ANSWERING THE CALL!

Yesterday it was cool and partly cloudy, the high was only 14C and Tuesday nights' low went down to 4C. 

Too cool for the pool so we took a bicycle ride around the resort and things were rather quiet. In the afternoon after sitting around for awhile Cathy heard the call of the Outlet Mall, so we took a ride over. It is an outside Mall about 3 miles away and was it busy! It must of had about 70 stores. It took awhile to find a parking space. They don't seem to celebrate Boxing Day here like in Ontario, but they do get into the shopping mood and go to the outlet stores apparently. Lots of people from Mexico. They bring the kids in their strollers then start carrying the kids and packing the stroller with all their purchases. When we arrived we took a look at the directory and there was close to 25 shoes stores alone. Cathy was in Heaven! We spent the rest of the day there and made it back in time for dinner, but missed happy hour (dam!). Cathy ended getting, yes, a pair of shoes, pants and an item she hadn't seen for a long time - an Angel Food Cake Cutter.

                                                                   Bumper Sticker

                                                                     Full parking lot

                                                                    Angel Food Cutter

After dinner we decided to go over to the rec. hall to check out the karaoke. There were about 12 people who participated  and they came all came with their own music. As you can guess some were pretty good and then there were the others (off key etc.) But they all had a good time. The person running the event was after a group of people to get more drinks into this one fellow so he would get up to sing - but he didn't do it.

 Coming home from the Mall the sunset was lovely. By the time I stopped, got off the bike, took the camera out of the pouch and focused it the sun dropped from showing half the sun to the little sliver you see in the middle. I'll have to be faster next time.   

Not sure if I will post for today as it looks like an uneventful day shaping up - still cool at 11 o'clock with 13C and a low last night of 6C. It is to reach about 23C. (Not complaining about the coolness - it is still better than Ontario). I know you just got some snow.

All for now...

A BUSY CHRISTMAS DAY

The weather was great yesterday, it went down to 17C for a low and the daytime high was 32C with no clouds.

We started the day off with a Christmas morning get together with the neighbours. Coffee and Bailey's was the beverage along with cinnamon rolls, various cakes, pastry, scones and cookies.

                                                                  All the goodies!

                                                 
After our great morning event we decided to cool off at the pool as we had about an hour to put in before getting ready for our lunch reservation the 12 of us had. Janet and Ron were nice enough to ask us to join them in their car to go over to South Padre Island to the Pearl Hotel located right on the beach and The Gulf of Mexico for a Christmas Buffet. Their buffet had a large selection of  food which included mussels, shrimp and snow crab along with the usual turkey and ham. They started off by providing champagne or champagne and orange juice. It was a great meal.

                                
                                                  The bridge over to South Padre Isand

                                                                    The full gang.

Afterwards we walked out of the restaurant to the beach and checked out the area. The red flag indicator was up warning of some pretty high waves created by the winds. The water felt pretty cold but there were a few kids in the water, of course the temperature didn't bother them. The hot tub at the hotel was occupied by the older people.

                                                   Looking north from the hotel beach area.

When we went back to the car, Ron took us for a tour up the island along the road which runs parallel to the beach. The houses and commercial building gradually reduced in number as we headed north until there was just vacant sandy dune lands on both sides of the road with "for sale" signs posted on them. The road then just stops, with a couple of barriers at the end. This is were everyone gets out and checks out the sandy area and then turns around and heads back to town. The winds created sand drifts across the ocean side lane of road which are cleared by a truck with a snow plow on it. The road wasn't that long about 12-15 miles.

                                                                         Drifting sand

                                                                    End of the road.

By the time we got home it was time to skype my brother and family in Brampton where all my siblings were spending Christmas. We had a great session with them and watched as they were opening their Secret Santa gifts.

They really haven't had any snow to mention there.

It was a very nice Christmas Day.         

THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

It was a good thing it was mainly cloudy today with a high of 29C or it would have been very hot. But it remained comfortable. Last night it reached 16C.


We did a few things around the coach today and did some relaxing as well. Cathy shortened the shorts I recently bought and took them to the rec. centre to sew them. They have a room with several sewing machines available for use. We just bought the thread.

While Cathy was sewing I stayed outside and watched the shuffleboard games that were going on. There was 22 people enjoying themselves on the courts.

I decided to rearrange the plumbing hook up to get ready for the water softener we ordered. After finishing up Cathy went for the mail and the softeners were here. I bought one for the house as well. I am hoping we can get away from the salt softener. Time will tell. This will be a small future job but will be against my union rules to install on Christmas day or Boxing day. Boxing Day isn't as big a deal down here as it is in Canada, but I have a feeling Cathy will be interested in checking out the deals and perhaps boosting the Texas economy.

The neighbours' building or as they call it here "casita" - pronouned "ca see ta" is coming along nicely. They are installing a metal roof which is coated with an asphalt looking product that makes it looks like tile. There are some plumbing and light fixtures to be added yet.

                                                            Back door for the golf cart.
                                            

                                                             Sceen room at the front.

Tonight, instead of happy hour we were invited to the neighbours from New Brunswick (Gil and Ann) for a Christmas Eve Open House. It was a great evening and the usual happy hour friends were there.

This evening Cathy called her brother and sister in law Ian and Gail in Mississauga to wish them and their family a Merry Christmas. They are opening their Christmas presents this evening with their family.

"Merry Christmas"

ANOTHER QUIET DAY

It was mainly sunny today with a high of 27C and last night's low was 10.

Cathy decided to do some laundry today and I checked out where some bugs inside were getting inside the coach. It seems they are following the water, and cable lines in. The neighbours say we need to get some 7 Mule Team Borax and put it around the coach tires and where the cables touch the ground to prevent the visitors.

Since it was quite warm, we decided to cool off at the pool but kept an eye on the time to be sure not to miss happy hour. Our bicycles have been getting a lot of use going here and there around the resort giving us some needed exercise.

 We are starting to notice some younger people around who are here to visit their grandparents for the holidays.

I just can't get in the full Christmas spirit went it is 27 degrees C and no snow - but some how I will manage.

 
Til tomorrow...

BUSY YESTERDAY

We had a low of 13C Friday night and a high of 25 with a partly cloudy sky.

Cathy was going into withdrawal from not being able to shop for awhile so she wanted to go to the Flea Market again and TJ Max to check things out.

At the Flea Market I noticed a Barber Shop so had my first Texan hair cut - I think he was a sheep shearer in his previous profession. I was done in less than 8 minutes. But hey, what do you expect for $8.00.  In the Barber shop there were items such as a TV, radio, toaster oven, reading glasses all with a price tag on them. (extra income!!)

                                                                        Twins!


We headed to TJ Max and Cathy was only able to find one top she wanted. Not sure how long that will satisfy Cathy's shopping urge but she was content for the time being.

We had lunch at the Olive Garden. A medium pizza with 4 toppings, all you can eat salad and all you can eat bread sticks for $10.50. Wow! We couldn't eat all the pizza, so we brought it home with the left over bread and salad.

 The stores where getting busy too. We had to park away at the back of Wal-mart when we stopped for milk. Cathy noticed went she was coming out of Wal-mart the Mexican shoppers once outside the doors were removing their purchases and throwing away the boxes and packing. This we found out was for them to prepare for their trip back over the border with nothing to declare.

We then headed home in time for Happy Hour. Right after Happy Hour we headed for the Rec. Hall as we had tickets for tonight's dance with the "Cruisers". The group made up of 6 guys all in their 60's  were very good as they played 50 and 60's music. We hardly sat down. The head singer was at one time Freddy Fender's drummer who was born not far from here.

After the dance, while heading home we could still hear music but it was Mexican. It apparently was coming from Progressso (where we crossed the border, about 30 mins. away).  It seamed so close due to the wind carrying it across the flat land.  

All for now...

OFF TO THE MUSEUM

Last night it was cold 5C, we actually had to put the furnace on. Today was sunny with a high of 20C.

After lunch we took a drive over to Edinburg to check out the Museum of South Texas. It was about a 45 min. drive from the resort. It had a lot of great displays showing the history of the area.

                                                                        Inside lobby

This giant mammoth was the first display - we were not able to use the flash, about 14ft. high.

This Spanish chest had a very interesting locking mechanism which was opened by a key. (all of those little arms would have to move to release/close the pins)

Cathy put on weight! The Spanish helmet must have weighted about 10 Ibs. and the chest armour about the same.

Wow! Tinkertoy, I used to have a whole lot of these a way back when. The record player and 45's were also part of our history as well. But I don't seem to recall having a pet mammoth though.(Too young to remember perhaps!)

This was a great bronze statue.

Til tomorrow...

TRIP TO MEXICO

Yesterday had a low of 18C and a high of 20C.

We were invited by our neighbours (Ron and Janet from Burlington Ont.) to go across the border with them to experience Progresso Mexico. So why not, it is done by many people in the area. The town and parking lot weren't that busy yesterday according to Ron. But there were quite a few people checking out the area.  You park on the U.S. side for $2.00 and pay 50 cents to walk across a bridge over to Mexico. Coming back, you pay 25 cents to walk back on the other side of the bridge and go through Customs.

This is the wall/fence on the U.S. side to prevent illegals. They monitor the openings in it. 

This is the Rio Grande River separating the two Countries. I would have thought it was wider and harder to cross. The fence is just off to the right side of the river.

A lot of people go across the border to get dental work done at a fraction of the cost here in the U.S. or Canada.There are lots of Dentist offices, all have been trained in the U.S. and they only deal in cash. You can make an appointment or many have a walk in service. There are many vendors on the side walk selling current movies, cd's, food and trinkets. The store employee's are at the entrances holding posters with the prescription drugs they have available and asking you to come in and look. You need to shop around for the best price.

Other stores sell clothing, leather products, sterling silver (not sure of the quality?) ceramic pots and pewter products and the usual Mexican stuff.

                                                                      Pewter

The liquor is a really cheap here but you need to shop around. I bought two, 1 litre bottles of Crown Royal for $38.00 and a bottle of Baileys for $18.00. A bottle of Sheridan goes for $22.00.

We had lunch at one of the restaurants on the main road and ordered a Chicken Fajita which we split. They first came with a bowl of  Taco chips and 3 different dips, one of which burnt all the way down. Then came a bowl of fish soup and it was pretty good.  Then came a small dish of onion rings for us to share. Finally, the plate of chicken and toppings and some warm tortillas showed up and it was more than enough for the two of us. All of this plus a Margarita for Cathy and a Lemonade for me for $10.00.

Crossing back into the U.S. we needed to show our passports and had to pay duty on the liquor which was $3.75 per bottle. Cathy bought some prescription creams and was not even asked about them. They were only interested in the booze.


 It was an experience!!

  

Grocery Shopping

Last night it was warm, very windy and humid enough for us to turn on the a/c.The day was partly cloudy but hot with a high of 32C.

We needed to replenish the cupboards so we left early to go to H-E-B to beat the hot noon temperature. The prices are quite a bit cheaper here.

                                                       A great buy at 59 cents a Ib.

                                           Check out the prices of Butter Ball Turkeys

                                                                Regular turkeys

                                                              Fresh sugar cane

When we arrived back at the Resort we ran into Harley and his chauffeur. Not sure, but I think he wanted to check out if any new poodles arrived today.

 Things are getting a little quieter around here as a lot of people are returning home or visiting relatives for the holidays. We are told it will fill up completely after the holidays.

In the pm. we went to the - you guessed it, the pool then happy hour.

Till tomorrow... 

A QUIET DAY

Today was sunny with the usual wind and a high of 31C.

We sat out for the am. and enjoyed the weather while listening to the radio.

We also made some phone calls to Canada and actually switched over to skype to talk to Janice and the twins Paige and Owen. We had a good talk with Paige who mentioned she wanted a puppy for Christmas - a pink and white one. Owen could care less about talking, he just played in the back ground. 

 After lunch we took the bicycles  over to the recreation hall to check out the sewing machines. Cathy needs to shorten the shorts we bought yesterday. We took the long way back checking out the various licence plates and the units up for sale.

                                                No activity on the shuffleboard courts.

All for now.  

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Monday was a sunny day with a low of 18C and a high of 31 with no breeze.

We started the day off by going out for breakfast in the near by town of Weslaco with a group of neighbours. It was busy spot and we were encouraged to try the pecan pancakes made with chips of the locally grown pecans. Cathy went with the #2 and I had the #6 breakfast.

After breakfast Cathy and I rode over to the "Dickies" store, it was located in more of a warehouse and was huge, selling work clothes, school and nursing uniforms. We picked up a pair of shorts for me.

Cathy was able to get us tickets for this Saturday's dance with a rock and roll band, "The Cruisers" which are quite good they say and tickets for the New Year's Dance where we have been invited to join the neighbours who are going to be here. There are a few people leaving this week to go back home to their families for the holidays.

The park provides modems to use for a $5.00 deposit and they came and installed ours today. They provided the cable to connect into the coach and splitter for no charge which they say we can keep.

In the afternoon we saw a local maintenance man trimming the trees in the neighbourhood, the property owners can also hire him. It takes him about 2 hours to do a tree at a cost of about $20.00 a tree. He mentioned ants and cockroaches can climb up into the trucks and make nests.

Last night we went to "The Festival of Lights" in Hidalgo with Rick and Connie from Wiarton Ontario. This is about a 40 minute drive south west of Mercedes and is close to the Mexican border. This festival is put on by the town in the area around City Hall and the area around it including the parks and near by houses.  This is all sponsored by local businesses and most of the people working are volunteers with all monies raised going to the local charities. They have trolley, train and horse drawn buggy rides which take you around the area with a narrator. There are have a few rides for the kids as well. They start installing the lights the beginning of October.

Hope to post again this evening.