CHORES, CHORES, CHORES

We have been busy with all the chores that needed to be done to make our little home away from home livable, for the next three months that we will be down here.  Dan got busy and replaced both of our damaged roof vents. 

This time we replaced them with metal ones, because the plastic ones just don't last in the intense summer heat and sun down here.  The plastic gets very brittle and shatters easily. 

We also got out all our patio furniture, which of course all needed washing down, being very dirty from being stored for nine months.  It has starting to be a little more homey, but we are still having problems with telephone service and television service.  We don't have either one.  I am waiting for a new SIM card for my cell phone, which apparently won't be here until next week.  The television service would be easily solved if I had a phone.  There in lies the rub. 

I still have to get some plants for my planters and the Grapefruit Tree definitely needs pruning.  But we will slowly get to it all. 

Sea-Enna has recovered from her trauma of the long drive down here.  She is loving it.  She is outside most of the time, just like at the lake.  So, that makes her happy. 

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS IN TEXAS

The good news is we arrived safe and sound here among the green grass and palm trees.  No traffic problems, to vehicle problems, no traffic cops, just smooth sailing all the way.  We arrived to some bad news. The two roof vents in our trailer were smashed by a hail storm.  We knew about the broken window, as our friends and neighbours had contacted us about that, so we have some repairs to do. 

The good news is it was 85 degrees when we arrived on Christmas day, so we enjoyed a warm afternoon, got our basic groceries in and relaxed. The Bad news is it cooled off drastically on Boxing day. Down to 56 degrees, which was terrible, as Sharon and Casey were having their big Boxing Day Party, with 40 some people. But the good news is, it was a great turnout and everyone had a wonderful time.

The good news is everyone came dressed warm, the company was good, with wonderful food and plenty to drink so no one was complaining or worrying about the cold.  The bad news is it took me forever to warm up once I got home.  I just kept shivering until I finally got into bed.  Then when I woke up this morning I was shivering again, but it wasn't from yesterday it was because we had run out of propane overnight and the temperature in our trailer was down to 54 degrees. 





Today it is getting up to 70 degrees, but it's not supposed to get back up to the normal 80s until  Friday.  This cool weather is not what I drove all this way for.  So we will keep busy with chores and won't go to the pool until it warms up a bit more. 

FROM WINNIPEG MANITOBA TO MCALLEN TEXAS

Dec. 23, 2012

After being up late entertaining, we were still able to get up at 6:00 am.  We finished loading the truck with the last minute stuff, and were on the road by 7:00.  It was really dark and really cold , but we were on our way.   The sun was up, but it was still overcast, by the time we reached to boarder.  We breezed through, with just a few questions and on to Grand Forks and Fargo, and North Dakota, was in our rear view mirror.  The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, the only thing worth photographing, was the beautiful hoar frost on everything all through South Dakota.  We had a motel reservation for Sioux Falls SD, but we were making such good time, we cancelled it and continued on to Counsel Bluffs, Iowa.  We pulled in there around 4:30.  Had dinner in the Perkins next door and were in bed by 10:00. 

                                                                                     Dec. 24, 2012

We were up,  had breakfast and were on the road by 8:00 am.  After having made such good time yesterday, we were looking forward to another day of great progress.  From Counsel Bluffs, we clipped the corner of Nebraska and were on into Kansas in no time.  The trip across Kansas is a breeze on the Kansas Turnpike.  It's a toll road, well maintained and on Christmas Eve it was practically deserted.  Through Kansas we finally saw the last of the snow.  From Kansas it's on into Oklahoma and straight down through that state to Texas.    We made just across the Oklahoma/Texas boarder to Denton Texas.  We like to stop just before entering Dallas.  The traffic through Dallas is always hectic and we like to tackle it fresh in the morning.  But in this particular case, we kinda wish we had pushed on last night. 

Dec. 25, 2012.  MERRY CHRISTMAS

We arose to a severe thunderstorm.  Lightning, thunder and a torrential downpour.  We left Dallas around 7:30 in this extreme weather and drove cautiously on through it.  It finally started to let up as we approached Austin, and was totally gone as we approached San Antonio.  The rest of the day and the rest of the drive was clear sailing as we approached McAllen and everything became more and more familiar.  We arrived at Paradise Park at 2:30.  Basically Winnipeg to McAllen in just over 2 and 1/2 days driving.  That's a record for us.  I hate motels so just 2 nights in them is great with me.  So here we are Christmas Day and sitting sipping cocktails in 84 degrees.  It was worth the extra push. 

A NICE FAMILY GET TOGETHER DEC. 22, 2012

 We had our little family get together on Saturday night, and most of the family dropped in during the evening. 

My son Jim & his wife Rachelle.

 My Daughter Tracy Elizabeth

My Foster grand daughter Rochelle. 

 My Daughter Wendy and her husband Murray.

I got out the Santa Hat, and some wore it with Pinnache. 

 

While others had no sense of style at all. 

All in all we all had a good time and it was nice to get a chance to see everyone before we headed south. 

 

Details of our travels will follow tomorrow.  I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

DOWN TO THE FINAL DETAILS

I am down to all the last minute chores.  I have my turkey in the oven right now, so that we can have our Christmas dinner tonight, then I can make my turkey sandwiches for our travel lunches.  That's our favorite lunch when we are travelling.  And we will be travelling on Christmas day so the sandwiches will have to do as our Christmas dinner on the road. 

I'm off to the bank today to withdraw money out of our American funds account.  I try to purchase American $ when our Canadian $ is above par.  This year it's been pretty good. 

My family is coming over for a get together on Saturday, so the gifts are wrapped, I have the bar stocked and Hors d'oeuvres on hand. 

All my packing is done except there are always things that you can not pack until the last minute, like our medications, toiletries, etc.  All the things that need to go into our motel bag.  That's the bag we lug in and out of the motels each night with the essentials for overnighting, including our portable bar that we always need after a long long day of driving. 

Tomorrow, Dan will go and get some dry ice, that will keep my cooler nice and frozen for over 5 days of travel.  And I will put my frozen sausages and sausage rolls in it.  I take enough frozen sausages to last us for 3 months as I haven't been able to find any sausages that I like. down in Texas.  I also take dozens of sausage rolls with me to serve at my St. Patrick's Day Party. 

So I guess we are as ready, as we can be, we are hoping to get away early Sunday morning and with any luck maybe we will make it to McAllen in time to go to Sharon & Casey's Boxing Day Party.

The next time you hear from us we should be on the road, heading for Texas. 

 

TEXAS HERE WE COME

Well we have been in and out of so many doctor's offices and waiting rooms in the last few weeks I don't think I can even count them all.  It all started when we went for our usual fall medical check-ups in preparation for our three months down south. 

 

Dan had not really been feeling his best of late when we went, so that triggered a series of doctor's appointments and tests.  It started with our regular GP exam then it was off for the blood tests, xrays, etc.  Then he had an appointment with a Gastroenterologist, who sent him for a  Colonoscopy.   After that it was off to the Cardio specialist, that looked after him after his By-Pass surgery, he sent him to St. Boniface hospital for a Cardiac Stress Test.  By now of course he was feeling much better, but all the appointments are made and you have to keep them.  So then it was back to our GP who after eliminating all these things has given him a diagnosis of Hiatus Hernia. 

 

 "Nothing to worry about", just don't over eat or eat too fast, which has always been one of Dan's problems.  We used to call him "Arcs and Sparks" as his knife and fork were moving so fast.  I used to think, him and his mom were in a race at Sunday dinner, they were always finished waaaay ahead of any of the rest of us at the table.   

So with the doctor giving him a clean bill of health and saying "Have a good trip.". we can now finish our packing and get ready for our planned departure on December 24th.  We are having our little family get together on December 22nd, last minute stuff to do on the 23rd.  To bed early and up and on the road early on the 24th.  We are hoping that the roads will be deserted on the 24th and 25th.  Now all we have to watch is the weather. 


 

CENTRAL PARK IS BEING TRANSFORMED

As winter begins, Winnipeg's Central Park is always transformed from a Summer fun place of games, playgrounds and splash park, to a winter play area.  Once a bit of snow accumulates, all the area tiny tots show up dressed in brightly coloured snowsuits, with their plastic carpets and small sleds to use the slight slopes of the splash pool area as a miniature toboggan slide.  Even the area day cares bring their charges here for some daily exercise.  It's delightful to see.   

As the little ones play on their impromptu slides, the city employees are transforming, the usually busy (in the summer anyways) Soccer pitch.  This area, that  during most summer evenings, accommodates three or four soccer games at any given time, will be transformed into a huge skating rink.   This skating rink has huge flood lights and is well used late into the evenings. 

At the far end  of the park near Ellice Avenue, there is a bigger slide area for older children.  I haven't gone down there yet this year, to see how it is progressing. 

 

All in all, I certainly think that this is one of the nicest features of downtown living.  None of the suburban areas have anything that comes close to measuring up to this facility.   

 

 

 

WHERE HAVE I BEEN THE LAST TWO WEEKS?

Well, first of all I was helping my cousin with an upholstery job. 

Then all the mundane things like shopping, cooking and cleaning. 


As soon as I get back to the condo in the fall, I so quickly settle into a dull routine. 




Then I got out my Christmas decorations.  I don't do much in the way of Christmas decor, as I hate to have to put it all away before I head south, and if you have a lot,  it's even worse to come back to in April.  So this is my little Christmas decor effort. 

                                                        

So now that I'm feeling a little more Christmassy, it's time to get my Christmas cards done, and start my Christmas shopping.  Not that I have that much to do.  I only have two grandchildren under 18 now.  Once they are adults they no longer get a Christmas present from Nana & Grampa. 



Then I started to think about heading for Texas.  Making my lists and starting to pack stuff into two big plastic storage crates that we take.   Then ordering enough of our pills for 3 months.  We also took the dog to the vet for all her check ups. 

So, that's what I have been up to for the last couple of weeks.  Dan is out this morning at his annual volunteer Sally Ann Children's Charity, so I decided this was a good time for me to get caught up on my Blog. 

The countdown to Texas is starting.  24 days and counting.