We are Texans now

Here we are, finally settled into our new home in Georgetown, Texas. For those of you who wondered, yes, everything about our move went remarkably smoothly after the rather unsettling events previously described in February, but even so, it is amazing how much there is to do to move to a new home and a new state after 20 years in California and more than 40 years of marriage.

Fortunately our new home is larger than what we had in Santa Barbara, with plenty of windows with wonderful views, and ample accommodations for family, guests and visitors.

The first week here Dick decided to mow the front lawn with his Sears power push mower and by doing so he got to meet most of the neighbors. One by one they stopped by to introduce themselves and point out that they too had tried to do that with a push mower when they first arrived and then promptly went out and purchased a lawn or yard tractor mower. All the properties here have at least an acre of land which, to say the least, requires some time and effort to keep mowed.

Our back yard is grassy and bordered by trees and extends as far back as other trees marking the extent of the property in the distance. Dick, in mowing the lawn, has found more than a dozen golf balls in among the trees out there, presumably the result of past driving practice from the front of the back yard, it is so big.

We love it here. Although we have been here only a month it feels so special and especially right for us. The people here are so friendly and helpful and willing to share a neighborly hand whenever needed. One even offered his truck to transport Dick's new yard tractor home from Sears after he bought it after that first week.


But the real reason we moved here is really family. Katie and John, with Lily, are living only a short drive north in Temple, Texas, where John is working at the Veteran's Hospital doing the caring work of the rehabilitation of sight-impaired veterans.

They are one of the main reasons for our lapse in keeping current with this blog. We have either been in Temple visiting them, or they have been down to Georgetown staying with us since we arrived. It has be so special to be with them and share their lives that blogging just had to be postponed. We promise that we will be more diligent about our blog in the future.



Lily is an absolute joy to us. She is so quick and eager to participate in everything we do that she constantly reminds us of the Energizer Bunny. We have been down to Austin to the Children's Museum (a wonderful hands-on place) and to the incredible children's park and playground here in Georgetown. Even a walk along the Austin Colorado river, with its turtles, swans and ducks, provides endless excitement for Lily.

Here she is playing with her Space Port that Aunt Tricia and Uncle Dan sent her. She loves to try new things and is undaunted even by the most complicated toys.

She is also eager and ready to welcome her new baby sister in May. Officially the due date is May 12 but as we all know, baby sisters don't always pay attention to due dates.



Katie also seems ready, perhaps even more than ready, to welcome the newest member of the Wood family into the world.

Her latest visit to the doctor this past week to check on progress was, in NASA terminology, A-OK in every respect.


We are continuing with plans to have Katie, John, Lily and Penny ( the newest Wood) move to our home when they are ready to do so. This will help them save up for a down payment on a house of their own, and give us, "Mommo and Papa" an opportunity to share in the activities of their family.






Meanwhile, John and Susie seem to be comfortable keeping up the routine work that needs to be done either in Temple or here in Georgetown, and Dick continues to take care of the exterior of the property (fire ant extermination next week, along with estimates for adding gutters and downspouts to the roof line).








Considering all that has occurred this past 30 days, it has been remarkably "normal" in the best sense around the house with the Wood family welcomed here almost every weekend.

Just prior to Easter, Angela, John's mother, arrived from Jackson, Michigan along with John's brother Dave, from Enid, Oklahoma. They spent Easter weekend with us along with John, Katie and Lily. We all managed quite comfortably, with our added space, including the four bedrooms and three full baths that we now have. Any of you who would like to come by at any time will be welcome and you will find yourself fitting right in.

Angela attended Mass Georgetown Catholic Church was surprised that about a thousand church-goers were there (and that was just one of the three Easter Masses that morning). Katie and John and Lily also enjoyed the service with her. Susie and Dick visited a Methodist church for Easter. Susie said that a few years ago this church had conducted its service in Swedish but had changed to English to widen its appeal. In addition to its Swedish population this area is famous for its many immigrant Germans and Czechs. Dick has discovered the joys of a Texas beer called Shiner, brewed in a small town of the same name not far from Austin, the product of the German/Czech European heritage of its small population of 2070.




This time of year in the Hill Country of Texas has been remarkably enjoyable, typically with high temperatures in the 70s, lows in the 50s, and patio living possible and a positive pleasure.

We know it will be much hotter during the summer, but we are taking full advantage of the fine spring weather while it's here.

We hope you too are enjoying this spring.








One of our unexpected pleasures here has been seeing the deer. Every morning and evening we see small herds (half a dozen does or more) wandering among the neighborhood, enjoying the new grass. They don't seem to care that their territory is now shared by the likes of us, and there attitude is typically Texan . . . live and let live. (This neighborhood is essentially a nature preserve with no firing of arms permitted).

Our attitude is . . . they were here before we were so they have every right to enjoy the wilderness in this area.

We will be back shortly with more tales of our transition to this beautiful place.