Back home in Texas

After a wonderful summer in South Dakota, it was great to be back home with family... and to see the kids, my Mom and grandkids - Kyleigh, Cohen & Abby Lu !










After numerous chores and catching up with mail, we started clearing more of the property - not only for the view, but also for fire break. BV cut & hauled...... and I hauled and burned. We've 7 acres.... might take a while longer!

From October thru January we worked at a deer lease near San Saba. After just parking the 5th wheel trailer at the house for a month.... we took it to the deer camp as our home base.

Our job was to cook, shop, keep everything stocked, clean up, dish's, laundry, etc.... we'd stay 3-4 days at a time, drive home to check the house & mail and then back to the lease.

When we first got there.... discovered an inside visitor.... no not this one, but a baby rattler ... so we were on the look out for others !

In the small kitchen, BV cooked all his "almost perfect" meals.... whether it was biscuits n gravy, roast n veggies, stuffed quail, fajitas & beans or his fabulous oven-baked mashed potatoes...... no one went hungry !Along with cooking and clean-up, we would video the deer as they came to the feeders, take folks to/from the deer blinds, set out corn or....

just enjoy the scenery...... and we had some gorgeous moments ! Sunsets, wildlife, thunderstorms & frozen fog....









....our 4 months included hard work, some long hours ... we're thankful for the opportunity !

Join us for our next adventure this summer.... at the end of March we will be taking on two volunteer assignments. April-May we will be at the Camas Wildlife Refuge near Rexburg, Idaho. From June-August we will be in the Rio Grande Nat'l Forest near Creede, Colorado.

This n that update

Well.... been home for two weeks and lots to do !!! No pictures of anything..... just an update for now. Had yard work, house work etc. We went to visit family and friends in Kerrville this week, took the trailer, stayed in KOA off Goat Creek Road. Played golf twice, visited with Roy & Mary, Ruth, Tom & Nell, went to dinner with BVs oldest brother Herb & Merlin at Guenther's last night and was able to even chat with Vicki & Cecil and Raymond & Mindy. Good to see everyone!

Hope something exciting happens I can take pictures of and post !

Last chapter in SD..... and on the road again !

Our last week in SD was a mixture of work, playing golf and getting ready for the trip back home to TX. BV helped Tim with some concrete work around the aquarium and Jac finished the photo display in the hatchery ... it was an exciting project.... ending up with 60 transparencies with photos showing & documenting various aspects of hatchery operations.

Other fun activities included a nice lunch with the staff at their local Mexican food restaurant; an afternoon social at the trailer complete with bbq pheasant - courtesy of Craig - salsa, chips and refreshments; one last golf outing (BV still beat me, oh well but I played better); picking fresh sweet corn; canning & freezing the final garden gifts and just visiting !

Everyone hunts and fishes, but Jeff has the arsenal in his basement...... just had to take a picture of all the elk horns ! The full sets, like the one BV is holding are actual elk he has taken.

See the temperature ??? The morning we left - Aug 31 - it was 42 when we got up. Would you believe BV turned on the heat in the trailer....... it warmed up tho and by the time we drove out it was 54 !!!

So..... out of our summer RV spot we pull and on the road

we are again.... this time back to TX ! What a fabulous experience..... thank you ... to everyone at Gavin's Point !

Since we were psyched to get on the road..... we drove 642 miles that day....... crazzzzzyyyyy !!! Stayed in Norman, OK in the parking lot of the Riverwind Casino. Of course, played some but didn't win or lose. Tues got up and drove only 100 miles to Thackerville, OK just on the TX border. This was a planned stop at a new RV site. Wed we drove on home..... hot, hot hot !!!

All is well at home, got the 5th wheel backed up behind the house ... truck was tired and wanted to rest !!! Next few days unpacked, did chores, yard work etc. Had a bbq with the neighbors as they welcomed us back and we all got caught up on the news. The margaritas were yummy... I had more than just one..... then on Sunday we had a get together with my Mom, the girls n guys & grandkids at the house. Was great to be with them all..... Kyleigh, Cohen & Abby all are growing and we hope when it gets cooler to get them out with us camping !!

Next year ?????? Who knows ?????? Utah, Idaho, Colorado ............ we're already checking out our options and getting info from various locations !!!

We have some plans & activities for the fall & winter..... so while I won't be posting a lot of blogs..... stay in touch and check back periodically.

Final fling in South Dakota

One of our last weekends in SD and we celebrated in fine style at Riverboat Days in Yankton...... it was an action packed few days. Those from small towns know that festivals center around fireworks, parades, music, food n fun. Friday night we went down to the park, cruised around and sat right on the Missouri River bank looking across to Nebraska for the fireworks ..... awesome view with a cool evening - we even had to wear jeans & jackets !

Saturday got up early for the parade and it had everything & everyone !!

We spent the entire day doing the do - saw one band "Brule", that played native american rock opera- it was simply amazing and nothing like we've ever heard. Loud w/ drums, electric guitar, keyboard, native drum and a modern flute played like the old indian wooden flutes. We went to see them twice.... and they had traditional dancers for several songs. Need to check their website..... and they will be having a public TV spot on Aug 31 at 8pm called Hidden Heritage.

Of course we visited the clydesdales, the antique tractors & equipment .... the whole enchilada .... or rather bratwurst, burgers & corndogs! That night we stayed for the main event - The Dweebs - a family band that was loud & fabulous !! Sat in bleachers for 1st set... then stood in front of stage for 2nd set with all the other crazy people. Music was a great mix of here n now and yesteryear.... a combo of the Village People, Janis Joplin, Kid Rock, Willie, Johnny Cash,Michael Jackson, Beatles, Alabama...... well you get the drift !!!

Let's see..... got home 11ish.... early for night owls, but a grand day out on the town for us !!! We've a few more days left to volunteer, finish up some projects and plan to leave out on Monday August 31 to head back to TX. Take our time. Oh yeah... we'll be bringing home a new 5th..... we traded in the 2000 Mirage for a 2009 Challenger by Keystone... got a heck of a deal and it is rigged for all season travel. Even has snow load roof trusses !!! Yeah... like BV is ever going to be caught in snow... let alone anything that even appears to be winter....... I'll havepics of it next blog. Until then.... see you soon !!!!

3 months & 3 weeks

It's hard to believe we've been gone almost 4 months !! What a grand adventure it has been.... and since the heat is still sooooo bad in TX.... I'm not sure I want to return back too soon !!! Below are some pics around the Hatchery.... a peek inside the

aquarium, looking down two of the rainbow trout

raceways....

.... and viewing one of 36 outside rearing ponds, this is a small one, the large ones are 1-1/3 acre in size. BV and I split our time working in the aquarium & gift shop, hanging out at the hatchery building, talking with visitors at the raceways, giving tours around the complex, etc. Then there is grounds maintenance, taking pics or whatever else they need.

Garden is still producing as you can see..... we went out for pizza the other day.... hate to say it, but yummmmm.... tasted good !!!! And there was no zucchini !!!!! Really tho - it has been good for us - my breakfast was cukes & cherry tomatoes with a side of cottage cheese. Believe this ???? Lunch today was fresh sweet corn on the cob...... dinner last night was zucchini, okra, tomatoes & cukes... and oh yeah...... a steak !

Tomatoes and more tomatoes ... sometimes I eat more off the vine than putting in the bag !!! Tried our hand at drying the big beefy and cherry .... here's what a set looked like just before dehydrating.
Noooo, this isn't us and noooo BV didn't grow the beard or change his hair color !!! We had a little bit of Sturgis in the area..... one of the rock bands "Go Figure" played at the park and drew quire an interesting mix of people. I enjoyed the music..... and BV ?? Enjoyed it enough that last Friday night a bunch of us went over to one of the local hangouts "CJs on the Lake"... had dinner and sat out on the patio to hear them again !!!

It's winding down around here..... the other volunteer couple leaves out tomorrow. We are thinking of leaving out the end of August to make our way back home first week of Sept. We'll keep everyone "blogged" if anything changes our mind.......

5th coolest summer on record !

Ok, I know it's hard to believe when ya'll in TX are sweltering in over 100 deg temps.. BUT... this is the 5th coolest summer on record for this area. On our way back from recent trip to Sioux Falls, came across a local dirt track... we were in our "summer" clothes...... no problem, we just decided to stop and take in the entertainment. Well..... saw everyone else in long pants, carrying jackets AND blankets. YEP !!! Got cool enough to have to bundle up, and of course we didn't prepare.... anyway, was fun.

BV can't seem to get away from concrete.... he's helping tie rebar to pour a section near the pumps. they also were doing a 2nd area by the metal building. Funny, but not funny ....when they were ready, ordered material & as they were pouring..
it came down a gully-washer rainstorm !! All the staff were there..... soaked... but saved the job !

Tried an experiment in the trailer..... and.....






it was successful ! Canned bread & butter pickles and dill pickles one day. It's a small space, but we got it done.

So far I've frozen okra, jalapeno & bell peppers. Will be making salsa soon , canning tomatoes
and attempting to dry onion & tomatoes. Oh and BTW..... the fresh sweet corn is just awesome !

Planes.... jets.... Blue Angels !

We drove out to Sioux Falls for the Airshow ... on the ground they had static displays and all the large military aircraft, fighter jets, support planes that you could go thru, see the equipment & armament; kids were soooo excited (I can see Kyleigh & Cohen having fun); in the air we saw great stunts by skilled pilots ... doing things planes aren't really meant to do ! We found a spot right near the runway - awesome views..

and then the Blue Angels performed. WOW, I had a hard time figuring out what photos to include. We saw them in Corpus years back....and couldn't wait to see them again.
Take a close look just above the crowd....

It's hard to visualize by one photo, but one of the last & most inspiring demo's was when the most modern F-22 fighter and an original WWII fighter flew together ... the best of the best...to salute all those in the military. Watching a jet that can break the sound barrier gear back & fly with the WWII jet..... was like a dance... tugged at your heart and brought tears to your eyes.

Our thanks & prayers to all those who have and are serving in the military .... at home & far away ....