Friday, January 20, 2012

A GREAT DAY IN TWO COUNTRIES

Monday, January 16 – Paul did a minor remodeling project this morning. We purchased a small dining/kitchen table last year after removing our “fixed” table. The fixed table just wasn't located in the best spot and the new kitchen table had legs that made sitting at it uncomfortable. It seemed like we were always straddling a table leg.

So Paul ordered a pedestal table leg online. We were looking for a wooden pedestal, but they were either cost prohibitive or too big. If only Paul still had his wood shop....LOL.   Anyway, the pedestal arrived in yesterdays UPS truck, and Paul installed it this morning.

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What a difference! Makes the table much more comfortable. We may change the color in the future???? That's a decision for another time.

table-with-base

Before we headed to the guitar concert, we had dinner at Cheddars. We have never been here before. The food was delicious!

Rick, Marsha, Paul, Jane, Joe, Angie
group-at-dinner

After dinner we attended a guitar concert at the McAllen Community Center......Edgar Cruz – Guitarist Extraordinaire. He has been named the Oklahoma's Top Performing Artist and Acoustic Guitarist for more than ten years. He performed a repertoire of greatest hits, classical medleys, Latin favorites, originals, rock, jazz, mariachi, and romantic music.

Egar

All and all, it was an enjoyable concert and a good time out with friends.

Wednesday, January 18 – OFF TO MEXICO.....We headed to Nuevo Progreso this morning with friends, Angie & Rick and Jane & Joe. We paid our .50 to pass through the turnstile and cross-over into Mexico.

border

The first thing Paul noticed was the absence of the military. Last year the military had outposts at the border and on several street corners. There presence is no longer visible, and Rick mentioned they moved out of town last fall. Hopefully, that means they are no longer needed.

We feel very comfortable and safe while visiting this border town in Mexico. The people are very friendly, not too pushy, and seem happy to have us present and spending our American dollars. Marsha was looking for some Mexican tiles for her baskets. She did find one, but we'll continue to look next week when we return to Mexico for dentist appointments. We're going to get our 6-month teeth cleaning.

Typical street
progresso

If only we had space…wouldn't these just look lovely in the motor home?
chickens

We stopped at the pharmacy for some medicines. We wanted to get several “Z-packs” in case we get the cough that seems to be slowly spreading through the campground. Of course, with any medicine purchase you get a free margarita, so we moved next door for our drinks and to listen to the entertainment.

We sat for quite awhile because Joe decided to see the surgeon recommended by the pharmacist. He had a couple growths removed from his face. Luckily Angie is Hispanic and speaks fluent Spanish. She acted as his interpreter. She's been to this pharmacist many times in the past and was able to get a recommendation for a good doctor. Marsha took the camera and documented the entire surgery. She got a ton of close ups, but we won't gross you out with them. Isn't this what you always dreamed of…your surgery in photos.

joe-surgery

Joe is alive and well. He looks great.

joe-coming-out

While we were waiting for Joe and having more than our free margarita, the entertainment started.

our-singer

We have heard this guy several times. Actually, once in a while he hits the right notes…LOL. The girls decided they would liven everyone's visit by entertaining the crowd. They requested the Macarena. They were moving so fast, Paul couldn't get a clear picture. First time Marsha has danced in Mexico.

dancing

After Joe's surgery, we headed back to the border and our return to the U.S. We zipped right through customs and were headed home in no time. We stopped for lunch at one of Rick's favorite hamburger spots, Gonzales. They serve a half-pound cheeseburger that is huge. Marsha and I both brought half home for a later supper.

hamburger

onion-rings

Another busy and enjoyable day spent in two countries!

 

Thursday, January 19 - Angie & Rick came over for dinner this evening to help with planning our upcoming summer travels. They have full-timed for over nine years and traveled extensively in California, Oregon and Washington, so are a good source on information of what to see and how to get there!

Rick brought over his computer with Streets & Trips software and convinced us to purchase the latest version. He has all the Points of Interest (POI) marked making it pretty nice for finding Elks Lodges, discount RV Parks, and other stops along our route.

We pretty much have our route planned, and we'll transfer it to my computer once I purchase Streets & Trips. I'll do a little “tweaking” and then post our travel plans in the near future.

After several hours of planning, Marsha served us a delicious Spaghetti Bake dinner complete with salad and garlic bread. What is it with RV'ers, trip planning, and food.....LOL

Check out the latest picture of Marsha's post eye surgery. She still has swelling below both eyes, but she is thrilled that she can see so clearly. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, best wishes, and emails. What a miracle!

jan.-2012

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

Monday, January 16, 2012

IT'S A WEDDING!

Saturday, January 14 – Paul enjoyed the beautiful morning playing pickleball with several of his friends.

paul-hitting-back

It was a perfect day....sunny, warm, and no wind. Since you play pickleball with a whiffleball the size of a baseball, wind is you enemy. If it's blowing more than a few miles per hour it becomes impossible to play.

court

We did something unusual today, especially since we are staying in a 55+ RV Park. We attended the wedding of friends, Luisa & Elmer.

altar

We met them last year when we got involved in a remodeling project at Luisa's house (you can click here to read all about it). Elmer joined the work crew near the end of the project, met Luisa, dated for the past year, and are now married. Elmer is building a casita (a small house) here in Hidden Valley Ranch where they will be living once he is finished.

The wedding was held in Mission, TX at the Methodist Church. It was going to be a small family affair but grew as those things frequently do, into an event attended by about 50-60 family and friends. It was a fun event and the Bride & Groom appeared very happy.

cutting-cake

BLOG UPDATE: Many readers commented with questions on how we like staying on a covered RV site. I worried at first we may not like it, and that we would have problems with out satellite TV and with Verizon internet service.

Well, after two weeks, I can report that we love it! The TV and internet are no problem. The roof keeps the MH clean and as an added and significant bonus, here in the frequently windy RGV, the roof protects us from the wind and especially keeps the slide-out awnings from flapping noisily in the wind!! This flapping drove us crazy at times last year!

Another plus is it keeps the coach warmer on cool mornings. Usually, I am unable to use the roof mounted heat pump if outside temperatures drop below about 43 degrees. Although an unusual occurrence here in the RGV, it happens. With the covered site I am still able to use the AC heat pump (it got down to 40 degrees Wednesday and it's running now!) instead of turning on that inefficient propane furnace!!!

We also have the use of a storage shed on our site and have found it indispensable. We park our bikes safely there, store chairs, the grill, and other supplies & equipment. Paul forgot how nice it was to have a barn for his “stuff.” Better get out of here quick before he starts accumulate too much “stuff.”......LOL

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN MISSION

Wednesday, January 11 – We met in the activity center this evening for a game of Farkle.

farkle

We learned how to play this game last year while in the RGV and joined the gang for Wednesday Night Farkle. We had three tables full of Farklers (is that a word???) and enjoyed ourselves. The women kicked butt at our table winning all four games.....JEESH!!!

Paul-farkle

 

Friday, January 13 – We went to the dance tonight with our friends. There seems to be a dance about every weekend here at Leisure Valley or at the sister ranch, Hidden Valley. These two parks are actually connected and many times you aren't clear which park you are visiting.

The entertainment was a one-man-band, Jeff Gordon. He sang with computerized back-up music. It was mostly our favorite, country with a mixture of oldies but goodies. We had a great time Texas Two Stepping and doing the Texas Waltz, as well as “gettin' down” with some oldies.

Marsha (in the purple), Angie in middle, Rick on right.
line-dancing

Of course it wouldn't be a successful dance without Marsha winning something. She won a door-prize! A “Winter-Texan” t-shirt. Why can't she win the lottery.... :-)

shirt

We had a great time.

us

Speaking of T-Shirts......we received our Bourbon Trail t-shirts in the mail. If you visit all the Bourbon Distilleries in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and get your Passport Book stamped at their tour center, you receive a complimentary t-shirt. We are now “Official” Kentucky Bourbon tasters!!!

bourbon-shirt

Thanks to our blogger friends, Jerry and Suzy, we now know the correct name for one of our bird pictures from our last blog. Being from Ohio, we were almost positive this was a Cardinal but weren't 100% sure.

Northern Cardinal
26-bird

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!