December 31, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. New Years Eve.

Tonight we will stay at home.  There are many options open to us here in Nuevo Vallarta,  but Ken has a cold so we have spent the day in the condo, watching football.   We will continue to enjoy ourselves and celebrate the New Year quietly,  at home.  Actually we will celebrate along with the good folks in Nova Scotia, where the time is two hours ahead of us.  We will celebrate midnight in Liverpool, then we will go to bed.

My favorite celebrations  for the new year have always been held at home, with good friends.  A few times in my life I have been talked into a large dance and dinner party, but I have not enjoyed them.  The frivolity seems to be forced as everyone is determined to be festive, whether they wanted to be or not.  Last year was lovely.  We all stayed home at Suzanne and David's home.  The kids had a dance party with the WII and we all ate, and ate, and ate.  Then we went to bed, after the ball dropped in New York.  The kids were happy and so were the adults.

Tonight Ken and I will be home, together, which we will enjoy.  And we hope Ken feels better tomorrow.

December 30, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. Voyageurs.

My clever niece gave me this book for Christmas, sending it to me directly on my Kindle.  It was a wonderfully efficient  way to give a gift to someone  always on the go.  I was so pleased with the gift and have enjoyed reading Voyageurs.

The author is from Scotland and lives in Glasgow, which surprised me, as I assumed she was a Canadian.  It is very evocative of the landscapes and the topography and I thought that the scenery was a normal part of the authors life.  It is certainly a big part of the book and I wished I had a good map at hand.  Fortunately I am familiar with the areas described but I wished I had a good map.

It is a rollicking good tale that takes place in Upper Canada between 1809 1nd 1814.  Margaret Elphinstone is the author.  The story is somewhat unbelievable but I enjoyed it thoroughly.

December 29, 2011. Playa Rpyale, Mexico. The Lazy Day

I think I have become lazy.  Today I did nothing except read.  And I prepared a large salad for lunch.  At six o'clock I finally got dressed but until then,  I was wearing my night shirt.  The rest of the time I was reading.  I am still trying to figure out if retired people are allowed a lazy day or whether I am truly a slug.

To top it off, since 6:00,  Ken and I have been drinking a combination we learned in Boston.   In one large glass you mix clamato juice and beer half each, with a large squirt of lemon juice.  And we ate nuts.  It might be the only food we eat tonight.  After all, we haven't really done anything today!!

December 28, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Italian Couple.

They are from Toronto and are about our age.   In the early fifties they moved from Italy to Toronto with their own families and soon married and had five children.  Now they are rich.   This afternoon by the pool we met them for the first time this year.  We were delighted to see them again.

It is fascinating to hear their story.  He started out working as a carpenter.  They saved their money and bought some land.  Then they did it again.  Next he started building houses on his own land but always kept expenses down.  So in one lifetime, he has gone from being very poor to being very rich, but he and his wife have never changed a bit.

They have five children and fourteen grandchildren.  She and I became fast friends when I observed her trying to swim and offered to help.  She calls me her swimming teacher and  gives us home made sauces for our pasta.  Now she has ten family members coming for two weeks, for whom she will cook every meal.  

Now he is going into the sheep business, on 400 acres he owns north of Toronto.  He will milk the sheep or rather he will have someone milk the sheep.   "That's where the money is".    The milk becomes cheese.  The government is taking another 200 acres for a park but he has yet to agree on a price.   "Always something going on", says our friend, the Italian man from Toronto.

December 27, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Mega.

The Mega store is a big grocery store.  It is not quite as good as an HEB in Texas but much superior to any grocery store in Bethesda.  Most people in Washington would never believe it, but it is true.  Here in Mexico, in Bucerias, they have a wonderful, large grocery store, with staff  bumping into each other to help you shop.

Maybe I enjoyed it so much today because our pantry and refrigerator has been empty for three weeks and all of a sudden I could see all these marvelous foodstuffs.  Or maybe it is just a really good store.   When Ken and I went  to get a taxi, we had four large grocery carts to wheel outside.  Now who would have ever thought that one of the best grocery stores  you ever shop in is in Mexico, where it is supposed to be so backward?

Our freezer is full of meat and bread and pizza.  The refrigerator is full of fruit and vegetables and beer and milk and yogurt. i And the pantry has everything we need for the next two months.  I am a happy camper.

December 26, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. Sarah's Key.

This is a wonderful little book, written by Titiana de Rosnay.  It is another of a long line of books written about real people and their lives from the Second World War.  The writing is beautiful and sparse and  tells an interesting and tragic story.  It is a novel but tells of a real event that occurred in Paris in 1942.  The story needs to be told as anti=semitism is alive and well in France...once again.

It is interesting how so many people kept secret their terrible experiences  during the second world war.  On a personal note,  Suzanne's grandfather Capps, went to war a normal person in 1943 and returned 'shell shocked' in 1945, not able to be around loud noises or many people.  No one did anything except his parents bought him a ranch in the Hill Country where he lived the rest of his life.  He never talked to anyone about his experiences.  He never complained.  But he could not function as a normal human being.

Now we are reading a bit about what really happened to people during the war.  This book is another in that ilk and is worth reading.

December 25, 2011. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Christmas Day.

We are back in our condo at Playa Vallarta, with everything out of the locker and in place.  So far, we have no food, except eight lemons we brought from the tree at Villa Number 5.  We are happy to be back.   The Villa was beautiful but the hotel/time share was very busy and everyone was on vacation to be spending one week at Paradise Village so we were not inclined to pay attention to anyone.  We stayed by ourselves in our Villa.  Here at Playa Royale, the staff calls you by name and when you walk around you recognize people, so you feel that you are at home.

I must say, this is the most unusual Christmas for us.  In other years,  when we were giving our family time with the in-laws, we have been around other people.  One year we took a cruise and by Christmas Day had made friends to enjoy but this year we are really alone.  Fortunately, we like each others company so we are happy.  in future years,  I have already figured out a better system.  We plan to spend Christmas in a city where we have relatives.  We will enjoy the city and we will spend the holiday season with our relatives.  The only problem is that Ken does not do well in cold weather and all our relatives live in the cold.  This could be a problem.  Perhaps Vancouver will be the first test for our new system.

Ken and I will laugh about this Christmas, the one we were alone...together.

December 24, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Christmas Eve.

This must be the busiest nights of the year for the parents of young children, where the box with "some assemble required" takes two hours to put the toy together before the gift could be placed under the Christmas tree.  Home is the best place to be when the children are young, but we spent many Christmas Eve nights at  Dave and Irene's home, helping them put together their children's toys, long before our children were born.  One night we even used the toboggan that was to be given to Wendy as a gift on Christmas morning.  And another time when David and Andrew were 6 and 7 it took us until two o'clock in the morning to pump up a jumper, after borrowing pumps from two neighbors.

Now we are in Mexico, and tonight we ate a lovely dinner outside sitting on the Marina.  It is quiet and pleasant and delicious.  After, we listened to the band of West Point, also the Four Canadian Tenors on TV.  There is no question, that we are getting old!!

December 23, 201. Paradise Village, Mexico. Christmas Holidays.

We have a system.   Ken and I often observed our friends being  burdened by trying to visit both set of parents over the Christmas season.  We saw friends required to eat two full Christmas dinners on Christmas Day, just to satisfy the grandparents.  "There must be a better way", we said to each other.  Our plan was to discuss with our first daughter-in-law Suzanne, to alternate the Christmas season with us and her parents, so one year we would spend Christmas with them and the next year we would not see them over Christmas.

The system has worked for both boys and their families.  Ken and I go something else for Christmas which works for us too.  The first year by ourselves we wondered if we would be blue.  David and Suzanne and Andrew and Christina were coming to join us for a week at Playa Del Carman, and were arriving Dec. 26.  They had no children.  Christmas morning, Ken and I walked into town, and ordered a tray of tropical fruit and fresh pastries, sitting right on the beach in the shade.  It was wonderful.

I love being with the children and grandchildren and our families over the Christmas season.  But we enjoy our solitude too, just not every year!!

December 22, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Food.

Sarah once was visiting our condo in Chevy Chase, along with her family.  She looked into our refrigerator, looking for milk for our tea.  She commented to us in amazement "There is not food in the refrigerator".  She lives in a home with four growing children and two adults, where the refrigerator is full of food.  Our home had two older adults, who were mostly out of town, so she was right, our refrigerator was empty.

Here in Mexico, our refrigerator is totally empty except for one bottle of milk and one half cant elope.  In the pantry we have one box of cereal and one box of oatmeal.  Ken and I have decided  that we will go hungry most of the time so we are only buying a minimum amount of food.  It seems to be the only way  we can get rid of our belly.  Unfortunately, we have no scale so we can't tell if it is working but it certainly works for our billfold.

We eat out once a day, dining at a different restaurant every day, generally around two or three o'clock.   Our meals are wonderful and generally we have food left over which we bring home to eat tomorrow.   So when we listen to the discussions on TV about hunger in America,  they are talking about us.

Wake Up

December21, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Guest House.

It is happening, bit by bit.  In Nova Scotia, our guest house is rising.  It is now under roof.   Our builder George had wanted it to under roof by Christmas so they could complete the interior out of the harsh weather rather than putting on the roof in the freezing rain.  So we are pleased that the carpenters are meeting their schedule.  It is always difficult to have a construction project underway when you are not physically on site to help along the progress.  But we have faith in our builder George, who is very interested in doing a superior job, so we expect all will be well.

When we leave Mexico at the end of February, Ken and I will go to Nova Scotia, after five days in Jackson, and when we are there we must purchase all the belongings and have them delivered to the house.  So we are pleased,  but we need the interior of the guest house well along to completion.  The guest house will be in use all summer so we need to have it ready for the summer season.

The name used to be The Carriage House but it was really a Folly, beautiful and fun, but not practical.  This new building we call The Guest House as it will be more ordinary but more functional.  We hope it will serve our guests well.  In the meantime, we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Guest House NS

Trolley Trip

December 20, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Trolley Drivers.

He is our favorite trolley driver.  He waves at his friends and calls out a greeting to almost everyone we pass.  When you step up to the free trolley he greets us as though we have just given him a gift.  and he always says goodbye with a smile.  

The route takes about thirty minutes to complete and he drives the trolley for twelve hours but he seems to enjoy his job and he knows everyone he meets along the route.  This is the third year the trolley has been in operation and he has been one of the drivers every year.  The other driver pays no attention to you or to anyone else along the drive.  He just drives the trolley.  It is my guess that our favorite driver receives more tips!!

Our driver is local.  It is winter here and he wears boots and jeans.  Today, we were wearing sandals and shorts with a light shirt.  In the middle of the ride he pulled out his wool sweater and wore it the rest of the trip.  It looked ridiculous but he was warm in his sweater while I was warm in my shorts.   To each his own.

December19, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. A World on Fire.

I never paid attention to the impact of Britain on the Civil War, until I read the book by Amanda Foreman.  The name of the book is "A World on Fire: Britain's critical role in the Civil War.  It is interesting.  It is not so much what was done but what Britain did not do, such as not name the Confederates as a Nation.  Rather they stayed neutrals throughout the war.

It is interesting to note that the English had a bond with the folks from the south.  Of course the English mills were in need of the southern cotton but the English hated the slave trade and slavery, so they had a problem.  The book tells you all the players both pro Union and pro Confederate and explains what happened.

I have read much about the Civil War but this book adds to my information bank.

December 18, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Snow Queen.

The performances are being held this weekend in Jackson, Mississippi.  Kate and Mary Frances both dance in this Christmas ballet.    They love to take part in these shows and the shows are of a high quality.  I wish I was there to see it but I enjoyed seeing them in costume.  It is just difficult to do everything.  Maybe next year.

Ballet is surprisingly important in Jackson.  Now even Molly takes ballet lessons.  The ballet school, Ballet Magnificant, is the brain child of a local lady who is a professional dancer.  But before her, another lady put Jackson on the ballet map, so every four years,  Jackson is the American home of the International Dance Competition.

The most important part is that the girls receive excellent training and work hard.  With three performances this weekend, Kate and Mary Frances will be tired.  Now they can focus on enjoying Christmas.

From Snow Queen

December 17, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Friday Nights: A Novel.

It is a book about women and work and friendships, written by an author who has written many novels, Joanna Trollope.   I actually struggled to keep going in the book because these people are not too interesting all the time, but ultimately, it is a good read.   It is my opinion that women are not hired wired to take economic responsibility.  They must think through their actions and decisions, and that is what that book is all about.

The older character, Eleanor,  is newly retired and makes several points that seem accurate to me.  This is not a must read book but it deals with subjects that are pertinent today.  The question as to what makes women happy  is never really addressed but is certainly out in the real world.  I am not rushing to read other books written by Joanna Trollope but this book is a thoughtful book about different types of women today.

Backyard Villa 5

Mississippi Neighbours

December 16, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Time Shares.

Over the years, we have made very good use of our Time Shares.  Early on, we realized how useful they could be for our family.  We could see that we fixed the price of our vacations and that all we would need to pay would be the airfare.   We exchanged our time shares for places all over the world and stayed in places that we never could have afforded.  We vacationed in Japan and Austria, France and Switzerland, and all over the continental US and Canada, all using our time share exchanges.

Eventually we owned several time shares and they served us well.  Everyone told us that time shares were bad investments and they are, but they did for us exactly what we wanted, which was to force us to use these time shares for our vacations.  We stopped talking about our  Time Shares, we just enjoyed them.

Now that we are retired and live part time in Nova Scotia and Mexico, we do not need our time shares, so we have turned all but one into Paradise Village in exchange for one large number of points.   Ken commented recently that planning for the future is over.  Now we must do it now!!

December15, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Dentists.

I had the same dentist for thirty years.  Every six months I had my teeth cleaned while my dentist checked and fixed anything that went wrong.  Other than an emergency, I would have never considered having anyone else look at my teeth.  But now I no longer live in the Bethesda area and I have left my dentist, Dr. Hurlson, who I love dearly, so this year in Mexico, while walking in the Mall close to our condo, I spotted the dentists office.

Now I have been walking past that office for the past ten years or so but I never considered going in...until now.  Yesterday, my teeth were cleaned by a very efficient pleasant dental hygienist.  She used a new high tech ultra sound to remove the tarter, and the Dentist checked my teeth.   I was pleased with the cleaning and the care and I was pleased with the price.  Now I am free to go to another dentist.  But please don't tell Dr.  Hurlson I am having my teeth looked after in Mexico!!  I feel sure he would not approve.

December 14, Paradise Village, Mexico. Villa Number 5.

Mr Great Kisskadee visits me every afternoon while I am sitting by my private pool over looking the marina.  Right behind me in the yard is a lemon tree and the kiskadee flies from his perch on the wall down to get a drink of water in the pool, then directly to the lemon tree.  Soon he returns, scolding me all the while.  He is big and bold and beautiful.    I appreciate his visit to me every day, just as I appreciate living in this wonderful home, Villa Number 5.

It is a long and complicated story.  Our place at Paradise Village was fine, a one bedroom two bath apartment, with WiFi and comfortable furniture.   Ken and I owned 6 time shares at Paradise village plus two others, one in the Bahamas and one at Lake Tahoe and we wanted to assemble them all together and upgrade our membership, so we did.    This was  complicated and required a lot of time, so we got to know the bosses.  I joked with them and told them that we might upgrade our membership to Platinum level, if they would move us into Villa Number 5.

If you don't ask you don't get.  We are now living in a 5500 square foot home overlooking the marina with our own pool and yard, along with daily cleaning service.  "It is some nice",  as they say in Nova Scotia.

December 13, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Hare with Amber Eyes.

This book, written by Edmond de Waal, includes many topics of interest to me:  families, beautiful objects,  history,  art, wars, anti Semites and relationships.  No wonder I enjoyed it.  Irene read it at her book club and I wish I had been there to listen into the discussion.   I know nothing about the author, except that he is a good writer.

The book tells one hundred years of one family, their history and their loss.  Parts of the book are chilling but parts of the book are lovely.  I hate anti Semites but seeing it up close and in a non dramatic war brings the actions all the more real.  True but awful.

i thoroughly enjoyed this book.  And thank Irene for sending me the title, which I down loaded into my I Pad.   The modern world is a marvel.

December 12, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. The Stitches.

Ken has surgery twelve days ago in San Antonio to remove two cancers from his skin.   We were leaving for Mexico so he could not have the stitches removed, which meant that he would be forced to either have me cut them out or find a Mexican Doctor.  In addition to the cancer removed from his nose, the surgeon also removed a place on his right arm that she thought needed to be biopsied.  Turns out that she was right.  Ken had been asking about that spot for a couple of years and both the Dermatologist in Bethesda and Mississippi told him that it was fine.

The surgery was done in San Antonio because we were unable to schedule the complicated procedure while still in Jackson so Ken arranged to have the work done in San Antonio.  It was a good thing too as the spot turned out to be a melanoma.  The good Doctor removed the whole thing but wanted another bit of flesh removed.

Again, we are dependent on the Medical services of the small clinic in Nuevo Vallarta.  It turns out the facility and the doctors came through with flying colors.   Ken's nose is now without stitches and he has another wound on his arm.  We are pleased with the service and the treatment.  Certainly much better than using me!!.

December11, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. Together.

It is a good thing that Ken and I have a good time together because we spend a lot of time with only each other.  We have observed couple married many years who don't seem to enjoy each other, when they find themselves retired.   One friend of Ken's from the hospital retired and the couple moved into a retirement community.  Within six months, the couple divorced.   It made sense.    They had both worked hard and raised the children but they had never spent much time together so when they were together all the time they discovered that they did not like each other.  In fact, the wife could not stand being with the husband.

Ken and I are fortunate.  Even though we really only spent vacations together, we have always enjoyed each others company.  Now that we are retired, we find our skill sets complement each other.   And being together suits us, which is a good thing, because we certainly spend a lot of time together.

December10, 2011. Paradise Village, Mexico. A New Home.

Ken and I are like gypsies.  We move to a new spot and immediately turn the new place into our home.  Today we moved down the street to the Paradise Village, a Hotel/Time Share, to stay for two weeks.  Then we return to Playa Royale on December 25,  and will remain there until the end of February.   It was an  easy switch.   We brought one small case with us from Texas so we packed up just enough clothes to last the two weeks and returned everything else to the locker.   This morning, we checked out of the condo and took the shuttle down to the Hotel and checked in, as we were pleased to know that our room was ready.

Our room overlooks the Marina so we see these huge yachts coming and going.  And our balcony is large and quiet.  The good thing is that we have two bathrooms.   Our plan is to eat out once a day and eat breakfast in the unit, which has a small kitchen.  We have owned in this Time Share for many years but we have not stayed here for several years.  It is a pleasant place and seems to still be well run.  We will enjoy our stay here.  It's a bit like going on a vacation.

December 9, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. Another Lunch.

It was a lovely day.  First a walk to the mall to have our hair cut.  Then another walk down to the hotel to change  dollars into pesos.  Finally a trolley ride around the complex.  After walking all around the marina on the other side of the canal, we wandered past all the restaurants and discovered one was closed and another had opened but our two favorites were still there.

We ate a large and lovely lunch at the Italian restaurant, The Bella Donna, sitting at the edge of the large balcony overlooking the canal.  The birds and animals and fish put on a show.    We saw frigate birds and brown pelicans, yellow breasted Kiskadees, and black headed buzzards.  Also flying fish and many iguanas.  The food was wonderful as was the show from the creatures.    It was a wonderful spot to eat lunch.  But I think I got the name wrong!!

December 8, 2011. Playa Royale, Mexico. James Madison.

His home is just a few miles from the home of Thomas Jefferson, and is also open to the public, but I have never visited the home of James Madison.  Now that I have read this new biography, we will certainly make a visit to Montpelier, as we have toured Monticello several times.    I enjoyed the book because although I knew what Madison had done and written,  the details of his life and loves were vague.  Now I know it all.

One small point in the book is the description of the war of 1812 as seen in the US and in Canada and Britain.   I studied the war while living in Canada and I studied the war while living in the US and I can tell you that I learned about a different war.  Not only the goals but also the results were taught differently.   It amused me at the time but the author spells out the reason for the dichotomy.    It is an example of the writers style which is simple and direct and sparse.

It is another in the long list of books published about the Founding Fathers and a good addition to the library.

December7, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Arrival.

It happens every time we walk into the condo for the first time.  It feels hot so we turn down the thermometers in each room while we change clothes and unload our belongings from the locker.   We keep the doors closed.  Ken organizes the computers so they both work.  By now we are wearing Mexican clothes and shoes.  While sitting to drink a glass of water and catch our breath, one of us notices that it feels cool, so we sit outside, and discover that the weather is pleasant and we do not need the air conditioner at all.  So in we go and open the doors and turn off the cooling.   It has taken us about an hour.

The question one would ask is why do we go through the same drill every year?  Why don't we first change clothes and shoes and drink a glass of water before we turn on the air conditioner? You would think that we would learn.  Maybe next year we will recall the drill.  Perhaps it is our clothing, which is heavier than our Mexican clothes,  that makes us feel so hot or perhaps the condo really is warm.  Next time we will try a different system.  Living here in the winter we have no need for air conditioning.  The large doors are always wide open and we spend lots of time on the balcony.  It is very odd indeed, this drill upon arrival.

December 6, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Birthdays.

 People spend a lot of time and effort  celebrating birthdays.   I like them and I enjoy celebrating   with friends and family,  but Ken and I don't pay much attention to our own birthdays.   When he was a boy, his Mother made a big fuss on his birthday so he tends to associate birthdays with something unpleasant.   For years after we married, his birthday in August always meant we were traveling home to Toronto and forgotten the date so we would arrive home to discover that we had forgotten his birthday and our anniversary.   Our pattern was set early which was to go out to dinner to celebrate both events.

We had no money to spare so we never exchanged gifts either, something we still don't do.   I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing but it works for us.   A friend once told me how upset she was when her husband had forgotten her birthday.  My suggestion was to tell him a few days ahead so he can't possibly forget.   Many years ago,  Ken and I were flying to Winnipeg to attend our niece Darlene's wedding.  While filling out the Immigration form on the plane,  Ken showed me the date.  I just commented on the number.   It wasn't until I heard my sister-in-law say "Happy Birthday Ken", on the phone that I realized my error.  Ken may not enjoy a fuss on his birthday, but he does want you to notice it!!

December 5, 2011. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The First Sunset.

Every day it is different and every day I like it.  The sun goes down very quickly, just dropping off the edge of the Ocean as quick as a flash.   No wonder the good folks of times past thought the earth was flat.  It certainly looks flat while watching the sun set.  Now the sky is orange and pink but tomorrow it may be purple.  I will be sure to check it out tomorrow.

December4, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. A Birthday Celebration.

The dates are incorrect but the sentiment is just as real.  Today , my brother David and his family and friends, celebrate his 80th birthday,  held at his son and daughter-in-law's home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.   They celebrate birthdays together every December, as four family members have birthdays within a few days of each other, but this year is extra special.   Son Ken and wife Anne from Vancouver  are attending too.   I wish I was there to join  the festivities.   My grandmother Houghton lived to be 95 so I have told Dave that his goal is to exceed that age.   It is a wonderful thing to get to be eighty, especially when in good health, both body and mind.  Dave's birthday is actually on the 18th of December, way too close to Christmas.

Tonight, at  son David and Suzanne's home in San Antonio,  we will  celebrate my 74th birthday, which is on the 6th.   When I turn 80 I will think about celebrating in style such as my brother David, but this time we will have a quiet, low keyed dinner,  together with the girls, at home.   Son David will open a bottle of port, I am sure.   It will please me to spend my birthday party with part of the family.  As Ken correctly says, it is always a special Thanksgiving when we get to spend time with the family!!

December 3, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Deer of Village West.

Once upon the time, a river with many tributaries flowed.  The land was forested and was full of deer and other wild creatures.  The Corps of Engineers built a dam on this river, the Guadalupe, in 1964, and the river became a lake, called Canyon Lake.   Soon, houses were built along the shore and in the spaces between the lake, forming subdivisions.

When we first saw our little subdivision, called Village West,  most lots were still forest so the deer were hidden but the good folks who lived there began to feed the deer so the deer became tame and also ate all foliage in sight.   Every year the game commission relocates many deer but the deer are still here and still very tame.  Also very small.  They are half the size of the deer at the ranch.  Most people have fenced their yard. Ken only plants whatever the deer will not eat.  When I take a walk, the deer don't even move away from me.  And when I was carrying the groceries from the car into the house I was forced to close the back of the car to avoid these little deer eating the fruit.  The deer are very sweet and come right up to you.  But I remind myself that the deer are wild animals, but as more and more houses are built on the empty lots, the poor deer will have no place to live.  But I actually like watching them.

December 2, 2011. Double D Ranch, Harper, Texas. Rain.

Today it is raining at the ranch.  All the way from Canyon Lake it rained, the first time in months.  Everyone is delighted with the rain.  Unfortunately for us, today was the day the bunk house was to be delivered, but because of the rain,  it will not happen.  Unfortunately for us, it will be put in place next week, when we will not be at the ranch, so our good friend Robbie will make sure it will end up in the correct spot.

We did look at the building in Kerrville and could see the work that Chris the carpenter had done.   By the time it can be moved, Chris will have the place completed.  It is a cute little place and should serve the girls well.

We did laugh.   The only day the bunk house could be delivered and set in place is the only day it has rained in months.  Trust our luck. But we are pleased with the rain!!.

December 1, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. A Dinner.

The meal was delicious,  but was especially enjoyable because it was unexpected.   Several aspects of the dinner were commendable.   The girls complimented their Mother for the dinner she had prepared, not once but several times during the dinner.  It seemed to me that many young people take their mothers for granted but last evening they were effusive in their gratitude.

We had expected to drive straight back to the lake after Ken's surgery but rush hour was upon us so I called Suzanne to ask if it was OK to stop a bit at their home to allow the traffic to abate.  She not only said yes but also invited us to stay for dinner, which was to be fish, so the shared meal was a surprise and  a delight.   And the food was wonderful.

Ken needed three prescriptions  so David drove  me to two drug stores to obtain them.  It was not necessary for him to accompany me as the drug stores were close to their home but it was rush hour and it was dark,   and I appreciated his company and his driving.  Once again, I am grateful for my family and their assistance and competence.  It was an unexpected dinner but very pleasant.

November 30, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Waiting Room.

I was by far the youngest person in the waiting room room of a dermatologist  office.    It was fascinating to observe the interaction and the conversations all afternoon.   Ken and I arrived early for his appointment with the surgeon, who was going to cut off the cancer on his nose.  It was diagnosed in Jackson but we were leaving too soon to make an appointment in Mississippi so after many phone calls, Ken arranged to have the surgery in San Antonio.  It was complicated as a Pathologist  and a plastic surgeon were required to be available.

My corner seat allowed me to observe everyone in the room and I was careful to keep my nose buried in my book so I did not engage in any conversation, but everyone in the room talked to each other all afternoon.   For over four hours I watched and listened to all these old folks who were also having cancers removed.   They had just met but they shared their life stories, told of their careers, discussed the state of their activities, observed the additional traffic these days but never talked about their health or their skin cancers.   They were all cheerful and grateful even though it was a long afternoon.  I just wished they would keep quiet so I could read.  I was not looking forward to the next twenty years of Dermatologists offices.

November 29, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. Basketball.

This afternoon we will attend two basketball games, one for Abigail and one for Sarah.  I am very excited. One thing I will look for is how much they have changed since last year.  Children grow at different rates and sometimes the youth who was the star last year is clumsy now so it will be interesting to see the team members.  Basketball is a wonderful game because the game changes as the child grows and skill level improves.  High school basketball is actually a more interesting game than at the professional level and is especially fascinating with middle school kids such as Abigail and Sarah.

I will be a typical grandmother and will cheer them on but I also will evaluate the play of all the other girls. Once you are a PE teacher,  you are always a PE teacher and I will evaluate the coaches too.  But I will keep this all to myself and spend my time smiling  and enjoying the play and of course, hoping the girls win!!

November 28, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Sunny Day.

It is a beautiful day at the lake in Texas.  The sun is shining and the temperature is seventy degrees.  The lake is calm.  Soon, I will go for a walk around the loop by the house.   A bright sunny day, followed by an overcast windy day looks especially appealing.   One summer, Ken and I worked in Arizona at a camp, where every day the sun was shining.  After a bit, we never even noticed the sun, we just stayed out of the direct sun and searched for shade at every opportunity.   Soon we returned to Ontario where a bright sunny day was appreciated, especially in the autumn colors.

Our life here at the lake is pleasant, especially as we are only forty-five minutes from David and Suzanne and the girls.  Yesterday we spent a wonderful but unremarkable day with the family in San Antonio.  I watched an episode of Antiques Roadshow with David.  The girls quietly got their school work ready while Abigail studied with a friend and Sarah watched the movie Titanic.  Mostly we sat in the lovely living room chatting and sipping wine, everyone coming in and out through out the day.   Allison and Samantha opened and put up many Christmas decorations.  Dinner was in the kitchen, eating left over ribs and chicken and sausage, along with salad.   Nothing fancy but delightful.   David served us a new port.

Ken says that every day is a Thanksgiving Day for us, but the days we spend with the family make us extra grateful for another Thanksgiving Day.

November 27, 2011. Canyon Lake. The Tudor Secret.

It is another rollicking historical novel, written by C.W. Gortner, the author of The Last Queen. I enjoyed it thoroughly.  Now I must refresh my memory about the sixteenth century.  I have studied English history but not for a long time and it is clear there are lapses in my knowledge. The mid century was a particularly difficult time for England, before Elizabeth became Queen, with the Tower of London in it's hay day.

Two characters in the book did become responsible for the Elizabethan intelligence system, thought to be one of the best ever in the world.  I knew this, so it was interesting to see them as main people in the book.  The protagonist is purely fiction but the others were based and named for real people, playing their own parts.   The whole book is one fast moving, interesting spy story, taking place in 1653.  Once again, I am so grateful I was born in 1937, and not 1637.  Now I must read some real history to learn what really happened!!

November 26, 2011. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Remote.

How times change.   From 1958 until 1968, we did not own a television set.   We were perfectly happy.  If something good was on TV, such as a hockey game, we were asked by friends to come to their home to watch the game.   Today, we carry our own satellite dish with us, including the remote control and the box.   Each home now has a new thin television set.

Today, we drove from the ranch to the lake house.  Ken set up the TV system and it worked like a charm, actually the first time it worked well the first time he turned it on.  But he was irritated to realize that he left the remote control at the ranch, so he called Dish TV and they are sending us a new one  by overnight courier.  We both laughed that we can not function without the remote.  How times change.

November 25, 2011. Harper, Texas. The Bunk House.

The wheels are all in motion.  The small house is being built by the Mennonites in Temple, Texas and will be delivered to the Kerrville store on Monday.   The place is 12x34.   Chris, the carpenter, will finish the interior,  and will install insulation, wood ceiling, beaded board on the walls, plus a full bathroom and the electricity and plumbing.  He will work on the house in Kerrville.  When complete, the building will be brought to the ranch and installed in it's rightful place, just behind the fire pit.

In addition, Allen Tascht, the septic man from Harper,  will put in the septic system and attach the water.  He already pushed over two trees to make way for the little house.

We hope it can be delivered before we leave for Mexico.  We will tell Robbie, our good neighbor, the proper location, just in case we can not be here when it arrives.  I would hate to have them leave it in the wrong place!!

Loren, our builder, recommend these buildings and assured us it would be cheaper than having it built on sight.   I am sure he was right.  Now it is up to all the players to do their part.  We have started all the balls rolling by ordering the work and signing over the deposit cheques.   We hope for the best.

Replacing the Carriage House

November 24, 2011. Double D Ranch. Harper, Texas. Thanksgiving.

You  can not beat Thanksgiving as a holiday.  No one really needs to think about it, but merely buy and cook the turkey,  mashed potatoes and beans and call it a day.  And don't forget the gravy and cranberry sauce.  It is a wonderful meal.  And after a bit of football on TV,  serve the pumpkin and apple pie for dessert.   It is the nicest and easiest holiday of the year.  

Ken  and I celebrate Thanksgiving every day of the year so we are not really stuck on The Thanksgiving Holiday.  But I love the lack of stress and other responsibilities along with the gathering together of families and friends.  The song says that Christmas is the "most wonderful time of the year" but I will put my money on Thanksgiving as the most enjoyable celebration.  No gifts to exchange or religious tasks to honor, although both have their charm but  give me a good turkey dinner and a football game or two and I am a happy camper.  I love Thanksgiving!!

November 23, 2011. Double D Ranch, Harper, Texas. Another Good Book.

My friend Wendy told me about this book and I am glad she did.   The title is "Emily's Ghost" and is written by a lady named Giardina.  It is a novel, a historical novel and is all about Emily Bronte and her family.   I prefer reading real history but have enjoyed several historical novels this year.  I had also read the book about Jane Austin called Jane's Fame which is not a novel.

This book is engaging and again makes me grateful to be living now rather than the nineteenth century.  The lives led by the women folk were narrow and rigid as shown in this novel.  Most of what we know about the Bronte sisters comes from Charlotte, who outlived all the others, so this novel dealing with Emily is an attempt to flesh out this peculiar lady.  It is worth the time to read this book.

November 22, 2011. Harper, Texas. The Refrigerator.

It is true.  We bought it because of the price.  We walked into Lowe's and headed straight to the appliance department.  In ten minutes. we were back in the car heading for home.    I told Suzanne that we purchased a white Whirlpool with no dispenser on the door for water and ice and it was being delivered on Saturday afternoon.  I was sure of all four facts.

Our broken refrigerator was expensive and lasted only four years so this time we decided to buy the least expensive refrigerator on the market.  We needed a counter depth unit and the store only had five models.  The first one I looked at was selling for well over three thousand dollars while the last one in line was on sale for under nine hundred so as soon as Ken walked up, I said to him "Lets get that one", and we did.

On Saturday afternoon, the two young men carried into the top house a stainless steel refrigerator, made by Frigidaire, with  a dispenser on the door.  I was correct with only one vital fact.  But the most important thing is that it is working just fine so I am happy even though my facts were wrong!!

November 21, 2011. Harper, Texas. The Christmas Gift.

It is certainly the most unusual gift we have ever received but we accepted gratefully.  Our friends Robbie and Joyce are our closest neighbors at the ranch and they are good friends too.  Joyce called me this afternoon to ask if we would be comfortable accepting their Christmas gift.   "Feel free to say no", said Joyce.  By now, we are both laughing.

Next she asked if I had arranged a new cleaning service and I said "No".   She finally told me that  Robbie and Joyce are giving us a though cleaning at both the ranch house and the top house as our Christmas gift.  They will do it together, after hunting season is over but before we return in March.  I laughed so hard I could hardly respond but I was delighted with their gift and said  "Yes".

Our cleaning lady has quit.  She just told me recently.  Joyce and Robbie were having trouble thinking of a good gift for us so when she over heard me telling Suzanne, they decided to give us the one cleaning for Christmas.  It is a wonderful gift and is very timely.  They are good friends indeed.

November 20, 2011. Harper, Texas. Pray For Rain.

The signs are everywhere  but it does not seem to be working.   When you are about to say goodbye, the last thing everyone says to you is "Now be sure to pray for Rain".   In a conversation with anyone in the Hill Country, the subject of rain is always discussed such as:  when is it coming and if you had any rain and what is the forecast?   The lack of rain is in everyones mind.  

The ranch is parched.  We had one inch of rain last Monday, which was the only measurable rain in five months.  There is no green grass anywhere.  Surprisingly, the cattle look good, because we have been feeding them hay.  David gave them treats Saturday and Sunday which made them content but now we must buy more hay, unless it rains and the winter grass grows.  Even the trees look dry.

Perhaps a rain dance would help, but I suspect that sooner or later, the rain will fall and drench the land and we will have flash floods.  When that happens, we will be ready!!  In the meantime,  pray for rain.

November 19, 2011. Harper, Texas. A Big Day.

It has been a wonderful day.  The weather was warm.  The new refrigerator was delivered.  Abigail shot a deer.   We sat around the fire pit pretending to watch the imaginary fire and ate our lunch.   David and Andrew did chores around the ranch such as feeding treats to the cattle and fixing the deer feeders.  Allison and I fed the fish.   Allen, the septic man, met with us and we once again selected the site for the bunk house, probably for the last time.

Tonight, Robbie and Joyce came for dinner with all of us and we ate on the screen porch.  Getting it organized was easy because all four girls helped.  Samantha set the table,  Allison made the salad,  Sarah set out all the food in the dining room and Abigail helped Ken cut up the chicken while David cut up the ribs and sausage.  It was a combined effort.

The biggest effort was not known to anyone except me,  but Suzanne and Sarah cleaned up one years dust from the tables and chairs on the screened porch.  We could not have used the space without their hard work and for that I am grateful.   All 11 of us could sit down together, dining in the lovely evening air, enjoying the food and being together.  It was a big day for me.

November 18, 2011. Harper, Texas. The Comedy of Errors.

It all came out right in the end.  Funny how that happens.  

Our car, the Ford Escape, would not start, despite a battery charge,  so mid morning I called AAA.   My phone works best sitting out by the fire pit so I called them from there.  The call was lengthy and I was cold but finally, the truck was on the way to get us started.    Ken tried one more time to make the engine turn over and to every ones surprise, the car started.  I called AAA to cancel the request.  Ken and I immediately left to drive to Harper to have the car inspected and left the car while we ate lunch at The Longhorn Cafe.

The inspection was completed but the mechanic thought that we needed a new battery so he ordered it, which we were to have installed on Monday.   A company in Fredericksburg handles the Z Booster, a very successful addition to our cell reception at the farm, so as our reception at the ranch is not always good, we wanted to buy one.  I spoke to the lady at the store and asked her to hold the only one they had in stock because we were on the way.

We drove the twenty miles only to discover that the store was closed.  We were irritated.  Then, when Ken tried to start the car, it would not make a sound, so once again, I called AAA and re-activated my request but this time from  downtown  Fredericksburg.  While we were waiting the fifteen minutes, the lady from the store arrived and Ken bought the Z Boost.  AAA arrived and started the car, then installed a new battery, just like that.

At the end of the day, we have a new battery  and we have the Z Boost and we were home by 4:00.  Some days everything turns out well.

November 17, 2011. Harper, Texas. Arriving.

It is always a bit overwhelming, arriving at home for the first time in seven months.  In many ways we are overwhelmed with the charm and beauty of the place and on the other hand we are overwhelmed with all the things that need attention.

Immediately, the computer and Internet must be connected and of course, it will not work.  The television system needs connecting and set up and it also will not work.  The Kitchen Aid refrigerator that is only five years old is not cooling and the freezer will not open.  Our repairman, Pat, who lives in Harper and who has repaired the frig twice before,   came this morning to report that it can not be repaired.  And our Ford Escape, who for the first time we left in the garage at the ranch house, will not start.    So we went to bed with a long list of things that are not working.

By tonight at bed time. the television is working and Ken is watching a Capitols game.  The Internet is obviously working.  The new refrigerator will be delivered on Saturday afternoon and they will remove our damaged Kitchen Aid.  And the automobile is due for a safety check in the morning so if the battery charger does not work over night, we will jump start the car and drive in to get a new battery.

Last but not least, the cleaning lady has quit so both houses need cleaning.  Horrors!!

November15, 2011. Athens, Texas. The House with Art.

Yesterday, Eleanor invited us to view an art collection in the home of a friend.  On Sunday, the host Roy held a party to introduce his friends to another friend who is an artist living in New Orleans.  Roy mentioned casually to Eleanor that she could come back and bring a friend if she wished.   Ken and I were the friends who visited the art collection in Roy's home, along with a repeat visit by Eleanor.   It was an amazing experience.

Roy must have more than a thousand paintings hung on every wall of every room in his house. The art was wonderful, mostly done by Mississippi artists.  He has six of Eleanor's paintings.  The paintings are hung from the top of the walls to the bottom of the walls and on every room and hallway, including bathrooms and kitchen.  The art was wonderful and overwhelming.  We loved it.

In addition, he has a collection of miniatures, probably at least a hundred, many sitting on tables displayed on small easels as well as on the walls.    He has purchased  this art directly from the artists, collected throughout his long life.  Ken and I enjoyed seeing his art and he enjoyed watching our delight.  It was a special treat, all arranged by our friend Eleanor, and we are grateful.

November14, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. White Point Resort.

The main lodge was built in 1928.  It has now been destroyed by fire.    I have been told that the fire started in the kitchen in the middle of the afternoon and that by three thirty the main building was engulfed by fire with flames reaching well up into the sky.  Our friends sent a picture taken from their deck which quickly spread around the Internet.

The fire was confined to the main lodge which housed the reception, the restaurant, the swimming pool and meeting rooms along with the bar and decks.   The old walls were hung with pictures of the olden days of the lodge, with huge tuna hanging beside beaming fishermen.  The two massive fireplaces were original to the old lodge and were lovely spots to read by the roaring fire.  Now it is all gone.  Fortunately, all the other building were saved.

I look forward to hearing what will happen next with White Point Resort.  It is owned by a group of people not one sole owner, which always makes decision making difficult.  I for one, hope they had excellent insurance and that the owners re-build as quickly as possible.  Queens County, where we live in Nova Scotia, needs White Point Resort.

November 13, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. Alfie.

Five years ago, he was a new agent.   Yesterday he called to tell me that he was doing very well with his real estate business and he wanted to thank me for getting him started.   It was a  nice gesture on his part and I appreciated his call.   My response to him was to remind him what I had told him at the initial interview,  which was  that he had all the talents and  energy necessary for success as an agent.   Alfie said that he heard what I said but he did not believe me and figured that I said the same thing to everyone.  But he followed the program and kept going because he knew I believed that he had the talent and energy necessary for great success.

The truth is that over the years,  I had told  the agents everything I knew about how to be an excellent agent,  so now, even though I am not there, they can draw on past experiences to apply them to today.   The world is different and requires different skills and technologies but some things don't change.  It was very nice of Alfie to tell me that he appreciated my efforts.    He also wanted me to know of his success.  I was grateful for both.

November12, 2011. Jackson, Ms. The Last Queen.

C.W. Gortner wrote the book, telling of a period of history that was new to me., so I enjoyed it thoroughly.  I read it quickly, starting it yesterday and finishing it this morning.   It is a novel, based on the true story of a Spanish Queen,   called  Mad Juana.   The time period is the early sixteenth century.  I was startled to realize that I am ignorant about Spanish history.  Once I started reading the book, I could not draw on my memory of what was likely to happen next in Spain.  But the book is riveting and interesting.   And I learned a lot.

By modern standards, being born to rule was preposterous and ridiculous but it was true.   People were born into their position.   Also,  being born into a noble family meant you were at great risk, as Juana found out to her sorrow.  The women were married off to other high born people all over Europe, for purely political purposes and often while they were children.    It is everything opposite to the way we think about how to lead a successful life.   I strongly object to being born to a position, which is how it was done in the Spain of 1500.    Spain thrived in the 16th and 17th Centuries but since then has gone downhill.  I wonder how much of their attitudes have lingered into the 21st Century?

November11, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. Breast Cancer.

It used to be devastating but with early detection and better treatment, the prognosis for recovery is high.   But being told you have breast cancer comes as a big shock to the system.

My friend G. has been told that she has stage two breast cancer.   Regina from work called to tell me, so I called and talked to G. tonight and explained my method of dealing with the disease.  She was very grateful for the call because talking to someone who has gone through it all before is comforting and helpful.  We talked for a long time and I answered all her questions, I think.

I told her that getting breast cancer later in life means for a longer life.  I told her to  treat the disease without any panic.   Just go through the steps from one to the next until she was cured. And I told her to keep working.  My oncologist told me that people handle the treatment better if they keep busy and involved rather than giving over the disease and think only about the cancer.  

We both agreed that she we were both fortunate to be living in the modern era rather than in 1811.  The good old days would have not worked for either of us.

November 10, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. Anniversaries.

Today is an anniversary for me.  I have been retired for one year.   It certainly was the right time.   Ken and I have enjoyed  the year together driving here and there around the country and we have enjoyed our homes in remote spots.   But we have learned some things too.  Our trip to France was difficult for Ken so we will be slow to return.    It seems we don't have enough time to spend with the families in Texas and Mississippi so next year we will only stay two months in Mexico and we won't take a European trip.   We are still learning to be retired.

I still think being retired is a bit of a waste of time.  Indulging yourself is not something I was trained to do and being retired is all about asking   "what do we want to do today?"   I rather enjoy doing exactly what I am going to do today but on the other hand my work ethic kicks in and I wonder what I should be doing today.  But like everything else in life, being retired is a  task in process not an end result.  So I will do what I have always done is to ignore the parts I don't like and  pay attention to the parts of being retired that bring pleasure.

November 9, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. Christmas Cards.

I am one of those unusual people who actually enjoys writing Christmas cards.  I send cards to people who have been important to me over the years so when I write the card I remember the fond memories and it makes me smile.   I actually enjoy doing them.  And of course, I always write a short hand written note to each person.

As you would expect,  I have a system.  First I sign all the cards.   Next I address the envelopes and add the stamps and return address labels.  Then,  ten at a time, I write the short but personal note.  And I prepare them well ahead of time.   With all the time in the world available to me I have no excuse to be rushing at the last moment, so I take my time and get them ready.

Believe it or not, but my cards for Christmas 2011 are all ready to be mailed, which will be done early in December as we have a new address.   I recall the busy years when the Christmas cards were mailed well after the Holiday Season, but now I get them ready early.  I really do hate to be rushed!!

Great Blue

Strolling again

Bridges

November8, 2011. Jackson, MS. Home School.

Going back in time,  most children were taught by a governess at home.   My grandmother Houghton worked as a teacher, hired in a home,  teaching the children who lived in that home. The 20th Century put away most home schooling, although William Buckley and his siblings were all educated at home until such time as he went to Yale for University.  And C.S Lewis was always taught by a tutor at home as was Theodore Roosevelt.  By and large, it was not until the mid 20th Century that people began to be unhappy with the public schools.  Then,  some parents fought hard to teach their children at home.

The battle was not easy but the battle was won and now in the US exists a large organization for home schooled children.   Every legal battle was won by the home schoolers.  It makes perfect sense because the best teaching is always one on one.  If I teach you something I will know immediately when to move on to the next topic, so if the parent is inclined and well educated, the home schooled experience is very efficient.    Now of course, the home schooled children win many prizes.

It is obvious to me.   The  Mississippi children have lots of time to read.  Without car pools and waiting for the slow learners, the girls can speed ahead in their work so have time for knitting classes and piano lessons and reading.   The home schooled children seem to be thriving academically and socially.  It is a new world of schooling.

November 7, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. Getting Old.

Getting old has many blessings.   Drinking a cup of coffee before leaving the bedroom is a fine thing.   And driving the country is always a pleasure as is spending more time with the children and grandchildren.    But one of the problems of getting old is going to the Doctors.

One appointment always seems to require other tests and other appointments.   Our Doctors have all been in Bethesda and Chevy Chase and as we no longer live there, we are moving our medical team to Jackson, MS.   Last week and this,  we are spending our time meeting Doctors.  We started in May but now we are getting serious.

Today Ken saw the Cardiologist, who he had seen last May.  This Thursday,  Ken has two more tests which will take him all morning.   Then last week Ken met with the skin doctor for the first time.  She took three biopsies and sure enough, Ken needs further surgery, to be done tomorrow afternoon and Wednesday morning.    He has cancer cells that must come out.   Tomorrow we both meet the Eye Doctor and on Friday I must have a mammogram.  The whole week has been taken up with appointments.  

I always wonder what would happen if we just stop meeting with Doctors?   Would we die one week or one year sooner?  I won't find out because in my old age I am going to my appointments!!

November 6, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. A Lazy Day.

The Yacht Club is just around the corner from our condo and when we first moved here,  Ken and I joined as social members mainly so we can use it to entertain.  Our apartment is very small so inviting six people for dinner is impossible.   Sunday mornings they serve a wonderful brunch so we have gotten in the habit of meeting Andrew and Christina and the girls there to eat together.  They attend early church and Ken and I read all morning, then meet them at the Yacht Club at 11:30.  Molly, who is three,  loves to eat there, because the food is served buffet style so she can chose whatever she wants, which includes dessert.  Molly can not pronounce the letter Y so she calls it the ought club.  It is very sweet.   It is especially nice that all three girls love to eat there, but Molly loves it the best.

All the rest of the afternoon and into the evening we watched football at Andrew and Christina's home, eating and drinking and enjoying the family.  For a while after Molly woke up from her nap, we sat outside while Kate and Mary Frances rode their bikes and Molly played, but the rest of the time we were very lazy.  We all enjoyed every minute.  Ken is still recovering from a cold and cough so sitting around was just the ticket to make him better.   I am hoping so anyway.

November 5, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. Christmas Shopping.

I don't like crowds  and I certainly don't like to go over my budget so early in my married life I worked out a system for Christmas shopping.   It has never changed.  It works for me  now at aged 73 as well as it did at age 20.  

First I decide on a budget.  For many years we had very little money so it was important to keep within the budget.  Next I made a list and thought long and hard about some clever gifts that would be within my limits.  Starting in September, I started looking for gifts, an hour here and an hour there but never with any stress or anxiety.  I kept my list in my purse and kept track of the purchases.  When the Christmas season rolls around, all my gifts have been purchased.  It is a simple system.  All I must do is to plan ahead.

My observation is that often too much money is spent on gifts that are purchased just because a gift must be opened.  In my life, that can not happen.  I am obnoxious in my organization but it pays off.  I can enjoy the Christmas season with out any pressure to go shopping!!

November 4, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. The Museum.

The official name is The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science  but the girls call it The Science Museum.   By Smithsonian standards, it is small but in fact, is a perfect size for a museum.    You can see the whole place and be out in time for lunch, after arriving at 9:30.    Everything in the museum tells of the creatures of Mississippi with a combination of live examples and  stuffed birds and animals.  Lots of interactive buttons to push and videos to watch to entertain the almost four year old along with the teens and the 74 year old adult.  We had visited the museum previously but this time we went to see the new exhibit on frogs.

We saw big frogs and small frogs, bright colored frogs and dull brown frogs and even Molly will tell you the difference between a toad and a frog.   You could, by pushing a button, hear the sounds of ten different frogs.  The Mississippi tree frogs sound different from the Pennsylvania farm tree frog but they are the same size, which is quite small.  It was a great exhibit.  Large enough to be interesting but small enough to not become faint.

Today we got lucky.  We arrived at the large aquarium just as the man was feeding the small alligators.  It was fascinating.   The tank is large and open at the top to the visitors so even though the tank is five feet high, part is below your vision so the children can watch the turtles and alligators and fish not only under water but also from above to see the rocks and trees.  The handler stood right at the back of the enclosure handing out the squid to the hungry alligators.  It was exciting.  Then we went for lunch ourselves!!

November 3, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. The South.

We like living in the south.     We like the weather,  but of course, we are not here in the summer so perhaps we would change our tune if we lived here year round.    Galveston weather we enjoyed and we lived there happily for six years.   But of course,  Galveston is in Texas and not in the deep south.

And we like the people.  They are pleasant and friendly.    They care about their families.  I accompanied Ken at a Doctor's appointment yesterday and three ladies were waiting with their elderly mothers, chatting away cheerfully about this and that.    The children are mannerly.    It was interesting to watch the children come up for their treats on Hallow e'en night.  Every child said  "thank you" and if asked a question responded with a "Yes Sir".

The people seem to enjoy talking history and their state.   I can not recall any conversation with anyone in Maryland where I discussed any aspect of Maryland history.  In the limited time I have been here I have had several conversations about different aspects of Mississippi history.  People seem to care about their past, here in the south.

Several things I don't understand.  One is the terrible school systems.  It makes no sense.  One day soon I will try to find out why.  In the mean time, I intend to enjoy my life in the south.

November 2, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. The Big Blue Heron.

It was the oddest thing to watch. This very large blue heron flew to a post, ten feet high, at the edge of a,dock right in front of our condo. While sitting on his perch, he proceeded to groom all his feathers. Front and back, top to bottom, he covered every part of his large body while perched on top of the post. He stayed for ages, in fact we gave up and finally went inside.

Another heron was doing what she should, which is standing in shallow water,and search for fish. This heron stayed totally still until, she pounced and speared a fish.

Ken and I went for a walk,around our complex and commented that we had not seen the heron.  Then we sat on our tiny patio and soon we spotted the heron, strutting along the dock not twenty feet away. Soon, up he flew and proceeded to put on a show for us. It was amazing to see how much of his body he could cover with his large beak.

As Ken commented when we first arrived last Saturday "I is nice to be in the South."

Cruising

Strolling

Beaujolais

Halloween

November 1, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. The Party.

The children had a blast, all dressed up in costume.   Different adults took the children out to do their Trick or Treat rounds, the first group with all the various ages with Christina and Sebastian and later just the older kids with Andrew.   In the middle they ate some soup or just  chocolate and candy but no matter, the children were happy, and very well behaved.

It was a lovely event with neighbors stopping by for dinner and a drink along with friends from church as well as other relatives.  Ken and I were able to meet more Jackson folks, which we enjoyed.   The food and the hot toddies were in the kitchen so at any time the house was full of people as was the large porch.

The weather was perfect, not too hot or not too cold so we were able to sit on the porch comfortably and watch the hundreds of children collect their candy.   The host John has the policy of giving two pieces of candy to each child unless they are over 12.   He then gives them a pencil.  Some older kids are happy to get a pencil while others are not so pleased.  It's a good policy.  It was a happy event for both children and adults and I felt fortunate that John and Greta Barbour invited us.

October 31, Jackson, Mississippi. Hallowe'en.

It doesn't seem like fun, dressing up in costumes and pretending to be somebody else, but the children and lots of adults love it.    Perhaps I am not creative.   Both Kate and Mary Frances manufactured their own terrific costume.  Christina helped with Kate's hair and toga but the idea and implementation was all hers.  Mary Frances too decided on her costume all by herself., starting with her favorite hat, the dragon with a tail.  She wore black boots, and black fleece pants and jacket but the make up made the parts into a costume.  She looked great but not at all the scary dragon that Molly said she would be.

It is the second most important event of the year for the children.  For adults it is the second most number of parties after New Years.   Part of Hallow e'en is the trick or treating.  For the only time of the year you get candy and eat it all.

Ken and I have been invited to a front porch party, where while the children go out to collect candy, the neighbors and friends will gather and sip hot toddies and eat home made soup, while handing out the candy.  John and Greta Barbour are kind to invite us and we will enjoy watching the children as they come and go.  But I bet we won't come in a costume.

)ctober 30, 2011. Jackson, Mississippi. Baseball.

This years World Series was spectacular but not many people watched the games.   Living in the Eastern Time zone  as I did,  the games ended too late so I missed the last few innings of each game.   Then I would forget so the first person I met I would ask "Who won the game last night?"   No one ever knew.  No one seemed to be watching the games.

Finally we entered the Central Time Zone and I was able to watch the whole game,   watching the St. Louis Cardinals win the series.  It was a super series with sparkling plays and timely hitting.  I loved it, when I could stay awake to see the games.

The Baseball organization is doing nothing to appeal to  the public.   The worst part is their lack of opportunity for children.  No afternoon games and every game too late.  Games too long.  Commercials begin immediately between innings and often returning to play after two or three pitches.   And the baseball Commissioner, Bud Selig can't even make a short speech without reading and stumbling his words.   If they continue their policy, next year one in ten people I ask will know something about baseball instead of one in five for this year.   I love baseball and the World Series but the organization needs help!!

October 28, 2011. Tuscalosa, Alabama. The Radio.

The radio saved the day.   For two hours, I changed the stations on satellite radio and listened for a few minutes to each one.   When I found one I liked, I put it into the automatic system.    There are three different satellites and eight buttons on the dial so I had to find 24 stations I liked.    Now we are set.

One station I found was playing men quartets, all singing gospel songs.  It was so much fun we listened for thirty minutes.   Ken and I were brought up singing and playing and listening to gospel songs so it was like hearing voices from the past.   I put that station into the memory bank.   I must say that when I listened to the same station later in the day neither of us liked the music much, so perhaps I will remove it but it was a lot of fun this afternoon.

Today was a long drive,  raining all the way,  so we were looking for ways to amuse ourselves.   Eating helps to while away the day too,  along with talking.  But the radio saved our bacon today.

October 27, 2011. Salem, VA. The Journey.

It has been a lovely drive.  We have done it before but it looked especially beautiful today probably because of all the yellow and orange colors in the trees.   Our journey took us through Hancock and south on 522, picking up 81 at Winchester.  All afternoon we came south through the wide valley.  Two hours for Ken and two hours for me and we are done for the day.

We look like the Oakies except our truck is covered with the cap.  Fortunately, I loaded the back seat carefully with all the boxes I had packed,  so the back seat is full to the top.  This morning Ken and I loaded the five day coolers with the frozen Angus beef.  We have five coolers.  Then we filled the back of the truck with all the other stuff.  It is full to the top.

The GPS said it will take us almost 16 hours to get to Andrew and Christina's home.  As we left at 12:30, we have a long way to go but we are enjoying the trip.   The countryside is beautiful.   We expect to see them on Saturday.

October 26, 2011. Artemas, PA. Cooking in Provence.

Visiting Provence is worthwhile.  And learning to cook in Provence is an extra blessing.   One of our outings from the boat was visiting a lovely old town whose name escapes me.  In the late afternoon we were offered cooking classes,  Provence style.  Twenty of us made the choice so soon we were chopping and cutting and eating.  Even though I never cook, it was fun.  The three professional chefs told us what to do and we did it.  Our three groups rotated from one thing to the next.  My group ate desert first, followed by an appetizer and finally, the main course.  Of course, we drank local red wine the whole time.

The chefs were young and energetic all from the Culinary Institute of Provence, where we cooked.  One young chef asked us students what we liked to cook best, I am sure to build rapport and break the ice.  Unfortunately he asked me first and a look of horror came over his face when I told him that I did not cook.  His only response was to say, "Well, you are going to cook today so now please chop this parsley".   Everyone laughed.  He never did ask anyone else the question.

We dutifully brought back the recipes but yesterday I pitched them.  It was fun in Provence surrounded by other friendly people but back here at home, not a prayer will I cook them.

Walking 2