Wow! Welcome to the Texas Winter Wonderland!

A couple of weeks ago Bruce was sweating in the 70 degree heat to install a new tile surface for the front entryway ... and no, he didn't tile himself into that corner!




And then poof ... the snow came about noon today and has amounted to about 2 inches so far. Here's Jo-Anne about to smack the cameraman with a well aimed snowball ... yup it hit. This is the nice, wet, snow that people are making some really good snowmen with in the neighborhood.




And poor Buster looking for that favorite piece of green grass that used to be his bathroom ... sorry buddy.

And finally, yes, the porch did turn out OK, but long before the snows came.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 60 and clear but for tonight it is really a wonderful winter wonderland ... a rare treat for the area.

Some of you have complained that it looks like I have nothing to do with life other than to roam around the country in the RV having fun with Jo-Anne. To counter that I have been working on the training for my second career ... as a Zamboni driver! To quote Charlie Brown, "There are three things in life that people like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire, and a Zamboni clearing the ice."

Here I am trying to get the ice scraper thingy to lower as I roar by the penalty box.

Look Ma, no hands ... actually the machine is really easy to drive and the instructor had to keep telling me to keep my hands on the wheel.

And after you scrape and water the rink, you take the load of ice out in the parking lot and dump it ... for waiting college students to fill beer coolers with. This picture of a classmate dumping a load makes it look wintry here in Texas with the snow piles around the parking lot.

And me concentrating hard on the dumping operation.

The ticket to my next occupation ... no more helicopter flying here!

I know we are slow this time of year, but we've sortof been in the "blahs." The Flying Scotsman has been in the shop, the weather has been a 50 degree drizzle, Bruce had a cold, and the hectic holiday season is over.

Whew, time for a change ... and the boys at the RV repair shop said the bus was ready and all the work done so we headed Monday down to the New Braunfels area. We booked a room on Randolph AFB and they gave us one of the old VIP quarters and it was a treat.

These buildings were built in 1931 and housed the single officers in charge of the air cadets at the time. The rooms are very spacious suites, but still are in the character of 1931. The structures are governed by their status as National Historic sites and that restricts some of the amenities you might expect in a modern hotel, but make it quirky and yet a neat experience.

Here is a night shot of the buildings next door from our balcony in the constant drizzle and rain and you can see the base landmark "Taj" in the fog.

And another shot of the Taj through a portico on our floor, just outside our room.

And of course in keeping with a room occupied by pilots for the last 80 years, along with the guidebook, there is a ceramic pilot statue and the eagle, both symbols of Air Force life and history.

And on the last night we had dinner at McAdoo's Seafood house in New Braunfels with the Hueters and the Neelys.

By Wednesday night the Flying Scotsman was tucked back into its barn and we can start our spring/summer planning.