3-25-17 A Whole Lot of Nothing

Mixed with a whole lot of nothing we are slowly preparing to leave Zapata.

Winter is definitely over here. We are some of the last Winter Texans.

My goal is to carry at least one load from the outside kitchen to the motor home each day. It is amazing how many pans and spices and utensils have migrated to the outside.  I can report that the refrigerator is empty!

Glen has talked about sealing/painting the concrete that is under roof.  Well, he started that project yesterday.  My contribution...let's add some color.

How's this for color?

Laying down on the job

He will finish up today!

We will be here until the end of the month.  We are ready to see the family!

3-16-17 Day's Ending

I really, really like sunsets and clouds!

The end of a wonderful day!

Click to enlarge.  You can see the sun setting "on" the mountains of Mexico!

March 14, 2017 (Tuesday) A Quiet Corner

QUIET---no activity

OUR CORNER--It is just Glen and me.

Marcella left Sunday morning in the truck to meet a friend near San Antonio.  Jeff left in the motorhome this morning to meet Marcella at Rockdale TX, north and east of San Antonio.

We checked the gates all afternoon to make sure Bonnie(the terrier) didn't get out.  Sigh.  Bonnie left with Jeff.

Bonnie might be ready to drive!

Glen and I spent a somewhat quiet week end in the motorhome.  We both fought another bout of sinusitis, stuffiness, headache, and lots of blowing.  Yesterday we began feeling much better, and today, almost well.

However, Jeff also was showing symptoms of the same "stuff" as he left.  Here's hoping it doesn't get him down, and Marcella has to drive!! 😉

Our friends Fred and Gay left last Friday morning going to their home in Oklahoma.

Jam Sessions on Monday night and Thursday afternoons are on hold until next winter.  There is one more Tuesday night session.

Sunday after worship service there was a pot luck lunch at church.  As always there is lots of good food and fellowship. Glen didn't go.

There were several rain showers throughout last week.  Enough to make the "grass" grow and be green.  Glen may even mow tomorrow.

Trisha, our daughter, with her younger son, Tanner; choosing classes for Tanner's Senior Year.   It is the last planning session for Tanner's high school.

Trisha's family reached a milestone today.  She and her younger son Tanner attended the LAST planning session for high school.  Tanner chose classes for his senior class (class of '18).  

March 8, 2017 Day Trip (Falcon Lake, Salineno, tX)

This morning we headed south on Highway 83, going to Salineno, TX.  There is a bird sanctuary along the Rio Grande River at Salineno, TX.  

We learned from the sanctuary host that many of the winter birds have headed north.  Is winter over?

Altamira Oriole

Do you see the long-billed thrasher?

Golden Fronted Woodpecker

I like the colors in the Altimira Oriole!

We turned off Highway 83 at "El Tigre", a branch of Falcon Lake.  This is the gate we went through to go to El Tigre.  At the end of the road is a gathering of permanently-located mobile homes/RV's.  There is a boat launch making it a good spot for fishermen.  But, it is 6 miles off the highway, at least 15 miles from the nearest town.

Don't be seen; hide; close the gate!!!

The next stop was Falcon State Park just above the Dam on Falcon Lake.  Here's a few unusual sights in the park!

Yuccas are beginning to bloom.

This is an Alligator Gar.  The fishermen were happy for us to take a picture.

As tall or taller than Glen!  See the tiny catfish next to the gar's head.  

This is a javelina--not in the pig family!  Javelina are usually in a  family group; emits a skunk-like odor; eats anything including prickly pear cacti or small animals.

We enjoyed a puffy taco lunch at Caro's in Rio Grande City; then went to Walmart.  I didn't have a list but bought things for the pantry! 

It began raining while we were in Walmart. Going home we drove through hard rain for 40 or so miles.  However no rain in Zapata.  Maybe tomorrow.

P.S.  Mexican/Catholic families keep cemeteries decorated.

March 4, 2017 Rainy Day, Yes! Real Rain

What a wonderful day!  It started raining early this morning and continued to six p.m., with a total of 3.1" of rain!  A week or so of days like this is needed badly!  

Wet, cool, gray days makes me want to cook soup!  I prepared a crock pot filled with "Kansas City Steak Soup".

This afternoon Fred and Gay came, bringing their guitar/mandolin.  Glen and Marcella as well as Fred and Gay and others from church will be hosting/participating in an "Evening of Gospel Music". tomorrow at six.

It was music "the old-fashioned way" this afternoon--in the motorhome.  It was raining steadily and loudly on the tin roof; too loud to hear music and singing.

At six the rain had ceased.  We moved to the Outdoor Living Space for supper: soup with cheese and crackers.

After supper it was time for cards!  The six of us played "Nineteen Point Pitch!"  After four games we enjoyed dessert.  

March 3, 2017 Fish Fry Wednesday Night (3-1-17)

Borrowed from Jeff and Marcella's Blog !!!! Jeff did an excellent job of describing our activities!  

"Today we helped Glen and Gayla host a fish fry for friends and fellow winter Texans  (20 +us) at their place here in Zapata.  Neighbors and fellow musicians were in attendance.   We had full freezers of crappie and even a bag of catfish that needed to be reduced in size.  We made fish for 25+ people and still only made a dent in our supply. Gayla made hush puppy batter and potato casserole; Marcella made cole slaw, Glen and I got his fryer ready to go; people brought desserts and dishes to go along with the fish.  I even made key lime pies for the event.

I took charge of the frying of the fish in Glen's fryer, which holds about five gallons of oil.  It works great for frying a lot of fish.  By the time the frying was finished, we had cooked enough fish to fill a foam cooler half full and another smaller cooler half full of hush puppies.

When the meal was over, ​the guitars came out and a jam session commenced.  They sang and strummed for an hour or so, until fingers got worn out and the crowd began to break up and go home.

Once it was just Glen, Gayla, Marcella and I remaining, clean up commenced.  It did not take long to get most of it done, then four tired people retired to the RV's and called it a night".

Penned by Jeff Schnakenberg 

 CLICK on this link to see the pictures that go with the blog.  I didn't take any pictures, thinking I can/would/will use Jeff/Marcella's pictures.  http://downtheroadwego.weebly.com  Photos by Marcella Schnakenberg

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