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We had a very laid-back day today. We woke and then went with Bill to run some errands around Beaumont. It was nice to just ride with him and not have to drive! I have been driving for most of my life and since we retired, I have been the only driver, so it was nice to just sit back and enjoy the view as we drove around town. I have always loved to people-watch.
After completing the errands, we went to the grocery store to pick up a few items and then returned home. Bill and I could hear our recliners calling us to come spend some time in them, so we did! I got about an hour of naptime but I'm not sure how much time Bill got. He's got a new puppy (Sophie) and she is a ball of fire!
Ornell has been working nights this weeks, so when she woke up, we decided to go eat some Mexican food tonight before she had to leave for work. We went to the Taco Rey restaurant in Nederland. This is an old family run restaurant and the food was very good. They have a small 3 man band on Friday, and it was enjoyable to sit and listen to the music after our meal.
We have spent a lot of time sitting outside while we are here. The weather has been very pleasant but I'll bet it won't be long until it warms up and makes sitting outside impossible. We'll take it while we can though..
So long.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday April 12, 2012-Moving day-Caddo Lake NWR to Bill and Ornell Sims house
The day we have anticipating has arrived. Since we didn't get anything done yesterday to prepare for moving, we had to get a pretty early start. I went down and opened the gates for the last time about 6:30 and came back home, intending to get started early but went back to sleep in my chair. Imagine that! Stella woke about 7:30 and we after a quick bite of breakfast, we began working a little after 8. Jason came by to tell us goodbye, which was nice of him. I drove down to put our trash in the dumpster, intending to tell Josh goodbye, but forgot that he took off on a weekend vacation and was gone.
The pack-up went well and by about 10 we were ready to go.
Stella drove the Tahoe back to the office and dropped the keys in Gary's office. While there, she met up with Mark and he walked her out to tell me goodbye. The employees here are so nice!
The trip to Bill's house went well with no problems. We took a break in Carthage at a truck stop but were there longer than I wanted to be. Oh well, we're not in a hurry. We made it to Bill's a little after 3 or just about right on time. I had told him that we'd be there between 2:30 and 3, and if we hadn't stayed longer at the truck stop, would have made it.
We got all set up without incident except that the satellite dish wouldn't lock in. I'll have to work on it tomorrow, I was too tired to fool with it any more today. We tuned in to the local channels, so we had TV to watch. It's good to be back at our friend's home for a few days.
So long.
The pack-up went well and by about 10 we were ready to go.
Stella drove the Tahoe back to the office and dropped the keys in Gary's office. While there, she met up with Mark and he walked her out to tell me goodbye. The employees here are so nice!
The trip to Bill's house went well with no problems. We took a break in Carthage at a truck stop but were there longer than I wanted to be. Oh well, we're not in a hurry. We made it to Bill's a little after 3 or just about right on time. I had told him that we'd be there between 2:30 and 3, and if we hadn't stayed longer at the truck stop, would have made it.
We got all set up without incident except that the satellite dish wouldn't lock in. I'll have to work on it tomorrow, I was too tired to fool with it any more today. We tuned in to the local channels, so we had TV to watch. It's good to be back at our friend's home for a few days.
So long.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday April 11, 2012-Caddo Lake NWR
I was sleeping very well in my recliner this morning about 6:30 when one of those darn trains woke me with a very weird horn. I've never heard anything like it before. It was very loud of course, but the sound was kind of a tone sound that rose and fell like a siren. When it woke me, I thought it had to be something like a warning, like a fire or bad weather alert or something. I even looked at the radar app on my phone to be sure that a tornado was bearing down on us or something. I finally realized that it was just a train, but it sure surprised and alarmed me!
We decided to go into Marshall to buy some groceries and as it turned out, it was a good thing that we did. Stella was almost through with her purchases when my phone rang. It was Jason from the refuge, asking if we could take another bird to Barbara, the bird rehab lady in Lindale. I told him that we could, so Stella had to cut her shopping short and we blew off some other errands that we were going to do while in town, and returned to the refuge. I called the lady that had found the bird, Amy, and got directions to her house in Jefferson. By the time we finally got on the road with the owl that she had picked up, it was after 2 in the afternoon. We made the almost 90 mile drive without any problems, and were soon pulling up at Barbara's house with the owl. She came out and said it was a juvenile Great Barred owl that had suffered a broken wing. She said that it was not a life threatening injury, but that the bird would never fly again. It was an old injury and the bone had dried out and died at one of the joints of the wing, but she would care for the bird until she could find it a home. I told her that Amy had been advised by the sheriff's department that she had called, to just leave the bird alone and "let nature take its course". She said she has heard that so many times, even from game wardens but it makes her mad. Now she and other bird and animal caregivers are people that need support! Their costs for food and medicines have to be out of sight! I can only imagine...
We had a nice little chat with Barbara before returning to the refuge. She is a retired Police Officer too, so we have a lot in common to talk about. She is very envious of our lifestyle and said her sister and her husband full-timed until their deaths. We told her of our plans for the rest of the year and that we would think of her in July and August when we will be in Colorado and it's 110 degrees in east Texas.
If you would like more information about donating or giving support to Barbara, please leave me a message or email me and I will find out for you.
So long.
We decided to go into Marshall to buy some groceries and as it turned out, it was a good thing that we did. Stella was almost through with her purchases when my phone rang. It was Jason from the refuge, asking if we could take another bird to Barbara, the bird rehab lady in Lindale. I told him that we could, so Stella had to cut her shopping short and we blew off some other errands that we were going to do while in town, and returned to the refuge. I called the lady that had found the bird, Amy, and got directions to her house in Jefferson. By the time we finally got on the road with the owl that she had picked up, it was after 2 in the afternoon. We made the almost 90 mile drive without any problems, and were soon pulling up at Barbara's house with the owl. She came out and said it was a juvenile Great Barred owl that had suffered a broken wing. She said that it was not a life threatening injury, but that the bird would never fly again. It was an old injury and the bone had dried out and died at one of the joints of the wing, but she would care for the bird until she could find it a home. I told her that Amy had been advised by the sheriff's department that she had called, to just leave the bird alone and "let nature take its course". She said she has heard that so many times, even from game wardens but it makes her mad. Now she and other bird and animal caregivers are people that need support! Their costs for food and medicines have to be out of sight! I can only imagine...
We had a nice little chat with Barbara before returning to the refuge. She is a retired Police Officer too, so we have a lot in common to talk about. She is very envious of our lifestyle and said her sister and her husband full-timed until their deaths. We told her of our plans for the rest of the year and that we would think of her in July and August when we will be in Colorado and it's 110 degrees in east Texas.
If you would like more information about donating or giving support to Barbara, please leave me a message or email me and I will find out for you.
So long.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday April 10, 2012-Caddo Lake NWR
Todd and Sue were ready to leave about 8 this morning, so we went outside to see them off. They have about 1200 miles to get home to Michigan and want to get an early start. We sent them on their way with hugs and handshakes and it was sad to see them go. Who will we have drinks with in the afternoon now?
I decided to mow this morning because it is looking pretty shaggy around here. I went to the shop and talked to Josh a little bit before getting the Kubota Zero Turn mower and starting out. It took a while to get the hang of using "joysticks" instead of a steering wheel but I got it figured out and about five hours later, I was through!
Todd called about 5:30 to tell me that they were in Illinois already! Wow, that's much further than we would have driven in one day, but they are excited about getting back home after being gone over three months. We just stayed inside and did nothing for the rest of the afternoon, because I was tired and sunburned and of course, there was no one else to hang out with.
Tomorrow will be our last full day here too, so we will begin our preparations to leave then. We are excited to be leaving, but dreading having to put everything away after being here two months. I know we'll get 'er done!
So long.
I decided to mow this morning because it is looking pretty shaggy around here. I went to the shop and talked to Josh a little bit before getting the Kubota Zero Turn mower and starting out. It took a while to get the hang of using "joysticks" instead of a steering wheel but I got it figured out and about five hours later, I was through!
Todd called about 5:30 to tell me that they were in Illinois already! Wow, that's much further than we would have driven in one day, but they are excited about getting back home after being gone over three months. We just stayed inside and did nothing for the rest of the afternoon, because I was tired and sunburned and of course, there was no one else to hang out with.
Tomorrow will be our last full day here too, so we will begin our preparations to leave then. We are excited to be leaving, but dreading having to put everything away after being here two months. I know we'll get 'er done!
So long.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday April 9, 2012-Caddo Lake NWR
Today was a very laid-back day for all of us. The refuge was taking all the employees and volunteers out for lunch to honor us and to thank us for our work. They gave us certificates with our hours that we worked on them along with a lapel pin showing the hours. Our totals showed that we had worked almost 40 hours a week between us for the two months that we've been here. We got certification for the classes we took on invasive species that can be used at any U.S. facility. I also received training in operating the John Deere mower and the Kubota "Zero Turn" mower that can also be transferred to other locations. See, I'm already qualified for another volunteer job!
We went to Cajun Tex again because it was the only restaurant that had a private room available today, and the food was very good. I had the chicken fried steak, and even though it was the lunch size, it was HUGE! We all enjoyed our meals and visiting with the refuge employees. They are very nice and I can assure you that we will be back here as soon as we can work it into our schedule.
We returned home and Todd and Sue began preparing to leave tomorrow. We will miss them when they're gone. We have come to like our afternoon happy hours! We did get together with them and Josh and his fiancee Jennifer. Todd and Sue had promised to take them out for an engagement dinner, but the timing had never worked out and tonight, everyone was still full from lunch, so we just made snacks and had drinks on the pavilion. It was a very nice way to end our last night together.
So long.
We went to Cajun Tex again because it was the only restaurant that had a private room available today, and the food was very good. I had the chicken fried steak, and even though it was the lunch size, it was HUGE! We all enjoyed our meals and visiting with the refuge employees. They are very nice and I can assure you that we will be back here as soon as we can work it into our schedule.
We returned home and Todd and Sue began preparing to leave tomorrow. We will miss them when they're gone. We have come to like our afternoon happy hours! We did get together with them and Josh and his fiancee Jennifer. Todd and Sue had promised to take them out for an engagement dinner, but the timing had never worked out and tonight, everyone was still full from lunch, so we just made snacks and had drinks on the pavilion. It was a very nice way to end our last night together.
So long.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday April 8, 2012-Caddo Lake NWR
Happy Easter!!
We drove over to Tyler this morning to Doug and Linda's house to meet Janie and Gail and other members of the family to celebrate Easter. They attend the Green Acres Baptist Church that we've been to before. It is by far the largest Baptist church that we've ever been to.
Today the church was exceptionally packed with the seldom-goers, like us! I always say I will go back to church soon, but something always seems to come up and I don't make it.
We went back to Doug and Linda's house for lunch of cold cuts and sandwiches and had some really good visiting time with the family and enjoyed our visit. When we got through with lunch and chatting after, six of us went over to cousin Butch's house where we met with him and his wife Cathy. Butch told us that he is going on a mission trip to Asia soon and we all wished him well.
We returned to the refuge to find Todd, Sue and Gary just finishing up their Easter feast on the pavilion. We sat outside talking to them for awhile before turning in for the night. It had been a great day with family and ended with good friends.
So long.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Saturday April 7, 2012-Caddo Lake NWR
This morning, we went to work around 10 and by the early afternoon, the kiosk was FINISHED!! You have been hearing me talk about working on it, so here it is:
The plan is to put some peg board or glass enclosed displays that may house both notices and the sign-up sheets for the equestrian trails. There is also a plan to add a bench that is under the overhang for people to sit or to take shelter from bad weather.
Here are Todd and I, tired, but feeling good about our project. Todd worked much harder that I did, but he is the experienced carpenter and I was just his helper. I did take part in the construction, cutting boards, nailing, fitting etc. and I learned a lot about carpentry. The A frames conceal large braces that made the structure much more stable. We covered them with cedar, as well as the feet under the walls just to make it look more "finished". We are very proud of our work.
Here are Todd and Sue, our friends that you've heard so much about. They will be returning home to Michigan a couple of days before we leave. We hope to return here again when they are here.
The plan is to put some peg board or glass enclosed displays that may house both notices and the sign-up sheets for the equestrian trails. There is also a plan to add a bench that is under the overhang for people to sit or to take shelter from bad weather.
Here are Todd and I, tired, but feeling good about our project. Todd worked much harder that I did, but he is the experienced carpenter and I was just his helper. I did take part in the construction, cutting boards, nailing, fitting etc. and I learned a lot about carpentry. The A frames conceal large braces that made the structure much more stable. We covered them with cedar, as well as the feet under the walls just to make it look more "finished". We are very proud of our work.
Here are Todd and Sue, our friends that you've heard so much about. They will be returning home to Michigan a couple of days before we leave. We hope to return here again when they are here.After finishing up the work on the kiosk, we put away all the tools and the excess lumber and cleaned up around the new structure, put the trailer away and parked the service truck inside the shop, so we in fact done!
We came home and rested for a couple of hours and then went to Marshall to The Jalapeno Tree restaurant where we bought Todd and Sue's supper as a send-off present. The meal was good and we all had a good time.
So long.
So long.
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