New Year's Eve

We had a (relatively) quiet New Year's Eve celebration at Jan and Steve's. We could hear the fireworks outside. They started last week and have built to a crescendo as the midnight hour approached.

Joannie and CE

Many of our friends went to one or both of the square dance New Year's parties. Jan and Steve's friends are not square dancers, so we gathered at their Texas room for a delicious dinner and cards. At 11:00 p.m. we watched the ball drop in Times Square and called it an early evening so Jean could get home before the rush of revelers were on the highway. (Also so us old folks could retire early!) We had a great time. Read more!

Christmas Dinner With Friends

We had a great gathering today at Hardy and Judy's house. Our group expanded. We had all the regulars plus Bob and La Done and Randy. We are very thankful for all our friends. They are our RGV family.

Hors d'Oeuvres

Pat, La Done, Judy (you can almost see her), Sandy, Lee, Jean, Joannie, and Jan

Hardy, CE, Bob, Bob, and Steve

Guys hanging out on the enclosed porch. Randy and John on the right.

Hearth warmly decorated for Christmas

Tiramisu and pies for dessert

Convivial group

Tables and more tables: always room for one more

Did I mention that Jean brought the fixings for beer floats?

This is my first experience with making one of my favorite desserts, tiramisu. It was definitely a hit.

After dinner some of us went for a walk around the neighborhood. Bob Wills, Bob Boyink, and Sandy walked around the Bobolink loop. Jean, La Done, Ken and I walked around more before heading back in. After some of the folks left, the rest of us played cards. It was a really nice get together. Thanks to Hardy and Judy for opening up their home and to all the cooks for the delicious food.

We finally got around to taking some photos of our Christmas decorations.

On the entertainment center (more cards were hanging up above)

Festive flowers from Terri Read more!

New Kid on the Block

We always like to see something new on our walks around Green Gate Grove. One of our neighbors has a pig menagerie and a sense of humor. Now a flying pig has joined the family! Read more!

Town Band Christmas Concert

We had great fun at the Town Band Christmas concert, and we think the band members did too. Our favorite piece was Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride. We don't see much in the way of white Christmases around here, so this is a good way to get into the holiday spirit. We got great seats, mainly because we thought the concert started at 7, but it actually started at 7:30! Read more!

Happy Birthday to Sam!

Sam is celebrating his ninth birthday today. We called this morning to sing Happy Birthday to him. He had a cool Minecraft cake.



We went to the Riverside Club this afternoon to socialize with our square dancing friends and to celebrate Tim and Gayle's 46th anniversary.


Tim and Gayle


Hardy and Judy

Hardy ordered the deluxe nachos and even shared some with us.

This evening was the annual golf cart Christmas parade. Some residents went all out to celebrate the season. Everyone called out a cheery "Merry Christmas!" as they passed.

Earlier today we spotted this updated sleigh.

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Red Letter Day

We paid $1.99 per gallon for diesel fuel at HEB this morning. We started 2015 paying $2.83, which was already quite low for diesel. Only once before, in February of 2009, have we paid less: $1.91 per gallon. We are grateful for the extra cash in our pockets and in the pockets of other American drivers.

But we are also mindful of the many workers unemployed by the drop in oil prices. And we recognize that low fuel prices don't motivate consumers to cut back on driving or to buy fuel conservative vehicles, so more CO2 enters the atmosphere. Read more!

Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park aka World Birding Center Headquarters

We went to breakfast with our friends this morning at Rosie's. We were missing Steve because he was off fishing at South Padre Island. After breakfast and lots of coffee and chatting, we headed to the state park for our first visit of the year.

We hiked out to the hawk tower to check out the (former) resaca. All that is left to show where once there was a lovely resaca with a dependable population of water birds is a small marshy area. The rest is completely overgrown with vegetation.

We saw plenty of familiar birds. The green jays greeted us on our way into the park with their raucous cries. We also saw doves, a cardinal, a hawk circling overhead, a pair of Great Kiskadees, a chachalaca, and some little brown birds.

It was very peaceful in the park. I'm so glad we've made it back. Read more!

ISS Overhead

We turned on the local news tonight. A lot of the report was focused on the mass shooting in San Bernardino. Most of what we heard was forgettable, but one bit of information was a treasure. The International Space Station was going to be traversing the sky at 6:13 p.m. That's just as darkness is falling. We were instructed to look to the south southwest and that it would peak at around 72 degrees, nearly overhead. I set my alarm, and when the time came, I put on my jacket and climbed the rear ladder so that I could be at rooftop height for the event.

Then suddenly, there it was, bright and clear, tracing a path across an otherwise blank sky. The stars were not yet visible, so it was very easy to pick out. I thought about the horrible news of wars and violence and human suffering, but the space station represents to me the triumph of the human spirit as we reach for the stars. In a special way the ISS symbolizes our capacity for cooperation among nations and peaceful exploration of our universe.

And I also thought about a TV special about life on the ISS and the more mundane aspects (how do toilets work in weightlessness?). As usual, humanity and all our ventures are a mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous. Isn't it wonderful that we can reach for the stars--and also laugh at ourselves? Read more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving Day with some of our square dancing friends. Steve and Jan picked us up, and we headed over to the "Party Palace" aka Jean's place. Bob and Pat filled out our table of seven. Everyone made some dishes to share, so of course we all had plenty of delicious food.

We are very grateful for our wonderful family and friends. Terri called from Singapore. She said the embassy had put on a Thanksgiving feast a few days ago.

Chris and Anara called from Portland, but the connection was poor so we didn't talk long. They were having friends over. Ed and Julie and the kids are in Lufkin at the Shaffers' house.

Today would have been my mom's 89th birthday. She was 80 when she died in May 2007. Of course I miss her always, but even more at special times like this. The joy of celebration this time of year is mixed with sorrow as we remember our family members who have passed on.

We have some other special days to celebrate around this time of year too. Yesterday was Ed and Julie's 15th anniversary and Debbie Frith's birthday (my goddaughter). Today is Bill Jameson's birthday, and next Monday will be Julie's birthday. Read more!

Happy Ending to an Ordeal

On Monday Ken went to open the door--and it wouldn't open. Despite all our efforts it remained stubbornly stuck. What to do? We called our friend Steve. He lives close by and has a collection of tools and lots of determination. Still no luck opening the door. We called a locksmith, who arrived, looked at the door and said he wasn't familiar with anything like that and left. Meanwhile we had called Ken Ullmer, service manager at New Horizons. He was very helpful. After we had talked and explained what we were seeing and he had sent some pics of the insides of the lock, he decided that he knew just what was wrong.

Meanwhile Steve had come back with his pry bar and later with his drill and saber saw. After hours of work and passing tools through our emergency escape window. Steve finally managed to cut the lock in enough small pieces that it gave way. We were free!

Meanwhile Ken Ullmer had been talking with Challenger Door and arranged for them to ship a new (and different) lock out on Tuesday next day air. It arrived on Wednesday, but it was quite difficult to install. Steve and we spent some hours on Wednesday trying to get it in and finally had to put it off until today. Several hours of work later, it was finally in and working properly.

Thanks to our extremely helpful, ingenious, and persistent helper, Steve! We literally don't know what we would have done without him. In case you're wondering, we did go out to dance and to a concert while our door was held shut with a bungee cord. Fortunately we live in a relatively quiet gated community, so all was well.
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The Diamonds present BANDSTAND BOOGIE

We attended the first McAllen Community Concert of the season tonight. We rode with Steve and Jan, and we saw lots of our friends among the audience.

The Diamonds lit up the stage and had everyone entertained and clapping along to the music of the 50s and 60s--a time when we and rock and roll were young. We enjoyed the vocal harmonies, the infectious energy and humor, and the stroll down memory lane.

Duke of Earl--or does he look like the Monopoly guy?


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Back at Green Gate Grove

We are back at our winter home, enjoying the palm trees and sunshine.

I had been worried about  backing into our space, but it actually went pretty smoothly. Read more!

More Celebration!

The Party Queen has arrived in the Valley. Let the parties begin!

Jan and Steve celebrated Jean's arrival with an informal get together at their place. Jean came with a crowler of John Wayne Pudding Stout from her son's Daredevil Brewery. Jean missed most of the season last year because she was recovering from complications of a broken ankle. So now she has some catching up to do. We are all very happy to have her back with us.

Today is Hardy's actual birthday, so Judy brought a luscious turtle caramel ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.

Pat's birthday is a week from now, but we figure she can celebrate her whole birthday month.

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Celebrating Birthdays in Mexico

We made our first trip to Nuevo Progreso today. We were celebrating two birthdays: Hardy Pottinger and Pat Boyink. We went to Pancho's Bar first and then on to Rancho Grande. We had a large group (I didn't count, but I heard 29), so everyone didn't sit at the same tables, but everyone enjoyed the party.

Birthday cake (actually assorted delicious cupcakes, so no cutting, no plates, no forks needed)

Cute couple!

Finger lickin' good! Read more!