Houston

We have spent a fun month in Houston with Kyle, Heather and the girls. It has rained every day and the humidity is drenching but still good to be here!

We took Samantha and Emily to the Galveston beach while the girls and their husbands went to Las Vegas for a long week-end. We bought them boogie boards and they spent hours riding the waves! Jack (the new dog) went with us with promises that they would take care of him. The first time Roger and Emily walked him and he pooped Emily said "I can't clean that up - it gives me the throw ups!"

"Cool Dog" at the beach!

We have a good time just doing everyday things with them - walking Jack up to school in the afternoons, going to school functions, the horseraces, a Skeeters game and just hanging out playing games. Carlos and Megan came for two week-ends so we had wonderful Mothers Day. Roger and I took the girls to a local playground and took pictures to put in a frame for Heather's present and it turned out real cute.

 

 

Heather started a swim team in the subdivision and has been immersed in all the preparations necessary for the first season. What a task - even with many volunteers and coaches! She and Megan have such good memories of the Northern Hills Natadors that she wanted the girls to have the same experience - hence, the Lakes of Bella Terra Baracudas! We saw their first practice "meet"  before we left and both the girls did really well! They are anxious to get their official times!

We are on our way to Boerne to a Boomer Rally over Memorial Day week-end and then to Ft. Worth for new jacks on the motorhome before we head north to Alaska!

Hate to say "good-bye" because we know we won't see them until October!!

Back in Texas!

We arrived back in Texas last Thursday. We missed the peak wildflower season but the roadsides are still decorated with bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush and yellow daisies and everything is so green. We spent Friday night and Saturday with Carlos and Megan in Austin - biking and of course eating Mexican food!

We are now in San Antonio attending to the townhouse and routine doctors appointments. Forgot it is Fiesta Week - always a fun time to be in town! Back to HEB, great Mexican food and Bill Miller iced tea! Also back to TRAFFIC!













We had a wonderful evening last night with long time friends - notice I did not say "old friends" because none of us are old! - at Gary and Lynn's.

John, Roger, John, Gary

Kathy, Lynn, Phyllis, Sue

The Sugar Shack

A change of plans brought us to Michigan instead of Texas earlier than anticipated. Bill and Anna Lee were in Florida for two months and Anna Lee was in the hospital twice. She wasn't well enough to ride home in their truck so we brought her home in the motorhome. We are so glad she did well during the journey! They are relieved to be able to follow-up with her doctors here in Michigan.

Mel's trip to the Mayo Clinic in Florida in February went well and she is scheduled for a bilateral hip replacement on April 8th in Kalamazoo. So we are staying in Michigan to be with her during and after her surgery. We need to be back in San Antonio by April 21 for our doctors appointments. Sometimes it isn't fun getting old!

It is typical Michigan weather for this time of the year - cold, wet, windy, gray days! Missing the sun in Florida and all the beautiful flowering dogwoods and trees in Georgia. Hopefully, spring will arrive while we are still here.

We are enjoying Dick and Sally's hospitality with the motorhome parked in their yard - a lovely, quiet setting.

The maple tree sap is running now and the Hanover/Horton Historical Society is making and bottling pure maple syrup at Heritage Park. The "sugar shack" runs 24/7 until the season is over with volunteers helping in every way. Families donate trees on their land to be "tapped" - volunteers collect the clear sap - then take it to the sugar shack. The sap is gravity fed into a "evaporation tray" - which dates back to the 1870's! - and boiled - using firewood - until it darkens in color and reaches the correct viscosity. It is then drained off and taken to the kitchen where it is boiled again and strained - to get rid of "sugar sand" - and then bottled for sale. Anyone is welcome to come watch the process and the school children get to participate. What a community endeavor!

Disney World 2015

The weather has not been as nice as previous years in Florida but, certainly better than any where up north! It cleared up and has been lovely for the kids visit and our trip to Disney!

They arrived on Friday and we celebrated my birthday with special "bundt" cupcakes that were delicious! After dinner we went up to Karaoke night and Emily talked Samantha into singing "Let it Go" and "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" from the movie "Frozen." Emily sang her heart out and said "Samantha was my back up singer!" Too cute!

We went up to the Villages for dinner on Saturday night so Kyle and Heather could see what retirement in Florida is all about. Dancing and drinks on the Ft. Sumter Square and golf carts everywhere! There was a singer at the restaurant/bar and the girls were on the dance floor with her singing "Happy."

Sunday was Kyle and Heather's 12th wedding anniversary so the girls stayed with us while they had a nice evening at Downtown Disney. Judy, Roger and I met them at their hotel on Monday and went to Disney Hollywood. Then on Tuesday Roger "bailed" (can you imagine he would rather play golf with the guys than fight the spring break crowds at Disney?) so Judy and I met them at the Magic Kingdom for another fun day. They went to Animal Kingdom on Wednesday and then home on Thursday. I am so grateful that I am healthy and able to enjoy such fun times with them! And it was great Judy could join us - they love having fun with her! They are growing up fast - last time in Disney Hong Kong Emily was scared of Mickey and Minnie Mouse and this time she rode Space Mountain and loved it!

Singing in the Rain!

Great spot to view the parade!

Rolling Ridge RV Resort

We've been in Florida for a month now and are settled in and busy with all the activities. Ice cream on Sundays, donuts and golf on Tuesday, Yoga on Wednesday & Saturday mornings,  golf again on Thursday afternoon and Euchre on Thursday nights - and of course all the happy hours and dining out! We've been to the Flea Market and have rode our bikes into Clermont for breakfast and had lunch at the Tiki Bar with our visiting Alfa club friends. Back in the groove!

Roger's bike died and he just purchased a new one. He was complaining about spending the money and I told him to think of it as "Durable Medical Equipment" - the exercise keeps him healthy!

Judy and I went to the LPGA golf tournament in Ocala yesterday and had a fun day watching the lady pros! Wish some of their talent would rub off on me! Although, I did get new grips for my clubs, new golf shoes and a new outfit so I should be playing par golf this season!! You can just barely see the flag on the tiny green on this par 3 hole - it's surrounded by beach sand!



This caddy's shorts match his player's skirt - a good look for Roger & I don't you think?

Bill and Anna Lee arrive today and will be staying at a park across the street from us for the month of February - we are looking forward to spending time with them.

Judy and I leave tomorrow to meet Mel and Ray in Jacksonville. Mel has an appointment at the Mayo Clinic. Pray they can help her!

Crystal River, Florida

We arrived at our winter home in Rolling Ridge RV park on January 4th - finally saw the sun in Ocala! It is always nice to come back to parks where we have friends!

Judy, Mel and Ray had nasty weather driving from Dallas to Michigan and then Judy and Marilou had nasty weather driving from Michigan to Florida! But, they arrived safely and are thawing out!

We spent three days in Crystal River with our Alfa club friends, Mike & Lorraine, seeing the manatees. The manatees come into the rivers and springs in this area to winter in warmer water. We  took a bus tour out to Three Sisters Springs on Sunday afternoon and then we went kayaking at the springs the next morning. The water is so clear and you just float over them. Many people were wearing wet suits and snorkeling with them. The only problem was the number of people - a popular activity! What fun!

Three Sisters Spring

Manatees "wintering"

They are very docile and spend most of their time sleeping under water. They come up for air about every 10 minutes and just stick their nostrils above the water line.

Mike and Lorraine navigating the traffic!


 

Mama and her newborn calf

Time for air!



 

New Years Family Reunion

We spent the week between Christmas and New Years in the Dallas area with the Eddy family. Heather, Kyle and the girls - even Jack the dog came! - and Megan and Carlos joined us too. Judy was not planning on coming, since she was leaving for Florida the first of January, but she came to Mel and Ray's rescue when Ray had a stent inserted on December 22nd and couldn't drive for 2 weeks! We told Ray it was a pretty dramatic way to get her to join us! We are all so glad he is doing well. I remember Judy came to my rescue in Phoenix years ago when Roger had his airplane accident.
It was cold and windy but we had a great time just being together, playing cards and games and of course, eating and drinking!
Joel and Rachel's little girl Charlotte is about 19 months and such a cutie - we all had fun with her!
Ray, Kirt, Nicole and Judy went to the Cotton Bowl and watched a great game - Michigan State beat Baylor by one point right at the end!