We start the month off on Dec. 2nd.  Got Lee off early for the men's coffee meeting.  I met him at 9:00 for the walking class.  Took a ride into town to mail our Christmas gifts.  On Tuesday the 3rd Lee had plans to meet his buddy John to go fishing.  He got everything ready, got the kayak hooked up and was ready to pull away......but the truck wouldn't start.  Long story short - batteries dead.  I headed out for the beauty shop for a haircut while the guys that had gathered around the truck accessed the problem.  While I was gone they got the truck running and Lee took it to the Ford place for a checkup on the batteries.  They confirmed our worse fear -- both batteries about gone.  Once I got back we headed to Corpus Christi for 2 new batteries. Very bad timing for this time of year.  On Wednesday the 4th after the morning coffee and walking class, I got busy cleaning inside the rig.  Lee started doing the finishing touches to the kayak trailer.  Starting to look really good.  This will make it SO MUCH easier for us when loading and unloading!!

The weather report on Thursday was not a good one.  Some weird cold weather is headed this way again.  After we finished laundry, we made a quick trip to WalMart.  It was 74 when we left and 58 when we got back home.  This is after a couple days in the 80's.  Going down to 40 tonight.  If you can believe the weather forecast, it will be COLD until next Thursday.  Well - the forecast was not wrong.  On Friday it turned cold - and I mean cold for this area.  We left at 8:00 to go to the island to meet friend for breakfast.  It was 38 with high winds which  made it in the 20's.  We came down here for WARMER weather - NOT this!!!!  Got back to a warm rig and I put on a pork roast and pinto beans.  On Saturday the 7th it was 33 degrees at 7:30 with a 30% chance of freezing rain.  Chattanooga is warmer today than this.  Not a day for outside activities.  We played around on our computers, watched football and I did some knitting.  Decided to have homemade chili for dinner and keep the roast and beans for Sunday.  Perfect for a cold winter day.

Sunday's weather improving - going up to 46.  Our Keurig is getting a workout with this weather -- either hot chocolate or coffee.  I'm not going to comment on the weather we had on Monday because it wouldn't be nice.  Meet some friends at The Bakery for breakfast.  Made a quick stop at WalMart and back to the warm rig.  On Tuesday the 10th Lee and Jim went to the shooting range.  I read and knitted, then I worked on my "list" for what we'll need when we go to Debi's in a couple weeks.  On Friday the 13th we rode over to the island.  It was cloudy, but warmer (60).  Due to the weird weather - rain, wind, etc. - there were thousands of shells along the beach.  This is unusual for this area of beaches.  The beach was also full of birds and dead jellyfish.  Stopped for a while at the jetty.  Got up close and personal with a pelican.  I believe I could have touched him.  Those that hang around the jetty are not afraid of people at all.

Woke up Monday the 16th to frost everywhere and 34 degrees.  Lee and 3 of his coffee buddies went to check out the new Academy after our walking class.  Warmed up quickly today to 64.  Tuesday was beautiful.  Warm (70) and lots of sun.  We received a care package from Chattanooga that was totally awesome!!!!  There were 2 dozen krystals, a huge container of brownies, a Christmas tin loaded with goodies and 3 loaves of homemade bread.  WOW - we were definitely overcome with joy and appreciation!  THANK YOU SO MUCH Roger, Darlene, Craig and Elsie.  We had the krystals for lunch - duh - and brownies for dessert.  I separated the brownies into baggies to freeze.  Also cut up the bread for freezing also.  That way we should have some all through winter.  Lee and I along with Jim and Pat went to dinner at Dan and Karen's.  Great food and lots of enjoyable stories by all.

On Wednesday Lee headed out for a pedicure after our walking class.  I worked on my famous lists since we're heading to Debi's on Sunday.  We both anxiously await lunchtime -- krystals and brownies.  Thursday was absolutely beautiful - 78 degrees.  Sorry to say - the krystals are now gone.  You should have seen Lee's sad sad look.  I suggested we freeze one for a keepsake.  Needless to say that didn't work.  Let it be know what krystals travel very well via overnight mail!!!!

On Sunday the 22nd we headed north to Debi's.  Stopped at Bucee's for a break.  Had to get trail mix and nuggets -- that's always a MUST.  Once we settled in at Deb's we headed to Fuddruckers for lunch.  Another favorite resturant.  On Monday the 23rd Lee, Todd and Chad spent a guy's day going to Cabelas and Camping World.  Debi and I had Ryder for the day.  He had gotten sick on Sunday.  We ran a couple errands and took him to the doctor.  He was put on medication so we're hoping he's much better tomorrow.  We don't like it when he's feeling down.  Chad headed back to San Marcos (where he's living now)and Todd and Ryder went home.  Debi decided to kick back and relax.  Lee and I went to one of our favorite resturants for dinner.
More bad news for the truck, when Lee took Chad and Todd shopping and running around smoke started to come out from under the front, when they got home it was discovered that the calipers on the front brakes had locked up.  To make a long story short we had to take it in to sears and they found a leak in the line and that the boost pump for the brakes had gone bad, new calipers, brake pads, brake line, and boost pump.  Then we had to have the front end aligned.

Tuesday the 24th was very very busy.  Lee, Chad and Todd ran around again, while Debi and I started baking things for Christmas.  We all went to Todd and Chelsea's Christmas morning to watch Ryder with Santa Claus toys.  Everyone came over to Debi's for the family Christmas lunch and to exchange gifts.  Once we got everything cleaned up, I started watching the clock.  Michael and Austin were flying in and due to arrive at 10:00 pm.  So good to see them!!!!!  After a lazy morning on Thursday, we all headed to Pluckers for lunch.  Another favorite, with wonderful lemonade drinks.  On Friday morning the 27th Debi left at 4:15 am for the airport.  She was flying to Chattanooga for 4 days.  Elmer (our stepdad) turns 90 on Sunday the 29th and a big party has been planned for him that afternoon.  Lee and I ran some errands in the afternoon, then I started making homemade potato salad and pimento cheese.

With all the excitement - needless to say Saturday morning was a lazy one.  Michael and I went to the store for sausage ball ingredients.  He's a master at making them for sure.  Michael, Austin, Chad and Todd did some running around on Saturday afternoon.  Lee and I started packing things up for our trip back to
Rockport on Sunday.  Once we got back, we unpacked a few things and settled in to watch football and take much needed naps.  Monday we finally finished unpacking and went to the grocery store.  We're getting our third round of COLD weather, so we thought a pot of homemade chili would be nice.  Lee makes a huge pot and we are able to freeze about 2-3 containers.  On Tuesday the 31st we bundled up and went outside to take down the Christmas decorations.  Got everything packed away.  Now we're ready to say good bye to another year.

Can't believe we'll only be here for another 2 months.  We will be heading back to the Canyon Lake area on March 1st.  Just HOPE it's warm then.

Take care - until next time