http://www.blogger.com/html?blogID=4316350785635987648 Cave Dwellings: December 2016
Cave Dwellings

Buckhorn Creek, Lake O' The Pines, Jefferson, TX

Thursday, December 29, 2016

A Trip Down Memory Lane...with our Keystone Cougar..

We bought our first fiver in 2003, two months after we bought our GMC 2500 diesel truck to pull one with. In 2005, we took our first long trip..We went all the way to California and back in one month..What the Heck were WE smoking??
We did some camping in Texas on the way..but usually, we just stayed one night in one place, and packed it up and moved on the next. We were new at it...and dumb..We were retired, after all..what was the big hurry?? Here are a few photos of that trip.


Above 3 photos are at Perdernales State Park, in Texas.  Very nice park!

These two were taken at Luckenback, TX...No, we didn't see Waylan, Willie and "the boys"..but we did see some great grinnin' and pickin'..

In Arizona, we saw a sign for a road leading up the mountain to Kitt Peak Observatory..so..We drove the road to the top and toured it..Then we had a harrowing drive DOWN that steep grade road pulling our Cougar..Hey, as I said, we were DUMB!!
This was back when you could still drive across Hoover Dam..but Border Patrol stopped every vehicle and searched it...Now they have made a road that gets you across without going over the dam..


I'm soooo glad we got to do this crossing one last time!..Our daughter, Chris, just happened to be goind to Vegas while we were out there, so we agreed to meet up with her at New York, New York Hotel and Casino for dinner ...and an adult beverage...This was before she married her now hubby.
Good gravy!!! Dennis and I were MUCH younger...and somewhat more "fluffy" back then!! We spent one night at Sam's Town RV park and left ...FYI, Sam's Town is NOT a good place...There were gunshots over the razor wire wall next to our camper...We got the Heck out of Dodge fast the next day, and ended up at Alamo Lake State Park in Arizona..We actually spent 3 nights there..


On our way back East, we stopped at Patagonia State Park,, North of Nogales AZ. We decided we wanted to walk across the border to Nogales, MX..This was our first experience doing that and from what I hear, Nogales is no longer considered safe...


We bought some great turquoise and had a few beverages and salsa at a restaurant there. We checked to make sure it was frequented by "gringos" like us...very good Margaritas too!!!
On our way back, we stayed in West Texas at Eagle's Nest RV Park in Van Horn, TX...This park was great, and lots of campers stopped there..After all, there aren't many places to stay out there in them thar hills!!

That picture above is Chuy's Mexican Restaurant...and the famous football star/commentator, John Madden was known to frequent that place...The story has it that he was afraid to fly and drove to all of his "gigs'. The food was great,and they had Madden's special chair there with his name on it!
From here we were back safely ensconced in Texas again, and stayed at Canyon Lake , Potter's Creek Campground, North of San Antonio..This is a great Army Corp park and had turned into one of our fav's...
The following 4 pics were taken at Gruene, TX, just North of San Antonio and New Braunfels, TX...We love this little town..It has one of the oldest dance halls in Texas where George Strait got his start..Plus, the beautiful blue Guadalupe River..



On our way home from Texas we now make it a plan to stay at Lake Wappapello, in Southern Missouri..From there we can make it home on one day...Here are a couple pics of that place..

WHEW!!!! I am exhausted from just putting this blog together..one trip, one month, one stupid couple of new RV'ers...Yep..that would be US!!!!

Monday, December 12, 2016

Taylor's Madrigal Performance..This will put anyone in a Christmas Mood!


No words to describe the talents of these kids...so I am attempting to post 1-2 videos.  We attended the Kaneland High School Madrigal Dinner this last weekend..It was fabulous!!! Be sure to turn up your sound and enjoy these..This first one is our granddaughter with a solo in a very beautiful song.
I will attempt a couple more:



We are sooooo very proud of Taylor and all of the wonderful voices of these talented kids...I will now post a short video of our Jester in action on stage...this is a very short one!
OK...I hope you viewed  these..They are so wonderful and really fun to watch and listen to around the holidays!! Thanks for tolerating my bragging!! We are blessed..

Monday, December 5, 2016

Another epic Cave-A-Palooza...and.. proud grandparents

We had a great family get together last weekend at the Cave Casa...


We had lots of food and drink, great family and friends...




Here we all are...Terrie, Chris, me, Kelly and Dennis...what a group, right??Our granddaughter is performing in the Kaneland High School Madrigal Dinner again the this year, and she is the Jester again...They had a mini performance at the Sugar Grove Library and some of the family went to watch..



Dennis and I are going to see one of the 5 performances they are putting on at the high school this weekend, so you know darn well I will probably post more...
We had a very pleasant surprise concerning Taylor this weekend..She was accepted at Ball State University Honors program and awarded a Presidential Scholarship..

Taylor will major in Criminal Justice with a minor in musical theater...but that could change in the 4 years...
What a wonderful weekend...but I could have done without the 8" of snow we got yesterday...I am having a hard time adjusting to NOT going South for the Winter...I need to think like a Cardinal,and just enjoy the snow......nope,not happening.