Jan 9 2014-------Finally A Nice Day

We woke up this morning to warm temperatures. It started out very foggy and overcast. Later around noon the sky cleared and the sun came out. Susan decided to do some winter cleaning in the trailer this morning. She cleaned out all the cabinets and rearranged. We were able to get rid of a few things we don't use. We sat outside for awhile enjoying the weather. Everyone was walking their dogs today. Our neighbor has a Great Dane who loves to be outside. He never wants to go back in and it funny to watch her entice him back inside. After a light lunch we went to Sattler to the Post Office and then drove up to the dam. It was a nice view and a good place to walk. We went back home and just piddled around. I was able to grill outside for supper so I fixed Salmon with dirty rice. Tomorrow we are going to move to Blanco State Park.

Jan 8,2014 A Dreary Wet Day

It warmed up nicely this morning, but when Maggie and I went outside it was drizzling. Oh well it was much better than the last few days. When it got daylight I put my awning back out, it had been up due to the high winds we have had. We headed to Camping World in the morning to pick up a hot water heater door I ordered. We then went to New Braunfels and looked for a small chester drawer for Peyton but no luck there. We drove back to Gruene. Even though the weather was nasty there were a lot of people. They just keep adding shops and buildings to this place, It has changed a lot over the years, not for the better as far as I can see. We tried a new small cantina for lunch. My first and last time for that place, it wasn't so bad but it wasn't so good either. We left there and drove River Road back to Sattler and headed home. We just watched tv and read the rest of the day.

Susan & Maggie chilling

It stayed this way all day

Jan 7,2014 A really Cold Start--Driftwood Winery

It was 15 degrees when I got up this morning. The only good thing was the wind was not blowing. We did have clear skies and the sunrise was very pretty. It warmed up enough about 9 am so Maggie and I took a very nice walk. One of my neighbors was walking his dog and he had on just a light sweater. He told me " Yaa, Its nippy here but its -22 back home with lots of snow."   I guess this does feel good to him.  When I got back Susan and I loaded up and went to Camping World and Cabala's. I had to order a new hot water heater door panel for my trailer and then at Cabala's we bought some new lounge chairs and some hiking shoes. It clouded up and the wind started blowing again. After a brief stop at Wally World we drove the backroads and ended up in Driftwood. There is a winery there and we did a wine tasting.Its a really pretty place on top of a small mountain. It was a nice drive back to the trailer. Because of the wind I once again tried our microwave pressure cooker. This time I made chicken and wild rice. It turned out great, I am impressed with this little cooker. The weather is supposed to get warmer now and we are sure glad. Hope to be able to get outside tomorrow. 

Jan 6 2014 A Cold Dreary Day

It was cold when I  woke up this morning. The temperature was 21 and the wind was blowing. The sky stayed overcast almost all day.  We didn't do much but finally took a drive around the hill country. We went to Blanco and checked out the state park there. We are going to move there on Friday. On Monday all the shops are closed down in the small towns. We headed back to the trailer. Susan did some rearranging in the cabinets and I read. Late in the afternoon the wind slowed down a little and Maggie and I took a walk. There were several people out walking the dogs. One our neighbors have a Great Dane, good thing they have a large motorhome. For supper we tried out a microwave pressure cooker. I made a beef stew with potato's,carrots,and mushrooms. I was a little leary but 30 minutes of cooking and 12 minutes of standing and it was done. It turned out great. It makes enough for 2-3 people.  This will be a good alternative on nights when I cant cook outside. We are going to hunker down again tonight as it supposed to be in the teens.

That is Willie--Looks excited to be out on such a cold day

No one was out this morning

Jan 5, 2014 Here comes the Wind

I woke up this morning when the artic blast arrived. The wind shifted from the south to the North, It was blowing 20-25 mph steady. It stayed that way all day. The temperature wasn't really that cold but the wind just cut thru you. We didn't do much today outside. We did take a drive down River Road, Its pretty with all the leaves gone and the water was sparkling in the sunshine. Of course I forgot my camera so I didn't get any pictures. We drove thru Gruene and it was packed with people. Just didn't see any reason to stop and mix with the crowd. One of my favorite local artists  will be playing there tomorrow evening so I may come back.  We went back to the trailer and just read or watched tv the rest of the night. I disconnected my water hose and drained it because its supposed to get down to 23 tonight. We also put the bedroom slide in because the wind was blowing the toppers so bad you couldn't sleep. That's the first time I have ever done that.

Jan 4 2014 Laundry Day

It was a nice morning when I got up. It was about 50 with no wind. The sunrise was great with no clouds just blue skies. I was able to cook breakfast outside for the first time. We sat and soaked in the sun. One of our neighbors from Minnesota stopped and talked with us for awhile. The wind started blowing pretty good but it was still nice in the sun. Two of our other neighbors (from North Dakota & Texas) were headed to Luckenbach for the day. Us on the other hand had to go do laundry. We drove to Sattler and got that accomplished. Susan made a few thrift shops in the area looking for a small chester drawer for Peyton. When we got back to the trailer I rigged up a tarp to keep the wind off us while we could sit out.  Right before dark we took Maggie on a nice walk and then retired for the evening. Its supposed to get cold tomorrow for a couple of days.

Jan 3 2014 Travel day to Canyon Lake

Brrr, it was cold when I got up this morning, 19 degrees. Still had water in the trailer but we were running on our tank. Glad I disconnected and drained my hookup hose as later that morning I saw several people with hair dryers trying to thaw out there water hoses. It turned out to be a beautiful day with all sunshine. We loaded up and moved to Potters Creek COE at Canyon Lake. It took us all of about an hour and a half.  The northwest part of the park is closed till the 14. That's where we normally stay so we are in the first come first serve part. We have a nice sunny spot with a nice lake view out of our bay window. That's a good thing cause the wind is blowing. There will not be any campfires unless the wind lays.  We met some of our neighbors while hooking up, one couple knew us because they were friends with Bill & Earlene Logan whom we had met last summer in Arkansas. Bill & Earline were here earlier but had to go back home to Kansas to deal with some health issues. We had hoped to see them here. After getting set up I started working on some of my tech problems. I was on the phone with both Dish and Winegard for a couple of hours. I believe now that something is wrong with my Winegard portable Carryout dish. It is locking on to the wrong satellite. it will scan all the satellite's and I see good signal  but then locks on to the wrong one. I will spend more time with Winegards tech support tomorrow.  The other problem I have is the reason there haven't been any pictures on my blog. Any picture I try to download from my email downloads as a htm file on my computer. When I try to open it I get my yahoo email page back. I have no clue how this has happened. I have downloaded the same way for the last two years.I will have to use my camera cut I don't always have it on me. While I think I will get my dish going I am afraid that my computer issue will have to wait until I find someone who knows what they are doing.