Load 'em Up; Move 'em Out

Tomorrow we are headed out to the Davis Mountains in far West Texas for the annual gathering of Bloys Camp Meeting. This is my 61st year as I attended before I was a year old; it is Carl's 19th year. My father attended every year of his life except the 3 years during WWII when he was in the South Pacific -- his CO didn't understand the importance of attending :-)

It's a one-time-a-year event and we stay in not-so-airtight cabins so we have to take our bedding and towels. We also never know whether it will be hot, warm, or cold so we have to take clothes for all seasons. This year, however, we are taking some items that are somewhat unexpected:

• electronic keyboard
• dorm-size refrigerator
• microwave oven
• air compressor
• ladders
  
• window fans
• plastic drawers
• hanging baskets
• hummingbird feeder and nectar
• large plastic tubs to use for storing cups and glasses in the kitchen
• cutting boards
• flourescent light bulbs
• plywood
• 2x4's
• lawn chairs
  

It amounts to a pick-up bed and utility trailer full -- we look a lot like the Clampetts!

I'll be away from internet, television, radio, and only minimal cell phone connection, so I'm signing off until the week of August 10.

Float Trip

Carl's younger daughter and her husband visited us this weekend and we made a float trip. A float trip, in Texas Hill Country vernacular, is floating the Guadalupe River in an inner tube (it's also known as "toobing").

Our trip wasn't so much a float trip as it was an arm paddling, butt bumping, tube pushing/pulling/dragging/carrying trip.

However, a great time was had by all!

"Birding" In Paradise

I am a bird watcher in the purest sense of the word; I am not a bird spotter, a birdcall-recognizer, or a bird identifier -- just a watcher. Compared to me, Carl is a professional (he keeps a field guide beside his chair on the deck), but actually he is an amateur compared to real birders. Regardless of our skill levels, however, we thoroughly enjoy watching the beautiful feathered creatures on our property. Here is a sample of what we see every day (click on the picture for the caption:

Beep, Beep!

All of our appliances beep at us: the washer, dryer, dishwasher & microwave beep when their cycles are complete, the refrigerator beeps when the door is left open, the oven beeps when it is preheated, and the coffepot beeps when it cuts off. And all the beeps sound just alike!

This morning I heard a beep. I checked all the usual suspects and found that clothes were in the washer. Ah Ha! I put them in the dryer, certain I had found the culprit. I went about my business and heard the beep again. I followed the sound and traced it to a smoke detector. Carl changed the batteries, and again we were certain we had found the problem. Several minutes later, another beep. I went to the area of the smoke detector and saw that Carl's cell phone holster was clipped to a pair of pants hanging there. However, there was no phone in the holster. We decided to change the batteries in a nearby smoke detector, to no avail. We still had the beep.

After awhile Carl came in to get his phone and it was in his pants pocket rather than in the holster. The beep was to notify him of some reminders he had programmed into his phone.

AAAAAH, beepless at last!

Virtual Tour of Our House

Top 10 Reasons We're Thrilled to be out of the RV

10. We can open the pantry without things falling on our heads.
9. We can work in the kitchen at the same time.
8. We can get to our shoes with crawling over the bed.
7. Each of our casserole dishes fit in our oven.
6. We can take a shower without having to drain the tank in the middle of it.
5. We can use more than 2 electrical appliances at the same time.
4. We don't have to rummage through our things in storage facilities.
3. We can have a dinner party without moving any furniture outside.
2. We can buy grocery items without having to think about whether they will fit into the refrigerator.

And the Number One reason is:
1. We can use 2-ply toilet paper.

A Fun-Filled Weekend

The weekend started Friday evening when Carl suggested he take his best friend (Bill) golfing for his birthday and that Bill's wife (Susan, my best friend) and I come along and hang out at the swimming pool at the golf course. Well, Susan I and decided we didn't want to hand out in 107-degree heat, so we opted for a movie and shopping.

The moving we chose was "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock. It is a "must see" -- hilarious, touching, great cast, and Sandra Bullock at her best!

After the movie we went shopping and discovered a new boutique -- we both did some minor financial damage there!

In the evening, the four of us went to dinner at a new restaurant in New Braunfels to celebrate Bill & Susan's 23rd wedding anniversary. The restaurant (Macadoos) is located in the old post office and has a menu similar to that of Pappadeaux. We had a great time!

Susan and I had raved so much about "The Proposal" that we wound up the weekend with Bill, Susan, Carl and I attending a matinee version of the movie on Sunday! The boys loved it, and Susan and I enjoyed it as much as we had the first time!

A good time was had by all!!!

Girlfriend's Lunch

I hosted a lunch for 3 girlfriends, two of whom had not seen the house. It was a great time and I especially enjoyed the "ooh's" and "ahhs" I heard! I have to say that Carl and I worked especially hard to make it look "neat" (translate, there are a lot of miscellany tucked inside closets, etc!).

FYI, the temperature in Paradise topped out at 106 yesterday -- haven't heard about the high today. Seasoned deck-sitters as we are, we were forced to the front porch where the temperature was bearuable!

Welcome to Our New Life

Welcome to our new followers as well as to the followers of our previous blog, RV Living Conger Style!

In addition to moving into our dream house and unpacking 95% of our things, we've done some other really fun stuff:

1. Attended a Bonnie Raitt concert in San Antonio;
2. Went to Houston to our great niece's swim meet to see the new homes of both my sister's boys;
3. Went kayaking in the estuary at Port Aransas
   
4. Attended a Merle Haggard concert;
5. Went to Fort Worth to attend our grandson's high school graduation and spend time with our kids;
6. Went to the Davis Mountains to work on our camp at Bloys Camp Meeting and enjoyed time with family and long-time friends;
7. Attended the AAUW National Convention in St. Louis;
8. Re-connected with one of Carl's cousins who he had not seen since 1959;
9. Planted an herb garden in an antique clawfoot bathtub; and
   
10. Celebrated the 4th of July with family at my sister's house on Lake Buchanan