RVing Fulltime with Tom and Ella

2018 November 04 Sunday

2018 November 04 Sunday in Liberty Hill and Cedar Park, Texas

51° and 1/4″ of rain before sunrise. The clouds cleared out and it warmed to 68°.

Worship and Sunday school at Cross Tracks Church this morning.

I started some pork chops in the Instapot©, changed clothes and went out to work on the deck some more. Ella prepared the rest of the meal while I cut lumber and drove screws. After lunch I continued to do deck work until the cordless drill once again was powerless.

The Cherry Hill staff met at the Lakeline mall set this afternoon. It was just to introduce everyone. Ella and the other employees got their uniforms shirts. Charlie. (the 2nd shift Santa) and I unpacked our Santa suits and verified that everything was there and will fit. Come this Friday Santa Tom will be in the big chair and Ella will be getting on the job training.

No sunset photo today. It was cloudless which makes for boring pictures.

Well, that’s it for today.

God bless and g’nite y’all.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 November 03 Saturday

2018 November 03 Saturday in Liberty Hill, Georgetown, and Round Rock, Texas

50° and clear in the morning. It reached 73 windy degrees with some scattered clouds.

Grandson Tate had his last flag football game today 36-21 not in his team’s favor. I had left my cell phone in the truck, so didn’t get any game pictures.

Leigha posted a video. I hope this link works https://www.facebook.com/609172678/posts/10156807364652679/

So no more football until January. I was so proud of him today. On one play he was the designated receiver. However, a player on the other team knocked the ball down before he could catch it. Tate congratulated the other player for a great move. Now that is sportsmanship!

After the game we went to Adam and Leigha’s for pizza and conversation. We didn’t stay too long because I had a partially completed deck to work on at home. I didn’t manage to get it completely done after all. My cordless drill and I ran out of power at about the same time.

Nice sunset.

God bless and g’nite y’all.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 November 02Friday

2018 November 02 Friday in Liberty Hill, Bertram, Burnet, and Marble Falls, Texas

We arrived at the church around 9:30. Our Grandies group saves aluminum cans and people donate cans to us also. Several times a year we take them to Marble Falls for recycling. I should explain that Texas has no deposit and no return on soft drink Cans. The recyclers pay by the pound for the aluminum. We made $35.

However that is skipping ahead on the story. We had loaded Rudolf the red nosed pickup bed as full as it would go and still put the cover in place.

The cover is in two prices with each piece debited by four screws with wingnuts. Knowing that each of this screws would need to be removed at the recycling center, I decided that two each wires be enough

We hadn’t gone far before I realized that Rudolf was running on empty. I went to the nearest station and filled up. 25.336 gallons in a 25 gallon tank. I told you we were running on empty. Thank God that I noticed it when I did.

Because of the side trip to the gas station I changed the route we took. We had gone through Bertram when one of the plywood covers blew off of the truck. Obviously I was wrong that it didn’t need all of these screws holding it down. I pulled off to the side of the road and retrieved the cover and put it back in place with all of the screws.

After getting our cash at the recycling plant, we joined the rest of the grandies group at the Blue Bonnet cafe for lunch and pie.

After leaving the cafe we had time to return home before going to the VA Clinic in Cedar Park.

I was given a clean bill of health and a hug by my doctor. She also made me promise to walk a mile every day. She placed an order with the VA pharmacy for something that would help with the pain in my knees and the neuropathy in my feet.

After returning home, I worked some on building a deck.

God bless and g’nite y’all.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 November 01 Thursday

2018 November 01 Thursday in Liberty Hill, Texas

45° overnight under starry skies. I woke around three and turned done heart on.

Lunch and canasta at the Over The Hill Gang. I

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 October 31 Wednesday

2018 October 31 Wednesday – All Saints Eve – in Liberty Hill and Round Rock, Texas

69° and completely overcast (looks like rain) in the early morning. I don’t know how it reached 77° under the cloud cover, but it did. We got a brief rain shower mid to late afternoon.

First on our list of “To Dos” today was a visit to Austin Heart for Ella’s chemical stress test and echocardiogram. She survived the stress test. But we’ll have to wait for the results of the last test

Ella’s stress test was a “fasting” test. So we stopped at Whataburger for a breakfast sandwich to break our fast.

Home Depot was next on our list. I purchased the last two (I hope) items to build the deck.

Groceries was next on the list. We didn’t need a lot but what we needed were mostly perishable that need refrigeration. That means the next stop was home. Ella went into the trailer and I handed bags up to her.

With the groceries inside, I then unloaded the last of the deck lumber.

I ordered new headlights. The old ones have becomes so yellowed with age that they were nearly useless at night. The package arrived yesterday afternoon but I didn’t open them until this afternoon. It was a simple thing to remove the old ones and replace them with the new. They even came with bulbs. The bulbs were still good in the old set so now I have a spare set.

On the way home from choir practice this evening the difference in the headlights was remarkable. I think the low beams illuminated more than the old high beams.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 October 30 Tuesday

2018 October 30 Tuesday in Liberty Hill, Leander, and Cedar Park, Texas

66°and mostly cloudy. Topped out at 79 under mostly sunny skies

We both had appointments with the cardiologist this morning. Everything sounded good. However, Ella is scheduled for a stress test and MRI tomorrow morning. This is early preparation for having a shoulder replacement in January.

McDonald’s was next on our list. Grabbed a couple sandwiches on the way to the Leander Senior center.

The afternoon was sent relaxing, reading, gaming, napping, and watching TV.

From 7-8 we were at the Tuesday night prayer meeting. This world really needs people to pray

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 October 29 Monday

2018 October 29 Monday in Liberty Hill, Georgetown, and Cedar Park, Texas

59° and clear overnight. Reached 80°

The Georgetown senior center had a good crowd for lunch. I feel out of place here because these people come to eat and watch television there is no games or really interaction. Ella and I play our normal Fast Track and Rummikub. We’ve invited others to join us but no one has.

When lunch is over they gather outside for the bus that transports them back to whatever facility they live at. I really want more than a meal from this experience. But maybe I’m asking too much.

I am building a deck for our RV. Replacing the foldout RV steps with standard stairs should make it easier to get in and out. I placed an order online with Home Depot. While at the center I received a text that it was ready. At Home Depot I just needed to show them the order number and a photo ID. A young man (at nearly 72 nearly everyone is a young man) named Steve brought up a cart with my items and loaded then into the truck.

Ella posted on Facebook, xWe’ve had a beautiful day today. The sun is shining and it’s 78 degrees. We’ve picked up most of the lumber to build our deck. You would know it’s the stuff we needed to have first that we don’t have. There’s always tomorrow. I’m looking forward to seeing how much drier it will be when we get home.”

When we were nearly home (within seven miles) we were stopped because of an accident on highway 29. We turned around and took a much longer route home

Later we found this posted on the Liberty Hill police Facebook page.

“Update on wreck on 29. Unfortunately we lost a family member in that accident today. He was 28, and the soul parent of a little boy. Why did this happen. Some lady had road rage and purposely chased them on 29 and hit the truck from behind causing it to loose control and flip 3x. She is in custody and facing charges apparently told police she was sorry she was having a bad day. His mom literally passed away yesterday. It’s a tragic time for our family, thank you all for your support and comments on previous post. We have the best community! ❤️”

Finally home I unloaded the truck then sat out under the awning for a while. I had gone inside and up to the bedroom which is one of the few places I can get a strong enough internet connection.

I hadn’t been there long when Ella hollered for me. Our neighbor to the east had come to ask if we’d take him to Georgetown. His truck head been repaired and was ready to come home. He had tried to get a taxi but noon would come out this far. If course we took him.

When we got back into town we stopped for supper at Dairy Queen.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 October 28 Sunday

2018 October 28 Sunday in Liberty Hill and Leander, Texas

59° and clear early this morning when only the moon and I were up.

We ate breakfast from the breakfast bar at church. We sang in the choir during the nine o’clock service and then attended Sunday school

Everyone at church had a name tag visitors are given one on which to either their name.

After that we had lunch with eight friends at Cherry Creek Catfish.

Rudolf the red nose pickup needed a fill up and a wash.

We met some neighbors this evening, John and Armina. They have the trailer directly across the drive from us. They have two The younger one pointed out that I look like Santa Claus. I just said, “Yes I do. I wonder why that is?”

This morning I got pictures of the sun through the cedar trees. Tonight it was through the live oak.

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 October 27 Saturday

2018 October 27 Saturday I’m Liberty Hill, Cedar Park, and Round Rock, Texas

54° start under a cloudless sky that reached 85°

I couldn’t wait for the sun to get above the trees to get a photo.

I purchased a long distance lens for my phone. I find that my hands are so shakey that it’s hard to focus. Fortunately it came with a tripod.

Here is an example of the power of the lens. The first photo is without the lens and the second with. The address circled in the first photo is what it’s in the second.

In my walk this morning I saw this rather amazing anthill. I didn’t disturb it. I haven’t quite healed from the fireant bites I received during the first week of October.

Before going to Tate’s games, we stopped at Walmart to pick up Ella’s prescription.

Grandson, Tate had two football games today they won the first one T something like 30-6. The second game was a”make up” game. They had played ten minutes of a game when lightening moved into the area. The game was suspended with the other team having scored six points. So today’s game started with the other team at six points and ten minutes off the clock. I wish I had recorded it because Tate made some amazing catches and scored most of the points. They won. I think of the final score was 16-12.

After the game a lot of the team and their families went to Hat Creek Burgers and so did we.
When we arrived home around five thirty it was 89° inside. I had left windows open and shades down in hopes that it wouldn’t get so hot. Well that didn’t work. I had to turn the air conditioner on.

I sat in recliner to watch TV and fell asleep halfway through a half hour show. I woke up just after sundown at six forty five

G’nite y’all!

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

2018 October 26 Friday

2018 October 26 Friday in Liberty Hill and Leander, Texas

49° and mostly clear sky with a full moon at 5:30 this morning. It reached 75° for the day. We were gone all day and the trailer was shut tight with the window shades open. It was close to 90° inside. I ran the AC for a while to cool it down.

We had lunch and played Rummikub at the Leander center today. Our friend Larraine Miller was there today also. She lives in Waco so we seldom see her unless we’re traveling between winter and summer homes.

The next stop was at the Leander United Methodist Church. Once a month the 50+ group gathered to play games. We took our Fast Track board and showed new friends Bill and Karen how to play. Each team won a game.

The laundromat was the next stop. This is one of our chores where Ella takes the lead and does 99% of the work. I carry the bags in and out and see the soap to the machines. It goes in the top and is difficult for Ella to reach.

Supper was z at DQ. We shared a four piece chicken strip basket.

Then it was home to put the laundry away. There was nothing much on TV so we played games and/or watched shows on our phones.

My order of twenty super bright LED automotive-type bulbs arrived from Amazon today. I had previously changed the lights that were use most often to LEDs. Today I changed out the remaining twelve.

G’nite y’all!

Visit my daily devotions blog https://MusingsDevotions.wordpress.com/

And my sermons blog http://ThomasEWilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l