Mary's first Fused Glass Jewelry Class

My friend, Barb Taylor from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, does tons of fused glass projects and they are so pretty so I was really excited to get into the fused glass class today.  It was taught by Pam Jensen and Janis Bell.  Pam is standing over this group giving some instructions.

Pam and Janice

Gail using the glass grinder.

Here I am designing my piece.  I wanted to do something simple so it might turn out.  

My piece that is going into the kiln!

Paula designed a very different piece.

I wondered what this would look like when the glass melted.

Gail and Debbie arranging pieces.

Sandy made a pretty looking piece.

Terri, Peggy and Pam working away.

Peggy putting a dot of glue on the pieces to hold them in place in the kiln.

Here are our pieces going in!

This is the stained glass piece that Jean is working on.

Jean

 Here are our completed pieces with cords attached.

Gayle, Debbie and I arrived at the same time to pick our pendants up and so we had our picture taken with them.  

 My first pendant!

I took another class later on and made another one.  Can't wait to try some more next season.

 My second pendant. 

SOITC Valley Luncheon

We went to Harold's Country Kitchen for the SOITC Luncheon yesterday. SOITC is the Suite Owners International Travel Club that we joined shortly after we purchased our mobile suites fifth wheel. Lee was Treasurer of the Club from the inception and stayed on for two terms. Since then we haven't participated much in the club, mainly because we have been off on our adventures and the rallies haven't coincided with our travel plans.

Bablers, Sandy Hynds and Lee

Mary and  John Hynds

Betty Nance, Linda Baecker, Darlene Reece, 

Gary Baecker and Larry Nance

Dan Reece who organized the SOITC Luncheon

Dave Webb, President of SOITC

Dale Fenton

Billie Crawford inviting us to the Rally in Amarillo

 Alicia of Rolling Retreats

We were pleasantly surprised today because everyone's lunch was paid for this year by Alicia of Rolling Retreats (a D RV dealer out of Elk City, Oklahoma). We were also surprised to figure out that we are no longer members of the club since we didn't receive a notice to renew. Things apparently aren't running as smoothly since Lee and Vicki McMaster retired as Treasurer and Secretary. We've heard some horror stories that is for sure and the dedication just doesn't seem to be there. Anyway, we are going to send in a check this week. It was fun to see everyone. We all get so invested in what is going on in our own parks that we don't get out and see each other very often. We are thinking we might stop at the Amarillo get together on the way back to Iowa this year.

Larry Nance Talked About Need For A Treasurer Candidate

Al's Birthday Bash

Today was Al's 79th Birthday Party and so Miriam had a party for him at their place. I don't know how I managed not to get a decent picture of Al this year but mostly what I got was the back of his head! We will say one thing - Al does not act his age!!

Home-made Ice Cream and other Goodies

Miriam Serving Treats

Donna and Miriam

Lee finishing his goodies

Richard looks pretty full

More of the Iowa Gang

The Guys were Whooping It Up!

If Miriam retires next year then they may not come down next year. We will still get to see them as they won't live too far from our son, Greg, but we will sure miss their company down here in the valley.

Valentine's Dance at Winter Ranch

The Valentine's Dance started at 7 PM with Jealous Heart as the Band. We had a full house! We always look forward to this dance as the place is full of people and it is always nice to interact with the crowd.  It was hard listening to the band and not dancing!  I hope this knee heals soon!

Carol Jarvis and Jim McCubbins

We had a full house!

Carolyn and Jerry Nieland

Al and Miriam Hight

Marsha and Richard

Our friend, Joyce Brandt, visited Winter Ranch.  Her husband passed away last year and she was back to visit.  She is being hugged by Char Leach.

Char and Jack Leach

Dwayne and Arah Carlson

Delora and Don DeKeyrel

Elinor Kroll, Shirley Snell and Shirley Ress

Josie Ferring and Tom Thinnes

Dale and Kathy Loerch

Our neighbors, Gary and Faye Campbell

Lonnie and Carolyn Sommers

Ron and Edna Odendahl

Bob and Kathy Doddridge

Mary and Lee (That's Us!)

JD and Lynn Murray

Then we turned the KISS CAM on!!

Nora and Charlie Minor

Judy and Bob Babler

John and Martha Anderson

Donna with the Ritchie Brothers

Faye and Gary

Scott and Kathy Maynard

Al and Miriam

Richard and Donna

JD and Lynn

Mary and Lee

Marsha and Richard

We take pictures at every event practically at the park and this dance was no exception. If you'd like to get a better idea of what goes on at Winter Ranch, then go to www.winterranchactivities.blogspot.com.

Mary Leaves Legends

I was definitely right that checking into Legends was the right thing to do.  I had a very nice room which was very roomy and a big bathroom all to myself.  I loved the bed too because it was much easier to get my knee situated and happy.  The Physical Therapy people were very nice and were very tuned into Dr. Basset's protocol for working with his patients.  They did an excellent job and I felt like I was doing great.  My knee was able to bend to past the 120 degrees required and they had started working on steps with me.  

The worst part of Legends was the food.  I can't even compare it to lunch cafeteria food.  It was really REALLY bad.  There was sure plenty of it though.  The main problem was that whoever was the cook liked to spice everything up and not just Mexican spices.  When they used Basil everything on the plate tasted like basil.  The same went for Oregano and Thyme.  It was basically inedible.  Most days the only meal I ate was breakfast and I ordered cereal!  Lee was such a Savior throughout.  I'd say "Taste This".  Then he would and he'd say "Well, what do you want today."  He brought food in twice a day!  

I was feeling really spunky and decided that I would check out early just to get back home.  I should have stayed as I was getting along great.  I got home and started doing too much and had major problems with my knee swelling all the time.  I received Physical Therapy at home but it wasn't the same and they never did get around to doing stairs because the ones in the fifth wheel are too tall for starting out and the ones outside aren't stable enough.  So as of writing this, I'm still working on it!

Mary checked into Legend Transitional Care Center

It took several days to get me (Mary) into the Care Center but we finally got it done today. I have been doing the exercises that I was shown in the hospital but the physical therapy that the Social Worker had supposedly set up for me when I arrived home also proved to be fiction. We ended up calling and yesterday I actually was able to get my first physical therapy session with Home Health Care named Paz. My therapist's name was Mannie and I liked her a lot but I told her that I had been accepted into Legends and wouldn't need her until I checked out of Legends. She was okay with that and said she totally understood because there just isn't enough room to work on rehabilitation in a fifth wheel.

At Legends I had my own room that was very spacious and a huge bathroom. Of course, it was hard to get sleep in the place because the different shifts coming on and off all sounded like they were having a party. Then too, I was awakened several times each night for a checkup or medicine.