Grandma

My grandma is a trooper. She's almost 105 and in the hospital for double pneumonia. I was able to get lots of hugs and kisses from her last week.

Our Marine Grandson

Our grandson Dan is a marine. He graduates from college next month and will report for duty as an officer just a few weeks following. We are proud of him for serving our country.

Ready to Go Home

I am more than ready to go home. I have enjoyed spending the winter where it has been warm, but I'm ready to dive into our home and rearrange every room.

I will be selling the sofa and love set on Craigslist and purchasing one just like we have in Texas. So comfy! I am also going to sell the huge dresser in the spare room and make it cozier for guest. Plans are to paint the living room, kitchen and two spare bedrooms. I will try my best to see if I can talk hubby into making a large bookshelf (display shelves) that will be placed between the living room and kitchen. We have an open floor plan and I think it will look great. I saw this while watching one of the decorating shows on HGTV.

All the family has left, but it's still snowing at home, so we are staying one more week.

Bob's Birthday

Bob celebrated his birthday this week. Jim stopped by Dairy Queen for an ice cream cake. It was delicious.

To add to the cake, I dipped some strawberries. We have started another diet those these will just be a memory for a while.

Bob and Jim play on a pool league while we are in Texas. They placed 3rd in the Valley. Not too shabby.

Blooms & Dogs

Orange trees are in full bloom. You can smell them 8-10 feet from the tree. If you have allergies, this is normally the time you'll be hit.
Dogs are popular in our park - alive or statues. This is a mascot in someone's rock garden.

Healthier than I Look

I've had a pain in my abdomen for over 4 weeks. I've had an examination, ultrasound, cat scan, bone scan and multi blood test. The dr is treating me for acid reflux and if the pain doesn't leave after 3 months, I'll have an upper GI. I'm planning on it leaving, in Jesus Name! So as the cartoon says, I'm doing pretty good. All results came back negative. Praise the Lord for that. The other night I put the meds to a test - I ate tamales and charo beans - found out that is a no no! It felt like I started from step one again. OK oatmeal and mush -here I come. haha

A Day of Boating

This week we went to Port Isabelle and took a boat ride to Brownsville. It was very windy and cloudy that day. Glad we had our coats.
This picture was taken in the early evening so I don't know why it looks like it's midnight. I just started taking pictures with my Blackberry and not sure how to adjust yet.

This picture shows a dolphin. If I were swimming, I would probably have a heart attack as it looks like a shark to me. Again, I couldn't get good pictures as most of the time, I was trying to figure out my phone. I don't carry my camera like I used to. Maybe burnout!

Frozen Palm Trees

A few weeks ago we had temps in the 20's. They ran the sprinkler during this time - they say (not sure who "they" are) that if you run the sprinklers, it helps keep the plants alive. Believe it or not, it worked. Many of the palm trees in the valley didn't make it.

Rolling pin & Biscuits

Bought this Oster toaster oven a few months ago. It works great for biscuits. Thought I would show you what we enjoyed with a little gravy last night.
Tuesday is designated as the girls day out. We always hit our favorite thrift store. Look at my find for $3.50. It's a marble rolling pin. It weighs several pounds so it should roll out some good dumplings.

Mari Junior

Can you guess what the picture represents before I tell you? I'm feel like a Mari Jr. Her site is:

http://mari365.blogspot.com/.

Today I am making spaghetti and cooked ground turkey and hamburger together. This is the grease drained from the hamburger. Look at the beautiful designs after it cooled. Now you'll understand why I thought of Mari - she sees outside the box. If you would like to see some beautiful pictures, please visit her site.

Toting My Grays

OK, I know you are probably thinking -why is this lady taking a picture of her gray hairs? It's because I have waited years for this! I am so proud to tote my grays. When talking with some of my friends back home, they asked to see a picture. I am all for the natural look. I believe that as we age so does our face color which is meant to match our hair. No our face doesn't turn gray, but the tones are usually different than when we are young.

BBQ

Had a BBQ Thursday at Jim & Francis'. It was supposed to be at our home but we were battling the dead critter smell. Oh by the way, the smell is finally gone.
When the group picture was taken, Francis was walking her dog.

Elizabeth, Loretta, me and Janice. We had such a good time.

Trip to Mexico

Today we took a trip to Mexico. Jim & Bob helped us shop until we dropped.
Janice is buying fresh tortilla's

And that's me - looking like the flying nun. Do people really wear these hats!

A Smelly BIG Critter

One of the guys that works in our park came to our rescue. He found the dead animal - it was either a possum or a cat that had crawled into the insulation. It was huge! When the guy first found it, he had to run to the back of the trailer. After he bagged it, he had to run to the back of the trailer again. The smell was so bad this morning that each time I took my nose out of under the covers I had to put back into the covers. I've had a headache for days, which I am sure it will leave shortly.


Since that mystery is solved, on to enjoying time on the patio again.

A Smelly Little Critter

We decided to have a BBQ and invite 9 of our friends. It will be good to sit outside and enjoy the weather and each others company. Well, that was a good idea until some critter decided to take his last breath under our trailer. Whew! Never knew a dead animal could smell so bad. The guys took off some of the under skirting and looked around, gagging all the way...

So the BBQ is still on for tomorrow, it will just have to be at Francis & Jim's. I bought some mothballs, hoping one smell would be better than the other. Since we are unsure of what kind of critter it is, we don't know how long the smell will linger.

Plus I have company flying in for a week this Saturday. Maybe we'll just spend a lot of time at the beach. Really, the smell is outside and just a hint inside. Life is still good.

Black Olives

I created a wonderful chef salad the other day. One of my favorite ingredient is black olives. I wouldn't try these when I was young, but when I got older I realized what I had been missing. Now it's "one for you and two for me". Life is good with a few black olives on top!

Soon to be visitors

Winter in the Texas valley has been so different this year. Normally the Lord gets me ready to leave my home state. If we leave before this is done, I have a hard time for a while coping with homesickness. I wasn't ready to leave this year and for the month of November I had a very hard time - just wanted to be home. Yes, I am so blessed that we are retired and I have the opportunity to always be where it's warm. I'm not complaining, just letting you into my world. It's a good thing my family and friends have AT&T - because of that we have thousands of unused minutes which will be taken away from not using them. Umm is something wrong with this picture.

Bob's brother Jim and his wife Frances bought a place and we have been busy with them for several weeks. It takes a while to get things bought and feeling like home. It is helping time pass.

I'm still dieting (virtually), and haven't taken my exercise CD out of the package yet (it's only been two months) what's the rush....

January 7th my friend Gina, a friend of 25 years is coming for a visit. Kim and Jeff will be down the last week in January. Bob's sister Betty is coming down for two weeks in February and Brenda and Jimmy will be down the end of February. Looking forward to laughing and enjoying each others company. Not to mention the sun and food.

A night of laughs

Last night several couples met together at Elizabeth and Lino's home. Here's a picture of the gals.
And the guys


Having a little fun twirling Janice around in the chair. I think we laughed more than she did.

Francis and I in Elizabeth's kitchen. The food was plentiful. We enjoyed a nice night of laughs around the table.

Where is December?

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted. Haven't looked at anyone's blog during that time either. As you may know, I am an independent researcher. It's time consuming. The report is almost finished so I took a nice long bike ride to clear my head from biomass heating for poultry farms. The sun felt so good on my face.


It seems so weird that the leaves are falling off the trees when it's 81 degrees. I guess all trees need a renewing period too.


The Christmas season is here already. Where did this month go, oh yea, on poultry farm research. So for you that didn't receive a Christmas card, you are not alone. Only mom and grandma will be receiving them, because time got away this year, again.


Merry Christmas (yea, I'm not afraid to say the season is all about Christ.)

All about the food today

This week is all about showing Jack the sites in lower Texas. This is at the fruit market. We purchased a watermelon, fresh pineapple, oranges, yellow peppers and celery.
Of course we had to take him to the biggest hamburgers in Texas. And I'm not exaggerating. It takes two hands. And look at those onion rings. A small order at that!

We were all still full from the burgers that we thought a banana split would be good for supper. This is taken at a Stars.

Jim & Francis came for a visit

Jim, Francis and Cody (the dog) came for a visit. They bought a place and will be turning into Winter Texans too. They stayed a week with us and the visit was great. Francis said her pet should have been named "Velcro" because he doesn't leave her side. It was the cutest thing.

This is the first time Bob's brother Jack has been to Texas. He's enjoying the nice weather.

Grandma at 104

I wasn't able to be with my grandma when she turned 104 on the 19th of this month, but my sister Shirley took this picture yesterday. I think she looks wonderful for her age. Do you notice she doesn't have any wrinkles?

Todays Activities

Today it was hot - turned on the A/C.

Needed comfort food so we headed to our favorite tamale place.

Green hot sauce, onions, lemon juice, ranch dressing makes the tamale wonderful. I skip the Green sauce, but Bob can handle a little of it.

Here's April. She's my little buddy at church while we are in Texas for the winter. She's high maintenance! She had her stuffed animals ready for me before church started last night.

Frozen Pumpkin Pie -What a surprise

It's getting closer to Thanksgiving. Since we are over 1,000 miles from our families, we always celebrate that day with our closest Texas friends and family. About three years ago, one of the group mentioned a restaurant that was great. We agreed to try the new (to us) establishment. I like to eat the feast in the afternoon but most wanted to go early. So early we went. I think we were too early! We laughed while we were enjoying the meal and soon it was time for the dessert. For the record - I didn't like pumpkin pie. Not in any shape or form, no matter how high I piled on the whipped cream. Guess what our only choice was? I decided I would eat it without complaining. It came FROZEN. Have you ever had frozen pumpkin pie? It was like pumpkin ice cream. It was great. We had to cut it with a knife. I didn't like pumpkin because of the texture - but frozen would be my choice now (because the texture was different). To this day, the guy that suggested that place, still regrets it. To me, it was a pleasant surprise in that I found another frozen dessert that I wouldn't turn away.

My fall at Lowe's

Today we shopped at Lowe's for rock. We needed a cart so I headed to the front of the store while my DH stayed to make a decision on which rock to purchase. I had to walk through the plant section to get the cart. I guess they had just finished watering the plants and I didn't see the small stream of water on the concrete. If you follow my blog, you know my favorite shoes are flip flops. Did you know that when you walk on water with these types of shoes, you can hydroplane? I didn't know until today. Down I went with a whoop! I had to lay there for a minute to be sure I could move afterwards. One of the workers said it was my fault for wearing flip flops. I mentioned they needed to have a sign "slippers when wet". He walked away. A little "older" woman helped me up. I'm OK, just a little sore on the back side. I am so thankful I didn't break a hip or my wrist.

Will I give up my flip flops - I don't know.

A few more plants

Today we purchased a few house plants to warm it up a little.

Do I know the names of each of them, no... I will water and dust every once in a while, so I think they may survive. I know many of my posts are not very exciting, but it keeps my sisters in the know with what's happening around here.

Thought About the Burning Bush

I'm sure we all experience times when we read the bible and a passage jumps out at you with such clarity. I have read the book of Exodus many times but never had these thoughts (at least what I can remember)

Chapter 2:4 - I always knew that Moses saw the burning bush - but this morning I realized that God didn't call Moses from the burning bush until he looked to see what was burning. (He could have called him and then Moses would have looked, but God wants us to look for more). Moses went further/deeper than just a glimpse. And because he turned to look, that is when Moses starting to grow with God. How many times does God want to show us something and we don't feel we need to look deeper.

God let Moses know during this first meeting that he would face an opposition that would not let Gods people go. God said: And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. Do not give up on God when our enemies come up against us - for He alone, will fight our battles. God had warned Moses about this to give him strength and to not surrender. He was ridiculed over and over during this mission. We face battles, maybe not the same as Moses, but God's hand is not shortened that He cannot save us through them.

My Bike Ride

We've been in Texas for a week and Bob has rode his bike everyday. Today was my first. I purchased a "HERS" step climber last week in hopes to be muscled up soon. Exercise will surely help me through older age.

This is another opportunity

This is another day that the Lord hath made. It's time to get out of my self pity and worship the Lord. The word says to think on the good things. Yes, I'm still homesick this morning, but I'm thankful for a good church to which I can attend and worship with people that love God too. Serving God has nothing to do with feelings, as our hearts will deceive us continually and get us into trouble. I have worshipped through all kinds of feelings, and today will be no less.

I pray that each of you have peace in your heart today.