Winter in Texas is quickly drawing to a close. Although the
calendar says the end of March, the weather is still chilly, foggy, and not a
bit like Spring. Monday and Tuesday were damp, chilly and definitely more like
a Texas winter day, with temperatures only in the low to mid-50s. However, there are still things of beauty that make us smile, like these flowers that we see while on our walks.
Healthwise, we are both feeling better. I’m attributing my
ailment of Sunday (yesterday) to allergies, and although I was still being
bothered with some congestion, I was much better. My voice had almost returned
to normal. Dick was still battling coughing and congestion from his bout with
bronchitis; his antibiotics had run out Sunday. What we really need is sunshine
and warm weather!
Rain came Wednesday, but also with warmer temps. It was
already over 60 degrees by 8 a.m. That afternoon we joined Bill and Carole,
Jamie and Ann, Jim and Patsy for Pegs and Jokers at the clubhouse. The women
took the men 2:1. Coolio! This was followed by happy hour, and the last dinner
of the season at the clubhouse: hotdogs, coleslaw, baked beans, chips, and
soda.
Thursday morning we woke to a cloudy but warm morning: 67
degrees at 7:30. The weather people said it would clear by noon, which it did. We
walked along Fulton Beach Road and through our RV park for about an hour that
morning. As we walked along the road, we noticed a stroke-impaired woman
walking, then noticed she lost her balance and veered into a ditch. Dick ran to
give her assistance, but she had made it back up to the road by the time we got
to her. Thankful she wasn’t hurt…just muddy and wet.
We certainly weren’t disappointed with our venture into
“birding” as we walked that morning.
Along Fulton Beach Road we saw a cormorant, blue herons, and the
ever-present egret. Then, as we strolled through the park grounds, we saw 9
spoonbills, more ducks, a blue heron, and turtles. They were all out enjoying
the day! And, here's a video of spoonbills feeding. We love watching them--they're so entertaining!
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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks |
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| Blue Heron |
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| Cattle Egret |
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| Looks like a loon, but it's a Double-Crested Cormorant with a fish |
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| Egret |
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| Guinea Fowl that Dick saw on a motorcycle ride this week |
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| Redhead ducks and Buffleheads |
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| Spoonbills |
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| Loggerhead Shrike |
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| Just one of the dozens of turtles gracing our ponds |
That afternoon, we played Pegs and Jokers yet again, with
Bill and Carole, and Jamie and Ann. Unfortunately for the gals, we could not
draw the right cards to give us any wins at all. We lost to the guys 4:0. Dang!
Friday morning dawned with heavy fog and 68 degrees, but the
sun did come out by 10 a.m. Was a perfect day to enjoy the day outside reading.
We were expecting friends Ron and Kathryn from Fredericksburg, Texas to join us
in the park some time that day, to stay for a few weeks. (We enjoyed dinner
with them at Moondogs a couple of weeks ago.) They arrived around 4:30, just as
we were enjoying happy hour at the clubhouse. They secured a spot directly across
from us, recently vacated by Bob and Sharon. So good to see them again!
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| Ron and Kathryn's 5th Wheel |
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| Ron with Jiggers |
That evening Dick and I met my cousin David (Minnesota) and
his wife Monica, and their friends Dave and Joan (also from Minnesota), at
Charlotte Plummer’s Restaurant on the water in Fulton, for dinner. What a treat to have
visiting family from Minnesota! David and Monica were down in “the valley” near
Dona, Texas visiting Monica’s parents who were wintering there. It was a short
visit, but sure was fun!
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| L to R: Cousin David and wife Monica, Joan and Dave, me and Dick |
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| Dessert at Charlotte Plummers: Chocolate Silk Pie |
The sun was shining brightly Saturday morning, with
temperatures already in the 60s by 8 a.m. No fog—no humidity! We walked along
Fulton Beach Road for about 40 minutes, but saw only an egret. When we returned,
we visited with Ron and Kathryn for a while during the park’s craft sale that
morning. Kathryn was happy--she bought a couple pair of earrings.
That afternoon, we spent time on our patio with Steve and
Karen (Wisconsin). They were getting things packed up for their departure on
Monday. It’s so good to make lasting friendships; we’ll see them in the fall
when we all return to Rockport.
That evening Dick had to go to the office to do a bit of
work. When he was returning to the camper after dark he came upon some deer
(there were at least 3) walking through the park. Wish he could’ve gotten a
photo.
Sunday was another beautiful day. The sun was shining; there
was a slight breeze…beautiful. We attended the 8:30 church service; the
message, taken from John 17, was on the prayers of Jesus and how his prayers
focused on giving, sending, and sanctifying. The bottom line is that those who
reflect the unity Christ prayed about in this scripture, are those who are
consecrated to his purpose. Here’s a link to the message: http://fbcrockport.net/online-sermons/
After church we had breakfast at Caroline’s Turtle Bay Café.
Guess I needed another corned beef hash fix! And, Dick needed a bacon pancake
(filled a dinner plate!) with cinnamon butter. YUM! That afternoon we just had
to have ice cream at the ice cream social, followed by more Pegs and Jokers.
The game is usually played with 6 or 8 players, but this day we extended it to
10! Women won 2:0! Yippee-skippee!! We played with Bill and Carole, Ron and
Kathryn, Jim and Patsy, Art, and Alice. Fun times!
I’m extending this blog to include Monday, to start the next
on tomorrow, April 1. Monday we said goodbye to Steve and Karen (Wisconsin),
and to Larry and Terri (Michigan). There were 32 campers pulling out today.
Winter Texans are heading out…sad…
Dick and I walked Fulton Beach Road again…so beautiful with
the sun shining and a wonderful breeze (more like a wind!) off the Gulf. Oh,
how we love this place! Afterward, while Dick worked on stuff for the park, I
sat outside reading, and just enjoying the day. The park was so quiet.
After Kathryn and I made a quick trip to H.E.B., a Texas-based grocery store, Ron and Kathryn went with Dick and me to Panjo's for pizza. Again, I say, YUM! While we were there, a gal in the booth behind us attempted to move the bench I was sitting on, not realizing that hers and mine were attached. That precipitated a conversation with her about where she and her husband were from: Two Harbors, Minnesota! Their names were Curt and Mary Joy and, they know friends of ours from Two Harbors (Don and Gloria, and Dwight and Rogene), whom we met while camping in Grand Portage, Minnesota! Small world!
That’s it for this week. Hope Spring comes quickly for
you all!
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| Sunset over the Bay View pond |
Hugs,
RJ and Gail
(P.S.: Happiest of Birthdays to MacKenzie, who turns 13
today! We love you!)
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