Happy New Year!

I have a lot of updating to do so had better get started. Christmas Eve was spent with 12 friends who went to the Presbyterian Church for the candle light service. I do that every year and really enjoy it. Christmas day was spent with good friends Anne & Scotty, Jim & Linda. We had a non traditional meal at Hyashi Hibachi [like Bennihana] where Dan & I had filet mignon prepared at our table. It was sensational. I had some left over which I took home. I think Dan thought I would share, but with filet, it is every man for himself! I enjoyed it almost as much the next day. When we got back to the park we stopped and had delicious homemade desserts with John & Deanna, Dave & Karen, Pat & Vern. We are lucky to have such outstanding cooks among our friends. After stuffing myself with carrot cake and pies, we headed home and counted our many blessings this Christmas season.

The park has a New Years Eve party but we elected to stay home. I was in the back of the motorhome watching TV when at 10pm I heard a noise in the front. Upon investigation, I found Dan snoring on the couch. So much for a wild New Years Eve. Even the many fireworks at midnight did not wake him up.

We have been riding our bikes more lately and enjoying it. When we got here the state park next door was completely closed due to flooding last summer from the hurricane. The water did a lot of damage and it was taking a long time for the water to recede and the mess to be cleaned up. Before Christmas they opened a small part of the roadway and it was so nice to be able to ride at least part of the way through the park. At Christmas they opened the entire roadway and although some of the trails and birding areas are still closed, it is wonderful to be able to ride as much as we want.

One day while riding in the state park we heard sirens that sounded very close. When riding out of the park there was a great commotion in the parking lot. A couple from Sydney, British Columbia had parked their RV and headed into the state park. Someone noticed smoke coming out of their RV and called the fire department. In no time at all the RV was completely consumed and a total loss. The couple had just sold their home, bought the RV new and were travelling around the country to decide on the next stage in their lives. They had a bunch of cash [which was salvaged] and passports [which were lost]. They are staying in cabins in our RV park until they can get all the mess straightened out. One of them is Canadian and one American so they will have to deal with both country's state departments to get passports renewed. What a huge hassle. There was a problem with their refrigerator causing a gas leak then a fire and explosion. The insurance is not contesting anything since it is a new vehicle but it is still a major inconvenience.

Birders are always looking for something rare and since this area is so close to Mexico, and since birds don't know anything about international borders, South Texas often gets strays from farther south. This time the bird is a black vented oriole and it has taken up residence in our RV park. There is one particular tree that it likes to get nectar from, the coral bean tree, and there are 3 in our park. Birders have been coming from all over the country to see this bird and the traffic is causing havoc in the park. This also happens to be the busiest season for the RV park, and the coral bean tree is at the busiest intersection. For a few days it was chaos until the bird decided to visit the other coral bean tree and the management figured out how to route traffic so everyone is happy.

Yesterday we ate at our favorite Chinese restaurant with friends Jerrie and Mike, Marcia and Dave. After coming home, I started sneezing, my nose running and a headache. I seldom get colds but the timing on this one stinks as it is only 4 days until we leave for our 11 day trip to Peru. I am loading up on cold stuff and taking it easy so it does not spoil our trip. Our trip is a birding trip [of course] which we have been looking forward to. Will give you more details when we get home.

Dan has a partial plate with 3 front teeth which he keeps in all the time. Yesterday one of the teeth fell out [he was eating Fritos....I didn't hit him....honest]. We thought it would be easy to find someone to glue it back in but he couldn't get an appointment until Monday. I forget about it until he smiles and then he looks like a hillbilly! Can't wait until Monday. Thank goodness it did not happen in Peru.

We have had great weather this year, until the past couple of days when we have been forced to stay inside. However, considering last year when the whole winter was crummy, we can't complain.

This is harvest season for the citrus crops down here and I have been taking advantage of a plentiful supply right from the farm, at great prices. Dan asked me what I was going to do when we leave here and have to go back to full price! Not looking forward to it.