In Marengo, IA

 Packed up last Monday at our winter-home in Kenwood RV Park in La Feria, Texas.


Click any picture to enlarge..

Didn't get everything in Ford that we wanted.

Had 5'x8' U-Haul packed with things that will transfer to our new Travel Trailer when at Walcott, IA.

First stop - at What A Burger in Kingsville, Texas for breakfast

Ran in quite a bit of drizzly rain over last few days.

Stopped at brother Don and his wife Vicki's place in Cape Girardeau.  They just moved in to it last fall so first we had seen it.  A house in a retirement community only a few blocks from hospital that Don had worked in since 1982 and they both do some volunteer work and he does some massage work there yet.

 Front of house on garage side.

Back door off their sun room, where they take dogs out for walk.

Back yard where dogs walk.

Front of their house - photo take just as we arrived, before backing U-Haul and Ford in front of garage.

We ate at their central eating building first evening we were there.

Ate breakfast on Thursday morning at IHOP

Drove north several miles to a Nature Center and spent several hours there. Very interesting pictures and stories of how the area was almost a swamp many years ago and much of it has been drained to make some of the best farmland in the country.

Gourd birdhouses outside near a pond.

Ate at a fine restaurant in small town of Gordonville and Don's daughter Jenny drove out to join us.

         Jen and Don

Don & Vicki

Thursday evening we played a game of Manipulation at Don & Vicki's and then went back to where we were staying.

Headed on up the road on Friday morning towards Marengo, IA -- stopped for breakfast/lunch about 10 am at a Waffle House.

Spotted this car advertising their dog training business "Sit Means Sit" Dog training; with note on the bumper that "Sorry, we don't train husbands, wives or kids".

Made it back to Iowa, first time since mid-October of 2014.

Ashley was at her folks place, and they wanted to take Phyllis out for her birthday -- which was last Saturday -- and let me go along.
Granddaughter Ashley Long, Phyllis, and daughter-in-law Patty Miles.

 Son Cameron Miles and meinself, Lynn Miles.

Back at their house, still celebrating Phyllis' birthday.

 Today we went over to granddaughter Ashley's house for lunch.  Granddaughter Emily and friend Vince came up from Missouri for the weekend since we are here.  At left is Vince and Ashley.

At right, Cameron, Patty, and Vince.

At left, Meinself, Emily, Phyllis and Grand-Son-in-Law Heath.



Nice weather today, temperature is 57 with bright sunshine.  Cool if you are in the shade.

Kids and Phyllis just took off to Tanger Mall to shop and Cam & I are loafing at his house.

More later, Lynn

Birthday

Phyllis' birthday was Saturday

 



Ate at Stephano's the other night.  Good Pasta!  So much that I took better than half of my Zitta home and both of us got a meal off of it the next day.  Went with Darlene & Bill WInslow.

Saturday was Phyllis' birthday and she arranged that 12 of us go to Long Horn Cattle Company in Sebastian, Texas for barbeque.  We had large Baby Back Ribs that were amazing, then all came back to our place for Pegs & Jokers and then Cake & Ice Cream.

Rev Baker with his charts and maps, giving quite an accounting for the week between Palm Sunday and Easter.

Got our U-Haul this afternoon and started packing.  Starting to take the trikes apart to make more room in the Ford.  Hope to head north Tuesday morning after everything packed and house all closed up for the season.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Later, Lynn

More eating

La Feria, TX 74º at 8:30pm  

Sunday evening, after Ice Cream at the Rec Hall, we played Pegs & Jokers with several others.

At right -- Phyllis, Harold Neher, Lavin Boozer

At left -- Gordy Mayer and Phyllis

At right Bob Raab and LaRhoda Neher 

At left Bobi Raab

Monday made one of several trips to Borderland Hardware in Mercedes, TX, for caulking and foam insulation to put on top of west sun room wall over the windows and under the roof.  Same day we picked up liquid Aloe Vera from the King Aloe Vera Farm near Mercedes.

Tuesday afternoon, at 4:30 pm many friends gathered at the Friendship Room at the Rec Hall for a "clean out your refrigerator" pot-luck supper.

Many are leaving this weekend or first of next week and, especially those who live in the permanent places, need to clean out things before driving north.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Later, Lynn