castle cake, did a fabulous job.

Days are flying by, miss all our friends, just knowing that they are no longer just down the road, but know that we will be together again before too long. That’s the RV life.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN??????

Wow, the time has just flown by.  I’ve been back from my trip to Wisconsin for Aunts funeral for a couple of weeks now.  Glad that I went, and flying was not too bad, hand carried my luggage as I had to change planes 3 times and sure wanted a change of clothes while I was there.  Those people that live there are hardy souls.  They go out in below zero weather, cut a hole in the ice and fish for hours and then call it fun!  Brings real meaning to flash frozen.  The fish are sure good though.

Nothing much has happened in the past few weeks, a few get together with the Dreamers, who are fixing to leave us in a few days.  We did have a Girls day out the other day and it was a real kick. There were 8 of us and we first hit the restaurant supply, then it was off to a Vintage Tea Room.

  Must say from the outside it did not look to promising, but……..we had a great time. Moral of the story, never judge a book by the cover.    

It was a funky eclectic atmosphere  and we were invited to get in the spirit of the times by dressing in the clothing that was found through out the rooms.

Netters looking good.Love hats, hate hat hair                                       

                                         Arlene, hats suit you!

                                     

                        Dortha, hmmmmm

Our lunch decision was very easy too, chicken salad or chicken salad sandwich.  Peach tea, iced or hot.  But the laughs we had were continuous..

Putting the Tea Room in the rear window, we headed for a Rio Grande experience, a ROPA.   Where these clothes come from I have no idea, but they are baled….yes….just like hay.  People do go there and dig, sift, sort and all the rest looking for a bargain.  We did spot one thing, but just left it lay.

Neiman Marcus bag

Actually we were very careful not to touch anything. Note the two women in the pile.

ROPA,  it is 10 cents a pound, over priced by a dime.

 

We did do a little shopping, but everything was on a hangar.  After arriving back at Netters RV, waited for the guys to get back from the golf course and once they did, the biggest swarm of mosquitoes followed them that we had to make a run for the truck.

This is one Olympia match you will not be able to see on TV.

   But they were 2nd in pinochle…(card game) in the Senior Olympics.

Sure hope that the weather we had today is what we are going to see more of from here on, it was wonderful, low 80’s, just what we have come to expect here, unfortunately there has been very little of it this year.

We are still trying to get to Mexico one last time, but the weather and the gun fights have made it nigh impossible up to now, but we will play it by ear, if we make fine, if not, oh well.

Feel like I’ve caught this blog up some what, life is good. 

Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Bridge has taken over for us these past few days, think that we have played almost every day in some form or another. But the rain has kept us indoors most of the time too, and it did rain buckets on Wednesday.

Tonight we went to “Taste of the Valley” along with 10,000 other people. It was so crowded that it was a total failure as far as I’m concerned. You could not move, sure will be checking that off the bucket list! Did run into the other “Dreamers” and they gave up on the event and went some place else. We were with some other friends and we just came home.

Tomorrow I have to run around and get a few things done as I’m having to fly to Wisconsin for a funeral. My Aunt passed away last night, and during our visit this summer she asked me to promise that I would attend her funeral no matter what. One thing I will be much more appreciative of this “bad” weather we are having here in Texas. Checked the weather for up there….nothing over 19 degrees. So, I’m off.