"Adventure Before Dementia"

R. I. P. Friends!

2012-01-14T17:03:00.010-06:00

Another first for me today, we flew up to the Texas Hill Country early this morning to spread the ashes of a couple, that were old friends of Dale when he lived and worked in Houston. He had promised them he would mix their cremains and spread them from his plane........they chose the Hill Country for their final resting place......so with Amazing Grace playing in our headsets, we spread Eddy and Jordan over fields where beautiful bluebonnets will bloom in the Spring and over Enchanted Rock.
R.I.P. Eddy and Jordan!

The promise fulfilled we landed at Fredericksburg for lunch at the Airport Diner and to warm up....it was very chilly flying with the door open! Mission accomplished we flew home!

Ringing in the New Year in Curacao

2012-01-12T16:03:00.006-06:00

Up early on New Year's Eve morning, we arrived at the airport in Aruba, turned in our rental car....only to find our DAE flight had been canceled. Seems the airline was in financial trouble and had restructured its flight schedule. I frantically raced around the airport, trying to make other arrangements and calling the resort in Curacao to advise them that we would be delayed. Not a great way to start the morning!
We landed in Curacao about an hour late, but the driver was waiting for us outside the airport. Alex, the driver made a stop at the big grocery store so we could get groceries before the drive out to All West Apartments in Westpunt. Checked into our apartment, we unpacked, and walked down to the beach.....sitting under a Manchineel Tree for shade...only to find out later the tree and its fruit are poisonous! Seems we had some of the sap of the tree on our hands and spread it onto our eyes, lips,and faces.....which began to burn! In fact, it burned for several days!
Live and learn....don't sit under that tree! We didn't see the signs until later!

New Years Day we had a late breakfast, a light lunch before heading to the dive shop to do a checkout dive. That night we enjoyed dinner at Sol Food and saw our friend, Sunshine. Dale and I shared a salad and pizza....Sunshine surprised me with a delicious brownie with ice cream and had the whole restaurant sing "Happy Birthday".
Diving filled the next few days...two boats dives every morning, but we didn't get back to the dock until almost 1:30 pm each day. Dale and I enjoyed a snorkel boat trip together with a stop at the "Blue Room" and a snorkel over a shipwreck.
The folks at the dive shop began working with the airlines trying to get us a flight back to Aruba to catch our flight home.....with not much luck! Finally we found a flight a day early and booked it.....Monique our friend in Aruba found us a room for the night, so our plans were set.
Our last full day we decided to drive into Punda and do some sightseeing and have lunch. I had read about a museum, and after a long, hot hike we found it. Taking a taxi back to the harbor we discovered our car had been booted for a parking violation. As we tried to figure out what to do....a young, very attractive woman and young man stopped and said to get in their car and they would take us to the office to pay the fine. It was kinda wild, but off we went....boy was this young lady a "Guardian Angel". Fine paid we crossed the swinging bridge to eat lunch in a cafe and watch the traffic along the waterway.
Our diver picked us up the next morning for our flight back to Aruba, were we grabbed a taxi for the trip to our room at the Camacurri Apartments for the night. We decided to go out and find some place for supper...........and after a very long walk we found ourselves in downtown Oranjestad at Iguana Joe's for dinner.
Not wanting to take any chances we arrived at the airport early....the process in Aruba is very long and tiring! Finally we boarded our flight and landed in Houston...driving home in a dense fog.
The trip was a real adventure, but we survived, had some laughs and made some great memories to cherish!

Xmas in Aruba 2011

2012-01-11T19:52:00.005-06:00

In the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, we drove to Houston to catch our Continental flight to Aruba. Santa surprised Dale, as we boarded the plane, with First Class seats for the flight down and we really enjoyed the First Class treatment...they sure did spoil us! Sure gonna make sitting in the back stink! We arrived, picked up our rental car from Amigo and it was off to Sunset Beach Studios for our stay. Since the stores had closed early, they had stocked our apartment with the groceries I had requested in my email. We unpacked, had dinner on the patio as the sun set and turned in early.
I tried to get up early every morning and go for a walk on the beach....Dale even joined me one morning. Every evening we had a date to sit on the beach with a glass of wine and watch the beautiful sunsets....each better than the last.

We took the car and explored the island, noting the changes since our last visit two years ago. A couple of snorkel trips and relaxing under the shade of a Divi Divi tree filled our days. Soaking in the hot tub was on the schedule each afternoon.....providing a great way to relax. Dale caught up on his reading and working his puzzles, while I worked on my photos.
The week seemed to go by very quickly and soon we were packing for our flight to Curacao. This is where the adventure really begins.....a major glitch in our travel plans!

Happy Holidays 2011

2011-12-19T18:37:00.005-06:00

An Italian dinner at Johnny Carrino's started the evening, then it was off to Mom's for the gifts. I surprised them all with a Chinese gift exchange to start things off.

Several gifts were stolen...Dale took Johnny's remote control car, Lanell took Johnny's Starbucks gift certificate, Chelsea wasted no time in stealing Grandma's cute knit hat, and Hollie took Grandma's movie gift certificate. Grandma got the last gift which was an insulated glass and a Sonic gift certificate. Next it was time to open gifts one by one, so all could see the action.
Brinkley, Brian and Hollie's puppy was all dressed up in her Christmas outfit complete with bling...she got held and loved a bunch. What a cutie!!
We all grabbed our cameras and the kids and Brinkley had to endure photo time.....they survivied!
Ross helped Dale get his remote control car up and running and even set up a small driving course. Next Lexi put together her cotton candy machine with the help of Ross and Nick....she whipped up some yummy peppermint cotton candy. Everyone got a taste! All were on a sugar high by the time they left!!!
The party ended, a good time was had by all!!!

Crusing on Mariner of the Seas

2011-12-07T13:51:00.010-06:00

Bags packed, we drove to Galveston to board our ship, Mariner of the Seas for a week long cruise. Imagine our surprise as we were unloading our bags to see our friends, Bill and Joanie boarding the same ship...small world! We settled in our cabin 6655, unpacked, and enjoyed dinner in the dining room. Our first day at sea was spent in the gym and the solarium, since it was kinda windy and cool on deck. Tuesday, Cozumel was our first port, but high winds and rough seas cancelled my diving with Cristina...dang! Dinner that night at Portofino's with Bill and Joanie was delicious, especially after the yummy desserts.

Wednesday, Grand Cayman was our second port, but again high winds and rough seas spoiled all our plans...dang! Wednesday night we attended the ice show, pretty good. Thursday, Falmouth, Jamaica was our final port and we awoke to rain, but it did clear up and we went ashore to look around. We did a brief tour and saw an old church, but the area is poverty stricken and our tour had a police escort, very sad. Friday and Saturday we had sunshine, clear skies and smooth cruising....so we hit the gym and then the hot tubs to relax. Saturday night Dale and I enjoyed dining at Portofino's again. We enjoyed the cruise even though the weather didn't cooperate, we met new friends and had many interesting conversations on board. We especially enjoyed having cocktails at the "Diamond Cocktail Party" every night before dinner. Getting off the ship was a breeze and we arrived home shortly after lunch.

St Charles Bay Fishing Trip

2011-11-16T20:00:00.008-06:00

Up before sun rise, and off to Rockport to meet up with our guide, Brett for our air boat red fishing trip. The sun peaked from behind the horizon, and a beautiful day on the water was off to a great start. We left the dock about 7:30 am and headed out across St. Charles Bay......shore birds were busy feeding along the coastline and a flock of ducks circled over head.

Lines baited with fresh cut mullet, we waited for the reds to bite....soon the action began and reds began to fill the ice chest. We moved on to another site and quickly had our limit.

Heading back to the dock, we ran next to the shoreline
and across areas of grass...and made one 360 degree
spin around just for fun. Back at the dock at
11:00 am, boat loaded, fish cleaned and on ice...
we decided to have lunch at Pop's Bar and Grill.

Berndt Kinfolks!

2011-11-13T19:37:00.004-06:00

Packed our bags, loaded the car and headed out to Magnolia, Texas to the Berndt Family Reunion at Rhonda and Harlo's home. Our first stop was in Carmine for lunch at J.W.'s Steakhouse for some delicious, tender steaks. After a brief stop in Navasota, we arrived at Magnolia and unpacked the car. Later Evon and Linda arrived and we all enjoyed a stew dinner together, then us girls grabbed a bottle of wine and headed out to the hot tub to soak the day away. Up early the next morning, we waited for the Berndt family kinfolks to arrive. Soon the driveway was full of cars, the sound of chatter and laughter filled the air as everyone was busy catching up. Dinner was catered and all the family enjoyed sharing a meal together, with bunches of yummy desserts.

The afternoon was consumed with picture taking, touring Rhonda and Harlo's new home, and watching the little guys run around. All to soon the reunion came to an end and it was time to clean up, put things away and call it a day. Linda and Evon decided to go back home, but we stayed over and got a chance to relax and unwind. Sunday morning, I got up early and prepared Monkey Bread for the group, while Rhonda fixed eggs and bacon for all. Packed up we said our goodbyes and made the drive back home!

Ghostly Girl's Weekend

2011-11-06T18:36:00.004-06:00

A "Girl's Trip" for Mom to Fredericksburg, Texas proved ghostly at the Bell Street Manor at 601 Bell Street. Mom, Lanell, and I arrived in town, had a yummy lunch at the Peach Tree Tearoom before heading to the Manor. Mom was surprised to find Shelly, Carly, Laney, and Haley waiting on the front porch, with Ginger to arrive later when she got off work. The 3 story house was built in 1907 and had served as a hospital and doctor's office.
Dinner that night was at the Alamo Springs Cafe with some of the best hamburgers in Texas according to Texas Monthly...onion rings, cold beer, and 2 fried stuffed avocados....really good stuff. The ten mile drive down the winding Old San Antonio Road had them all wondering if I was lost or just plain crazy! We turned in for the night with a big day of shopping planned.

View all

Get your own

Saturday was spent on Main Street shopping most of the day with a later stop at the wineries for some sampling. Dinner that night was at The Cabernet Grill and what a gastronomical treat it proved to be. From appetizer, to entree, to dessert, it was outstanding. Then it was back to Bell street for our last night, before heading home.

Creepy
This is where the real fun began! During our stay we all heard the old wood floors creaking, kinda eerie at night. A small CD player that had a habit of turning itself on, always playing a Eagles tune proved to be very strange. Footsteps upstairs when no one was up there could not be explained....but the final straw was the window pane crashing to the floor during the middle of the night almost proved to be to much for some of the "Girls"....could it have really been the ghost called Anne? Some were sure since it had been a hospital that folks had died there.....lots of laughs over our "Ghostly" weekend.
Up Sunday morning, we packed and enjoyed breakfast and coffee and then it was time to head home.

Kill'em and Grill'em!

2011-10-25T23:49:00.006-05:00

Home again after a long week diving in Grand Cayman with my internet female dive buddy from Oklahoma. The seas were rough Sunday morning and the boat was rocking and rolling, making my dive buddy sick. The next day the seas were a little calmer and the dives went smoothly. We had booked a night dive and it turned out great! Hot chocolate and muffins greeted us when we surfaced. On Wednesday after the two morning dives, I relaxed around the pool, talked to other divers, and that night enjoyed the Diver's Night Party up by the training pool....yummy ribs and chicken!

Thursday we had four dives booked, two morning dives and two lion fish dives in the afternoon. On our two dives we had inexperienced hunters and only bagged 5 of 17 lion fish spotted...not very good. Our boat did manage to kill 45 of the nasty little creatures. After the hunt they grilled them up for all to taste...hence the new saying "Kill'em and Grill'em"! Friday we left the dock in rain, but the diving was good, especially the last dive of the week.....we stayed down for about 70 minutes. Lunch that day was at Over the Edge...yummy Mahi Mahi Escovitch. During the week most of us saw sharks, tarpon, turtles, rays, lobster, crabs, a spotted Eagle Ray and lots of fish. Saturday morning it was time to pack and catch our flight home. 15 dives in the logbook this trip!

50th El Campo High School Reunion

2011-10-02T08:44:00.010-05:00

Well.........We survived Dale's 50th El Campo High School class reunion! Friday night we met up with his old high school pals at the Firehouse Bar and Grill for dinner and drinks....plus lots of old memories. Dale loved seeing so many of his friends and catching up on old times.

Saturday was the main event and we headed back to El Campo shortly after lunch. Soon the room was filled with old classmates and old friends, and all were busy talking and catching up. Dale served as Master of Ceremonies and kept the ball rolling with his charm and wit! The only glitch of the night was when he forgot to introduce to his wife.....ME! Boy did his friends give him a hard time, but he did manage to get himself out of the "Dog House"! Later a delicious meal was served and time for more photos and visiting. The night came to an end....a big success!!!!

Treasure Hunt in Warrenton/Round Top

2011-09-29T13:36:00.008-05:00

Karen and I left Victoria headed for Warrenton/RoundTop for a day of perusing the booths for treasure. Our first stop was the Arts and Crafts Fair in Round Top, we arrived as the booths were opening for the day. We shopped and shopped but found nothing that really caught our eye...or fit us! So off we went to lunch at JW's Steakhouse in Carmine.....a delicious steak with all the trimmings.

Cooled off and full of ice tea it was back to our
"Treasure Hunt" so we drove back to Warrenton, with a stop or two along the road. OMG....now it was smoking hot and the booths were unbearable. We did a little more shopping, before giving up the ship and headed for the car, grabbed a big cherry shaved ice, and the turned the AC on full blast to cool off. The dry, hot weather sure didn't make for a good shopping trip, but we did have fun and lots of laughs!

Grounded by Fog!

2011-09-25T16:21:00.006-05:00

It was late September, and time for "The Under the Wire" fly-in in Louise, Texas at the Flying V Ranch. Dale wanted to get off the ground early in hopes of getting a good parking spot for the plane. With our picnic lunch, chairs, and lots of ice tea we took off before 8 am headed to the fly-in.

Although it was clear in Victoria we found ground fog around Edna, Texas and set the plane down at the Edna airport to wait for the fog to burn off. Fog gone, we landed at the fly-in and secured the plane and set out our stuff for the day. It was good to see old friends, lots of planes and probably about 20 Stearman airplanes at the fly-in....quite a sight! We had our picnic lunch in the shade under the wing....it was pretty darn hot! We decided to head home later in the afternoon and it was a short, but very bumpy ride because of the thermals. Safely we landed and pushed the plane into the hangar!

Hunting for Reds!

2011-09-20T19:50:00.005-05:00

We were out on the water early this morning as the first rays of the sun danced across the water, creating beautiful patterns on the surface. No wind, no waves, and the water was smooth as glass. We got a couple of reds, and things were looking pretty good. Drift fishing requires wind and unfortunately it was dead calm. We decided to go across the bay into the lakes to look for more red fish....it was a great day out on the water!

We were fishing the shoreline when Dale hooked a "Big Kahuna" and the fight was on....finally getting the big boy in the boat, only to find it was to BIG!

We moved into a couple of the other lakes, but had no luck....and boy was it HOT!
After a picnic lunch out on the water, we crossed the bay to try one last spot, no luck!
Even though we didn't limit out we had a good time and headed home to wash the boat and clean our catch.

Bumpy Flight!

2011-09-10T18:28:00.004-05:00

After months of not flying because of intense heat, we took off this morning for lunch in Port Aransas. We flew down along the beach, enjoying the miles and miles of pristine beach. Landing at Mustang Beach Airport we grabbed the trolley into town for lunch at Moby Dick's Restaurant. Dale had the fried shrimp and I enjoyed the grilled Mahi Mahi along with some side dishes.
Our friend Jerry picked us up on the trolley for a ride down to the beach, I needed a sand and salt water fix.....that is what Dale calls it!! The water was warm and the beach was crowded, but I enjoyed walking and taking photos for about an hour. The flight home was bumpy and we climbed to get out of the thermals. Landing in Victoria around 4 pm, we put the plane in the hangar and headed home to the AC.

Escape to the Rockies

2011-09-08T19:10:00.007-05:00

Tired of the intense Texas heat, we headed to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains for a B&B vacation in a cooler climate. Loaded up, new GPS in place, Acadia gassed up.....we left early in the morning for a long day of driving. Our first night we stayed in Dumas, Texas before crossing the next day into Northen New Mexico and then on to Southern Colorado. Our first B & B was the rustic Indiana Jones B&B in Antonito, Colorado where we had a 6 hour train ride on the Culbres & Toltec Railroad planned. It was a long day on the train, with some beautiful scenery. Canon City and the Royal Gorge were next on our itinerary, staying at the Jewels of the Canon B&B in Canon City. Our room in the restored home was spacious and lovely, breakfast was delish! The Royal Gorge was breathtaking and we enjoyed a trip to the bottom on the incline railway and a trip across the gorge on the aerial tram. A stop at he prison museum was informative and I even discovered I had a tie to the prison. Packed up again we drove up to Cripple Creek, and then on to Leadville and our B&B at Twin Lakes. Ores and Mines B&B was very unique and the couple running the place were a wealth of information on the local history of Leadville. They even upgraded our room to the largest room at the B&B. Dinner at Quincy's was great, they only serve one entree....Filet Mignon, but they prepare it great. We couldn't miss the highest airport in the USA, so we visited Leadville airport and talked to a pilot that had flown in for some fishing in his homebuilt. The runways surrounded by mountains were a daunting sight. The next night we inhaled at yummy pizza from High Mountain Pies.
Independence Pass or Bust was on the agenda the next day....a breathtaking drive over the pass to Aspen....a really yuppie place and home to the" Rich and Famous". We stopped and enjoyed a picnic for lunch at a roadside park.
Crested Butte was our next stop and the Purple Mountain Lodge B&B was cute, but our room was very, very small. A drive up to Lake Irwin and Keblar Pass proved to be an endurance test....boy was that a long day. The wildflowers in bloom around the lake were beautiful and I got some great photos.

Our final stop was in Pagosa Springs and our stay at Elkwood Manor B&B the Pièce de résistance of our trip, a beautiful home with the most amazing views of the San Juan Mountains. Our room was spacious, the hot tub inviting, and the breakfast was gourmet. Darlene even had monogrammed wash cloths with our names, a very classy touch. A day of soaking at the Pagosa Springs and Spa was cut short when a thunderstorm rolled in, but we did get to relax for part of the day in the adult only area.
Our escape in the Rockie mountains came to an end and it was time to head home...the cool temperatures, breathtaking vistas, pristine lakes, romantic picnics, and B&B's made it all a very memorable trip.

Grandma's on Facebook!

2011-08-20T06:47:00.004-05:00

Mom jumped into the high tech world of computers on Monday as we hooked up her brand new, shiny laptop and had internet service installed at her home. She was determined to see what was going on in cyberspace and keep up with her 2 kids, 9 grand kids, and 10 great grand kids. It was a whole new world, as she pressed the "On" button for the first time. I had already set up Facebook as her homepage, so we concentrated on maneuvering around the site. She hadn't typed in about 60 years, so the going was slow as she turned to the hunt and peck method of typing.....but she managed to send out a few short post. The second lesson concentrated on Hotmail, which I had bookmarked to make it easy for her to find. We sent out "Friend Request" on Facebook and I added the family to her contacts on Hotmail.....some replied in shock that Grandma was online! Our final lesson this week tackled opening attachments and videos....which opened a whole new world to Mom.

Shop Til You Drop!

2011-08-14T17:37:00.004-05:00

Have you ever heard the saying "Shop til you Drop"? Yesterday we did! My daughter, Lanell called and wanted me to go to Houston with her on a shopping trip. She needed to find a couple of dresses for her upcoming "Dances With The Stars Victoria" debut.
We didn't get away until almost Noon, so we canceled our lunch stop and proceeded on our mission. First two stops were at Baubles and Beads, a high end resale shop, but no luck really. Next stop Memorial Mall.....Macy's and Dillard's, plus a couple smaller stores. I gathered dresses and keep bringing them to her in the dressing room....what a zoo! We found some candidates and narrowed down the selections, some very funny, some to darn expensive and some were plain ugly!!!
After making her final selections and narrowing the field down, we headed to Charming Charlie's for some bling. Half starved by 7 pm we stopped at
PF Chang's for dinner, only to be informed it was 1 1/2 hour wait...No Way! Down Hwy 59 we went and found a Salt Grass with a table available....steaks and drinks were ordered for the ravenous shoppers. Home then, pulling into my driveway about 10:30 pm....what a day!
Lanell should look like a million dollars when she hits the stage with her partner to do the Salsa and Bolero in a couple of weeks.....I hope!

Ladies Gone Wild in Roatan

2011-08-02T16:37:00.018-05:00

After checking in at Bush International Airport for my flight, I met up with the Lady Go Divers gang for our flight to Roatan, Honduras. A short flight, and we were soon checking into our rooms at Anthony's Key Resort.....Barbara and I had cabin #12 over the water on the Key. Unpacking, then our first meal together at the resort before turning in for the night. I was up early the next morning and took the water taxi over to the mainland for breakfast with the group....then it was time to check in at the dive shop, do a check out dive and get ready for our first boat dive. Our boat, Haydee and crew, JoJo, Boat Captain and Hector, Dive Master were waiting for us at the dock. The check out dive consisted of demonstrating a few skills, then it was off to see the marine life and reefs of Roatan. Patty had booked 3 dives a day......so we had a dive at 8:30 am, then back to the dock; a dive at 10:30 am, then back to the dock and lunch; then a dive at 2:30 pm, then back to the dock with time to relax at the pool before dinner. Since the sand fleas were so bad we spent a lot of time showering off and applying layers of bug spray in hopes of avoiding the nasty creatures.....no such luck!

The resort had lots of entertainment planned for the week and we always took advantage of Happy Hour......2 for 1 Monkey La Las! One day we did two boat dives, then we had a picnic lunch at Maya Key with time to swim in the pool and relax.......with one more dive on the way back to the resort. On Island Fiesta Night we were entertained with music, a fire dancer, great food, and a local dance troupe. A yummy picnic for lunch was awaiting us on the Key after one of our morning dives....then it was time to hold down a hammock rocking in the breeze on the porch.
Beth and Bonnie traded cabins and I joined them for a sleepover.....the cabin was not air conditioned....HOT! We did have lots of laughs at our little slumber party!!!!
As per the tradition established last year we enjoyed a late night skinny dip in the Caribbean.....OMG was that funny.....especially the synchronized swimming. It was all pretty innocent....a dark night, a secluded beach, and a bunch of mature women!!!
The diving was good....we saw lots of turtles, a spotted eagle ray, crabs, lobsters, and some big Groupers. Hector even managed to find us a beautiful sea horse and a "Happy Face" sponge. I did manage to get in 16 dives, despite one day I didn't feel the best....to many Monkey La Las, I think! My favorite photo of the week was one of a Peacock Flouder. I inched up to him laying on the bottom and settled my camera on the bottom close to him for a close up shot. Peacock flounders are master of diguise. The peacock flounder changes its color and the pattern on its skin to exactly match the sea floor...as you can see in the photo! I love those two eyes checking me out!

We had another first on this trip......we all did the night dive on Thursday, only thing was no one got in the water. JoJo took us out on the water to a dive site, we tied up and enjoyed the sunset and later sat under the stars while listening to music....it was great! A real estrogen therapy session.....poor JoJo and Hector!!!
The resort had a dolphin show several times a week and we sat on our porch to watch the dolphins perform. I also booked a dolphin dive...but the male dolphins were in "love" and would not join us.....so a Dolphin Dive with No Dolphins!
The week was over to quickly with our group departing in two different flights. Patty, Barbara, and Ann were on my flight and we said our final goodbyes in Houston. A great week, with a great group of ladies....looking forward to next year with Lady Go Divers!!!!

A Whopper of a Fish!

2011-06-25T07:08:00.003-05:00

Fishing this morning, cloudy skies with a threat of rain....but off we went across the water. Dale casted toward the bank and the water swirled...he had a big red on his line.....29 inches! The fish almost managed to take off all his line before he finally gave up the battle and was landed. We took a few photos before putting the big boy back in the water to swim free......a really nice fish. I did manage to land a 20 inch trout that was pretty nice. The afternoon turned hot and very windy and we caught a few more fish before heading in.

Eels on Wheels

2011-06-22T17:12:00.005-05:00

Arrived in Bonaire at the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort with the Eels on Wheels group...it was a hectic first day, checking in, grabbing lunch, attending a dive briefing and doing a check out dive before lunch. Tired but full after lunch we did our first boat dive of the trip. The next morning up early it was time to get down to some serious diving. Three disabled divers were put on each boat, and it was an amazing and heart warming sight to pull away from the dock with the wheelchairs left behind. The diving was usually easy, with great visibility and little current.

Although one day we did manage to get in a pretty swift current on the swim back to the boat.....but all went well! The divers with use of their arms were able to propel themselves under water with ease, most having lots of upper body strength. The divers that had little or no use of their arms and legs were towed along under water. I can't even imagine the freedom they must have felt being underwater with neutral buoyancy.
Our dive masters, Enrique and Orlando were both great and spotted out lots of creatures. I told Orlando since I was alone, he was my husband on the boat and needed to watch out for me....so did several other gals!
We did two morning dives, came in for lunch and a break before doing one afternoon dive. I logged 17 dives during the week in my dive logbook. We saw eels, seahorses, turtles, starfish, octopus, barracuda, a frog fish, lots of lionfish and the highlight for me was a massive bait ball of small fish. It looked like a huge tornado underwater.......swirling around in all directions.

We spent our down time at the pool just relaxing with a trip into town the last day for some retail therapy. A cold, smooth Mud Slide sure was a great way to end a day of diving!!!!
Even though I was only a small part of this group, I felt truly blessed to be with them. It sure made me see the world through the eyes of someone with disabilities......so many challenges. Their courage to tackle the underwater world is amazing and heart warming.
I met lots of great folks and made new friends that love diving as much as I do. I gained a greater appreciation for the obstacles faced by the disabled and the courage they have to conquer them every day.
I guess one of our disabled divers, Joe summed it up best.......
The trip was AWESOME!!!!!!

Bon Bini Bonaire

2011-06-09T17:54:00.004-05:00

The packing has begun, leaving on Saturday to dive in Bonaire with a group called "Eels on Wheels". The Eels on Wheels Adaptive Scuba Program is a registered not-for-profit organization that provides people the opportunity to dive at their own ability level by certifying divers through the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA). Eels on Wheels provides life-changing experiences for people with disabilities. I have volunteered to help in whatever capacity I can and am looking forward to an amazing week at the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort.

Limited Out!

2011-05-26T18:34:00.003-05:00

We got a late start this morning because of a thunderstorms and rain.....but we managed to limit out on (6)Reds. The weather was great down at the bay, but it did got HOT later in the day. This was only our third trip out in our new boat...sure did run good in the shallows and even out in the open bay.
We stopped on the way home at a Dairy Queen to celebrate our successful trip with a ice cream cone.

Cayman-Kittewake-Hunting Lion Fish

2011-05-20T19:04:00.006-05:00

A short flight, bumpy landing and we were back in Cayman...picking up our rental car, stopping for groceries, then a drive out to the East End to find our downstairs condo #103 ready and waiting. The weather was terrific, the water was warm, and the winds were light.....kinda perfect! The diving began on Sunday morning on Eastern Skies with some of my old friends at the dive op making me feel at home. On Tuesday I did the 2 tank morning dives, then grabbed a quick lunch and made the Kittewake dive in the afternoon..thanks to my chauffeur, Dale. Sure will be interesting to see how the marine life develops around the ship in the future....a really nice dive!
Dale spent the mornings taking a long walk and catching up on his reading....in the afternoon we hung out at the new pool and hot tub or grabbed a nap. Wednesday evening we enjoyed "Diver's Night", a delicious dinner of ribs and chicken, with rice and beans, potato salad, sweet cornbread and pineapple upside down cake while watching videos that Ellay made.

Thursday I had 2 morning dives and signed up for the "Lion Fish Hunt" a 2 tank dive in the afternoon. I was a spotter, Dennis was the bag man, and Steve was the hunter...two other guys on our team just swam off with huge cameras to take photos of the reef. The whole boat got 37, while our team had 12 in the bag. Steve cleaned them, and TJ grilled them when we got back to Compass Point, my first Lion Fish meal. After my last two dives Friday morning, Dale and I decided to have lunch at Over the Edge, then drove to Rum Point and found a shady spot on the beach to relax.
Saturday we packed our stuff, finished off most of our food and drove to the airport for the trip home. This trip ran like clockwork, the diving was good, we met new friends and had a wonderful relaxing week on the island.

Sand Fest Sista's II

2011-04-17T18:50:00.008-05:00

Packed up...Karen and I headed out to Port Aransas for SandFest Sista's Weekend II stopping in Rockport to grab a bite to eat and some groceries. Pam's flight was delayed so she arrived later than expected. On the way back from picking her up we stopped at Doc's Seafood and Steak for some seafood and drinks....it was sooo good! Unpacked and up early we headed to watch the sculptors begin their work and checkout the vendors. The wind was blowing like crazy the whole weekend. We made a run to buy fresh shrimp right off the boat in the marina and enjoyed them grilled for supper. After dinner, we walked down to the beach to enjoy a full moon over the Gulf and some bubble blowing.

Saturday we rented "Miss Kitty" to tool around town and the Sand Fest....Karen did the driving this year. Our biggest adventure was getting Miss Kitty out after getting blocked in.....we did it!

We also made a stop at the University of Texas Marine Science Center.....a educational highlight! A brief stop at "Shorty's".....was very educational too! Karen fried shrimp for dinner with a big salad that was delish and we enjoyed eating on the porch.
Sunday morning it was time to head back home...we dropped off Pam at the airport and our great weekend "Girl's" trip came to an end.

Our New Baby Cat!

2011-04-04T19:25:00.003-05:00

Today we picked up our new boat, a Tran Sport Baby Cat.....WOW! It is 16 ft 2 inches long and has a Suzuki 90 hp motor. We added a platform on the front with a railing...for keeping an eye out for those schools of red fish. It is blue and gray, with two big ice chest.
Love, love, love it!!!!

No Sun.....No Fun in Tampa!

2011-04-02T17:42:00.013-05:00

Dale and I flew out of Austin on Monday, arriving after a very turbulent flight in the rain....our bags got wet and some of the clothes were pretty damp. We picked up our rental car and checked into our room in Brandon.Up early, the rain
had stopped, off we went to Sun'n Fun
wondering how wet and nasty it was going to be. Weather had prevented most of the planes from arriving, so we checked the vendors, talked to some old friends and looked at the planes on hand. The next day the skies cleared and we got to the gate even earlier. We walked around, looked at planes before enjoying our picnic lunch under the trees. I took off to find a spot in the shade for the airshow while Dale went to see the vendors again. The sky got dark, the wind began to blow, and they announced the show had been delayed because of a line of thunderstorms approaching. We waited for a while, then headed out to have dinner and go back to the hotel. The storms hit and it rained most of the night.... we awoke to find severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in our area and decided to stay at the hotel. A good call, because the airshow was hit by a bad storm and at least one tornado. Many planes were damaged or destroyed during the storm....so sad! Friday we flew back home to Texas....our trip had come to an end....Sun'n Fun was kinda a bust this year!

Texas Trash and Treasures

2011-03-27T17:46:00.005-05:00

Gal pal, Karen and I headed up to Warrenton/Round Top for the Preview Week of the show...since it was the only time we could make it. I met Karen in town and off we went arriving early when it was still cool. Karen was on the hunt for a cast iron Dutch oven and I was just looking, nothing special! We found some really cute shirts at Bodacious Buckles in Round Top, and had lots of fun with the gals working the booth. In Carmine we made a few stops, didn't find the Dutch oven, but did find an outstanding steak house.....J W's Steakhouse
We enjoyed a delicious ribeye, onion rings, salad, and stewed okra......some ice tea and an ice cold beer. Back to Warrenton, we split up to cover more ground.....and we did find a Dutch oven and I picked up some garden art.
On the way home I managed to get some photos of bluebonnets, a real thick patch in the cemetery in La Grange made a great shot....even if Karen made fun of me laying in the cemetery.

Foggy Cruise!

2011-02-16T17:09:00.008-06:00

Well, we are all packed, and ready to leave in the morning, but fog is playing havoc with the cruise ships in Galveston. This was going to be our first cruise after achieving Diamond Status with Royal Caribbean! Our ship finally made it in and after standing in a long line for a couple of hours we boarded about 6:30 pm, unpacked, had dinner, and turned in for the night.....only to find that we were in Galveston still being held captive by the fog when we got up the next morning....SURPRISE!
We enjoyed our first sea day, with a trip to the gym, a soak in the spa and relaxing with a good book. The Captain put it in full speed ahead and we made Roatan just a hour later than planned. We had a great tour of the island with Roland at Victor Bodden Tours. It was just me, Dale and Roland for the day. I even had a chance to check out Anthony's Key Resort, a really nice dive operation I will visit in July with the gals from Kansas.
Our next port was Belize, we decided to stay on the ship for the day...it was just us and the old folks, so we had a quite day, with plenty of time to relax. Dinner that night was at Portifinos Restaurant, a wonderful meal, great service and we left stuffed!!!

The next morning we docked in Cozumel....Dale and I were off the ship early, grabbed a taxi to meet Cristina for a day on the water, with a couple of dives. Cristina was waiting and we boarded the Nena and left the marina headed to Palancar Gardens. Diving was great, the water was a little chilly-79 degrees, but visibility was fantastic. As usual Cristina served lunch on the boat, with lots of fresh fruit and the best guacamole. Dale napped and read his magazines while I was diving.
Our last day at sea, we slept late, enjoyed breakfast and a light lunch and relaxed around the pool. Dinner again was at Portifinos, another yummy meal. That night we enjoyed Phil playing the piano and singing in the bar.
Up early the next morning, only to find the fog was holding us captive at sea and we didn't dock until almost Noon. We disembarked, Dale picked up the car, picked me and the luggage up and we headed home.
We had a great time, met lots of nice people on the ship and made it home safe and sound. I even managed to sit still and read a book, cover to cover......."Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" by Ree Drummond.

Happy Birthday Mom

2011-02-15T17:24:00.007-06:00

We celebrated Mother's 83rd birthday with a "Girl's" lunch at Sky Restaurant. Shelly and two of her daughters, Carly and Haley came...plus my daughter, Lanell. We had lots of laughs with our lunch......Happy Birthday Mom!

HAPPY 3rd ANNIVERSARY!

2011-02-13T20:41:00.007-06:00

After 36 months or 1,095 days or 26,280 hours or

1,577,846 minutes…

We are celebrating our 3^rd Wedding Anniversary!

Hard to believe three years ago on this date I married my best friend in Port Douglas, Australia......gosh how time flies when you are having fun!

Clear Skies...Time to Fly!

2011-02-13T10:48:00.004-06:00

We took advantage of the cool, crisp, clear morning and took off in Miss Ice Tea Too.....heading down the Texas coastline to Port Aransas for seafood feast.

We taxied up to the FBO just as the trolley came by, quickly we grabbed our stuff and walked up to road to catch it. Luckily the driver has become a friend and waited for us.
A great way to catch a ride into town for 25 cents. We decided to try a new restaurant....Avery's Kitchen. The special of the day....all you can eat fried grouper and popcorn shrimp, with french fries and slaw......a very good choice, we left stuffed. The flight home down the beach was smooth as glass thanks to my trusty pilot!

Me and My Shadow

2011-01-23T12:08:00.005-06:00

After weeks of lousy, cold, rainy weather we finally had a break and took off in Miss Ice Tea Too for lunch in Port A. The sun was shining, the morning was cool as flew along the Texas coastline following the beach at about 50 feet. Oyster boats could be seen circling in the bays as oyster season is in full swing, while dolphins surfaced in the slick Gulf waters.

Landing at Mustang beach airport, we grabbed the trolley into town for some fresh seafood at our favorite spot. Our seafood taste buds satisfied, we were back on the trolley and in the plane for the flight home....a good trip!

The Monkey House...Home Sweet Home!

2011-01-20T19:21:00.018-06:00

Our tour finished, the next part of our adventure began....we waited, and waited, and waited for our rent car in downtown San Jose. Finally it arrived, with the GPS we had rented, only one problem the GPS only spoke French! A couple hours later we were finally on the toll road over to the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica, to our Monkey House at Shelter from the Storm! We arrived after dark and slowly inched our way up the mountain road in our Bego 4x4, Dale driving and me reading the directions......funny now, but not then!
The Monkey House was great, the decor was so cute, everything was "Monkey".....the large porch surrounded by the jungle was our favorite spot for relaxing. I even found a pair of fuzzy monkey house shoes in the closet. Donna and Daryl welcomed us with a nice gift basket of Costa Rican goodies and made us feel very welcome. The kitchen was equipped very well, a real plus for us since we planned on cooking most of our meals. The Rancho and pool area were just down the pathway, a great place to watch the monkeys pass by up in the trees while floating in the pool. Most mornings we had Toucans up in the trees and Dale even found a sloth up in the tree, just off our porch.

We enjoyed shopping in the local markets, buying fresh fish at the local fish market, and purchasing fantastic fruits and veggies from the road side stands. We enjoyed at pizza one day after some exploring some of the beaches, a yummy Mahi Mahi poorboy after a day in Dominical, celebrated New Year's Eve at a very small French restaurant named Exotica and even had a "Jesus Burger" at the Refuge. We found a really nice restaurant the day we drove up in the mountains to San Isidro with a million dollar view and great food.
On Christmas Day, Daryl dressed in a full Santa outfit started up his motorcycle with a sidecar and loaded up presents and Boomer, his dog.....as a reindeer to deliver gifts to the local children. They roared up the driveway with Boomer barking loudly....for a moment I thought I heard the song "Santa Class Is Coming To Town"! It was quite a site and news spread quickly that Santa was riding around Dominical.
Donna had arranged several excursions for us, the first was a trip to Caño Biological Reserve, an island about 18 miles off the coast. Up early we left at 5:30 am and didn't get back home until about 7:00 pm....but it was a great tour. We saw 4 humpback whales, two kinds of dolphins, a big croc, boa constrictor, four species of monkeys and lots of birds.....and a Jesus Christ Lizard that walked on water. We snorkeled, spotting a reef shark swimming along and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the beach. It was a long day, but one of the best excursions we have ever done. The guide, Caesar, was the BEST!
The next excursion was called "Waves and Caves" a kayaking trip along the coastline...kayaking through caves along the shoreline. It was a pretty good workout and somehow I managed to flip my kayak while trying to get that perfect photo....Dale thought that was pretty funny!! Getting back in the kayak in deep water was no easy trick....but I did!
On my birthday, January 1 we went to Hacienda Baru for our zipline tour "Flight of the Toucan". They put us with five gals from New York, they were lots of fun. We did a lot of hiking, up and down the mountain going from station to station. One of the guides pointed out wildlife along the trail, spotting a two toed sloth up in the trees. The zipline course consisted of eight stations, with us going backwards on the last one. Our guides were great and it was a fun day, even if we were exhausted when finished!

Our final tour was a horseback ride up to Nauyaca Waterfalls up in the mountains called Don Lulos Nauyaca Waterfalls. We arrived to find about 34 horses saddled up and waiting. Dale got a horse named "Paula" and I got one named "Catatoui", both being very short, small, skinny horses....but very sure footed, like a goat....thank goodness. We rode for about an hour before stopping at a Tico house for a nice breakfast, then another hour before we arrived at the falls. The water was cold, but the falls were breathtaking. We saddled back up after a couple hours in the water and headed back to the Tico house for a delicious lunch, then a brief siesta in a hammock before hitting the trail again. The ride back was almost all up the mountain and the horses slowly plodded along, crossing a river before finally reaching the end of the trip.
It was a great trip, but boy was I saddle sore the next day, haven't ridden a horse in a long, long time!
We spent the rest of our time exploring beaches, watching surfers, checking out downtown Dominical, on a thrilling drive to San Isidro and a brief tour along the Pan American highway by a big river. We also went to the Marino Ballena National Park and enjoyed a long walk on the beach, walking out to what is called the Whales Tail. Reading, laying by the pool and checking our email were our pastimes at the Monkey House.
With the jungle just off our porch, we woke each morning to the sounds of the jungle, and sometimes the screech of the howler monkeys.....a real alarm clock! The weather was great, with rain falling mostly at night!
Finally it was time to head back home, we said our goodbyes to our new friends, Donna and Daryl with plans to take a leisurely drive back to San Jose....with Donna's great directions! We arrived in San Jose, turned in our Bego and checked into a hotel by the airport for a good nights rest before our flight home the next day.

Leaving Costa Rica, we felt we had really experienced the country....we had seen the breathtaking beauty of the land, been thrilled with the unusual creatures and felt the warmth and pride of the people (Ticos) of this lush tropical country.

Pura Vida?

2011-01-19T20:05:00.001-06:00

After spending almost a month in the beautiful country of Costa Rica I have come to some interesting deductions about living there......

COSTA RICA PROS AND CONS
If you hair is curly, it will curly all the time...if it is straight, grow a pony tail or shave your head
No need for makeup, it just slides off your face
Sa...ve money on a gym membership...everything is up or down the mountain...it's called the Costa Rican Stairmaster
WiFi in the jungle can be tricky, it's up, it's down, it's up, it's down...etc
No need to wash the car, it won't stay clean on these roads
Lots of romantic candlelight dinners, electricity goes out regularly
No more junk mail, no mailing address....no street address....NO ADDRESS!
No need to take in fiber tablets, fresh fruit and veggies take care of that issue
Potato chips won't be tempting, replaced with plantain chips
You learn to love black beans and rice, a staple at every meal!
Cut your cholesterol, only extra, extra, extra, lean beef is available...cows here are skinny, no fat!!!
No need to spend money at the florist....flowers and orchids everywhere for the picking
Buy sunscreen by the gallons, the sun is intense!!
Save money on the water bill, when it rains it pours....90 inches in a week
Cut your wardrobe cost, a couple pairs of shorts, a few shirts and flip flops...the quick drying kind of clothes will make up most of your closet
No need to visit a zoo, creatures out your back door
Imperial will become your drink of choice!
If you have $2,000 in US dollars, you can be a millionaire in Colones, the local currency
Coffee is served at every meal, you're stay on a constant caffeine high....but it is some of the best coffee in the world!
Throw away your alarm clock...howler monkeys take care of that!
You don't have to give up Sodas, that is what restaurants along the road serving local dishes are called
If looking for hot water, turn on the faucet with the "C" on it....CALIENTE means HOT! Discovered this after a cold shower!

The country is truly beautiful and the people are warm and welcoming.......
Pura Vida!

Caravan Costa Rica Tour---Pura Vida!

2010-12-25T19:20:00.013-06:00

Our Caravan tour of Costa Rica began with a flight to San Jose, where we were greeted and transferred to the Barcelo San Jose Palacio. Before dinner we had a meeting with our tour director, Karen a local Costa Rican young woman and the rest of the group. Early the next morning we headed to Poas Volcano with Toski, our bus driver at the wheel, it was cold and rainy as we hiked up to see the crater....no luck! Thick clouds covered the crater, so we hiked back to the bus. A local lunch with entertainment was followed by a coffee farm tour. Up early we packed up the next morning we were off again to Tortuguero with a stop for lunch and a butterfly farm where I met Cassandra, a little girl that became my butterfly guide. We stopped at a banana plantation and watched how they are processed for shipping, even walked out in the field to see the bunches covered in blue bags. Arriving at Cano Blanco we boarded our boat for the trip to Laguna Lodge in the jungle at Tortuguero, stopping to get a good look at a big Croc.

We found our room, but didn't get a hot shower the first night.....in Costa Rica the "C" stands for caliente-HOT not COLD! Gave us a big laugh after we figured it out! Tours of the canals the next day provided us a close up look at the creatures, flora and fauna. We walked the Caribbean beach and the streets of Tortuguero, buying a unique glass necklace. The next morning it was a boat ride back to our bus, then a tour of a pineapple plantation, in fact a Texas based company, Collins Street Bakery. We arrived in La Fortuna at the base of Arenal, but the summit of the volcano could not be seen because of the clouds. A long soak at Baldi, the local hot springs was very relaxing and a great way to spend the day. The next day after long drive we cruised the Rio Frio and even reached the border with Nicaragua where we posed for photos.

The Hanging Bridges were next on the agenda, so off we went on a long hike with breathtaking views......we were able to do all the bridges. Lake Arenal was beautiful and I wished we had more time to explore it, but we had to keep on schedule. After a long, long, long drive down a terrible road we reached the J W Marriott resort at Guanacaste......WOW! It was like living the lifestyle of the rich and famous........awesome! The next morning after a delicious breakfast I rented a kayak and went paddling in the ocean while Dale worked out in the gym, then we spent the remaining part of the day around the pool. Caravan had arranged an open bar for us, so we enjoyed a drink before dinner. On our way back to San Jose, we stopped at Monteverde for some ice cream, then lunch and shopping in Sarchi, finally we stopped in Grecia to meet Karen's mother and puppy, Lulu.

Arriving in San Jose we checked into the Aurola Hotel in the downtown area. Caravan had a special farewell dinner planned that night with entertainment.....a very nice end to a great tour. The next morning everyone was off to the airport....except us....we were ready begin the second part of our trip.

The tour was great, we saw lots, and had a great time, made some new friends.

Pura Vida!

New Fishing Rod!

2010-12-05T16:37:00.003-06:00

A foggy drive down to the coast, a nippy 46 degrees as we unloaded the boat at sunrise. The bay was as slick as glass, the first rays of sun danced across the surface producing beautiful patterns on the water. I was eager to try out the new fishing rod Dale had bought me for Xmas. We managed to bag 5 nice red fish before heading home....a great day! On the way home we stopped at a seafood market and... bought some fresh oysters....living near the Gulf Coast has its benefits!!!

Happy Turkey Day!!!!

2010-11-26T16:50:00.000-06:00

Cayman Again

2010-11-26T16:14:00.008-06:00

After another total knee replacement and a gallbladder operation, it was time to return to Grand Cayman for some R&R.......and diving. We packed our bags, grabbed a flight and were soon unpacking in our condo at Compass Point on the East End. It was good to see everyone and they greeted us like old friends.
Diving with Ocean Frontiers started the next morning with the boat leaving the dock at 8 am for a two tank dive....gosh it was good to be swimming with the fishes again. Dale spent the morning reading after a long walk and exploring.
Kayaking down the coastline was fun and challenging, especially having to paddle against a pretty strong wind, but the trip back was easy. We did take a break at a nice beach that we had all to ourselves.

Little did we know it was Pirate Week on Cayman and the island had lots of celebrations going on. One afternoon we drove down the East End Observance Day celebration, looking at artifacts from the island, listening to some rather loud music and sampling a piece of pumpkin cake.
I signed up for the night dive on Tuesday night, and it was terriffic! We saw octopus, lobster, a turtle, and lots of little creatures. Shortly after we surfaced we had the opportunity to watch the East End firework display.....a fitting end to a good dive.
After studying a map, we were off.....bound to snorkel the wreck of the Geneva Kathleen. Dale found the wreck and we soon spotted two lion fish swimming over the wreckage. We also spotted lobster, a ray, a flamingo tongue and a flounder......a good snorkel excursion for us!
On Thursday night the resort had a dinner for all the divers around the pool....barbecued chicken and ribs were yummy with all the sides...and we enjoyed talking with the other couples.

The week seem to fly by with two dives every morning and soon it was Friday and my Stingray Dive. Dale and I drove over to the Kaibo Marina to catch the dive boat...Dale found a hammock in the shade and decided to chill until I returned. The dive was good, stingrays all over....all looking for a handout of squid.
Saturday morning we packed, enjoyed a nice lunch, drove into the airport, returned our rental car, and caught our flight home.....another good week in Cayman had come to an end!

Paddling for Reds

2010-11-09T14:20:00.005-06:00

Booked another trip with "Hector the Hunk" to go fishing and paddling in Port Aranasas, met up with him and we headed to South Bay to put the kayaks in the water. It was a fantastic day on the water....a cool crisp morning with a light breeze blowing. Lots of boats dotted the bay, so did that mean the fish were biting? We paddled along looking for reds, Hector standing on his kayak to get a bird's eye view of the water. I was using a gold weedless spoon with my rod and reel, while Hector was using a fly rod.
I caught a nice red, just over the legal limit and put him on my stringer......my first redfish from a kayak! We caught lots of undersize fish, fun to catch, but we had to put them back to let them grow. Hector landed a red on his fly rod, but it was just short of the legal limit. Finally I hooked a really nice red, he put up a good fight, but soon I had him on my stringer.
I sure did want to catch another fish and limit out, but since we had drifted a long way, we had a long paddle back to our cars......against the wind! We loaded the kayaks and our gear.....a great day on the water and two nice fish!

Limited Out!

2010-11-05T19:54:00.007-05:00

Out on the water at POC early this morning.......Burrrr........42 degrees, a bit nippy! Dale and I enjoyed a day of fishing at POC with pal, Leslie. We caught a really nice 27 1/2 and 8 other nice reds, sure will be tasty on the grill. Lots of laughs, limited out, ice chest full......it don't get any better!

Wild Weekend!

2010-10-31T20:12:00.007-05:00

It has been a hectic weekend! On Friday night, we attended a surprise birthday party at Camp Colet for Kaye. Up early on Saturday, we flew to Brenham for lunch with Jim and Jean after the fly in at Elm Creek was canceled. On the way home from Brenham, we flew over the corn maze near Moulton, Tx. Saturday night, we went over to Yoakum for Carly and Jarrod's Halloween Party, boy we saw some wild costumes. Up early on Sunday, we flew to Port Aransas for lunch at Beach Station Street Grill, then I walked the beach and took photos, while Dale took a friend, Hector flying. Think I'm turning in early tonight....need some rest!!!!

Sista's Tour de Vino

2010-10-24T18:31:00.006-05:00

Packed and on my way to Fredericksburg to meet gal pal, Pam for a Sista's Tour de Vino weekend. We had booked a B&B, Brigid's Cottage, a small home in town with a patio and hot tub in the back. First stop was a yummy lunch at the Peach Tree Tea Room, then we checked in and unpacked, did some shopping on Main Street before dinner. We had made reservations at the Cotton Gin Cabernet Grill, and the food was excellent. We dropped in at the Crossroads Saloon and Steakhouse to catch some music and watch the Texas Rangers playoff game, before heading back to our cottage and the hot tub.

Saturday morning, we enjoyed an early morning walk around Fredericksburg, and a yummy breakfast at the Rather Sweet Bakery.....everything was soooo good!!! Walked back to our B&B and prepared for our wine tour. We made stops at Perdenales Cellar, Woodrose Winery, Becker Vineyards, Torre de Pietra, and Grape Creek Vineyards......our favorite being the Woodrose Winery. They were so warm and welcoming, served samplers of different wines with a plate of cheese and crackers, and also gave us a little education in "Wines and Wine Making". After the last vineyard it was time to head to Alamo Springs Cafe, a really neat place out in the middle of nowhere. We sat outside on the porch and enjoyed some great hamburgers with a good cold beer. They had a really good band playing and we stayed a while to listen to the music, also to watch the bats take flight out of a local cave. The warm water of the hot tub sure did feel good after our hectic day on the Wine Tour.
Sunday morning, we were up and out walking, admiring the old homes and beautiful architecture. Breakfast was at another bakery that was packed, the food was good!
We headed back to our place, packed up, enjoyed a little more time on the front porch swing before heading out....Pam back to Fort Worth and me back to Victoria.
The Sista's Tour de Vino was a success!!!

Kayak Class 101

2010-10-19T19:39:00.003-05:00

Today, Dale and I took a basic kayak course from Coastal Bend Kayaking in Aransas Pass, Texas. We met our guide and teacher, Hector and headed down to the water to unload. Hector briefed us on all the safety issues and equipment needed to kayak safely. He put his kayak in and demonstrated the proper strokes to use to maneuver the kayak.

Finally we were off, paddling quietly through the cuts in the grass and mangroves. Our guide pointed out the local birds and creatures as we glided along.
He had us practice our strokes and gave us pointers. Since we had brought our fishing gear, we decided to try some saltwater fishing in a kayak. We worked some cuts and shorelines....and also did some drift fishing. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining with a gentle breeze blowing in from the Gulf. We didn't catch any fish.......but we did have a great day out on the water!!

Two New Knees and Minus One Gallbladder

2010-10-12T13:29:00.004-05:00

After having two total knee replacements, Dale suffered a painful gallbladder attack resulting in the removal of his gallbladder on October 6 in Houston. We jokingly referred to this surgery as the "Drive Thru" operation......in and out. Hopefully this is our last surgical procedure of the year and he will be as good as new very soon.

Happy Birthday...My Hero!

2010-09-01T22:39:00.007-05:00

Celebrating Dale's birthday today was kinda difficult since he is still recovering from total knee replacement. I fixed him some of his favorites for lunch and for dessert.....a homemade dewberry pie. Later in the afternoon we drove out to the airport to check on the plane and to just get out of the house. As we left the hangar I drove over to the Public Gardens on the pretense of taking pictures. We walked around looking at the plants and ponds when I surprised him with his special gift. I had ordered a brick paver with his name and military service to be placed in the Military Honor Garden. He was so surprised to see his name among the other servicemen....a great way to honor his service to our country during the Vietnam War.

My Bionic Man

2010-08-25T21:06:00.003-05:00

On August 10.. Dale underwent his second total knee replacement at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston. Things ran about the same as the last surgery, except for a few new glitches to make it interesting. He was released from the hospital on Friday and we went home for him to recover and start rehab in Victoria.
This time we were better prepared and knew what to expect....so things went smoother. He started rehab at Warm Springs and his "Physical Terrorist" has been working him hard three days a week.
Things are progressing well and hopefully my "Bionic Man" will be going full speed soon!

Floating the Guadalupe

2010-08-06T20:17:00.005-05:00

Karen and I drove up to the New Braunfels area for a float trip on the Guadalupe River, a welcome relief from an extremely hot South Texas Day. After renting tubes, they drove us up river and dropped us off for our float. The river was COLD when we first got in, but soon felt great, a welcome relief from the sun.

The water was crystal clear and the current was slow, but we had all day. The first rapids really cooled us off, as we splashed our way down river. Taking a break we enjoyed a cold drink and snacks on the river bank. We finished our float and decided we would drive over to Gruene for a late lunch at Mozie's enjoying a couple of frozen margaritas. We made a few stops to shop in some of the stores before heading home.

A great day, with a great friend!

Back to the Brac with Lady GoDivers

2010-08-06T19:50:00.005-05:00

After flying into Grand Cayman and staying overnight, I was off to Cayman Brac and my first dive trip with the Lady GoDivers. It was great to be going "Back to the Brac" and seeing how it was rebuilt after hurricane Paloma nearly destroyed it in 2008. Patty, my roommate greeted me at the Brac Beach Resort, after unpacking, and grabbing lunch we waited for the others to arrive. Bonnie and Beth showed up later in the afternoon, with Mary, Lil, and Janice arriving late at night. Our 6 days of diving began the next morning with the valet pickup of our dive gear. We were assigned to the boat Little Sister, with our group the boat had about 20 divers onboard. We began each morning with a hearty breakfast, before heading down to catch the boat for our morning 2 tank dives. Arriving back at the resort about Noon we rinsed off before a tasty lunch and some down time to relax and float around the pool. The final dive of the day was in the afternoon with plenty of time to enjoy before dinner at night. Patty had booked 3 boat dives a day, 3 meals a day and 3 drinks a day package....which left time for much else, except sleep.

The weather was great the whole week, with a few thunderstorms during the night. The water was warm and the visibility was pretty good....making for some good diving. Unfortunately we saw many lionfish on our dives....in fact the last dive of the trip I spotted a group of 3 hanging out.....beautiful, but deadly to the reef ecosystem. The dive on the wreck of the Tibbett's was great and Patty even had me swim into a small opening for a photo.

Omar our waiter and bartender took very good care of us...fixing us his special "Mudslide" and one night making me his deadly "Bob Marley" which he set on fire before drinking. The food at the Brac was awesome, service was top notch, and the rooms were great. Several of us enjoyed a spa treatment......what a way to get spoiled! When not diving we enjoyed bicycling, kayaking, and stargazing at night......plus I began each morning with my cup of coffee and a walk on the beach. Another highlight was the morning I had coffee with Mr. Tibbetts the owner of the resort, quite a character. I even survived the initiation ceremony and became an official card carrying member of the Lady GoDivers.

Patty surprised us with gifts most nights and I brought fake tattoos for the group, lots of silly fun! We had a great time, lots of laughs, and made some new friends. The final day we left as we arrived at different times, I was the last to leave the island. It was a long day of travel and arrived home just before midnight to see my husband, whom I missed very much while I was away.

Attack of the Sand Fleas----Honduras!

2010-07-13T07:08:00.004-05:00

Dale, Laurie, Chris, and I left Houston headed to Roatan, Honduras just after Tropical Storm Alex has passed nearby. We landed in a light rain, with cloudy skies...but were greeted by the reps for CoCo View Dive Resort. We checked in to our over the water bungalow after a brief van ride and a short boat ride. Our room was nice with all the basics with a balcony overlooking the water, this is where we saw spotted eagle rays several mornings swimming by. After our required orientation and check out dive we were ready to board our dive boat CoCo I with dive master, Mark. The resort attracts a lot of hard core divers....with two walls and a wreck dive just offshore. The morning dives were a boat dive and then what they called a drop off dive...meaning they dropped you off on the one of the two walls and you made your own way back to the resort. The visibility wasn't the greatest, the water was warm with almost no current. I managed to get in 13 dives during out stay.

We enjoyed the new resort managers, fellow Texans Deb and Mitch...and met folks from all over. We also booked a flight in a seaplane and enjoyed meeting Bob and Clay, our pilot. The plane was an Air Cam, with an open cockpit, great for photography and sightseeing. Honduras was beautiful from the air!
The highlight of our trip was a Shark Dive we booked....the dive was great with lots of sharks, but the boat ride was HELL! Winds and rough seas made the boat trip miserable for all, with several people getting sick. The sharks, all pregnant female Caribbean reef sharks cruised among the divers, passing very close by. The highlight was a demonstration of a feeding frenzy with the dive master opened a bucket with some fish in it.....that was totally awesome! The dive ended and getting back on the rolling, pitching boat was another adventure.
Dale enjoyed lots of hammock time, reading and sleeping....while we were diving. The food was served buffet style and was about average....with only the Conch Stew being horrible! Dale loved their brewed ice tea which was available all day and of course we looked forward to "Happy Hour" every day!
The resort was nice, very safe....but a swimming pool for relaxing would have been nice. Dale and I did snorkel one day and the shallow reef was beautiful, with lots of huge sea fans.
The WORST thing about the whole trip were the nasty, tiny Sand Fleas that attacked us. We all received bites, but I won the prize for the most....despite many measures to prevent them. Boy do they itch!!! I arrived back in Texas looking like I had a disease!!
The flight home was easy, and we arrived back home safe and sound.....covered with lots of flea bites.

Flight to Port A

2010-05-29T20:35:00.004-05:00

Our morning flight was bumpy and warm, but we landed in Port Aransas just after noon and caught the trolley into town for lunch. We headed to Beach Station Street Grill, one of our favorites in Port Aransas. Dale had fried shrimp and I had the grilled Mahi Mahi with fresh Pico, both were excellent. Since the island was packed with people for the holiday weekend we decided not to venture down to the beach....it was wall to wall with people and cars. We took off, climbed up high, the air was cool and the flight home was smooth.

Hey Man....It's Cayman!

2010-05-02T20:36:00.007-05:00

The airport was quite and our plane took off on schedule....landing in Grand Cayman on time. We grabbed our bags and picked up our rent car before heading out to Compass Point on the East End. The staff greeted us warmly and told us they were waiting for us to arrive, showing us to our condo #102....WOW! The condo was.....great, fully furnished, a complete kitchen, Cable TV and even a jacuzzi tub. We unloaded the car, unpacked, stowed the groceries, and made ourselves at home. I ran over to the dive shop to register and check on my dive time for the next day. After a light supper, a hot shower, some time on the internet....we turned in.
Up early, I placed my dive gear outside the door for pickup...this is valet diving, they take care of all your stuff...you just show up, jump on the boat and go diving.
I was anxious to use my new 3 mil wetsuit that I finally purchased. With only 5 on the boat, we got in two dives very quickly...the water was warm and visibility was great. Dale was waiting when we docked and we quickly drove up the main road to the fried fish stand at the Blow Hole, the staff had told me the Mahi Mahi was really good. We enjoyed our lunch on a picnic table across the road from the Blow Hole while talking with other tourist on Cayman. Dale grilled for supper and then we watched the last rays of sunlight while sitting on the pier. Our first day on Grand Cayman came to relaxing end.
The week consisted of 12 great dives, 2 awesome night dives, lots of great weather and a first class dive operation. My deepest dive was 102 feet and the famous Cayman Wall was breathtaking. I saw sharks, rays, turtles, tarpon, lobster, crabs, barracuda and a beautiful reef system. The night dives were shallow and so easy, with hot chocolate, muffins and warm towels when we surfaced.
Dale and I were really impressed with everyone, so warm and friendly........made us feel right at home.
During the mornings while I was diving, Dale would walk and work out in the training pool. In the afternoon we went snorkeling, sightseeing, or made a run to the local grocery store. We enjoyed cooking almost all our meals at the condo and enjoying them on the patio overlooking the Caribbean.
Our final day, we enjoyed a late breakfast, finished packing and headed to the other end of the island for a final picnic lunch before checking in at the airport. It was a great end to a great week. Our flight home was on time and easy, no problems!

Atchetee Weekend

2010-04-28T21:18:00.003-05:00

Friday morning we packed up and headed out to Magnolia for a "Atchetee Weekend" at Harlo and Rhonda's new home. We were the first to arrive, unpacked, and waited for Evon and Linda to arrive. Rhonda fixed a great supper, and we had lots of laughs sharing stories of these three brothers growing up in El Campo. Saturday morning after breakfast, the gals headed to town on a grocery shopping trip to pick up fajitas for dinner Saturday night. Harlo turned on the heater for the spa, we all piled in for a long soak....felt pretty darn good. We stayed in the jacuzzi so long, we all got a little to much sun...but had a great time. Dinner that night was a feast to say the least. Sunday Evon and Linda left after lunch for home, while we planned to stay another night. Sunday night we settled in the theater chairs in the media room and watched two movies....."Blind Side" and "Crazy Hearts"...one great and one not so great! Monday Dale and I packed up, said our good-byes and headed to Houston for his doctor visit.
It was a great weekend with the Atchetee brothers....so many laughs, so many stories, lots of good food......plus a beautiful new home to enjoy. Thanks Harlo and Rhonda!

Pollen Count

2010-04-19T18:23:00.006-05:00

Grabbed my camera Sunday and went out to take a few more photos of the wildflowers out in the country. I think the flowers have peaked, and noticed some of them have begun to fade...it has been an amazing season this year. It was easy to see after a few macro shots why the pollen count is off the chart this year. Pollen, pollen everywhere!!

SandFest Sista's Weekend

2010-04-12T16:46:00.009-05:00

Picked up my old high school friend, Karen and headed to Corpus Christi airport to pick up my friend, Pam that was flying in from Fort Worth for SandFest Sista's Weekend in Port Aransas. We stopped after crossing the JFK bridge for lunch at Snoopy's, a great meal sitting outside on the deck on a beautiful Spring day. We then drove over to Port Aransas, checked out our rental, made plans to rent a cart the next day and purchased 10 pounds of fresh Gulf shrimp....right off the boat. We drove down to the beach to watch the sand sculptors begin their works of art, plus take photos. Lanell and her friend, Brett drove down after they got off work to join our group. Dinner that evening was at Beach Station Street Bar and Grill.......more seafood!

Saturday was a beautiful,sunny, day and Karen fixed breakfast for all at our house. We then picked up "Miss Kitty" .....our pretty pink rental cart for the day. We drove down to SandFest, checked it all out, shopped at the vendors and enjoyed a big piece of cheesecake dipped in chocolate......OMG! We went back to our place for a light lunch on the porch before sitting out again to cruise around Port A in "Miss Kitty"....a real eye catcher. Stops were made at the jetties, the beach, the marina, and the birding center....a hunt for the local alligator proved futile. After a few great drinks, including the now famous "Thai Fresh" we prepared our Shrimp Fest.....boiled, fried, and grilled with some sides. Sitting around the table we enjoyed lots of laughs and some real funny stories.
Sunday morning I got up early and drove down to the beach for some photos while the rest of the group....slept in. Karen prepared "Amaretto French Toast" for breakfast, an original for sure! A final trip down to SandFest to check the sand sculptures out and pick our favorites. Lunch was boiled shrimp on the porch before packing up and heading home. Karen and I dropped Pam off at the airport for her flight and made our way back to Victoria after a great weekend.
We had lots of fun, lots of laughs and enjoyed lots of shrimp at our SandFest Sista's Weekend in Port Aransas. It was true "Estrogen Therapy"!!!!!

Springtime in Texas

2010-03-30T16:01:00.003-05:00

"Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

Grabbed my camera after lunch on Sunday and headed out to capture the local wildflowers in bloom. Heading down Hwy 87, I turned off on the Old Thomaston River Road and spotted some fields of flowers, lots of yellow and red blooms blanketed the countryside. Turning on FM 236 into Cuero I stopped several times to take some shots, even spotted a horse grazing in a field of bluebonnets.

Leaving Cuero I followed my map to the community of Cheapside, a old wooden church was surrounded by a huge field of red wildflowers and made a great photo opt. After returning to Cuero I decided to head to Yoakum and that it where I found an amazing field of bluebonnets on Alt. Hwy. 77. The whole pasture was covered with bluebonnets in full bloom, a breathtaking picture...blue skies and bluebonnets. On the way home on Hwy. 111 I found a big patch of yellow and red flowers and stopped again to take pictures.

I was anxious to get home and download my photos. It was a great trip hunting for wildflowers, even if the wind was howling and made macro photography impossible. After a terrible drought last summer I was pleasantly surprised to find lots of wildflowers along the roads and in the pastures.

New Knee

2010-03-11T18:53:00.004-06:00

Well it is a little over a week now since Dale had total knee replacement on his right leg in Houston at Saint Luke's Hospital. The surgery went well, and all the staff at the hospital were wonderful. Dale loved having two pain pumps in the hospital, kept him happy!!!
It was an exhausting week and we were glad to get home.
Dale started physical therapy on Monday morning at Warm Springs in Victoria. They really work him out and he comes home tired. I guess getting the pain meds regulated has been our biggest obstacle, but hopefully we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The first few days were really a killer......lack of sleep, nausea, loss of appetite, and pain management were taking their toll on us. I found keeping up with the cooking, grocery shopping, washing clothes, driving Dale to PT, making runs to the drugstore for more pain meds a full time job. After a day of dishes stacking up on the counter...we even opted for paper plates.
I think things will get better quickly...hope so!!!! The other knee is in 6 - 8 weeks.....Maybe?

2nd Anniversary Cruise

2010-02-23T18:51:00.013-06:00

We left for Galveston, ready to board Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas for a week long cruise to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Shortly after lunch, we were on board enjoying lunch in the Windjammer Cafe. After lunch, we found our cabin #9601 and unpacked after the luggage arrived. We joined Vinny and Carolyn from New York in the Royal Suite for a Sail Away Party. It was great to stand on the balcony with a glass of wine as we left Galveston as the sun set over the bay.

Dinner that night was at Portofino's, an wonderful Italian Restaurant, the food and service were fantastic. They even prepared a surprise anniversary cake and sang "Happy Anniversary" to us. Dale surprised me a beautiful long stem red rose. We enjoyed the Welcome Aboard show before turning in.

The next morning we had a Meet and Mingle after breakfast with the group from Cruise Critic. Dale headed to the Solarium Pools and I took part in the Cabin Crawl, fun and lots of laughs.
We enjoyed a wonderful show by the Texas Tenors and even had a chance to talk with them in Grand Cayman. They became famous after appearing on "America's Got Talent".

Our first port was Cozumel, my dive trip was canceled because of rough seas, so we headed into town for lunch and margaritas. The next day, we made port in Grand Cayman and had a Stingray Sand Bar excursion planned. The wind was still blowing, but we made the trip, swam with the stingrays and Dale even got a Stingray "Hickie". Our final port, Jamaica was canceled because of gale force winds...so we had another sea day to kill.

We ate way too much, worked out in the gym, soaked in the hot tubs, got in some dancing and saw some good shows. On "Fat Tuesday" we watched a group put on a Mardi Gras parade down the Promenade, throwing beads to the crowd. We did get invited to a special Crown and Anchor Society lunch and enjoyed the company of the Hotel Manager, an interesting guy. The weather was kinda of funky, not much sun, lots of wind and a little cool. We met lots of interesting people from all over the world.

Our last night we decided to make reservations at Portofino's again and enjoyed another wonderful meal.....a fitting way to end the cruise. Our arrival in Galveston was delayed by heavy fog and we docked much later than expected, but since we only had a short drive it didn't make much difference.

Mom's Mystery Trip

2010-01-31T18:29:00.006-06:00

To celebrate Mom's upcoming 82nd birthday I planned a "Mystery Trip" for her. We left early Friday morning in a light drizzle and headed North. She enjoyed the ride, didn't ask to many questions, as I told her I had a really nice tent campsite booked for us for the weekend. We arrived in Fredricksburg just after noon, had a delicious lunch at The Peach Tree Restaurant. After lunch we drove out to our the Pear Tree Cottage at the Chuckwagon Inn B & B and checked in.
It was a very cute cottage, with a huge canopy King size bed, a small kitchenette, a big whirlpool tub and a cozy fireplace....which came in very handy!!

After unpacking we toured the Hangar Hotel and restaurant at the airport, drove into town to check out things out. Becky, the owner of the B & B recommended the Der Lindenbaum for some good German food before the Rockbox Theater. The schnitzel, red cabbage and potatoes were to die for, and we left stuffed. We had reservations for the 8 pm performance at the Rockbox Theater, a musical production. The show was great, good music and lots of laughs.

The next morning Becky and Sam fixed us some Cheese Grits, Buttermilk Biscuits with Cream Gravy and Sausage Patties...with hot coffee and juice. We enjoyed breakfast with the other folks staying at the B & B, and Sam amused us with his stories. We had a full day planned, off we went to the James Avery Showroom, shopping on Main St., the Wildseed Farm, with several stops at local wineries, and a stop in Luchenbauch, Tx. Our last stop of the day was a 10 mile trek off the main highway, down a country curvy road, over one lane bridges and up and down lots of hills to the Alamo Springs General Store and Cafe for the "BEST" hamburger in Texas.

Mom thought I had lost my mind and was sure we would wind up lost or in San Antonio....but finally we pulled into the Cafe which was packed. We had a great hamburger, fries, onion rings, great music and even made some new friends. The band even dedicated a song to the two ladies that drove all the way from Victoria to hear them play. A beautiful bright orange moon was rising as we drove back to our cottage. We cranked up the fireplace and watched the Miss America pageant on TV before crashing.

Sunday morning we enjoyed a breakfast of a yummy Fritata, fried grit cakes, toast, Fredricksburg peach jelly and a peach crisp with lots coffee and juice sprinkled with Sam's colorful stories. Soon it was time to head home....the "Mystery Trip" was over.

Ringing in the New Year in Curacao!

2010-01-07T14:00:00.011-06:00

Our flight to Curacao was short and sweet, with our rental car waiting in the parking lot. After a brief stop at the only grocery store open we headed to Westpunt, and All West Apartments. We arrived, and were pleasantly surprised to find a wonderful apartment with a million dollar view of the Caribbean. We unpacked, made a trip to the dive shop, Ocean Encounters West to make sure everything was set with them. That evening we had some great pizza at Sol Food with Sunshine. Up early, we made a trip back into to town for a shopping trip to the Centrum market. Since we had a full kitchen, a great balcony with a nice patio table and chairs.....almost every meal was outside. Sure was nice sipping a hot cup of coffee in the morning, enjoying my toasted "Pan Dushi", a Dutch sweet bread with raisins with a glass of juice on the balcony watching the Caribbean and the local fishermen. Monday, Dale took me to the dive shop for two boat dives, again the current and visibility was kinda tricky, but some good diving. We did spot a lionfish while diving, so we know these destructive creatures have made their way South.

After two days of boat diving and a shore dive, we headed into Willemstad to explore. We checked out the floating market, the Queen Emma floating bridge, the Nena Sanchez Gallery, enjoyed lunch at a sidewalk cafe, and got in some shopping. A cruise ship was in port, so the town was buzzing with tourist.
We packed a picnic lunch another day and headed to Playa Lagun, for a day of relaxing at the beach and some snorkeling. We found a shady spot, rented two recliners and had a great day.
Andreas, the manager of the apartments, dropped by one afternoon with a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the New Year. We grilled steaks that night and set our alarm to watch the local fireworks display off the balcony. We popped the cork on the bottle and toasted the New Year on Curacao..."Happy New Year"!
Our last evening on Curacao we went back to Sol Food for a beautiful sunset and some more great pizza.....turned out everyone staying at All West was there. Sunshine surprised me with ice cream and a brownie, plus she got everyone to sing "Happy Birthday"!
We packed that night and prepared to head home after two great weeks in the Caribbean. The airport in Aruba was crazy, long lines, with tightened security, but we arrived home safe and sound.

Christmas in Aruba!

2010-01-07T13:41:00.008-06:00

We arrived in Aruba on December 19 after a direct flight on Continental. We waited for over an hour for our luggage, but it finally all arrived. We loaded up our Kia rental car and headed to Sunset Beach Studios. That night we decided to eat at Smokey Joe's and then turn in early after a long day of travel. The next morning we made a grocery run to Ling and Sons for supplies and settled into our apartment. Monday morning I was up early since I had two boat dives booked with JADS. We had some current and visibility wasn't the best, but we did an awesome plane wreck dive, I even had a chance to make my way into the cockpit. The next day we dove the wreck of the Jane Sea with the stern sitting at about 80 feet, it was encrusted with sponges and corals. Since we had brought our own meat, Dale enjoyed grilling almost every night on the patio. Good old home cooking!!! On Christmas Eve we had dinner reservations at Madame Janette's, a wonderful Dutch restaurant on the island, our meal was fantastic and we left stuffed.
We made trips to Baby Beach, Mango Halto, Alta Vista, JADS dive shop, and found a new spot called, Dos Playas. Aruba is growing and new construction could be seen, hope our little island doesn't change to much. After Christmas we went to Ling and Sons for some "Oliebollens" a Dutch treat that translates to "Oily Balls"...they bring good luck!
Our friends, Steve and Mary showed up and we enjoyed dinner with them on Christmas on our patio. It was good to see them, it has been to long! We also met some wonderful people from Holland and Canada during our stay.
Soon it was time to pack and head to Curacao, our stay in Aruba was over. We were up early on the morning of December 26 for our 9 am flight on DAE to Curacao...the next part of our adventure.

Snow today in Victoria

2009-12-04T16:11:00.002-06:00

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful,

And since we've no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Girls Gone Wild in Cozumel

2009-11-29T19:24:00.010-06:00

My daughter, Lanell and I left early Sunday morning to catch our flight to Cozumel for a "Girl's Trip". We checked into our room at Casa Del Mar, made a stop at the Mega Store for snacks and went into town for dinner at Casa Dennis, they have GREAT mango margaritas. The locals had gathered in the square for Sunday evening Salsa dancing and we enjoyed watching.
The next morning we joined Cristina with Dive with Crisitna at the Caleta marina and boarded her boat the "Nena". Lanell decided to snorkel with Tony the deck hand while I made my two dives. The first dive of the day was my 100th, and we celebrated on the boat afterward. We captured a juvenile lionfish on the second dive of the day. Back at the hotel we got in the pool and enjoyed a drink before supper.

Dinner that night was at Especias, the food was great with hugs and kisses from all our old friends. The next day Lanell decided to do a Scuba Resort Course...to see how she liked diving. Luis, Cristina's husband was her teacher for the course. She took a brief class on the way out and geared up for a shallow dive. She did good and made a second dive later in the day.

We had two great dives, visibility was outstanding and the current wasn't to strong. That night we decided to try a new restaurant, Kinta.........the food was amazing and the garden setting was beautiful.
We had a Cream of Black Bean Soup that was to die for. We walked around the square, shopped, and took a taxi back to the hotel. Our last day of diving we arose to cloudy skies, had breakfast and took a taxi to the marina to meet our dive boat. The water was calm as we set out to dive Palancar Bricks, but we did see some dark clouds over towards Cancun. Lanell was diving again with Luis plus a father and his young son. We followed Cristina swimming thru many openings and coming out on the wall at about 80 feet. I noticed how dark it seemed and as we got shallower I could see the wave action above.

Cristina wrote on her slate that a bad storm had hit, the surface looked like a washing machine. Wind gust were reported at 30 mph with 6 to 8 foot seas during the storm. We stayed down as long as possible hoping the storm would pass, but finally surfaced to find the storm howling. I got on the boat only to find that Luis and his group weren't on yet....that was scary!!! We finally picked them up and headed back to the marina. It was a long, rough, ride.....many on the boat got seasick. Finally we pulled into the marina......boy were we glad to step foot on dry land.
Back at the hotel all the divers sat around
telling their "Storm Stories".

We got up Thanksgiving morning, had a late breakfast, took a taxi to the airport and
caught our flight to Houston. We had a great trip, Lanell got a taste of diving, we
survived a terrible storm, captured another lionfish, and I completed my
100th dive.

Lunch Bunch

2009-11-11T16:23:00.007-06:00

Drove over to El Campo this morning for the monthly "Lunch Bunch" at the Firehouse Bar and Grill.

"Lunch Bunch" is a monthly get together with Dale's classmates from the 1961 graduating class of El Campo High School. We had missed the last several meetings, so it was good to see everyone again.

We all ordered lunch and spent time catching up, laughing, and having a great time.

A Wild Weekend

2009-11-09T19:30:00.006-06:00

Friday started off with a guided fishing trip in Rockport on an air boat, my first air boat ride. We left the dock in a fog and headed out across the bay.
Fishing was slow, because the tide was high, the Reds were scattered. We ran all over the place, catching a Red or two. We saw 3 whopping cranes, a fat coyote and lots of birds. We caught our limit and headed back to the dock at Goose Island State Park. It was a great trip and lots of fun!!!

Saturday morning we took off to visit Jean and Jim in Marble Falls at their new place in an air park. We made it as far as Gonzales before we landed because of ground fog. We took off again after spending almost an hour on the ground and landed at their place just before lunch. We grabbed some lunch and went to a Car Show in Marble Falls......looking at bunch of cars, street rods, etc.

We had planned to depart Sunday after lunch, but low ceilings and thunderstorms canceled our plans and we spent another night with Jim and Jean. Finally about 2 pm on Monday the skies cleared enough to head back home, so we said goodbye and lifted off headed South.
We landed safe and sound, put the plane up and got home before 5 pm. A long, long weekend!

Pumpkins and Pilots

2009-10-31T16:58:00.003-05:00

Lifted off this morning headed to the Elm Creek Halloween Fly-In near New Braunfels. It was a clear, crisp, calm morning....and flying was great. We landed shortly after our friends, Jim and Jean from Marble Falls. The guys went off to check out planes, while Jean and I sat and talked, enjoying a beautiful Fall morning.

We had a great Bar B Q lunch with lots of yummy desserts to pick from. Since it was Halloween, Dale decided to go in costume........a pilot of course. Funny thing, a lot of the guys came as pilots. A few others dared to dress in costume and I did see a Witch or two among the crowd.

We sat around visiting, talking airplanes and watching the planes take-off and land on the grass strip in the air park. After a great visit it was time to head back to Victoria and put Miss Ice Tea Too in the hangar.

Limited Out!!!!!

2009-10-28T19:07:00.007-05:00

Up early this morning, we packed our lunch and headed out to Port O'Connor for some fishing. The wind was already blowing as we prepared to put the boat in the water at Charlie's. With the tides running high, and the wind howling we decided not to cross the bay, Dale thought we should try fishing in the Lagoon.
A good choice! Before our picnic lunch we had four Reds in the ice chest, needing only two more to reach our legal limit. We caught lots of "Rat Reds" and a couple small trout as we drifted. Finally we got another legal Red and now we only needed one.
We went back to some spots we had fished earlier in the day hoping to catch that final Red. Dale had one on his line, I just knew it was a keeper,
but it only measured 19 inches. Dale put him
back in the water to grow bigger. Finally Dale
hooked a fish and this one was a keeper. Yahoo!
By 2 pm we were headed back to the
docks.....We limited out on Reds today!!!!

Clear Blue Skies

2009-10-24T18:16:00.004-05:00

With clear blue skies in the forecast we decided to fly to Port Aransas for lunch and some beach time. Taking off from Victoria, we could immediately see the bay on this cool, clear October morning. We flew the beach all the way down and landed before lunch.
After a short trolley ride we had a tasty lunch of fried shrimp at Beach & Station Street Grill, finishing just in time to catch the trolley to the beach for a quarter....a real bargain. Dale found a table and I set off down the beach to explore and take pictures. Lots of very interesting things along the beach, including a starfish that had just washed ashore. I have never seen a starfish on a Texas beach.....a first! Walking along the jetties I watched people fishing, but didn't really see anybody catching much. Soon it was time to hop back on the trolley for a ride back to the airport and our flight home.

"Hogar Dulce Hogar" in Huatlco, MX

2009-10-18T20:26:00.012-05:00

We just returned from a wonderful week in Huatulco, Mexico at Villa Pacifico with our friends, Tim and Pam from Fort Worth, Texas. Carlos was at the airport to pick us up and take us quickly to the Villa, our friends Rebecca and Hugo were waiting to greet us and make us feel at home. Quickly we changed into our swimsuits, jumped in the pool and enjoyed a Margarita. The next day we grabbed a taxi to spend the day at the beach called La Entrega. Snorkeling along the rocks we took Pam into the "Cave" and to a small secluded beach, while Tim played his guitar on the beach and enjoyed a cold cervasa.
Monday morning we met our fishing charter boat (panga) at Santa Cruz Marina and left the harbor at sunrise for a day of deep sea fishing. We caught two Mahi Mahi and two big Sailfish, had a great day even if the panga was a bit small and had no bathroom. A real Mexican adventure..... fishing with Jesus on the White Shark!!! Rebecca grilled the Mahi Mahi that night for supper. Tuesday we relaxed at the Villa....lounging by the pool, reading in the hammock under the palapa, listening to Tim play, and swimming at the beach below the Villa. Wednesday Carlos picked us up for a tour of an old coffee plantation and a wonderful waterfall up in the Sierra Madre mountains. The waterfall was breathtaking and even if the water was a bit chilly, alright it was cold, but we had a ball! Swinging on ropes, jumping off the rocks and even climbing behind the falls. A Oaxacan lunch was served in the old plantation dining room and we toured the old coffee plantation. It was a full day, but we enjoyed every minute. Thursday we rented the car from the Villa, went into La Crucecita for some shopping at the Mercado, and a light lunch at Pollo Imperial. Driving down the coast we stopped and enjoyed a cold beer at Barra de la Cruz and La Bocana, both surfing beaches. That evening we had dinner at our friend, Juan's restaurant the Kristal Rose in La Crucecita......we left stuffed. Friday morning Carlos picked us up for a trip to a secluded beach, San Augustin....it was a long, long, long, bumpy ride. We had the whole beach to ourselves most of the day. A few rain showers from hurricane Rick kept us under the big palapa part of the day at La Casa del Abuelo, where we had a wonderful lunch. Tim entertained us with his guitar while Dale laid claim to a hammock. Pam and I enjoyed playing in the waves with two young Mexican girls.....trying to ride the waves like kids. Saturday arrived to soon and it was time to pack after breakfast. Rebecca sent us to the airport after a "light" lunch , our final meal at the Villa. Carlos picked us up, we said our goodbyes and soon we were on our Continental flight to Houston.
We had a great week in Huatulco at Villa Pacifico. Seeing all our old friends, enjoying lots of laughs, seeing new beautiful sights, wonderful meals and making lots of great memories.

Raindrops Falling on my Head!!!

2009-10-05T13:36:00.004-05:00

We had a wet, wet weekend at the Warrenton/Round Top Antique Fair, rain started Saturday morning growing heavier as the day went on. Friday, Karen and I enjoyed lunch in La Grange at Bistro 108, yummy!! We drove directly to Round Top for the Arts and Craft Fair around the square...shopping the rest of the afternoon. Ingelside Bed and Breakfast was our hang out for the weekend in Brenham, all twelve of us. We enjoyed wine and cheese every afternoon swinging and talking on the front porch, especially Karen who can swing at break neck speed!! Saturday we woke to light drizzle, had breakfast and headed to Warrenton. Shop, shop, shop! The rain really began to come down as we headed back to the B&B. Sunday everything was soaked and muddy, most of the vendors were packing up...we made a few stops and headed home.

$100 Brenham Burger

2009-09-27T15:43:00.003-05:00

Flying again today....after fueling the plane, we departed for Brenham and the Southern Flyer Diner for lunch. We had clear skies, a good tail wind, and a smooth flight landing just before lunch. I grabbed a table on the patio so we could enjoy the great weather and watch the planes in the pattern while we ate our burgers and fries. We sat out on the front porch after lunch and chatted with pilots out of Pearland before taking off for home. The flight was pretty smooth, we landed, and put the plane up......................another good day of flying!!!

Under the Wire Fly-In 2009

2009-09-26T21:07:00.006-05:00

Up early this morning, but the weather kept us grounded....fog and a low ceiling. We finally touched down shortly after 11am and the planes began pouring in......guess everybody got held up with the weather.

Dale parked the plane and we unpacked our stuff....chairs, coolers, and picnic lunch. It was great eating our picnic lunch under the shade of a large oak tree near the runway. Dale made the rounds talking to the other pilots while I grabbed my camera to take pictures.
We saw lots of old friends we hadn't seen in a long time and enjoyed catching up. Lots of folks stopped by to admire the plane, ask questions and take a look inside the cockpit. We flew home, put the plane in the hangar and went into town for Mexican food. A good day, punching holes in the sky!!!!

Colorado Vacation

2009-09-18T19:26:00.005-05:00

Our trip to Colorado has come to an end, and we made it safely home after almost 3,000 miles on the road. We had a great trip, saw some beautiful country, enjoyed the cool, crisp weather, made some new friends and had a wonderful stay at Country Sunshine Bed and Breakfast. This was Dale's first stay at a B & B, and it will be hard to top the hospitality of Walter and Jodi, Walter's culinary skills and the natural beauty of Colorado. The train ride from Durango to Silverton was breathtaking.......even if Dale did almost freeze. The aspens were just beginning to change colors from green to yellow to orange.
We had a great time and hope to return soon.

Land of Enchantment

2009-09-17T19:09:00.007-05:00

Up this morning to a light rain, cool weather and cloudy skies, grabbed breakfast at Denny's before heading out. Sure missing Walter this morning!!!

We drove miles and miles across New Mexico.....seeing cactus, rocks, scrub brush and lots of open prairie. At Valley of Fires we stopped to check out a huge lava flow that happened millions of years ago, quite an impressive site to see.

Driving into the mountains toward Cloudcroft we saw snow on the shoulder of the road and snow plows parked along side the road.....weird!!! Lunch was in Artesia where we enjoyed a big steak and huge salad bar.....left stuffed! As the skies cleared and the temperature rose we saw huge green fields of alfalfa being irrigated and big pecan orchards lined the road on both sides.

We crossed the state line and decided Fort Stockton would be our stop for the night.
Tomorrow we return home after a week on the road and a great trip to Colorado!

Rocky Mountain High

2009-09-16T21:03:00.009-05:00

After another delicious breakfast....banana nut pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit with yogurt and granola, juice and coffee.....we bid farewell to Walter and Jodi at Country Sunshine B & B and all our little furry friends.

Dale wanted to visit a huge Kubota dealership just outside Durango......a guy thing, so off we went.

Then we made a stop at Animas Air Park, to check out the planes, runway, and visit with some airplane guys. The last stop in Durango was down at the Animas River to watch some fly fishermen trying to catch rainbow trout.

Finally it was time to leave Durango and head to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Shortly after crossing into New Mexico we saw a fruit stand and decided to get some Colorado peaches and apples for the road, they are sooooo good! The landscape changed dramatically as we drove South into New Mexico.

Lunch stop was in Bloomfield, NM where we had a delicious enchilada plate for only $4.99......what a bargain and it even came with a wonderful sopapilla and clover honey. Back on the road we decided to stop in Socorra, NM for the night, but arrived at 6 pm and found most all the hotels were full. Finally Dale found a Days Inn and we got a room for the night. Another day on the road comes to an end!!!

San Juan Circle

2009-09-15T21:13:00.004-05:00

It was time for breakfast again, and Walter served sweet potato waffles with toasted pecans, sausage, fresh fruit, juice and coffee to start our morning. The San Juan Circle was on our agenda today...Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Tellruide, Dolores, then back to Durango and the Country Sunshine B & B.

We stopped and managed to get some photos of the train as it made its daily trip to Silverton.

After a cup of hot coffee in Silverton we explored the old cemetery, checked out an abandoned mine, took photos of the train coming into town and got a bowl of soup for lunch at the Handlebar Restaurant.

The road to Ouray was full of switchbacks, but with jaw dropping views and vistas. Our stop at Box Canyon Falls was great and we checked out main street in Ouray before leaving.

On our way to Ridgway we saw beautiful pastures and ranches, with lots of horses. In the higher elevations the Aspen were starting to change colors and I'm sure in a week or so will be at their peak. They seem to turn from green, to golden yellow to a bright orange. We made it back to Durango before dark, grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to the B & B..... completing 230 miles, reaching 10,900 feet elevation....the San Juan Circle a great trip. The weather was great today, cool but not cold with just a few rain drops.

Tomorrow we start home, hoping to pack up Walter and bring him home......a really great host and chef.

Soaking Away the Day at Pagosa Springs

2009-09-14T20:42:00.008-05:00

After a great nights sleep, we rose to a beautiful crisp morning in Durango. Walter served us a wonderful breakfast on the back porch under the warm morning sun. Today we had a compote of fresh fruit with mango and blackberries, green chili cheese breakfast casserole with fresh salsa, Southern cornbread with lemon honey butter, bacon, juice and coffee. It was sooooooo good! We sat around with the other guest talking about everyone's plans for the day.
We decided to drive over to Pagosa Springs and visit the Spa/Springs to soak away the day. After changing we decided to start in the coolest pool and work our way up to the warmer ones. The water was great, not much of a sulfur smell, and sure did relax all our aches and pains.

We moved around from pool to pool.....89 degrees up to 104 degrees. We avoided the "Lobster Pot" at 114 degrees. The Spa is set on the banks of the San Juan river and the scenery is beautiful. The last pool we tried had a waterfall that provided the best water massage with a great view of the river.

We headed back to Durango, grabbed supper at the Red Snapper, and made our way back to our B & B.
Tomorrow we are doing the San Juan Circle.....Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Dolores, Mancos, etc.......making a circle back to Durango. It is suppose to be a very scenic drive, hoping to get some great photos.
Walter's Creme Brulee ended a wonderful day in Durango.......Life is good!

All Aboard!

2009-09-13T21:14:00.003-05:00

Up early this morning after a fierce thunderstorm last night. We had told Walter we would grab breakfast in town before the train, but he insisted on feeding us. Fresh fruit topped with yogurt and granola, coconut french toast, bacon, juice and coffee were served before we left the B & B.

We boarded the train, the morning air was brisk and we put on our jackets for the ride in the open car to Silverton.

It was a beautiful ride, with so many photo opportunities. We arrived in Silverton just before lunch and headed to the Handlebar Restaurant. A cup of Cream of Green Chili Soup sure did hit the spot and warmed us up.

Walking around Silverton, checking out the shops and stopping for an ice cream filled our time before the return trip. We left Silverton at 2 pm and headed back down to Durrango, the trip back was just a breathtaking, but much warmer. We did get "mooned" by a group of 5 young people as we neared town, quite a Durango Welcome!!! Dinner was at a Texas Bar B Que spot, then it was back to the B & B for time in the hot tub before sunset.

A glass of wine and the hot tub just about did me in, sure was a great way to relax after a long day on the train.

Rocky Mountain High

2009-09-12T21:42:00.005-05:00

A crisp 48 degrees this morning.....blueberry pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit with cream fresh, juice and coffee greeted us. Walter really served a fantastic breakfast this morning to all his guest as we sat around the table sharing our plans for the day.

We crossed over the Animas River, stopping at Baker's Bridge then down a winding road along the river lined with ranches and beautiful homes. A stop at a wonderful bakery to grab a sandwich for our picnic lunch at Vallecito Lake. The lake was low, but still awesome and we enjoyed lunch on a picnic table.

After Dale had a brief nap, we headed to Bayfield to visit one of his friends from Houston PD days. They insisted we stay for supper, so we enjoyed a great meal with them on their patio. As the sun set we headed back to our B & B, arriving just in time for Walter's Chocolate Mousse......WOW!
Tomorrow we are up early, off on the train from Durango to Silverton.

Where the Deer and Antelope Roam

2009-09-11T21:42:00.003-05:00

Left Roswell this morning heading to Santa Fe, saw a few antelope grazing out on the prairie. The road was long and straight, but beautiful in a unique way. We passed lush green fields of alfalfa, saw a few wineries and vineyards, and lots of strings of red chilies drying. We took a scenic route to Chama, New Mexico, then on to Pagosa Springs....into Durango. We pulled into Country Sunshine B & B, found our room and relaxed.

Walter and his wife the owners, made us feel right at home. After a big lunch we decided to grab a pizza, Walter sent us down the road and we had a delicious New York pizza back at the B & B. Tonight Walter is preparing Bananas Foster for dessert....Yummy!!!!

The B & B is full tonight... one couple from Austin, one couple from Dallas, a couple from England, and two couples from Pennsylvania.......and us.

On the Road Again!

2009-09-10T17:59:00.004-05:00

We left home early this morning, heading out to Colorado. We ran into some light rain showers, but nothing bad along the way. We spotted large fields of gigantic wind mills generating electricity atop the mesas along Interstate 10 to Fort Stockton.

Lunch was in Fort Stockton at a K Bob's Steakhouse. We spotted a very old drilling rig and stopped to inspect it, a very complicated piece of machinery.
Back on the road we drove to Pecos, Tx......then crossed into New Mexico.
Lush green fields of alfalfa lined the roads, some fields were being cut and baled. No shortage of hay around here, but they do irrigate the fields. Our route took us to Carlsbad, Artesia, and we checked into our hotel in Roswell about 4 pm. We drove about 680 miles.

Up early in the morning, Durango our next stop!

Dale's Birthday

2009-09-01T16:45:00.006-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALE !!!

"Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age"

Atchetee Get Together

2009-08-15T10:03:00.007-05:00

Wednesday morning we loaded our bags in Miss Ice Tea Too and took off to visit Harlo and Rhonda at Lake Conroe. We had a smooth flight at about 3,000 feet and flew over the lake house for pictures, after we figured out which one it was. Next we flew to Magnolia for photos of their home under construction, after we figured out which one it was! Things look really different from the air!
We landed in Navasota, where Dale had found hangar space for the plane for our stay. Harlo and Rhonda picked us up, and we were off for a yummy lunch. The new house is coming along, it is going to be really beautiful and very, very, BIG! That evening after a wild thunderstorm we gilled steaks out on the deck with some fresh corn, Rhonda prepared her world famous "Banana Pudding".

Dale and Harlo went flying the next morning, Rhonda and I went to get some ideas for window treatments......we met the guys back at the lake house for lunch. Later that day we went for a boat ride, looking at all the million dollar plus homes on Lake Conroe, it was great being out on the water with Rhonda at the wheel. That evening we went out to eat at a local restaurant on the lake. Friday morning we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed home before it got hot. We had to climbed to about 7,000 feet to stay above the clouds, but the ride was smooth and cool. We landed at Victoria and put the plane away.
We enjoyed a long overdue visit and had lots of laughs.

In the Grips of a Severe Drought

2009-08-02T19:50:00.009-05:00

The evidence of a severe drought is unmistakable from the air. The pastures are burnt and brown, the stock tanks are mud holes or completely dry, cattle stand around....waiting for ranchers to bring feed, farmers are bailing corn and milo stubble in the fields. Deer can be seen grazing near the edge of the road, looking for anything to eat. The lack of rainfall plus the stifling 100 degree plus temperatures have robbed this area of South Texas of anything green.

Day after day the drought continues with no end in sight!

First Lionfish in Cozumel

2009-07-31T20:33:00.010-05:00

Well the dive gear is washed and stored away after a great dive trip to Cozumel, Mexico. Dave, Dale, and I flew out of Austin and arrived in Cozumel after a very bumpy plane ride. When the pilot said we were going to hit turbulence....he meant it. We checked into our hotel, unpacked, made a trip to the Mega store for snacks and went out to eat at Casa Denis. Alison picked us up the next morning at the pier and we were off for our first dive. The diving was great, the water warm and the visibility great. We saw turtles, lobster, crabs and lots of other creatures. We enjoyed a different restaurant each night...La Choza, Toro's, Especia, Wet Wendy's, and Alberto's Beach Bar. Adrian greeted us with open arms at Especia and we enjoyed the beautiful music of Abraham. The mango margaritas at Wet Wendy's were the biggest I've ever seen and very good. That evening we went to the square, enjoyed a band playing and watched the locals salsa dance.

Our second day on the boat we were the only divers.....very nice and two more great dives.
Cozumel was pretty quite during our stay, with lots of tourist from the interior of Mexico.
A Toro's we tried the fish tacos, they were very tasty. The third day of diving Alison pointed out a Toadfish, which I had never seen, plus we saw a seahorse. Lobsters seem to hiding in every nook and cranny.....sure would have been good eating with some butter. Our last day of diving was going great, we completed our first dive and moved onto the second dive. Alison said we were going to dive Delila reef. We slipped into the water and made our way down to about 60 feet. As usual Dave and I were at the back of the group, with Orlando the other Dive Master....I was busy taking pictures. I saw Dave motion for me to come and look at something he had spotted. I swam over and looked in the opening in the reef only to spot the lionfish Dave had found. I was so excited I could hardly take pictures......my first lionfish. Orlando called the other divers back for everyone to get a look. Alison surfaced to get a net to try to capture the creature, but he got away. Lionfish are new to the Cozumel area and are very destructive for the reef system, they eat lots of small fish. Dave and I were so excited, a fitting way to end our dive trip.

The next day we had a rent a wreck, toured the island, stopping at El Cedral and several beach bars. We also had a chance to see the turtle nest on the other side of the island along the beach. Each nest had been marked with the date the eggs were taken, they move them to a safer location away from predators.
Our final dinner was at Alberto's Beach Bar were we had a table at the water's edge. The food was good and the setting was very relaxing....made me want to stay.
The next morning we packed, had lunch and made our way to the airport for our trip home.
I left Cozumel with 99 dives in my logbook, some great photos of the lionfish, and a relaxing vacation with Dale.

Eggs and Bacon in Fredricksburg

2009-06-27T16:09:00.005-05:00

Our plan was to get off the ground right after sunrise and head to Fredricksburg for breakfast. The alarm was set for 5 am, we got dressed only to find that ground fog had moved in. So we didn't get away as early as hoped, but we did go. Climbing up above the cloud layer the flight was smooth and the morning air was cool, we landed and ordered breakfast at the Airport Diner. After breakfast we walked around the airport, took a look at the Hangar Hotel and watched other planes land. The day was beginning to heat up, so we took off and headed home. The ride was hot and bumpy until Dale climbed to about 8,000 ft., the air temp dropped to 70 degrees.
We made a brief hot stop in New Braunfels to top off the gas tanks for the trip home. We landed in Victoria, quickly put the plane in the hangar, cranked up the AC in truck and went home.

What does rain look like???

2009-06-25T20:39:00.005-05:00

What is that?????????
We heard thunder, a dark cloud, saw a rain drop........
...............only one, but it did cool off a
little.
Staying close to home these days......
..............to darn hot to do anything.

Smoking Hot in Texas

2009-06-20T15:05:00.006-05:00

Another week with no rain and the drought worsens. The last few days the wind has been blowing to dry things out even more. I can't even remember what rain smells, sounds, or looks like.

Redfish on the Menu

2009-06-11T20:10:00.006-05:00

It was a rough ride across Espiritu Santo Bay this morning to our favorite fishing spot. A strong South wind had kicked up some good size swells and the going was slow, wet, and rough. We finally made it to the lakes and decided to try drifting across in hopes of snagging a red or two. We had to use the drift anchor to slow us down, or it would have been a short drift. After a few drifts we had landed two reds, one being a nice 26 inch fish. We moved around, tried some other spots and then headed to Pringle and Conti. The tide was low, but we made it thanks to Dale's excellent navigation skills.
We fished, but had no luck. We ate our picnic lunch, fished a couple more spots and headed back across the bay. Since we were going with the waves, it was a smoother, drier ride.
Dale cleaned our fish, sure going to make some tasty meals. We talked with a fishing guide that only had 2 keeper reds on his trip and called it a day. Guess we didn't do to bad, if the pro only had two.

Purr-fect Day for Flying

2009-06-07T15:38:00.006-05:00

With the annual finished, Miss Ice Tea Too was ready for flight. We took off, turned South and followed the coastline to Port Aransas, Texas for a seafood lunch. We flew low over the beach most of the way, waving to the boats. We saw lots of boats, lots of wade fishermen and lots of SHARKS!
The surf was calm and boats dotted the coastline along the Gulf. Landing at Mustang Beach Airport we found out the trolley no longer makes a stop at the airport FBO, so we walked up to the highway to catch a ride.

Beach and Station Street Grill was our choice for lunch,
Dale had fried shrimp and I had crab stuffed fried shrimp,
both were great. W e grabbed the trolley after lunch and
made our way back to the airport for the trip home. We
flew the beach back and saw a BIG shark swimming near a
wade fisherman on the Gulf beach.........wade
fishing is risky!!!

Under the Sea in Curacao

2009-05-26T19:35:00.005-05:00

Our trip to Curacao is over, the dive gear washed and stored away, and the photos posted online. The dive gang-Laurie, Chris, Dave, Dale and I spent a week in Curacao at the Marazul Dive Resort near Westpunt, diving with Ocean Encounters West. Our flights on Continental and DAE went smooth, we picked up our rental van and arrived at the resort around 9 pm. Our bungalow, #11 had 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with a full kitchen and living area. Tired from a day of travel we crashed after a hot shower. The next morning we did our check-out dive and made arrangements for our boat dive the next day. We drove into town and got supplies at the big Centrum market for the week.
Our dives were good, no current, 79 degree water, 50-60 ft., with pretty good visibility. We saw the usual marine life.....turtles, lots of eels, Christmas tree worms, Flamingo tongues, barracuda, a seahorse, and the biggest green moray eel any of us had ever seen. The reef was pristine, one of the best I have ever seen, lots of huge sponges, corals and soft corals. During our surface interval we stopped at the "Blue Cave" and had a chance to snorkel into the large cavern, an interesting experience. I had the chance to snorkel with a pod of spinner dolphins during one surface interval and it was a thrill. Our captain "Tookie" spotted the pod and yelled for us to put on our snorkel gear, as we neared the dolphins he told us to quietly enter the water and swim toward the pod. Dave and I both got in and began to swim hoping to get closer. Much to my surprise the pod came toward me and swam within a few feet of me. WOW! Dave also got a close up look at the creatures.
We sampled some of the local restaurants in Westpunt....Sol Food and Jannchies. We checked out some of the beaches near Westpunt....Playa Forti, Playa Lagun, and Santa Cruz. Dale and I snorkeled one afternoon at Playa Lagun and enjoyed the crystal clear water.We even saw a local young man that had caught a eel and was butchering it, taste like chicken!
Our last day we drove into Punda for some shopping and sightseeing. The brightly colored buildings lined the streets and made great subjects for our photos. Walking across the Queen Emma floating bridge, it was hard to imagine it was built in 1888. We enjoyed Dutch lunch at an outside cafe with ice cream for dessert.
Saturday we left the resort headed to Hato Airport for our DAE flight to Aruba and then onto the Continental flight to Houston. It was a long day of travel, lots of lines, lots of security screening, but we arrived home safe and sound.
Curacao is very much like Aruba, but the wind seems to blow harder........at times it seemed like hurricane force winds. I also think Curacao has a more European flavor than the other ABC islands. The diving was good, easy, and all went well. Another dive trip in the books!

Living in Color

2009-05-08T21:28:00.003-05:00

We now have color at our house, the painter finished painting all the interior rooms. Dale and I started putting up the crown molding, after painting all of it. We started in the small bathroom, it went well, so we tackled another room. Poor Dale spent lots of time measuring, cutting, fitting, and going up and down the ladder. I was in charge of spackeling the joints, sanding the joints, and then painting the joints. Room by room we worked, leaving the family room/kitchen for last.
We came up a few pieces short, called and placed an order which arrived the next day. This weekend we WILL finish the job!

Weekend in Louisiana

2009-05-03T21:16:00.004-05:00

This weekend we made a quick trip to Abbeyville, Louisiana for the memorial service for Dale's cousin. Leaving the house early Saturday morning we arrived shortly after lunch at Mike and Bonnie's home. Quickly we changed clothes and left for the memorial service at the funeral home. After the service, family and friends gathered at Mike and Bonnie's house for some refreshments, plus time to visit. After everyone left, we drove out to see Whit's new home that is under construction just outside Abbeyville.
Later in the evening, Whit, Mike, Bonnie, Dale and I enjoyed a great meal at the Riverfront. I had the opportunity to try some of Louisiana's famous "Fried Patfish".......it was delicious!
Sunday morning Whit joined us for a great breakfast that Bonnie had prepared. Before we left we walked over to the cemetery to visit the grave of Dale's grandfather, Oliver Atchetee. On our way home we stopped in Crowley to visit Fray, Dale's uncle, he is a very young and spry 96. He recognized Dale immediately, even though he hadn't seen him in a long time. We made the trek home, driving in the rain almost until the Texas/Louisiana border, arriving just before dark.

SandFest 2009 - Port Aransas, Texas

2009-04-19T23:16:00.007-05:00

SandFest 2009 in Port Aransas was on our agenda today. Thick fog blanketed Victoria, so we waited. When the fog lifted the winds began to blow, but we headed to the airport to warm up the plane and head South. We took off with winds 14 mph, gusting to 17 mph, and at 1,000 feet we found the winds to even be stronger. it wasn't good day for flying.....the winds were only going to get stronger. So we landed, put the plane in the hangar and headed out to Port Aransas in the truck.
As we neared the ferry to the island, a big sign stated it was 45 mins. from this point to the ferry. We could see an endless line of cars slowing inching along to the ferry landing. We joined in, and sure enough about 45 mins. later we were loaded on the ferry to cross the ship channel.
We drove down to the beach and found an long line of cars looking for parking spots, eventually we found one. The sun was shining, the wind blowing and the surf pounding along the Texas beach.
Walked among the sand sculpting entries, ranging from children's, amateur's, and professionals. We picked our favorites, took lots of pictures. We did learn that the wire sticking out of the tops of some of the works of art were to deter seagulls. Guess seagulls don't respect "Art" when they see it.
Dale got hungry and got us a couple of corn dogs with lots of mustard. I can't remember the last corn dog I had, but these were pretty darn good. I checked out the arts and crafts on sale at the vendor booths. A cute glass fish caught my eye and I talked with the artist from New Braunsfel that created these tiny creatures.
My favorite entry was of Jimmy Buffet and was called "Sandburger in Paradise", Dale liked one called "Time Consuming" which showed a man being swallowed by a large alarm clock.
We left the Sand Fest in search of a late lunch or an early dinner at Beach Station Bar and Grill.
Two orders of fried shrimp and all the trimmings, plus gallons of cold ice tea sure hit the spot.
Dale decided to skip the ferry line, which was very long and drive to Corpus and then head home.
We had a great day, I got a bunch of photos and we enjoyed a good meal in Port Aransas.

Shopping, Bluebonnets, and Bistro 108

2009-04-04T19:26:00.007-05:00

Yesterday Karen and I drove up to the Round Top/Warrenton big semi-annual antique sale. We left early and enjoyed the drive up seeing big fields of bluebonnets in bloom...they must have gotten more rain than us down South. We started in Round Top at the craft market around the square, looking for something new and unique. The weather was perfect......sunny, cool, with a light breeze.
I found a cute shirt and some jewelry. We had lunch at Klumps, eating a hamburger outside while people watching. We then headed to Warrenton, were I got a pair of sandals, another shirt and Karen finally found a shirt she liked. We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering among all the booths, talking with vendors, and enjoying the weather.
We were talking to a couple that were selling cute glass bird feeders, looking at all of them, and walking around the booth when Karen informed me that I was standing very near a live bird.....Oh my gosh! I hadn't even noticed that I was so near a "Killer Bird". Karen thought it was very funny, grabbed my camera and took this photo to document the moment.

Our shopping done, we headed to La Grange for dinner at Bistro 108 and arrived in time for the early bird special. The food was great, Karen relished each spoon of her bisque and we split a piece of Coconut Cream Pie. We were lucky to get a table on the patio, and enjoyed a delicious meal. Stuffed we headed back to Victoria with our loot.

Menopause the Musical

2009-03-29T16:50:00.007-05:00

Mother, Lanell, Hollie andI left early Saturday morning for San Antonio to enjoy lunch on the river walk, some shopping and taking in the musical production "Menopause the Musical" at the Empire Theater. We parked the car, and shopped in River City Mall,and walked along the river walk until it was time for lunch. A great lunch at Boudro's was enjoyed by all. We started with Prickly Pear Margaritas, Boudro's famous guacamole and chips, plus some delicious entrees, followed by two desserts.....bread pudding with rum sauce, and a double dark chocolate brownie with caramel ice cream. We left stuffed and decided to walk to the Empire Theater for the show.
The production was as funny as the last time Mom and I saw it, Lanell and Hollie enjoyed it and found out what they have to look forward to in life. Quarry Market was our next stop with some more shopping before heading home.

To Maui, and Back!

2009-03-29T16:12:00.009-05:00

Our Maui trip is over, we are back home on the mainland, looking at all the great pictures we have.
Our flights went well and we had no major problems, the eight hour flight wasn't sooooo bad.
The trip was great, our cottage in Lahaina very cozy, with two lanais, and awesome views.
Lahaina was a good choice and we were glad we had rented a cottage on that part of the island.
Whale watching was interesting and these huge creatures of the deep put on a good show for us.
Our rental car took us all over the island, I think we covered almost every road on Maui, 720 miles in a week on a island that is only 48 miles long and 26 miles wide. The drive to Hana was long and the CD narration almost sent Dale over the edge, but it was beautiful. Our drive up Haleakala was easy and the views from the summit were great, another demonstration of the powers of Mother Nature. Diving wasn't all that good, water was cold and visibility not great, but I did get in some diving in Hawaii.

You go your way, I'll go Maui!

2009-03-26T14:24:00.009-05:00

Well our trip to Maui has come to an end, we've packed luggage in our car and have a flight out of Honolulu tonight. We stopped on our way into town to take a photo of an interesting warning sign at the beach near our cottage, "Shark Warning". Our flight in the small plane had to be canceled, long story, maybe next time. We drove down to the beach outside of Paia and watched the surfers, then we stopped for our final lunch on Maui at Paia Fish Market. Dale had fish tacos and I enjoyed a Mahi Mahi burger, very good. Dale dropped me off at the airport and returned the rent car. Boarding our short flight to Honolulu late in the afternoon we said goodbye to Maui. Our flight to Houston departed Honolulu at little after 9 pm, with us landing in Houston shortly after 9 am the following morning. Dale drove us home while I slept, we pulled up to the house just before noon.
Maui is a beautiful island, lush and green, with lots to see and do.........................but extremely expensive!
Maui is where people are sent went heaven is overbooked.

Eat, Drink, and be Maui!

2009-03-24T02:30:00.006-05:00

Our trip is almost over and we are trying to squeeze in a few more adventures. I got up this morning and decided to do one more whale watching trip in hopes of getting some better photos. Dale decided to stick around the cottage and relax, so off I went to Lahaina. I got on an early trip, but didn't see much action, a few moms and babies swimming around. Shopping was my next goal, so I hit the stores on Front Street and got a few things to take home.
We fixed lunch and enjoyed it on the lanai of our cottage before heading out to drive to the summit of Haleakala at almost 10,000 ft., a dormant volcano. The drive was easy, at least the road had two marked lanes all the way up, no hanging off the edge of a cliff. We drove past the clouds and found the summit to be clear with some great views. The wind was blowing and it was a brisk 55 degrees, but clear. I tried to take some photos to show the beauty of the spot, while Dale walked around checking things out.

Dale decided that I should drive down, so he could nap.....so I grabbed the keys and off we went.
Our little car was easy to drive and handled well, so I zipped down the road while Dale got his beauty rest. I'm sure he had one eye on the road at all times.....but I think my driving skills surprised him. We made it back to our cottage and began to think about packing up and heading home. Dinner was at C. J.'s Deli and Diner, pretty good food with huge portions. Our last stop of the day was on Front Street in Lahaina where we checked out a few shops. It was then time to head back and start the packing process.
Tomorrow we have a plane booked for a flight around the whole island with Maui Air, hope for clear skies and clam winds. After our flight we will grab some lunch, turn in our rental car and head to the airport at Maui for our flight to Honolulu, then Houston.

Hana or Bust!

2009-03-23T02:58:00.005-05:00

Up and off early this morning, with our picnic lunch in the cooler we were going to "Hana or Bust"!
The previous day a mud slide had closed the road for most of the day, so we didn't know what today would be like as far as traffic. We put in our "Road to Hana" CD and began the drive, stopping lots, taking pictures and hiking to see beautiful waterfalls. Stopping at beaches, waterfalls, small communities, and some old churches along the way. At a fruit stand I got a Pineapple, Mango, Papaya smoothie and bought some coconut candy for the road. Traffic wasn't bad but the driving was slow, with hairpin turns, switchbacks, and one lane bridges....not a road for anyone that gets car sick. We saw black sand beaches and surf pounding against the lava formations all along the way. We even climbed into a lava tube that led down to the ocean. Hungry, we stopped and enjoyed our picnic lunch at a small park at another waterfall. Back in the car we finally arrived at Hana.......we made it! We looked around, grabbed an ice cream at the local store and headed back to civilization....Lahaina. The ride back was much faster, Dale was practicing for his racetrack debut. I think we made it back in record time.....with my finger nails dug into the door! We filled the car with gas, got some groceries and went home to fix supper, shower and fall into bed. We had conquered the "Road to Hana" ....I think!

Maui Swap Meet

2009-03-23T02:37:00.008-05:00

We went to the Maui Swap Meet this morning, lots of people and stuff...............fruits, veggies, tropical flowers, jewelry, arts and crafts, and some junk. I bought some mango bread, fresh tomatoes, Hawaiian shaved ice, and hand crafted soaps. The tropical flowers were beautiful, and so cheap. The fruits and veggies were really great and we tasted lots of samples.

We then drove to Paia for lunch at Paia Fish House, fresh Mahi Mahi fish and chips. We sat with a young couple from the mainland and had lots of laughs. After lunch we started driving towards Hana from the back way, it was a long road with lots of curves. We got to the part where rental cars are suppose to stop, but hey it was a rental car, so we continued. What a wild ride, one lane, hanging on the edge of the cliff in one section, I understand why the rental company frowns on this path. We made it to the Pools of Oheo and then proceeded on to find the spot where Charles Lindbergh is buried in the cemetary of an old church. He loved Maui and wanted to be buried there when he died.
We made it back to civilization at sunset,
tired after a long cliff hanging drive.
We ate supper, grabbed a shower and
went to bed.