MERRY CHRISTMAS

 Here's wishing everyone reading our blog a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.  It's Christmas Eve and we'll be joining our good friend Kevin Corrigan and his family here in Corpus Christi for dinner.  Kevin's daughter, Nicole and husband, have invited us over and we're looking forward to being with friends.  This is our first Christmas away from our family and it's a little tuff.  Not sure we'll make this a habit after this year.  This is the time of year to be with family, even if it is for a short while.  Tomorrow for Christmas we will be getting together with our friends here at the RV park for a potluck dinner.  We always enjoy these times with new friends.

Bruce got a total hip replacement on December 12th.  Everything went great and he's doing really well in rehab.  He got rid of the walker after a couple days and has been using a cane ever since.  Gets around the motorhome without the cane, but when he goes out it's always there.  The hip feels great, it's the healing of the muscle and ligaments that's been a pain in the butt.  The meds are doing their job.  Everyone is amazed at how well he's getting around already.  He's climbing the motorhome walls really good.  Soon he'll be out dancing up a storm.  We appreciate everyone's prayers during this trial in his life.

We're enjoying the Corpus Christi area.  The weather has been good and not so good.  Temps have dipped into the 30's several times.  Had to turn the heater on a few times, but the fireplace has taken the chill off most of the time.

Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR.  

Pioneer RV Resort, Port Aransas, Texas

We've been here in Pioneer RV Resort, Port Aransas, TX. since November 1st.  We'll be here through December.  We're enjoying the beautiful weather, sandy beaches, local restaurants, fishing, and wonderful new friends. Roberta takes 4-5 mile walks on the beach each morning while I do a little fishing.  Proud of her.  We rented a golf cart for the month and drive it down the beaches and into town.  It's perfect for getting Bruce around with his bad hip.  Our favorite stop in town is DQ.

Bruce will be getting his new hip on December 12th.  He is so looking forward to getting the hip replacement so that he can enjoy the many activities he's missed out on over the past several months.  The surgeon performing the surgery is the best in Corpus Christi from what we're hearing.  We have a good friend from Lake City, MN., Kevin Corrigan, who has lived in Corpus Christi for many years and works with many of the local doctors in his profession and he recommended the orthopedic surgeon who will perform the procedure on Bruce.  So he'll be in good hands.  The surgery takes 45 minutes with another 45 minutes in recovery room.  He is to "Chill" for the first 6 weeks following surgery for the hip to heal and strengthen and then he can begin doing some of the activities he's missed.  At 3 months he'll be free to do just about anything, except running.  We'll be moving over to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi on January 1st where we'll spend the month of January and where Bruce will do his physical therapy.  If all goes well we'll be heading for Alabama January 28th and hopefully end up in Key West, FL. by May 4th, where we got married 43 years ago.  For now we're enjoying the beautiful weather here in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas.

For Thanksgiving we had a wonderful dinner with many of the folks here in our RV park.  Well over 150 people.  We met so many wonderful people and established some good friendships.  The food was outstanding too.  Our Christmas dinner will be very similar to our Thanksgiving potluck.  We will for sure miss our family in Colorado and Utah, but they all seem to be well taken care of by in-laws and siblings looking after siblings.

Bruce caught this sea trout on the Naval Air Station.

We were thinking of trading in the motorhome and sail the ocean blue.

Looking east along the beach.  Beautiful sand and surf.

Our beach looking west.

Our second mode of transportation.  Great for Bruce with his bad hip.

Our dog Trent loves going on rides with us.

"I got one."  

Black tip shark caught surf fishing

This guy was fun to catch.  He was released.

Had to keep an eye on this little guys.
If you have food in the truck, they found it.

My fishing companion enjoyed the relaxation as much as I did.

Beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico.

Roberta on her morning 4 mile walk down the beach.

Harvest moon rising from the east.

Bruce using a casting net to catch live bait (mullet).

Lunch with friends, Jim and Laura.  

Roberta feeding the gulls.  

The gulls will take the bread right out of your hand.

Roberta took this picture of a man-o-war jelly fish.
They are all over the beach when the tides come in.

The strangest fish Bruce caught.  A "Toad Fish".

Pretty jelly fish, but don't get tangled up with in when in the surf.
Their sting can be quite painful.

Having a great time.

We'll drive the golf cart to the jetty to watch the big ships come in/out.

Got kind of cool on this ride and both Roberta and
Trent needed extra clothes to stay warm.

Across from Port Aransas are these two oil rigs being repaired.
They are huge when you get up close.

Love the color of these bad boys.

"There's a critter down there, I just know it.

The gopher got away.  Trent likes the sandy beaches too.
The sand really makes him look old.

This pelican on the jetti was waiting for a handout.

Heading into town on the golf cart.  It's a 5 mile ride down the beach

Who's watching the road, or should I say the beach?

The jetty gets pretty busy with fishermen on the weekends.
Lots of large Red Drum taking from this jetty.  These guys fish all night.

Still having fun together.  Retirement is great fun for both of us.

A look across the bay at Corpus Christi at sunset.

Roberta got into the Christmas spirit one day while I was in town.
She got the motorhome looking a lot like Christmas.

More Christmas spirit.

Our bedroom is so cool.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
everywhere you go.

Thanksgiving dinner with 100+ RV friends at Pioneer RV Resort.
Great fun, great food, and great friends.

Pictures Taken Prior to Corpus Christi Arrival

After arriving here in Port Aransas, TX. we were finally able to download some pictures off Roberta’s phone.  For the past several months we haven’t been able to moved pictures from her phone to my computer for some reason.   Once she got a new phone Verizon helped us retrieve her pictures and Bruce was able to put them on our blog.  Really good pictures of our travels the past few months.   Enjoy…..

We will be in Port Aransas, TX. through January 9^th.  Bruce is going in to see an orthopedic surgeon on November 17^th to schedule surgery for a hip replacement.  His mobility has really been limited over the past several months to just short walks, no kayaking, no hiking, and no biking, pretty much nothing.  He’s in quite a bit of pain much of the time.  We’re hoping he will get his new hip in November and then 6 weeks of physical therapy.  We’ll know on November 17^th when surgery will be.  After surgery, Bruce will recover by following the physical therapist’s instructions and sitting on the beach with his fishing pole in hand. 

The weather is pretty warm and humid for November.  Locals say it should be cooling down soon.  We’re enjoying the warm weather.

Bruce restored this old phone his mom
gave to Jennifer this summer. 

Restored phone.  Turned out real nice.

Grandpa having fun with Macie (front) and a friend.

Lily during a band concert.  2nd chair playing the flute.
Pretty young lady.  Very proud of her.

Lily got this rifle from grandpa for deer hunting.
She was quite excited.

Rowan Dwelle our little engineer.

A special day for grandson Bryce.  Baptized by his father, Jared.

Grandson Logan with his pot helmet.

"I know how to do this, just give me a minute."
Logan at 1 1/2 years old playing a game on his mom's cell phone.

Logan playing a super hero.

While in Utah we had the honor of attending a wedding for
very dear friends.  Jason Dahlin and lovely bride Tiffany

We clean up pretty good when we have to.
Outside the Bountiful Utah Temple.

Minnesota flag flying over the Royal Gorge.

Looking down at the Royal Gorge.
You can see my shadow on the bridge to.  Right....

Roberta found this nice rock to relax on during a visit to Aztec, NM.

One of the many Kivas around Aztec, NM.

Climbing down a cliff to get back to our truck.
What we do to go find a new arch.

The arch.

Bruce thinks he can move the arch.  Nice try honey...

Roberta found a little relief from the sun in this little enclave.

Another arch we found during our hike.

This was the smallest arch we hiked to.

Big enough for Bruce to stick his head in for a neat picture.

Bruce wanted so much to investigate this cave.
Just too high and his hip kept him grounded

A beautiful sunset from Sand Hallow State Park in Utah.

Beautiful scenery from Utah.

Another beautiful site from Utah.

Attended the St. George Temple with these two beautiful ladies.

Utah has so many wonderful places to see.

Having a great time traveling.

The mountains here in Utah are beautiful.

We love having Roberta's sister Susan traveling with us.

No, we are not taking this rock with us.

"Who's older??????"  I'll let you guess.

Sister love.  Bestes of friends.

Roberta and her sister Susan hiked Zion National Park for a couple days.
Bruce stayed back at the motorhome with a bum hip.

Hiking the "Narrows" in Zion.

Had a great couple days hiking Zion National Park.

Watched the weather forecast closely before hiking the Narrows.

They're having too much fun for sisters.

Cooling off as we hike behind this waterfall.

Another great hike up a different canyon in Zion.
Loved having you with us Susan.  Till next time....