Hamilton SJ, concluded

 We always try to get away and see the surrounding area when on a Sojourn.  Being in the Bitteroot Valley offered a special opportunity to see a historic and awesome place.

We are taking a 'local' climb - right up the mountain from downtown Hamilton.








Joining us are the the preacher and his wife and youngest son.  Victor and Natasha came to the work here from Ukraine and have brought a welcomed and fresh wind to this community of believers.  We enjoyed his class and sermon and his willingness to work with us as many days as he was available; Natasha was good with a paintbrush, too and this young man helped paint the pole fence.



The Finished Product.


Everyone was proud of a job well done.

We had had rain almost continuously on the trip in here from Colorado so we were glad to have almost two weeks of 'blue sky' weather to do this outside job.






We finished a day early and that was providential as the weather turned and the last day came in wet.


We pray that the new face lift on this building will be as inviting to the community as it is welcomed by this great church family. 
That's Sojourning,











 

Sojourn in Hamilton, Montana

 Here's the Sojourn team ably led by John and Karen and every one a worker you had to make quit!

We had all worked together (Ken and Jo, John and Karen) except for the 'newbies' Ron and Rhonda (between John and us) and what a super addition they were.  We started one couple short but it worked out OK as the work we had matched our strength and skills just fine.




We parked our four rigs right in their front parking lot - thats where the electric hookups are, at present.  Since we were only there two Sundays and several of the church members were shoulder-to-shoulder with us it was actually easier to be close to the work this way. 






Our work was to cover the old siding with new, caulk and double-coat with good paint.  In addition we re-made their back porch and re-painted their sign. 

The Sojourners conducted one of the Sunday services, as well.  Ava and I find that Sojourning gives all of our travels real purpose as we do the Lord's work.







Here's a cheerful Sojourner carefully painting on the white of a window trim.  The almost-15 gallons of the sky blue wall paint became a familiar color- on our clothes, hands and tools!

SA w/ Becky

 We finally found time to get wet!  We went to the Comal River and rented tubes and had a picnic lunch.  We've done this before with Becky and remembered it was good fun - and it was!  We knew that after we left Texas we would be hard put to get into any of the water we would find in Montana, Wyoming or Washington, their water is COLD and not Texas-friendly.
















Somehow I managed to stay upright in the tube - but my hat is floating away!











These pretty girls look like they are having a quiet moment together - the reality is Ava is too dry and trying desperately to talk Becky out of flipping her tube over!











Here is Becky dressed up to go out with us.

One night Becky and I went out to the Majestic Theatre and heard an SA Symphony performance; I can hardly bear to be in SA without taking in some live music or theater and I've yet to be disappointed.  This night the Majestic and the orchestra and the lady were all perfect.

More SA friends

 One unusual Saturday we were joined by Mark and Tamra and their kids at a really unusual farm outside of Seguin - the Moo Jesus Dairy.  Here the co-owner is taking us around to feed some of the animals.  Later we would try our 'hand' at milking a (very patient) cow!

In retrospect, I would say raw, fresh milk is a "whole 'nother drink" - whoever does the milking.





We had a neat drive and visit with our long-time friends Sam and Sandie at their beautiful home and ranch in the Highland Lakes region north of SA.  They have put in a tremendous amount of work and care and made this a real show place.

Sam and Sandie led us aroung the ranch on ATVs and Ava was sure I was going to flip it into the river - but I didn't.  All's well that ends well, eh?



Here's a couple of pic's from a remarkable couple in an amaing place.  Kim and Kyle have turned their youthful energies into making a Log Cabin house their home - and a neat place to rear their three sons.  Kim is a real 'pioneer woman' - like her forebears - and we had a great time.








Dogs and horses, creeks and trees and brothers to play all day long with - what boy could ask for more?





Maybe a warm, smiling Mom fixing dinner - and Dad on his way home ready to hear the day's adventure.

May in San Antonio, part One

 Here's Becky with her roomate Kirby in front of their lovely garden home in San Antonio.  We had many fun times there while staying a month in an RV park across town.  Kirby is the Children's Minister at MacArthur Park Church of Christ where Becky has worshipped for years. 







Mike and Debbie came to town for a Sibling Reunion that he put together on short notice.  Here, somehow, he found himself elbow-deep doing dishes after a meal at Becky & Kirby's house.  Doesn't  he look happy about it!









The Sibling Reunion 2013: Marc and Shelley (L), Mike and Deb (CTR), Gary and Ava (R) and Janet and Harry (Sitting).  Thanks, Mike, for making this happen. 

Also able to join us were Gene and Elaine and Debbie's brother Lonnie and his wife Lorene.

We had a great time together over a long weekend.




Kirby and Becky had planned to host a Class Party and put it on Becky's birthday weekend so we got to be included!  Here is Becky holding her Mom's signature chocolate cake (before decorations) and whetting the appetites of the girls in the class.  We ate, played games and had a really good time with these young people.  Luckily, there were a few other 'seniors' there, as well.  Becky is well-loved and well-cared for by her church family here.

Wrapping up Harlingen

A trip to the zoo - Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville - was fun for all.  Here's Gram A with Drew and Lauren joining the family.











 We got to stay with the girls while Aaron and Tarin had a 'get-away' trip so we made it special.  First, we took them to a surprise dinner out where they could choose anything and everything to eat (Golden Corral :) then we took them to one of our 'special places' in the Valley: Santa Anna Wildlife Refuge.  We got to ride the Tram and take the tour and see a strange and wonderful place.






Here's Pa Gary with the girls - we just climbed to the top of the Hawk Tower to get a 'birds-eye' view of the woods and the Rio Grande River.










Another day we took a 'birding tour' closer to home - Ramsey Birding Center in Harlingen.  We hiked the small park and saw a great number of our unique local birds.  I think some of the prettiest 'birds' I saw were sitting on this bench.

SA Spring Break '13- at Camp Bandina!

 What a group gathered to spend 3 days at beautiful (and empty) Camp Bandina.  All the Blanks, the Bens and the Whits - with all the spouses (for at least a day) and all the kids.

As you can see, almost as many little kids as big (grownup) kids! 










Everybody - even the kids - signed up for cooking and cleanup - and we were Well Fed.










Lots of time to play, too.  We spent a day at Lost Maples State Park, played at Camp Bandina's Medina River and on the camp grounds.


Here we are playing a new game - guess who brought it - that's right, Crazy Raja!  Those pvc tubes are blowguns shootging mini marshmallows.
Who would know that a marshmallow can hurt so much??



The last Saturday morning was (how convenient?) the Opening of Spring Turkey hunting and our guys scored big!

For this group you could not have scripted a better Spring Break.

Or for the rest of us; especially the three grandparents present: Gary, Ava and Chuck.

Spring Break in SA - part One

All the kids had the same Spring Break so we invited ourselves to Becky's house in SA!  Here Gram Ava and Pa Gary are posed with our beautiful grandchildren at the Alamo. 








Works of Art.

After the Alamo we went to the Botanical Gardens and were joined by Randy's brother Mark and his family - as well as our special guest Grandma Jane.







Who would have thought that Becky's house would be big enuf to seat Dinner for Seventeen?
But it was - and more than once:)




Not all our time was spent eating, though.




Some of us worked it off!!

or tried to.

Only the Pro - Vivian - could keep it going, and going, and going.  I think she hula-hooped the whole time the rest of us tried to keep it up for just almost a minute! 

Our family really knows how to have cheap fun.

Harlingen Winter-time Fun in Sun

 After early January no rain - but the birds still come thru on their northbound journey in March and April.

















Since we water the native gardens there is always something blooming - and blooms bring butterflys!











First Saturday of March was this year's Community Garden Work Day.  For Marla and her friends (all boys?) it was Play Day.









Pa Gary helped Tarin and the big girls clean up the Fall/Winter garden and get Whits End ready for Spring. In the background you can see many others bent over working in the ground.  All those older  bent backs means a Bengay bedtime!

This Community Garden has been a great addition to the local work of the church; thanks, Marilyn and all the others who make it happen.

Winter 2013 in Harlingen

  This is our lot at Palm Gardens, we parked here for three months and had a fine time.  Rent was very reasonable, good neighbors (from Holland!) and lots of activities - cards, pool, hot tub, stained glass class and a good wood shop.  All this and exactly one mile from our door to Aaron&Tarin's.









 The woodshop allowed me to finally tackle the shelving solution in our pantry.  It was a lot of work but I enjoyed it.
















These 8 drawers (9"x24") are on heavy-duty, full extension slides and are solid wood.  We can finally really use our pantry and fully enjoy preparing the many meals we cook at home.  I didn't picture it, but I also built book shelves and DVD/CD shelves in the open area behind the flat-screen TV.  It was also nice to meet, and work with, other RV'ers who were doing simimilar remodel projects in their rigs. 

A house is a house- there is always some repair or improvement that needs doing.








Added this pic to show off (overhead) the powered vent we had added to the roof of the living room/kitchen.  That was the other much-needed improvement to our trailer.  I didn't tackle this one- I let the pro's do it.