Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas, Hope you have a Great Day, a Great Holiday.

Bernie and I are so fortunate to be able to spend our winters in the South where it's normally warm and sunny.  The Christmas Season is both "the best" and "the hardest" part of winter for snow birds.  For many of us going home is just too far and that makes it "the hardest."  Knowing our families are 2000 or more miles away is tough.  A large number of our American friends do go back but I think the majority of Canadians stay South which brings us to "the best."

We had "the best" time over the last couple of days visiting with our friends, enjoying their company, great food, and of course enjoying that fabulous "Christmas Spirit" that is so abundant here in N. America.  We really are blessed to be here.

On Christmas eve we spent most of the afternoon and evening with Bob and Lynn, our dance teachers.  They invited us to their home for a great visit and our first turkey dinner.  Great food, great company, and a fun day.

Christmas morning we went to church with 275 +/- other people from our resort for a terrific Christmas message delivered by our Resident Pastor.  The choir, 20 to 30 people (depending on season) is absolutely "outta sight,"  They deliver beautiful music each Sunday.  This Sunday they did something very unique by splitting up, with singers and at both the front and back of the room.  It was really nice.  This is the resort I brag about all the time, http://tropicstarrv.com/index.html . 

Right after church we went to Ron and Karen's place for brunch.  Ron and Karen are from Cold lake, Alberta and have been coming to Tropic Star for the same number of years we have (5).  Karen had made up a couple of great breakfast entrees with eggs, bacon, sausage, sweet rolls, (had 2 :-) ), biscuits, and more.  So that was big meal two.  Thanks you guys, it was really nice.

Then it was home to call the kids.  It was sure fun to talk to everyone for a few minutes and listen to the Grandchildren tell us about their morning.  This is undoubtedly the hardest part of a winter away from home.  Bernie was doing great until Rob told here he "missed her."  That did it, since she'd murder me if I told you exactly how she reacted, I'll protect myself and say it was "hard" for her (us).  We do miss them.  The grandchildren all sound so different than they did three or four months ago.  Boy time does fly.

Then it was off to Ken and Doreen's for a fabulous Christmas dinner for 12.  Of course yours truly, wasn't smart enough to take a wee bit of everything.  We had a great meal with "all" the trimmings shared with great friends and laughter.  Its doesn't get any better.  This year we had dinner with new friends Greg and Carol, from Michigan, who were spending their "first" Christmas away from their family.  Every one of us knew how they felt.  We all remember out "first" Christmas away, they get a easier over time but never "easy."

Dinner with the Broughtons

Hosts Ken front right and Doreen at the head of the table

Right side, Helen (Robert was ill,) Peter, Pat, Carol, Greg, Ken

Left side, Bernie and I, Ron, Karen

Ken and Doreen, "thank you" so much.  Bernie and I were talking last night and realized this was the fourth Christmas we've spent with you guys.  I think a new Christmas Tradition is evolving.

Ron and Peter solving "the world's problems"

Hostess finally gets a break

We even had a "cracking fire"

After dinner we split into a couple of tables for some cards and Mexican Train, a dominoes game.  Bernie and I joined with Pat and Peter for a game of girls vs boys Hand and Foot.  Of course the guys won, but according to the girls we had to "cheat" to do it, NOT.

By 10ish we were all pretty tired and headed home.  Thanks to a great group of friends we had a fabulous Christmas.

So it's time to go for now.  Merry Christmas everyone, thanks for stopping by and please do leave a comment when you can.

Neal and Bernie.

Hot Hot Hot

I wish it was hot hot hot but it isn’t. It all depends on what you’re comparing it to. Compared to back home in Winnipeg, we’re blessed to be here. Compared to what we’ve had other years not so much. This whole week we have forecasted highs in the 60’s or low 70’s which is great when compared to the North but when compared to what we’re used to it isn’t so great.

I know – complain, complain, complain some people are never happy.  :-)

Things are great down here. From my previous posts you know our schedule, like most winter Texans, is pretty hectic.

The 1,000,000 or so of us that come to the valley for a few months do make life interesting for the locals and visitors alike. The locals get a bit ticked off at the lines we cause: everything from the bank to the food store. At the same time we’re a huge part of the economy in the valley and they all know it. Without the winter Texan crowd life would certainly be different for those that live here.

Today we were out hanging some Christmas lights. It’s pretty neat to see the different things people do to their RV’s to celebrate Christmas. I’m going to try to get some video this winter and post links to the blog so you can see it. Since we don't have a video camera, it all depends on Santa; he has my letter so we’ll see if I’ve been good enough. My brother in law recently sent me this and it may be the end result of my letter to Santa.

A friend caught these pictures at a dance class yesterday. Bernie and I thought you might enjoy them.  They are taken at a class, so we're dressed accordingly.  Bernie has experience and musicality, but “the old guy” is catching on pretty quick.

These are some friends we went to dinner with after a dance class last week.

At the back are Bob and Lynn, our friends and dance teachers. They live here in the valley in Mission Texas. Next – Bernie and I. Then Ron and Elaine from Michigan. Ron is the entertainer we spend as much time with as we can. He was a music teacher for 30 years who now entertains as “A Party of One.” http://wintertexaninfo.com/Bands/RonONeil_A-Party-Of-One.html
http://www.a-party-of-one.com/Schedules.htm   In front are friends Paul and Shirley from Ontario, who take lessons from Bob and Lynn and dance with Ron as often as they can.

Tomorrow Bernie has her Canasta lesson, I have a day planned in the Glass Room, and of course we have to do our regular 4 mile walk. There has to be something wrong with the air down here. We walk 4 or more miles pretty much every day, we dance a few times each week and still can’t seem to shed any pounds. I’m starting to think it must have something to do with food and beverage. Speaking of which, you should have seen the plate of ribs we shared at The Texas Roadhouse last night. We shared it and still left feeling like “just after Christmas dinner.” They were soooooooooooooo good, we’ll be back there a time or two before the winters over. HMMMMM – maybe it isn’t the air...... :-)

So that’s it for tonight Bernie has a great dinner on the table and I have to go and enjoy it. More of that BAD air.

Stay well, thinks for stopping by and please do leave a comment when you can.

Neal and Bernie