November 30, 2012. Aventura Spa, Mexico. Freedom Forge.

Arthur Herman wrote this book and a good writer he is.    It is a rollicking story of the production of armaments and vehicles and airplanes built in the Unites States during the Second World War.   The numbers are staggering.  This book tells how it was done.   It is a great story especially at a time than you seldom find a good word about the country, not at home and not abroad.

The full title is "Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War Two".   You seldom hear of the people today but this book brings these important people alive and is well worth reading.   It also tells yet more arguments about whether or not the government should be in charge.  Arthur Herman would tell you NO, not if you wanted to win the war.

Arthur Herman also wrote "How the Scots Invented the Modern World", also a good book.  He is an excellent writer and I thoroughly enjoyed Freedom's Forge, just as I did with the Scots book.  You can read it and be proud.

November 29, 2012. Aventura Spa, Mexico. Indulgence.

There is no question.  Ken and I have become indulgent.  First thing this morning I had a facial.  This afternoon, both of us had a massage.  A short time later, I had my hair cut.  Yesterday, Ken had a pedicure and the week before a manicure.   We are living the life of Riley.    But it won't last of course. We have spent our whole life paying no attention to our persons so we will get bored with it soon enough and go back to ignoreng how we look and feel.

Heck.  Today I had my second ever facial and I did not even like it, so it was also my last,  but not so massages.  I love them but only indulge myself when we are away at a resort.  One Christmas,  Santa gave me one massage a month.  Since we have been at the Palace Resort, Ken and I have had one massage each week.   But Saturday morning we leave so all this fancy stuff will cease.  But at the moment, much to our great surprise, Ken and I are enjoying our indulgences.

November 28, 2012. Aventura Spa, Mexico. Paddle Tennis.

It is so much fun watching these young people play their hearts out on the paddle tennis courts.   Ken and I have never watched competitive paddle tennis but this week, at our resort,  an International Tournament is being held just across the road at the Convention Center.   It is a big deal, for those who are playing, representing their country in their sport.  Ken and I stumbled on the tournament this afternoon and stayed to watch.  Of course, we did not know the rules nor the scoring and the answers we got from the Italian team lost quite a bit in translation.  But tonight after dinner, we watched a match between Canada and the USA so was able to get the real answers about scoring and the rules.

There are countries from all around the world except Asia.  There are teams from Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Italy, Sweden, Canada, USA, and bunches more.  The scoring is just like tennis except you serve underhand.  The court is small and you can play off the back and side walls after the ball has bounced in the court.  It is a game of finesse as well as strength and we enjoyed watching the matches both this afternoon and tonight.   I bet we watch more games tomorrow.  It is an exciting game to watch, especially right next to the courts.

November 27, 2012. Aventua Spa, Mexico. The Rules.

Our system was flawed and I knew it,  but Suzanne felt sure it would work.    This is one of those events that a grandmother thinks is funny but a mother does not.  Ken and I had a room right between the rooms for Kate and Mary Frances on one side and Sarah and Abigail on the other. but on the floor below their parents.   The four older girls loved having their own rooms.    I was directly connected with Kate but not with Sarah.   The  girls stayed up later than us, so the rule was for the girls to call their parents when they got back to the room.    I figured out immediately the problem but said nothing.

All was well until the last night.   Kate and Mary Frances retired to bed early because they were due to leave the resort at 7:00.  Sarah and Abigail were to go to bed at midnight but they were late.  At 12:15 they called that they were in the room, which made them late.  After a few minutes,   David suggested that Suzanne call them back and she did, only to find no answer.  Suzanne was angry.  She was forced to dress and search for her girls.   They were racing to their room when she found them, trying not to be caught, but to no avail.  They were in trouble and they knew it.

I on the other hand, was surprised it took until the last evening before the girls figured out that the system was flawed.  My sister and I sounded the same on the phone and even our parents could not tell our voices apart, so you could guess how I figured out quickly why our system here was flawed!!

November 26, 2012. Aventura Spa, Mexico. Our Space.

The good part of our Suite is the space.  We are living in a Presidential Suite,  comprised of a large bedroom and bathroom.   In addition we have a small kitchen, plus a large living room and dining room combination, about 35 feet wide and 50 feet long.  Everything opens onto the balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  The space is beautiful and we are enjoying the view as well as the space.  I am looking at a Snowy Egret as I write.  We also have a half bath and an entrance room.

On the other hand, this whole resort will be refurbished next year and it needs it.   Our lovely space has green shag area rugs over the white marble floors.   The two couches are covered by green fabric with palm trees, complete with 16 cushions,  some oranges, some blue and some lime green.  They are quite a sight.  

The dining table would sit 8 and is lovely with thick glass top and wrought iron base.  It would look good in any dining room in the world.  The first evening here we ordered room service and sat at the dining room  enjoying our good fortune.   The beds are comfortable and two ladies come every day to keep it clean.   Heaven.

November 25, 2012. Aventura Spa, Mexico. Our Space.

The Manager made us a deal.  Last week, we were supposed to be staying in a Presidential Suite, which is really an apartment but things got messed up and Ken and I ended up staying in a regular room on the ground floor with no view.   It turned out better for the girls so everyone was happy.    Then both David and Suzanne had trouble when checking out, where large sums of money were added to their bill.   They were errors, but both need my help plus the Manager to correct the error.   I became a good buddy of the Manager, Mr. Blanco.

After Suzanne and I finished our business with Mr. Blanco on Friday evening, I asked him if there was any possibility that Ken and I could stay in a Presidential Suite over in the Spa.  He checked the computer and found one that would be empty.  I was to check with him the next morning, but he would do his best.

When everyone was gone and Ken and I were moving over to the Spa, we were given a room number, but when we arrived, it was not a Presidential Suite, so I call Mr. Blanco.   The Suite was being cleaned for us!!  Success.   Our place is lovely, overlooking the Caribbean Sea, with lots of space.   It pays to ask for what you want and it pays to be pleasant when you work to solve problems.   He said to me, "Mrs. Dickie.  I want you to leave this place being happy".   And I will be.

Help Unloading, Lake House TX

View from Mississippi Condo

Farrn colors

Hillhouse- fog, sunrise,shadow and frost

Water Polo

Locals

Andrew

Arrival at Adventura

November 24, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. Checking Out.

Fortunately, the Manager is very nice.   He is calm and helpful and positive, which is a good thing,  because we have had to deal with him both at the beginning and the end of our visit here.   All issues were resolved but if Suzanne had not decided to pay her bill last night we would have had a big mess this morning.  It is actually kind of funny, in a perverted kind of way.

We were sitting in the bar,  David, Suzanne, Ken and I,  having a nightcap and chatting before going to bed, when Suzanne decided to clear her bill.   After twenty minutes in line, she came back to tell me that a large sum was on their account, so I went over to help.   First Ken bailed out and left for the room, followed soon by David.    The Manager was still on duty so he was able to correct the error and Suzanne paid her bill and I did too.    As Andrew and Christina had no extra purchases, I cleared their account too.   It took 90 minutes, but Suzanne and I left with the Manager telling us that all seven rooms were showing zero balance.  

But I was suspicious so called Christina at 6:15 this morning to tell her what we had done.  They were leaving at 7:20 so I knew they would be up.   Wouldn't you know.  Christina called me to say that they would not let them leave because a large bill needed to be paid.   I zipped up in my robe and the man transferred the charge to my room,  so they could leave.  The three girls were already in the van waiting to go to the airport.    After they left, I suggested the manager be called to correct the error.   Much to my great surprise, when David and company turned in their keys and had their bracelets removed at 8:10,  their account was clear and the same man assured me that the Manager had also corrected the error on Andrew's account.

David asks a very good question.  "Why did it take so long?"  Now Ken and I are checking out from this place and moving to the Aventura Spa.   I am delighted to know that the Manager is in charge of both places!!  At the moment, all issues have been resolved but you never know when we might need him again.

November 23, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. Departures.

Today was the last day of their vacation.    Andrew and Christina, Molly, Mary Frances and Kate are fast asleep, as their shuttle bus to the airport leaves at 7:00 a.m.   In addition, they must fly to Houston and change planes for Jackson, so their day will be a long one.   David and Suzanne, Allison, Samantha, Sarah and Abigail leave at 8:00, for a direct flight to San Antonio.   The four Texas girls are now playing pool with a bunch of new found friends, having spent the whole afternoon playing either volleyball or water polo with the same group of kids.  All six girls have had a blast this week.

Now tomorrow, both families will be home while Ken and I spend next week at the adjacent resort called Aventura Spa.  It is the first time we have visited a resort for all adults and we are not sure we will like it.  We both enjoy watching the children play.  But we are trying it out.   It is owned and managed by the same people and is also an all inclusive resort so all we need to do is eat and sleep and read and walk.  We can do this...but we will miss our family!!

November 22, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. Thanksgiving.

Everyone in our group agrees that this is the most relaxed Thanksgiving we have ever experienced.   No one cooked and no one cleaned up the kitchen.  David watched football in the bar most of the day with people joining him from time to time.   The girls all played a number of different games all afternoon, with a bunch of kids.  I sat by the pool in the morning and by the beach in the afternoon, finally joining David for football late in the afternoon.  Ken floated from place to place.

Allison and I had a date for lunch.  For a class project she must interview a grandparent.  I was the designated grandparent and today was the day to get it done.   She had 34 questions to ask me.  We both enjoyed the interview.

This evening for dinner we celebrated Molly's 5th birthday.  Her birthday is Saturday but it will be a travel day, so tonight we surprised her by having a wee party complete with balloons  and noise makers along with two presents and a birthday cake.  She was thrilled and so were we.

On this Thanksgiving Day 2012, Ken and I are thankful for our family both immediate and extended.  We are fortunate indeed.

November 21, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. Swimming With The Dolphins.

It was unusual and it was sometimes scary but it was always exciting.  That was the consensus of all those who went to swim with the dolphins.   The six girls plus Suzanne, David and Andrew went for the adventure.  Ken can barely swim while Molly is too small  so we stayed back at the resort, but the rest of the group had a blast.

"These beasts are huge", said David.  The dolphins are so well trained that they swam on their backs, while the human swimmers hold the flippers while the dolphins towed them around the large pool.  Andrew said that it seems as though you are going one hundred miles an hour.  These creatures are impressive.  They kissed the cheeks of the girls and stayed still while being patted.  Every so often they just jumped high out of the water for no apparent reason.

On principal, I don't really like wild creatures to come too close to humans but today the swimming with the dolphins expedition was a big hit for both children and adults.  I think I should have joined in the fun.

November 20, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. The Game.

All six girls were playing.  David, Andrew, Suzanne and I were sitting at the end of the pool having a drink and we could hear the shrieks and cheering.  Water polo was the game.   Kate came from the game to tell us that she was going to shower before dinner as it was already 5:45 but all the other girls were still playing.  The adults decided to leave the pool area too so we watched the game as we were walking by,  and arrived just as Samantha scored a goal.  Sarah there a long pass to Samantha, who immediately jumped high to score, much to the surprise of the goalie and a defender, both of whom were boys.

At least 20 players were in the game, mostly boys as well as several men.   There were comments such as "watch your nails" or "no tackling", all directed at our girls.  They were tenacious, and their team won.   They should never have allowed them on the same team.   At the end of the game, all the players agreed to meet again at the Magic Show.   For good or ill, the girls have made friends!!

November 19, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. Eating.

The food here is wonderful.  The girls are enjoying going from place to place indulging themselves.   Today, coming up from the beach about 3:00, I spotted three of our girls eating a second lunch.   Allison, Abigail and Samantha were sitting by the pool, each  eating a hamburger and french fries.  The sea gulls we standing in the very shallow water right by the edge watching.  It did not take the girls long to feed the birds.   The girls were delighted although I suspect the resort officials may not be pleased.

But indulgence is it's own reward.  Kate yesterday drank five pina coladas, of course with no alcohol.  Last night at dinner she ate full dinners plus the left over shrimp from Christina's dinner.  This morning she  woke up with a queasy stomach and thinks she drank some tap water!!   It is probably true that the tap water has a different composition than Jackson, but the water here in the resort is pure and clean, but the combination of a huge amount of food plus different water left Kate in her room for the day.   "It was a good lesson for Kate", said Ken.  You must spell yourself when staying at an all inclusive resort, and only eat what is wonderful.  Now all the girls have learned the lesson as well as Kate.  We hope she is better tomorrow.

November 18, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. Granddaughters.

The girls are thrilled.   The resort is beautiful and there is plenty for them to do.  Today they snorkeled and climbed the rock wall, in addition to clambering around the obstacle course.   Late in the afternoon, they all took a hot tub in their huge jacuzzi tub in their room, all six in the same tub.   Tomorrow morning they have decided to order room service for breakfast, just because they can.   After their hot tub they ate a pastry and hot chocolate in the patio of the resort.  All of these activities they are able to do all by themselves, with no parents required.  

The all inclusive resort is good for the parents too because they are required to neither dole out money nor restrict the purchase of any object.  Today, David and Suzanne sat on the beach all day, reading their books and snoozing while Andrew and Christina sat and watched while Molly played in an area designed for children, with a slide where a huge bucket dumps over the slide on regular intervals.

Everyone is happy.  This afternoon,  Suzanne organized the trip to swim with the dolphins for the six older girls for Wednesday afternoon, plus scheduled a massage for each four adults, so now we are set.  Everyone is relaxed and happy, which is just what vacations should be!!

November 17, 2012. Aventura Cove, Mexico. The Travel Day,

The day you travel always takes it's toll.  No matter when you start and when you finish,  you end up tired and irritated.  Today was no exception.   I could outline a litany of problems and delays but when all was said and done, we are all here at the resort.   We had a delightful pasta dinner sitting outdoors beside the pool and the beach, all together.   Andrew regaled the girls with jokes, something I have not heard him do in years.  And we are now all in our rooms,  although not the rooms we intended to be in.  The girls are delighted and everyone is happy.

We had booked one presidential suite plus two deluxe family suites but when we arrived for some unknown reason, the presidential suite was not available even though we booked it a year ago.  I was not pleased.  Ken just sat and let me deal with the manager.   Eventually, they gave us three family suites plus one additional room with two beds,  so now, right in a row, we have two granddaughters one side of us and two on the other, but both girls in their own rooms, which each comes with a huge jacuzzi tub.  The four older girls are delighted.  Molly is in a room adjacent to Andrew and Christina and the twins are right next to David and Suzanne, so even though they messed up our reservation, it turns out to be a better fit for us.  Alls well that ends well.  But I tell you, at the end of a long travel day I was not pleased.  Now we are ready to get a good night sleep and be ready to explore this lovely place tomorrow.

November 16, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Packing.

Ken and I always look that we packed light.  It is not that we look terrible when on a trip but we certainly don't look chic.   Our goal is to pack in quantities of four.  Our bags always have space to bring home treasures.   Today, we are packing for two weeks at a resort in Mexico.  We will have dinner every evening with our families but spend the rest of the day in bathing suits by the pool or beach.   Ken had to be reminded to take two bath suits.  He assured me that he really only needed one, but he packed two.

We both laughed about a trip we took with several other folks from work, to attend a meeting run by Bernie Kanstaroom, in Puerto Vallarta.   Every day after class, we all sat around the pool.  My friends observed that every day I appeared with the same bathing suit.    They were incredulous when they discovered that I only brought one.     On the other hand, my friend Peppy wore  a different bathing suit every day.  She certainly set the standard and looked a whole lot better than me.   So I reformed.   Now I always bring two bathing suits when going to a resort but truth be told, I always only wear the one that is the oldest and most comfortable.  It is sad but true.  Comfort is more important than style to me.  But I always bring my two bathing suits in honor of my friend Peppy!!

November 15, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Christmas Shopping.

The granddaughters will not expect gifts from us this year because for Christmas we are giving each family member one week vacation at an all inclusive resort south of Cancun, which includes airfare.  The children know we are not rich and they are grateful for the trip so they will not expect their usual bag of goodies from us for Christmas.

But I fooled them.  Today I shopped at the Dollar General.   It all started six years ago when we did the same thing except we all went to Nuevo Vallarta for a week.  Ken and I stayed in our condo and both families stayed in the Time Share just down the road.  We went right after Christmas and that was our gift but I wanted the girls to open something on Christmas morning so I went to the Dollar General and filled a Christmas bag of goodies.  The girls loved them so I did it again the next year except I included something of value in the bag.  I have continued the tradition so today I shopped for Christmas.

I give them items they can use at school plus a bunch of things they was wear, also pens and glue sticks, socks, candy, hair bands, small Kleenex tissues.  The girls love dumping out the whole bag, then carefully looking at every object.  The first year I wrapped each object individually but no more.  I just return from the store and make sure that every bag has one of each object.  They are ready to go to San Antonio now, and will be hidden at David and Suzanne's house until Christmas morning.   The girls will be surprised with the bag of goodies from Grandma and Grandpa, except of course, if they have already read the blog!!

November 14, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Gates.

Between the lake and the ranch we see many gates.   The gates all go into ranches.   Many gates are fancy and large and are made of stone.   They might be thirty feet on both sides of the entrance and ten or fifteen feet high.  Massive gates.   Many gates are simple, with a metal gate that someone needs to get out of the car to open.  The variety of the gates and the surrounds are quite remarkable.  Often you cant see the house from the road so you cant tell if the gate is being pretentious.

In Texas, they have a saying about people.  "He is all hat but no cattle".  This is not a complement.  They mean that the person looks the part of a cowboy and talks the line of a cowboy but really has no cattle at all.  it is all for the show.

I always suspect that many of these fancy gates are all about show and that the ranch really is small.   These folks bought a ranch and had a big gate to impress their city friends....maybe.   It is my guess that the real ranches, the big ones, have those little bitty metal gates that were installed in 1936, while the big fancy ones are all for show.  It does make the drive more interesting because the Texas gates are everywhere.  They are part of the charm of Texas.

November 13, 2012. Harper, Texas. Marianne Casey.

Duty is an old fashioned word.   For the past thirty years, right in front of our eyes, we have seen  duty in action.   Duty performed with love and kindness and cheerfulness.  It was a wonder to behold.  Marianne died last week at age 50 with her parents at her side.

Marianne was a younger sister of my friend Maureen, with whom I worked for 23 years.   Marianne was diagnosed with MS at age 20 and when I met her she was working full time and living the fine life although already using a cane.  She was beautiful and lively and spirited.  And she did not complain.  She worked hard to stay fit, swimming several times a week to keep her muscles active.  Her seven siblings laughed along with her efforts.  Then came the walker.  Next the friends held a Van Dance, to raise enough money for a van that would lift a wheel chair into the van so Marianne could be mobile.   The disease is terrible.  Bit by bit function ceases and you never know when.  But she never complained, always maintaining her spirit and spunk.  Her duty was to do whatever she could at every stage of the disease.    Next she was bed ridden but still smiling.

Marianne's parents took on the task of caring for Marianne.   When Marianne could no longer live alone, they took her into their home and looked after her right to the end.  No complaints, no grumbling, just did what was necessary to look after Marianne.   Their duty was to care for their beloved child Marianne.  The example of love and kindness will never be surpassed but they did it and never batted an eye.  They just did their duty and they did it cheerfully.    We will miss Marianne and we will remember with gratitude the life she led and the example of duty performed by her parents.  Again, it was a wonder to behold.

November 12, 2012. Harper, Texas. Frances Itani.

Remembering The Bones is the book I just read, written by Frances Itani.  It is an excellent book, and I enjoyed it enormously.  My friend Wendy told me about the author and this book and I am grateful for her for giving me the tip.  It is a book that Ken would hate as there is no action.  But you learn everything about this old lady, including her ancestors and those of her husbands.  I loved it.

It deals with the question of what happens inside your head when you are not involved with anything else.   Whether we like it or not, your head is never really off duty and ideas pop in at unusual times.   This is all true, as you learn in the book.

Perhaps now that I will turn 75 this year, I am somewhat interested with the life of an 80 year old.  Frances Itani is an excellent writer and has four children and a long time husband.  All this shows in this book.  She has published two subsequent books, plus four books of short stories.  I will find and read those books.

I just read the other day that Alice Munro has turned 80 and has published a new book of short stories.  Incredible to think she is 80.  She is the only author who became famous by writing short stories only.

November 11, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Veterans Day.

It was a horrible War, the First World War, so when the war was over,  everyone celebrated all over the world, thinking that they had just ended the War that ended War.  It was naive and short lived but today we still celebrate the end of the world war,  but now we honor the Veterans in all the wars.  Once the celebration was called Armistice Day, but now it is Veterans Day.

Monday is a Federal Holiday but the schools are open in Texas.  With Thanksgiving so close, I suppose that the holidays were too close together so the schools do not take a holiday for Veterans Day.

The more you read about the 20th Century, the more you understand the impact of the wars on the ordinary people.   Now we remember and are grateful.

November 10, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. A Book.

This book is very thoughtful , written by Miscamble.   "The Most Controversial Decision" is the title.  When I first saw the title, I assumed the author would castigate Mr. Truman but it is a careful assessment of the American situation at the time, along with the Japanese military.  As everything happened in my lifetime, the history described is familiar but the specifics were not.  I enjoyed the review of events and the careful handling of the topic.

It is awful to consider but when all is said and done, the actions of the Japanese were unbelievable.  Even after the two bombs were dropped, the military men were all for forging ahead and instilling more damage to the Allies.  At last, the Emperor called a halt to the carnage.  We forget how horribly the Japanese fought and how they treated their prisoners.  What were they thinking?  This book, written by a historian, brings it all back.  But it written in a non dramatic and gentle way, which is a trick when dealing with this topic.   This book is worth reading.

November 9, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Grandparent's Day.

It is a lovely idea, to invite the Grandparents to visit the school and learn more about the attitudes and practices being implemented.   In addition, I suspect the school is hoping for donations, but as it was not mentioned today, perhaps I am merely being cynical.    Ken and I have attended several such programs in the past, both for Kate and Mary Frances in Bethesda and Allison and Samantha at St George's here, but today it was the first for us to attend Grandparent's Day at the Episcopal School of San Antonio, or more popularly called TMI, Texas Military Institute.  Sarah and Abigail attend that school, the alma mater of General Douglas MacArthur.  

The school is small, 500 students, and the campus is beautiful, with wonderful facilities.  Today we attended chapel, as do the students every day.  Then we were delighted to see the action of the school.  We saw several science experiments given by students from the Science Club, and we heard the middle school band, also a scene from the production Our Town being given this weekend.   And we toured the facilities including the classrooms.   But the best part was eating lunch with Sarah and Abigail, in the school cafeteria.    This school serves lunch each day to all  students and today we joined with the crowd.

I feel so fortunate to be a grandmother and the girls seemed pleased that we were able to attend.  The school has high academic standards along with their emphasis on athletics, which seems a perfect blend for the students.  I was certainly impressed and was delighted to be a part of the day.

November 8, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Working.

Hard work is always beneficial.   No one has ever achieved anything without a lot of hard work.   Most people we know well were not been born rich although they are do live well today.  When you ask,  folks are keen to tell you how they did it.  All the scrimping and working their way through college and graduate school, then saving for the first house, all the while making a life with their family.   Never living the high life but saving and investing in their future and the future of their children.

When you look at those folks now, you would never know how hard and diligently they worked, until you ask.  One problem for the young today is that their education was provided by the parents.  By the time young adults became aware of their parents, the parents were no longer poor, so their life seemed easy.

I asked my good friend the other evening if her children worked as hard as she did when they were young.    When she was 10, she decided to be a doctor and coming from a poor family, worked her way through both college and medical school.  " Of course not,"  she said. "I could not pretend to be poor.  I paid for them to attend college, which is the normal thing to do today."

I suspect that many young people today have no idea how difficult it is to achieve anything, and are somewhat surprised  and irritated they are not affluent.   Hard work is it's own reward, as is a bit of deprivation.  The next few years will be interesting, but will all require a lot of hard work.  You can count on it.

November 7, 2012. Harper, Texas. Company.

It is always interesting to have company.  Yesterday Marilyn and Richard came to visit us here at the ranch.  When they arrived at 2:30, we sat around the fire for almost three hours catching up.  We talked about the work at the ranch and we talked about our children and grandchildren.  The election did not even come up, we were so busy discussing our own lives and families.   And they approved the bunkhouse.

For the first time in ages, Marilyn asked me about my loss of speaking, all those years ago.  She asked about it because she was not hearing many errors in my speech, which is nice to hear although it may not be true.  And we discussed their place in Colorado, with it's supply of clean water just bubbling up from the ground winter and summer, year after year.  Interesting place that we will visit one day soon.

Then we went up the hill for dinner, which was easy:  cold beef tenderloin, rice and broccoli.  and we talked some more.  One topic was company and how we thrive and survive with so much company.  My answer is that Ken just disappears for a while to be alone and I never fuss, so have no stress dealing with company.  In fact, I actually enjoy having company.

It wasn't until they were leaving to drive down to the ranch house for the night that I asked for a prediction on the election.  And they proved accurate.  In the morning, they came back up the hill for breakfast and by 10:30 they were gone, back to Houston.  It was a whirlwind visit but a pleasant one.

November 5, 2012. Harper, Texas. The Bunk House.

The bunk house is almost ready.  Bit by bit since our arrival,  we have adding bits and pieces to make it live able.  Like everything else, it has taken us a long time to get to this stage.    It is a good thing we started early.  All we lack now are two rugs.

Last week we bought towels.  And I made up the beds, which is not an easy thing to do with bunk beds.   Now each bed,  all eight of them,  have sheets and a pillow plus a blanket and a fleece throw, folder on the bottom of the bed in case the weather turns cool.  Abigail suggested another covering in addition to the blanket, so now,  there it is.   There is toilet paper in the bathroom along with rugs and a trash container.  All the lights work.

Today, Ken and I bought six chairs and one small sturdy table.  It was our intention to bring a table from the lake, but I was never happy with that table as it is too big and is a bit unstable, and  our list today was to visit Thrift stores to buy chairs.  Instead we visited Moore's furniture store and bought six new sturdy chairs and one small non tippie drop leaf table.    Back at the ranch, Ken and I unloaded the furniture from the truck and set them all up.  Now except for the rugs, the bunk house is ready to be used.  We are pleased.

November 6, 2012. Harper, Texas. Company.

We spent all afternoon and evening with our good friends Marilyn and Richard and we did not discuss the election.    To be totally truthful, right at the end of the evening, just before they left to go down to the ranch house, I asked both Richard and Marilyn for a prediction about the income of the Senate and the Presidential winner.  One thing we all agreed on was that the campaign took too long.  We wanted it over.

Ken and I like to play the game of how long we can go after election day,  without knowing who had won.  One year we were in Nova Scotia and went three days.  We don't always do what most folks do and watch the television coverage.   Tomorrow,  eventually,  someone will tell us.  But in the meantime, we will sleep peacefully, knowing that tomorrow, the sky will not fall no matter who wins.  Life will go on.  We will survive!!

November 4, 2012. Harper, Texas. Ken Barby.

Yesterday was the funeral of my brother in law,  Ken Barby.  It is difficult to believe that within four months  my sister Carol and my brother in law Ken have both died and now will be side by side in the cemetery in Williamsford, Ontario.

Ken Barby was a good man.  He loved God, his family, the Salvation Army and hockey, not always in that order.  He was quiet and unassuming but always dependable.  He loved maps and was good with them.  They visited us in Maryland many times so their route from their home to our home was well known except that every time they came they drove a different route, always a new one.   Once the map was in his mind it was there forever.

He played second baritone in both  Salvation Army bands in Hamilton and Owen Sound.  He was asked to play first baritone but  refused.  He was happy to play that minor part.  Of course, for years he was the band librarian, an unsung but necessary task, which was typical of Ken.  Never bragging, but always just doing his duty.

Carol and Ken were generous with our boys, inviting them to their cottage when they were young.  David was invited by Ken to spend the summers at the cottage, after Ken retired from the Bell.  David reports that Uncle Ken always treated him as a person, bot as an awkward teen.  High praise indeed.

I miss Carol and Ken and always will.

November 2, 2012. Harper, Texas. Plugs.

A year ago we decided to bring rental trailers to the ranch so some  relatives and friends could stay at the ranch for our 55th celebration, which will be held in October, 2013.  It was son David's suggestion and it has been well received.  Ken and I thought it  unfeasible, but after meeting with Lisa at the trailer dealer,  it can be done, and now it will be done.  The trailers are ordered.

Again last year, we met with the electrician.  In order to plug in 14 trailers, we needed more electricity, so Pat has been working to get it done, requiring a new pole and underground electrical lines snaking around the front lawn.  Today, Ken and I met with Pat to position the trailers on the ranch, so he can finally install the outlets for the trailer plugs.  He convinced us to first install the trailers so he will know exactly where to install the outlets.   The three of us placed all these trailers around the front of the ranch.  They can all fit.   When the trailers arrive and are put in place,  he will come and install the plugs.  It makes sense but it certainly makes me anxious.

The trailer place will deliver the trailers two at a time, four a day.  Pat is fearful that the driver might not be able to back the trailer into a tight spot that we selected.  He has promised that as soon as the first four arrive, he will come and install the plugs.  Truth be told, he is right.  The trailers will be leased for a week, starting October 9, 2013, so the trailers must arrive beginning on the Friday or Saturday.  It is my anxiety that is the problem.  I like all items on the checklist put into the completed category, and here I am agreeing to wait until the last moment for the electrical outlets.   His way is better, probably, but it does make me nervous.

November 3, 2012. Harper, Texas. Steven Frayne

Steven Frayne does incredible magic.  My friend Doreen sent me a You Tube clip showing three of his tricks.  I was astonished.  Several months ago, Ken and spotted Steven on TV while we were surfing the channels.  On that show he was showing his tricks to people on the street.  It was wonderful, but we did not know his name and actually only watched for five minutes.

This morning I watched the You Tube tricks again and also looked up more about him on Google.  Now I know that he is an English magician who goes by the name of Dynamo.  He is 28 years old.  Under the category that something good comes out of everything, when Steven was 11, he was diagnosed with Crones Disease and spent six months in the hospital with several surgeries.  His uncle taught him some magic tricks, just to pass the time and the rest his history.  He has been learning and perfecting his craft ever since.

He is well worth watching.  A new show of his called Magician Impossible is just out in October.  The things he does is clearly impossible...but he does them.  And it is such fun watching.

November 1, 2012. Harper, Texas. Vote.

Today we voted.  It was an unusual way to vote.  It was the first for us, and we liked it.  When we obtained our Texas drivers license, we also registered to vote, as Texas was now our primary residence.  Junction is the County seat for Kimble county.  At dinner last evening, Joyce told us about early voting.    It was news to us.  I knew about absentee ballots but never the system that for two weeks prior to day of election, a person could go into the court house and vote.  No waiting in lines.  Just walk in and vote,  so we did.

After getting our inspection in Harper for the truck and having breakfast at the Longhorn Cafe while we waited for the truck, Ken and I drove to Junction.  Sure enough, in the court house,  we were registered on their lists,  showed our drivers license, then voted in a tiny room adjacent to the clerk's office.  They had only two machines and six cubicles to fill in the ballot with a pen.  One young man was at one machine, so Ken used the electronic voting while I used the old fashioned way, except after I was finished, I put the paper into a machine that recorded my vote...and then said thank you.  It was all very civilized.

There is something about voting that makes you feel righteous.  When you combine it with driving a truck with a new inspection sticker it made both of us feel positively angelic!!  I am sure it will not last.