Monday February 3,2014

Today the weather in the valley was cloudy and cool, finishing up this evening with drizzle. We have just returned from a potato dinner at the clubhouse.  Lela bought some toppings for the topping table and we enjoyed the evening with new friends from Ontario, Canada.  I think I mentioned before that there are many people here from Missouri.  We even met a couple from Fayette, MO who know several of Lela's family.  On the 13th there is a Missouri day for AM coffee.  We plan on being there.

Thursday we lounged around until it was time for my golf outing with the park people.  It was a four person scramble.  I had a man from OK City, a couple who were in their 80's, and myself on the team.  We had a really good time and came in at even par, which was good enough for 2nd money ($24).  Lela did laundry while I was gone. 

In the evening we went to the clubhouse and learned how to play Mexican Train Dominoes.  There is no prize for the winner, but there are some serious domino players there.  We probably won't go back for that again.

Friday we went west into Weslaco, TX, about 12 miles, to the RV Show.  Teddy and Becky drove and Jim and Gloria followed in their car.  We spent a few hours there trolling through some great looking RVs.  We left there and headed north to Elsa, TX for lunch at Hacienda restaurant.  I forgot to get a picture of that place, but when we drive past there again I'll stop and get that photo.  They have the best tacos I have ever had.

In the evening, we went to the clubhouse and were on the learner's table for a card game called Hand and Foot.  That was pretty much fun and we will probably return to play again.

Saturday, we went with our friends again to the Flea Market in West Donna, TX..  Because the wind always blows here, many people construct sun and wind protection adjacent to their unit.  That was what we were shopping for.

Of course that took a little "shopping."  Teddy, who knows something about the subject thought we got a very good deal on the fabric and hardware, so I was pleased with my purchase.

We returned to the park and proceeded to construct our protection.  There was a very strong wind, which made it very difficult to hang a 6 ft. by 16 ft. sheet of material.  We struggled until it was done.

Sunday morning we went to worship and I was again the song leader.  It is kind of cool, because everyone knows who we are now.  There are about 100 in the congregation.

After church we went west to LIN Chinese Buffet with our friends.  They also attend our worship service.  We went west because I needed to return to the flea market to get additional hardware to mount the second piece of material.  While we were there a cold front came through and dropped the temperature 30 degrees in 2 hours.  the winds were sustained at 25 mph and gusting to 35 mph.  I was afraid the awning was going to be damaged, but with the anchors we had already positioned, it made it through the wind. 

It was too cold and windy to finish my end piece on Sunday, so we settled in to watch the not so Super Bowl.  What a disappointment that was.

Then this morning the wind had dissipated so I finished the construction of my shelter.  Teddy was my foreman and was a great help. The temperature was only in the 50's but it was quite nice without the wind.  I intend to post a couple pictures of our set up in the next post.

I'll be up early tomorrow for golf at Monte Christo CC.