Bay View RV Resort – Rockport, TX – December 26, 2016-January 1, 2017

Another week in paradise! Christmas is over and, the new year is upon us. Can hardly believe it’s 2017!

Weather continues to be relatively mild with temps reaching the upper 70s during the day and into the low 50s (occasionally) at night. Perfect.

Activities continue as they have been, with Texas Hold ’em and pickleball for Dick; Yoga, Stitch & Bitch and a walking class for me; Wii bowling and Pegs & Jokers for both of us. Never a dull moment around here!

A few ladies are missing from the photo of our Yoga group; we usually have 15 or 16 attending.

Gary and Pam are back from Hawaii and had their first campfire since their return. There were 10 of us gathered around their “fire pit” which is actually an old washing machine drum. Works perfectly if you’re interested in hunting down an old drum!

Dinner Tuesday night was at the Oyster House, were 10 of us gathered to enjoy the raw oysters on the half shell for $4.50/dozen, Philadelphia cheese steak sandwiches, nachos and, burgers. While there we enjoy listening to Janelle and her crooning vocals.

On Wednesday, one of Dick’s days off, he walked for about an hour and a half around the park and along Fulton Beach Road, taking photos of resident birds: ducks, egrets, herons and a cardinal. Enjoy these photos.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Spider web diamonds on the left; a Turkey Buzzard on the right -- beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Apologies for the multiple shots of the Cardinal; he's so beautiful, I couldn't select just one!

A Great White Egret on the left and a Ladderback Woodpecker on the right.

Friends Marvin and Shirley and, Randy and Jeri arrived to the park on Wednesday afternoon, from chilly Illinois. They’re very happy to be here, as are we!

Thursday brought a new little resident to the park: Lady Kelsey, David and Marihelen’s new 2 year old rescue puppy. She’s a dachshund/terrier mix and is one of the sweetest dogs you’d every find.

That evening we joined Marvin and Shirley, Randy and Jeri and, Bill and Carole at Charlotte Plummer’s (a local seafood restaurant) to celebrate Marvin’s 80^th birthday. Such a fun time; good food and good friends. We dined on tortilla soup, salad from their salad bar, shrimp, catfish, oysters and flounder. For his birthday Marvin was treated to a wonderful bread pudding topped with 1 candle—doubt we could’ve gotten 80 on that little dessert! Ha!

Then, it was off to the clubhouse for all of us, to play a game or two of Pegs & Jokers. We played a table of 10, as John and Sara joined us. The women trounced the men: 2:0--Yea!!

Friday was laundry day following breakfast from Whataburger. Then, on the way home, a stop at our camper dealership to use their notary for our South Dakota registration docs. Dick ended up working a few hours on this, his other day off, to oversee the installation of an upgraded WiFi system at the clubhouse.

Then, on to Saturday and New Year’s Eve. Dick worked for a while in the morning and early afternoon while I caught up on stuff around the camper and finished a knitted vest for a friend. That evening we tore ourselves away from the ugly Ohio State v.s. Clemson national playoff football game (Dick is still in mourning) and went to the clubhouse at 8:00 for our New Year’s Eve party with entertainment by Gold Train, formerly the Riptones. About 100 folks from the park showed up to welcome in the new year, with snacks, adult beverages and dancing. Here's a video of one of the dances. We lasted ‘til about 10:30, as did a few others. We figured 2017 would show up whether we were there to welcome it, or not. We went straight to bed, waking up in time to get ready for church Sunday morning.

Clockwise: David and his "girlfriends" (the white dots are lights from the disco ball); Sharon and Marty; Dick and me; Pam and Gary

January 1, Sunday, showed up with rain and fog but with warm temperatures. We attended church where Pastor Scott Jones spoke on “Biblical Resolutions,” and the believers’ responsibilities. Typically, he said, the believer makes these 2 resolutions on a yearly basis: 1) a desire to provide more financial support to the church as an act of worship through tithing and, 2) to expand and deepen time spent in God’s Word, which requires time and effort. We tend to put off financial support thinking that we can’t afford it, but we need to remember that God is more generous to us than we are toward Him; otherwise we’re robbing God of His generosity toward us. Spending time in God’s Word centers our minds and hearts on His precepts which in turn governs our thoughts and desires. Good words to think on as we enter this new year. Pastor Scott’s final question to us was, “How much change would be realized if we kept our commitments—spiritually, mentally and, physically.” Here’s the link to his message: fbcrockport.net/sermons

We had breakfast at JJ’s at Little Bay Café after church, where we happened on friends Jim and Connie, who bought a destination trailer from an owner in different park in the area last year. It was fun catching up with them. Then, it was a quick stop at Walmart and then home to get ready for a rousing game or two of Pegs & Jokers. We had enough players for 2 tables; the women at our table won 2:0 over the guys. Yea!!

We hope this finds you well, and resolving to make 2017 the best year ever.

Love ‘n’ hugs,

RJ and Gail