Hangin out,

waiting for warm weather in Canada.

We've spent the last week in Oklahoma City waiting for a warm window so we can head North and home for the summer.  It's been interesting with weather below freezing, winds that make Winnipeg, or Texas's Rio Grande Valley, look calm.  Unbelievable.

After leaving Pharr we went to New Braunfells for a couple of days in our favorite RV resort there.  Then we moved on to stay a few days at the Winstar Casino near Thackerville Oklahoma.  www.windstarworldcasino.com  This was our first kick at Casino Camping and it was enjoyable to say the least.  We went to the casino a couple of times and gambled heavy, :-) , until our $15 was gone and then we went home.  Did you know they still have penny slots?  We had some to die for ribs in Toby Keiths`s, "I love This Bar" in the casino.  The RV park was awesome, beautiful full concrete sites, great services.  It was a really good first time "Casino Camping" experience.  We'll be back there for sure.

From there it was on to Oklahoma City to hang out for a week with our friends Jim and Lois, staying at our favourite RV Park.

Our 10 days in Oklahoma has been eventful to say the least.  We spent one night sitting up watching for tornadoes while we were at Winstar.  Then we moved to Oklahoma City (Norman) where we have dealt with freezing temperatures and howling winds that reminded us of Winnipeg and The Rio Grande Valley.  Weather aside, we have had some great fun. 

Last weekend Jim and Lois took us to Jim's home town of Guthrie Oklahoma http://guthrieok.com/ .  Did you know that Guthrie was the original capital of Oklahoma.  There's some neat history here.  Jim took us by his family hoime and high school.  It was fun.  We did "Sunday In The Park,"  a magical day with of fabulous Blue Grass music.  We watched a couple of world class performers that got our feet to stompin.  There was a group called "Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Band."  This guy plays a fiddle like you have never seen.  They had just come back from a tour that ended in Russia and boy was he fun to watch.  Check him out at https://www.facebook.com/HorseshoeRoad or do a you tube search.  We've never seen anything like it and I'll surprised if you don't agree.

They were followed by another world class, Blue Grass, band called The Bryon Berline Band.  If you like Blue Grass you`ll love these guys and if not you"ll still enjoy them.  They`re really good at what they do and play all over the world.  http://thebyronberlineband.com/

BUT now the time has come.  We have three days left until we must be out of the US or else.............  Tomorrow AM we`re on the road heading back to The Peg (Winnipeg) our home town.  1150 miles, three days, nothing to it.  Simply dodge some weather, dodge some floods, deal with some freezing weather, and we`ll be home.  It`s all good, we`re anxious to see the kids and grand kids, and yours truly is ready to get back to work.  Winter was fun, we had a great time but I hear my truck calling, she needs me back behind the wheel.

Talk to ya"ll later and thanks for stopping by.

Neal and Bernie

South Texas Museum

Anyone that reads this blog knows we (I) love South Texas.  The area stirs something in my soul and in different times I know it would have been my home.  Times are what they are and we’re blessed to be able to call it home for a few months each winter.

A couple of weeks ago we went to The South Texas Museum and learned a lot more about the history of the area.  The museum takes S. Texas from ancient times to the nuclear age and explores it’s, sometimes very violent, history. 

 

 

Their architect designed the foyer to offer a Big Texas feeling as you enter.  The foyer is three stories, high.  It's all wide open with a big old chandelier hanging from the middle.  Made me think I should have had my boots and spurs on.  You have to go upstairs via a magnificent double staircase.  Definitely a Texas kind of entry.

This is the sign that greets you as you enter.

 Then you are welcomes by this little, ancient, fish.  I didn't measure it but it has to be 25' maybe more.  It is a replica of an actual fossil found in the area.

 

As centuries passed the water receded and the animals moved in.  They were all really big and one of them was the ancient Mammoth.  This little fellow is copied from another fossil and he to is an actual size replica.  Fortunately for other wildlife he ate plants.  When a good lookin Mammoth came around it must have been quite a battle those tusks are HUGE.

 

 

 

The Europeans arrived and slowly the native tribes who had been here for more than ten thousand years disappeared over the course of about 300.

 

There is a great display of Spanish ship models.  By today's standards they are so small but in those times these HUGE boats criss crossed the Atlantic all the time.  

 

Two of the reasons the Europeans were so successful in the Americas were their horses and their weapons.  I never really thought about how they got their horses here, in fact I never actually realized that horses aren't native to North America.   They only got here in 1519 with early explorers.  Our wild horse populations are actually horses that have escaped or been released over the last 500 years.

 

This is how they brought them over on those HUGE sailing ships. 

 

In calm seas they allowed the horses to stand but in rough water they suspended them in slings, as depicted here.  Hoses don't have very good sea legs so to keep them from falling and being hurt they hung them up and let them swing.  My bet is there were a lot of  very sea sick horses.  It sounds like they likely ate a lot of horse meat on those boats because many of them did not survive the journey.

 

 

 

These two pistols from the early 1800's got my attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little guy startled me pretty good.  As you wander through you can hear a growling BIG cat but he's nowhere to be seen until you finally look up and there he is about 4 feet overhead in a rather shadowy space looking right at you.  A couple of quick heartbeats later I grab a picture.  :-)  The picture is with a flash, in the museum he is very dimly lit.

 

 


Please be kind enough not to ask about this.  Let's just agree that I lost the bet.  So _______ (you know who you are) the picture is posted.  The bet did not involve picture size.

This is an actual cart from back in the 1800's.

 

The suspension systems weren't very sophisticated at that time

 

The museum then takes you through the steam boat era on the Rio Grande River.  The displays were too big for me to get any pictures worth posting.  I don't think a steam boat could navigate the Rio Grande today but for about 30 years they did prior to the arrival of railroads in the valley.

 

 

There is a great deal of space dedicated to the Texas, Mexico, wars.  The battles fought and lives lost on both sides is mind boggling in today's world.  Back then it was just the way things were.  They talk about the civil war and slavery.  The Alamo.  Santa Anna and his, often successful, raids to the North.  There is a lot of blood stained land in S. Texas and nobody can ever say she didn't earn and pay for her place in this world.

 

The display covering the Texas Rangers was enlightening.  Originally they were a pretty rough bunch of guys and their system of JUSTICE was rather "quick and dirty."  They do however get well deserved credit for keeping things honest for a long period of time.  Based solely on their pictures in the museum you wouldn't want to cross them.

 

This is an actual Pearl Handle Texas Ranger pistol used by a "Special Texas Ranger" during prohibition.  I don't know what "Special" meant.

 

Being Canadian I have always thought of Canadian Rum Runners during Prohibition.  We found out at the museum that the Mexicans were running their tequila North as fast as we were running our whiskey South.  The authorities had as much trouble on the S. border as they did on the N.   On the Mexican border the Texas Rangers carried the majority of the work load.

 

 Confiscated Tequila.

 

 

 

 

 

We spent about 3 hours in here and walked the whole thing.  We would certainly would have to go back, to even begin, to absorb the information contained here.  Well worth the trip.  If you happen to find yourself in Edinburg Texas plan to spend some time there, it's worth it.  http://www.mosthistory.org/

 

On the way out they have a couple of Saw Horse Saddles.  Of course we had to try them out.

 

Ken got stuck side saddle.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Neal and Bernie

 

 

 

All Cleaned Up

Hanging out in Texas waiting on warm weather in Manitoba.

We had planned to head North tomorrow or the next day, BUT Manitoba is still posting freezing temperatures.  What's the rush?  We've decided to wait a few more days and hopefully things will warm up a bit up there. 

Now it's supposed to be over 100F here tomorrow.  Hmmm -  go to Manitoba - run the furnace non stop or stay in Texas - run the air conditioners non stop?  We'll take the air.  See ya later Manitoba.

 Fresh oil, fresh diesel, cleaned and polished.  I can hardly hold her down, she wants a workout.

 

All washed and waxed, shiny and clean, no where to go.

It's actually kind of nice to hang out here for another week.  Most of the people have gone back North so the pace is so much slower.  We're actually getting to do a few things we have never done before.  Yesterday we went here for brunch with friends.   http://www.ontheriver.net/index.html   Great visit, great food.

Bernie's getting out for a bit of shopping which she didn't really get to do all winter.  I'm putting seat skirts and carpets in the truck.  Life's good.

To our family and friends in the North, we feel your pain (sort of), and hope it all goes away real soon.

Stay well everyone, thanks for stopping by.

Neal and Bernie

Back in The Rio Grande Valley

We got back to the Rio Grande Valley yesterday and boy is it hot. 

Having spent a month in the Vancouver BC area we weren't ready for the 33C (90+F) weather we hit yesterday when we arrived in the valley.  I'll take it.  It beats the cold and snow they're still fighting with at home.

March was fun.  We had great times with our kids and grandchildren getting to enjoy dance competitions, hockey games, movies, dinners and more.  The cookies made just for Grandpa were a special treat, thank you.  We got to spend time with many of our friends enjoying dinners, visits, coffee at Tim's and more.  For our US friends Tim's is a Canadian coffee shop chain that most Canadians are addicted to. 

I got to have an evening with my motorcycle friends planning our ride for late June of this year when we will ride out of BC to the Napa Valley.  Having spent countless hours riding all over N. America with these guys it's always a special time when we get together.  We now have a number of our sons riding with us so the Dirty Dogs (our motorcycle group) seems likely to carry on with a second generation.

I did find out that I had missed mentioning a friend's name in the "Can Tab Social" post.  I was so afraid I would do that and despite trying really hard not to, I forgot to mention Elwood J. who had sent me a pound or more of tabs last fall before we left Winnipeg.  So - Elwood, please accept my apology, and Thank You for your help.  He also presented me with a close to a half pound when we were there, getting the 2013 effort underway.

The trip back to Texas was long.  The flight from Vancouver to Houston seemed to go on forever, then United Airlines decided they should leave my bag in Houston while we flew off to Austin.  To their credit they were as helpful as they could be and did get it in to Austin by 8:30 AM.  After a short 5.5 HRS drive to  Pharr we were back in our RV.  Home sweet home, :-)  glad to be here.

The RV seems to have survived very well.  Thanks to Ken and Doreen for babysitting it while we were away.  You can tell it was hot here because one of Bernie's candles candles, a taper, was partially bent over.  It had obviously softened up from being warm and was laying over quite a bit.  Kind of funny until you think how hot it must have been in the RV. 

We have some maintenance things to do before we head back North in 10 days or so.  The weather is just beginning to break up there so we aren't in any particular rush to get back to the cold and snow.  Not to mention the flood that's likely going to cover a huge swath of the Red River Valley again this year. If you're interested there is a short video at this link that tells the story.  For those who are reading this from anywhere warm, you might find it especially interesting.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2013/03/31/mb-flood-preps.html

For now, I have to run to the store to get some white stuff for morning coffee.  Have a super day and thanks for stopping by.

Neal and Bernie

Greetings From Vancouver BC

Last week we packed up and flew off to Vancouver to visit our daughter and her family for a while.

This will go down as one of our worst trips ever.  The wind storm we drove in from Pharr to Austin was unbelievable.  There aren’t many pictures to share since I had two hands on the wheel all the way.  What should have been about five hours was close to seven.

 

 

I tucked in behind a semi for a while and felt pretty good about it – until – the wind almost put him into the side of another truck. He avoided a collision by a couple inches through good luck only.  The Smart car felt very unsafe at that moment and we backed off to fight our own battle.  We watched one motor home driving along, slowly, tilted about 20 degrees to the right.  He looked decidedly out of control.  I got away from him pretty fast to.

 

 

We finally got to Austin and checked into the hotel.  I had planned to take Bernie out for a nice Texas steak dinner before an early tuck in.  Not to be, we were both too tired for anything but a delivered pizza.  Gotta love Pizza Hut, they always come through.

Up early the next day to get to the airport in lots of time to get good seats on the four + hour flight to San Francisco.  To our dismay 3 hours early on a domestic flight isn’t enough.  We ended up with two window seats, on opposite sides of the plane, and in different rows.  Good old Air Canada.  We tried to do seat selection when we booked and couldn’t, only to be told at the airport we should have done seat selection when we booked.  Figure that one out.

Ok – so accept the fact you can’t sit together, that’s a done deal.  Now we head down the ramp and comment on two basketball player tall, football player wide, guys in front of us.  Remember this is a small commuter jet, no 747’s here.  Guess who ends up squished like a wee little canned sardine in a window seat beside one of these two jolly green giants.  Four plus hours of this?  Oh NO, can it get worse?  Turned out he was a nice guy, we had a good chat, but seating was VERY TIGHT.

Now  we have almost almost four hours in San Fran. before a nice flight into Vancouver.  All excited to see the kids - we walk outside, straight into a torrential rain.  This wasn’t your average Vancouver rain this was some kind of a special event with “rain warnings.”  Yup - rain warnings – it’s so nice to be back on the WET coast.

Actually despite the rain it is nice to be here.  We get to spend time with Colleen, Tim, and the kids.  We get to visit with old friends and we get to enjoy the West Coast of B.C. which has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Our rented condo is nice, we’re healthy, and our kids are all good. What more could one ask for?  Ya OK, the lotto would be nice, but think off the hassle that would create.  J

Thanks for stopping by.

Neal and Bernie

Can Tab Social

As you may recall from previous posts Bernie and I collect aluminum can tabs to help a young fellow with Cystic Fibrosis.  He is the nephew of our good friends Denis and Therese LeBrun.  These tabs go to the Cystic Fibrosis Association who use the proceeds to help fund machines that help these young folks breathe, leading to a much more normal life.

Last year at this time we gave our collected tabs (just over 5 lbs) to them and promised to try and double that effort and get 10 pounds for this year.

So as some of you will know I started, at this time last year, harassing everyone I know to help me.  In this world there are people that like to help and some who don’t.  Bernie and I are blessed with a beautiful family and a great circle of terrific  friends who are willing to help.

So last night the 2012, 2013 effort came to a conclusion with a small get together at our place.  I called it the can tab social, where we had some fun and some food, to bring the collection all together.  We had to weigh it to see IF we had met our 10 pound goal.   I thought this would be a good place to post some pictures of our first “Can Tab Social.”

 Told you I could get a smile Gary

 

 Good friends, good food, and for our friends up North - 80 ABOVE ZERO

It's only fair, before discussing the end result that I recognize the efforts of those who helped us.  The 2012 collection all started when a neighbour friend, Kent B., brought us an ice cream pail half full last March and we were on our way.  It continued all summer, fall and winter, with help from all over the continent.

Each of our five children helped out and I want to thank them all right off the top.  Second, I really want to thank Grandsons Cole and Brendan for an extra special effort.

Friends Ken and Doreen B. collected a whole bunch from everyone they could find.

They had a bit (lot) of help as we all contribute to their collections during Happy Hour at their place all winter long.  Friends Ron and Karen A. brought us two huge bags which Karen collected by  (according to husband Ron) “dumpster diving.”  She actually worked hard, all summer long, collecting them at every tee at their golf course.  Not really dumpster diving but a ton of work.  Thank you Karen, we missed having you two here yesterday.

 

My sister Jan and her co-workers at First Calgary, in Calgary Alberta, helped us out a ton.  Jan sent us two packages, each weighing two or more pounds.  Thanks sis and please thank your co-workers for me.

 

Many, many, of our friends took the time and made an effort to collect and contribute tabs.  Some people had their own collection system going, some just kept a jar at their home.  Some got a few, some got a bunch, thank you all for doing what you could.  The amount each person collected is not the point of this.  This is to thank everyone for helping out and making life a little easier for those that have to deal with this nasty disease every day of their lives.

 

Remember this picture from last year?

 I introducted you to Raphael, the young fellow who is indirect beneficiary and the motivator for our efforts.

Now a year later.
 

 This is Raphael and his younger brother with last year’s collection effort.

 Meet Denis and Therese Lebrun our good friends and Raphael’s Uncle and Aunt who spearhead this whole effort.

So now finally, how many tabs did we collect this year? 

 This is the pile.

It takes about 1600 tabs to make a pound and this pile weighed in at 24.2 pounds.  About 2.5 times our goal and somewhere in the area of 38,500 tabs.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO ALL WHO HELPED OUT.

I don’t want to appear ungrateful but the effort continues and we must start now on next year’s collection.  The goal - we’re looking to collect a minimum of 15 ponds this year, somewhere in the area of 25,000 tabs.  We need all the help we can get.  PLEASE.

Ten tabs or ten thousand tabs we'd love to have you at next year's "Can Tab Social."

Neal and Bernie

The People Of Tropic Star

As we travel around with the RV, or travel around in the Rio Grande Valley, many folks ask us “Why Tropic Star?”  Why that particular resort?

Bernie and I first came here because of the gym.  Yup – the gym.  We were at home, in Winnipeg, searching for a place to stay when we got here.  We found pictures on the Tropic Star web page of the gym and decided to start here.  The plan when we left The Peg was to spend a week here while we searched through the valley for what we wanted.  That was six winters ago and it’s likely we’ll be back for a seventh.

So back to the question at hand, “Why Tropic Star?”

With six winters almost finished we have visited most of the parks in The Valley.  Maybe a dance, a craft show, visiting, or maybe just plain snooping.  We have met hundreds and hundreds of people from all over and chatted, sometimes at length, about what makes their park, their choice.  Most of the better RV Resorts have similar things to offer, some a bit more, some a bit less, some a bit more expensive, some cheaper, but most have similar offerings.

Lil, Lois, and Gaylord

The first time we came to Tropic Star we were checking out the resort looking for a lot to call home for a week or so.  We bumped in Lil T. who told us we had to come to her side of the park and recommended her street.  What a great way to start, a really nice lady, on a really nice street, and a great first winter.  Lil and Bill are still here each winter and are looking forward to seeing them later this week.

As newbies we were anxious to get to the pool and did so at the first opportunity.  While cooling our jets in that beautiful pool we met Lois M. who asked us what we were doing for Thanksgiving dinner a few days later.  Since we had no plans she invited us to join them at their table in the dining room.  We did go for dinner and, yes – you guessed it - Jim and Lois have become very good friends.  You may recall my posting about our stops in Oklahoma City.  That’s where Jim and Lois are and we look forward to seeing them every single time.

And then there was Gaylord.  As nice a guy as the Good Lord put on this earth.  Bernie and I were doing laundry, shortly after arriving here, and in walks this guy with a pony tail and big black motorcycle boots.  He told us his hot water tank was broken so he had come over for a bucket of hot water.  HMMMMM what’s this all about, we thought.  Remember we’ve been here only a few days at that point and were pretty unsure of the whole thing.  So then he asked if we want to go for a drink at Peppies, or maybe Sophies, or how about a day trip to Progresso.  We had no clue what Peppies, Sophies, or Progresso were but over the next few days Gaylord took us to each of them.  We enjoyed them all and now enjoy seeing Gaylord at church every Sunday.  Not what we expected that first day in the laundry room.  Now the guy in the laundry room is – yup – you guessed it – a good friend.

 

Gaylord T.

The volunteer base in our park is unbelievable.  As we talk to folks from other resorts we often hear about their inability to get things done because nobody wants to help.  It’s not like that here.  We are blessed to have a group of volunteers that give, and give, and give some more.  We have had countless meals, gone to countless events, and had countless good times here.  Each time volunteers are manning the show in one way or another.  Literally seven days a week, volunteers are making this place a home for all of us.  Some are in the kitchen cooking a five star meal, some are playing the music, or singing in the 40 member choir, or ushering 400 +/- or us to our chairs on Sunday, or teaching a ceramics class, or a painting class, or a stained glass class, or giving swimming lessons, or giving tennis lessons, or maybe sewing lessons, or taking out the bike riders, or working the two bingo nights, and the list goes on and on.

Oh – and let’s not forget Square Dancing.  Bernie and I don’t square dance but hundreds and hundreds of people do.  As a matter of fact they consider The Rio Grande Valley to be the Square Dance Capital of The World.  Joe Saltel, http://www.joesaltel.com/ one of the top Square Dance callers in the U.S. calls Tropic Star home.  Joe calls all over the world and here at Tropic Star he has Square Dances and/or classes six days a week.  A couple of weeks ago we went to a Country Dance(not Square Dance) in our ballroom where Joe and a friend of his, Jerry Storey, another world class caller http://www.jerrystory.com/ spent three hours singing and we spent an equal amount of time on the dance floor.  This event was so successful that as the event was winding down the crowd quit dancing.  We all stood around the stage just listening and singing along to great music.  Where else can you get to spend an evening up close and personal with two “World Class” entertainers.  Square Dancers come here from all over the valley so you can imagine how many people show up all week long.  Hundreds is not an exaggeration.

The people of our resort are huge givers.  Giving is a personal thing so I won’t go too far into this.  I do believe one of the main reasons this is such a happy place is because it’s giving place.  The people here are generous beyond belief.  One of the streets here, Banana St., has a charity auction each year where people donate things, baking, new, used, etc and then everyone in the resort is invited to come over for the event to buy something.  All proceeds go to a shelter for battered women.  They have a real life, auctioneer doing his thing.  We watched people pay silly amounts of money for things they wanted, maybe even thought they needed.  Like $25 for a used picnic basket or $8 for a loaf of someone’s home made bread, or $20 for a pie.

 Banana St. Auction.

Until the drug cartel made it impossible, one of the people here, went to Sam’s Club with his pick up every week.  At his own expense he bought hundred pound bags (many) of rice and delivered them to the poor in Mexico.  Many people volunteer at the hospital, or the animal shelters.  Every Sunday there is a basket set out for food donations for the poor.  We have coat and blanket drives in early winter each year and there is a teddy bear luncheon.  This is a ladies only event held in Dec. every year.  The price of admission is a ticket and a Teddy Bear.  The Teddy Bears (a couple of hundred +) are given to the local fire department who then distribute them to the poor.  This only scratches the surface of the giving here at Tropic Star.  The resort and giving go hand in hand.

And - now back to the original question “Why Tropic Star?”  The answer is The People of Tropic Star.  Without the people it would just be a nice chunk of real estate owned by some super rich dude.  The people make Tropic Star and that’s why we come back, looking forward to seeing our friends, doing what time permits with each of them, and feeling like we’re a small part of the Tropic Star family.

If you’re clooking for a place to call your "winter home" give Tropic Star a look over. http://www.tropicstarrv.com/gallery.html      http://www.tropicstarrv.com/

Thanks for stopping by, maybe we’ll see you here.

Neal and Bernie

PS, no I didn’t get paid for this huge, free, ad for the resort.  :-)

Happy Anniversary Broughtons'

We have been blessed to meet and become friends with the Broughtons', a family from Alberta.  On the full time RV, and winter Texan, circuit we meet people from time to time who are traveling, or spending time, with a brother or sister.  In the Broughtons’ case there are three of them, two brothers and a sister, all spending their winters together here at Tropic Star.  All three of them are here with their spouses, and each of the couples has been together for 50 or more years.

Bernie and I enjoy their company so very much and this post is devoted to wishing them a Happy Anniversary.

Once a year Tropic Star has a dinner and a re commitment service for those that are celebrating their 50^th anniversary.  Some people wait a year or two, or more, to participate.  Pat and her husband Peter, waited a couple of years so that the three couples were able to celebrate it together.  Last night Ken and Doreen invited us, as their guests, to come to the anniversary dinner.  Today, Sunday, in the afternoon the six of them will participate in the re commitment service.

Janet Ashcroft, the activity director, here at Tropic Star, her husband Jack, and a number of volunteers created a five star dinner for us.  The food was great, the company was fantastic and the evening was first class.

 

Happy Anniversary Ken, Doreen, Robert, Helen, Pat and Peter 

 

Back row, Ron Adams (another friend) yours truly, Ken Broughton, Peter Toporowski, Robert Broughton, Front Row, Bernie, Doreen Broughton, Pat (sister) Toporowski, and Helen Broughton.  Missing Karen Adams who is home helping her Mom.

 

 

More later, this post is just for the Broughtons.

 

Neal and Bernie 

Merry Christmas Everyone

First of all Merry Christmas to anyone who may read this. 

This Christmas we seem to have spent quite a bit of time, with friends, reminiscing about our kids, childhoods, parents, brothers and sisters and so forth.  It really makes us realize how blessed we really are to have our health, a great family, super friends, and the opportunity to do what we're doing.  To live the life most of us have here in North America.

Christmas makes us all think of Christmas's past and who we celebrated them with.  We were so blessed to have spent a couple of them with Thom and Dwaina Sprague.  You may remember from previous posts that Thom passed away last summer.  He's been on my mind allot and I know I'm only one of many people missing him this Christmas. 

RIP Bro.

Thom, third from the right, on a Dirty Dogs Tour, in Boise Idaho, summer 2004

 

For some reason this young lady has been on mind allot also.  She is the Afgany girl who was shot in the head by a Taliban "hero" because she was outspoken on wanting an education for women in her country.  She fooled them and lived.  I know  she doesn't celebrate Christmas but we do, and I hope you join me in keeping her in your prayers.

Malala Yousufzai, a real "Hero."

 

We had a fabulous Christmas eve with some of our friends from dancing.  Ron and Elaine O'Neil invited us to their home where we enjoyed the company of many good people and lots of great food. 

Guys enjoying O'Neil's (Ron in Red) patio

 

Girls inside, Elaine in green, with Bernie at the back

 

This link will take you to Ron's schedule.  If you're in the valley, like good music, and/or dancing, check him out some night.  For dancing we think he's the best in the valley http://wintertexaninfo.com/Bands/RonONeil_A-Party-Of-One.html

 

Christmas day we had a really great time chatting with all of our kids and grandchildren.  This year they were scattered more than usual.  We had a couple of them in Cabo San Lucas Mexico, one in Langely BC, and two in Winnipeg MB.  Getting in touch was easy but conections weren't great.  We use our computer for these calls as a few billion others do on Christmas day.  The connections were tough so we'll just have to do it again soon.  Not something we mind doing.  They were all having a good time.

 

In the afternoon we got together with good freinds Ken and Doreen Broughten at their home for our 5th Christmas dinner at their place.  They have three Broughtons there with their spouses, along with us, and another couple.  It has become a wonderful Christmas tradition here, one we enjoy and treasure.  Thank you Ken and Doreen.

 

As usual we ate way toooooo much.  As seems to be the case this year we spent a couple of hours reminiscing about our childhoods, parents, kids, and so forth.  Maybe it's us, mabe not, but either way it was fun to share stories with friends.

 

So now - well - today we were going out to do a bit of shopping.  In S. Texas they don't do "Boxing day" like we do in Canada.  That day is called Black Friday here and it happens at Thanksgiving.  They do have sales all over the place today but we just don't have the energy to take it on.  Bernie has her Kindle and a cup of coffee.  She's curled up in her recliner - I could be wrong but I think she's done for the day.  I made it to the computer and I think this is all I'll accomplish today.

 

So for now, I'm done, Merry Christmas.

 

Thanks for stopping by and please do leave a comment when you can.

 

Neal and Bernie

 



 

 

 

 

 

 





Something you won't see every day

In fact unless you are in this wee corner of Texas it’s unlikely you’d ever see one North of Mexico or Central America.
 

  “Black Bellied Whistling Ducks” sitting outside our RV.

 

 This guy seemed to be the alpha male, the lookout, maybe the “boss” duck, I don’t know but he always maintains an “I’m cool” stance away from the others.

 

We’ve seen them other years, sitting on telephone lines, resting in trees, exhibiting very un –duck like behaviour.  This year they have taken a liking to the empty lot beside us so we get up close and finally a couple of decent pictures.   They aren’t great shots because they’re through the window.  As soon as I go outside they’re outta here in a heartbeat.

Hope you enjoyed them.

Thanks for stopping by and please do say hi when you can.

Neal and Bernie