2011 nearly over

La Feria, TX 68º foggy - to be 80º later today with sunshine, rain tonight.
  Just got back from breakfast in restaurant in downtown La Feria with many neighbors from the park celebrating 70something birthday of our pianist friend Lavin.  Nice breakfast, conversation, etc.

 Do you suppose "older" people need many signs to get their attention?

Not sure I understand all the things kids follow on FaceBook.  Here is photo published from a game my granddaughter played determining how they might die.

Have been thinking that boxes rule our life.  We drove to the restaurant in a box with wheels, restaurant was in a huge box.  We came back to the RV Park and I am sitting in our box home writing this.  Many in the park are living in their boxes on wheels, some with motors, some pulling them with another box on wheels.
Boxes make the world go round--UPS boxes on wheels carry lots of boxes, actual boxes, but the bigger boxes are out there too--buildings, houses, cars, trucks, etc.
Till next time, Lynn 

2011 almost over

La Feria, TX 74º getting dark, but bright sunshine and 84º during the day.
   We went to WallyWorld this afternoon and I recalled why I don't like shopping (except on-line).  Lots of families with kids and some of the kids weren't crying or raising cane.

We had not used the twin beds in our second bedroom until Michelle and then Cam & Patty used them this last week.  Reports are the beds are really hard and we noticed there was no room for clothes, etc. in that room other than in their suitcases.  We bought some foam for the two beds and also a small set of 3 plastic drawers to help that situation.

The last day of a year used to panic us, as when we were at the Grain Elevator we had to take full inventory and get the pre-payments of some farmers who wanted business in the old year and others doing price-later contracts to set price on grain, but move income to the next year.  Don't miss that whole thing at all.

Seems the sun has been shining ever since our kids left the Valley.  Here is picture of people outside when I helped Phyllis' Share & Care group move their sewing materials from the Rec Hall back to their storage shed:

Phyllis had worked most of that day tying on quilts.

Their group gives away all the quilts and small hats they make to charitable groups locally.

  While Phyllis was at the hall I took most of our black shoes and cleaned and shined them up, outside in the sunshine.

We have been invited to play Pegs & Jokers with neighbors on New Years Eve, but may go up to Rec Hall for just a bit to see the entertainment that will be provided there.
Hope all have a good 2012.
Till later, Lynn

Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine

La Feria, TX  68º and bright sunshine.

   Went to exercises and Phyllis is now down to the Rec Hall at Care & Share (sewing).  Our neighbor from near Cedar Rapids, IA got in and visited a bit with him and Patches (dog) in the warm sunshine.  He is 94 years old and his son flew him down couple days ago (while we were on the run with our family) and hadn't gotten chance to talk with him.

   Spending most of today trying to get my new Magic-Jack phone hooked up without the computer being on and if that is successful (Found I have to get a router in order for both it and the computer to be plugged in to the modem) I plan on changing our home phone in Clarinda's number to it so we will have our home phone whether we are in Texas or Iowa.  Think it should work with the right connections.  Right now the Magic-Jack shows on your ID as coming from San Antonio, though it is coming through my computer where ever I might be.  

 Till later, Lynn

Week between Christmas & New Years

La Feria, TX 73º with bright sunshine.

Michelle Miles, Patty & Cameron Miles

 These photos are from Christmas Day at the 5:00 pm dinner at our Rec Hall. 

Lynn & Phyllis Miles

Had a good sized crowd, although smaller than last year.

Bill, Marion, Darlene & Ardell ready to serve.

Desert table was heavily laden.

Kenwood people chowing down.

Following morning, Monday, our daughter Michelle and her dog Dawson left by car for Ohio.  It was still pretty overcast and cool, but we took off for Nuevo Progresso, MX  with son Cameron & his wife Patty.

Prerequisite photo at entering Mexico - Patty & Cameron Miles

Wasn't many people on the street, but this really young kid was working hard selling and fixing Elotes.

We ate lunch at Artruros in Progresso.   Patty & Phyllis at Artruros  After leaving Mexico we headed to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge -- 

 

Lynn on the canopy walk.

Phyllis on the tower to canopy walk.

Cam & Patty took off and walked full 7 miles on the hiking paths while we walked shorter distance, including the tree tower and the canopy walk.

Tree tower

Phyllis on the canopy walk.

We ate supper at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and played some Pegs & Jokers when we got home.

Tuesday proved to have the first real sunshine since the kids got here last Thursday and we headed back to South Padre Island.  We had to stop at Port Isabel at this store and they picked up some souvenirs for family.  We headed to Daddy's Restaurant for some more seafood.

Then they finally got some sunshine on the beach after walking and picking up sea shells right from the water.

And we had our "last supper" at Applebees in Harlingen after stopping in Palo Alto Battlefield south of Los Fresnos, TX.  We were too late in the day to walk the trails, but got lots of info at the welcome center and will return there in January, hopefully when Al & Carolyn Ruhde from Shenandoah, IA will be with us.  We had stopped for some items at Sam's Club in Brownsfield (where I bought gas for $3.009 gal) before heading to Applebees.  Was a long day, but with the sunshine, finally, it was a fun day for all.
This morning we were up at 4:30 am and left Kenwood at 5:05 am.  This is what the highways look like at that time:

Was no traffic out at that hour..........  we stopped in the Kingsville Whataburger for some breakfast around 6:30 am

and were at the airport in San Antonio by 10:30 am, well ahead of our planned 11:30 am for their 12:25 pm flight.  Phyllis & I headed south and completed our 500 plus mile day by stopping for some items at Bed Bath and Behind in Harlingen and were at our house by 4:00 pm.  Cam called about 5:45 pm and was just deplaning in Cedar Rapids, IA ready for their short drive to Marengo, IA.  It was 75 degrees here when we got to our house; nice change in the weather from the last several days.  Talked on phone with Michelle this afternoon and she was in Alabama heading for a drive through the Smokeys on the way to Ohio.  Life is good.

Till later, Lynn

Christmas Eve 2011 (Continued)

Had to break to go to Christmas Eve church services at our Rec Hall when working on the last post here.  A full house attended the service.  I played small part as a wise man in the presentation.

Even though it turned out they dressed me with my robe too short, guess it worked out

.

Patty & Phyllis at the Alamo

On Friday we toured the Alamo and then headed south on 281.  We stopped briefly for a visit with Phyllis' Aunt Eva in Pharr, TX and then drove to Hidalgo.  We were too late to tour the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, but did walk the 2 mile hiking trail, a mile of it between the fence and the Rio Grande River.  It was drizzling rain on us by our return, and had darkened enough that we then drove the route of the Christmas Lights.  The Trolleys were doing their guided tours.

Walking in the rain at Hidalgo

Dragon in the Hidalgo Christmas Lights.

 We headed for Harlingen and ate supper at Las Vegas Mexican Restaurant.  More good eating.
Today - Saturday - we headed for South Padre Island.  Even though it was in the low 50's and really windy with constant drizzle, we fed popcorn to the birds at the park-

Then the kids walked on the beach.

And we ate lunch at Dirty Al's

Here is areal view of South Padre Island (on a sunny day)

We returned to our house via Brownsville, and highway 281, coming in to La Feria from the south on FM 506, still in the drizzling rain and after a bite of supper went to the hall for the evening services.  After returning to our house we opened a few gifts and then played some games of Pegs & Jokers.
Tomorrow we will attend church, and the big Christmas Dinner at the hall with about 200 close friends here at 5:00 pm.
Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve 2011

La Feria, TX  49º with fog/misty rain.

 Been almost week since I posted--busy with visitors.  Our Daughter Michelle arrived late Monday night by car and we picked up son Cameron and wife Patty in San Antonio Thursday evening.

Phyllis in Mexico -- Michelle still in the USA (on Rio Grande River Bridge)

Walking the bridge over the Rio Grande River

We went to Progresso, MX on Tuesday.  Did the usual few blocks down one side and back on the other.  There was hardly anybody there!

Empty streets in Progresso.

Inside Canada store.

A lot of people not here!

Never saw it so dead.  And, the restaurant at the Canada store is closed!  We ate at Artruo's http://www.shop-progreso.com/Restaurants/arturos/index.html and enjoyed the meal, though were a little late - about 1:30 pm - we were with only 4 others eating.

True Mexican food at Arturo's.

Michelle, Betty Snyder, Bill Wenzlow & Phyllis.

We played Pegs & Jokers at our place that evening.
Wednesday, after going to stretching exercises at the hall, we went to Don-Wes Market and back to Harlingen for late lunch at Las Vegas Restaurant.  Really really good Mexican food there.

 

We went out to Mitchels orchard and picked 3 buckets of grapefruit.

Michelle picking grapefruit.

Thursday morning we stopped at the Visitors Center in Harlingen to pick up some maps and literature on this area, San Antonio area, and also the Big Bend area that we hope to visit in February.  We headed on up Highway 77 on the way to San Antonio, stopping in Kingville to eat at a real good BBQ place, I can't recall the name of it.  (Seems like we eat a lot, don't it?)
   We picked up Cam & Patty at the airport in San Antonio and went directly downtown to the Alamo and then to the RiverWalk and took the boat ride to see the lights from the river.

Outside the Alamo t night.

Lots of lights along the RiverWalk

 

Lots of lights along the RiverWalk

I will stop here, and pick up Friday on to today a little later--too many activities going on.

Lynn

Week Before Christmas

La Feria, TX 61º overcast. Was drizzle rain all day Saturday.
Last Thursday we played bean bag baseball at the rec hall:

 At this point the Ladies half of the inning and the bases were loaded (looks like the runners may have been a little loaded) and they were cheering for the current "batter" who was up with 2 outs.  Notice the change on the looks on their faces in the photo below and also notice the bean bag in the upper right circle (at arrow)  denoting OUT.

Oh well, it was just a game, and fun at that.
Since I don't often get pictures of myself on my blog, here is one I "borrowed" from Pam's blog of me heading home from third base:

Saturday it was raining all day and a good day for Phyllis to make some Christmas Candy:

We did get to the local music jam session Friday at the Rec Hall.  Here are some photos from there:

We got some groceries at a small local store Saturday.  If you click on these photos you can see that there is Lamb Head offered:

 In this photo you can see Cabrito (which is goat) and pork ears as well as one labeled "quality meats" and I am really not sure what that is.

This morning (Sunday) we sang in the choir, had a good turn out for church at the Rec Hall.  Many people have come in this last week as well as the minister from Oklahoma has returned for the winter.

It was just overcast this morning, and a big group of us went to cafe here in La Feria for lunch after church.  It has rained the last hour or so now, though. 

We are anxious for our daughter to arrive by car tomorrow, from Columbus, OH, and on Thursday the three of us will drive to San Antonio to pick up our son and his wife, and to spend a day or so site seeing in that area.
Till later, Lynn