Thanksgiving Redux

This morning we went to Darryl Lipscomb's A-2 Concept dance. There were 11 squares, and we hear that the dance just keeps getting bigger as more Winter Texans arrive. Afterwards we stopped for Ken to get a haircut and then went to the HEB for milk and a few items. Ken has decided to become an official retired guy--he's growing a beard. We'll have to wait a while to see how it grows out and how he wants to style it.

Our neighbors, Gary and Mary Ann, generously invited us to share their Thanksgiving leftovers, including delicious bread dressing like Mom used to make and a fruit salad along with turkey and gravy. We brought along the leftover green bean casserole and cranberry sauces. It was a scrumptious dinner in a much more intimate atmosphere than the clubhouse yesterday, and great company. Mary Ann was a second grade teacher for many years, and Gary is a rancher. They are warm, friendly, hospitable neighbors. After dinner we played a version of 500 rummy we adapted from one in our Hoyle's. Gary won handily, leaving the rest of us in the dust.

Earlier in the week we had stopped by Guest Services to reserve the ATV and some kayaks, as Mike had suggested when we took his tour last week. As we thought more about how to transport the kayaks and exactly where to go, we stopped in again. Another staff member was there who advised that we might want to hook up with someone with some prior experience with kayaking here, which we were glad to do. He suggested that we talk with some close neighbors of ours, Bill and June, who agreed to go with us next Wednesday. We are very glad to have access to their knowledge and experience--and their inflatable catamaran with electric trolling motor, just in case the current in the Rio Grande gets the better of us. Another kayaker, Robin, will probably also join us.