Winter Colors

Chores kept Duane from playing pickleball today.  He took to the road with me to enjoy the beautiful day. 

Surprise!  The pleasant weather coaxed out green grass and dandelions.

Enjoying it now 'cause rain's acomin'.

Louise and Duane

It Went Thataway!

Hey Snowperson!  Where did your head go??!!! 

Trying to keep our heads on straight,

Louise and Duane

Nice Again

At last we were able to get outside again.  While Duane played pickleball, I walked the road.  

I found this rv'ing snow person, wearing a jacket and sitting on grass, enjoying the nice weather. 

The neighbor down the road is taking advantage of the break in the weather to get his fence in.  Other than that, my walk was uneventful.   

Just the way we like it.

Louise and Duane

8am And 4pm

What a difference a day makes. 

That's Texas for you.

Louise and Duane

Worse Yet!

The Piney Woods of East Texas experienced a rare treat today.  After three hours of constant snow,  

the setting sun allowed the temperature to drop and the snow to accumulate everywhere.

To northerners this is just a light shower, but to southerners, this is a heavy snowstorm!  Any highly unusual snowfall is usually just a few flurries.  This is a treat because people can actually make snowballs and snowmen!

We moved south to get away from this!

Louise and Duane

Unbelievable!

 My brother in Illinois texted pictures of his back yard full of snow and ice-laden trees.  I told him to keep his awful weather, but he sent it on down to Texas.  

After a low of 25d. last night, the high today under sunny skies climbed all the way to 43d.  The sun took its' time to melt the heavy frost, and unthaw the water spigots.

I thought that was bad enough, but after a low of 31 tonight, the high for tomorrow is forecast to be 39d. with precipitation ranging from cold drizzle to heavy ice or maybe even snow.  Brrr!!!

Freezing in Texas,

Louise and Duane

Downtime

The Texas winter is proving mercurial.  We have several nice days when we can spend time outside, then several cold, damp/wet days.  On those days we keep busy with hobbies. 

Duane usually watches/listens to tv while doing stuff on computer or carving, but he received a leather working kit for Christmas.  His first try was the rose on the top left.  Since then he has tried his hand at various designs--feathers, a flower with leaves, and a border for a mouse pad.

 My hobbies are varied, but my most recent is reading.  I have been cleaning and rearranging my "library" and found some books that I have been carrying around for a few years but never got around to reading.  When that space is empty, I'm going to fill it with cd's of music and audio books.  Since Apple killed my Ipod, I need the cd's.  No phone downloads for me.  The stuff I have is not current and therefore not available.

Plugging away the winter,

Louise and Duane

Someplace Sunny

Cold and wet weather left us wishing we were someplace warm and dry.  We were in just such a place in 2007--Seminole Canyon which is not far from Big Bend National Park in south west Texas.

We feel warmer already.

Louise and Duane 

What Do You Do?

Our beautiful blue sky 60 degree temp was rudely interrupted by a whole day of thunderstorms (heavy rain blurred the picture) and 50 degree weather.  What to do? 

Go shopping, of course!

I asked our son what his 8 year old daughter wanted for her birthday.  He said a fancy dress and/or shoes which shout LOOK AT ME!

Duane picked out the dress (darker pink than it looks), and I picked the shoes.

Hope she likes 'em!

Louise and Duane

Trouble In The Alamo

Back in 2007 we stopped at Brackettville, TX.  Here we discovered the movie set John Wayne built to shoot The Alamo.

After The Alamo was finished, several other movies and parts of movies were shot here.

While we were looking around I was mistakenly arrested and thrown into jail along with the city Sheriff.  The Sheriff was freed, 

but I became a victim of frontier justice.

Fortunately, no one checked to see if I was faking and I managed to escape and continue our travels.

Can't wait to continue traveling,

Louise and Duane

 

Uh-Oh

Somebody has a new hobby. 

The right is the picture.

The left is Duane's first rose in leather

Art comes in all mediums.

Louise and Duane

Back On Track

After a wet gray week, I was finally able to walk the road again and Duane played pickleball outdoors again.

Meanwhile, I was reminded that I never got around to posting the latest Christmas ornaments Duane carved for the grandkids.   

 

 Too cute!

Louise and Duane

Passing Through

Finally!  The rain and gray skies have gone leaving beautiful, sunny, blue skies!  The temperature reached only in the upper 40's with a chill wind making it feel a bit colder, but after days of being stuck inside, we were happy to sit outside for an hour or so soaking up the sun and visiting with fellow Escapee rv'ing friends.  New Englanders Rich and Monda stopped in our area for a day before continuing on their winter trip.   After a nice long lunch at Cracker Barrell, we drove them back to their rv park.  The Activity Center was closed because of Covid19 and Rich's little Class C motorhome was too small for social distancing, but the sunny patio was perfect for chatting. 

Thanks Rich and Monda for fitting us into your schedule.  We're always happy for a chance to visit with old friends.

Back home with heaters on,

Louise and Duane

Cozy

 

My heater's on fire

The flames can't go higher

I'm ready for any ol' storm.

What do I care if cold and wet is the norm?

I've got Buc-ee to keep me warm!

Still damp and gray,

Louise and Duane

My apologies to Irving Berlin for butchering his song.

Three Good Things

After 48 hours of constant precipitation, east Texas is definitely not close to any drought any more.  This ditch is about three feet deep, usually with just a few inches of water in the bottom.

This blue bird cheered us up considerably.

I had a good time ignoring the rain by putting together a cheerful puzzle and listening to Christmas music.

We finished the old year by doing chores (laundry and groceries) before holing up doing fun stuff (including an extra piece of chocolate or two) and keeping warm and dry at home.

Happy New Year!

Louise and Duane

 

Not Yesterday!

Yesterday-sunny and warm

Today--Heavy rain and 20 d. colder

outside 

inside

Staying toasty and busy,

Louise and Duane

Quandry

 

The sun was warm.  The breeze was cool.  I said to myself you'd be a fool to sit inside and waste this beautiful weather.

But why should I sit outside I said when I'm more comfy inside instead?  I'll open doors and windows.  That's enough of a bother.

That's not enough, I replied with distain.  To exercise is really the main excuse to rouse yourself and get into a lather.

Oh pooh, I said.  I'll get the trash and walk to the dumpster then make a dash around the rv park.  That's enough of a dither.

I argued, to enjoy the beautiful blue sky with white puffy clouds floating by, you'll need to walk a while.  You'll feel as light as a feather!

I opened the windows and took a walk to make myself stop that silly talk.  I walked a mile then walked back home another.

Now I'm back in my chair and feeling good.  I'm glad that I finally understood how to shut myself up so I could do what I'd really rather!

Hope you enjoyed your day too,

Louise and Duane

The Many Faces Of Luke

At first glance our 12-year-old grandson Luke seems just like any normal preteen boy.

His normal wardrobe consists of shorts and a long sleeved shirt in winter, except on holidays when pajama bottoms will suffice.  A hat is essential to complete the look.

However, there is far more to Luke than his outward appearance.  Luke is a man of many talents!

He is a high fashion designer.  He he demonstrates that discarded plastic wrapping can be used as a fashionable wrap,

or, with armholes added, a beautiful new shirt or elongated into a tunic.

When he's not championing haute couture, he's designing bicycle courses.  

Here he demonstrates his latest jump ramp.

 When circumstances warrant it, he morphs into the mysterious Shadow Man, a descendant of the original Shadow.

Even with his busy life, Luke is ever ready to don his uniform and gear up for paintball battles. 

He looks good in his uniform, doesn't he!

That's Luke.

Louise and Duane