This is our Rec Hall here at Bentsen Palm RV. Park here in Mission Texas.
We live about 3 small lots to the right of this hall; thats right next to the pond, it has a fountian in the middle of it. The spray sound soothes us too sleep in the evenings.
This is Christmas day and we have been a very busy day. Last evening Mac put the turkeys in the electric roasters. Through out the night he went to the hall to check on them. This morning all the turkeys and hams were cooked to perfection. Mac went to the hall at 6 AM. and by 9AM he had 4 turkeys and 4 hams all sliced and ready to serve by 12 noon.
About 9AM the table decorators and came in with thier crew. so We stayed around and helped moved tables and chairs to fit over 150 people.
Mac went home for a shower and I got dressed up in a classic long black dress with a shaw that siver threads decorated it. I wore my black and siver jewellery.

Dinner was delicious with everyone bringing their favorite, potatoe, salad, veggie or dessert.

When everything all cleaned up we left the hall at 2PM.for a wee rest. I sat and wrote a letter to my kids it was time to go back to the hall to play card bingo. About 40 people played. we broke up into groups of 4 people, each group had a deck of cards. The whole deck was passed out to each of the 4 players. The leader had a deck of cards and called out the card suit and who every had there ncard called turned their card over, Wen all your cards all turned over you could go to a table where we all brought $5.00 gift, you choose a wrapped gift and left it wrapped, brought back to where you were seated. We played for one hour, everyone had achance to go and exchange a gift with anyone many times til the game was called closed you then opened your gift you had beside you. This was alot of fun.

I recieved a beautiful wee table cloth, of winter scences,

After that we went home took our left overs to the hall to share with each other.

Later we invited David and Peggy over to watch a DVD we recieved for Christmas of Red Skelton and many more TV nostalga.

We had a very fulll day and are very exausted.

The next day I helped cooked lunch with David and Peggy for the people who came to play ,sing or just listen to the country jam. We made nearly
$100.00 from the lunch. It was worth the effort.

Mac and I then went to drug store and walmart and came home. Took out the halls New Years Eve Decorations. Tomorrow mac and i will go and buy hats noise makers etc.
Busy , busy busy .

This is Mac and Myself with our long friend Evelyn Shaurer Smith with her new husband Al Smith This was taken at Dallas Valley Camp,on the Gator.

 

 

We have been in Texas one month tomorrow. Time sure flies especially when one is very busy like Mac and I have been. I hope soon everything will be under control with leaders for different activities all in place. And we will be able to relax. We moved into our own office this past 2 days. Put up some picures I will take down the bedroom looking window toppers. I will wash the blinds and windows and we will be all set.
I woke up at 3Am and by 4am. I did not go back to sleep;therefore I got
up and croched till 7am. I went to the hall with my crocheting as I volunteered to have a 5 hand poker walk. 5 people showed up at 8am. They all walked around a distance I had set, it turns out going around this block 5 times equals 1 mile. Each one puts a quarter into the pot. At the end of each of the mile they get 5 cards. Highest person wins the pot. A red flush got it this morning. I serve coffee to them. So now it is 10:30am I am feeling not too bad but that bed is so tempting.
This job Mac and I have has kept us more busy thrn we wanted it to be.So I decided that I wanted to spend moore time out of my office . In the calander schedule I put our phone numbers in it so people can contact me when I am out of the office. I plan on taking the button jewellery class.(did you know US spells jewlery like this )I want to make a no sew shopping bag It is stapped and ducked tapped,stronger then sewing. Spanish weaving. Peggy my sister is doing a great job of putting crafts together. She is getting outside people to come in to show us how to do some of these things.

see ya

My knees and back feeling better . I am takng Motrin for pain. Plus Melaluka product for artritis and knees and jonts feeling a bit better.
This morning is our grand meeting for everyone at this park. We have new owners so there will be alot of questions concerning changes. Many of the people in this park have been coming here for the past 10--25 years, and changes is hard for them.
They are so use to having it a certian way, they think it is the only way.
Mac and I have learned as Activity Cordinaters to give suggestions, wait awhile soon they will think it is their suggestion and come to you with it. No not really . Today we will put out a few changes, we want to make and have the people vote on it. We are still needing more leaders and workers. We hoping soon everything will be in place. Our new schedule will come out this week hopefully with the new changes and leaders.
We have been working very hard and feeling overwelmed and tired. Hopefully I will be able to get out of the office and be able to join the seniors in the activities they have choosen.


See Ya

We arrived here at Bentsen Palm RV Park in Mission Texas today, seven days on the road is a long time. I will get my portabile house in order tomorrow.

Oct.25 2007 we left Dallas Valley Camp Ranch, to head south to Corpus Cristi Texas. We arrived Oct. 30.
Now a year later here we are Oct. 19 2008 leaving Dallas Valley Ranch Camp, only to find our truck will not come out of four wheel drive. We will stay over night with Wanda and get to the dealers in the morning.
I have been diagnosed with Arthritis of back and kness and legs. I do not know what kind . but with a little research it is hard to treat as my knees will degenerate until I need surgery and the pain will not go away until that happens . To my disappointment it may be many years before doctors operate they wait till one cannot walk. In other words I will gradually become immobile with nothing relieving the pain. I am on arthritis tylenol, plus tylenol3 that does very little. I am already feeling my right knee is trying to catch up with the left, as it does not want to be left out.
I have decided to take Replenix from Melaleucalucosamine HCI, Bomelain, ginger, and green tea, a joint replenishing Complex..

I am told by my Doctor I must not walk or exercise only do a bit of streatching. I am wondering what kind of streatching as at this moment I cannot walk, without a cane, at a snail pace with alot of pain. All my joints, and shoulder blades are very painful. even when sitting standing, worse when I lay down.


So any advise or suggestions I may consider.

My doctor has given me the green light to go south.I wonder if she thinks the warm weather will help me ? Hope so.

 

A great evening I had with a games night with some of my kids and grandchildren this evening . It was fun to watch them interact and laugh and play together.
We are leaving for Texas on October 20 and will arrive back into Canada about April 20. I am sure looking forward to to be in a warmer climate for winter.
I love my job at Bentsen Palm RV Park as Activity Director. It is the best job we have had. we get involved with the activities and playing along with the people of the park, with shuffle board ,crafts and games etc. We have planned many more activities this year, to try to get the men involved with different crafts, like rock and glass cutting, wood crafts, and any other things that may interest the men and ladies. how would you like a job like that, it is so much fun.

I very seldom blog as very few people visit my blog, or leave comments. When I think of it, it may be my fault as I read other blogs I do not always leave a comment.
Well here we are back in Regina. We are living with Wanda sometimes. We are so very busy out at Dallas valley Camp as Mac cooks for different groups that rent out the camp. It could be schools, churches,offices workers etc.. Mac has been cooking for a group of people who have volunteerded to build verandas on each cabin, painting inside of cabins, dewaxing and waxing floors getting camp all ready for that first week of camp that starts the last week in June and goes through July and August.
While Mac cooks I look around and see that cupboards need cleaning, or what ever needs to be done. I do help serve meals help with meals. I am always in the dish pit after each meal. Dishes always need to be done . The campers do the dishes but the cooks and helpers do the pots and pans. and clean up the kitchen. I try to make sure that the tea towels are put in the washer and dryer. to be ready for the next days dishes.
We get August off. I willl be flying accross to Quesnel to visit my mom she is 93 and she is getting more forgetful as each day passes.
We hope to get her into a care home, as soon as possible.
Some days she gets very confused, and hates herself for getting that way.

Her health is good. My brother Gerald looks after her finances etc. and Judy, Geralds wife cleans Mom's place. Someone comes in daily to give Mom her medication, if she finds her home. Mom still cooks for her self. but alot of the time she is eating out, at Tim Hortons which is within a block of her place.
Mom does get around, people from her church get her to her care groups and church each week. she goes downstairs to play cards with the seniors once a week where she can pick up a sandwich and soup at the same time. Mom also goes over to a care home twice a week to have her baths and have games or crafts with other seniors and lunch.
They keep a pretty good contact with her on these days , to see how she is doing mentally and emotionally.

I try to phone her weekly. Sometimes times that is hard to find her at home or she is on the phone talking to friends or family.

She no longer can travel she gets very confused.Even when she is placed in a wheel chair and wheeled around via airport help, to get her from one place to another.

I wonder what I'll be like at 93 , when already have the signs of lose of memory and confusing Tee hee

We had a meeting with the managers of this RV Park, this morning.
I am over welmed with all the things we have to do. We will be busy 8 hours a day to start with. Training starts now and continue through March. In November we will get our official title Activity Directors.

I will be starting in the office tomorrow. To learn more, I will be learning to do spread sheets. All the activities have volunteer leaders for each activity,of whom we will be head over them. To make sure all the activities are coverd and each leader is doing his job. We plan 50 and 60 year Anniversaries Parties and Birthday parties are done twice a year. This RV park people are wonderful, who volunteer
to help were ever.

Mac attended bean bag base ball today. he said he really looked like alot of fun. I attended a quilters class, learned alot and learning ladies names.

We are going to bingo tonight, To see who leads it. And get to know her. We will play too.

The leader of the Crafts is in hospital, recovering from lung cancer. She had part of her lung removed. Sandi will need radiation etc. Sandi is a very generous person, we are going to get her a gift coupon from Micheals.

so long

I have got thinking about what divorced people called thier ex spouses. Some times it is so up setting to me. The word MY is a ownership word -like he or her belongs to me. I have heard people say MY ex wife or MY ex husband. Why don't we make up a new word instead of claiming your ex person as yours think of something else to say. They are no longer your wife or husband, and they no longer can be claimed as ownership. Maybe just say the ex. or what ever negative name that would really say how it really is. Get out your fustrations and make up another word to describe THE EX.

Thats just me sounding off. and my feelings I have thought about this for years, so thought I would exspress my thoughts .

It is 10:30PM . Just wanted to tell you that We applied for an Activities Director this week and we got the job. We will be training starting tomorrow. We will be responsible for contacting all the leaders of the different activities making sure they are doing their job. Some of the activities are 5-6 different card game bingo, crib. Weekly Craft activities, Games like Poker, uker, bridge, hand and foot, pool, shuffle board, horse shoes, and different exercise classes, line dancing, weekly Pot lucks and soup dinners. There are out side activities like( Pizza dinners bowling, Red Hat ladies) I don't think we are responsible for. They have musical jamming sessions once a week. anyone that has a instrument can join them. We have to set up chairs etc for that. Professional bands all have to be booked up one year in advance some of them coming from Bronson etc. Once a month they come in too entertain the seniors. The manager has done this for next year already. But we will planning for the year after as well. Invitation go out to all the RV Parks in this area, along Benson Road there must be 15 or more RV camps. 250 came last week to the Rec hall to hear the group. We seniors pay $3.00 each. Invitations are sent to all RV Parks in the area. We are responsible for the weekly bulletin, It get sent out to be made up, once I gave them a list of activities that are going on each day. There are crafts sales , Carnivals , dog parades , and decorated gulf cart parade in this park. all the parks in Mission elect their own valentine King and Queen. Which happens to be the retired Pastor and his wife who minister to us at the Rec hall each Sunday. Wenda Persson plays the piano for us.) Then all RV parks put on a parade with all their Kings and Queens on their own floats they say it is a blast. In exchange we get free rent. We will be training from now til end of March to be already for next November. Maybe it will be too much for us. so this is our chance to test the waters, Once we are trained it probably be 3 hours to 4 hours a day or less. We do not have to do any of the activities, just make sure there is a leader in place that has volunteered for the job. If you have any ideas to send us we could do for seniors let us know we need new ideas. Pray we will blend our personality with all the leaders and that we will be tender hearted toward the
stubborn,stay in the mud won`t change or up date their activities or ideas.

That we will know how to deal with the ones who want to lead an activity then does not show up to lead it.
Pray for strength and enthusiasm from us for each activity. We have met a lot of Christians in this camp. and grace is always said at each pot luck etc. There is a craft sale Saturday and I may sew some of my bags to sell. also my Ostrich books.

There is no heavy lifting with this job. Just organization skills.


Good nite

It has been awhile since my last blog.. We have moved further south to Mission hoping it would be warmer and dryer. In Corpus it was very humid and wet every morning like it had rained every night. Corpus situated on the Gulf of Mexico. the ocean was only 15 minutes from us. WE did injoy the beach, and swimming in the gulf early in Nov.
Now here in Mission we recieved a misty cool rain cooler than Corpus, Finally today it is gradually warming up, The sky is clear here. hurray.
The club house is very busy with activities. We are getting involved. I went to the games room tonight to watch the gang play Sequence. It looks very interesting and I have a basic understanding of the game. I also went to quilting . The ladies are making quilts for the Mexico poor people. The quilts are very plain no borders, but will keep some one warm. They are given to Missionaries to give out. There are alot of Christians in This park. We will go to church at the club house at9 AM. after service we will go with Persson's to another church , for their service. then out for dinner. Coming back for a 65th Birthday for John Persson. David will be making supper for us, His favorite dish Mac and cheese he dresses up with onions and peppers soo good.

Peggy will be back with us on Thursday, I sure miss her, She went to Tulsa to be with her Daughter. Belinda has recovered enough to be at home her vision is still not clear.

Thank you all who prayed.

Well it is bed time good nite