2008

We do have pretty sunsets here! The sky was really glowing last night! Many nights the bookcliffs turn quite red and with all the snow, it is quite a contrast.

It is almost Christmas already! I will continue on a new page with Christmas and then on through the year.

Well...where did that month (and then some) go??? My daughter got after me for not keeping this updated - so I figured I had better get busy on OUR website! We have kept quite busy with websites lately. I bought a new menu maker program and have been having fun with it getting some of our sites updated as well as doing updates requested by our customers and working on one new site. We also keep involved here with coffee on Wednesday mornings, social time twice a month, line dancing every Monday afternoon and Bible Study every other week.

We are certainly going to miss our view when they build homes north of us! Here is the sunset view this evening.

I finally finished our quilt!!! Only 4 years in the making!! Now I need to get busy on Christmas presents - but need some ideas. Money is tight this year, so people will be getting homemade gifts as much as possible....

We are hoping the snow holds off for a couple of weeks now as Chris & Carol have invited us over there for Thanksgiving. We haven't spent Thanksgiving with them since they came over here the first year we were here - 8 years ago! So are looking forward to going.

We did take a day a couple of weeks ago to go up over Grand Mesa but we were a little early for the prettiest colors. However, it was a nice day and always a beautiful drive!! We are hoping to get back up but the colors are probably fading now that there has been snow up there....

With all that has been happening with the stock market, we have decided it is time to sell the coach and stay home. We has hoped for another winter in TX but our "play" money has dwindled!! We will miss our friends down there and all the fun, but gotta do what we gotta do!!! Maybe if things turn around, we can go down and rent something. But for now, we will need to change our lifestyle a bit.

I have been working on the quilt for our bed that I started about 4 years ago - am almost finished; working on the last border!!! It kept getting put aside for wedding quilts and Christmas presents.

We got home Saturday from a trip to CA for Josh & Millie's wedding in Capitola. We had a very nice trip even though it is difficult staying in motels when we are used to taking our "home" with us! We left home on Monday, August 18, and drove to Delta UT on Highway 50, "The Loneliest Highway in America". We will not stay there again! The motel was pretty clean but needed much repair work!!! Tuesday night found us in Austin, NV - a picturesque little town of about 400 people on the side of a hill. Our motel there was small, but newly redone and nice and clean. We walked across town for dinner and breakfast the next morning at a good restaurant.

They say that Highway 50 is the Loneliest Highway in America....there certainly aren't many people along the road - few towns and fewer farms & ranches!! We did see at least one pretty lake, but most of the way there was not much to look at!

Wednesday night, we were at the Quality Inn in Carson City NV. Then it was on to beautiful Lake Tahoe!! That is such a gorgeous lake!!! Wish we had more time to spend there....

Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights we were at the Quality Inn in Santa Cruz. We checked in to the motel and went back to move the car to in front of our room and it wouldn't start!! Dead battery!! We were certainly glad it hadn't done that out in the middle of nowhere!! We were just down the road a little ways from where Chris & Carol were staying, so called Chris to the rescue! He came over and jumped the car to get it going and then they picked us up that evening and we went down to the wharf for a wonderful seafood dinner and enjoyed the sea lions on the piers. The next morning, Chris followed Don to Batteries Plus and they got the car all fixed up.

Friday afternoon was the wedding rehearsal and a wonderful luncheon at the Crow's Nest. The wedding was held at Shadowbrook restaurant in Capitola CA. A gorgeous place built on the hillside with lots of beautiful flowers. After walking down many stairs the first time in Shadowbrook, we discovered they had a "hillavator" to ride down and up the hill!

Thursday evening, we went down to the beach to try to catch a sunset and met Josh and his friends doing the same thing! It was a beautiful, but cool evening.... we always enjoy being near the ocean!!

The wedding was at 10 a.m. on Saturday and it was a beautiful day and a gorgeous setting there at Shadowbrook with all the plants and flowers.

That evening we ventured downtown Santa Cruz - lots of people down there!!

Sunday morning, we found a Nazarene Church there in Santa Cruz so went there for Sunday School and morning service. It was a small church and very friendly. Then we drove on over to Mariposa where we spent the next two nights so we could visit Yosemite. Monday was spent in Yosemite - it was beautiful but 99° and too late in the season because all the waterfalls were dry!!!

Tuesday, we drove through the northern part of Yosemite and on to Mono Lake where there was supposed to be great birdwatching. There were lots of sea gulls and a few sandpipers and avocets, but not much else. The lake itself is huge and has lots of strange rocks ("lime tufa, made by springs in former times"). We had planned on two nights in Lee Vining CA, but due to the lack of critters and the high cost of staying there, we cut it down to one night and moved on to Tonopah NV.

From there it was one night in Ely NV, one night in Salina UT and on home - with a stop in Greenriver UT for cantaloupe and watermelon. The watermelon was wonderful, if a bit expensive!

Now we are home for awhile...we had planned on going up to Basalt next week to meet friends from Castle Rock, but the weather forecast is cold and rainy, so we have cancelled that trip. It isn't much fun to try to sightsee in that kind of weather!

This summer certainly is flying by!! I did get my Block of the Month quilt finished piecing and pinned - now to decide how to quilt it. I do want to finish the one for our bed that I have been working on (& off) for the past 4 years!!! I only have the two outside borders to do!

We haven't done a lot the past few weeks - Don has been busy with his last class of this year - it is one he hasn't taught before, so has taken quite a bit of preparation time. Cookie came down & spent a week with us so we could get some sewing done. We got her Block of the Month quilt pinned and ready for her to quilt. It was fun having her here. We do miss having them next door!!

We have made it to a couple of the Fuita concerts but haven't found them as good as in past years. I have been able to play bridge several times and we have line dancing every Monday afternoon.

We took a couple of days off last week and went up to Steamboat Springs to spend the night with Chris & Carol who had rented a condo there for a few nights. They had an extra bedroom so talked us into joining them. Don had to teach Tues, Wed & Fri, so we went up Thursday morning and came home Friday. It was a short visit, but was nice to visit with them - and get away for a little while! We went to a delicious BBQ place for lunch Thursday and then hiked up to Fish Creek Falls - a really pretty place! After resting awhile, we went to a Mexican Restaurant for dinner. We had beautiful weather both days and the wild flowers on the way up were beautiful!

I finished my little Independence Rock quilt. It was a fun one to do! I also finished the big quilt I was working on. Now to finish my 2006 Block of the Month quilt. I have it all done except the outer border, then it will be ready to pin and quilt. Then I have to decide how to quilt it!! We replaced the hide-a-bed in my sewing room with a daybed and I want to use this quilt on it...so do need to get it done!!

A few days ago while we were eating breakfast out on the patio, a little hummingbird decided she wanted to work over our lavender which is in a pot. It was more fun watching her! She kept trying to stand on a branch of it while working over the blooms, and most of them were not strong enough to hold her, or were not in a good place to reach the blooms! Don got several neat pictures of her. This is our favorite!!

Well, that month went by fast!! Time flies when you're having fun!!! At least, that is the old saying

Don has been teaching 3 nights a week, we have gone to the concerts in the park here on Thursday nights, Line Dancing on Monday afternoons, neighborhood coffee on Wednesday mornings, and doing some website and database work in between. I have even managed to work in some quilting!! I have finally started a small wall quilt that has been in my mind for a couple of years - a landscape quilt of Colorado National Monument - Independence Rock. It is going pretty well - didn't turn out exactly as I had envisioned, but close.

We went to the concert last night and then down to the show home. which has a nice porch and view of the valley, to watch fireworks with some of our neighbors. We have a neighborhood BBQ this evening.

My sister, Cookie, was here for almost a week while her husband went to Denver and we did some quilting and visiting. It was fun to have her here - since they live about 60+ miles away, we don't get together as much as when they were in Grand Junction!

We are enjoying all the birds we have visiting our feeders. The hummers are constantly at the feeder we have on the office window - thirsty little birds!! We still have the black-headed grosbeaks, house finches (they seem to come in all colors this year - I didn't know they were sometimes yellow until this summer!), and sparrows. An oriole even has been around a couple of times - once tried to land on the feeder on the office window and that was quite a sight! He was way too big for that!!

We have a fox family out in the field north of our house today. Mom and 3 small ones and the little ones have been having a ball chasing each other around the area! So cute!!

Don started classes this week - Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights for the next 6 weeks (taking the first week of July off). So he will be quite busy!! He is teaching Microsoft Office on Tuesday and Math Concepts on Wednesdays and Fridays. That plus website and database work will keep him out of trouble

I have about finished a new website which has kept me busy for the last week or so. I wanted to get it finished this week. And, it seems like there is always a little something to be done on one or more of the others.

We have also started giving line dancing lessons on Mondays here in the rec center. We enjoy it and it is good exercise. We had 4 gals the first week and 8 (I think) for the second week. Fun!! We tried it outside on the patio the first week but it is getting too hot for that so went inside - do wish it wasn't all carpeted! It is much easier on a hard surface floor.

Cookie is coming down this afternoon to spend a couple of nights and do some sewing. We want to get quilt tops made from the block of the month blocks we made a couple of years ago. About time!! Sure do miss having them next door!! But, we will have fun sewing.... and visiting

Well, we have been home almost 2 weeks already!

Have been busy getting settled and doing the usual chores.  It is nice to have our own washer and dryer and a dishwasher and microwave again!  I finally got all my sewing things unpacked and put away this morning.  Saturday we went with a couple of gals on the Audubon Society annual bird count and saw lots of critters.  I don't remember how many species we logged but I believe it was around 50.  It was a pretty, if a bit windy, day and we enjoyed getting out birding again. We have had a new bird at our feeder this year - the Lazuli Bunting. They are a really pretty little bird that we have never seen before.

Ron sent a gift card for Olive Garden to me for Mother's Day, so we made reservations and went there for lunch Sunday.  They have lots of good sounding things on their menu and it was hard to decide what to have.  But we decided on the Chicken Marsala and it was delicious - we had leftovers for dinner last night!  We were glad we had made reservations - the people who checked in just before us were still waiting when we finished and left!!  Chris sent me some beautiful roses and they smell so good!!  I have one of them here on my desk and the rest in the living room.

I did play bridge last Friday afternoon.  One of our players is moving to Ft Collins and we will certainly miss her.  We don't have very many in the Village who play and it gets hard sometimes to get a table together!

We stopped one night in Gallup at the KOA and then one night in Moab so we could get in here early enough Wednesday to get the coach cleaned out. We arrived home about 11:30 Wednesday morning, unloaded the coach and got it in it's parking place by about 3:30 pm. Then the job of getting things sorted out and put away began! It is amazing how much stuff we had in the coach!! Even though our neighbor forwarded most of our mail until the last couple of weeks, we had a pile of mail to go through and it may take me weeks to get through all the magazines!

Thursday morning we got up to a dusting of snow on the ground!! Did we come home too soon??? Most of that day was spent sorting and putting things away and trying to catch up a bit with email. Friday, we had to go to Wal-Mart and stock up again on groceries now that we have freezer and refrigerator space! The afternoon was spent trying to put together plans and bid for new pages for one of our websites. Friday night was the Senior Senior Prom put on by the Recreation Department and the High School. Lasagna dinner and dance cost all of $16/couple! We enjoyed being able to dance again and the band was good. Our neighbors were there and it was nice to have someone we knew to sit with!

I still have my sewing room to unpack, but it may have to wait a few days. I did get my quilt out and worked on it a bit Thursday night.

It is good to be home and have more space, a microwave again (the one in the coach died a couple of weeks ago and we found out how much we depended on it!!), closet space, and longer showers, but we are looking forward to going back to Port A next winter!

We are finally on our way home! We left Mission on Tuesday since Don finally got the database up and running on Josè's laptop on Monday. That certainly was a challenge! But, Josè was excited to have it to use for his correspondence school.

We spent Tuesday night in Carrizo Springs, TX.... no internet so probably won't stay there again. Wednesday night was Fort Stockton - they had the strangest cactus in front of the office with heart-shaped pads!! Thursday afternoon we arrived in Las Cruces NM. We found a wonderful RV resort here - and highly recommend it to anyone passing through here - the Hacienda RV Resort. It is near old Mesilla where there is a restaurant we wanted to go to for Don's birthday. We discovered the La Posta Restaurant when we lived here in Las Cruces 50 years ago!! The town certainly has grown a bit since then!! We drove around the university and recognized the administration building and even found the student housing houses they were building when we were here - they are still here!! We were going to just stay here 2 nights, but changed our minds and stayed 4, skipping Bosque del Apache for this trip. We spent yesterday working on a website change and got that finished. We will head on north tomorrow and should be home on Wednesday.

Well...we have been here over 2 weeks already!! We have spent most of the time working on websites & databases because it has been too hot and/or too windy to do much outside! We did go down to Bentsen Rio Grande State Park a couple of days ago. There weren't a lot of birds out - did see lots of javalinas - and heard lots of chachalakas but didn't see many of them!! There were lots more birds around when they allowed camping in the park and everyone put out bird feeders!

We have gone over to Reynosa a couple of times trying to get the Student Tracker Program to work on a laptop with Vista and Access 2007 - and in Spanish!! It has been a challenge, but I think Don has about got it figured out! The pastor and his wife that we are doing this for, have the cutest little Chihuahua puppy. He is the tiniest thing!!! So adorable!! His name is cinnamon - very fitting! I can't remember the Spanish for it...

Right now, our plans are to leave here Monday and head towards home. We have enjoyed the church here so thought we might as well stay over one more Sunday. We were going to go to Kerrville for a couple of days but have decided to leave that for next year.

We do have lots of birds here in the park and have enjoyed them. We put a grapefruit half on the tree beside our coach and the woodpeckers love it!

We have spent some time here relaxing after our busy winter. Last Thursday, we met with one of the missionaries in the area that we came to give some computer help. We will need to go back over there one more time to get her set up with our Book Tracker program. There is always other computer work to be done and I have started doing the quilting on my latest quilt.

Sunday, we went to church at First Baptist Church in Mission and then to a good mexican restaurant close to the RV park. Monday, we went to Progresso and our timing was perfect to get into a dentist recommended by our missionary friends. At first, he wanted to make appointments for us, but then checked with the dentists (a man and his wife) and said they could take us in about 15 minutes! They both did a good job and didn't find any problem areas and the price was great!! We then had lunch and did some shopping before it got too hot and was time to leave. I believe it got up to 96!! So...we turned the air conditioner on in the coach as soon as we got home.

There aren't many people here in the park but there certainly are lots of birds!! We love hearing the mockingbird (well....Don doesn't enjoy him singing in the middle of the night ), there are lots of sparrows, a woodpecker, grackles - of course, doves - inca, white winged and mourning, the other evening we saw a pair of pyrrhuloxia, and have heard the kiskadee. I am sure there are others that we haven't identified as well.

Unfortunately, the next few days are supposed to be upper 90's and windy - not good birdwatching weather. But, we do hope to get to some of the birdwatching spots while we are down here. We will try to remember not to come down here this late in the season!! Too HOT!! We are giving our air conditioner a good work-out!!

We will meet with the other missionaries tomorrow to see what their computer needs are and probably go with them to Reynosa on Thursday to help a pastor there get the Student Tracker program set up on his computer.

The volunteer dinner last Friday evening was delicious and the dance was fun, as usual! Muggs did a terrific job this year as social director and says she will be back next year!! We were all certainly glad to hear that!

Saturday, we went up to Rockport to pick up my shirt we had ordered at the Whooping Crane Festival. The gal didn't have my size so said she would get it done before we leave. It is so neat!! It is a blue & white striped shirt with a small Roseate Spoonbill embroidered on the front over the pocket and a large one on the back!! We didn't go to the Big Fisherman for lunch this time as their lunch specials aren't available on the weekends. We decided to go back to Captain Benney's only to find out that they had changed their hours and didn't open until 5 pm!!! So.....it was Whataburger for lunch!!! Good, but not shrimp!!!

Sunday, after church we had our last lunch at Trout Street. We will miss their wonderful calamari!!! Then we had line dancing at 3pm and ice cream social at 6 with out last game of pass the trash for this season!!

Monday morning we walked the beach ... there weren't any shells, but lots of seaweed!!! Don did get a good shot of a Portuguese Man-of-War and we found a large piece of coral..... We went out for pizza with a group from the park and then played our last game of dime bingo for the season! It was hard telling everyone good-bye until fall!! But most of our friends plan to come back so we can look forward to that!

Tuesday morning we took time for one last walk on the beach before packing up and moving south. We left the park about 11:30 and stopped at the visitor's center in Kingsville for lunch. We arrived at Mission Bell RV Park in Mission about 4 pm. The park here is pretty empty since most of the Winter Texans have already headed north. It was nice out, so we put the toaster oven outside on our little table and baked supper and then ate outside.

Today we went over to the Outlet Mall in Mercedes and actually found me a pair of shoes! We tried to find the Donna Flea Market, but only found 3 large flea markets, all closed, on the way home. We thought they were open on Wednesday....so either we were wrong or we didn't pass it

Well our time here is drawing to an end. We will head for Mission for a couple of weeks on Tuesday. There have been lots of jellyfish and men-of-war on the beach lately in the mornings when I walk.

Last week was pretty much the same as they have been - working, walking, bingo, line dancing, bridge, etc.

Easter Sunday we thought about going down for the sunrise service but it was cold and windy so we decided against it. We went to church and then came home and got Lorin & Geri and went out for a mexican dinner. It was delicious as usual!! It was tooo windy to take our annual Easter picture outside so we had to do it inside the coach again this year.

Our friends from home left Tuesday ... it was fun having them here! We all went up to Corpus Christi for lunch at Bladkbeards and then went to the Aquarium on Monday. It was pretty windy but most of the exhibits are inside. Monday night was dime bingo.

Tuesday we went to Corpus again to return a purse I got at Penneys a few weeks ago. It was really cute, but the credit card slots were too narrow to put a credit card in!!! I did find a couple of white tank tops on sale and with my discount coupon, they were even cheaper!! We went to On the Border for lunch and then stopped at the HEB Super Store in Flour Bluff to check it out. They do have a little bit of everything there! That night was bingo again.

Yesterday I took my quilt down to the rec hall to get some of the marking done. Then, I sat under our palm tree and read a book and soaked up some sunshine for awhile!! This morning after our walk on the beach, I paid bills and did some bookwork. This afternoon Don worked on the computer while I played bridge. This evening they are having a dinner/dance for the volunteers here in the park.

Well many of the Winter Texans have headed north and the Spring Breakers are here!! There are quite a few families here in the park and the beach is full of tenters!! I don't think I would like camping on the beach in a tent with the wind we have down here!!!

Well....lets see....last Monday we worked around the coach in the morning, Don did laundry while I played bridge down at the rec hall in the afternoon, and we went down for dime bingo in the evening.

Tuesday, there was work to be done on the computer in the morning, I worked the info desk in the afternoon. Then it was line dancing, rest a bit, get supper and go back down for bingo! Busy, busy!! Wednesday, it was time for our Wal-Mart run so we took Lorin & Geri along and introduced them to the Big Fisherman for lunch!! YUM!! We missed line dancing this time - didn't get home in time! On our way to Rockport, we stopped down by the jetty to see if there were any big ships coming through and to see what birds were there. These skimmers were actually laying down on the sand!! We thought, at first, that they were hurt, but they soon got up ans walked away and others flopped down! Quite a sight!!

Thursday was a beautiful day. so I set up my sewing table outside on the patio and got my quilt top finished. Friday, we took it down to the rec hall where we could put some tables together and get it pinned....Only to find out when we were finished that the top wasn't centered on the backing and one end was too short...so it will have to be unpinned and repinned. But, there wasn't time to get it done before the hall closed for cleaning!! It is so nice to have big tables to work on!!! In the afternoon, I took my book outside and read for awhile in the sun - the sunshine feels so good!! That evening was spaghetti dinner and, of course, a game of pass the trash!

Saturday, Lorin & Geri invited us down to their coach for a picnic lunch. It was a beautiful afternoon and we sat down there and visited for most of it!! That evening was bingo! Sunday after church we went to Virginia's on the Bay for lunch and watched a dolphin play in the bay! They are so neat to watch!! At 3 pm we had line dancing, and then at 6 was Ice cream followed by a rousing game of pass the trash!!

Yesterday, we went down and repinned my quilt. Someone has made raisers for the tables out of pvc plastic pipe and since the quilters weren't using them, we used them this time and it was great not to have to bend over so much! Don will have to make some for our tables at home!! Then I came home and made dessert for the St Pat's dinner tonite. Geri & I helped serve for the dinner and then there was a dance following the dinner. It has been so hot and humid lately, we had to rest and cool down often - especially after the line dancing!! The dinner was delicious, the desserts were great and lots of them... and the dance a lot of fun in spite of the heat!

Wow! How can the weeks go by so fast??? We did go down to the beach for awhile on Friday the 29th and enjoyed relaxing in the sun for awhile. I had to take my shoes off and wade a bit - but the water was COLD!! But, it was a gorgeous day!

Saturday we spent some time getting out monthly invoices, did some website work and then played bingo that evening. We both actually won one game apiece!!

Sunday, we went to a Baptist church over on North Padre and then to Snoopy's for dinner and had delicious seafood. Then we decided to go on over to Penneys since we were over halfway there to see If we could find Bev a pair of capri's since the ones she brought are getting way too big!! Yeah!!! We did find a denim pair on sale!! We got home just in time for line dancing lessons and then relax for a couple of hours before ice cream time in the rec hall and, of course, a game of "pass the trash"....

Monday, we worked on websites in the morning and then I (Bev) worked at the information desk in the rec hall. I traded days so I could be available tomorrow afternoon to visit with John & Martha who came up Monday afternoon from the valley where they are spending the winter. We were going to Crazy Cajun for dinner but found them closed when we got there so went to Pelican's landing instead.

Tuesday, morning John & Martha came over and we visited awhile and then went to Paradise Pond to see what birds were there. Then we went to Rockport stopping by the Big Fisherman to see about lunch. But - since it was Tuesday and their big special day - the line was too long for us! So, we decided to try the Boiling Pot, but they didn't open until 4, so we looked around and found a little restaurant, Captain Benney's, where we had wonderful fried shrimp and french fried sweet potatoes!! We will definitely go back there to eat!! After a late lunch, we stopped for some birdwatching along the bay before returning back to Port A. John & Martha left soon after we got back heading back south. We had a great visit with them and it is always fun catching up every couple of years!!

Wednesday, was Bible Study in the morning, work in the afternoon and then a dance in the rec hall in the evening. Don went down in the afternoon to help set up tables for the dance and we stayed awhile after the dance to return the hall to its normal state.

Thursday, Don decided it was time to wash the coach and car, so he did a good job and even cleaned the roof....2 hours later it stormed!! Now people are blaming him for the storm!! Well....it was clean for a little while!

Friday, it was work in the morning. Then I took time out for bridge in the afternoon - I have missed playing since we have been down here. They play Monday and Friday afternoons, so I will try to keep that in my schedule! Lorin and Geri (from home) arrived while I was gone, so when I got back, we went down to greet them. It is always fun to see people we know!! It was burger night in the rec hall and after that we introduced them to "pass the trash"! I lasted almost to the end this time - it got down to Mimi and me and she won!!

Saturday evening we had a hot dog roast on the beach with our Bible study group. It was beautiful and sunny, but windy and cold so we didn't stay long. But - good food and fellowship. Spring break must be next week because the beach was full of young people and we are beginning to have families pull into the RV park. Unfortunately, I don't believe the weather is going to be good for them - we are supposed to have showers almost every day this next week!

Today we went to curch and then home for lunch because a group of us are going down to Pelican's landing for supper this evening to celebrate one of the fellow's birthday. In the afternoon we had line dancing lessons (our exercise for the day!!) and then came back and rested a little while and then went out for supper. We got back in time to play "pass the trash"!! Busy day!!!

Well, Thursday the 21^st we actually had a day with nothing special planned so it was time for lunch at the Big Fisherman and shopping at Wal-Mart. We would have done some birdwatching but it was a very foggy day. However, on the way to Rockport we did see some Roseate Spoonbills in a puddle of water alongside the highway. So, we made a quick U-turn and went back to get a better look! They were about the brightest colored ones we have seen! They are such beautiful birds!! Then, a little later we saw a flock of white ibis in one of the yards there in Rockport, busy munching away!

Friday was the Whooping Crane Festival here in Port A so we went down to the Civic Center to see all the neat displays and vendors. I found some really cute pelican earrings and ordered a shirt with spoonbills embroidered on it - so cute!! In the afternoon, we had practice again for the olympics coming up next week. Supper was burgers in the rec hall with a game of "pass the trash" afterwards.

Saturday we got some work done here in the coach, I got my chili base made for the chili cook-off on Monday, and then had the annual Appreciation Dinner and Dance. They had delicious grilled chicken for dinner and the Tumble Dry Low band was here for the dance. The dance was great - but it does get really crowded on the dance floor!!

Sunday, we went to church and then stopped by Subway and got sandwiches for lunch because we had olympics practice at 1:00. Then it was home to rest for a little while and go to the rec hall for line dancing lessons. We got to rest for an hour or so after that and it was back to the rec hall for ice cream and a game of "pass the trash"!

Monday I did some work on my quilt and got my chili cooking. I had to have it down to the rec hall by 4:30 for the cook-off contest. I didn't get a ribbon this year, but we like it and that is what counts!! At 5:30 there was a chili dinner and then dime bingo.

Tuesday was Senior Olympics Day!! It was nice and sunny but VERY WINDY!! The wind made it very difficult in some of the games....but we all had fun! There were hot dogs, etc for lunch after the games and then we came home and collapsed!! We didn't go down for line dancing that afternoon! But did manage to make it down for bingo

Wednesday was Bible Study in the morning, I did some sewing in the afternoon. Then at 3:00 was line dancing after which Don helped set up the tables for the evening concert. At 7 we went back to the rec hall for a concert by Jerry Bennett, a country gospel singer. We had heard him at the Rockport Gospel Festival earlier in the year and do enjoy his music. Even had to buy some CD's!!

Thursday we did some birdwatching here in Port A and then it was time for our weekly trip to Wal-Mart.

Pelican on take-off	Nap time for the Teals	Mr & Mrs Blue-winged Teal

We stopped at Bealls on the way to Wal-Mart to see if I could find some pedal pushers (or whatever they call them this year) as mine are all getting too big (Yeah!!). But - they didn't have any in my price range!! We stopped at the Fish market on the way home and got some shrimp for supper - YUM!!!

Today I have spent most of the morning and early afternoon working on web pages. We are about ready to take our lawn chairs and books and go to the beach for awhile!! We do have a few days without a lot of activities so are trying to do some relaxing! Not that there aren't things we could do...I haven't been to the quilting group once this year and there are always games in the rec hall in the evenings when there aren't other activities planned. Don did get the laundry done this morning. Busy, Busy..........

The past couple of days people have really been pouring out and in here! Time for many of the Winter Texans to go home. But not quite time for Spring Breakers, so I guess we have more Winter Texans arriving. We made our reservations for next year the other day as have several of our new friends.

Well, it has been over a week since I updated!! Time certainly does fly by when you're having fun!!

Let's see...the 12th was my birthday...so after working on the computer all morning then at the rec hall desk in the afternoon, we had an hour of line dancing and then we went to town for a seafood dinner and then got home in time for bingo.

Wednesday was time for our Wal-Mart run after bible study and lunch. After supper, we went down to the rec hall for a game of Sequence.

Thursday was Valentine's day so there was a dinner and dance here in the park. The dances are always fun!! In the afternoon, we had practice for the Senior Olympics coming up the end of the month.

I have been pretty good at getting out in the mornings for my walk and sometimes make 2 miles!! Don continues to go down for aerobics in the rec hall every weekday morning. Then with line dancing 2 or 3 times a week, we are getting our exercise!!!

It seems like all we do is eat around here!! Friday morning we went shopping for T-shirts for our team for the Olympics. That evening was a spaghetti dinner in the rec hall - always good and nice not to have to cook! And then we had to have a game of "pass the trash"!!

Saturday night was bingo again....always fun! Sunday was church, then we went to Trout Street (our favorite) for lunch on the patio, home for a little while and then line dancing, rest for a couple of hours, and then it was time to go to the rec hall for ice cream and games. A busy day!!!

Monday was website work most of the day, a reception for one of the couple's 25th anniversary in the afternoon, and then a potluck supper and dime bingo in the evening. Tuesday morning was computer time again and then I work at the info desk for a couple of hours in the afternoon, finishing in time for line dancing! In the evening was bingo again!!

Today, first thing in the morning, I went down to the rec hall to help decorate our table for the ladies' luncheon and fashion show which started at noon. Then came home and finished my broccoli salad, showered and got ready to go. The luncheon was delicious - all kinds of salads and, of course, delicious desserts! The fashion show was put on my several boutiques here in Port A and had lots of cute clothes!!

We certainly do manage to keep busy

Hmmmm...I try to get this updated every week....but the weeks are going by too fast!!

On Friday, Feb 1, we went up to Portland to Indian Point park where we had heard was a good place to get seashells and go birdwatching. We did see quite a few birds but the only shells we found were lots and lots of oyster shells and not many pretty ones!

Saturday, we went up to Portland again to find another birding area and were disappointed to find it very small and no birds! I guess during migration, it is busy, but the day we were there it was empty! So we went back to Indian Point for awhile to watch the birds there. We found out why the Ruddy Turnstone got his name -- there on the shore where there were lots of shells, they were going around turning all the shells over to see what they could find to eat under them. Cute!! Saturday night was bingo.

Sunday we went to church and then to dinner at one of the Mexican restaurants here in town. There was a Superbowl party here in the park so no other activities in the rec hall.

Monday was time for a potluck - I made the Chocolate Eclair Dessert and it disappeared quickly! We did bring home 2 pieces. Then, it was dime bingo - we really need to win and restock our dimes!! But not this time!!

Tuesday afternoon I (Bev) worked at the information desk in the rec hall. Wednesday was Bible Study in the morning and line dancing in the afternoon. Thursday we went out for awhile -- over to HEB to get groceries and to the fish market for shrimp for supper (we grilled them and they were wonderful!). We did see a really pretty sunset on the way home. Friday was burgers in the rec hall...I made some slaw to go with them. They do fix good burgers!! After burgers was time for "pass the trash" - Don almost won this time it got down to him and Marge but she beat him.

Saturday we walked down to the beach and decided that, since it was such a beautiful afternoon, we should take our chairs and books down for awhile. It was a great day for relaxing on the beach - and there were lots of people doing just that!! What a wonderful way to spend a February afternoon!!! Saturday night was bingo again and I actually won two games! I had to split the winnings of one of them with someone else, but it helped pay for a few nights of playing!

Sunday, we went to church and then went to Virginias on the Bay for dinner - had delicious shrimp & fish. We do enjoy the seafood down here!! Sunday afternoon was line dancing, then ice cream at 6 and then a game of "pass the trash"....

Today went by quickly (as they all seem to do)...I took my walk (now up to 2 miles!!!) while Don was at aerobics. By the time I got back he had the laundry started. We went to town to do some shopping after lunch and to look for shirts for our Olympics team. Tonight was dime bingo....we got down to 2 cards a couple times, but that was as close as we got!

Well....that 10 days went by VERY quickly!!!!

Last Monday evening we had a potluck dinner - always too many good things!! Then it was time for dime bingo.....we need to win, we are about out of dimes

Tuesday afternoon I worked the desk in the Rec Hall and then we had line dancing practice. We do need lots of practice!! We have discovered that we can play Upwords on IM - a 2 week free trial then $5/month so are taking advantage of the free trial. It is a fun way to play it! I guess I will have to see if we can find it for the computers and buy a couple of copies.

Wednesday morning was Bible Study. Then in the afternoon we had line dance practice again. Maybe if we practice enough our feet will obey our brains!!!

Don has been really good and goes down for aerobics every morning at 8....I would like to join them but my back says "no way"... so I try to get out and walk around the park (about 1 mile) while they work out. Thursday and Friday were pretty uneventful....spent working on the website for Mailbox Club to have ready to go live this weekend. Friday night was burgers in the rec hall - so was nice not to have to cook after working all day!!

Saturday, there was a quilt show in Rockport so we went up to that - lots of neat quilts! But - it is interesting to note that the majority are machine-quilted nowdays. Of course, there were vendors there so I had to buy a couple of fat quarters! Then, we did some birdwatching there in Rockport, then our weekly Wal-Mart run! That night was Bingo again - no, we didn't win!

Sunday, we went to church and then to Trout Street for lunch of our favorite there....we get the calamari appetizer and split a baked potato and a side of vegetables. Their fried calamari is wonderful!!! At 3, we had line dancing lessons and then at 6 was ice cream in the rec hall followed by a game of "pass the trash".....

Monday, we relaxed a bit during the day and then had our annual Sock Hop in the evening with most everyone dressed in 50's clothes. It is always a lot of fun....we even got root beer floats!!!

Tuesday, I worked the desk in the rec hall in the afternoon. It was laundry day, so Don got it started so it would be ready to take out and fold when I got off working. Then we took a walk down to the beach......we thought we might catch a beautiful sunset since there were a few high clouds....but by the time we got to the beach the fog had come in! It wasn't too bad and we enjoyed our walk and by the time we started back the fog had lifted enough for a pretty sunset after all. It reminded us of the fog in Oregon...here it comes and there it goes!!!

Wednesday, we goofed off most of the day - played some upwords and went to line dancing in the afternoon. Just a quiet day. Today it is windy with another cold front coming through so will stay indoors even though it is nice and sunny. We have a potluck dinner tonight with our bible study group so my dish is cooking in the crock pot. I can't believe that tomorrow is February!!!

We were going to drive down to the valley next week to help one of the missionaries we work with down there and go to Mexico shopping and to the dentist, but have decided to wait until the end of March and take the coach down for a couple of weeks. The more we thought about it, the more things we thought of that we would like to do down there so need more time!

Last Tuesday, I (Bev) started volunteering at the desk in the Rec Hall for 2 hours in the afternoon. It was pretty quiet - I didn't have many visitors. There were some wood carvers working there and a gal quilting but a quiet afternoon. In the evening, we skipped bingo to watch a couple of programs on TV....saved our $$'s!!

Wednesday morning we went to Bible Study here in the park. There is a nice sized group meeting each week for this. Then we went to Rockport - stopping at the big Fisherman for lunch - YUM! We stopped at the bay for awhile to watch critters and saw this cute little bufflehead. On the way to Wal-Mart, driving through a residential area we saw this orchid tree in bloom - so pretty! There were also lots of live oaks in the area....they are such a neat tree! On the ferry coming back to Port A, we saw several dolphins playing. They are so fun to watch!

Thursday was work day on the computers again....we are getting there!! Friday was laundry day and that evening there was a spaghetti dinner in the rec hall. It was delicious - especially since I didn't have to cook!!! When we came home, we found that we can play Upwords on the computer through IM (14 day free trial!!), so we played awhile. It would work much better at home on our cable hookup - this wireless isn't very dependable!

We took the day off from the websites Saturday and relaxed and played upwords a bit. In the evening Elvis was here in the rec hall for a dance. He is quite good and it was a fun evening!

Sunday, we went to church and then to the Pelican's Landing for some of their delicious garlic fish. At 3 some of the gals here in the park have started line dancing lessons, so we went down for that. We got an hour of good exercise - and frustration trying to get our feet to obey our brains!!! Then at 6 was ice cream in the rec hall followed by a rousing game of "pass the trash"....a fun, brainless card game.

Wow! The middle of January already!!! We have had some wonderful weather this trip .... until now...I guess it is January and we can expect a few bad days. It is cloudy, windy and supposed to rain today with high in the 50's. Still better than up north!!!

Monday, Jan 7, we took some time to go to the beach where we just had to feed the gulls. Monday evening we had a potluck supper - YUM! - and then card bingo.

Tuesday we spent most of the day working on websites again. In the evening we went down to the rec hall for Bingo --- Sure would be nice if we could win for a change!!! Wednesday and Thursday were work days again but did take time to walk down to the beach a time or two.

Friday, we spent most of the day working on websites but did take time out to go to one of the birdwatching areas where we saw lots of little birds feeding like little sewing machines - but can't figure out who they are!! They are quite small and don't match anything in our books! They need name tags!!! That evening was burgers down in the rec hall and a rousing game of "pass the trash"!!

Saturday, we took the day off and went birding with two gals from home who were down here on a birding trip. We had a gorgeous day for it and saw lots and lots of critters! I believe Margaret said we had seen 52 different species! We went to 3 birding areas here in Port A, then to lunch at Trout Street, and then to Rockport where we spotted lots of kites (not birds) in the park. It turns out they were having a kite club get-together! Right after we parked, a couple of tangled kites came down right by the car, so we untangled them and got them flying again! It was quite a sight!! We visited a bit with a couple there and found out that they get together every once in awhile just to fly the kites - no competition, just fun! Some of the kites were quite elaborate - and expensive!!! We then continued on with our bird hunting and found lots of birds in the bay. We had a fun day and it was nice to play all day rather than work!!

Sunday, we went to church and then stopped for a Mexican dinner on the way home - which was large enough to finish on Monday evening! In the afternoon, we went down to the rec hall for line dance lessons. And then back in the evening for ice cream and a game of "pass the trash"....

Yesterday was spent working again - I believe we are about to get one of the big website jobs completed!! After supper we did go down for card bingo - didn't win again!! Came close a couple of times, though!

We ended last year with a New Year's Eve Party here in the park. Friends, lots of good food and a good band.....a fun way to spend the evening! That year certainly went by way too fast!!

New Year's Day we relaxed a bit and went down to the rec hall in the evening for snacks and bingo. Didn't start the year out good though - no winnings!!! Oh well.....it was fun anyway!

Most of this week was spent working. Don did make it down for exercise class in the mornings and I managed to get my walk in one morning...so that's a start!! The park is beginning to fill up, although I don't think it is quite as full as last year at this time. I was reading where Quartsite AZ isn't full this year either - maybe the high gas prices and bad stock market are keeping people home??

Yesterday afternoon we went up to Rockport for their Gospel Music Festival. We were there for about 3 hours and enjoyed hearing the groups. We do miss the gospel sings we used to go to in MO a few years ago!!

Sunday night is time for ice cream and games down in the rec hall....that's always fun!!