Mardi Gras

Our friends Eddie and Gloria invited us to the local old people's paradise--senior discount night at the Conroe Incredible Pizza buffet.  On the right are their friend Elota (I think that's her name) and Gloria.  On the left I didn't notice that I didn't get Elota's husband Leonard (not sure about his name either), then Eddie and Duane.  (My apologies to them and their friends for my bad memory.) The rest of the table was taken by people they know from the Christian Motorcyclist Association. 

After a couple of pleasant hours they went home.  We stopped off at this local store for some fresh veg and a new puzzle book or two for me.

The retail stores were all in a dither today.  Should they stock for and advertise Mardi Gras or Valentine's Day?   For traditional Christians, Mardi Gras marks the day before the start of Lent, the 40 days of quiet reflection before Easter.  Ironically,  the first day of Lent falls on Valentine's Day.  Hmmm.

This was our first visit to this store.  It was huge and had everything we needed and then some.

We didn't know this chain grocery had a superstore.  If you had to guess would you have guessed Kroger's?

Duane and I were both pleased with our stop here.  I now have two new puzzle books and he arrived home in time to watch and cheer as The Flying Tomato,  snowboarder Shaun White woin his fourth Olympic gold medal.  Ok, I admit I'm a fan too.

Nothing spectactular planned for tomorrow.

Louise and Duane 

Leg Stretching

We had to take advantage of the wonderful weather today to get out for a short walk. 

 It was still cold and damp and totally gray, but windless.  

The road to the right (above) goes between the bay and the activities area.  This new building, which was enclosed just before we left in December, is now almost completely sided and nearing completion.

Duane found a basketball and took a shot or two.

We saw only a handful of people:  a woman and child at the slide, a woman with a dog in the dog run,  three boys riding bikes on the pickleball court, a dog walker, a couple of vehicless returning home.  No one stayed out long.  

Tomorrow the rain is predicted to return.

We can hardly wait for that!

Louise and Duane

Still Winter

Cold and gray were the order of the day, with s light mist in the afternoon.

On our previous visit we were parked on the other side of the activities area near the pickleball courts.  This time we are farther from the activities area but near the marina and boat docks.  This afternoon Duane bundled up and walked to the other side of the bay (on the other side of those trees) to visit a fellow bike rider who has a cottage there.  I played turtle.  I stuck my head outside and decided that I was much better off inside.  I took these pictures from inside. 

Today the high reached 38 (feels like 33).  Tomorrow the forecast promises highs in the mid 50's and a glimpse of sunshine.

We're not holding our breaths.

Louise and Duane

We're Sick Of It!!!

Everything is going pretty well here in Lake Conroe TT Park (Willis, TX).  We are both healthy, we have met new friends, and our truck is still black and not coated with brown crud, BUT (and there's always a BUT) after a few hours of sunshine Thursday, we are once again covered by unbroken clouds.  The temperature remains chilly (and for the next couple of days and nights downright cold!), and we are wet from a night and a day of rain.  North or south, on the coast or inland, we can't seem to get away from icky weather.

I hear it's about the same in our "home state" of Ohio, 1000 miles north.  What's up with that? 

Louise and Duane

No Shots—Again!

Laundry this morning at Lake Conroe Thousand Trails Park, nothing to photograph there.  After lunch we met up with the neighbors behind us and walked to the pickleball courts to teach them to play.  On the way, I remembered that I hadn’t brought the camera.  After a bit of instruction on the rules, we played a game or two.  One other guy showed up to play, so that I actually could have taken a few photos.  In addition, the new building that was barely enclosed when we were here in December, is nearing completion. 

O well, there’s always tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Reversing

On our way back to the Tyler/Kilgore area in the Piney Woods of East Texas, we've said goodbye to the Gulf Coast

and hello again to the Houston Metro area.  We managed to cruise through Houston proper with no problems, and what did we see?  Blue skies!  Sunshine!  

We are now back at Lake Conroe Thousand Trails for the next two weeks.   Because rain is predicted for tomorrow (Friday) afternoon,  we're taking advantage of the dry weather to catch up on chores.  This afternoon we washed the mud and salt from the truck and replaced the temporary lisence plates with permanent ones.   We met our neighbors behind us and made plans to teach them to play pickleball tomorrow after laundry and lunch.  We're looking forward to being outside without mist and fog.

A few hours of dry are better than none.

Louise and Duane

Icky Outside Fun Inside

Our last day at Quintana Beach was nasty--50 degrees and rainy.  No matter.  We livened things up inside.  While Jesse drove to a couple/three stores in search of something he needed, Bella and I had fun in the back seat.  She took charge of my camera for some Bella-eye views.

Good pizza was just what we needed to chase away the gray.

We rounded out the evening with a game of War-or Battle as it is known in Texas, and ended with a game of Go Fish.

Several hugs and kisses later we had to go our separate ways.

Moving day tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Weather Difference

Fortunately for us the weather where we're staying at Quintana Beach 

is quite different  20 miles away in Lake Jackson.  Here it is warmer and drier, much nicer for family visiting.  For fun with Jesse and Bella today we hung out at one of the city parks 

before heading to one of the many family-style seafood restaurants in the area.

Bella was delighted when I let her take some pictures.

Only one more afternoon/evening to hang out before we head out.

Louise and Duane

No Rest Today

Our day of activities started with a drive to the Lake Jackson (TX) Rec Center.

This is a really nice one with a large workout room with machines and weights, a large yoga/arobics room (not pictured) to the left,

two pools--lap pool and water arobics/free swim,

and double gym with only four colors on the floor.  As pickleball players arrived we set up nets and played for two hours.

From there we ate lunch at Firehouse Subs (one of our favorites), shopped for fresh vegetables and went home.  An hour later we drove back to Lake Jackson to meet (son) Jesse and (grandaughter) Bella for a visit.  (Katelyn had to work.) Jesse and Katelyn have their  Oyster Creek house (the one close to where we are staying in Quintana Beach) empty and for sale.  While they wait for an offer on it they are living with Katelyn's parents in West Columbia, and keeping an eye out for any houses for sale that might interest them.  We met Jesse and Bella in Lake Jackson so that Jesse could show us a house that they had found.  It is very nice, sitting on 

2 1/2 acres.  The downside is that it was flooded with 4 feet of water during hurricane Harvey.  That dark line on the tree shows the water height.   The house is still being renovated from the flooding.   

From there we went in search of food.  We ended up at a nice Chinese reataurant.  After stuffing ourselves at the buffet (everything hot and clean), we drove to J & K's house to see how nice it looks now.  When we were here last fall, Jesse was still painting, and replacing flooring.  It looks really nice now--open, airy, light. 

That was the last of our activities, and our energy.  We exchanged our hugs and kisses and headed to Freeport while Jesse took Bella home to West Columbia.

Tomorrow, a day of rest--at least until Jesse gets off work.

Louise and Duane

Work? No, Play

This afternoon we enjoyed family time by making venison sausage.  We were so busy that I forgot to take photos.  The process involves cutting venison and fatty pork into big chunks, mixing the two together with seasonings, grinding it into mush, checking it for flavor by frying up a patty for tasting (we made 5 different flavors), and packaging.   Gramps and Bella helped by turning the grinder on and off, and playing with the items in my toy box.  

 

Bella's favorites--the robin that chirps when squeezed, and the magnets and steel balls. All hail The Bird King!

After all of the sausage was made and packed away, I brought out the adult toy box with kaleidoscopes, wire puzzles that you have to separate, and other puzzles.

Bella's fav--tiny hands.

The last toy we played with was the electric massager.   

Goofy Bella massaging her face.

Can you tell that Jesse and Katelyn are still newlyweds?  Today is their 11 month anniversary.

We were happy to be able to spend it with them.

Tomorrow we hand out with Jesse and Bella.

Louise and Duane

Contrast

Our travel day from Harlingen to Freeport consisted of 300 miles of gray.

 Sometimes it was difficult to distinguish the water from the sky.

The ocean is on the horizon but you can't see it for the fog.

It was worth it.  Dinner with the family (son Jesse, daughter-in-law Katelyn, granddaughter Bella) put the color back into our lives.

Next, more fun with the family.

Louise and Duane

One Of Those Days

The last day of our month stay at Tropic Winds RV Resort in Harlingen, TX reverted to its usual chilly grayness.  A 15 mph wind blew in another cold front (from 70’s to 50’s daytime).  It was a good day for packing up our house (at least inside).  Duane was busy, restoring, packing, and fastening down his man cave.  He got cold cleaning  and putting  up the black water system and the Tailgater satellite dish, and climbing  onto the roof to unstick our antenna so that it could be lowered for travel.  After that he turned in our  mailbox key and gate remote.  I was not busy.  I keep my space pretty much picked up.  Tomorrow after breakfast I will be busy fastening things down, and getting our road trip stuff into the truck.  Today I emptied the trash and recycling and returned my books to the library.  The rest of the day I sat on the couch watching tv, reading National Geographic, and working pencil puzzles. 

I thought it a day well used.

Louise and Duane

Play And Work

Today was perfect for being outside—sunny, nice cool wind blowing.  We took advantage of the beautiful weather to sit inside in the dark.  Not this morning, of course.  We had to play pickleball for the last time in Tropic Winds.  Tomorrow the park is hosting a pickleball tournament, and we leave on Saturday.

After that, though, we went to the movie and ate a lot of buttered popcorn for lunch.  We like westerns and decided to try Hostiles.  It wasn’t an action packed shoot-em-up, but a slow facing-the truth type of drama with spectacular scenery.  It has been advertised in the same breath as Unforgiven and has the same theme of passing of the violent old west.  We enjoyed it.  Duane said that the tone was somewhat “dark”, but loss was the main theme of the film.

After playing we worked at doing the laundry and fueling the truck.  To reward ourselves for working during a play day, we ate cheeseburgers and fries for supper.

Tomorrow, time to pack up.

Louise and Duane

Side Trip

On our way home from South Padre Island,  we were passing miles of open fields when I looked to my right and saw...

Kong?!!

Yes, Kong!  Kong The Mighty!

Kong The Magnificent!!!

Here he lives surrounded by other giant creatures

(Why Duane doesn't ever swim in the ocean!)

surrounding Bobz World.

Inside Bobz you can find rows and rows of stuff you need--clothes, cards, snacks, household stuff,  jewelry, souvenirs,

and thousands of sea shells in hundreds of sizes.  There is also a eating area (left rear) where we opted for some good hand-dipped Blue Bell ice cream.

Did I mention that they had shells?

Bobz also offers a large laser tag arena and a closeup view of Kong and his world behind the store  building (not open when we were there). 

Bobz is something else--always worth a stop.

Louise and Duane