The dogs had a really big day today .... they went to the pet parade at Galveston Mardi Gras. BooBoo caught some beads and her mom put them around her neck with her collar ..... very pretty. Then we stopped by Starbucks, and Bugsy had a Puppy Latte (whipped cream in a small cup). He knows the place now .... been there twice before .... and if he sticks his head out the window and wags his tail, the person at the window hands him whipped cream.... fast learner .... so this time he gave a "woof" for good measure, and sure enough ... whipped cream.
Then we went by some friends house where there is a really big yard for them to run in ..... then we sat on the seawall and had a McDonalds picnic .... and they got to bark at the bicycles going by :(
We moved the motorhome up to Pearland last week but drove back down to Galveston to deliver Vera to the cruiseship. She will be gone 7 days; so Charlie and I are heading up to Lake Livingston for the week.
We are not sure what our next destination will be .... we have decided to postpone Alaska until 2014. It is a l-o-o-o-o-ng way (about 12,000 miles round trip). I'll keep you posted.
Later, Marilyn
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
leftover photo- Glacier
I am having difficulties uploading the pictures that I wanted to show you; but I came across this one from Glacier National Park, and couldn't resist. Do we look like tourists or what ?
Later, Marilyn
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
sandhill cranes
Here on Galveston Island, spent the day out birdwatching (a really successful location to do that)... but the emphasis is on the cranes and hawks this time of year.
My favorite all-time bird here is the brown pelican, which right now is not so much in evidence .... don't know if the cold weather has them hunkered down somewhere or what, but we haven't seen the huge groups of them "gliding in formation" like we have in warmer weather. I know they haven't migrated, because they are permanent residents of the islands around here.
But this time of year a fairly large group of the migrating sandhill cranes are here on the island. And I mean they are scattered everywhere in fields (and sometimes back yards). We drove a lot of the wetland areas on the west end of the island and saw groups of from 3 to a dozen or more in many, many locations. In any given group there will be one or two lookouts, with the rest busily feeding.
We saw a lot of ducks, several hawks (redtail I think), and I saw my first rail !
We have been sitting here in one spot almost a full month now ..... using the furnace heater almost every night. Monday morning we woke up to about 40 degrees outside ...... and close to that inside.... we had run out of propane during the night. So, we stowed everything away, disconnected from the utilities, and drove the motorhome out to the west end of the island and filled up the tank.
Well, ...... the dogs know the moving drill really well .... and Bugsy especially is interested in "time and place" it seems. He monitors the front windshield, the passenger side window, and most especially the smells. It is by the smells that he can tell if we've been there before (which I really think he is interested in).
So, we packed up, drove probably 15 or so miles down the island, stopped in a campground that sold propane, then turned around and drove back. About halfway back, as we joined the seawall boulevard, Bugsy appeared to get really curious.... almost anxious, and kept looking at us "questioningly". When we turned off the seawall onto the campground road, he certainly knew where he was; seemed very happy about it ...... and told the other two dogs "hey guys, we're back".
I often wonder what they think and say to each other. I think they sometimes think we are crazy ..... but I think they really love traveling with us. I know we love having them.
FYI, we had until recent days been planning on going to Alaska this next summer ..... but we are kinda rethinking the timing ..... maybe we'll wait till 2014. I'll keep you posted.
Later, Marilyn
My favorite all-time bird here is the brown pelican, which right now is not so much in evidence .... don't know if the cold weather has them hunkered down somewhere or what, but we haven't seen the huge groups of them "gliding in formation" like we have in warmer weather. I know they haven't migrated, because they are permanent residents of the islands around here.
But this time of year a fairly large group of the migrating sandhill cranes are here on the island. And I mean they are scattered everywhere in fields (and sometimes back yards). We drove a lot of the wetland areas on the west end of the island and saw groups of from 3 to a dozen or more in many, many locations. In any given group there will be one or two lookouts, with the rest busily feeding.
We saw a lot of ducks, several hawks (redtail I think), and I saw my first rail !
We have been sitting here in one spot almost a full month now ..... using the furnace heater almost every night. Monday morning we woke up to about 40 degrees outside ...... and close to that inside.... we had run out of propane during the night. So, we stowed everything away, disconnected from the utilities, and drove the motorhome out to the west end of the island and filled up the tank.
Well, ...... the dogs know the moving drill really well .... and Bugsy especially is interested in "time and place" it seems. He monitors the front windshield, the passenger side window, and most especially the smells. It is by the smells that he can tell if we've been there before (which I really think he is interested in).
So, we packed up, drove probably 15 or so miles down the island, stopped in a campground that sold propane, then turned around and drove back. About halfway back, as we joined the seawall boulevard, Bugsy appeared to get really curious.... almost anxious, and kept looking at us "questioningly". When we turned off the seawall onto the campground road, he certainly knew where he was; seemed very happy about it ...... and told the other two dogs "hey guys, we're back".
I often wonder what they think and say to each other. I think they sometimes think we are crazy ..... but I think they really love traveling with us. I know we love having them.
FYI, we had until recent days been planning on going to Alaska this next summer ..... but we are kinda rethinking the timing ..... maybe we'll wait till 2014. I'll keep you posted.
Later, Marilyn
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wow, is it really a whole week into January ?!
We are really enjoying Galveston and being a small part of "a social scene" ...... of course, to us, more than one social outing every couple of months is big. But really, being with friends you really care about is ..... big.
Charlie has just returned from her trip to Israel.
We will stay here until Feb. 1st and move back up to Pearland for a few weeks. Plan 'right now' is leaving the area by Mar. 1st.
I thought I would use this time to show you something I didn't get a chance to when we were in Maine.
We were in downtown Bangor one day and I happened to look up on the top of a hill in the middle of town and saw a really strange looking building.... looked more or less like a giant wedding cake. We set off to find our way up there... when we got closer it just looked like a big mansion:
...............well, the "insert image" button is not working again ..... ? so, I'll show you the wedding cake another time.
anyway, it was a standpipe water tower. The tank was enclosed by a round building with wooden shake shingles on it, a balcony around the top .... it was really a nice looking "water tower". Also, it is on the National Register of Historic Places, because it was built in 1897 and was considered a real feat of engineering at the time.
Say, what about this r-a-i-n we are having ? ........ Charlie and I did a jigsaw puzzle today up in the clubhouse (while the laundry was going). Vera just returned from a quick trip over to Delta Downs with another friend who lives here in Galveston.
More later, Marilyn
We are really enjoying Galveston and being a small part of "a social scene" ...... of course, to us, more than one social outing every couple of months is big. But really, being with friends you really care about is ..... big.
Charlie has just returned from her trip to Israel.
We will stay here until Feb. 1st and move back up to Pearland for a few weeks. Plan 'right now' is leaving the area by Mar. 1st.
I thought I would use this time to show you something I didn't get a chance to when we were in Maine.
We were in downtown Bangor one day and I happened to look up on the top of a hill in the middle of town and saw a really strange looking building.... looked more or less like a giant wedding cake. We set off to find our way up there... when we got closer it just looked like a big mansion:
...............well, the "insert image" button is not working again ..... ? so, I'll show you the wedding cake another time.
anyway, it was a standpipe water tower. The tank was enclosed by a round building with wooden shake shingles on it, a balcony around the top .... it was really a nice looking "water tower". Also, it is on the National Register of Historic Places, because it was built in 1897 and was considered a real feat of engineering at the time.
Say, what about this r-a-i-n we are having ? ........ Charlie and I did a jigsaw puzzle today up in the clubhouse (while the laundry was going). Vera just returned from a quick trip over to Delta Downs with another friend who lives here in Galveston.
More later, Marilyn
Sunday, December 23, 2012
friends are family
We're here on Galveston Island, listening to the surf, getting together with friends, waiting for the big day. Actually, on THE day we will be in Orange, TX, visiting Charlie's good friends Sharon and Arnold.
The dogs love it here, they love it anywhere ..... especially if they've been here before. At this campsite we have a good sized patch of grassy lawn next to our patio, and they have been really good just hanging out with us outside. Also helps that we don't have any close neighbors around us.
We are parked within sight of the beach, and there is a large area of wetlands and dunes just to our east. Last nite I was sitting here at the computer and heard a bunch of coyotes howling nearby .... it didn't even wake the dogs up !
Then this morning I looked out and there were runners and joggers going along the seawall just behind us .... a half marathon I found out. There are a lot of people (tourists) here; I am surprised.
This year seems less hectic .... we shopped early ..... so it is the first time in years that the pace has been this relaxed coming up on Christmas. That makes it really easy to focus on the real meaning of this season. Happy Birthday, Jesus !
Later, Marilyn
The dogs love it here, they love it anywhere ..... especially if they've been here before. At this campsite we have a good sized patch of grassy lawn next to our patio, and they have been really good just hanging out with us outside. Also helps that we don't have any close neighbors around us.
We are parked within sight of the beach, and there is a large area of wetlands and dunes just to our east. Last nite I was sitting here at the computer and heard a bunch of coyotes howling nearby .... it didn't even wake the dogs up !
Then this morning I looked out and there were runners and joggers going along the seawall just behind us .... a half marathon I found out. There are a lot of people (tourists) here; I am surprised.
This year seems less hectic .... we shopped early ..... so it is the first time in years that the pace has been this relaxed coming up on Christmas. That makes it really easy to focus on the real meaning of this season. Happy Birthday, Jesus !
Later, Marilyn
Monday, December 10, 2012
mini vacation
We are settled in here at Advanced RV Resort, Houston, TX ...... a really nice place, and a lot of people who remember us from last season; so we have some instant friends. They have coffee in the clubhouse every morning and have a pretty large group of "regulars" who sit and visit for an hour, then go on about their daily activities.
I have been spending some time in the 'puzzle room' at the clubhouse .... lots of room to spread out, and 5 or 6 jigsaw puzzles in progress to choose from.
But the real news is that Bugsy and Toby and I have the whole motorhome to ourselves for 3 days. wow ..... when you live in such a small space with so many other bodies ... that's a real treat. A real mini vacation. Vera and Charlie and BooBoo have gone to Beaumont to visit friends. I told them if the motorhome isn't here when they get back; just call for directions. I really did think about running up to the lake, but it's easier to drive this thing when you have a navigator and a tail gunner.
Well, I'm going to get busy and start doing nothing .... first up is a watercolor session !
Later, Marilyn
I have been spending some time in the 'puzzle room' at the clubhouse .... lots of room to spread out, and 5 or 6 jigsaw puzzles in progress to choose from.
But the real news is that Bugsy and Toby and I have the whole motorhome to ourselves for 3 days. wow ..... when you live in such a small space with so many other bodies ... that's a real treat. A real mini vacation. Vera and Charlie and BooBoo have gone to Beaumont to visit friends. I told them if the motorhome isn't here when they get back; just call for directions. I really did think about running up to the lake, but it's easier to drive this thing when you have a navigator and a tail gunner.
Well, I'm going to get busy and start doing nothing .... first up is a watercolor session !
Later, Marilyn
Sunday, December 2, 2012
calendars
We have been busily being "home" for almost two weeks now ..... so many friends to see, so many Mexican food restaurants to eat at !! Boy did I ever miss the Mexican food up north .... and boy have I been making up for it here (except I haven't been to my favorite, El Gallo, yet).
We have a calendar project underway, selecting photos to represent our travels ..... and it has been great to re-live so many of our experiences.
We've also been making Christmas candy ... the kind you melt the chocolate and pour into the little molds .... with nuts, peppermint, or whatever, in some of them. The really nice thing is we can use the big fully equipped kitchen in the clubhouse here at the campground. Kinda puts more joy into cooking when you have more elbow space.
More later, Marilyn
We have a calendar project underway, selecting photos to represent our travels ..... and it has been great to re-live so many of our experiences.
We've also been making Christmas candy ... the kind you melt the chocolate and pour into the little molds .... with nuts, peppermint, or whatever, in some of them. The really nice thing is we can use the big fully equipped kitchen in the clubhouse here at the campground. Kinda puts more joy into cooking when you have more elbow space.
More later, Marilyn
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