Wow, we've been here just about 6 months. Seems like we arrived yesterday, and I'm not ready to go anywhere else, yet. It's been a busy and joyful 5 months. The first 3 were spent at Ancient Oaks RV Park. There we met Rose and Ted, from Ontario, Canada. John was outside playing his dulcimer and Rose stopped by to see what that strange instrument was. She ended up buying one and becoming a student, and wonderful friend. Ted bought one too - his is like a banjo, so we had a wonderful time teaching and jamming with them. Rose and I did several market day shopping trips - took the guys home once so we could all enjoy the day!
October and November were quite warm and wonderful! Wrote a few new songs there! Kimmie allowed me to play music outside her shop - the healthfood store- right across from the harbor. I so enjoyed sitting on the front porch and playing for whomever came by. The harbor was right across the way, and I could hear the sound of seagulls, and hardware hitting the masts of the boats as a warm breeze blew through my hair.
Our daughter Krystal and her boyfriend Kiff spent a week with us right after Christmas. We went dolphin watching on Port A (and got sand blasted - it was blowing something fierce that day!) had some wonderful meals and spent time in the pool and hot tub. We also went to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi - that was amazing. I loved the little sea horses!
John and I followed The Biggest Looser's exercise and diet program for the first 12 weeks. We both lost 15 lbs. Then we moved over to Copano Bay, and our exercise habit changed. I wasn't feeling too well for a couple weeks, and we just wanted to rest and sleep - which is OK.
January 19th we moved over to Copano Bay RV Park, and absolutely love it here. The park is right on the water, so we can walk down and enjoy the pier. The circle drive is all cement as is our pad and everything is so clean. Walking around the "circle" is 1/2 mile, so exercise is easy. Everyone is so friendly, and there are so many activities. John is enjoying playing poker, and the pot lucks are great. There are crafts and exercise and jams! We've had dulcimer jams every Tuesday afternoon and regular jams on Tuesday evenings. It's great playing music with other people. I'm orgainzing the dulcimer players music for next year so we're "all on the same page" so to speak and will be ready come winter. This year there were 5 of us, next year we could easily have 10.
I've been busy arranging the music I wrote in Idaho and am working on a relaxation CD. It's coming along nicely. I also took out a membership with www.songramp.com (I'm Riverwind out there) and am enjoying the community very much. I currently have 4 pieces out there. I am currently collaborating with a new friend on one of my songs. Now it's our song. Hans has done an incredible job arranging it, and writing a chorus. We've been working on the lyrics also. Will be interesting to see where this all goes. It's time for the music. Been working hard on the keyboard also, sightreading and transposing and just getting my skills back and improved. Days I get to "work" on music, I smile all day long.
On another beautiful day, we met our great friends Larry and Lea in Palacios for a picnic. Finally got to share the bottle of wine we picked up in Deadwood, S.D. on the way back from Idaho. It was wonderful! Another get together found the four of us out on Port Aransas. They were going to take us to the Port A Brewing Company, but it was closed! So we took them to our favorite place - Mobi Dicks. Great food and friends. John and I celebrated our anniversary dinner there too. And yet another get together was spent up in Sugarland (Houston). Sammy dog really enjoyed the trip to Houston. He even got to come along for lunch at the outside cafe. It was fantastic. The courthouse in Sugarland is beautiful, and the grounds around it also. The history of the area is enscribed on the brick walkway in front of the building and there's a beautiful fountain.
In February John and I went deep sea fishing. I've never been out on the gulf, and didn't know how I'd do. This is the first year I could do it. Too afraid in the past, but that fear is gone. Actually, John did the fishing, I just went along for the experience. It was rougher than anticipated, but I loved every minute of it. Three people were totally out of it and laying down inside, and 2 others were sick on deck. I felt a little guilty when I went in and asked what they had for lunch. The sandwich was delicious! We had 6 - 10' swells out there that day. It was like being rocked in a cradle. At one of the fishing spots, a shrimp boat was anchored nearby. You can see a little bit of the waves, and one of John's Red Snapper. It was out of season so he had to throw it back, but he had a great time bringing it in.
We did get our fishing licenses this year, but haven't done much fishing, and the times we have been out, we haven't gotten much of anything. John does better when I stay home. He got a 70 lb. black drum one day, and a 50 pounder another. Too bad they're not good to eat when they're that big.
We've been so happy to see other friends that we met last year too. Serge and Nancy from Ontario, Mary, Jon and Pearl from Michigan, Karen and Steve from Wisconsin, Kay from Tennessee, Leonard and Terese from Washington, Mitch and Barb out in Lamar. We visited Big tree again, and I sat recording the birds and the gentle waves coming in off St Charles Bay. I'm using that recording in parts of the new CD.
We also took a day trip down to the valley (La Faria) to see Sally and Ross - who we workamped with in Idaho. They showed us around the area. The sugarcane fields down there are a sight to see. We had a great time. They're hoping we might stay down there next year, but we like Rockport. It's quiet and tranquil here. The valley's energy is very busy, and immense.
We had planned on going up to the Hill Country and stay near Medina for a month, but the nights are still cold up there, and we so love it here. When you're happy somewhere, why leave?
October and November were quite warm and wonderful! Wrote a few new songs there! Kimmie allowed me to play music outside her shop - the healthfood store- right across from the harbor. I so enjoyed sitting on the front porch and playing for whomever came by. The harbor was right across the way, and I could hear the sound of seagulls, and hardware hitting the masts of the boats as a warm breeze blew through my hair.
Our daughter Krystal and her boyfriend Kiff spent a week with us right after Christmas. We went dolphin watching on Port A (and got sand blasted - it was blowing something fierce that day!) had some wonderful meals and spent time in the pool and hot tub. We also went to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi - that was amazing. I loved the little sea horses!
Texas State Aquarium www.texasstateaquarium.org I think that week was the coldest week we had all winter! They said it was warm, but they had come down from Minneapolis, and it was alot colder and whiter up there! They even went horseback riding on the beach out on the island.
John and I followed The Biggest Looser's exercise and diet program for the first 12 weeks. We both lost 15 lbs. Then we moved over to Copano Bay, and our exercise habit changed. I wasn't feeling too well for a couple weeks, and we just wanted to rest and sleep - which is OK.
January 19th we moved over to Copano Bay RV Park, and absolutely love it here. The park is right on the water, so we can walk down and enjoy the pier. The circle drive is all cement as is our pad and everything is so clean. Walking around the "circle" is 1/2 mile, so exercise is easy. Everyone is so friendly, and there are so many activities. John is enjoying playing poker, and the pot lucks are great. There are crafts and exercise and jams! We've had dulcimer jams every Tuesday afternoon and regular jams on Tuesday evenings. It's great playing music with other people. I'm orgainzing the dulcimer players music for next year so we're "all on the same page" so to speak and will be ready come winter. This year there were 5 of us, next year we could easily have 10.
I've been busy arranging the music I wrote in Idaho and am working on a relaxation CD. It's coming along nicely. I also took out a membership with www.songramp.com (I'm Riverwind out there) and am enjoying the community very much. I currently have 4 pieces out there. I am currently collaborating with a new friend on one of my songs. Now it's our song. Hans has done an incredible job arranging it, and writing a chorus. We've been working on the lyrics also. Will be interesting to see where this all goes. It's time for the music. Been working hard on the keyboard also, sightreading and transposing and just getting my skills back and improved. Days I get to "work" on music, I smile all day long.
On another beautiful day, we met our great friends Larry and Lea in Palacios for a picnic. Finally got to share the bottle of wine we picked up in Deadwood, S.D. on the way back from Idaho. It was wonderful! Another get together found the four of us out on Port Aransas. They were going to take us to the Port A Brewing Company, but it was closed! So we took them to our favorite place - Mobi Dicks. Great food and friends. John and I celebrated our anniversary dinner there too. And yet another get together was spent up in Sugarland (Houston). Sammy dog really enjoyed the trip to Houston. He even got to come along for lunch at the outside cafe. It was fantastic. The courthouse in Sugarland is beautiful, and the grounds around it also. The history of the area is enscribed on the brick walkway in front of the building and there's a beautiful fountain.
In February John and I went deep sea fishing. I've never been out on the gulf, and didn't know how I'd do. This is the first year I could do it. Too afraid in the past, but that fear is gone. Actually, John did the fishing, I just went along for the experience. It was rougher than anticipated, but I loved every minute of it. Three people were totally out of it and laying down inside, and 2 others were sick on deck. I felt a little guilty when I went in and asked what they had for lunch. The sandwich was delicious! We had 6 - 10' swells out there that day. It was like being rocked in a cradle. At one of the fishing spots, a shrimp boat was anchored nearby. You can see a little bit of the waves, and one of John's Red Snapper. It was out of season so he had to throw it back, but he had a great time bringing it in.
We did get our fishing licenses this year, but haven't done much fishing, and the times we have been out, we haven't gotten much of anything. John does better when I stay home. He got a 70 lb. black drum one day, and a 50 pounder another. Too bad they're not good to eat when they're that big.
We've been so happy to see other friends that we met last year too. Serge and Nancy from Ontario, Mary, Jon and Pearl from Michigan, Karen and Steve from Wisconsin, Kay from Tennessee, Leonard and Terese from Washington, Mitch and Barb out in Lamar. We visited Big tree again, and I sat recording the birds and the gentle waves coming in off St Charles Bay. I'm using that recording in parts of the new CD.
We also took a day trip down to the valley (La Faria) to see Sally and Ross - who we workamped with in Idaho. They showed us around the area. The sugarcane fields down there are a sight to see. We had a great time. They're hoping we might stay down there next year, but we like Rockport. It's quiet and tranquil here. The valley's energy is very busy, and immense.
We had planned on going up to the Hill Country and stay near Medina for a month, but the nights are still cold up there, and we so love it here. When you're happy somewhere, why leave?
