December in Review

Mercedes, TX

Here we are in cool Mercedes in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas expecting warmer weather. WRONG!   We start our 6 weeks of volunteering here tomorrow.  More on that later......

But for now......our December.

We arrived in Vinton, LA on December 5 and settled into a local absolutely no-frills RV park.  During our time in the land of Leonard's childhood we visited with friends and family.

We first visited his oldest brother Royce and sister-in-law Susie bringing them a cabbage and cauliflower from Amish country in Pennsylvania.  Susie took the hint and invited us back for cabbage rolls.   Thank you Susie.

December 11  -  We met up with Jim and Nadine.  This is a couple we met in Tok, Alaska.  How cool when we found they lived in the next town to where Leonard had grown up.   In addition Jim and Len worked at the same time in the 70's at a shipyard in MS and lived in the same small town.  They treated us to a fabulous Mexican dinner over in Beaumont, TX

December 12 -  Keeping up the trend, Lens best friend in school Ron and his lovely wife Nona took us to dinner.   Great seafood!  Even better company

December 13 -  We visited with Len's cousin Russell and his wife Margie.   Always good to see them

December 17 - Treated to lunch and the company of Roger Templeton the new pastor of the Vinton church and also Christy who is associate pastor of Maplewood United Methodist Church in Sulphur, LA   Great people.

December 20 - The annual East siblings Christmas Party at his sister Sissy's house.  Niece Brittany holding niece Charli's new baby, sister-in-law Charlotte and sister Sissy.  Standing in the back is brother Bobby.  The house was full.

December 22 -  Dinner at our dear friends Diana and Toto.  As always when in the area, we see them often.   (Twice out for lunch).

December 23 -  Visited with Len's cousin Jake who lives on Houston Lake.  These cousins hadn't seen each other in over 15 years.  Nice visit and another lunch treat.   We could really get used to this.


December 21 - Children's program at Vinton United Methodist Church

December 25 -  Spending time with daughter D'Juana and family in Pearland, TX  Especially nice was that grandson Jared was home from Marine Corps.    We attended midnight Mass at Co Cathedral in Houston with them.

December 28 - Dinner at Len's cousin David and wife Mary in Port Neches, TX

We cherish our dear friends and family in SW Louisiana and various part of Texas and appreciate their hospitality.  We hope your Christmas season was as special.

Lacassine NWR

Vinton,  LA

After sitting around in the rig all day Monday, yesterday we just had to get out and about.   We had never toured

This refuge is spread over several Parishes of SW Louisiana.   Views from the truck:

A great collection of Cedar Knees.

And the usual collection of swamp/marsh critters:

A nice way to spend a Winters day in Southwest Louisiana.

Remembering four gentlemen

Vinton, Lousiana

In the short span of time while we have been parked here in Leonard's hometown, four fine gentlemen have left us on this earth.

Mack:

In the 70's Leonard had moved to Mississippi to work at Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula.  Two of the first people he met with brothers Tobie and Mack Nash.   Through the years Len would talk about these men.  Back in 2011 we were volunteering with NOMADS in Moss Point, MS not far from the town of Escatawba where Mack lived.   We took a drive over so I could meet him and his lovely wife Gaye.  We made a side trip  the next year to again renew the friendship.  We had planned on another visit in the Spring of 2015.  

Mack had several health issues and was confined to a wheel chair.   He died peacefully and unexpectedly in his sleep on December 2.   Mack - I was honored to meet you.

John (PeeWee)

Back in 2010 shortly after starting our full time adventure we were attending church here in Vinton.  Sitting in front of us were a couple who we have since become very close to.  The wife was actually Len's very first girlfriend at the age of 5 or 6.   Growing up, Diane's family lived next door to Len's aunt and uncle.   Len came to call Diane's parents Uncle PeeWee and Aunt Dot. 

A few years back health issues caused PeeWee and Dot to move into a nursing home.  When in the area we would stop in for a visit.     This couple now in their 80's would never be far from each other.   PeeWee died on Thanksgiving Day with Dot holding his hand and family around.  

On Friday we visited with Dot.  She has good days and days where she lies sleeping.  It was a very good day.  She recognized us and even cracked a few jokes.  Surely she misses PeeWee her joy for over 65 years.   

Brian:

Brian had been the pastor for 18 years in the church where I grew up.   I no longer attended that church but my daughter Terri did.  We met Brian through various activities at the church.   Ten years ago this Christmas morning, Brian left his young family to comfort my family at the hospital at the death of my own father.   That meant so much to each of us as we grieved our fathers passing.

Brian was transferred to another congregation 3 years ago.  Shortly after arriving at that church he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  He fought the good fight until he was called home a few days ago.   A good man gone from us much too soon, at age 49.  He is being rewarded in heaven.

Bill:

One of the joys of fulltiming is meeting other folks living the same lifestyle.  One couple I've followed on FB is Loretta Perno and Bill Roach.    Her tag name is Jersey Girl.  I just had to know where she was from.   So through FB, I asked.   LORDY!  They had lived in the same small town where I grew up.    

This summer they were spending time "back home" at a campground about 12 miles from where we were.  As is the custom with us fulltimers  "Let's meet for lunch"

And as usual our lunch "hour" turned into lunch "hours".   We were heart broken to learn a few short weeks ago that Bill had a terminal disease.   Through it he kept his good humor.   He, too, lost the battle this past week.  Wish we could have connected again.   Our prayers go our to Loretta and all their family.

Four fine gentlemen.   Our lives were enriched by each of them.  

One of our favorite rides....

Vinton,  LA

We arrived in Louisiana 5 days ago, getting set up at Texas Pelican RV Park.    This park is a absolutely no frills campground.    We attempted nicer parks but with lots of expansion of refineries in Sulphur and Lake Charles, they are mostly full.

We've stayed at Texas Pelican before for short visits to Leonard's family and friends.   This time we will be here 28 days.   At a cost of $250.00 it's not all that bad.   Only amenity is a laundromat, albeit that 1/2 machines are out of order.   There are 4 working washers and 2 dryers.   But at a cost of only $1.25 to wash and $.75 to dry I won't complain.

On Saturday we visited with Len's brother Royce and sister-in-law Susie.   Sunday we attended church in Vinton.   This church feels like our (2nd) home church.   Monday we did a little shopping.  Tuesday we visited with some grandchildren.   So today we decided to play tourist.

We headed out to drive LA Rt 27 to:

The nature trail loops from Sulphur south through the towns of Hackberry, Holly Beach, Cameron, Creole and on back to Lake Charles.    Driving the loop takes us to Sabine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and  Cameron Prairie NWR.

The town of Holly Beach sits right on the  Gulf of Mexico.   In 2005 Holly Beach was completely wiped out by Hurricane Rita.  Not a building was left standing. Rita was the 4th most intense Atlantic hurricane and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico.     We drove to Holly Beach about 6 months after the storm.  There was NOTHING.  Today is it rebuilt with  some beautiful homes mostly on stilts.

Vehicles are allowed on the beach, just not real close to the water.

Leaving Holly Beach it was getting close to noon and we were hungry.  We stopped at a very small eatery where we split an order of fries and I ordered an Oyster Po Boy, Len had a shrimp Po Boy.  And Boy were they good.

A few miles later we reached a really favorite place.

This 3 mile one-way loop takes you out on the marshes to view it's abundant wildlife.  Since the last time we've driven the loop, a concrete and wooden walkway has been added.

And wildlife we did see

Not sure what these are:

Thousands of Snow Geese

Turtles:

Thinking this is a Pintail:

Louisiana Heron:

Great Egret

Glossy Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

And lots of these critters:

 And as Judy would say

The end:

Over the river and through the woods.....

Cullman, AL

Yes, we are currently in Alabama.   But last week we were still in Pennsylvania.  

Our Thanksgiving was spent at daughter Terri and her husband Steve's new house.   Their home is definitely in Amish country.

Through the woods included passing by the golf course a few miles from her home.  Don't you love the stone fence?

Then across the river.   Her house was once a grist mill built in 1832.   A steam runs under part of it.  Although it sits right an the road, the 3 foot stone wall keeps out the road sound.  Cars travel by but very slowly -  over the bridge and then a sharp turn uphill.

The stream cuts the almost 2 acre property in half.  A project will be to build a bridge over it.


Table set and ready.  Notice the 3 foot deep window sills.

A crackling fire with our glasses of wine:

Last minute preparations:

Their "English Country" room:

On Sunday we went back and attended services with Terri and Steve at the local United Methodist church.  Thinking there is LOTS of gray stone in the area.

 After church we drove to Maryland to get hugs from the granddaughters Charlotte and Abby before we left the area Monday morning.

On the way we met up with Facebook friend and blog reader Dathan Booth, a gentleman working in the PA/MD area and living in his RV.  He treated us to lunch at our favorite diner when visiting this area.  Having never met in person before, it did not stop us from enjoying the two hour lunch and acting like old friends!

Charlotte and Abby with me:

Today we are enjoying the mild weather here in Alabama.   Hoping it continues.