CHRISTMAS WEEK

The further the eclispe went the more cloudy it got till we couldn't get the very last of it, but we saw it.

Dad read's this blog on the computer that this 14 yr old girl writes and she is one smart cookie. We printed out her info she had on the eclipse, so if you ever want to learn more about it we have it.
Ayla says and I quote"The precise coincidental phenomenon described hasn't happened since 1638 that's 372 years ago. It won't happen again till 2094". See why I wanted to see it so badly. Remeber this is a December 2010 Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as we did seeing it in real life. Just think Galileo was 70 years old when he got to see it!

We had a wonderful Christmas because we have each other and we have so many wonderful family. We are so Blessed and we missed every one so much, but we din't have to worry about the weather or get all wore out.
We pray that all our loved ones will have a Healthy, prosperous and Happy New Year. See you next year!

CHRISTMAS WEEK

What away to start off Christmas week. We talked about the total eclipse and I really wanted to see it because I knew I wouldn't be around for the next winter eclipse. I didn't think Dad would be either but I didn'

t tell him you know how synsitive he is about his age. LOL

I woke up at 12:30 didn't want to wake up Dad but I couldn't see the moon from any windows so I had to go out and then I had to come back in and get the camera. Well it is not easy to be quiet going in and out. I tried taking some pictures and it was hard. So Dad came out I told him it was starting. We stayed out for an hour watching it. Our necks got so tired looking streaight up. Dad laid down on my lawn chair since he was taking the pictures. It was really damp and a little cool but it was so neat to be out there together watching another one of our awesome creations that our God did for us. These pictures are not the greatest but for us and our little cheap camera I'm proud of them. It was really cloudy so we didn't get much time to click the pictures but it was a night to remeber for two people like us.

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

We had a Mexican dinner here in the park Friday night and it was good. Well I told you I'd take pictures of our decorations and just remember I can hear you snickering.

Well there they are. We went to church this AM and going to the Cantata at our church tonight. It just seems that there is something going on all the time. But we still have time to miss all the hustle and bustle at home.

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

I forgot to tell you on the last picture of the fishing boat, we figured they didn't catch anything as their were no birds following them.

We don't know what kind this is it but he came up out of the water right in front of us but he was big and wet. This truck got stuck in the sand. Dad said we would have if we didn't have 4 wheel drive. They had to be towed out. The wind was really blowing the sand and it drifts just like snow, it doesn't take much.

Do you notice anything different about the post no security guard.

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

These were just work boats but we enjoyed seeing them and here we got two for the price of one.

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

As you can see we finally made it to the beach. It was so beautiful the water was just rough enough. We got to see a few porpoises but no picture they are too fast. The old pelicans were out the sea gulls were sitting around not doing anything. At least the pelicans beg for fish from the fisherman. The coast guard made their trip thru for us. This is the big one that has the speed boats in the bottom.

2 Weeks till Christmas

Sorry no pictures, the camera is in the car and I forgot to bring it in. Since I'm tired or lazy thought I'd wait till next week to put the pictures in.

We had a busy week again. By the time we get up, take our herbs and get our walks in, the morning is gone. We drove thru Conn Harbor here and they are tearing down the old metal buildings and selling the metal. There wasn't many old shrimp boats like they used to be.

We had some more fish given to us this week. They are sheephead, Dad liked the red fish better. The couple that gave us the sheephead are from Lake Erie, Marblehead to be exact. He loves to fish and they give the fish away. Lucky us, right.

Friday night we had a potluck. Saturday we went hunting for a TV. Sunday we went to church came home and had a banana split party at 2:00 in the den. I went back at 4 to play 99. Came home and made us a bacon and tomato sandwich.

So see how fast our time goes.


See ya next week.

ANOTHER WEEK GONE BY

Then we helped decorate the Captains Den where we do all of our get togethers. There were 7 of us doing the decorating. We have 3 partys , 1 pot luck, 2 ice cream partys, our gift exchange. Then we play cards every afternoon and every night. Time does fly we don't get bored. I'll show you our decorations next week.

ENJOY THE CHRISTMAS SEASON YOU ARE TO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED. IT WILL GO SO FAST DON'T BE LIKE YOUR MOTHER SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY IT ALL.

ANOTHER WEEK GONE BY

This boat is being restored in the boat yard where people work on their own boats. We sure hope he didn't give much for it because it is sure going to cost a lot to restore.

This OLD safe is in the lobby of the bank here in Aransas Pass. We thought it was neat and pretty darn old. The guy at the bank said it was really heavy.

We had a busy week, 13 of us women packed 12 boxes for the soldiers in Afghanistan. The organization is called Soldiers angels. We brought in the stuff, packed them and paid for the shipping. All 12 boxes weighed 150 pounds and each box cost 12.50. One of the women in the park suggested we do this. Guess they don't have personal items at all. It is hard to believe they don't have personal items. We had those boxes tight they didn't rattle or need any packing in them. I said we should know how to squeeze things in tight places, since we all live in small places.

Second week

Boy this week went fast. Can you believe Christmas is a month away. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, but when you know our precious Lord and Savior every day is Thanksgiving. We are so Thankful that we do. We had a catered dinner and it was OK, I guess. We know if we could have been home what wonderful meals we would have had. We have to admit we have 3 great cooks in our family. Anyhow I made a couple of pumpkin pies and invited a couple couples in to help us eat them. That was as close as we got to a homemade dinner.

Anyhow we had an ice cream social tonight in the den. We look forward to that.
We haven't even got to the beach yet, would you believe.

All the old friends are coming in for the winter and it is good to see them. Some didn't make it one or the other is sick, etc. and that is sad, but when you get to be our age it's no surprise.

Will try to have something better next week, but don't expect to much, remeber our age!!!

FIRST WEEK IN TEXAS

Well this week was a bummer if you thought you were going to see pictures, you are as disapointed as we are. It was not a bad week but not the greatest. First we found out our credit score was blown out of the water over a 209.00. We never received the bill and they turned it over to a collection agent. Anyhow after running down two cell phones think that is straightened out. If you know us we would have had it paid when it was due.
We are happy where we are and very thankful to be here. Somebody in the park has roller blades and just went by. You guessed it she is not as old as us. We are back in church too, the pastor even remembered us.
The weather has been just perfect.
We are making a big pan of dressing for a needy family on Wednesday.
We are having the Thanksgiving Day catered here at the park. It will be hard to not have leftovers. We love you all and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Be very thankful for every thing even the bad. Our God doesn't make mistakes.

MISSOURI

We made it to MO in one day (a big day) Called MO kids and said we were there but wore out so wouldn't be in till the next day. These big days are hard on us old people. Mike was pretty good for Mike except for a tooth ache. Carol was doing great we think retirement has been good for her. Didn't get a picture of Susan and Joe's gang and when they were all there together forgot it. We stayed a week and they didn't want us to leave, I think it was because Mike didn't get any apple dumplings. We had a great time and needed to go on our way towards home. Well when you stay someplace for 5 months that makes it home too.

This is in Big Cabin OK, a truck stop where we always stopped. Anyhow we stayed thre the first night as we had an appointment to get some recall work done a mile down the road. I finally got a picture of the ole chief walked out there and the batterys went dead on the camera, so got my walk in that morning. His feathers go clear down his back (cement feathers).

Guess this star doesn't need any explanation. We stayed all night in the welcome center, we thought that was appropiate after all they built it for us winter Texans. They have pansys planted all around the star. We do love it in Texas. One more night of dry camping and we will be in Aransa Pass our home. We have our spot open and we can get set up for 5 months. Got the bugs washed off the front end put our shades on the windshield. Went to our old church here and felt right at home.

This load was parked next to us in the welcome center. We couldn't figure out what it was till the next morning. It is one continous piece of gas pipe, there were 3 loads traveling together.

"WHAT A GRAND WORLD THIS WOULD BE IF WE FORGOT OUR TROUBLES AS FAST AS WE FORGET OUR BLESSINGS' wish I would have thought of this.

OUR FIRST STOP

We took two days going to Iowa. We are at Squaw Creek County Park where we always stay while in Iowa. We only saw a couple of deer and finally some wild turkeys our last day. We were not able to get any pictures of any of them. But we really like it there and this year we only took about a dozen of the Iowa state bugs with us when we left. In case you haven't heard that Iowa has a state bug it is a box elder.

These are pictures of the construction of The New Covenant Bible Church. Bob took us a tour, Lowell took a lot of pictures. There was no way I could tell about the pictures. Bob said this is the main sreet, or I would explain it as the main entrance. I told him the kids would love those steps to play on.

This one I remembered, I think they have a long ways to go on the worship center (sanctuary for us old people). If you want to know the colors of the outside of the building it is the exact same as our lowly little herb store.

We sure enjoyed Heather and Ryan during our visit, Bob had a business trip and I told him I bet it was hard getting plane reservations that quick when he found out we were coming. But it worked out great for us and Leesa she wasn't feeling up to par so we just hung out with her and fixed Heather and Ryan's favorite food. He's like Dad he eats everything. Our time went to fast as always, but like fish company begins to stink after 3 days. But we stayed a week with them. It was starting to freeze and they shut the water off there earlier this year. This visit will have to last us all till next spring when we return back to Ohio.

GOODBY OHIO

This is our goodby to Ohio till next spring. We love you all, take care of each other.
Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma.

On the way to Iowa we stopped at a rest area and found this kettle. Salt springs were discovered near this spot on October 31 1819 by Joseph Barron and party, here Seymour Treat brought his family here Novemeber 27 1819 and became first settlers in Vermillon County Illinois. Can you imagine being the only family in a whole county. I'll bet they didn't make it home for Christmas either. I'm sure they were thankul to be alive at Christmas. This kettle was used in the salt works which were profitablt operated bt Major Vance from 1824 to 1831.

We saw some beautiful foliage on our way to Iowa and had some rain too. But all in all we had a wonderful trip.
If you haven't got time to do a job right, when will you have time to do it again? Think about it!