Excellent weather

La Feria, TX 68 degrees - 63 to be low tonight.  Haven't had windows of the house closed for several days.  Excellent weather!

 Last evening we, and Bill & Twila, went over to our neighbor's Bob & Bobbi for some Pegs & Jokers.  Bobbi will probably kill me for this picture, but we had her down on her hands and knees looking for some refreshments.

Played three games and then visited over some brownies, ice cream and coffee.  Enjoyable evening.

Today, after working a little more on the bathroom (and Phyllis actually moved stuff back from the other bathroom even though I don't have it quite finished.  Do have the new sink, stand, part of old counter top and some of the new shelving done.  A little finishing on the shelving in the morning and that part will be done -- then just finish the wall around the third side of the new shower, get the faucet and head installed and wall replaced on back side of the shower) we went to Lowe's for a few things.  Decided to get a compound miter saw, but discovered they are going to be $40 cheaper on Black Friday, so passed and went on to Wally World for some items and groceries. 

 Afterwards we went again to a Chinese all you can eat buffet for lunch.  Only $5.99 for adults in the middle of the day...  Enjoyed, and didn't over-eat, which is the problem usually with these.

At right are a couple photos of some things that we didn't eat.

 After we returned home, the adequately full stomachs suggested a little "sit down time" and we both caught naps in recliners in front of the TV.


Afterwards I returned to puttering with the shelves under the bathroom counter.  Between the small table saw, and the router base (without a router) I have a little work area by the deck and in front of the storage shed.  In the open, but with nice weather it isn't too bad.  This Friday rain is predicted from late afternoon until Saturday sometime.  That will

 definitely put a "damper" on the outdoor shop.  When the bathroom is finished and I get the new front door in I hope to use some of the recycled roofing I bought from Dave Engle last year to at least extend the deck cover to over part of the shed.  Maybe even go as far north to cover both the kitchen window and one bedroom window.  With them being on the west side it will help a bunch with late afternoon heat from the sun as well as give a space to still work under a roof.  Will see.

Phyllis is working on her latest quilt and I am working from the recliner in front of the TV with my laptop.  Rough life?

Phyllis did get all the things she needed for fixing the dishes she will take to the Rec Hall Thursday for the Thanksgiving dinner.  We have signed up to help serve the meal

Till next time, Lynn

Thanksgiving week

Choir performing.

La Feria, TX  78º - High to be 82º and low tonight 63º  Sunshine!  Mostly sunny yesterday and bright sun today, after about a week of heavy overcast 24/7.

  Went to Methodist Church in La Feria yesterday.
 

Front of church, while choir performing.

Back of church - where projection is made on wall.

   Several from Kenwood attended, and afterwards some of us  went to Don Betto's Restaurant in La Feria for Brunch.

 Last evening (Sunday) we went up to the hall for announcements, ice cream and some dominoes.  Not very many attended. 

I got a bracket fixed to end of deck roof so Phyllis could hang a Hummingbird feeder.  The Palm Bush by the shed is sure putting out the palm branches, even though I cut about half of them off.  I tried transplanting a small sprout out to the fence area by where we planted the Bougainvilleas, will see if it survives.

Must get to work a bit more on stuff in the house.

Lynn

Cooler is relative

La Feria, TX  65º overcast
    I got several comments back (all on Facebook -- for some reason no one comments right here on the blog) about my "A Bit Cooler in the RG Valley".  For several weeks, ever since we got here in late October, the highs had been 87 to 90 degrees every day.  Since last Sunday the highs have been only 67 to 75 degrees.  Up north this still sounds kind of hot, but I was just feeling cooler (even wore long pants a couple days!) because of the difference.

 Anyway, I have been slowly working on the bathroom renovation.  Have the shower in place, yet to build the new wall to support the right side and make a storage area there.  Have the plumbing to put behind the wall for the faucets and the spray head above.  After finishing plumbing the sink, so can use it, and putting in the cut off part left of the old counter top to fill in from the sink to the wall and put up the new 3-mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink, so it can be used, I will finish up the shower.

Sink is in place; after two trips to Lowe's yesterday, I finally have the drain in place, but having trouble with the supply lines.  The 20 year old flexible water lines don't want to compress well to a fitting to change to the newer style.  One is hooked up, and a really small drip this morning.  The other wanted to leak severely, so am trying some other tricks.  Maybe some "magic tape" wrapped on the compression fitting before putting it into the old plastic will help fill the gap a little.

 Wednesday night, for the first time, I accompanied Phyllis to the Club House for Bingo.  It was the last night that Don Ferguson was going to be calling as he left on Friday morning for Custer County, NE.  His wife, with Alzheimer's, is in a nursing home in Broken Bow and he will be spending the winter at his rural Ansley farm.  First time in something like 20 years that he hasn't been in the Valley all winter.  He was saddened about the leaving, but happy to see the people for the couple weeks he was here this fall (with his brother Lawrence) to clean out some stuff from their home which will be rented out for much of

 the winter.  We will be thinking of him and Doris much.  His daughter Karen and husband Jack (standing in background at right) also drove to Broken Bow, and will be having Thanksgiving with many family members before they return to their permanent home here at Kenwood.

The other photos are people playing Bingo.  They charge for the cards and then all the money is returned as winnings during the evening.

 They also have a 50/50 drawing.  Of course, I didn't get to return home with any of these various ways of getting money.

Dave Engle and his wife Jan sitting beside me in picture at right..
Behind him you can see the back of Lawrence Ferguson and Karen Norden sitting beside him.  Jake and Helen Ferguson are across from her.

 This photo is at our table, with Don up on stage calling the numbers.











Our neighbors Bob & Bobbi Raab are at table behind us.

 On Thursday evening about 7 of us showed up at the hall to see if we could have our first Bean Bag Base Ball game of the season.  Takes two teams of 7 to play, so we visited for a bit and then rode the trikes around the park for a while.

Friday we went to locally owned small Nursery and bought 5 small Bougainvilleas.  The closest large one on the right side of the photo at left is an older one of our neighbors.  The smaller 5 in the distance are directly behind our place and within a few years should be as large as that one. 

We hope this will make a privacy wall of sorts between us and the new neighbors that will be to the north when they get the buildings finished.  A few people are moving in already.









I am listening to Public Radio from KIOS in Omaha over the net so I can get my Click & Clack Car Talk fix and the other regular Saturday morning shows I usually listen to when in Iowa.

Hope to get the bathroom finished by Monday and then will tear into the front door project.  Will have to carve out 4" from the head room, put in a new header, and then widen the opening by 4" to get the new door and screen door in.

Hope all are doing well and thanks for checking in on us.

Lynn

A bit cooler :( in the RGValley

La Feria, TX 67º heavy overcast.  Been overcast for several days.  In the 50's for lows.

 Bathtub several days ago.

 Sink and counter several days ago.

 Most of the sink/counter removed.

 Sink/counter gone, stool apart to replace rubber gaskets between bowl and water box.

 Tub removed - Phyllis removing anchors from wall.

   Wall sections and floor for shower ready to install. When the shower is installed then will put in the new sink and counter.

Part of the raised floor for under shower in place and drain glued in place.  Will finish the rest of the supports, measure the short pipe to go from shower drain to the trap below, cut and glue and then lay down the floor of the unit.  Will need to build a new wall for the right side, leaving about 15" for storage between the shower unit and the wall.

 Old kitchen base removed.

 One of the base units started into position.  Lower old doors removed for varnishing.

Both new base units put under counter, ready for use in the kitchen.

 One evening we had the Fergusons over to our house for game of Mexican Train Dominoes.  To right is Karen, Don, Helen.

 To right is Lawrence, Phyllis, Jack.

 Jake and Lynn

Lynn, Karen & Don

 Sunday evening, after announcements and ice cream at the club house, several different games were played in the back room.

 On Monday, ceremony of lowering the flag and raising a new flag on the flag pole in front of the club house was held.  Then program was finished indoors.

At left shows new PVC pipes for hanging clothes to dry, and round thingy for hanging small items, in place at our back door.

At right shows our raised deck from the back.

At right shows the deck with some temprorary screening (salvaged from our travel trailer) to see how enclosing it would be.  At the right side is an old screen that Jake & Helen took off their carport.

We may buy some properly fitted, new screening for the north end of the deck.  Sure made a difference with this cool, damp windy days lately.


Just to show a little of what we have been doing this last week.  More to do around the place.  More neighbors show up every day.  We are to help serve Turkey at the clubhouse on Thanksgiving day for noon meal.
Till next time.

Lynn