Day 4 - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Oh, what a long day today.  731 kms and 3 states.  Plus more hail for the last 20 miles.  We are beat.  Will be so glad to get home.

Other than the hail, not a bad drive.  The sun shone almost all day and there is no snow anywhere.  None on the roadsides, not even any dirty piles in parking lots.

Tonight we are going to grab a quick supper and then settle in.  This hotel has an indoor pool and spa.  We may soak our stiff muscles.

ttfn

Day 3 - Sikeston, Missouri

So, it's official.  We left the valley too soon.  It started to hail and even snow a bit near West Memphis, Arkansas.  What's up with that?

However, when we crossed into Missouri, the sun was shining and it looked like a beautiful day.  Not very warm though.  No more shorts for us. lol

We went to our favourite Sikeston restaurant for supper.

We had to wait outside for about an hour for a table.  Probably the last time I'll get Wayne to do that.  His delicate little nose was frozen.

But supper was fun and I finally got a picture of the waiter who throws the rolls.

The rolls are the best tasting thing on the menu.  Light and fluffy!  But if you catch a roll thrown all the way across the dining room, it usually gets squished.  I salvaged a roll to bring home for later.

Just realized that this trip home is all about the food.  Some would ask - what's new about that?

Day 2 - Texarkana, Arkansas

Great travel day.  Sunny but not too hot.  We drove for about seven hours today.  Settled in our room.  I'm lounging and Wayne is soaking his aches and pains in the tub.  The drive today is probably as many miles as we would ever care to do.

Just came back from supper at a very yummy restaurant.  Copelands of New Orleans.  Delicious.  We first ate here last spring.  Enjoyed it so much that we needed to return.  We should go to New Orleans for real one of these days.  Maybe next year.  I like to change up our route a bit and see new things and places.

This was my supper - Shrimp Alfredo with Crab Cakes.  Wayne's was very similar.  He chose Crab Stuffed Shrimp Alfredo.  Very, very tasty.

For dessert we shared Bananas Foster.  This is a classic that was invented at a restaurant in New Orleans.  I looked up the recipe and I am going to make this at home.  Also, I'm going to modify the recipe by substituting different sauteed fruits.  Fabulous!

Heading North - Day 1 Luling, Texas

Yes we are alive.  Haven't been able to access consistent internet for the past little while.  So a lack of blogging.  Sorry.

To recap:  Wayne and I went on a Caribbean cruise with Dennis and Judith.  Scott and Diane visited from Australia, Kathy from Guelph and Richard and Cheryl from Pennslyvania.  Lots of fun with friends and family.  We have all left the valley except for Dennis and Judith and Ron and Shirley, who will head home soon.

After a few tense moments yesterday, Wayne and I settled in at the Holiday Inn Express in Mission.  It was too late to head out.  We have come to the conclusion that it is best to book a room for our last night in the valley.

We had a problem closing the trailer.  Specifically that it wouldn't close.  The hydraulic slideouts would not retract.  Oh oh what now?  After consultation with some of the guys in the park it was decided that we probably need hydraulic fluid.  Please let it be true.  Quick trip to the automotive store to get some and we were in business.  In fact the slides worked better than ever.  We probably needed fluid from day one.  Oh well - live and learn.

We owned our fifth wheel for seven years and never had to add hydraulic fluid.   I think that the intense summer heat in Texas boils it off.

We hit the road by 830 am and had a leisurely drive through the oil patch to Luling.

Lots of oil wells dotting the landscape

Colourful wild flowers along the roadways

I chose this route for our first day's drive as I wanted to try some authentic bbq.  Thank you Matthew and Jovana for the guide books.  We have found several places to visit in the future.

What to try first?

Mmmm mmm good

Having Lots of Fun But Forgetting to Blog

There has been lots of entertainment and fun to be had in and around Chimney Park.  The weather is improving every day and activities abound.  We have had several entertainers sing for our enjoyment.

The Ladies Who Lunch Bunch went to the Olive Garden in January.  But lunchtime fun didn't end there.  A large group went to another park for lunch, music and a style show.

The following week, Chimney Park had its own Ladies Luncheon and Style Show.

We have also enjoyed spending time with Ron and Shirley.  We have dined at various valley restaurants.

Our life in the valley seems to revolve around fun, food, wine and shopping.  Life is good.

It's a Wrap - Christmas 2014

A few shots taken while I was on a golf cart tour of the park.  There may not be snow but we do enjoy compensating with lights.  There were many more homes decorated but my camera is slowly dying.  It doesn't focus well.  And no it wasn't because I had a glass of wine -  or two.

Just a few days later, I was feeling quite ill.  I called the insurance company and got permission to go see a doctor.  Turns out I had a sinus infection and bronchitis.  I've been sick off and on for the rest of the month.

However, before getting sick, I was reminiscing about the gingerbread houses the daycare kids have made over the years.  Judith and I decided to make one for the kids at her church.  We went shopping for supplies and decorations, printed plans, recipes etc.  Then I went down for the count.  Poor Judith had to persevere on her own.  She has never made a gingerbread house before.  She did a masterful job and the house was beautiful.  The kids were in awe and enjoyed the treat immensely.

My only contribution to the gingerbread project was the chocolate candy tree.  We bought a kit with molds and meltable candy wafers.  We can use it again next year.

McAllen High School Mariachi Band came to entertain us.  They were amazing.  Beautiful music and gorgeous uniforms.  Very talented kids.

Wayne caught a cold last week just before his birthday.  Sneezing, runny nose and just generally feeling miserable.  He felt crummy on his birthday, missing the Mariachi, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I brought him a doggy bag of turkey home from our communal dinner.

Dinner was delicious!  Can't you tell?

We enjoyed talking with family over Christmas.  So nice to hear your voices.   We have been enjoying reading about highways, byways and sights to see in Texas.  Not sure who gets the water wings though.  Thanks guys.  Wayne bought me a new camera.  It will get a good work out when we are cruising.

Of course, I caught Wayne's cold.  I woke up at about 3 am on Boxing Day dripping like a tap.  Been laying low ever since.  We are both on the mend, taking it easy so we will be ready to party New Year's Eve.

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family.  Happy New Years as well.

ttfn

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - South Texas Style

Patio

Tree is in our bedroom.  Every night I fall asleep enjoying the lights.

Hanging out .....

..... at the pool!

Enjoying BBQ with Judith and Dennis

Getting into the holiday spirit, a group of Chimney RV residents assisted a local church to assemble food kits.  We packaged up over 10,000 casserole kits using a very efficient assembly line method.

The project was developed by an organization called Kids Against Hunger.  The packets are sent all over the world, wherever there is a need.  Also a good portion of the kits we made stay in the local area to assist.  It was a very satisfying day.

Today, I am going out to lunch with a group of ladies.  I think we should be called "Chimney Ladies Who Lunch Bunch".  Gotta go

Feliz Navidad!  (Spanish class)