1,460 days later...

That's right - Chad bought our house 4 years ago. This has been a work in progess but I feel it is coming along nicely compared to the sad sight it used to be. We aren't through by far, still need a car port and fabulous patio area for BBQing, wine sipping (or beer in Chad's case) and enjoying the nice country air & sunsets.

Day 1: View of the barn from the house. There was a massive clean up of numerous sheds and junk. Dirt/grass drive that went to the barn from the house.

More Junk - the old owners specialties were tires and thread protectors. We loaded up all the metal we could and took it to the scrap metal place. Added limestone to the drive and added a culvert that circles around the backside of the barn to make circle drive.

House #2 (old farmhouse) directly across from our house. I really loved this house, it would have been a great fixer up and moved to deer camp or the bay. But Chad finally sold it a couple years ago. Once leveled it looked like a new house. She had it moved to Ganado and fixed up as a rent house...looks great!

House #2 - Different view - somewhere in there are crepe myrtles that are in front of the dog kennel.

2009 - Flower beds & landscaping is added.

Oak trees are planted around the circle drive. (They look so tiny here!) Roll up garage door replaced the old barn doors in the front.

2010: Ahhhh, the damn clothesline poles...not one of my favorites - he was so excited when he had them made and put in.... I, on the other hand, not so much. Whatever, they are here to stay I guess.

Added a little more eye appeal to our once boring flower bed.

The oak trees are getting bigger

Gracie's Kennel - where the old farmhouse used to be.



Rowdy

Gracie

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Buffett, Bays & Boats!

Well, it looks like I'm going to take a stab at our blog that Mom has started for Chad & I. I know I'm not near as good of a writer or as witty as she is,  but here it goes :)

This past weekend was chock full of busy! We attended the Jimmy Buffett concert in the Woodlands. First, we stopped by our friends Jess & Amber for a quick meet and greet of their precious Anna. Next, we were off to the concert to hang out with Crystal & Cliff and the rest of the gang - we had such a great time to sipping on some boat drinks and visiting with some of my great college friends. We don't get to see each other often enough!

Friday was a long exhausting day! I rode with Chad on various work appointments. I spent most of that time sleeping trying recovering from the night of fun at the concert. We were up and going by 7am and didn't stop until 10:30 pm. While putting about 400 miles on the truck, we fit in Beasley, Pasasdena, Anahauc, Houston, Rooms to Go (Woohoo!!), Rosenburg, EC, Home & finally Port Alto. We were beat!

The rest of the weekend was spent doing various bay things - mainly getting the house ready & shopping for Memorial weekend. Chad also tinkered on our family boat for a bit and got our ol' '74 Falcon running. Looks like the girls will be cruising in style for Memorial Weekend!

The game warden was down and took care of a pesky 5' alligator that had been hanging out in a slough close to the houses on our end of the bay.

As the weekend drew to a close, Chad took me wade fishing for the first time. No bites but a good learning experience--it was somewhat enjoyable (that is until I get stung by something and now I deem wade fishing as stupid)

Crystal and I at Buffett - Woo Woo!

 

 

 

 

 

Chad cruising in 

the Falcon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pesky alligator

 

Robin's Baptism

After many months of preparation, Robin was finally baptized at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil on April 3, 2010.  The photo on the right is of Robin wearing the burlap robe as she arrived at the church.

The next photo captures a special happy moment shared by Robin and Father Gary.  All who were watching felt the same happiness as evidenced by their smiles and tender looks. 

Robin is helped out of the baptismal font and then she leaves to change into the white robe.  Wendy was her sponsor, attending all the classes with her. 

 

Wayne, Susan, Carolyn, Wendy, Gage, Robin, Chad, Father Gary

            

  Carolyn, Robin, Wendy                                   Tracy and Robin                                         

Clarification of Spoons Rules

It's been years since I've played Spoons, but it's coming back in bits and pieces. Evidently there is a dealer. After the proper number of cards have been dealt to each player (4?), the dealer starts passing the remaining cards one at a time. If the new card fits the player's hand, it is kept and one of their other cards is passed to the next player, etc. The dealer is kept quite busy, but I guess everyone else is, too.

There could be other updates...as I remember more, or am corrected by others who already know more!

2009 Nada Spoons Tournament

Well, they might have some big, high-falutin' tournaments in Vegas and other hot spots, but you have to go to Leo's Place in Nada, Texas, to compete in the Nada Spoons Tournament.

Almost all of these photos were taken during the 2009 tournament.  The final photo was taken yesterday, just before the 2010 tournament began. I haven't had a report on it yet.  Well, I heard from Robin that she didn't make it to the 2nd round.  When asked who won, her reply was, "Some girl."  Ooookaaay, then.  Moving on.

Spoons, for any overly-sophisticated folks who might be reading this (as if,) is a card game, executed in a similar manner to the equally challenging Musical Chairs.  Spoons are placed in the center of the table; one less than the number of players...just like Musical Chairs.  A round of cards is dealt out, and at the signal one card from each hand is passed to the left (or the right...does it really matter?)  The players continue to pass one card at a time until one player has (secretly) gotten 4 matching cards.  Once you have them, you stealthily grab a spoon from the middle of the table.  Once the first spoon is grabbed, everyone can grab one.  Except, of course, the slowest person will come up empty-handed and will be eliminated from the next round.  It's hard to believe, but I have seen it myself that a player can be so engrossed in her hand that she fails to notice she's the only one still passing cards.  That's how intense it is!

The top 3 winners get wooden, wood-burned trophies.  Apparently, 4th place through 8th place medalists receive wooden "medals" with the appropriate numbers burned onto the face of the medal.  All very classy!

So, here are some photos from last year's tournament:

     No explanation needed here. The venue:  Leo's Place in Nada, Texas

It's really important to make sure the refs understand the rules.

Spectators watch quietly as the contestants try to settle their nerves and concentrate.

Game play is halted while the medics are summoned for a finger injury.  You really can't beat duct tape for stabilizing an injury.

      There, it's fixed!

The top winners with the medical team.

The official scoreboard.

The 5 top winners!

An exciting moment as eventual winner Christie reveals to the camera that she has 3 sevens; just waiting on that 4th one to get passed to her!

A close-up of the 2010 trophies and the medals.  Very nice.

The Reception

Guests headed out to Crescent Hall for the reception while the wedding party finished having photos made at the church. At the hall, the food tables were laden with poppy seed rolls and cheese rolls, fresh fruit, a cheese wheel and crackers. Chad had been quite determined to have a cheese wheel, but it was almost totally gone by the time the wedding party arrived at the hall.

Wayne had made about 20 gallons of margaritas and we also had a wine fountain and numerous kegs of beer. The margaritas were almost gone by the time we got out there. A friend went to town and bought enough stuff to make about 10 more gallons, which also disappeared quickly.

A dinner of chicken-fried steak was served. We also served potatoes of some variety (butter potatoes? I can't remember,) salad, green beans, homemade bread and tea. Of course, the cakes were served for dessert.

The Grand March was led by Kelly and Kenny Waters. The line was pretty long...long enough for Kelly and Kenny to lead us out of of one end of the building and then march all the way around to come in the opposite end. It was so long that as we reentered, the end of the line hadn't left the building yet. Thank goodness my shoes were comfortable!

Robin and Chad had decided that they weren't leaving until after midnight, so the dancing went on and on. I think everyone had a lot of fun.

We had quite a bit to pack up after they left, but decided to leave most of it until the next morning. So, Chad's family and Wayne and I met at the hall on Sunday morning to pack up (and split up) the food. We will share with Robin & Chad when they get back home.

Robin and Chad were taken to Houston to spend the night. Then on Sunday morning they shuttled over to the airport for their week-long honeymoon in Cancun. They had a fabulous time and sent back the first picture posted below.

I know I can speak for all the families, theirs and ours, when I say it was a wonderful wedding. We're very happy that these two wonderful people found each other!

Chad enjoyed the groom's cake which reflected his interest in fishing & hunting as well as cook-offs. The pole-dancer idea came from a pinata that he bought on his way back from the valley.








Kenny and Kelly led the participants out the doors, around the building and in again before winding us all around the dance floor during the Grand March.






Robin and Wayne divided their father/daughter dance between "Rockin' Robin" and "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground"


















Chad and Robin were having a blast!

Wayne and Tito

Alicia and Slade had packed up all the gifts that were brought to the wedding, so when Robin and Chad got back from Mexico, the families gathered at the Stary home to share a meal and watch them open their gifts.

The Wedding, September 12, 2009

                                                                                                                      Christy

Peggie and Lindsay 

 

 

Robin

It isn't easy getting a bride, eleven bridesmaids and three flower girls ready for a wedding, but somehow it all got done. 





I could only take photos before the wedding.  I think someone else picked up my camera and took some photos for me.

All of a sudden it was time to begin.  In no time at all, a new family had been established...

    Robin, Gage and Wendy                                                                               Carlee                       

                                                        

                       

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Gage, Kelly, Zane                                                                   Kate                                                        

                                                                            It's almost time!

Robin, bridesmaids and flower girls having photos made before the wedding

 

                                                                             

        Robin and Dad

          Robin and Mom  

                                      

Robin and Chad Hensley