The 'REAPER' is coming

WISHING Y'ALL A 'COOL YULE' FOR 2012

Here it is New Years Eve, a time to reflect on the past 12 months. For me, they have just flown bye, which means that I must be having FUN! This is our second season in sunny Texas without snow, sleet and freezing rain. We love every minute of it too!

 

Things that I remember and want to forget include: A) arriving in Canada last April to be greeted to cold and flooding rain. We blew a wheel bearing somewhere on the return trip and luckily the wheel remained on the 5th wheel, the chrome rim was steel blue from the heat and we didn't even know we were crippled. We are grateful that this didn't result in a serious accident. 

B) Tearing my Achilles Tendon in early July which wiped me out as chief cook and bottle washer at my Chip Truck 'The Works' for the rest of the season.


C) Packing up and moving the 5th wheel to another RV Park with a little longer season. We set up Camp at Riverwood Park mid Oct. and left on Oct. 24th. 
 (They say everything comes in 3's!)

The good news is that we were able to sell both, The chip truck 'The Works' and  the property 'Balsam Station'. This means I am officially retired, although Jane, bless her, is keeping my 'job jar' full.


We arrived at our Park in Texas on Oct. 26th, 3 days at 11 hrs easy driving per day. The weather was awesome as well as the State highways.


The front garden was like a jungle with a Papaya Tree growing up the centre of the garden to over the height of the roof. We cut it down last week after enjoying some of its fruit.


We have renewed friendships and created new friends too! Jane has been enjoying the Park's facilities, water aerobics, line dancing, walking and biking. I have been trying to empty the job jar but have enjoyed some functions, volunteer helper, and biking. We painted the inside of the trailer as well as the outside doors and shutters.  I enclosed a private reading/entertaining area under our awning too.

Jane auditioned for a part in a play (This River is Gold) to be held early Feb. in Pharr, Tx. and she got it (Mabel), what a gal.

We went on a Christmas Tour of Lights last week and it was a great showing.       

Tonight is Christmas Eve and we will be spending the evening at home with the dogs. The locals go crazy with firecrackers and shooting guns, the dogs get so upset we have to care for them all evening. The 'Big Bangs' have started.

We are having a dinner party with our friends tomorrow.

Till next time TTFN!

More Rain in Paradise!!!

I was feeling like this was home until I checked the weather at home in Lindsay, Ontario. I'd rather be here in Texas. It has been quiet with the McNulty's, and that's okay. I have all the 'major' paint areas done and put aside the brush for a bit. Jane painted 2 coats to the outside doors and shutters and I finished it off with a 3rd and final coat. We cut down the Papaya tree and cleaned out the front gardens. We lost 2 nice plants in the lawn garden and may just settle with a nice 3 tier bird bath that doesn't need watering. The Papaya tree was a water obstacle so the plants didn't get enough water and died.

Jane auditioning for Mabel

Jane has been getting 'cabin fever' and has been doing more line dancing and helping the 'Activities' Director on a volunteer basis. Pat, our A.Dir. in a semi-volunteer position. She works about 60 hrs a week but gets min. wage for 20 hours. I guess she has cabin fever too, but gets some pay and is kept busy while hubby, Vic, follows his favourite past time as a pool shark.

Jane auditioned for a acting part in an up coming musical/play at the local arts theater in Pharr, many showed up for 4 parts.........and Jane was successful in being asked to join them as 'Mabel'.


The Bicycle Club is up and running. Last Friday only 4 of us biked and the others went by car/truck to El Rancho Grande in San Juan a small Town about 4. 5 miles from our park. Rain was a threat but the 4 of us gambled and where able to bike both ways, a little misty on the return trip tho, but refreshing too.

Peter Piper Pizza (Wed) is back on stream. We, a group of 5, were going to take the 'Tour of lights' in Hidalgo and when we arrived for the Trolley we were advised that it was running that night so we will have to re-schedule. I did take one picture as we walked from the parking lot.

A nice display as we walked to the trolley

Our friends from Kentucky drove

Peter Piper Pizza w Vic and Jane

Stuffed Bake Potato Nite

Last week, instead of 'Homemade Soup Supper nite' they had a special 'Stuffed Potato Supper nite' with all the trimmings and boy was it ever good, beef brisked and a desert was included.



I should mention that on my final 'Root Canal' trip to Mexico last Wed.  I bumped into my next door neighbours at Alpine RV Resort in Lindsay. Small world, aye!!!!!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Stay tuned for 'More Fun in the Sun' coming to you from ALAMO, Texas along the RGV where  the Sun always shines (NOT).

Paul & Jane

Rain in Paradise

Didn't expect to be back so soon.We are getting flooded with a much needed rain here in Southern Texas where it seems to seldom rain. The locals are pleased and the 'Winter Texans' are taking a day off by catching up on correspondence or curling up with a good book. Me, I'm doing it all, little by little, it's blog time, lol!

 My second trip to the Dentist included the installation of a post and an impression of my mouth. The crown will be read on my next and final visit next Wed. I don't think I did anymore painting since my last sit down here.

L.R. before

I took a few more 'after' photo's of the living room and kitchen areas. I'm almost out of paint as well as incentive to finish once the main area is done. here are a few before and after pics.

Kitchen before

L.R. after

Kitchen after

L.R. after

Jane has booked us on a 'Tour of Christmas lights' in Hidalgo, a small historic town not far from us. Apparently we will be on horse drawn trollies, we hope it will be a nice warm clear evening.  The Park residences are slowly decorating there lots, some quite elegantly considering many are short term residence travelers.

There is a pleasant odour coming from the kitchen so I'd better be off, don't want to miss out on the 'chiken diva'

TTFN

Update from Texas

The weather has been hot and cold with more rain than previous years. This week we even had frost warnings, tomorrow we return back to the 70's.

Since my last blog a few important things have happened. First, Tex, our truck quite on us, all the amateur mechanics narrowed it down to a blocked 'fuel filter'. We had it towed to Bogus Ford, it stayed there for the weekend and it started up and a test run showed no problem?? I had them change the fuel and air filters anyway and we haven't had a problem since. The old Ford F350 (1999) has served us well and we have faith in our travels with 'him'.

We had an 'on site' garage sale and we picked up some trellis privacy screen and we had enough to enclose part of our carport into a private reading/entertainment area.

As mentioned in my last BLOG I promised Jane to paint the inside of the mobile home, it has turned out to be a bigger job than I anticipated and is coming to an end. Thank goodness it is looking nice so making the effort was worthwhile. I will be glad when it is over an I can start enjoying myself. here are a few before and after pictures:

Texas en-suite 'after'

Before and After

M. Bedroom before with queen bed

M. Bedroom after with king air bed

We planned a trip to Mexico and booked a dentist appointment to check my teeth. I had a broken filling that needed repair and just recently I got the start of a tooth ache. The Dentist said I needed a root canal or an extraction, I wanted neither, lol! Since I'm running out of teeth I chose 'root canal. I am 1/2 way through as we speak with my next appointment tomorrow (Fri) AM. I am going with my good friend Don from Ohio who needs some dental work done as well. jane can have a sleep in...maybe!

We have been slowly getting involved with a few things, Bike to breakfast, Jane in lion dancing, Jane helping her friend Pat who is the activities director. Tonight we did bean ball baseball and tomorrow is bingo. There are card games going on every evening and I'm afraid to get involved and 'committed' to an on going structure. Jane feels the same way. She was setting the alarm every morning to go for a walk with some other AM walkers. She gave that up to go walking with Daisy when she woke au natural.

The Park is slowly filling up but still many more to come. The next crowd comes after Christmas at home with the family. Our next door neighbour from Saskatewan will be here for New Years. The Park is having a NY's Dance this year but we have declined to go. First we are not NY's Party people and the dogs go crazy (Marco Polo) with all the fireworks and gun shooting, yes that's correct and real guns too!

Till next time.. have a very Merry Christmas and warm wishes to you and yours.

A New Season a New Reason!

We have been in Texas for 3 weeks and this is my first attempt at our 'BLOG' update. We had and uneventful trip down, the weather was excellent and the roads down here are awesome. We set the GPS and cruise control and away we went. We planned on 3 nights and 4 days but we did 2 nights and 3 days at 11 hours per day, we arrived about 7:30PM on the 3rd day still relaxed and fresh. We did between 60/70 mph (speed limits) and we were able to enjoy the scenery and countryside.
Fortunately we had a thorougher truck inspection before we left and discovered that we needed front ball joints so that avoided a traveling disaster.

On arrival we found that my battery operated water sprinkling system was still working. The front gardens were an overgrown jungle, we basically had to cut our way into the driveway. We had plants that we didn't even know we had, the biggest surprise was a huge Papaya tree overflowing with fruit in our front garden. The fruit trees in the rear yard didn't do do well, somehow the hose got kinked and the trees didn't get water and are not too healthy. Our largest tree (grapefruit) was okay, the other three trees look like they belong to 'Charlie Brown', very little leaves and scrawny fruit. Constant watering is helping...a little.

The Park is slowly filling in, we expect early Dec. will fill in the blanks with the final late arrivals sometime after Christmas.
We haven't been to active yet, Jane has been going on early morning walks with Daisy and a few girlfriends she met last year. Polo and I sleep in until they come home. We have gone to one Bike to breakfast trip and 2 Pizza nights, one bingo and one bean bag baseball game. I haven't been to the pool yet, although yesterday being well into the 90's was tempting. I went to a 'Bill and Bob' meeting with Don and Jane and Sara went shopping. It was even to hot to shop so not much damage to the pocketbook, lol!
I have started to paint the inside of the trailer, I promised Jane that would be the one big job that I will do this Winter, I have the M. Bedroom and the en-suite done so far. I will move to the Living room and Kitchen next and then the nuisance stuff in between later.

Jane's mode of transportation, Daisy just pulls her along.
Next week we will be going to Progreso Mexico for some dental work (me) and heartworm pills for the dogs.

TTFN

Getting Lonely

At months end the remainder of our friends have started to head home. Many of the 'Full Timers' are taking indirect exploratory routes. On Wed. we will visit some friends that stopped off at South Padre island for a few weeks. We are looking forward to a real beach and of course our 'missed' friends. That's the 6 of us on the right.

The picture on the right was taken at Macaroni's Bar & Grill in Pharr, Tx. It was a 2 for 1 special, boy did we dine well for under $15.00.






We did a quick run over to Mexico to get dog medication (Heart worm) which is required during warm climates (mosquito infections) so we will be using this med every month from here on. The Mexican cost is a fraction of CDN/USA cost. We got a 12 month supply. Jane had an eye on a small storage cupboard on our last trip, since Frank and Genia drove their truck into Mexico we took advantage of their vehicle and bought the cupboard. We couldn't get that one but we got one that fit just as well.



The rest of the week was spent saying goodbye's and planning our trip home to ensure that we allowed enough time to visit with our new found 'Yankee' friends in Kentucky and Ohio on the way home. You will have to pardon our y'all accent when we get home until we learn to speak English again, LOL!













Good bye, Maurice & Lucille (Montreal), Ted & Connie (Ottawa). Ted and I went to the same High School in Ottawa (Fisher Park HS).









Don and Sara Jane from Ohio with their friends Bruce and Peggy.



















Dan and Evelyn from Lakefield Ont were late arrivals but
became good friends for a short time.







The hardest 'Good Bye' will be to our new 'Winter Texas Mobile Home' as well as 'The Rio Grande Valley' that has graciously made us feel so welcome.

MASS EXODUS

Get out of my way I'm going home. We are loosing our new found friends and neighbours daily, two left to day and a bunch more during the last week of March.

On March 6th we had our 1st 'Canadian Pot Luck Luncheon' and on the 8th the Park provided a 'Guest Appreciation Day' where they provided free food, drink and entertainment.

We did another visit to the Donna flea market, boy they are sure going to miss us, lol! On March 17th we loaded up on drugs/gifts on our final visit to Mexico. Cocktails (virgin) were provided while we waited for our drugs.

Last mail delivery from Canada, last Pizza night, last soup night and our final 'Bike to Breakfast' trip. The park is quiet, very little action at the courts (Tennis, shuffle board, horseshoes...). The pool is active, Jane has been 'Pool Volley-balling' and trying to get me involved, maybe I will join them next week....nuttin left to do!

We are starting our plans for our trip home too! We expect to leave on April 17th, spend a few days in San Antonio, a couple of days with friends in Kentucky, a couple of days with friends in Ohio and a few spare days to goof around. Our site at Alpine RV Park is not accessible until may 1st.

Our neighbours here have been very helpful on showing us what we have to do to 'Summerize' our Mobile Home and there is more to it than just locking up. We have a service to cut and water the grass, all our utilities are on 6 month 'Winter Texans' plans. We have to spray for various critters including, Mexican Beetles (look like huge cockroaches), ants (various) and termites. Most important is to seal all water drains to keep the water traps full of water so smell and critters don't come up from the septic system. A little different to Winterizing but just as important.
I think we are pretty well shopped out and running low on funds. Just informed that we need to go back to Mexico for 'Heartworm' pills for the dogs, very cheap in Mexico, very expensive in Ontario.
We received good news that my brother Tom is mending up better than expected from a serious fall at his home in Dec.
It has been a wonderful Winter experience!!! We are already planning for next November.

Signs of Slowing Down

We received our March schedule and many things are saying 'Last' this or 'Last that' for this Winter. Many empty spots are showing but again they seem to be filling up with new travelers. Just made friends with 2 new Canadian travelers (Peterborough & Newmarket).
Today was our 'Bike to Breakfast' trip, Jane did the round trip to a hand of applause by everyone. Next Friday is our close down picnic at the park we were at a few weeks ago. The days are remaining 'HOT' and I expect this is the start of their 'Summer', some flowers are popping up and the orange trees are starting to blossom. I trimmed our 4 fruit trees and maintenance took 4 trips to remove the brush, we bring it to the curb and they take it away. The senior that left here didn't have the strength to do much so everything was over grown, including the front shrubbery. We have picked out colours for a repaint, next year, inside and out. Jane brought one of our new friends to the dog park to give the dogs a good run. Polo and I stayed at home and trimmed the trees. Thursday was Pizza night in downtown ALAMO and last night was homemade soup nite here at the park. The soup is awesome and filling. Tonight will be a lite meal at home as the breakfast plates 'overfloweth'. There are many cocktail hours throughout the park, some alcoholic/some not. The park is not licensed but your allowed the have whatever you wish at your site. We got our truck back yesterday, it was in the hospital getting some body work done, glad to have it back. I used 'Google talk' to call my brother Tom in the hospital in Ottawa and it sounds like he is coming along nicely although it will be a long, slow recovery. Sister Jean had me on a 'messenger chat' line and I fooled her by calling her on the phone. The calls are free anywhere in Canada and the USA. I suppose I should use it more often but I'm not a phone type person. We sure have been enjoying our Winter down here, can't wait till Nov. to come, LOL! (Just kidding)

BUSY! BUSY! BUSY!

Howdy Folks,

So scary, many of our new friends are starting to make plans to return home. Our good friends Vic and Pat will be returning to Kentucky next week, they will cause a void in our lives and be missed by many others in the Park. They, like us, decided to buy a place and return in the Fall.

Since my last offering, when it was freezing, now it's very HOT in the 90's, we prefer the 90's.

We have been taking advantage of tours to local historical sites and current events. A tour through the 'Border Patrol' facility was an enlightenment of how big an operation it really is and the serious need of border protection. The 'Cartel' in Mexico seems to be more powerful than the Mexican Government in money, men and power. Illegal entry of poor Mexicans doesn't seem to be the major problem. Just recently an American agent was killed at a 'Cartel' road block. More and more visitors and locals are avoiding entry into Mexico to do their shopping.

Alamo, Texas is known as 'Two Summers' and cater to us 'Winter Texans' in a big way. The Town and the Chamber of Commerce sponsored an outside Winter Texan Appreciation Day BBQ/Entertainment party. We, Jane and I, even won a 10lb bag of oranges, as well as being fed and entertained for 4 hours.

We went on a 'Trolly Tour' through Rio Grande City and had lunch in a completely restored historical hotel, La Borge House circa 1887. I made a Photo presentation on my Picasa Site, (picasaweb.google.com/mcnpaul) hope you had a chance to view it.

We have been maintaining our Friday morning 'Bicycle to Breakfast' trips. Jane has graduated from a 'Car' member to a 'Biker' member, congratulations Babe. Last night a group called 'The Texas Grandma's' sponsored a fund raising dinner to support local underprivileged children and there are many along the Rio Grande Valley. They 'The Grandmas' put on a great meal and we all felt that we were able to give back something to the local communities that actually welcomes us "Winter Texans' who come and invade their territory.

Until next time....keep the rubber side on the road!

New owners

Yes, it's true, our money finally arrived, certified and paid. Just have to transfer and received title. This was one hassle that I would not want to live through again. Of course we did not plan on buying this year so that caught us off guard and unprepared, receiving bad advice, Amex screwing things up and the RV Park not accepting our Amex Card all worked out to confusion and chaos. Those involve turned out to be very helpful, sympathetic and patient.

The weather has not been terrific, we had a deep freeze and many plants, shrubs and trees where damaged. Some public landscaped parks where wiped out. We had every towel/blanket out on our plants and shrubs and still got some damage. Gave me the incentive to do some overdue thinning of the front garden.

I was able to hook up a google phone so much of my calling to CDN banks was free. Much of my time during the past couple of weeks was trying to settle this financial mess. I spent some time getting quotes for truck repairs and going back and forth to Farmers Mutual in Lindsay, that project is still a work in progress.

We took a tour of the original pump house that irrigated the Rio Grande Valley, that helped to bring in the new settlers to farm, the rest is history. Hidalgo County is surrounded with history and the County is dedicated to recondition the few remaining 'original' buildings. I sent out a notice to view pics on Picaso, let me know if you didn't see them and I'll send you a link.

The old shed has been torn down, debris removed and the newer shed has been moved to it's new home. Next year we will build a raised deck under the awning.

Jane fell off her bicycle 4 times and we finally bought her a 3 wheel trike B4 she hurt herself.

We made a visit to Victoria Palms RV Resort in Donna, Tx (10 miles) where most of our neighbours from our Lindsay RV Park go for the Winter. We had a bonus of having another Park neighbour visiting from Florida where they have a Park trailer.

Another visit to our favourite flea market found us coming home with a large salt lamp and more magnetic necklaces and pocket bullets, no more arthritis but a sore back from all this extra weight, LOL!

On Feb. 1st we took a trip over to Mexico via Progreso, where we parked the vehicle and walk over the bridge. We picked up some blankets and medication. Most Winter Texans go there for medications, dentistry and eyewear, plus the usual booze and smokes. Military personnel are very visible for our protection from their banditos. There are not to many safe crossings anymore. Last week was a bad disturbance by Brownsville, Tx which was unusual.

On Feb. 2nd we went to San Padre Island, the holiday place to be while in Texas but is $$$ expensive. It was a Snow Bird convention oriented towards Canadians and was a good show with all Canadian talent including Ronnie Profit, Rich Little and Rita O'Neil were cancelled. Unfortunately it was a terrible cold and overcast day so we had to use our imagination on the 'Fun of a Resort Island', temp never got over +1F. The Interstate hwy was closed that evening from freezing rain. It got as low as 25F overnight and many trees, shrubs and plants were lost from the frost.

On Feb. 3rd was the final shipment of our new leather living-room furniture and 50" TV so now we don't go anywhere, LOL! The Fri. Bike to Breakfast trip (Fri 4th) was cancelled as the roads were still to slippery. Sat. 5th I trimmed our shrubs and plants of the frost damage even though we covered everything with every available blanket and towel. I just did the same tonight (Feb. 9th), expecting 28F as a low.

Monday the 7th we made contact with a local Vet, Marco Polo needed medication for his hip displachia, the Vet we chose more than met our expectations.

Yesterday we finally paid for this home with a certified cheque so everyone is happy and a major monkey is off my back.

Till next time, stay warm and fuzzy

My OH! My, where is the time flying too! Last week we had cool wet weather and this week has been sunny and warmer. I finally dismantled the old shed and now have to figure out how to push the newer shed back to where the older one was, use the diesel , man power or maybe both? I have a mexican crew lined up to take the scrap to the dump. Once everything is in its place we will design our deck and private dog park from there. Last Monday we went on a boat cruise down the Rio Grande River and saw all the damage that was done last Spring when a hurricane in Mexico cause serious flooding. The water rose 18' and stayed there for 33 days and then it receded to a lower shore line level and stayed there for another 30 days. The water level is still above normal. Jane is still with her stained glass and I'm enjoying my Fri. bike rides to some local restaurants for breakfast. Instead of 'Soup' night this week they had 'Baked Potato' night instead. For $4.00 you got a huge baked potato, chopped beef stew, creamed broccoli, grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter, orange sherbet and a cookie too! WOW! What a meal. We also look forward to 'Peter Piper Pizza night' on Wednesdays, last wed. I won one of the door prizes, a cute little stuffer Garfield.

We visited the local flea market and ordered a vinyl skirt that goes around the front of the 5th wheel making it into a small storage room, about 5' x 8', enough to hold the bicycles, lawn mower and small BBQ, etc. It keeps the place tidy looking when we set up back in Ontario.

This Monday we are going on another tour to see some local land marks and historical sites, so that should be interesting too!

Stay safe friends!

View of the park from our roof

We are pretty well settled in. We received a partial shipment of new furniture on Tuesday, some more next Thursday and the balance on Feb. 3rd. I have started to demolish one of the two sheds (only allowed one) but we are not under pressure to do so, just get it done. Jane has already started on the 'job jar list' but I think the 'priorities' will keep me busy until next year. Yesterday was 'Peter Piper Pizza' night, which we enjoyed and tonight was 'Homemade soup night' which we missed. I love my soup too, but missed it tonight as I spent the afternoon in Pharr, Tx doing some shopping and had a late lunch. Jane is still experiencing migraines and today was no exception. In addition to walking the dogs twice a day we have been getting at least one bicycle run in a day. Tomorrow AM is our bicycle breakfast run and tomorrows trip is about 4 miles, one of the longer runs. Jane is coming but will be going by car, she is not very apt with the bike yet. We have signed up for a few local tours to some Historical land marks which I will share with you latter. The Weather is remaining hot (80's) and humid (85's) but hey, that's why we are here, to enjoy the Winter.