Pine Gully

Kayla and I took an unexpected and spur of the moment side trip to Pine Gully the other day. Despite the humidity and the fact that we weren't dressed for the occasion, it was a nice little excursion.

KAYLA JOE

Ominous Sign

The only reptile in sight! (Kayla was disappointed that we didn't see an alligator)

The poetry of the earth is never dead. ~John Keats

You must not know too much, or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers and water-craft; a certain free margin, and even vagueness - perhaps ignorance, credulity - helps your enjoyment of these things... ~Walt Whitman, Specimen Days, "Birds - And a Caution" (Thanks, Corinne)

Caden's Adoption

After lots of waiting, the time has finally arrived. Caden's adoption was final on Tuesday (6/7/10). He became Jessica and David's son, Caleb's brother and our grandson and gained a whole family of aunts, cousins and various family that seems too complicated to even try to explain! His name was also officially changed to Caden William Evans. He has been a part of our family for almost two years now but it sure feels good to have the official paperwork done.

During the official proceedings the attorneys were speaking and asking all the required questions. Jessica and David were standing before the judge and Jessica was holding Caden. Jessica started to tear up a little and Caden was wiping the tears from her eyes. It was a very touching moment.

We are so very proud of Jessica and David and excited for Caden and the wonderful family that he has been adopted into. We love you Caden!

The judge commented that we already had a village!

 

Caden and Caleb - The Evans Brothers!

Caden, Kayla and Caleb - Cousins (These are my three grandkids.  I will be tongue tied forever trying to say their names!)

Aunt Shawnie celebrates with Caden at Cici's Pizza

Adoption is when a child grew in its mommy's heart instead of her tummy. ~Author Unknown

A Day With the Grandkids

We spent yesterday with all three of our grandkids. It was the first time that we have been in charge of the little two. Caden is three and Caleb is 17 months. They are both a handful and I was really nervous about it. Fortunately for us, Kayla is 10 and she is a big help with the boys. We spent most of the time in the pool. The all loved the swimming, Caden was just a little nervous about getting in too deep. Caleb is still at the age that he is fearless and ready for anything. It was a fun but exhausting day.

"A person's a person, no matter how small." ~Dr. Seuss (Horton Hears a Who!)

Memorial Day - Offats Bayou

We spent the Memorial Day weekend anchored out on Storyville at Offats Bayou in Galveston. Troy recently finished installing our new windlass. That is a device that pulls the anchor up and down and helps set the anchor. We previously had a manual one that I call Troy! Windlass Troy complained a lot about how heavy the anchor is and how muddy it is when he had to handle it himself. Our new windlass did not complain one bit (and neither did Troy). Between the new windlass and our great new anchor, I have a feeling that we will be spending a lot more time on the hook.

We decided to head out on Friday night and anchor out wherever we found a good spot. The evenings have been very calm with very little wind so we figured we would motor out and anchor somewhere around Bacliff. Well - no sooner did we get out of our slip and into the bay before the wind picked up and we could see lightening in the distance. The bay was white capping and the wind picked up to 25-30 knots for a little while. We were lucky that we never got any of the rain, just wind. We motored into it for about an hour and then headed over to Bacliff and set anchor for the night. Our friends Cory and Tammy on s/v Menestheus were with us. You can see that they were catching air:

Troy was up and working that new windlass at sunrise. We headed out to the Houston Ship Channel and towards Galveston. We had quite an incoming current that we were fighting against and not much wind to work with. We motor sailed all the way to Galveston. It was a very nice trip though, shrimp boats working and lots of dolphins playing in the wake of the tankers in the ship channel.

Shrimp Boat working the Houston Ship Channel

Dolphins playing in the bow wake of big tankers in the ship channel

To get to Offats Bayou you have to pass under the Galveston Causeway Bridge. The bridge is lowered for oncoming trains and, when no trains are on the track, the bridge is raised for boat traffic. Just our luck, we had to wait on a train. We just drifted around for about 30 minutes until it was our turn to get through. It sure is funny to listen to the bridge operator. Depending on which one is on shift, you can get a really cranky guy that doesn't want to get out of his recliner (and will be happy to tell you so), or a younger sounding guy that is really nice and willing to help out in any way. I will point out that it is not the bridge operators job to help recreational boats get back and forth under the bridge. His job is to make sure the bridge is down for trains. It was quite amusing to listen to the old curmudgeon griping to the tow boat operators about all the recreational boats. Guess he doesn't like anyone out having fun while he is at work. Can't say that I blame him too much for that!

We were just waiting on a train

The weekend was way fun and relaxing. We anchored out near 61st Street in Galveston with Cory and Tammy on s/v Menestheus and Trey, Kat and Anne on s/v Dawntreader. Saturday in Offats Bayou was really busy with lots of boats anchored out and lots of jet skis and skiers and wake boarders. We spent the weekend swimming, relaxing, partying with friends and just having a good time in general. The weather was perfect and so was the company.

Storyville at anchor in Offats Bayou


Dawntreader at anchor in Offats Bayou

Menestheus at anchor in Offats Bayou

Cory going for a swim

Anne came to visit Storyville

The only problem was that the weekend wasn't long enough. We all weighed anchor and headed back up the ship channel on Monday - back to reality.

Dawntreader headed back to the ship channel -time to go home :-(

Monday was Memorial Day, a day to honor our veterans, particularly the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free to enjoy the freedoms that we have today. I am definitely proud to be an American!

And I'm proud to be an American,where at least I know I'm free.And I won't forget the men who died,who gave that right to me.~Lee Greenwood

Lookin' for Lunch!

Texas Panhandle

I have a family connection to the Panhandle of Texas. My mother was born in Amarillo and my dad's family has lived there for generations. In fact, while I was visiting my family recently in Pampa, my uncle gave me some family information that I thought was interesting. My great, great grandfather, Newton Franklin Locke was born in Alabama but he lived in the panhandle of Texas he was a Texas Ranger for a while and even took part in the Oklahoma Land Rush.

We took a trip to the Palo Duro Canyon as well. I haven't been there since I was a child and it brought back memories of visits there with my grandparents. The Canyon is 120 miles long, as much as 20 miles wide, and has a maximum depth of more than 800 feet. Its elevation at the rim is 3,500 feet above sea level. It is a beautiful place to visit.

Check out the photos from our visit to the panhandle and to Palo Duro Canyon:

http://imageevent.com/deanaj/texaspanhandle?n=0

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. ~John Lennon

In Memory of my Grandparents

Vivian Weckesser Locke

May 6, 1916 - April 22, 2010

John Thomas Locke

July 1917 - January 14, 1985

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. ~Author Unknown

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:1-4

Relay for Life

Jessica - First Bank and Trust Relay for Life Team Leaders

We participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Montgomery County on April 16-17. Troy's daughter Jessica was a team leader and we are very proud of her for being so committed to raising money to find a cure for cancer. Troy and I donated a chance to "Sail with a Survivor" and Jessica sold almost $1,000.00 in raffle tickets with the winner going with us for a sail on Storyville.

Relay for Life is a 24 hour long event beginning at 7:00 in the afternoon on Friday, April 16th. Each team is a relay that walks around the track at a high school football stadium. The object is to have team members walking for the whole 24 hours. We managed to have members walking most of the time but by about 3:00 in the morning we were just worn out. I can't remember the last time I stayed awake for 24 hours. It sure served as a reminder that we aren't as young as we used to be!!!!

It really is a fun event and we had a great time. The Relay does a lot to honor cancer survivors and that makes it great for Troy and anyone else that is a survivor, giving them a chance to be appreciated and also taking time to honor those that have been taken from us by cancer.

Our team raised $1,800.00 for Relay for Life. We are so thankful for all our friends and family that participated in the event and those who bought raffle tickets and made donations. We just couldn't be prouder of Jessica and the rest of our family for taking time out of their busy lives to help eradicate cancer from our lives.

Troy and Jessica

Cancer is a word, not a sentence. ~John Diamond