"This the Current Situation Be!"

Today was nice but with a cutting south wind.  Regardless, outside work must be done.  With a possible ice event later in the week, more firewood was split and stacked and some cattle work done.  Also, since around Valentine's Day is when you trim the roses, I did that also to most of the bushes.  

Supper of Mahi from this summer's trip to the Keys, and a baord game.

We have several that we love: Various Ticket to Ride editions; Pandemic; Scotland Yard.

But our new favorite is Plunder: A Pirate's Life.

The purpose: sail around collecting treasure, claiming islands, and speak like a pirate.  Upgrade your ships and battle yer for, matey!  It isn't overly complicated and can play in about an hour for 3 players.  With 6 it takes a wee bit longer.

Lose a battle, lose a life.  Cannons improve the dice rolls in combat.  Masts give more distance per move.  And watch out fer the storm, or ye be stranded fer a spell.

It is a well thought out game.  Perhaps a bit too large for a rainy day in the camper, but at home, the dining room table holds it well.  

So far I haven't won at all yet.  But one day I'll be crowned the Pirate Lord!  Arr!

Blizzard of 2022?

We have entered a pattern of weather here where at least once a year - typically February - we have an ice event.  This year was no exception.  No camping plans had been made and our plans had been to stay home anyway.

The system rolled through Wednesday night, and the schools and college made the call early: cancelled classes.

  

About 2.5 inches of rain fell then was filled by sleet all the next day.  Not as dramatic as last winter but still enough to shut things down.  Even the local grocery stores and Walmart announced closure for Friday, which saw a refreezing over Thrusday night.  Temps in the high teens and low 20's throughout the spell. 

I am glad for our energy efficient log home and wood stove.  It makes a "snow" day a comfortable experience inside.

2021 in Review

 This year has been an adventurous one!  Let's look back at 2021.

This year started with a rare Texas snowstorm, but it was a precursor to the big one.  February was cold!

                                                    

March was our annual Spring Break trip, and we returned to Gatlingburg.  There was a bit of a problem this year, though.  Mom and Dad, not 24 hours after arriving, wrecked their Honda Pilot.  The struggle was finding a way to get them home since our car is small.  We worked it out though.  And we even had time to hike one of the longest trails we have done - Newfound Gap to Charlie's Bunion.

Wrapping up the school year and starting summer, we visited two state parks with the RV:

Fairfield Lake SP

Purtis Creek SP

And then, our epic summer trip to Florida and the Florida Keys!

Biloxi and Beauvoir

South Port, Florida and Southern Grace Lavender Farm, and our 15th Anniversary!

Tampa and Madiera Beach KOA

The Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve

Jolly Roger RV Resort and Marathon, Florida

Fishing for Mahi in Islamorada

Dry Tortugas NP and Key West!

We wrapped it up in Pensacola Beach and Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, LA.  Over 2 weeks, and 3500 miles!

School and work started up again, so the travel days became fewer and farther between.  

Jellystone Park, Tyler, Texas

Salado Highland Games, and Union Grove Park on Stillhouse Hollow Lake

It was a great year!  I hope 2022 will bring great things!

Holiday fun with metal detectors!

Christmas 2021 is passed, but the holiday season is still in full swing around the Ford household.  The last leftovers have been consumed, another round for New Years is just around the corner, and the unknowns of 2022 lie before us.

But in amongst the activities of the week, we did something new: metal detecting on the property.

The farm has been in the family for over 80 years now, but the history goes back farther. Over the years we have found old car remnants and a mill stone in the old creek named for a Texas Ranger who owned the property and died in the 1850s.  It is unknown where his homestead was and unknown where he is laid to rest.  So, that said, who knows what might be found.

We didn't stay long but found and old ax head, rusty wire and what appeared to be a hinge or fastener of some point.  Such fun! 

We will have to venture down to the Hughes Branch again soon!

Holiday Traditions - Bethlehem Revisited

About 45 minutes down the road is a hidden holiday treasure.  Tucked into a residential neighborhood in Waxahachie, Texas, is a living nativity village with live actors and animals.  Camels, goats, and sheep played their parts in Bethlehem.  Actors occupied stalls "selling" their wares and playing their parts in full immersion.

And through the night on a rotating schedule the events of the nativity and the arrival of the three wise men were played out.

The event has been held for years and is hosted by the Central Presbyterian Church.  It is free and operates on donations.  They always host it the first two weekends of December each year.  We go when we can.  Highly recommended!