Charlie, We're Not In Hill Country Anymore - #58

We departed Skyline Ranch three days ago with a mixture of sadness but excitement to be in adventure mode once again. We have a month of travel to look forward to before we reach home in Massachusetts. We appreciate the Skyliners who stopped over as we hooked up to leave with extra hugs and kind words - including owner Lou - which is high praise, coming from him. I really hope we have the opportunity to meetup with many of people we shared this wonderful winter. We will stay in touch through Facebook and the Skyliners community FB page.

Our first stop- northeast of Bandera - Bryan-College Station - the home of Texas A&M and our lovely friends, Joyce and Ed - whom we met at Skyline Ranch. As native Texans and former residents of this area, they have been wonderful hosts and tour guides. They are the very definition of "Southern Hospitality" and the epitome of kindness and generosity. As full-timers - Joyce and Ed are currently residing at a new, very nice RV park - Hardy's Landing in Bryan; we took our place next to them, once again.  It is a quiet, clean park with the most beautiful showers I have ever seen! The laundry room has beautiful, new frontloading Maytag machines that are free! I couldn't wait to wash my comforter and I will definitely be doing laundry once again before we leave. 

One of the first things I noticed as we traveled closer to Bryan was the change in landscape; the scrubby, dry terrain of Bandera County, transitioned to beautiful green grass with bursts of wildflowers decorating the sides of the road - including the famous bright Blue Bonnets and flaming red Indian Paint Brushes. The hills were replaced with flatter land where we could see for miles in the distance and at one point I said to Charlie - "We're not in hill country anymore".

 

We are having a fabulous time! Both Joyce and Ed have prepared some wonderful meals for us and Ed has driven us around everywhere! The guys went fishing at Somerville Marina while Joyce and I chatted away relaxing on the dock, watching the ducks and taking in the beautiful weather. We toured Texas A&M campus -  the largest university I have ever seen - and one of the largest (if not the largest) in the country! We visited a Buc-ees and Rattlesnake Pecan Farm (bought lots of goodies!) Today our plan is breakfast out and a visit to the Blue Bell Creameries Ice Cream Factory! Sounds like a perfect day to me! 

 

       Texas A&M

 

                           

All too soon, we leave tomorrow for Houston and then onward to Louisiana. We feel so lucky to have met Joyce and Ed; we look forward to meeting up with them again in the not too distant future; maybe in Massachusetts? This past winter has given us so many unexpected wonderful moments Charlie and I now share and talk about with great affection.

People, Places, and Things - #57

Our winter in South Central Texas has given us an opportunity to meet so many great, RV like-minded people. It is definitely the people that has made this trip as wonderful as it has been. We took a chance to spend the winter in Bandera; as I have said many times, it has been better than we expected!  From this, we have gained more confidence in ourselves to continue to take chances and experience more of what this RV life offers. We will definitely miss the Skyliners. To quote Bob Wells from Nomadland - "One of the things I love most about this life is that there is no final goodbye. We just say see you down the road. And I do - maybe a month or year or sometimes years, but I see them again". So, no goodbyes - I look forward to seeing everyone again - sometime, somewhere...

 

 

Our winter has not only been about meeting new friends but rekindling older relationships. Meeting up with my childhood friend Arlene and husband Jerrel whom I hadn't seen in 55+ years, visiting with Schwartz family Mark and Arlene - enjoying their hospitality and getting to know them better was wonderful! It was a great drive to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and opportunity to enjoy a tiny bit of Dallas. 

                                            

We have experienced the rustic beauty of Hill Country, so many little cowboy towns with western style architecture, some of the big cities of Texas - Austin, San Antonio, Dallas with history and notoriety.  (We will be stopping in Houston on our way home) We enjoyed the food - Bar-B-Que, Mexican - more authentic to this area. We have definitely enjoyed great quality steaks that just melt in your mouth! Grits and special blend bbq spices and sauces have now become a staple in our pantry!

                                                                                                                                                                   

                              

 

    

We have learned many new games as well! Mexican Train is my favorite; I even purchased a set to take home from a thrift shop in our area. We loved Card Bingo; we played Monday nights at the Rec/Rally Halls. Bean Bag has also been an enjoyable challenge for us- so much so that Charlie is planning to make the boards when we get home! These are experiences we take with us and will definitely share with family and friends.

 

I loved walking down to the river and the beauty of the majestic live oak trees, the sunsets in the evening, the herds of deer leaping through the scraggily terrain. I take all of this with us.

 

                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                   

We leave 17 days from today.  But it isn't an ending; a new adventure will be beginning! See you down the road.

A Few Of My Favorite Things - #56

 Everyone has favorite things which elevate how they feel. It may be a physical item that adds a little more comfort or security or coziness to your life.  Or maybe it's a movie you watch over and over, a song, or a book which uplifts your mood when you feel a little down. Or it can be as simple as going for a walk or chatting with a friend. I started thinking about the things that make me feel good.

-My blue camper slippers. I bought these on a whim years ago and thought they'd be perfect for hanging out in our travel trailer. With these colder days, they certainly have been wonderful! I also love the color, the bit of bling and fuzziness!

 -Our fleece blanket.  This is a love relationship with the whole family, especially Minnie. The blanket  is soft and oh so cozy and big enough for all three of us to get under!

 

-Our fairy lights. When it's dreary out, or just nighttime, this is a bright spot inside our trailer. Just the right ambience. It runs on battery too!

                                    

-Our coffeemaker and special mugs. When you love your coffee, it is an indispensable appliance!  And what better way to enjoy then in hand-crafted mugs made by our friend Donna. I always think of her when we are enjoying our morning elixir! 

                                                         

-Daily walks & podcasts. I love to walk. It makes me feel good in so many ways. Although I prefer to walk alone so I can go at my own pace, I am actually never alone. I listen to one of my favorite podcasts - Fit, Healthy and Happy.  It would seem unlikely that two 26 years old young men, Josh and Kyle - narrating the podcast, would offer so much information, positivity, and encouragement to someone of my status in life - but they absolutely do! I learn so much from them and they help me feel more positive about myself.  

-The sun. I love the sun. I love the heat, I love the light and how it makes me feel, especially after a row of overcast, dreary days. Is there anything better than waking up to the morning sun?

 -And I love being outside. It is probably why RVing appeals to us as much as it does.  We spend most of our time outdoors breathing in fresh air, watching the beautiful birds and wildlife, admiring the trees, watching the sky. So much beauty from Mother Nature. There is nothing better!

 

  

-Hallmark Movies - Yup! A guilty pleasure. When the sun goes down, I like nothing better than to be entertained by a good old-fashioned happy ending. The world can sometimes be a sad, scary, miserable place - I chose to live in a Hallmark Movie.

Needless to say, my children, grandchildren, Charlie, Minnie and my family and friends all make me happiest. They are most important and without all of them, my life would be very isolated indeed. All these other little favorite things wouldn't matter at all. I feel very fortunate and really appreciate the life I have by choices made and events in my life that have led me down this road. The road we travel is never without its potholes. If you can learn to navigate, be open to change course and be excited about a new direction even if not your original plan - then life can be a wonderful, fulfilling adventure. It has been for me.