A Day Gone To The Birds…

Wow…finally we woke to warm temperatures and a forecast of warming throughout the day.  It was going to be a good day.

After visiting with a couple of the ladies here in the RV Park, we decided to get out and run a few errands.  First, we stopped in at Home Depot to pick up some cleaning supplies.  We also looked at some flooring materials for the basement of the motor home.  Something that would replace the cardboard we use to protect the carpeting.  Found a couple of ideas, but we will have to ponder on that thought for a while.

From Home Depot, Mark drove me to find the Zen Day Salon so I could make an appointment to get my hair done next week.  Mission accomplished.

By this time it was way past lunch time, so we decided that we would stop at Chili’s and use a gift card we had received at Christmas.  We chose the 3 courses for 2 for $20.  We shared an appetizer of skinny onion rings and jalapeños, for an entree, Mark had ribs and I had shrimp tacos, and we shared a dessert.  Wow, what a great lunch and  a great deal.

Now, after a lunch like that, we decided we better take a good walk and certainly knew that that was our only meal for the day.  So, when we returned to the RV Park, I changed from my flip flops to my tennis shoes, we grabbed our cameras and headed out…

With our

card we checked in at

visitor center at the state park which is located within walking distance from our RV Park.  From here, we

headed off down the road.  It wasn’t long before we

came across the first group of birders.  There are alot of these viewing areas/bird feeding stations set up throughout the park.  There are benches and swings and you just sit with binoculars and cameras and wait

for the birds to come.  We are not birders, so this was fascinating to me.

We continued our walk and soon we found

several Javelina roaming freely through the park.  They didn’t seem to mind all the people wandering freely around in the park.

We  continued

on with our walk.  We saw

birds in the trees and

birds on the ground, and birds

with pretty colors from head to tail feathers.

  There were feeders all over the park.  I was amused at the ones that served

grapefruit as the main course.

We walked on and found a

path that we will save for another day…for by this time, we needed to head back to the front of the park.

On the way we passed

the Nature Center.  Again…another day.  And just as we got back to the park entrance, there was the photo opportunity of the day…

I got several great shots, before this guy decided

enough is enough. LOL

What a great afternoon walk in the state park.  I can’t wait to go back.

More Fun…More Friends…

We were up and ready to go at 8:45 when Mac, Lynette, Nolan and Donna got to the RV Park.  We all loaded in Mac’s truck and headed East to the

Rio Grande Valley RV Show.  Mark, Mac, and Nolan were anxious to get there.  We saw lots of trailers and 5th Wheels there…some

were big and elegant and had

built in hair dryers as Donna found in this bathroom cabinet.  Others had

big windows with a great view.  While others

were small and cozy and just right for a weekend get away.

There were only a couple of

motor homes, but…I wasn’t interested…I still like mine!

And, in addition to the motor homes and trailers, there were lots of

park models.  These are small homes that will fit in many of the RV parks in this area.  They are really nice for those folks that don’t want to own a RV.  They

are quite roomy inside…some even have

an upstairs sleeping loft.

There were also

boats and

ATV’s for two and/or

four.  Man, would our grandson, Andrew, really like this one!

Then, there were all the vendors who offered everything from something to eat and drink, to those who offered

a prize for spinning the wheel.

Soon, we needed a

break and to regroup before heading to

Arturo’s for lunch.  When we arrived we found

our table was all set.  All we needed now was

12 more friends and we were ready for a party.  It was great to see

Jesse and Ginger and

Kathy and Chuck…with Nolan in between.  Kathy is really busy telling Donna a great story.

Ed and Marilyn were really concentrating on Chuck’s story at the other end of the table.

And, we were able to re-acquaint ourselves with

Roger and Barb who are experimenting with full-timing.  Good luck you guys.

After a good lunch and lots of visiting and laughing and catching up, it was time for everyone to go their separate ways for today.  I am sure this crowd will get together again real soon.

A couple of stops at some local flea markets took up the rest of our afternoon, and then it was time to get back to our own homes which brought this adventure to a close.

We Are Blessed…

This morning started early.  I was up showered, dressed, and ready to leave for my weekly Weight Watchers meeting by 7:30.  With the holiday’s, some bad weather,  and travel time, today was the first meeting I have been to since Christmas.  I am glad to report that for a little over a year now,  I have maintained lifetime goal with Weight Watchers as well as my personal weight goal.

  The meeting was well attended and the leader was great.  I love going to meetings around the country.  You always learn something new, especially when there are folks from all over the country in the same meeting.   I am looking forward to being a part of this group for the next several weeks.

Once my meeting was over, I headed back by the RV  Park.  Mark was ready to go.  My next task for the day was to find the local Quest Diagnostics Center where I had to get some blood work done that couldn’t be done before we left Fort Worth.  Okay, that didn’t take long, and now we were free for the day.

We made stop at the Post Office, stopped off for a quick lunch and then headed back to the motor home where we waited on Mac and Lynette.

Once they arrived at our RV Park, Mac needed to stop off and see Mike McFall about one of his Pressure Pro sensors.  Mike replaced the sensor and we were soon on our way.   Sorry we missed Pat, but we will catch her another time.  Pat, hope your bridge game was good.

We headed West out 83 to the turn off for  the ferry at Los Ebanos that goes across the Rio Grande to a little Mexican town.  We arrived in Los Ebano at the border crossing, paid our 50 cents and walked down to the river to watch the ferry.

Now, this ferry is unique in the fact that it is the

the last International Ferry that is hand-drawn.  This is a picture of the ferry going across from the US to Mexico.

And, once across, it loaded the two cars waiting

to cross into the US.  The three men at the front are using the ropes to pull the ferry across the river.

They do this all day back and forth and back again.  I asked them if it was hard work.  They responded and said “not too much”!

When their day is over, the three men

unload on the US side for the last time.  They then chain up the ferry, the Border Patrol inspects the ferry and dismisses the three.  They get into this little blue boat

travel back across the river to their home in Mexico.  When they arrive, they don’t tie up their boat until morning, they

load it on their wheel barrow and take it home with them.

Mac

watched from the river bank, while Mark

watched from up on the hillside.  Both amazed at the way these these men make a living.

We stopped in the little

shop to browse for local souvenirs.  Nothing we couldn’t live without.  Other than the shop and the

jail, Los Ebanos doesn’t have much to offer other than being the home

to the unique little ferry.

And, as we walked away, I realized that even in this little border town…it is a privilege and a blessing to live

our USA.

And, once again, what a great day shared with friends.

Sharing A Little Chocolate

Oh, what do to on a rainy day?  I know, let’s make some chocolate muffins.

First, you need a few

simple ingredients, a muffin pan, and a little time.

The instructions are really easy…

Chocolate Muffins

3 & 1/2 Cups Hot Water

3 cups All-Bran Cereal (not buds)

3 Tablespoons Baking Powder

1 Box Fat Free or Low Fat Brownie Mix

Soak cereal and baking powder in hot water for about 10 minutes or until cereal is real mushy. Stir in the brownie mix and mix well.

Bake in paper lined muffin tins. Spray the papers with Pam. I use ¼ cup mix per muffin.

Bake at 350* 20-25 minutes.

When you are finished you should have

24 muffins.  And, yes, if you are counting…I did have 24…but we already sampled a couple to make sure they were just right.

And, if you are a Weight Watcher, these little muffins are just 1 point each.  These are also great served warm with a little Fat Free Ice Cream, which makes a great low point sundae.

All Through The Town…

Today we woke to the pitter patter of light rain.  With the promise that the rain would become heavier in the next day or so, we decided to get out and about.

So, for the first time, since I have been in South Texas, I put on my flip-flops and headed out for the day.  For those of you who don’t know…if I get to wear my flip-flops….it is a good day! LOL

Our first stop was

the local post office.  Rod…you will be pleased to know that no matter what day of the week it is or which South Texas location you go to…it is always busy.  So, don’t worry about your pension….it is doing well and good.

After the post office, we decided to take a drive up towards Edinburg.  When we were here several years ago, there was this great little Mexican eatery and bakery.  I wanted to go and find it…and I could just taste those great little pastries.  We programmed the location into FLO and headed that way…only to find out that it was no longer in business and had been replaced with

a liquor store.  What a disappointment…but, I guess someone was watching out for me and I was saved from using a whole lot of extra Weight Watcher points.

The Edinburg area has

developed a lot since we were here last and we were amazed.  We even found a new

Wal Mart and who can’t resist a trip through Wal Mart.  Well, not us any way, and we came out with our share of things we couldn’t do without. LOL

We also saw a

Schwan’s delivery truck and stopped to pick up a catalogue for the possibility of a future order.  They have some really great food items and the driver confirmed that they would deliver to our RV Park.

Now, after all this food talk, Mark was getting hungry, so we decided to try a place that was new to us…

Thanks Rod and Deb for telling us this was a good choice.  We really enjoyed it…great grilled chicken and the tortilla soup was excellent.

Now, you would think after Wal Mart, Schwan’s and lunch, food would be the last thing on our list….but no, I still needed to stop at HEB for a few items we didn’t find at Wal Mart.

By this time

the sky was beginning to darken and we knew the rain was not far away, but I had one more thing on my list and that was to find the location for my Weight Watcher meeting on Thursday.  So, we headed west out 83 where we found

lots of construction, but it was easy to get through and the location of the meeting was easy to find.  I guess I will see how easy it is at 8:00 on Thursday morning.

From here, we did decided it was time to

head back to the RV park before the rain settled in for the evening.  On the way we noticed that

fuel has gone up about 20 cents since we arrived last week.  Guess we are paying for all that cold weather.  Maybe in the two months we are parked, it will go back down. LOL

It has truly been a great day all through the town in my flip-flops.

The Fun Continues

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, but, the temps still demanded the need for a jacket.  We had made plans with Mac and Lynette and they were to pick us up around 10:30.  Mac needed to go back out to the flea market to exchange an awning strap and I wanted to look for a red and green bead for my bracelet and a couple of spacers.  Mac and I quickly took care of our business.  Now, let’s see…we all found the kettle corn, Lynette and I purchased several jars of spices, Mark bought a pizza cutter and Lynette got a grapefruit knife.

We spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon walking around looking at all the old stuff that only a flea market can offer.  All that walking and we worked up a real appetite.  So, from the the market we decided to check out the Chinese Buffet.  It was really good, especially the baked salmon.  YUM

Afterwards, we decided to take a drive out to Canyon RV Park.  This is where Marvin (Smokey Bear) and Karen are staying.  Mac and Lynette have already had the privilege of meeting these folks and told us they were great fun.  It is always nice to get to put a face with names.  Mark and Marvin hit it off right fast, as they are both retired fireman and Karen and I chatted about our grandchildren.

After a great visit, it was time for us to head back to our own parks.  We look forward to more visits with Marvin and Karen over the next several weeks.

Today is Monday and that means I need to do laundry.  This morning, the sun was out for a brief moment and then disappeared.  However, the temperature is a little warmer than yesterday.  There is rain in the forecast for the next several days….hopefully it will stay to a shower or two or nothing.

When we got home last night there were emails from Ginger and Kathy who are already are in the process of making plans for some new adventures this week.  I guess we will all see how they unfold.

Hope you too have a great week.