Wednesday
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Another thing to miss about being with our Iowa friends. PIE RUSH WEDNESDAY at Village Inn. Free slice of double crusted fruit pies with an adult entree order.If I shut my eyes and let my mind drift back, I can hear the clink of dishes and coffee cups, ice in the glasses. and the background murmur of other diners. I hear Ted Nelson’s laugh, Tom Stone saying, “And this is the truth, I’m not making this up.” Then Francis Free beginning by saying, “I’ll grant you this …”Conversation would normally include opinions (for or against) about various board members of the camping club and polices and improvements (or lack thereof) of the campground.Then there were the aromas of freshly baked (or microwaved) pies: raspberry, blueberries, apple, or hot peach ala mode.For the better part of a decade we could gather at Village Inn on Wednesdays, order a drink and receive a free slice of fruit pie or the monthly specialty pie. We regularly would have a dozen (plus or minus) people gather around the tables to visit and eat pie. Last year the policy changed, requiring ordering an entree. We still gathered though weekly attendance became sporadic.This year some of the “snow birds” have, like us, sheltered in place and not returned to the campground. Village Inn, most likely, would not be able or willing to seat that many people together at a table because of Covid 19.
Wednesdays in Love Liberty Hill means, for us and our friends, Grandies. Grandies welcomes those 50+ every week with friendship, games and a ministry to connect to others.As a special part of their ministry, Grandies sign and send greeting cards with inspirational messages to those serving in the military, the sick or homebound and church members celebrating happy milestones like birthdays and graduation. Since this ministry started, more than 3,300 cards have been sent!During the summer, Grandies also work to make available snack packs, through Operation Liberty Hill, for children who may not otherwise have enough food, without a school in session. Additionally, they provide meals at Vacation Bible School. and host bake sales twice a year to raise funds for their important works.
However, again because of the corona virus, Grandies it’s not meeting. For a while we tried meeting through the Zoom application. However, lack of interest or ability has halted that also. There is some sporadic exchange of emails but that is a less than satisfying way to gather, visit, laugh, and yes, play games.
I‘ve been watching several mysteries and cop shows. This has lead me to several conclusions.
- Car trunks are designed to transport people, living or not so much.
- Kidnappers and murderers have much neater / cleaner trunks than any of my vehicles.
- If your vehicle has a trunk, at some point, you or your victims be stuffed into it.
- I’m never again buying a vehicle with a trunk.
Another indication that I need new glasses. In addition to not being able to see clearly, they are beginning to leave gray green marks on my temples. Basically they control how I see and how I’m seen.
This evening was a chance for the congregation to get to know the new pastor and her us. We met in groups of ten or less. Each group had fifteen minutes with her. It was interesting. And, no, she was not dresses in robe and scarf.I didn’t bother with a sunset photo. It would lol identical to the “sunrise” photo this morning with a slightly different landscape.Thanks again for stopping by.
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- See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.
- God bless and g‘day.
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- 9 months since we returned to Texas.
- 3 months and 17 days being self isolated.
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🎶 Oh what a beautiful morning 🎶 after yesterday’s heat, it was really nice early today.
It was so nice that, not only did I work inside the topper, but Ella and I sat out and played several games of Fast Track.For lunch I turned the George Foreman grill into a panini press and made pork and cheese sandwiches. Sorry, no photo, I guess we we’re too hungry.
I spent a long time filling my pill sorters. And then even a longer time trying to order refills. The VA now has a handy dandy reorder app … I guess … so far I haven’t gotten it to work. I’ve logged on … It knows that I’m me. But I haven’t discovered how to order my refills. I’m not done trying.
With the sky this clear, I’m hoping for a cooler night, without the A/C running. It we still 80° at midnight last night. Maybe we can open a bedroom window tonight.Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.
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The sky was pretty and odd at the same time this morning.
This morning the worship service participants gathered “together” while maintaining distancing. We were there to do the first LIVE broadcast from our chapel. Previously, it had been pre recorded as segments and then stitched together for broadcast.
I had two parts in the service. I didn’t realize that the podium mike want live or I would have used my “preacher voice” to make myself heard.
This was our Zoom Sunday school class today. Next week we are going to attempt a mask to mask gathering on the worship center’s foyer.After Sunday school, Ella and I went to Sonic for lunch and then back to the church church to await people driving by to deliver food for the Kids’ Summer Snack Program. A program to feed children who, through the school year, rely on the school lunch for what may be their only meal of the day.We also received more aluminum cans which we will sell at the metal reclamation center. The money is used to support the Grandies various ministries. We also save the pull tabs for donation to the 
Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.
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It was a wonderful start to the day. But it turned ugly later on.
Once Grandies was over, we drove to Harbor Freight in Cedar Park to pick up a can crusher. Having used it only one time, I doubt it will be used with any frequency.It it’s nearly impossible to be used without being fastened to a wall. We live in an RV. RVs are not known for having sturdy walls. It will most likely be mounted to a post on the deck. I can’t imagine that either of us will go outside to use it. I will continue as I have always done. I set the can on the floor and stomp it flat.
I did mount the can crushed on the deck. It is firmly attached to a four by four post. I seldom drink anything from an aluminium can. It’s unlikely that I’ll use it, unless many bags of uncrushed cans are donated this coming Sunday.
In addition to mounting the can crusher, I also worked briefly on the pickup topper.
Then the weather turned ugly. That’s why there is no sunset photo tonight.
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That it’s going to be a large front for a “slight risk” storm, covering about 1500 miles.
Along about eight o’clock, the sun made a feeble attempt to shine. However the clouds, once more, overpowered Ol’ Sol and forced him into submission again.
Today, being Sunday, means worship and Sunday school. Even though both worship and Sunday school are now online only, Ella and I still go to the church campus on Sunday mornings. We sit under the awning (bottom left in the photo) where we can get a good strong cellular service and/or WiFi.I tried to record the service but failed and I have been unable to find a recording online.I also didn’t think to do a screen shot of our Sunday school class as we gathered via Zoom.
These are most of the people helping out today. People would drive under the awning (yes we had to move) and volunteers would take the donations (practicing safe distancing and masks) and place them inside the church vestibule.
Later, those items were loaded into a van belonging to one of our members. She then took them to Operation Liberty Hill for distribution. We will repeat this next Sunday as well.
This was posted on Facebook:
Now that you have some background about the cans; today, along with the food for the kids, we asked people to bring their cans. My pickup topper is crammed as full as I could get it with trash bags full of cans. Plus the back seat of the truck is also piled high. It may be Tuesday when Ella and I take the First Load to the redemption center.
It was a long day (6 1/2 hours) for these two senior citizens so we ordered a pizza for pick up on our way home.
The first drops of rain have fallen.Thanks again for stopping by. Share this with your friends. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. Remember, we love you.
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The sun exploded over the treetops today like the atomic fireball that it is. After too many days of looking like the moon’s week sister, it came up with a vengeance today.
It started out nice and cool at sixty one degrees, but suddenly began that climb into the nineties. Old Sol will not even reached its zenith until close to two o’clock this afternoon, and it has reached the mid eighties by ten o’clock. I fear the predicted high of ninety two may be optimistically low.
At ninety three degrees, I believe we’ve past the hottest part of the dayWell, I’ll be jiggered if it didn’t go ahead and climb to ninety four before five o’clock. Just as I thought the tide had turned and it was gonna slowly cool down. Well I’m as right as the weather forecasters are. I know, that ain’t saying much.
Early this morning, I noticed this spider web. This spider (or one of its kin) had built a web in this spot earlier. However, I had rolled the awning away while working on the RV roof last week. That destroyed the web. Today, I was glad to see the web rebuilt. Much to the chagrin of my bride, I do not sweep away spiderwebs. They are God’s fly traps. I’d rather have spiders than flies.
We had a Grandies meeting via Zoom at nine o’clock this morning. There were only nine (including Ella and me) out of around two dozen members. Some have neither computer nor smart phone with which to connect. Some are in a hospital or a care facility. By the way, not pictured above but present were the other Donna and Cephus.We will reconvene, again via Zoom, on Wednesday morning for a business meeting. One topic for discussion will be the proposal for Ella and me to gather up all of the empty aluminum cans, that members and others have been saving, and taking them to the recycling place in Marble Falls.
Today has been a stay-inside out-of-the-heat kind of day. I can report that my 
That old atomic fireball continues to throw the heat at us from around the curve of the earth.Thanks again for stopping by. See y’all again tomorrow. Stay safe. We love you.God bless and g’day.
Look at the early morning sky. It’s both pink and blue. Will the new born sun be boy or girl? It took a while for the sun to show his/her face this morning and even then it was quite androginess.Ahh, now I remember the song,
In Texas this is known as Extra Thin. In the rest of the nation it is known as bread. Thank God for Texas toast.Grandies is a group of seniors who normally (pre-pandemic) meet every Wednesday for some missions work, fellowship, and games. It has been two months since we’ve been able to gather together.
Photo & Quote from Facebook
We participated in the Front Porch Photos this evening. Jim and Pam came by with their professional type camera and took our photos. I’m not sure just how they will use them to introduce us to the new pastor, who will be arriving in June (?). However they use them, it was time for an updated photo “book” of our congregation anyway.
Since it was so cool out (88°), I decided to make and bake some cookies this evening. You did hear the sarcasm in my voice there, right? I limited the baking to ten, and those in the convection oven. That is the only thing I prepared for supper. Now, if I can just keep Ella from eating the dough by the spoonful. Don’t tell her I said that.
Still plenty warm at sundown.
Days being self isolated
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eventy one degrees at six o’clock in the morning. No overcast dove colored sky today. Going to be close enough to tickle ninety degrees on the toes.
early clear and touched with gold in this morning’s heavenly vault. And getting ready to. burn.
ornpone for breakfast. I’m trying to vary our breakfasts with the means of our limited larder. I know, traditional ‘pone is made with white cornmeal. I did mention the finite selection of our cupboards, right? I may make biscuits with either pepper gravy or sausage gravy one morning soon.
ednesdays are Grandies meeting days. Even with social distancing, we decided to wear our go to meeting t-shirts, even though we couldn’t go to a meeting. Look how tiny Ella looks. It must be a trick of perspective. She’s further from the camera than I am.
ometime around three o’clock the temperature reached ninety four. I said this morning that it would be close enough to tickle ninety degrees on the toes. It appears I was wrong. It got. close enough to bite it on the ankle
Day 24 of us being self isolated.
Tom and Ella Journal 