Thanksgiving in Luckenbach

We had a great meal, sort of an organized potluck dinner to benefit a great cause. About 100 people there, like a big family.
We were taken right in, as is always the case in small town Texas.
We posed for pictures on "Shotgun" for a donation.














This is Shotgun's owner posing for pictures...he was an absolute card who made us laugh from the moment we met him.



















there was lots of professional performers, but at the end of the evening it just became a little jam circle.
the lady on the right sang a son for Mona.













We sat with Charlie Bishop and family.
Charlie has a friend in Canada by the name of Ian Tyson...he asked us if we knew him.
By the end of the night he gave us a signed CD and invited us to move our trailer to his ranch for a party...we plan to do that on our way home in March.
His music site is charliebishopmusic.com

Road trips in the Hill Country

This rooster came up and nibbled at my fingers.....
Below is a picture of Mona looking at another rooster who is checking out a hen of a different colour....the guitars giveaway the location, Luckenbach Texas, home of Waylon and Willie and the boys (if that means nothing to you, you missed out on the seventies and outlaw country music)

Riverwalk San Antonio

The Riverwalk is a fantastic place...2 miles long with wonderful gardens, buildings and patios.

















This lady is only 14 years old and getting pictures done for her debut....a Mexican tradition.

Her actual party will be in March, she is just getting the portrait done today.










Willie loves a patio by the water....and we all love a good deal.
We got 2 margaritas and some loaded nachos for $8.00 at this patio....so good that we came back after our walk for 2 more!

Why we like Blanco....

I posted a bunch of pics last year about this place so you can see more by paging down. But here are a couple more....






Great motorcycling, no matter WHICH way you go from our park. Roads are paved and frost heaves are UNKNOWN.














A new feature in Google Earth...you can select a place and email it to others (or yourself) as a picture or link.
this is the park we are in...small and quiet.




The river contains a neat little swimming pool. It may be hot enough to go in this afternoon....

Friday Night Lights

Football is big in Texas and I took up the chance to see the "Friday Night Lights" for myself. The "Blanco Panthers" are a very successful team with a huge following. The fans must have numbered about 500, which is amazing for a town of 500.
Here are some of my observations.....

this picture is of a blow-up panther that the team runs through to begin the game. Quite a labour and expense for a small town....for about 30 seconds of utility!






Here is the game at its most interesting....Blanco won.
















These ladies were sitting behind me...they were not the only ones wearing their kids name on their sweater. Just an indication of how proud the parents are that their kid made the team...and how much pressure is on the kids.












It was a magical night...about 70 farenheit and a full moon shining down on the field...in mid-November!

Doug Frederick, 1932-2008

My father-in-law, Mona's Dad, passed away on Oct. 23 2008.


Doug is missed already. He was a unique person who cared deeply for us and the feelings were reciprocated.
Doug was a dairy farmer who's live was built around the family and the farm. I think he felt the family fed the farm, and the farm fed the family.









He was lucky to live near all of his kids and all of his grandchildren. We all had the opportunity to spend lots of time with him, and I happy that all of my family took advantage of that opportunity.

















Mona regularly cut her Dad's hair. Sometimes barber bibs were hard to find....














The last kiss from his only Great-grandchild, Hannah Brooke Reed.


















September and the last fishing trip...with his oldest grandchild, Chris Presley.










We are glad that we got lots of time with Doug before he passed on. He had 75 good years and he earned the respect of all who knew him.

Rest easy Doug....now the roads and the price of gas are someone else's worry!

Halloween with Hannah

Pumpkin carving is a team effort.




















The purple dino getting ready to take on the neighbourhood.














Last treat is from Grampa Will








Halloween is only once a year so a girl has to dress up twice...this is Cinderella in the trailer doorway.

Our new home on Wolfe Lake, Nipissing

Front view from the lake...it is a little messy right now (under construction)








The view from the road in. Every room has a walk-out.

The view from the kitchen looking up to the 2nd floor loft.











Looking down from the stairs.

this was one of our first family dinners (unfortunatley Colin was missing and Will is taking the picture)

A sunrise from the deck.














The same view from the master bedroom.

Guess who's feet????







Hint: feet owner is below at sunset on the deck

Pictures from Rio Rico AZ

These are all shots from our lot. We have been here since Feb. 14 and plan to stay until April 8 or so.

We just LOVE this place.


























Chris's visit...Chris came for a few days, all too short!



Mona is on the phone with Bev, just look at the sky and moon!
















Snow day! We have had snow on Feb. 15 and March 15. Two days later the temp is 80 f, so we can't complain!

this is how we shortcut to the interstate, we drive ACROSS the Santa Cruz river.

There is a plan to build a bridge...

the good life in Kino!

Attention Golfers! You could play this lovely course in Kino Bay for only $5 per day, unlimited rounds.
The story is that a few gringos threw in a few bucks 5 years ago and built this lovely course for an incredible $8,000 for 9 holes!












If you don't like golfing, how about clamming for free? Here Mona is hard at work....and Will and our friend Gisippe (sp?) toast the morning with some Tequila provide by G at 9:30 in the a.m. Tough life.












After the clamming comes the work....here Mona and Larry and Melissa (our new friends from Oregon) shuck the clams....we had buckets and they were small clams! And yes, we both ate our first clams.








Vendors come thru the park daily. Here is the Veggie man, great produce and a really nice chap.








Tony is nicknamed "smiles". He sells intricate boxes made by Indians 500 miles south of here. Mona is picking out next year's Christmas presents.








Last but not least, another great Kino sunset after another sunny day at the beach.