Friends, Wal-Mart, and Turkey ~ What do they have in common?

Last Tuesday, Walker came into the office and said Wal-Mart was having an unadvertised special on turkeys for 39 cents a pound.  He and Evelyn had bought 4 and were thinking of deep fat frying one but wondered what to do with the all the oil.  

Bonnie was in the office and said you could use it to cook up to 4 turkeys.  The conversation continued with the three of us deciding we could have a Turkey Frying Party.  So Bonnie made the trip to Wal~Mart.  Picked up a couple of turkeys for them and one for Ron and I.  Having no room in our motor home we decided to let ours thaw in the bathroom sink in the office.  We will cook them up once they are all thawed.

Wednesday, Margie & Ed bought a turkey as well.  Now we were up to four couples cooking at least 5 turkeys.

All the turkeys were thawed by Friday afternoon so the cooking commenced.  Ron and I were busy working so we could not participate in the cooking so we sent some cheese and crackers over to the cooks would not get too hungry and start munching on the turkeys as they were cooked.

About 4:30 p.m. Walker arrived and handed me this:

Now isn't that one pretty turkey.  I put it on the counter in the motor home and let it sit while I closed up the office.  Once the office was closed I made a Risotta (type of rice) dish with Italian seasoning to enjoy with our turkey.  Both of us exclaimed "delicious."  The turkey was so moist, melt in the mouth and filling.  After dinner Ron de-boned the turkey.  We ended up with enough meat for at least four meals all for less than $6.  

Side note: while Ron was busy working hard de-boning the turkey, I was off to play bingo in the clubhouse ~ and I won!  Two $4 wins!!  Not big dollar amounts but still lots of fun.

Thank you Bonnie, Ed, Walker, Evelyn, Ed (yes there are two of them) and Margie for doing all the cooking.  We will definitely have to do this again, but hopefully next time it will be on a Saturday or a Sunday so we can be included in all the fun.

A Beautiful Sunset

 One evening a few weeks ago we had the most beautiful sunset and viewing of the moon.  Hope you enjoy these views taken from our front door or deck here in Lone Star Corral.

The Middle of April Already

Thought I had better pop in here and give an update on what we are doing.  I have been struggling with what to write about on my blog since we are stationary right now.  And I don't want to bore people but I think some of you like to know what we are doing.  So here is an update of what we have been doing the first 17 days of April 2011...

...Ron was sick for 4 1/2 days.  He got the crud that I had had in March.  He spent 3 1/2 days either in the bed or sleeping on the couch, drinking lots of liquids, taking Nyquil, Dayquil, hot water with lemon and local honey.  I knew he was feeling better when he started complaining about what I was watching on TV :).

...We have gone on a few day trips.  We drove around for about 3 hours the other day and never was more than 20 miles from the SKP park.    We went on paved roads, gravel roads and dirt roads.  Saw a house out in the middle of what we thought was nowhere and then drove right through the middle of one ranch just from following the turns in the road.  We saw some beautiful flowers (pictures to follow later) and even a yellow butterfly (no picture).  Saw a brand new baby calf, estimate it was just a few hours old.  She was just the sweetest honey brown color.  We saw lots of deer.  Even one fawn that just stood by the fence for the longest time.  She was beautiful.

...And we have eaten out way too many times.  Ron has wanted BBQ since we have been here and yesterday he got his wish.  We ate at Heavy's BBQ in Hondo.  I had a beef sandwich with beans and coleslaw and Ron had a 3 meat plate with brisket, ribs and sausage with beans and coleslaw.  Ron shared his beans and slaw with me as they are not his favorite things to eat.  Today the Lion's Club was having a chicken dinner fundraiser.  for $7 you got a bbq'd half chicken with beans and slaw.  We can honestly say this was a first for us.  The fundraiser was at Hondo City Park #1.  You drove in one gate, drove up to the table, ordered the number of meals you wanted, paid the server (in our case a young girl of about 10) and she brought us two to-go dinners and we drove out of the park.  And then we drove home and ate.  The food was great and it put a new name on drive through diner.  Ron ate his chicken about half of my chicken and I ate his beans and slaw along with my beans and slaw. 

And how many different ways can you make coleslaw...I think I have had it four or five different ways since we have been here in Texas.  From creamy to some with like an oil/vinegar dressing, one with lots of pepper and one with lots of carrot strips.  All have been tasty, even the one with lots of pepper.

...We have been participating in some of the activities here in the park.  I have played Bingo a couple of times, haven't won but have had fun.  We have gone to the ice cream socials a few times and yesterday I went to a yard sale here in the Park...I sure miss going garage saleing...Ron sees no need to do that since we don't have room for anything.  But I think it's still a lot of fun to go and look.

...Today we attended First Baptist Church in Hondo again.  We went to Sunday School and felt very welcome.  In fact, one of the men, Alan, shook Ron's hand and then told me he won't give me a handshake anymore...now it's hugs...made me feel like I was home.  The service was good, such great singing and praise time.  And the message was good - from Luke 23:32-33; it was on decision's we make.  One thing that Pastor Dennis said really struck home with me "even if we don't make a decision we are making a decision, it is just not a yes or no decision." 

I was hoping they would have a Good Friday service but they are not.  I always enjoyed the Good Friday service at Northwood and sharing in communion.  I will check the paper this week to see if there is a Good Friday service we can attend.

...We are so enjoying our jobs.  This last week Ron hired a helper for the summer.  Mario is 18 years old and just lives down the road from the park.  He is working on Tuesdays, Wednesday's and Thursday's.  He seems like a hard worker which is good.  I have been going through the Office Procedure book updating directions and making them easy to follow.  As well as making any changes that have been instituted since they were written.    Two weeks ago we did rearrange the office.  Yes I enjoyed moving and rearranging things and Ron was such a willing helper.  I will take some pictures of the changes and get them posted soon.

Prayer request ~~~

Last week I had my eyes checked for new glasses and found out that I have a double cataract on my right eye.  This was troubling since I only have one eye and to think I need to have surgery on it is very scary.  I talked with my doctor from Bellingham last week and he said I need to get it taken care of sooner than later.  So I have talked to a couple of people and gotten a couple of names of doctors in the area.  I will be calling them this week to talk about what I need and then make an appointment and go from there.  Please pray that my anxiety will not climb during this proc.ess and that things can be taken care of quickly and correctly and that the financial aspect of it can be worked out.  Since we don't have insurance the financial piece alone causes extra stress.

Guess that's all from here in D'Hanis, TX.   If anyone has any questions about what we are doing or you have suggestions on things we should make sure we see while here please don't hesitate to drop us a line.

Me from A to Z

I, Alice,  saw this meme on  FabGrandma and  decided I wanted to play along.

More About Me, Alice,  A to Z! 

A. Age: 53

B. Bed size: Queen.  We removed the little foam pad that was in the RV and put our regular queen mattress and a temperpedic topper on our bed.

C. Chore you dislike: cleaning the bathroom

D. Dogs: used to have one and we miss Charlie Brown.  Tried to talk Ron into getting another one a couple of weeks ago but he said no. :(

E.  Essential start to your day: Quiet time with the Lord

F. Favorite color: Purple

G. Gold or silver: Either or

H. Height: 5′7"

I. Instruments you play(ed): clarinet

J. Job title: Office Manager, but the best title is Wife, Mom & Grammy

K. Kids: Jamie 33, Suzanne 27, Opal 3, Brandon 31, Danalyn 28, Max 12, Christopher 3, and Treyson due on 5/27

L. Live: In a 37' class A motorhome, currently in D'Hanis, TX.

M. Mom’s name: Margaret Jean, went by Peggy

N. Nicknames: Ali, Sweetheart, Grammy

O. Overnight hospital stays: several: 9 eye surgeries, appendectomy, gallbladder, total hysterectomy, 4x for emotional issues ~ glad to say I am now truly healed from the emotional and physical abuse from my childhood.  If you have questions I am happy to share.

P. Pet peeves: people who don't use their signals when turning, people chewing gum with their mouths open and smacking while eating

Q. Quote from a movie: ummm...can't think of any that come to mind
R. Righty or Lefty: Righty.

S. Siblings: 2 biological sisters and many siblings in the Lord, 2 besties ~ one on the east coast and one on the west coast

T. Time you wake up: On work days 6 to 7 a.m., days off - sleep in when I can

U. Underwear: Definitely!!!

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Haven't really found any I don't like

W. What makes you run late:I try not to be late.

X. X-rays you’ve had: too many to count.

Y. Yummy food you make:Chicken Gumbo, Butta Soup & spaghetti

Z. Zoo Animal Favorites: Elephants and monkeys...love all the babies.

Hope you liked hearing more about me.  Feel free to copy and input your own answers.

Touring the Hill Country in Texas

We had such a great time on Monday.  Took a drive for about 4 hours.  The weather was beautiful, the scenery gorgeous and saw some interesting activities.  Hope you enjoy our drive through the Hill Country of Texas.

The sign on the front says "Waiting Station" -it is on the outskirts of Uvalde.

Made Ron drive around the block twice so I could get this picture...it is a May pole with different tea kettles.  Bet it looks good full of flowers.

John Nance Garner, Vice-president with President FDR.  He is buried in his home town of Uvalde.  One thing we found interesting, he died when he was 99 and his son died 11 months after him.  Garner's wife pre-deceased him by almost 25 years.

One of many beautiful homes we saw on our drive.

This one was built with different rockery.  To the right and in back there is a tree house just like it.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Uvalde.

Another view of the church.  The stained glass windows were gorgeous.

And they like their trees in Uvalde.  This one was in the middle of the road!

A close up of the tree in the road.

One of many beautiful gated entrances on our drive.

A group of buzzards/vultures.  They are huge!!!

Saw a small herd of dear in someone's yard.

Thought this was a great sign.  We decided we didn't want to go up their drive.

Another beautiful entry way.

This bull was right by the road next to this sign (a close up is below).  He stood perfectly still

One of many crosses we saw along our ride.  Many of them have bouquets of flowers placed by them.

Another gated entrance.

Don't know if you can see the horse/mule on the post. 

These mules were behind the fence of the above entrance.  They cane right up to the gate.  I thought of trying to pet one but changed my mind when I saw their teeth...big and lots of them.

Another beautiful cow.

One of the large homes behind those gated entrances.

We cracked up when we saw this sign on a back road.  We never thought of renting our pigs out...we just sold them.

A big eagle...the first one we have seen in a long time.

Look at those horns....maybe we should get a set and put them on the front of the motor home.  What do you think?

Another beautiful long horn.

A sign at the end of a private road.  We have seen many beautiful signs by gated entrances.

A garden scene by a driveway entrance...there was another one just like it on the other side of the drive way.

I thought these were bluebonnets but Ron said no, because they were purple.  Not sure what they are but I wouldn't mind having these growing in my yard ... that is if I had one.

Hope you enjoyed are drive today.

Wild Hog Festival - Sabinal, TX ~~ 3/27/2011

Isn't this guy just the cutest!!!

What a fun time we had in Sabinal, TX for the Wild Hog Festival.  Had deep fried mushrooms and a BBQ pork sandwich.  And shared sweet tea and lemonade.

The mushrooms tasted great but were pretty pricey.

Ron showing off his new hat....pretty dashing I say.

Just lovin these wild hogs.

Sat next to a family that had four members of their group participating in the Catch a Wild Hog contests. The contestants (two to a team)  have to corner, catch and put the hog into a burlap bag and then drag it across the line.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Aren't these babies cute?

And this one was our favorite!!!

All the little kids who grabbed or touched a wild baby hog.

Another view of the kids who were busy trying to catch a wild baby hog.

And this is Jacob showing off his blue ribbon!

These two boys won their division.

A mom and her son-in-law trying to get that darn hog into the burlap bag.

And this is Cassidy & Alexa...they won 2nd place in their division.

Texas ~ One Month Today!

Can't believe it was just one month ago today we pulled into the Lone Star Corral.  On one hand it seems like we just got here and on the other it feels like this has been our life for quite awhile.

We are asked often how we are doing?  We are doing great ~ other than me being sick right now.  We are really liking our jobs.  No two days are ever the same.  Yet we are pretty much getting into a routine.  Our work days usually start between 6:15 and 6:30 a.m.  I have been able to have my quiet time with the Lord.  Right now I am doing a Bible study on James with a group of women called "Good Morning Girls."  We connect via Facebook each day.  I think I am the only one without young children at home.  

By the time I am done with my quiet time, Ron is up and getting ready for work.  We then have breakfast and spend about 20 minutes on the computer checking emails, Facebook or blogs.  Then we walk to work.  It is all of 25'.  We each have things that need to be done each morning.  Ron goes and reads the water meters and drives through the park checking to make sure that things are well in the park.  I get the file drawers unlocked, get the till ready for the day, check work emails, check the calendar to see if there is something specific that needs to be done that day and open the office window.  Ready for business.   Throughout the morning I answer the phone, work on projects and visit with different residents and guests as they come into the office.

And then it is lunch time.  We close the office window from Noon to 2:00 p.m.  We take lunch from Noon to 1:00 p.m.  Sometimes we make a run to the post office or the bank at lunch.  After lunch we head back to work.  Me in the office and Ron around the property.  Some of the projects Ron has worked on is organizing the different sheds, cleaning out the Manager's shed so we could put our stuff in it.  He has done some plumbing, mowed lawns, and checked for a water leak.  Ron says working here at the park is like working at our own place ~ making sure that everything is in working order, doing yard work, making sure the tools, lawnmowers, and the tractor are in working order.  He is definitely enjoying himself.  Yesterday he was mowing lawns and one of the gals came in and I mentioned I had been trying to reach Ron on the radio.  Judy said he was out mowing the lawn and had the biggest smile on his face.  Yes, I would say he is enjoying his work.

My time in the office in the afternoon is more of the same from in the morning.  Yesterday one of my projects was to organize some of the files.  I ran out of hanging file folders so that project is on hold till Tuesday once my order from Office Depot comes in.  I am enjoying my work in the office and figuring out where things are and where they go.

When we first started here at Lone Star Corral we decided we wanted Sunday & Monday as our days off.  But we are finding out that a lot things happen on Saturday's in the neighboring communities and not so much on Sunday's so beginning April 9th & 10th we will be taking Saturday & Sunday's off. 

We continue to look for a church to attend while here.  We know we will find right where the Lord want's us.  And that it will take time...patience, something I am not very good at. We are making friends here and that is good.  We were invited to play Mexican train last night but I was not feeling very well.  I was thinking it was allergies but now believe I just have a bad cold.  I am coughing, wheezing and just feel plain crummy.  So today we are laying low.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for me.  Guess that's all for now.

Our First Three Weeks at Lone Star Corral in PICTURES

Thought some of you would like to see some of the things we have seen since our arrival here in D'Hanis, Texas.  For ease in showing you the pictures I have put them into collages.  Let me know what you think of collages vs individual pictures.

 

Let's begin with this one.

1.  Ron busy at work in the office.

2.  The view from our home here at Lone Star Corral.

3.  We have never seen a pickle packaged like this - tasted great!!

4. & 5. Are of a little town we came across on our way home from San Antonio last week.  The "clubhouse" is a little brick building.  We can say we have never seen quite a clubhouse like this.

 

And this is D'Hanis State Bank.  The bank building was built in 1906 and became the bank in 1925 and has been in this spot since.  Inside there is a deer hanging on the wall.  The vault that is still used today is the same vault that was built in 1925 just with some added security measures.  The tellers actually sit behind the barred window openings.  Ron told me not to take any pictures because people get quirky when people "case" the joint.  So I asked and the tellers said go ahead, everyone new does. 

Opening an account at this bank was quite interesting.  Everything is done by paper, no, nope, no computers.  The bank closes at 4:30 p.m. so that one of the tellers can take the days transactions to Hondo (7 miles away) so that everything can be inputted into the computer system.  When I asked for some temporary checks I was handed 5 green checks that look like play checks.  I used them to pay some bills ~ sure hope they go through.

One evening we had blogging friends Don & Pidge join us in D'Hanis at Bill & Rosa's Cafe.  We were all amazed at the size of the soda pop's that arrived.  No refills needed here.

The inside of Bill & Rosa's Cafe.  On Saturday and Sunday they have different musicians come in to play & sing.  It is quite the fun place to go and spend time eating & visiting.

After working all week we joined Jerry & Jane in Dunlay, TX for a fish dinner.  Ron had catfish (that I snuck a few bites of) with fries and Texas green  beans.  He said they were pretty tasty.  I had cod & prawns with a baked potato and a green salad.  We arrived at Dunlay Market & Seafood Restaurant about 6:00 p.m. and left just before the restaurant closed at 10:00 p.m.  We laughed so hard at time I had tears running down my cheeks.  We look forward to getting together with Jerry & Jane as well as many other residents at Lone Star Corral.

We are enjoying our jobs here in D'Hanis and are getting into a schedule of sorts.  Each week I set our alarm for 15 minutes earlier than the week before.  We are wanting to get up at 6:00 a.m. so that I have time for my devotions & time with the Lord as well as get an half hour walk in before getting ready to go to work.  This week the alarm will be set for 6:15 a.m.  One more week and we will be getting back to our walking schedule.

Today we attended First Baptist Church of Hondo again.  It was a great service.  The sermon this week was about the same thing we heard last week at Church on the Hill.  You can read our observations and reflections of our first visits to both churches here.  But boy was the sermon today different from last week.  No theatrics just basic Bible teaching that we are heirs of the Lord.  And He loves us just for us, just as we are, just as He made us.

Next week we will be attending First Christian Church of Sebinal with Mike & Norma from here at Lone Star Corral.  We look forward to checking out another congregation here in the area.

Tomorrow we are having a stay-at-home day.  We need to do some cleaning, reorganizing, and the never ending job of laundry :)  Also need to get some stuff in the mail for an upcoming birthday boy as well as make some banana bread.  Bananas don't last but about a day here in the heat...will have to figure out what other fruit to eat that will last a little longer.