Views from the Big Country: It's been a blast...

Saturday, March 29

We have had such a blast this winter! The weather was wacky, to say the least! Mostly cold days interspersed with 60's. We warmed up a bit in February, but still had many cold days...by mid-March we had more normal temps. Here it is the end of March and we've finally warmed up to above normal temps of mid-80's for a few days. We're not complaining, we certainly didn't have as bad a winter as our northern friends did.

Ron, David and Steve didn't let the weather stop them. They golfed almost every week...

practicing his putting. at least he's not using a golf ball!!

Coop kept watch on golf days. Keep in mind, I'd already made the bed three times....I finally gave up!

We had lots of "park events" which, of course, revolved around food!!

Every couple of weeks or so, we'd get together for LEO'S (Lets Eat Out). We traveled to the Apple Store in Comfort (best hamburgers and apple pie), Burgers & Moore in Kerrville ~ excellent burgers. I believe this is the best burger joint in Kerrville.

We also went to Camp Verde. Camp Verde was a United States Army facility established on July 8, 1856 in Kerr County. It's located along the road from San Antonio to El Paso on the banks of Verde Creek. The camp was the headquarters for the U.S. Camel Corps, which experimented with using camels as pack animals in the Southwestern United States. Today, Camp Verde General Store and restaurant are located on the grounds of Old Camp Verde. Camp Verde General Store has occupied this piece of land for more than 150 years. The restaurant has recently expanded; the food is fantastic!

entrance to the general store and restaurant

a hungry group

Ron, Tom & Stan hanging out while we shopped

Along with pot lucks, a soup dinner, a chili dinner, a breakfast, as well as a lasagna dinner (thanks Connie, your lasagna is the BEST!) we also ..

had a Super Bowl Party...

back row: George, David, Ron & Stan
front row: Kyle & Myrna

the party was held in Western Town. Becky and Lisa watching the game

as well as a Valentine's Day Dinner...

Ron, Tom, Ryan & Stan manning the grill

while the guys grilled, the rest of the crew was busy with potatoes and fish

and preparing drinks...

beautiful table settings...

George, Jerri and Mr. Ken

Shirlene, Jack & Ron

Ron, Jack & Shirlene

BJ, Bill, George, Jerri, Becky & David

waiting for the Newlywed Game to begin...

One evening we traveled to Comfort for LEO's. We ate at Gunthers (a German restaurant) and listened to the Moonlites, one of the best Do Wop groups around.

gathered in front of Gunthers...

Jack, Ron, Steve & Leanne

Mr. Ken and his sister

the Moonlites...

Ron & I took a day trip to Dripping Springs (just west of Austin)

to meet

look who we found!! Larry & Ginger!!!

Larry and Ginger who were doing disaster relief in Bastrop. Ron and I worked there in November, '12

beautiful day. waiting for a table...

yum! getting their fresh squeezed lemonade

weekend entertainment...

lots of seating...

yummy!!!

we're stuffed!!! Ginger, Larry & myself

It was so good to see friends from "home". We had so much fun catching up with them.

The Salt Lick is known far and wide for it's outstanding BBQ. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. The food was outstanding. We loved it so much, that we took another day trip with Jack & Shirlene to sample more of their great BBQ.

Becky received word from Sue Jackson (Sue and her husband Glen were with us last year at JCRV) that she and her sister were traveling through Kerrville on their way back to Odessa. Of course we had to visit with them! We met up for lunch at one of the local Mexican Restaurants,
Mamacita's...

Becky, myself, Connie, Shirlene, Jerri, Sue and her sister

It was so fun to see Sue! We miss her and Glen. Hopefully, they'll be back with us next year! It was a pleasure to meet Sue's sister as well!

Lest you think all we did was eat (which, I admit, we did a lot of) we also played lots and lots of cards. Becky taught us all a new game, Pennies from Heaven which is a version of Canasta. We fondly refer to Pennies from Heaven as "panties" (long story)...

Connie & Stan

OK, David look my way!

Becky has such a great laugh

Kyle, Vickey & Sara

Jerri, Geroge and myself

Vickey, Sara, Dee & Kyle

Connie is deep in thought...

David, Becky, Ron, Connie & Stan

Becky & Ron

Miss Connie and her beautiful smile!!

David & Becky counting points

Most Wednesdays would find the women over at the clubhouse doing some sort of a craft...

We embellished picture frames...

Jerri picking up buttons for her frame

finished products!! very cool!! thanks Becky, for letting us "borrow" from your stash of buttons!!

and made fabric picture frames...

Connie & Shirlene laying out Shirlene's picture

nice job Connie & Shirlene!!

Connie's map of Texas looks great!!

In addition to crafts Jerri, Becky & myself made weekly trips to Comfort to our favorite yarn shop, The Tinsmith's Wife...occasionally Vickey, Connie or Dee would join us...

selfie with Becky & Vickey

Dee, Becky, Bill (who is an expert knitter, he along with his wife help run their daughter, Wendy's, store) myself & Jerri

When Vickey, Becky and I returned from one of our fiber trips, we found Ron helping Kyle (Vickey's husband) installing vent covers on their trailer...

thanks Becky for snapping the picture!!

We did a little bit of home remodeling ourselves...we took down the wallpaper and put up a back splash behind our stove...

We took Coop on lots and lots of walks...

Coop always manages to find someone to converse with!

Mr. Ken is a huge part of Johnson Creek RV. He does so much for all of us and we appreciate and love him for everything. Not to mention, he's a nice man!! He picks up everyone's trash everyday and hands out treats to our dogs. He's also taken Cooper for rides in his golf cart when he goes to feed the horses...

Coop loves Mr. Ken...

Among other things, Mr. Ken also keeps the fire going in the Clubhouse and Western Town to keep us warm while we play cards, etc. It was decided to hold a surprise appreciation night for him. We picked a day that his sister was in town from California. He thought we were gathering to meet his sister. Little did he know!!! Lots of plotting and planning of the gag gifts...

of course we had food!

Miss Lisa roasting Mr. Ken

Miss Connie's turn...

Lots and lots of laughter!! Success!! Mr. Ken was completely caught by surprise. We really do appreciate him!!

As the weather warmed up, we did a bit of revisiting favorite places and some new places...

Texas' version of Stonehenge...

We went back to Bandera a couple of times. It's a cool town and is located on the Old Spanish Trail.

Medina River in Bandara

We went to Trade Days in Fredericksburg for the first time with Jack, Shirlene, Steve and Leanne. Reminds us of the Flea Market in Shipshewana...

so much rust, so little time...

Ron with "Walter"...

One of the more interesting places we visited was the Wildflower Ranch Alpaca Farm, between Fredricksburg and Kerrville. We learned a lot about alpaca's today.

Don giving us all kinds of information on the alpacas

Alpacas are gentle animals with very expressive eyes. Of course I purchase some alpaca yarn while we were there.

The guys, most of them sires, were kept in another pasture. They keep them separate from the females until they needed them to get together. The males have these cute bottom teeth called fighting teeth. However, if they show signs of fighting, they are neutered.

They would very gently eat the treats out of our hands. If we tried to pet their heads or necks, they'd move back a bit. They are very protective of those two parts of their body. They didn't mind us petting their backs. Alpacas live about 22 years and can weigh between 165-205 pounds.

Jerri feeding...

my turn...

Steve's turn...

Alpacas have 16 natural colors. Multi-colored alpacas have more than one color on their blanket (basically this is their back) and are in less demand because the yarn wouldn't be prime. The white alpacas are in the highest demand because they tend to have more fiber than the others.

George & Becky...

April is shearing month. Alpacas are hogtied and laid on a table or ground for the shearing. Don assured us they don't fuss long while being hogtied. They relax and seem happy and frisky when they get that thick fur off. April in the Texas Hill Country is pretty warm.

Don gave us so much information! His wife Beth aka, the fiber freak, gave us more info when we hit their little gift shop.

Beth showing me some roving...

Jerri...decisions, decisions

what color do you like best?

Don, George, Leanne & Steve...

Beth sells yarn from their own alpacas. Some of it she spins some herself. However, the majority of their fiber is sent to The Shepherd's Mill in Phillipsburg, Kansas to be spun. Leg and belly fiber is sent to Paint Rock, Texas to make rugs. And they had some great rugs for sale! Neck and chest fiber is sent to a co-op to make pillows, duvets, felted purses and hats, etc.

Of course I had to purchase some alpaca yarn while we were there...

This was one of my favorite trips this winter. Thanks Becky and Jerri for putting it together!! I do believe I'll make a return visit next winter!! I can't get enough of those lovely alpacas!!

As the weather warmed, we had to revisited (more than once) our favorite DQ!!

what can we say? the boy loves his ice cream!!

Cliff is a permanent resident of JCRV. He trained in classical music and plays the accordion. He invited us over for a mini-concert. We were not disappointed!!

Cliff plays beautifully

Verlene, Sue & Phil

Leanne, Steve, Connie, Stan & Jack

Stan, Jack & Shirlene

Sue & Phil

The great northern migration has begun...David & Becky are in Wichita Kansas, Jerri & George are headed back to Arkansas prior to journeying out west, Jack & Shirlene are headed back to Iowa, Steve and Leanne are headed north to Minnesota, while Connie and Stan are headed to California.

Before we all left, Connie, Shirlene and myself had to have one final spa day...