We have been settling in to life here at our place in TX, the days are very similar which is nice after all the summer traveling we did.
We arrived in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends. Deep fried turkey has become our regular main course for our Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanks Bev and Dennis for having us over.
My brother, sister in law and one daughter were in town for the holidays.
Once Thanksgiving passed it was time to get ready for Christmas.
Dave has been out fishing as much as possible. His friend Steal A Fish usually joins him.
One morning Dave got attacked by the clams, all of the sudden they appeared in mass. Good thing he kept his wits about him and made it out alive.
One of his bigger catches.
Waiting for his handout.
We purchased a small freezer for our shed so Dave has plenty of room to freeze up as much as he catches. We can also take advantage of sales at HEB, now we can have on hand meats to BBQ whenever we feel like it. Two pork butts and brisket in the freezer, we're ready to BBQ.
I have been diligently exercising 6-7 days a week, either power walking, an aerobic workout or with hand weights and a dvd. Slowly but steadily the weight is going down and the muscles are getting toned. We have both joined the Fitbit movement and strive to get 10k steps every day.
Before the holidays some of the ladies from the park went to Santa's Texas Workshop and Christmas House in Falfurrias TX. What a treat and experience it was, the three ladies who own and run the enterprise take Christmas to a whole new level. Janie, Esther and Dorothy Minten never married and still live in the home they grew up in. Every year the start decorating the whole home in July and open the doors in late September and stay open through the end of April. Tours are done by phone reservation only, 1-800-276-4339. These wonderful ladies keep Christ in Christmas and part of all of the admission proceeds go to charity. Your tour will consist of visits to each room of their home, snacks and you will be entertained by song and piano playing, be prepared to spend 4 hours there.
For many years I purchased these Crayola Hallmark ornaments for our oldest son.
I've spent lots of fun time with my friend Jackie, we seem to be into the flavor peach this winter so we decided try making peach moonshine. Tasting will take place in another week or so, sure tasted good as we prepared it so we have high hopes for the finished product.
We had a wonderful Christmas filled with lots of love and laughter while enjoying the day with our Gulf Waters Family. Christmas Eve there was an open house, followed by a golf cart parade and ending with a Mean Santa kept us busy all day. Phone calls with family in between the events and the day was complete. Christmas Day we enjoyed a buffet lunch at the only restaurant open in Port Aransas, all the seafood and sides you could eat, sure didn't need anything more for the rest of the day.
The Jones family, new friends who have the most well behaved kids, a pleasure to get to know them.
Francy, the one who is responsible for all the activities we enjoy here at Gulf Waters. Thank you for a wonderful day.
The winners of the most tackiest golf cart, thanks Jackie for sharing your ride with me. |
The Gingerbread house sandcastle from our Christmas Day buffet restaurant. |
Our travel plans for the next 16 months, we leave here on 3/21 and will be traveling with our friends Curt and Glenda east along the Gulf coast as far as Gulf Shores AL. Some of our caravan friends will join us there for 9 days of fun and good times, we also will be able to catch up with our friends Carla and Jerry who workamp at a nearby local campground. On 4/10 we will head north to IL. In mid December we received a call from Lake Shelbyville COE, we will be volunteering for them and working at the visitors center located at the dam. We will be staying at Oppussum Creek Campground on the west side of Lake Shelbyville. We will be there mid April till sometime in October, we will then head to Cave Creek AZ where we will once again be volunteering at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.
We hope you all have had wonderful holidays and wish you a safe and enjoyable New Year.
Until next time...
All of that fresh seafood looks so good. You have a good plan with plenty to do this year. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWe will have to get in touch with you sometime this year, we would really like to hear more about that area of Texas. We are seriously thinking of going there next winter.
ReplyDeleteBeing from the mountains of Virginia where moonshine was a way of life, I had to laugh at your peach moonshine. Would love to have a sip. Hope it doesn't have the kick of the local 'shine'. I sure would love to have been surrounded by clams. Looks like all you can eat and as fast as you can bucket them. Happy new year to you both!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun, fun time at GWRVR.
ReplyDeleteMMmmm, peach sounds yummy! Love the gingerbread sand castle. If we don't see you in LA, perhaps we'll see you back at Cave Creek.
ReplyDeleteAhh, Texas life. I know you are so relaxed, having a great time with friends. I hope when we meet you will bring the freezer with you so Dave can cook something tasty for us :)
ReplyDeleteThat clam invasion was fascinating, I wished I was there to see them and Dave's expression.
Im using an app on my smartphone for the the 10 K steps, still trying :) How do you like your FitBit?