January 23, 2018 Routine (Still in Zapata TX)

This has been a week of routine normalcy - - - - - - 

it has been cool and damp for several days with not many outdoor activities.  We have shared lunch, dessert.

Sunday the sun finally popped out and temperatures have risen into the seventies, a welcome relief.

We have played several games of "19-point Pitch".

Of course, the amount of musical activities have increased.  There are now Jam sessions on Monday night, Tuesday night, and Thursday afternoon.  Fred and Gay have been over at least twice to play/sing with Evelyn, Marcella, and Glen.

Evelyn is leading yoga on Tuesday/Thursday; and Marcella is leading "cardio drumming" on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.  Marcella and Evelyn also walk in the neighborhood several times a week.  

There is a PROJECT going on involving I-Pads, musical apps, and paperless notebooks for the musicians.  Glen and Evelyn have new I-Pads ordered, to be delivered this week.  There is an app for transferring music to the I-pad.  The project is taking the approximately 400 country/gospel songs on paper in notebooks and getting them transferred. 

This can be done by photographing the paper page, transferring it to the app, and sending it to I-Pad; or, scanning the paper page turning it into a PDF file, sending it to Dropbox, and then to I-Pad.

Does that all sound complicated???? Thankfully, we have Jeff and Marcella with us that know what they are doing.  Eventually, the plan is to have all the songs on the I-Pad, not having to take the two heavy notebooks to each jam session.  

Now, you may ask, why don't Glen, Marcella, and Evelyn just memorize all the songs?  Their reply:  "isn't going to happen!!"

January 17, 2018 Happenings!!

Last Friday Jeff and Marcella arrived from frigid Missouri.  They quickly set for the next couple of months.  

The trio of the 'TWO SISTERS AND A BROTHER" are busy making music ever couple of days.  Actually, I welcome suggestions for the musical trio!  

Sunday afternoon was the monthly "gospel music jam" at a nearby RV park/club house.  Glen, Marcella, and Evelyn were on stage there.

They were also on stage last night at the weekly Tuesday night Jam session.  Tomorrow afternoon another weekly jam session starts.  They are busy musicians!

This afternoon Jeff/Marcella and Gary/Evelyn chose to go to Laredo to see the movie "The Post".  They reported it was "good".

About six tonight I was stepping out our front door when Joe, across the street, yelled "house on fire!"

We left in our pick up, driving about 8-10 blocks.  It was obvious that a two story abandoned house was on fire.  There were several out buildings surrounding the house in blazes.  Joe's phone would not work, so I called 9-1-1 to report the fire.

In just a few minutes members from the Sheriff's department, the Border Patrol, as well as the fire truck and water truck crews were there.  The goal was to prevent the spread of the fire to the the surrounding dry grass/brush.  

We watched several minutes.  It was easy to imagine someone being trapped in that blazing inferno.  Being caught in a fire is my worst nightmare.

On a happier note, we had a package delivered that contained something wonderful.

When we cleaned and emptied our mother's house, my sister, Jan found a stash of colorful feed and flour sacks.  She designed and constructed a quilt top using this fabric for each of us four children.  I chose to have the quilt top finished at a quilt store in Greenwood where Trisha lives.  She picked up the completed quilt and FED-EXed it to me.

Showing the blocks and backing.

Close up of the quilting pattern.

I love the finished product.  There are many memories in those blocks.  My sister Jan did an awesome job of designing the blocks, and the actual construction is perfection.

January 11, 2018 "Tumblin', Tumble Weeds!"

The winds arrived with a roar this afternoon.  Tumbleweeds were scurrying across the fields, lawn chairs were scattered across the yard, satellite tripods were blown over, and the dust was flying as the 45-47 mph winds blew for several hours.

Gusts are down to 29 mph with a steady wind of 13- 15  just now at 9:00 p.m.💨

The high was 82 degrees on the truck screen and 80 here at the motorhome monitor.  No complaints in this department.

Wednesday the six of us (Gary and Evelyn*, Jeff and Marcella*, and Glen and me) went to Laredo.  We checked out the new, less than one year old, outlet mall in Laredo.  It contains about 50 high-end, name-brand stores-----Nine West, Michael Kors, Vera Bradley, Sketchers, Converse, Nike, etc.  Glen did buy two pair of shoes at the Sketcher store.  *Glen's sisters

There was a stop at the "Guitar Store" for a new capo for Marcella, and a music stand for Glen.

On to lunch at "Paraque Grill", one of our favorites.  

One more stop at Walmart for groceries before we drove back to Zapata.

This morning was the dreaded, much put-off task of "cleaning house"!  I know, there isn't much to clean.  It just isn't fun anymore!!!  

This afternoon neighbors/friends Jim and Dee came over.  It was good to see them out and about as they have suffered with the flu and complications since Christmas week end.

January 8, 2018 Company Has Arrived

Wow, time is flying.

We had some very cold (relatively speaking) the past two weeks.  Two different  days the high temperatures were in the 30's, with drizzle and wind.  BR-R-R!  

This past Friday, January 5, Jeff and Marcella arrived.  They are parked, hooked up, satellite dish set 📡, and ready for fishing weather to start.  

Marcella participated in a cardio-exercise class in Cape Girardeau MO called "Drumming".  Equipment needed are: yoga ball, drum sticks, and a laundry basket.  It also takes 'rhythm", something I am not proficient in. 

This morning using a video from You Tube, she led Evelyn and me in this class.  It is hard for me to drum and move my feet at the same time, however, I did attempt it, and did get my heart rate up!  

We are enjoying the warm sunny days; spending most all day out of doors.  

Jeff grilled burgers tonight for dinner, which we ate out of doors, around the new table and chairs.  

The table is 5' square, glass-topped, with eight swivel/rocker chairs.  The chairs fit two on each side. We like it!

I enjoy going to the local library, checking out books weekly.  

Glen washed the truck today.  It looks shiny and bright.  This challenged Gary and Jeff, as they each washed their trucks.!  😎

Take care.