Those 70ish Girls

We have been eating our way through Rockport. We got to our friends, Molly and Cary Cline’s home Monday, in time to enjoy a delicious pork loin dinner, followed by ice cream topped salted caramel brownies. Now, that’s a mouthful. When we got home to our RV, I told Kip I was going to cook for them the following night. He didn’t stop laughing for five minutes. I dropped it.

Yesterday, we went to Kip’s favorite breakfast place in Rockport. It was so awesome that I forgot to take a picture of my food. Later in the day, we took the ferry to Port Aransas and walked along the jetty, where I got a photo of dolphins jumping in front of the ship. We stopped for a double scoop of yummy ice cream. I had mine on a waffle cone.

Last night, we went to Poncho’s Pizza. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Kip and I are going to shop a little at the world’s 2nd largest Ace Hardware Store. We went last year and they have everything. It’s a fun place. We’re going with Cary and Molly to a new BBQ place for lunch, and then Molly and I are going shopping. I might need some bigger clothes.

Tomorrow, we head for our last stop before heading home. Lake Livingston KOA is beautiful, and there is a great little Café there.

I’m sure Molly and Cary will be glad to see Kip go. He starts planning his next meal before he finishes his last one. All I have to do is eat.

We drove the 300 miles to Corpus Christi yesterday. The day was sunny and warm. We saw some pretty Texas country and arrived in Corpus just in time for the rain. We had reserved a spot at an RV park that is a little on the expensive side but right on the beach. It’s built on a peninsula, so everyone has a water view. I’ll take pictures tomorrow.

Today, I washed clothes while Kip took the Jeep to get it washed. Later, we went to Office Depot in the rain so I could make copies of some forms I need to send in for Gus. I must have shown my disappointment in the weather, because the little girl helping me handed me my folder of forms, said there would be no charge and to have a nice night.

We looked at the forecast and extended our stay until Monday because Sunday is supposed to be sunny and warm. I guess I’ll clean house tomorrow. It’s really tough to care for the dogs when it rains. They don’t like to do their business or go for long walks.

We grabbed a burger at McDonald’s on the way home from doing the laundry. I saw this cart packed with the belongings of a homeless woman. I felt grateful that I am not living in that kind of situation…although, she has a pretty cool looking teapot.

This is our kind of camping. You have to be surrounded by beautiful, natural countryside, have a nice sized space, a picnic table, and at least one tree for the ideal spot. The Lost Alaskan RV Park, just outside the quaint little oasis of Alpine, Texas, qualifies 100 percent.

The town has all of the town square fun stuff like small cafes, coffee shops, a bakery, and unique stores, but doesn’t give you the feel it was designed for tourists. On the way, we passed through Marfa and the observation post for the Marfa lights, which is just 25 miles from Alpine.

We shopped for groceries at Porters. There is no Walmart. I bought some Fort Davis, Texas Cinnamon Toast Pecans, and I can’t leave them alone.

There is an Amtrak train stop here for the Big Bend destined travelers, and it is also the home of Sul Ross State University. Alpine purportedly has milder summer temperatures… probably because it’s surrounded by high desert mountains.

I could stay here for 2 or 3 days and explore, but we have quite a bit more ground to cover before we get home. I hope there is a next time…

Each morning we’re reminded by what is seen with practiced eye.

We must look up for our daily blessing. The day’s story told by the sky.

Some days, we see storm clouds but we’re anxious about nothing.

The cloud heavy with rain releases droplets to warn us it’s not bluffing.

Some mornings bring clear skies. The sun kissing the birds and trees.

The story she conveys through God given talent can bring us to our knees.

I look up each morning, Sometimes needing a subtle nudge.

I see the morning photo. The capture no one could ever wrongly judge.

Then comes the evening. It’s still the sky I look to. The photo calms me.

Splendid color, heaven sent. A moment in time soon made as still as it can be.

Sometimes the sky is restless. Unable to be calm as darkness settles in.

I am grateful for my friend’s gift. Scenes can last forever instead of seconds.

You’ll find no pridefulness. Just joy in the sharing of the story of the heavens.

Photographs by Dianna Kenobbie Diehm…

We spent the night at a rural little KOA campground in Benson, Arizona, which is not too far south of Tucson. We woke up this morning to two dogs who heard the call of nature at 3:00 a.m. Kip asked me when young dogs start to sleep through the night. We did manage a couple of hours more sleep after the wake-up call.

It was 27 degrees, so while we waited for things to warm up a bit, I made waffles and bacon for breakfast. Nellie made fast friends with a donkey, and Rylie rated the dog park four out of five stars.

We’re on the road again and hope to make it to Valentine, Texas. That’s where people go to mail Valentines so they’ll be postmarked from Valentine. Expect one from Kip.

Hope you’re all enjoying the new year!

The video below was recorded while we were still in California.

We’re thankful for our national parks. We’ve been to several on our travels and have seen God’s beautiful country on display. The last half of this little video consists of photos taken on our drive through the Sequoia National Park…at least as far as we could get without chains.

We also saw orange and lemon groves ready to harvest. Olives and other delectables are grown in the valleys.

The slippers were Kip’s Christmas present. I got fresh tangelos.

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas. We’re on our way home, but we’re taking the long way…

My son used to say, “Mom, can I have some Martian mallows in my hot chocolate?

Tonight, after a day that started out pretty disappointing, I was determined I was going to end it by doing something fun. Kip built a fire in the firepit, and I roasted and ate ten or fifteen Martian mallows.

Maybe it was fifteen or twenty. Kip took a pass. He had an exhausting day at the Reagan Library yesterday.

Those teleprompters are more difficult than they look.

Anyway…you’re probably wondering how someone could have a bad day in beautiful Santa Barbara…

We have really been looking forward to taking Nellie and Rylie for a long walk on the beach, and today seemed like the perfect day. It was sunny and warm. We found a beach up the road, paid the $9 to get in, and headed to find the parking lot. It was then that we discovered all the signs posted everywhere. No dogs allowed!

The girl at the booth who let us in couldn’t have helped but notice our two dogs vying for her attention. Did she think we were going to drive to the beach and sit in the jeep? She hadn’t said a word.

We stop on our way out to ask her if there were any beaches around that would allow you to walk your dogs and she along with a ranger who had shown up in the meantime, both said there were none.

We couldn’t believe that could be true, so I googled it and found two within thirty minutes who allowed pets on the beach, and one was even a no leash beach. Though the sun was under a cloud by the time we got there, we had a good time, and the dogs were really funny. They never did figure out the rhythm of the waves.

No beach pictures…I left my phone in the car. These were taken on the way to the Santa Barbara beach that likes dogs. It really is beautiful around here.

One more day here and then off to see General Sherman’s Tree in the Sequoia National Forrest. We’ll be there until the day after Christmas.