Summer is coming.... Time for family and Friends

Yes, I am growing hair where I can...

It is the end of May and I have completed a social milestone. I have completely met ALL of Daisy's family now including her oldest nephew's fiancee. (I will be attending that wedding in November.) 

Lindsey, Frank, Ricka, Cliff, Laura and Ann are the younger members of the family in this photo and Dan wasn't able to attend

To meet this last bunch I traveled to Kansas City to see a music choral performance that Frank and Lindsey starred in.  We went to church in the am, had a quick lunch and then back to that same church for the concert. This concert wedded dramatic acting of Shakespeare's prose with choral  music.  A very dramatic linkage that was most entertaining.
We had a family dinner that evening featuring KC Bar-b-Que  of blackened beef tips, spareribs and a unique presentation of sausage that was in a loaf form and sliced thin like sandwich meat.  Of course there was slaw, potato salad and a corn pudding mash to round out the meal.

Now it is my turn for family visits. The next day Daisy and I went to Manhattan, Kansas about 3 hours away. There I was able to introduce her to Shannon and the guys. She had a gift for Josiah and Levi of Va Tech athletic clothes (like Pop-Pop wore she told them) that the boys liked so much they wore them to bed. Josiah decided right away that he needed to teach Daisy the correct way to throw a Frisbee and occupied her time while Levi and I worked on his swing set  and pitching technique.

"Now you hold your arm like this Daisy... and throw hard"

"Swing Faster Pop-Pop...."

 

Pop-Pop, Siah, Levi and Shannon...I am blessed for sure...

Daisy and I had driven separately from KC. I left Shannon's to head North 370 miles to Sioux Falls, SD to renew my driver's license. I am still a legal resident of SD and had to be physically there for this renewal. Daisy returned to Missouri to revisit her brother Don, and sister Mary Lee. 

Several of these African drummers live here

Yes Eureka has an Ozark Africa Festival

In early May I attended the ARTrageous Parade in Eureka Springs, Arkansas as reflected in these pictures. It is truly a unique community. Its  monthly festival themes highlight that uniqueness.

These two ladies are both named June. They are the city Librarians no less. One is 83 and the other is 79. They tell me they never miss a party and thought I might be fun !

Yes we have belly dancers too. 

Margo the Queen Clown

There is no lack of color and colorful people in these local parades.

This bug went around spreading pollen

This last couple of weeks have been pretty eventful for this region. Tornadoes, flooding and too numerous deaths.  I was in SW Joplin just 3 days before the devastation there. Roads around here are washed out in places. Just recently, I helped my friends  Rick and Darlene remove furniture from their basement just in case. As of now the water has stopped 2 feet from entry.

Panoramic view from my Deck

I have renters coming this Memorial Weekend so I am in the campground staying in my house on wheels. For the most part I will be living in the RV this season and using the house for WIFI  and hot tubbing sessions. I am planning this being my last season having the house on the vacation rental market.

Anyway, bye for... now!

Shannon and her 'Boys' in Arkansas

Mr Levi and domino stacking

Josiah at his best

On Good Friday the Miskowskis came to visit this old man. It was fantastic. I was finishing up the Spring prep work on the house for rental when they turned in the driveway. This was a good reason to celebrate with their visit. I was a little concerned in that the weather forecast was for a series of strong thunderstorms on a daily basis that might keep us house bound. I had already been told by 5 year old Josiah that he wanted to go to the lake and skip rocks again like I had taught him before! Little 2 year old Levi did not have any preferences.  He wanted to do whatever his big brother did on the "big Wa-wa (lake)".  (Josiah was my translator).

Of course Levi was very shy about meeting me at my real house until Josiah decided  to break the ice by playing pile on Pop-pop and wrestle. So, when ever I was on my hands and knees the boys were on me.  They liked to tickle and be tickled.
And where you might you ask were the parents during these turbulent and noisy times? Letting grandpa have quality time while they chilled! They are addicted to their iPhone. (I might want one too!)

I promised the boys that they could help me do two things on Saturday.  Yep, since the Easter Bunny was coming and there needed to be an egg hunt we had to color eggs. But to minimize possible coloring accidents, I limited the area of creativity to the stainless steel sinks. The hardest thing to monitor was that Levi wanted to and did stick his fingers into the dyes and wipe and drip on the next available item, people, floors and counter tops.

After we had fun doing that I had them help me make the Easter desert. My favorite is a banana-strawberry pudding with vanilla wafers. Levi did very well at placing the cookies side by side using the formula: one for the dish and one for my mouth.  Josiah liked to use the throw-the-sliced-berries-and-bananas-into-the-bowl-in-piles method.  I was informed that his way was better than the layering method Pop-pop wanted to use! It all tasted great in the end.

Yummy

After these two hands-on activities,  I needed a nap in the rocker and Levi decided I needed company and a drink!

"Suck it Pop-pop" he says.

We all had a great time attending church, playing games and eating a ham dinner that I prepared in the crockpot with yams and the classic green bean casserole and baked rolls as fixings.  We did however spend almost all the time inside due to the 16 inches of rain we got during their visit.  They left on Monday morning and by the time they got home flash flood warnings were abundant here. My house is safely above the flooding zone.

Note these pictures.

This is the day after we all stood inside this fishing structure

We stood and skipped rocks 8 feet below this level

A good time was had by all. Shannon called to tell me that when the family drove up to their house Monday afternoon, Levi cried and declared to his parents that he would rather be at Pop-pop's house.  I am smiling!

Houston..we have had bud break...the leaves are out!

Arkansas Early Spring Greetings from the Hot Tub!

It is a week before Easter and lots has happened since my last post. But I am really excited about what is going to happen this week. Josiah, Levi, Shannon and Matt are coming to visit Pop-Pop (that's me).

Notice Levi peeking!

Josiah is excited about coming to grandpa's Real House and not the House on Wheels (his words).  Matt and Shannon are in the process of getting ready to move to Alabama and I am excited that they are making the time to visit me.  I am hoping for good weather for park activities and am planning egg coloration fun stuff. Shannon is probably excited that she will not have to plan and cook an Easter meal.  Matt is looking to get away for a respite.  So for a few days my house will entertain and be their haven.

Now back to Chip's happenings since the last posting.

Green everywhere. In early March there was nada.

Vinca flowers attracts butterflies and  bees

Spring has truly sprung here... along with thunderstorms and associated hail and deadly tornadoes.  None of the recent fatalities occurred near here and my prayers go out to those who suffered personal loss. Along with deep cleaning the real house, I am redoing the landscaping at the front. 300 square feet of commercial grade weed fabric and 8 cubic yards of chocolate river rock. I am nearly done. (Hurray for the hot tub)

Healthiest my Vinca has ever been

No need to weed here! 6" minus pebbles!

Eureka Springs is build on a hillside. Cresent Hotel at top.

Downtown Eureka Springs. Notice Bike Cop

Eureka Springs itself has also blossomed with colors and planned convention activities from UFO gatherings to Hill Country Music and Biker rallies.  Bearded street musicians in bib overalls and colorful funky hats and skirts roam the store fronts with open music cases for tips. There is no flat spot to be found it seems. All the buildings conform to the land shape and space available. The town as well as its people are a crazy collection of eclectic artists, old hippies, musicians, intellectuals and good salt-of-the-earth common people. I like it!

Jim&Marilyn-Chip&Daisy-Don-Ricka&MaryLee&Rick

 Jim&Val-Great next door neighbors

My life was brightened with a visit from Daisy. I met her in the Fall at my 40th college reunion at Va Tech where she is on staff.  We hit the fun spots. I introduced her to some of my neighbors and friends.  We then took a short day trip to Missouri where she introduced me to some of her family and friends too.

Here Daisy, Darlene and I help Rick celebrate his 6X birthday in my sunroom

Notice redbuds at Lake of the Ozarks

The other highlight of this past month is that I made my first quiche ever. And it was very good. I had spinach, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, turkey bacon and swiss cheese in it. A man quiche.  Yum! My thanks to my friends Lee and Jay for feeding me lots of that fare this past winter. You were my inspiration.

I have several great food recipes that I have 'found' while on the road. I can post the recipes?

 My next blog will have several pictures of Shannon/Matt and the boys. I am just giving you a heads ups. I am a proud grandpa who is thankful for the many blessings that this stage of life brings. I am going to enjoy them all. It sure feels good to be on the road to contentment.

Sunset view from my deck. God is good!

Talk about an environmental shock!

Feet in the sand pic for Arlene



The isolated beaches of South Padre Island



On March 1 I left the western end of the Rio Grande Valley on my Spring time journey northward. My destination is Eureka Springs Arkansas with a few day layover in my favorite city in Texas-San Antonio.

Several days before I left I may my final journey to the beaches of South Padre Island and to Mexico for one last fiesta.



Cervesa mi amigos!



I said goodbyes to my new found snowbird family.  It was 86 degrees when my Ford, hitched again to my home on wheels, headed out from the Valley on my 903 mile journey to Arkansas.  It was an easy 216 mile trip to SA where I held up in familiar spaces with people I know. My thanks to Dave and Twyla, Jerry and Jackie, Jim and Mary, Mike and Mickey, Rita and Bob for hosting me again. I will return in late Fall. 

 It was a special joy to reconnect with Jane and Ed, classmates from Va Tech, that I have seen last October at a 40th college reunion in Virginia.



There was a 10 degree temperature difference here than down in the Valley. But the sun was out as I departed SA with 76 degree promises of warming weather for the day there. As I passed through Dallas-Ft Worth a shadow of darken clouds shrouded the horizon where I was going.  Oklahoma City and the Fire Lake Casino was my stop planned for the night. Dave told me that they have full hookup sites that are free to Casino Player card holders.  Sounded good to me! All I had to do was go and register for a players card.  Normally I only travel 300 miles when pulling. However I wanted to make this a two day trip. The roads were dry.  The winds were light and on my tail.



After 503 miles I pull into the Fire lake lot and found the 16 RV sites. Remember that I left SA wearing shorts and Tee-shirt.  When I stepped out of the truck to back into my site, the temps were now in the low 40s with strong NW winds. My first thoughts were I am still going further North in the morning! I am questioning my sanity. I hooked up to electric only and glad I did. with wind chill the outside temps were in the low 20s. I ate, turned on the furnace and also managed to make a small donation to the slot machine gods before retiring for the evening. 



 The next morning I dug out my long pants and winter wear for the final leg to Arkansas. This final 225 mile stretch was marred by moderate head winds and a very bumpy I-40 roadway. Upon arrival in the Holiday Island Campground I discovered shifted and broken dishware (minor) and opened door cabinets with spilled contents.  The water is not on yet due to freezing temps but the electric is. It doesn't matter in that for the next 5 weeks I will be staying in my house doing cleaning, painting and maintenance. They say that an early Spring is coming.....I sure hope that groundhog was right!



West Spring time view

North Spring time view





NW Spring time view. Budding just starting!



Having Fun in the Rio Grande Valley

Janet, Laurie, Linda and Mary Ann---Chip and The Temp-Etts

Shades of college days....having fun in public! During the 60s I was a member of a college soul/rock/R&B band called the Cheshire Cats. I did vocals and enjoyed performing cover music from professional artist and artist groups. One song in particular was my favorite-'My Girl' by the Temptations. What this has to do with my winter stay here in the valley is that I went on a comeback tour.  Well, a mini tour.  We held a talent show at the park and I revived the old days my performing this all time popular number again.  This time my backup music was canned and my back up group was composed of four great women from the park. I did the vocals live and choreographed classic Temptation steps for the ladies.  We worked hard and placed second amongst the fifteen acts in the show. It was a blast! But, I will tell you that having to deal with a truck load of variable estrogen for 6 days was a memorable experience.

I got a call from my friend Fran saying she had an extra ticket to the Ballet Folkorico at the University of Texas Pan American.  This ballet featured live Mexican music performed by an energetic student dance company dressed in very colorful costumes. The nearly two hour show featured chanting, mariachi, fast footwork and swirling dresses of various native Indian, Spanish and Mexican cultures. There was on particular presentation in which the music and dance blended the indigenous cultures of Spanish, Cuban and African influence. It was high energy with a soulful influence.  Wow! I for sure will seek this dance ensemble out in future visits.Thanks Fran!

I was reminded of the timeline today in church.
This Sunday was 'Winter Texas Appreciation' Day. Pastor Denice recognized all of us adopted Texans that serve and worship in this congregation during the winter. A luncheon was prepared for us by the resident worshipers. But I must say that having a church home, when on the road, blesses me as well.

Daytime temperatures for the last week have been in the 80s and forecast to remain that way for a few more days.  I am now looking at the calendar and selecting those last warm weather activities I want to do while prepping for the road.  I have a short list.  All is subject to change as usual! Stay tuned.