2007

Pam & Tracy arrived Saturday evening, Dec 22, and we met them at Pelican's Landing for dinner before they went on down to their condo. They are about 4 miles south of us - up on the 8th floor so have quite a view!!!

Sunday, we all went to church and then to Trout Street for dinner - yum!! Jon arrived Sunday afternoon, coming down from St Peters.

Pam even brought along a Christmas tree along to decorate the condo! Christmas Eve, we had our usual buffet dinner and opened presents. It is much more fun having at least two families to do this! Last year, they were snowbound in Parker and we all had to do it alone!!! They had much more room in their condo than we do here in the coach so we did most of our visiting down there!

Pam & Tracy checking out their new calendar	Jon had one wrapped several times!!	Tracy and his laughing frog!!

Christmas Day, we decided to have dinner here in the park rather than spending most of the day cooking. It was potluck so we had to fix veggies and a relish tray, but that was easier than the whole meal!! We had a delicious ham dinner and there was quite a crowd there. Later in the afternoon, we went to the beach for some relaxing - and sand castle building. We got a Christmas picture of the Hopkins, but somehow didn't remember to get one of us - or one of all of us!!

Pam & Tracy gave us a lighted palm tree for our yard for Christmas - it is so neat!! How did they know we have been wanting one??? It doesn't show up much in this picture, but looks really neat at night!!

Wednesday, Pam & Tracy decided to catch some after Christmas sales and we met them at the Big Fisherman near Rockport for lunch. That night we went to Trout Street again for dinner since Jon was wanting to go there and was leaving in the morning.

Thursday, Jon left for Denton and we worked while Pam & Tracy played on the beach. That night we went to the Crazy Cajun for a cajun boiled dinner!! YUM!! We didn't get there last year and it is one of Don's favorite places. Early Friday morning Pam & Tracy took the boat over to St Joseph's Island and found a whole bag full of shells! We stayed home and worked on the website and did laundry. They went to Virginia's on the Bay for dinner that night, but we went down to the rec center for burgers (much cheaper!!!) then we went down to their place to play some Sequence.

So...........that brings us up to today!! Pam & Tracy got ready to leave this morning only to discover a flat tire on their van!!! They got it changed and went to Wal-Mart to find that is was not fixable so had to buy new tires!!! That was not in their budget!!! So, they got delayed in their trip to Denton - do hope they get in before too late tonight!! We will probably go down and play bingo tonight........

The park has been pretty empty this past month, but is filling up quickly now that Christmas is behind us! They say that there are few open spaces for January.

Of course, I couldn't possibly finish this today without showing off the cutest great-granddaughter there is!!! Sure wish they weren't so far away!!!!

We have spent most of our time working on a website we are redesigning and adding storefront...lots of learning to be done!! Last Friday we did go down for burgers in the clubhouse and took time Saturday to play bingo - no winnings this time! Oh well............

We have managed, most days, to walk down to the beach and walk along the beach a ways. So far, most of the days have been in the 60's and 70's - a bit windy some days, but usually not too bad.

Sunday, we went to church and then to Pelican's Landing for dinner and then stopped at our favorite souvenir shops to finish some Christmas shopping. We got our packages mailed Monday, hoping for them to all reach their destination by Christmas! Sunday evening we had a Christmas Party and gift exchange here in the park.

Wednesday evening we went Christmas Caroling in the park and then back to the activity center for refreshments. It brought back to mind when we lived in Boulder (many years ago!!) and Eileen Zach and I would take our kids and go caroling around the neighborhood - it was MUCH COLDER then!!!

Thursday, Dec 20, we took time to go check out a couple of birding areas here in Port Aransas. Paradise Pond always has lots of night herons up in the trees. And usually several great blue herons.

Leaving Longview on Friday, Nov 30, we went down to Livingston for one night and then on to Port Lavaca for the weekend. Sunday afternoon after church, we went to Subway and got sandwiches and drove down to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge to do some birdwatching. It must be too early in the season, because there weren't a lot of birds there. We did see a vermilion flycatcher - they are so gorgeous!!! We saw the whooping cranes but they were so far away they were just little white spots!! We also saw our first live armadillo, a cute little tree frog, lots of black vultures, and even several deer!

Monday, Dec 3 we came on down to Port Aransas where we will be through March. It has been in the 70's during the day and down to the low 70's or 60's at night!! Sure beats the ice storms up north and the snow at home!!! However, it has been really humid!!! I left a few almonds in a dish for a few hours and even they got soggy!!!!

We started two big website jobs just before leaving home and they are keeping us very busy! We are trying to get most of the work done so we won't have to work when Pam & Tracy & Jonathon get down here. Christmas is coming way too fast!!! I still have sewing to do and we have most of our shopping to get done so we can mail packages Monday. Busy, busy!! I didn't even get ornaments made this year! Oh well..........

Since we have been here, we have taken time, most days, to walk down to the beach and walk a ways....it is so pretty! We have also taken time to play card bingo a couple of nights (Don even won one game last night!), regular bingo Saturday night (Don won $10 and Bev $7 - so paid for our night plus a little!), and we had a pot luck last night - yum! Friday night we have hamburger night & a dance and Sunday night is the Christmas party. Lots of other things going on, but right now, we don't have time!!! Don did go down for exercise class this morning. We did take time off Sunday and after church, went to Trout Street Grill for dinner (about our favorite place here) and came home to change clothes and then went to a couple of birdwatching places here in Port A. There were scads of white pelicans at the birding center along with blue-winged teals and black-necked stilts.

Monday afternoon, November 10, we left home heading south for the winter. Our first night, as usual, was in Moab UT. It is a nice short trip after spending the morning and early afternoon loading the coach. From there, we head to Gallup NM for a night and then to Tucumcari NM, where we spent 2 nights because we don't like to spend too many days in a row traveling. Then it was on to Vernon TX and a weekend stop in Plano TX.

We arrived in Plano Saturday afternoon, and that evening went with my cousin & his wife to a CWC Couples Connection dinner at the Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco. They had a good crowd for their first dinner, the food was delicious and the speaker was great! We had a very enjoyable evening. Sunday morning, we met Jerry & Margaret at church and then went back over to their house for dinner and more visiting and catching up.

Monday morning we maneuvered through the Dallas traffic and headed to Longview where we will spend the next 10 days or so doing some computer work at Missionary TECH Team HQ. The first evening here, we were invited over to one of the families's home for a delicious fajita dinner and enjoyed visiting with them. Another family has invited us over tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. They are taking good care of us!!

Sunday afternoon (Sept 30), we arrived home from an almost 3-week trip east. We left on Sept 12 for St Peters MO to visit with Cindy & family, friends from long ago and attend the annual Calvary reunion picnic. There was a great crowd at the picnic and it was fun to catch up with people we had not seen in several years!!

We spent two weekends with Cindy & family and, since they are SO BUSY during the week, we spent Mon-Thurs nights with Jim & Betty Worman. That was a very busy week for us, having lunch or supper with our friends in the area. We had a wonderful time catching up with them all, but did get tired with all the visiting!!

Monday, Sept 24, we went down to Poplar Bluff MO to visit with Pam & Tracy in their new home. They have a nice house kinda' out in the country and are adjusting to the humidity after several years in CO! They are "empty nesters" now with Jonathon living in St Peters with Cindy & family and attending St Charles Community College.

We went to Cherryvale KS on our way home to visit Don's brother, Ken, and his wife, Ann. Then it was on west, stopping one night with Chris & Carol near Bailey. It is always so pretty at their place up in the foothills west of Denver!

So, now it is "catch up" time for all the things that didn't get done while we were on our trip, and get ready to leave again next month for the winter in TX....

We went to Glenwood Springs Thursday and Friday nights for a short vacation over our anniversary since that is where we spent our honeymoon 50 years ago. We had beautiful weather and enjoyed the pool Friday afternoon for awhile after wandering around the downtown area for awhile and enjoying lunch at the Daily Bread Cafe. We stayed at the Quality Inn - the motel we stayed in 50 years ago no longer exists!!

We had a wonderful anniversary dinner at the Atmosphere - a french restaurant in downtown Glenwood. Saturday, we took the "shortcut" home via Redstone and Marble. All in all, it was a great get-away!!

Well - this summer has flown by!!! We have been quite busy since we got home from Denver working on websites (and a little quilting!!) We went to the Caberet dinner theater this week. Our season tickets have about run out and we don't think we will renew for another year. Time for a break.

Don has just completed 5 weeks of teaching Microsoft Office for Colorado Christian University and has been volunteering with the National Park Service. He has taken a couple of trips to Denver on Amtrak as tour guide and really enjoyed that. He also works an occasional ½ day in the visitors center at the Colorado National Monument.

We have gone to many of the Thursday night concerts here at the civic center. They have been very enjoyable....just take our lawn chair and drinks and sit on the grass and enjoy the music!! We also went to Grand Junction to the Symphony under the Stars concert in Lincoln Park and it was great! We have been trying to get down to the Thursday night Farmers' Market in Grand Junction, but the local concerts have won out so far....maybe next week!

The Olathe corn and Palisade peaches are ripe and we are certainly enjoying them!! Now it is time for the Green River melons to arrive....YUM!!!

Our family is awesomesome!!!
(For more anniversary pictures click here.) Our kids put together a fantastic 50th Anniversary weekend for us at the Marriott Courtyard in Louisville CO, July 5-8!! All of our kids and grandkids (and our great-grandbaby) were there except for one grandson-in-law (Megan's husband) who was in military training in WA. This was the first time in 16 years that the whole family has been together - there have been a few changes in that time! Several other relatives, cousins, nieces, nephews, sisters, etc., were able to join us which made it even more special. A big surprise was several friends from when we lived in Boulder (we left there in 1974!). One of the neatest things was that the pastor who married us was there to renew our vows!! All in all, it was a wonderful weekend and we hated to see it end.

My two sisters made us an unbelievable quilt!! Which was quite a job since it is quite large and they live 250 miles apart!!! It is so neat!!!! They did a great job!

Our oldest son, Chris, had a painting made from our wedding picture (which was taken by Bev's grandfather who was a professional photographer) and it is wonderful!

Our youngest son, Ron, provided us with a free room for our stay at the Marriott and managed to get his whole family here from Oregon!

Besides doing an amazing job of organizing of this event - our oldest daughter, Pam, spent the last 3½ years putting together a 2-volume scrapbook with 2 pages for every year of our marriage - pictures and listing important events. It is incredible!!

Our youngest daughter, Cindy, was our photographer and as soon as we get her pictures I will add an anniversary picture page. She will be adding pages to the scrapbook she made of our wedding and 25th anniversary pictures. And - she also made us one of her famous cakes, brought it all the way from MO and decorated it in CO. It was beautiful as well as delicious!!

We had a wonderful time visiting with everyone - the time went by way too quickly and we didn't get to visit as much as we would have liked..... It was great to finally get to see and love on our great-grandbaby, Kaitlyn, from Oregon who was born the end of Feb!!! She was so good with everyone passing her around and around. She is SO PRECIOUS!! And lives way too far away!!!!

Friday, we were able to spend some time in Boulder with our daughters and their families going by houses that Don built when we were there and taking the kids to the parks. Sunday afternoon we went with Cindy & her family up to Eldorado Canyon to enjoy the mountains a bit - it was very pretty up there - and very crowded!!

Monday, we went to Denver to help one of our database users with some problems they were having with their program. We then went up to Chris & Carol's to visit with them and Megan, who was there for a couple of days, and celebrate Chris' birthday. Tuesday morning we headed home and stopped in Breckenridge for a couple of hours to have lunch and wander around the shops awhile. Every time we go through there, we say we need to stop and finally did it!

Where did this month go???? We have been busy with a new website and working on getting our Student Tracker program online and revisions of it for one of our missionaries, so have kept very busy!!

Rifle Gap lake from the campground	Rifle Falls	Rifle Mountain Park

We did take a few days off and go up to Rifle Gap with the coach for 3 nights and it was very relaxing! We went up to Rifle Falls both days and enjoyed the coolness and beauty of the area. Don hiked up to the top of the falls one day. Then, the second day, we drove on past the falls and took a hike through a Riparian zone (the Latin term "riparian" means adjacent to, or living on the bank of the stream). It was quite lush and nice and cool under the trees. Then we went on up to Rifle Mountain Park which was quite a surprise as all of a sudden, we were in the bottom of a canyon!

In the afternoons, we sat in the shade of the coach and read a book. We only had 1 TV station, very poor cell phone reception, so it was quiet and relaxing! In the evenings we played Upwords and Cribbage. A fun time!!

Last Thursday evening, we went to the concert here at the Civic Center. It had cooled down enough to be comfortable and we enjoyed the music. There is a good group playing this week, also, so plan to go again. We just take our lawn chairs and find a spot in the shade. They have groups there every Thursday night during the summer.

We have gone over to the rec center for coffee several Wednesday mornings and had a neighborhood potluck Memorial Day and will have another one on July 4.

Well, we have been home for over 7 weeks! The time has flown by, as usual! Don is finishing his last class of this session tonight and will teach again in July. He has taken on a new volunteer job with the National Park Service and works a half day occasionally at the desk in the office on the Colorado National Monument. He also takes an occasional trip to Denver on the Amtrak describing the countryside and views to those on the train. They go over one day (when the train is somewhat on time!!!) and come back the next. He is really enjoying the new challenges!

We've been working on some websites and have actually been getting some pictures and slides scanned into the computer. The older pictures and slides are fading, so we want to get them saved before it is too late. But - that is quite a time-consuming job!!!

I have taken some time away from the computer to put a quilt together with blocks I won last July and will donate to the guild to be given to someone in need. I am also still doing hand quilting on a quilt for our bed that I have been working on for a couple of years - it always gets put aside when something else comes up.

We have been having beautiful weather and plan to go up on the Monument tomorrow to see the cactus in bloom! Maybe we can get some good pictures!!

Thursday evening, March 29, John & Sylvia Duffey took us to a wonderful Argentine restaurant over in Reynosa Mexico for a delicious quail dinner and a great time of visiting with them. We have been there in past trips down here and really enjoy their food.

It has been interesting seeing the truckloads of oranges around town! That's a lot of oranges!! We have also been enjoying eating them - at about $3.00 a bag....YUM!

Friday, we went to the butterfly garden here near the RV park. It is just in the beginning stages and should be great when done. We did see quite a few pretty butterflies on and around the flowers.

Saturday & Sunday, we didn't do much - had some rain Saturday and went for a walk around the park after it stopped. The roses are so pretty with raindrops on them!

On Monday, April 2, we headed home! Our first stop was Del Rio TX - the closest place to stop but a long day for us! We spent 2 nights there so we could visit Lake Amistad and do some birdwatching. There was a gorgeous Vermillion Flycatcher there in the park that we saw several times. At one of the campgrounds on the lake we spotted a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - that's quite a tail!!

From Del Rio, we went to Van Horn, TX, where we spent one night and then on to Elephant Butte, NM - after a stop in Hatch for more of their delicious roasted chiles!!

We spent two nights there in Elephant Butte - had a horrendous wind storm Friday night - tried to do some birdwatching in the area but saw few birds. I guess it is too desolate for them....didn't even see a roadrunner!!

Then it was on to Gallup, NM, where we spent 2 nights since we arrived on Saturday and don't like to travel on Sunday. We attended Easter Services at a great Conservative Baptist Church there in Gallup and then went to Cracker Barrel for a delicious dinner.

Monday, it was on to Moab, where we found jeeps everywhere, and on home Tuesday morning. We managed to eat lunch and unpack the coach in about 3 hours - but didn't get everything unpacked and put away in the house for a couple days!!

Now we plan on being home for the next several months except for maybe some local short trips. Don has a class at CCU beginning May 3. I need to get my sewing room straightened out and get to work on a couple of projects. I would like to make some blocks for the block lottery this month and have blocks for several quilts to get put together....

Last week was spent mostly working and meeting with our missionary friends to get their databases up-to-date. It was warm, humid and windy so we didn't try to do much birdwatching.

Monday, the 26th we went over to Duffeys to deliver their database and noticed the gorgeous bougainvilleas in their back yard! That's an orchid tree in the left foreground - also very neat! There are many, many of these plants all around the area and are so beautiful!!

That afternoon we went into the Bentsen State Park to do some birdwatching. The wind wasn't so bad when we got in among the trees. There were lots of Indigo Buntings in the area - they are so pretty - and so varied in color. They are everywhere from bright blue to very speckled blue & gray! They had put some peanut butter in the trees and the Chachalaca were trying to get to it - they really don't do well on the side of a tree! This Golden Fronted Woodpecker was really enjoying it!

Wednesday afternoon we went to the club house for a last social time - the campground is really emptying out and I think there are around 50 more leaving Sunday!! We will go after the crowds on Monday. Later in the evening, we played Sequence again with our friends from AR and this time the guys won 1 more game than the gals!

We thought we might have to spend another 2-3 weeks here....we ordered 2 new tires for the coach 2 weeks ago (they don't seem to carry this size in stock anywhere!!) because one of the rear tires had a lot of weather cracking. We didn't feel comfortable driving through western TX and up through NM where there is a lot of NOTHING with a tire like that. When Don called them Monday, they said it could be another 2-3 weeks because they hadn't been shipped to Houston yet and then had to come down here.............So, he took the coach yesterday morning to have the tires checked by someone who knows how much cracking is dangerous. They only found one bad tire and "just happened" to have a used tire the right size with about the same tread as the others. All we had to pay was mounting and balancing - $52 with no charge for the tire! God is so good!!!! Much better than the $350 per tire for new ones!!!!

Yesterday afternoon we went back to Santa Ana National Wildlife Reserve but there were few birds around - some Chachalacas, a few Grackles and lots of Red Winged Blackbirds!!

Another week gone by already!! I can't believe how fast they go!!! We do enjoy hearing the mockingbirds sing here in the park.....but sometimes the grackles and red-winged blackbirds drown them out! We can't believe how many blackbirds are here!!!

Much of our time has been spent working on the Databases for Gibson's and Duffey's. We found that our Supporter Database needed some updating and decided this was a good time to get it done. We also were able to import some of Duffey's data for this year into the database for them to save them having to re-enter all of it.

Last Wednesday, we went over to the new Outlet Mall near Mercedes. It is quite large - got our exercise walking from one end to the other! We were able to find Don some new "tennies" - he wears them out quickly with his new exercise program! And - I actually found a pair of shoes in the Naturalizer Outlet - a $60 pair for only $18!! That was quite a find! And, of course, I HAD to go into the Carter Outlet and get some Kaitlyn things!!!

Friday afternoon, we took the completed databases over to Gibsons and had a nice visit with them. Saturday, I did get Kaitlyn's quilt done and the rest of my Bento Blocks sewn together for my new quilt for the coach. That evening we had a St Patrick's Day party here in the park.

Sunday, was out to church and dinner. Then in the evening we got together with a couple, who we met up in Port A and are also here for a month, and played some Sequence. The gals won!!!

Monday, we went down to Progresso, Mexico, shopping. We had fun wandering around there, had a delicious lunch, did a little shopping, and Don got a haircut.

Then, on the way back to the park, we stopped at the Santa Ana NWR for some birdwatching. It was rather windy, but not too warm. We saw quite a few critters - Bev even got a glimpse of a bobcat (hind end only) as he darted out of sight! Part of the area there was thick with spanish moss - kinda' pretty! Don got a really neat shot of this Western Kingbird up in the treetop! We certainly got our walking in this day!!

   

Hmmmm.....this morning Don went to get some oranges and grapefruit from where they are hanging under our slide (to keep out of the sun) and found that someone ??? had torn a hole in the orange bag and had removed one orange - eaten it there and left the rind for him to clean up!! Wonder who this was???

Last Tuesday, we took advantage of a nice morning and went into the Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park to do some birdwatching. It was disappointing to find that there are not nearly the birds there now that we found when we were able to camp there and everyone put out food for them. Even at some of the feeding stations, there were no birds! We did see a few at one of the spots - the orioles are so gorgeous! Especially when the sun shines on them! We finally were able to locate the screech owl that lives in a tree there - only because someone was there to show him to us!! He certainly does blend in with the tree trunk!!!

Tuesday afternoon, we met with Duane & Marilyn Gibson, Missionaries to Mexico, and brought home a list of things needed in their databases.

We do have some pretty sunsets down here! This picture was taken Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning, we met with Seth & Pat Duffey to determine their database needs and brought home a list of things to do for them. So, we do have a bit of work to get done while we are here in Mission. They took us to a great little Mexican restaurant for lunch. Then, on the way home we stopped at a fruit stand and got some wonderful oranges & grapefruit.

Thursday, we worked on the databases and then Gibsons took us to Red Lobster for dinner - yum!! We have been here a week already - how time flies!

Friday, it was more computer work and then in the evening there was a bluegrass gospel concert here in the park. It was a fun time. We had not heard of the singer, but he was very enjoyable. Saturday was laundry day - again! And - more computer work.... And card bingo in the evening - last time for this year here in this park.

Sunday, we went to church at the RV park up the road again and then went to a little restaurant not too far from here which was quite good and very inexpensive. We have a large flock of red winged blackbirds that reside in the trees behind our coach - and are they ever noisy!!!!

Today, Monday the 12th, is a rainy, cool day. It actually seems kinda' nice after the heat we have been having! It is supposed to be back in the 80's tomorrow and, I believe, 91° Wednesday!!! We were going down to Progresso today, but decided to wait until the rain stops....

Tuesday (2/27) was a big day for our family.....Heather & Jared's daughter, Kaitlyn Irene, arrived on her Great-Aunt Toby's birthday!! What a sweetheart! We just wish she was closer to us so we could love on her and help spoil her!!! Our first Great-grandbaby!!! It sure is hard to believe - we are too young for this!! And - our son is a Grandpa!!!!! Wow!!

There was a Chili Cook-Off here in the park, also on Tuesday, and I (Bev) won 2nd place (out of 12 or 13 entries)!!! That was the first time I have tried anything like this - fun! Then, we had our last dance here in Port A. We are going to miss these dances!!

Wednesday, our last day on the beach was cool and very foggy!! The Bible Study Group had a supper cook-out on the beach.....the fire certainly felt good! Then we went back and played a last game of dominos with Duane & Mary Ann.

Thursday was moving day.......After telling everyone good-bye, we headed south to Mission and Bentsen Palm Village. The flowers along the road are getting really pretty in some areas as we drove south and it was nice to see the trees starting to get green. It was sunny and warm when we arrived and we ended up with an extra-large site because the one we were assigned was still occupied. It is a nice site, but almost too much concrete! We back on to a common area, which is nice instead of back-to-back with another RV as we were in Port A.

Friday and Saturday, we stayed home and relaxed a bit .... we have really been on the go lately and it was nice to just stay put! It seems like every time we come down to the valley, my (Bev's) allergies start acting up!! I thought coming down a little later in the spring might help, but it didn't! Oh well.......... Saturday afternoon, I set up my sewing machine out on the patio and worked on baby quilt for Kaitlyn. That night was card bingo night here in the park. They play it a little different here - I guess each place has it's own way.

Sunday, we went to church up the road a bit at another RV park where our friend Seth Duffy preaches. It was nice to see him and his family and we look forward to visiting with them soon. We went out to lunch and then to the grocery store before returning home. It was a mostly cloudy and cool day.

Today, it is sunny and supposed to get up to 72....sounds great! We have been having trouble getting connected to the internet, so Don spent all morning working on it! I am still sniffling a bit and my sinuses are clogged - we need to go to Wal-Mart for decongestant some time today!!

Tuesday morning I took my stuff down to the rec hall and got a quilt pinned - now to get it quilted!! The weather is turning nicer so it will be hard to stay in and sew! In the afternoon we had our last dance lesson of the season. We certainly do appreciate what John & Jeannie have done the past few months!! After supper we went down for the last bingo night before we leave.

Wednesday was the Pioneer Ladies' Luncheon and Fashion show. We had wonderful salads and desserts made by several of the gals in the park. The fashion show was put on by several shops here in Port A and there were some really pretty outfits. After that we walked down to the beach - had a wonderful day: sunny and 70's!!! It was so pretty down there - and lots of people on the beach! We went out to supper with Duane & Mary Ann to celebrate his birthday.

Thursday we decided to go to Corpus Christi and do some birdwatching. The first place we headed to didn't seem to exist! we drove and drove and finally gave up and went to the next one - the Corpus Christi Botanical Garden. It was too early for most of their flowers but the orchid house was gorgeous and the desert garden was pretty. There we found a cute tree frog on one of the plants. We walked out to the ponds there and while one only had a few coots on it, the other one had quite a number of different critters.

Friday, we had to go to Wal-Mart - AGAIN!!! and got home just in time for burger night at the rec center. Saturday afternoon I set up my sewing outside to work on Toby's birthday present and got it done - now to get it mailed!! In the evening we had a Customer Appreciation Dinner - good grilled chicken - and a dance afterwards. Fun! We did get our exercise!! The dances here are well attended and the dance floor gets rather crowded at times - especially for the line dances!!!

Sunday, we went to church and then to Trout Street Grill for dinner - our last chance for awhile. Then we drove up to Rockport to look over some possible RV parks for next year if this one isn't here. Two of them were pretty dumpy, but we did find one that was nice and put our name on the waiting list (they are already full for next year!!!). She said there was a good chance of us getting in as people do change their minds quite often.

Today, Monday, we just kinda' lazed around....went to the grocery store to get cool whip for the chocolate pie I made for the potluck tonight, and walked over to the cabins to try to help a gal with her computer (but weren't much help!), and sat outside and read for awhile this afternoon. It was a beautiful day - up to 70 with a light breeze and sunshine!!

Another week gone and only a little over a week left of our time here in Port A!! Can't believe we have been here nearly 3 months already.....time flies when you're having fun!!! Tuesday was a pretty nice day so we skipped dance lessons and went birdwatching instead! We went to Paradise Pond and had fun watching the Great Blue Herons. One was determined to land up on a branch that was way too flimsy to hold him!! On the way out we saw a pretty spring bloom.

Then we went down to the beach for awhile before heading down towards North Padre to another birding area where we found this pretty Reddish Egret.

Wednesday, Valentine's Day, we went out for a Mexican lunch because there was a party/dance here in the evening. The band was good and we had a great time! We are going to miss all these dances when we leave here!!

Thursday it was Wal-Mart time again and we went to Rockport to the Big Fisherman for lunch. Friday afternoon we went to Corpus Christi to Hobby Lobby for some fabric and stopped at the mall to do some other shopping.

Saturday was the Senior Olympics. Fortunately, the weather warmed up and we had sunshine but lots of wind. Each team had to do their cheer then we had a Waddleball race, played Texas Golf, passed the hula hoop down the line without touching it with our hands or breaking the chain, Frisbee toss, water balloon volleyball (using a sheet to pass it over the net). We all had a great time and our team took 3rd place!! Saturday night was bingo.......for those who still had energy to get down to the rec center!

Don in the Waddleball race	Our team passing the hula hoop	Don throwing in Texas Golf	Our team

Sunday after church we went to lunch at Pelican's Landing and then came home and Don cleaned the coach roof while I took it easy until it was time to go down to the rec center for ice cream and a couple of games of cribbage with our friends from Michigan.

Today, it was sunny and warm (got up to 72°) but windy. Don had to repair the bathroom faucet and then we went down to the beach. We set out our chairs to read awhile, but the wind was too strong and cool coming off the ocean so we ended up sitting in the car. We could still enjoy the scenery and stay warm! This evening we went down and played card (dime) bingo.

Last Monday we went to the Computer Club in the morning. In the afternoon, we stopped at Stripes for a cappuccino and drove down to the beach for awhile. It was a little cool and windy, but we sat in the car and stayed warm and watched the waves and birds awhile. Then, in the evening we played dime bingo.

Tuesday, we took the 55-Alive Driving class sponsored by AARP. It is supposed to give us a discount on our insurance. Otherwise, it was pretty much a wasted day as what he had to say was mostly common sense....And it was a beautiful day and we were stuck inside!!! We did walk down to the beach when we got finished....

Wednesday it was time for a trip to Rockport to do some birdwatching, go to the fruit stand for more East Texas sweet potatoes, and go to Wal-Mart for groceries. At one birdwatching stop, it was bath time for a bunch of gulls and even a few white pelicans (that was quite a sight!!).

Thursday was another cold, cloudy yucky day - I did get the rest of my Bento Box blocks done! Friday was the quilting group and I took my Bento Box blocks down to the rec center to get them laid out - now to sew them together. In the evening, we had hamburger night and then played Sequence with two other couples.

Saturday, I (Bev) spent a good part of the day redesigning a website - a chance to earn some $$'s.... Then, in the evening, we went back to the 50's with a Sock Hop! They had the rec hall decorated with records hanging from the ceiling and had 50's & 60's music. They played spin the wheel and gave out money - or consequences if you landed on an empty spot and some of them were hilarious! They even served root beer floats for refreshments - yum! We had a great time and certainly got our exercise for the day dancing!!

Sunday, Mary Ann went with us to church, out for dinner and then to Corpus Christi for a quilt show! Her husband didn't relish the idea of going to a quilt show, so didn't join us . We saw oodles of really neat quilts - and were really tired after 2 hours of walking there!!! We got home in time to go down to the rec center for ice cream and then got together with 3 other couples for a rousing game of Sequence.

We actually had sunshine for a few minutes this morning - but it didn't last long!! Maybe it will come back this afternoon....we can hope!! They are really forecasting a clear day tomorrow ..... we will see.........

These weeks certainly are going by quickly!! I guess "time flies when you are having fun!!" We actually have sunshine again today!! There is a cool breeze, but it is pretty nice. We went down to the computer club this morning and then back to get some work done. It is in the 60's and supposed to be there all week!!

The pot luck dinner last Monday was delicious! Too many good things, that's for sure! This whole week was cloudy and cool and drizzly at times! They keep forecasting sun, but we have seen very little of it. However, the other day I saw it was -6° in Parker and 10° in Grand Junction, so we shouldn't complain too much!!

Tuesday, after Don got back from aerobics (he goes every morning at 8 am - they use the 3-mile workout video), it was laundry time. Then at 3 pm it was time for dance lessons. Wednesday morning was Bible Study, and we had a potluck supper in the evening with this group - more yummy food!! After that, we played cribbage with Duane & Mary Ann.

Thursday was another cool, cloudy day but not terribly windy so we did walk down to the beach in the afternoon. There were some pretty big waves, but few seashells on the beach. In the evening was a dance with a good country-western band - we are getting better! They played from 7 - almost 11 pm and we were rather tired by the time we got home and my legs sure complained the next morning!! But, it was fun!

Friday, I didn't go down to quilting - had my stuff out here in the coach and it was too much trouble to pack it up and go down the road! I did finish my blocks for the quilt for the coach and next Friday I will probably take them down and get them arranged to finish the top.

Saturday was another yucky day so I got some more sewing done. I made my heart blocks for the online quilt block lottery I have joined. I tried a couple of paper pieced patterns and did some pieced hearts. We did go down to the rec center for bingo in the evening. Sunday, we actually had sunshine!! Our friends from Michigan went to church with us and then we all went out for dinner. They went to the Super Bowl party here in the park in the afternoon - we didn't go to that but walked down to the beach instead. The wind was pretty cool - but it was so nice to have sunshine again!!!

Monday again already!! We have high clouds and cool today (at least for here) - only to get up to 60°! We have computer club this morning and then practice for the senior olympics this afternoon and a pot luck and dime bingo tonight! A busy day ahead....

Last Monday night's dance was fun. "Elvis" was here and put on quite a program. He sang for 2 hours and then had a 1 hour show when he walked throughout the room singing as Elvis to many of the audience. He was very good! Our dancing is getting much better so long as it is a two-step or waltz. Fun!!!!

Tuesday was time for another trip to Wal-Mart! It seems like every other day we need to go to the store.....but there isn't much storage space for groceries here in the coach. I guess that is a good thing to do on another cool, drizzly day - not much fun to be on the beach with this weather! Then in the afternoon we had dance lessons again.

Wednesday morning it was raining pretty hard so we didn't try to go to Bible study - stayed home all day and I sewed while Don worked on the computer.

Thursday - Sunshine and blue sky!!! Wow! It has been a long time since we have seen that. Don went to a holding tank seminar in the morning and then, after lunch, we went out to the birding center and Paradise Pond to do some birdwatching. There were quite a few black-necked stilts at the birding center - they sure are pretty! Over at Paradise Pond, the great blue egrets were quite active and Don got a great shot of one landing.....

Friday morning was quilting, so I took my stuff down to the rec room and got a few more blocks done on my Bento Box quilt. I need 3 more blocks and have run out of fabric, so it will be put away until we go to the store again. Friday night was burgers in the rec center and then a dance with Swamp Fever band playing. That's dancing 3 times this week! Has to be a new record!! I believe Don is actually beginning to enjoy it - he hasn't quite got the line dancing down yet but is getting better! I can usually get through a dance with only losing it a couple of times now! Certainly is good exercise!!!

A hard rain woke us up Friday night in the middle of the night and Saturday started out cloudy but around noon the clouds began breaking up a bit so we took a walk down to the beach. It seems like the sunshine brought everyone outside.....the beach was a busy place!! We got back and fixed hot dogs for supper and went down to play bingo (but didn't win - I only was missing one space!!)

Sunday was sunny but pretty cool! We went to church and then out to dinner and to Ingleside to the bank and then to Wal-Mart. It seems like we have to go shopping too often!! But - with little storage space, we do need to get groceries every few days! Then I decided it was time to get the freezer defrosted....that is one problem staying in one place so long - it doesn't get defrosted unless we make a special effort to do so. When we travel, it gets defrosted between stops! In the evening, we went down for ice cream and a couple of games of Sequence with Duane and Mary Ann - the gals won 2 out of 3 games!

Wow!! Monday again already!! How can that be????

Tuesday was cloudy, cold (40's) and drizzly. Too nasty to go out and birdwatch, that's for sure! I worked on the columbine quilt block for the quilt the group is making and on a denim shirt that I am putting birdhouses on. We did go down for dance lessons in the afternoon and then stayed home and watched TV in the evening.

Wednesday morning was Bible Study in the rec center and then I (Bev) went to the all-day quilting time. It was warmer in the rec center than in the coach! I got several blocks done on my quilt for the coach.

Thursday was another nasty day so we stayed in and did some computer work and quilting. Friday, I went down for quilting and several of us helped put blocks together for one of the gal's quilt so she could begin sewing them together. Then we went up to the Big Fisherman in Rockport for lunch and to the fruit stand and Wal-Mart.

Saturday was spent working on the computer and quilting again. It did warm up a bit so we bundled up and walked down to the beach in the afternoon. It actually got up to 57° and the sun ALMOST came out!!! We could actually see a shadow!! Amazing!!!

Sunday we went to church at First Baptist here in Port A and then to dinner. The menu was a bit pricey so we decided on the special - chicken fried steak. It was OK - nothing to brag about. Oh well.... Later in the afternoon we took a walk down to the beach. We saw a Roseate Spoonbill here in the park lake on the way to the beach - they are such strange but pretty critters! It was a bit warmer than yesterday, but still pretty cool! We did see the sun for a couple of minutes!! It is still there!!! We got home in time to head down to the rec center for ice cream. Wouldn't miss that!!

This morning was computer club at the rec center and then back to finish this and get it online and then I am going to get some sewing done. Tonight we have a dance here in the park.

Another week gone already!! There is so much going on here in the park that we have to choose a few things and even at that we do keep busy!! We wanted to get in on the Friday and/or Monday afternoon bridge, but haven't made it yet....

Tuesday was dance lessons again....Texas two-step, waltz, and Electric Slide (line dance). We are getting better!! I got some sewing done before we went up for the dance lessons - was working on a Colorado block for the quilt the group here is making for a raffle. But it didn't turn out as planned so will look for a better idea! I found a columbine block that looks neat so will try it.

Wednesday, the Bible study here started - there was a good group there. Then we went into Corpus Christi and went to JoAnn's where we got fabric for a quilt for the Coach which I will make with the Bento Box pattern - the quilting group here is working with this pattern. We stopped for supper at On the Border - yum! We got home just in time to go to the dance in the rec center - the Medicare Band was here playing big band type music which was fun.

Thursday we didn't do much - did use our washer/dryer to get my new fabric washed. It is so small we don't use it often but it works fine for little jobs like this.

Friday morning was the quilting group and I got my strips cut for my Bento Box quilt. Then it was time for a Bank and Wal-Mart run and home in time for hamburger night in the rec center. In the evening we played Dominos with Duane & Mary Ann in the rec center.

Saturday morning there was an income tax seminar by H&R Block which I (Bev) went to and did get a couple of good tips. In the afternoon we walked down to the beach - it was kinda foggy but not too cold! The beach was full of birds - never have seen so many in this area! Saturday night we went up for Bingo and I (Bev) actually won $20! Now we can afford to play a few more times.

Sunday we went to church and then to Trout Street Grill for dinner. It was still nice enough to sit out on the porch to eat but the cold front is on its way!! Then we had a nice afternoon reading and relaxing. And, of course, it was over to the rec center for ice cream in the evening!

The cold front arrived last night with wind and rain!! It woke me up around 1 with raindrops on the window!! Today it is about 40° with wind and rain - not nice! So we will stay in and try to keep warm. I spent the morning on websites and hope to do some sewing this afternoon if it quits raining long enough to bring my sewing stuff in! We have chili cooking in the crockpot for supper! Unfortunately, it is supposed to be cool, cloudy, and rainy all week.....I guess that will make us appreciate warmer, sunny weather when it does get here!! We did venture down to the rec center for dime bingo after supper....

The weeks certainly do go by quickly down here! New Year's Day we put a couple of cornish hens in the crock pot and had a delicious dinner. It was a nice day of relaxing. We did take a walk down to the beach, got a few shells and saw a few birds in the lake here in the park on the way back to the coach.

Tuesday afternoon was time for dance lessons - the group is growing with more of the Winter Texans arriving! Then, in the evening we tried our hands at regular Bingo and managed not to win - oh well, it was fun anyway! Thursday it was time for a trip to Wal-Mart which managed to take a good part of the day.

Friday, I (Bev) went to the quilting group meeting at the clubhouse and got some blocks cut out for my online block lottery. Then, in the afternoon, since it was a nice day, we went to a couple of the birding centers to watch the critters for awhile. That evening we were going to dinner at the Ingleside Moose Lodge with friends here in the park, Duane & Mary Ann, but it was too smoky inside so came back to Port A and had a nice dinner at the Pelican's Landing.

Saturday, Duane and Mary Ann went with us to lunch at the Big Fisherman and then we all went to a Gospel Music Festival in Rockport and enjoyed the groups for about 3 hours before heading home. Sunday, it was to church and then out for a Mexican dinner and went to Paradise Pond to do some birdwatching. There were several Great Blue Herons as well as lots of Black-Capped Night Herons up in the trees. Of course, we didn't miss the ice cream time here at the rec center - 3 scoops for $1 and time to visit and meet new people!

This morning we went to the Computer Club meeting and then, it being a sunny warm (65°) day we walked down to the beach for awhile. There weren't many shells to gather but lots of broken and crushed sand dollars and lots of tiny shells. It is strange how the shelling changes from day to day! Then I brought my sewing table in and got some of the blocks made to send to the block lottery. Then we had a yummy pot luck supper and dime bingo. Busy, Busy!!!

We had a great New Year's Eve Party here in the park last night with a country-western band and lots of good eats and getting to know new people!