November, 2010 – Really, really nice being back with our peeps in Texarkana, AR/TX (AR/TX =the Twice as Nice slogan)! Had a wonderful time with Gus, Edith, and other family and friends! (and doctors and dentists) Enjoyed a couple of great concerts while there, too. I think I could live there!!
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| Shady Pines |
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| Shady Pines |
11-1-10: Got to Texarkana and set up at Shady Pines. The foliage around there is really pretty! Colors really starting to pop.
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| Edith and Spice |
11-2-10: After hanging out with Edith and meeting her new dog, Spice, we had supper at Chili's with David, Gus, Jakeb/Lacey, Lisa C, Marlyse, Laurie, Sherry/Billy. Fun! Great catching up!
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| Lisa and Me |
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| "Niece" Keasha |
11-4-10: David, Gus, Lisa and I went to a “downhere” concert at FBC. They rocked! Would def like to hear them again. One of the bands that opened for them was called Finding Favour. I think we'll be hearing more of them over the next few years. (thx again, Lisa, for getting me their autographed cd) Chris Sligh from American Idol also sang. Great to see Keasha/Dustin and Donna there! Fun night!!
11-8-10: Crystal made me, uh, I mean, let me host a jewelry party at her house tonite. She sells some really nice jewelry and several of my friends came out – it was great seeing them!
11-9-10: David, Edith, Jakeb, and I went to see Secretariat. Great movie!!
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| Rocky on the Inside |
11-12-10: Took Rocky to a back specialist. Was hoping he could help David, too. LOL. He doesn't work on humans. He didn't recommend surgery on Rocky (whew!), because he couldn't guarantee it'd help. But he emailed us some great pix of his insides (see attached). Rocky is cool inside and out!
11-14-10: Cranford is sure preaching some powerful messages at Antioch Christian Church! Today was on positive thinking. Sigh. Ok, ok – we are starting to get it, Cran!
11-15-10: While at the clinic taking care of some of my appts, I ran into Janet – one of my good college friends! Haven't seen her in about 9 years! And neither of us live in Texarkana any more. Fun seeing her. Would've been more fun to run into each other at the mall or Chili's or something, but I guess at my age the clinic is becoming my new social locale.
11-16-10: Moved out to Lake Wright Patman – Clear Springs. It's amazingly pretty there! Crazy thing is that I lived in Texarkana for 50 plus years and never camped out there til we retired and started fulltiming. Beautiful trees, fall colors, deer, and the lake itself is just so pretty! Don't know that I ever appreciated the beauty of it before. So relaxing being out there! Good for the soul.
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| Mindy and Me |
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| Patsy, Emily, and Gus at Agnew Concert |
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| The Girls at Todd Agnew Concert |
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| Todd Agnew and me |
11-18-10: Caught up with Mindy today over lunch and then went to a Todd Agnew concert tonite at Faith Baptist on the AR side. David and I saw him last year and just really love his sound. Really blessed to have been able to share the night with Cranford/Kathey, Linda, Donna, Emily, Patsy, and David and Gus. And Laurie was there, too! Cranford made sure I got my pic taken with Todd afterwards. (see attached). Pocket Full of Rocks played also.
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| Campfire |
11-19-10: Edith and I met Linda and Maxine for lunch. I could listen to Maxine's and Edith's travel stories all day! Those women are world travelers for sure! I learn so much from them! I hope someday to have their energy! College friends, Lisa and Debbie and their hubbies came out tonite and we sat around the campfire, ate chili, and laughed a lot! Mostly at Lisa's expense! What a blast!
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| Edith on 91st bday w/Rocky |
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| Gus, Me, and Jakeb |
11-20-10: Celebrated Edith's 91st bday!! David grilled burgers for her, Gus, Jakeb and had a campfire going because the forecast was for a cool, clear day. But it was overcast and cooooold! So we ate under blankets and then went inside to warm up. Yes, Cranford, I'm thankful for our blankets. And propane! Later a couple of third-graders decided to hang out with David and me around our fire. I think we reminded them of their grandparents. They found a mussel and eventually got their dad to open it. ICK!!!!! (see attached).
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| Sherry and Peanut |
11-21-10: Had turkey and dressing today at Edith's. Yum! Jakeb, Lacey, and Gus joined us. Later Billy and Sherry set their camper up across the road from us at the lake. Always fun to have good friends near!
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| Sitting on the Dock of the Bay |
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| My Rocky |
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| Pelicans at Wright Patman |
11-22-10: Rocky and I took a little walk to the dock today and saw something I'd never seen.(and I'm pretty sure Rocky never had either) A flock of about 1000 or so white pelicans! On the water. It was awesome! Watched them for about an hour. They would dip down into the water for fish (looked like a wave at a football game) and follow each other around in a circle, like a merry-go-round. It was so quiet out there except for them. Their “fishing” sounded like a waterfall! Several little black ducks nearby also.
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| Heron |
A gray herron landed and hung out on the beach near us. I'd never heard their sounds before. Kind of a screaching quack sound. He seemed to want to make sure all the other wildlife knew he was about to land! Beautiful setting to watch them on the water with all the fall trees around.
11-23-10: Took Edith to hospital to have a heart procedure done. Thankfully, it went perfectly. She was knocked out for it. When she woke up a dr, nurse, and I were standing by her bed. She held up her hand and said “don't start yet, I'm still awake!” That cracked us up. Gotta love anesthesia!!
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| Jeff and Crystal |
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| Garry and Marlyse |
Tonite David, Gus, and I met some of my work buddies (did I say “work”??? I haven't used that word in awhile!) for supper: Crystal/Jeff, Billy/Sherry, Marlyse/Garry. The acoustics were such in the restaurant that I couldn't hear much that was being said. But there was a lot of laughter, so I'm thinking we had fun!
11-24-10: David played golf today with Jakeb. I sat by the campfire most of the day – and went in and out cooking for Thanksgiving. So relaxing! Love being in the woods, near the water.
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| Marlee Kay |
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| Nathan |
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| Pam, Meleah, and Laci |
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| Miller Goff |
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| Will and Christena |
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| My Brother and Me |
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| Gus, the Outsider in the Longhorn shirt |
11-25-10: Wonderful Thanksgiving Day at Bill/Pam's in Benton. 3 new babies were there since last year (Lauralei, Marlee Kay, and Ethan) and one new spouse (Christena). A new fiance' was going to be there (Jakeb's Lacey) but they had a blowout shortly after leaving Texarkana and didn't make it before most of us had to leave. Very happy they were not injured!
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| My Gus and Me |
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| Bailey and Me |
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| Bailey |
11-26-10: Gus and I watched my granddog, Bailey, play in the lake today. She would run and jump off the dock and fetch sticks. Over and over and over. The pelicans were still out there, but she didn't seem concerned about them. Just wanted that stick! Then we took Bailey and Rocky on a trail. That's the best Rocky has been able to walk in awhile. Had supper at Amigo Juan's tonite with Cranford/Kathey and their sweet Bailey. Granddaughter, not granddog.
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| Lake Wright Patman |
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| Clear Creek at Lake Wright Patman |
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| David? |
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| Rocky and Me |
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| Kathey and Me |
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| Me and the Preacher |
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| Sweet! |
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| Cranford and David |
11-27-10: David, Rocky, and I walked 3 trails today. Really pretty day. Rocky was almost frisky. I may try some of his steroids! Watched most of the Razorback/LSU game at the Graves' house, visited Graham Crackers and got to see Russell/Alicia. Then spent the evening around Billy/Sherry's campfire. Gonna be hard to leave in a couple of days.
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| Bailey and Gus |
11-28-10: Said our goodbyes today to Edith and Gus.
This has been an action-packed month! God has blessed us with such a wonderful family and so many good friends.
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| Back at JCRV |
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| Getting re-aquainted with Boo Boo |
12-1-10: Arrived today in the TX Hill Country. We are parked in a beautiful pecan orchard where the axis deer own the place! (same place we stayed last winter) This part of the state has so many exotic game ranches, a rich German heritage, and lots to learn. Getting to see my friends that I met here last year. Already played a couple of hands of “Panties” with Dee and Sarah. Rocky seemed to know where we were as soon as we pulled onto the road. He spotted the donkeys from last year: Boo-Boo, Sugarbaby, and Major. He got all excited as though he remembered them! Although he immediately got a foot full of burrs, he was eager to walk around and get re-aquainted with all the familiar smells. We are going to stay here December and January, so will send more info later.
Merry Christmas and safe holidays from
Hog Wild (go Sugar Bowl!) and Texarkana Baby (ever heard that song?)
