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. 

WINTER HAS ARRIVED.

Well, Winter has arrived for real now.   It started out like this on Friday, which didn't seem so bad.

But by Sunday,  we had a full dump.  That's enough to put me "down in the dumps".  Winter is not exactly my favorite season.  I guess it's age related.  When your young, you go out there and enjoy some winter activities that are available out there.

Our Central Park, pictured here will soon be transformed.  The soccer field will become a skating rink, and the water slide at the far end will become a toboggan slide.  But we are getting too old for that kind of fun.  Who needs a broken hip?

When it finally stopped snowing on Sunday we went to Twyla and Andy's place for a little boater's get together.  As Andy called it "A Picnic Table Get Together" , which we are all suffering a little withdrawal from.  It was a very nice afternoon, visiting with boating friends.

So, now that my winter blahs have set in, I have to really push myself to get moving and do anything.  Even blogging.  I have a couple of sewing chores to complete here, so that will hold my attention for awhile, but it's still far to soon to turn my attention to our journey south to Texas.

I just wish the lull between "Boating Season" and "Texas Vacation" wasn't quite so long.  

NO MORE BOATING UNTIL SPRING

We made a quick trip out to the hangar on Saturday.  We have had to face the fact that the weather is not going to improve enough for us to do our fiber glassing until spring.  So it was time to go out to the boat and pick up a number of items that we use both on the boat and in the trailer.

I have a Sewing Kit, a Craft Kit, a Spice Rack, a First Aid Kit and a Manicure Kit, that all serve double duty, both on the boat and in our Trailer in Texas

While out at the lake we stopped in to visit Gord and Ellie Gowie, who were busy putting up their Christmas lights.

We had a nice visit with them and they said they would see if they could make it down to Texas for a visit this winter.

So that's the  last we will see of the lake area until next spring.  Now we start planning towards our trip to our little trailer home in McAllen Texas.

NO BOAT WORK, THIS WEEKEND

As I look across the street at Central Park all white with snow, there is not that much of it, but it looks very cold.  It makes me kinda glad we decided not to go to the hangar to work on the boat this weekend.

We were hoping for one more work weekend before the weather turned, but we may not get one now.  This cold snap is a little early.  It's rare, but memorable if we get snow that stays, before November 15th.  At least this isn't one of those Colorado lows that can hit us like a ton of bricks.   (or make that snow)

You can tell by Sea-Enna's down in the dumps expression that she would prefer to be at the hangar romping around.  At least at the hangar even when it's cold out she still has a place to romp around, and chase a ball when no one is there.

We were hoping to do some fiber glassing, but it can't be this cold when you mix up fiber glass as it will never set up.

I think Dan is just as happy to stay home and veg out with the TV this weekend as well.  We have been very disappointed, not having the TV, in the boaters lounge, working at the end of the day, on those work weekends.  So,now he'll get a chance to sit around and watch TV.  As for me I have a lot of computer stuff to catch up on, if I can keep myself from getting too frustrated with this new computer of mine.


We definitely have to make one more trip out to the boat, as there are a lot of items, that I have to take off of the boat, to take to Texas with me.  I had better start making a list, so that I wont forget things.  It's mostly shorts and tops and summer cloths that I want to retrieve and of course my spice rack that I use on both the boat and in the trailer.  Oh well, if I forget something I can always buy new down there.

BOAT REPAIRS ARE PROGRESSING

The boat repairs are progressing as planned.  

Old rotten spots have been removed.  

The area has been sealed and and new plywood has been fitted in place.  

It is cold a miserable out, so we might as well spend the weekends getting this stuff done.  I'd ;like to see all the repairs completed to the point that it's ready for paint this fall.     Then we can go on with other things when we get back from Texas in the spring.  

So next weekend we should be able to get on with re-fibre-glassing.  

So, that was our work weekend at the hangar.