Tuesday, January 3rd.

The day started out cloudy and cool, but the rains from the winter storms seem to have moved on and the forecast seems to indicate a warming trend and that is what most of us snowbirds signed on for.
  We went riding this morning and there were 5 riders, so our biggest group this winter and that was with the guy who organized everything yesterday not going along due to a cough.  We made about 5 miles today and a couple of the guys went on to make it 10.  There was one who just got here, another two who aren't ready for the longer ride who dropped out as we circled back past the park.  Knowing I never just got here, you can figure out which I am.  It was pretty good weather for riding and we encountered a few other groups of riders.  We rode by the donkey without stopping and the one fellow who usually brings a carrot was feeling guilty when the donkey never even came to the fence.  LOL
  Marg had everything out to make a stew and we busy slicing, dicing, chopping, trimming when I got back.  She made it in her large crock pot, so there is lots.  It was funny she just had a small one and I talked her into a larger crock pot.  Now it is the one she mainly uses.  If you have to ask why, then you really don't know how she cooks.  Although there are just two of us, if another 6 happened to drop in there would be enough for dinner.
  After I got back Marg & I decided to try the wallpaper on the kitchen backsplash.  I was concerned that it might be a problem, having sat in our trailer since last winter, but it was fine.  Marg is very happy with the pattern and the look, so it's all good.  The walls are less than ideal and consequently the job is less than perfect.  But as Richard always says:  "You can't tell from the road" and judging from what Marg said, it might just be.  It wasn't a big job, except we had to take all the electrical plates off as well as the window casing.  I am anxious to see how it looks after it dries so I can tell whether the wall sizing was a good idea.
  By the time we finished and got everything cleaned up, it was middle of the afternoon.  We went down and checked Kenny & Doris's place as they are planning to be here tomorrow and we have been keeping an eye on it.  Plus I had to pick up the paper.  They were away for a couple of weeks and didn't want it piling up on the driveway, so I read it and then drop it at another guys place so he can read it as well.  It's a form of recycling and I think he puts it in the recycle bin after.
  Supper was predetermined, but rather than dumplings, Marg made biscuits to have with it.  They were very good and plentiful.  In fact there were enough left over to have a few with jam on them.  Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.  They were like scones with butter and homemade strawberry jam, very nice.
  After supper it was off to bingo in the rec hall.  Marg was close so many times.  In fact we were both one number away and it was the same number.  Other times she was one number on more than one card.  But alas success eluded her, but I broke the drought and got a win for $30.  While not enough to put us on easy street, we basically played for free.  With the way things have been going, that was a big improvement.