August – November 2025

While waiting for hurricane season to pass, we enjoy time at home in Texas with daily gym workouts and spending time with Kelly.  On a whim, we booked a croissant making class at Sur La Table. 

Croissants are not easy to make. Although this was a fun experience, we will be purchasing rather than making our own. 

September 2025

Of course we can’t sit still too long and make a road trip to visit Nauti Nerds in September. She is looking much better with the barnacles scraped off! The scraping process was rough and she will need her bottom painted with the special “anti-fouling” paint mentioned previously. This paint job will also be delayed until just before launching since the paint starts “out gasing” immediately upon application. We take the long way back to Texas and  detour through Destin. We spent an impromptu day at the beach and it was glorious. Timing was perfect since it was after summer, school was in session and it was too early for “snow birds” to arrive. When in Destin a visit to Donut Hole is a must. I love their key lime filled donut covered in powdered sugar! YUM!

After 18 years, it is time to replace the two very worn out recliners in our family room. We delayed until backaches were daily occurrences. A new power reclining loveseat with massage, heat, lumbar support, speakers, lights and USB plugs replaced our chairs. We have had great experience buying from “The Dump” furniture outlet and are repeat customers. They have great products and discounted prices.

Have you heard some Walmart locations offer drone delivery? The Super Walmart located a mile from our house is one of those locations. Being the Nerds we are, we have been watching how they operate.

Alan, Kelly and I went shooting at Elm Fork just for fun. Kelly is still a master at hitting the bullseye on target. The staff were very helpful and provided instructions to the level needed.

October 2025

In October we traveled to Denver area to spend a couple weeks with some dear friends. They planned an entire adventure showing us their favorite places. Travel via train to downtown Denver to explore various sections and drinks a top a roof top bar was first while we acclimated to the high elevation there. Altitude sickness is no joke and elevation difference is quite noticeable. Estes Park was our next stop where we rode the tram up about 1200 ft for a breathtaking view.

This was also rutting season so the wildlife was out and about looking for a date, including downtown! 

We had tickets to ride the Cogg Railroad to Pike’s Peak. Unfortunately, due to cold temps and wind at the Peak we had to stop short but well above the tree line. It is very eerie to see the tree-less view. 

Our visit included Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater, Garden of the Gods, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Maroon Bells.  

Highlight of the Colorado visit was an off-road jeep tour to the top of Resolution Peak. Our friends Bob and Sarah were fantastic hosts and planned a fabulous, memorable trip.

After returning home we attended a Halloween party with neighbors.

We noticed we have a new inhabitant, a fairly good size Texas Spiny Lizard who lives in the rocks around our patio water feature. He shall be called Rocky. Nothing like a warm sunny day to sun oneself. 

November 2025

Just before Thanksgiving we took a road trip to St Louis area to meet with cousins and attend an early family Thanksgiving. From there we went on to the Air Force Museum in Dayton OH, which was on our bucket list.

Then we continued to Ft Wayne to visit another cousin before proceeding to Chicago area for yet another Thanksgiving. This was not a trip to be watching caloric intake – just saying….

We decided to cut the trip short by one day to head south before a projected snowstorm hits. It was a quick turnaround at home before heading to Charleston.