We're taking off for Livingston, TX Friday afternoon. Will be staying at
the Best Western Suites on Hwy 59 S for a few days while we look at
houses in the area. My two favorites are backed up on lakes and you can
fish practically out the backdoor without a boat.

Taking a big box of jams, jellies, and multiple pickles over to the
son's family. His wife is a realtor and is helping us in the house hunt
so we will gift them with a bunch of good stuff. We have eight houses
lined up with a local realtor and we will look at most of them on
Saturday but will also have the following Monday and half a day Tuesday
to look at others.

Hired a new painter yesterday to finish the inside of the house, the
first one was just to messy and missed a lot of wall that didn't get
painted so I cut him loose on Monday past. New one has good reviews so
we're hoping to get the inside done in the next two weeks and then we
will put this old house up for sale. Sort of sad in a way, we've lived
here for 23 years, the longest we've lived anywhere in fifty years of
marriage. Have gardens we developed ourselves, the house is finally in
good shape and the way we want it. Our reason for moving is to be at
least two hours driving time closer to the descendants but not so close
the grands can leave their kids with us. <G>

Miz Anne is retiring from teaching art in the local system on May 31st
and is looking forward to it. I effectively retired in 2007 but still do
a lot of technical writing for local contractors, a job I can do
anywhere there is internet service. Miz Anne is seriously thinking of
visiting the daycare centers in the area we move to with an eye to doing
one hour a week art lessons for the kiddies. If she can live up five or
six of those we can supplement our retirement income enough to afford
more canning supplies.

The first iris bloomed this morning, a white one, I'm taking that as a
sign that spring has sprung, even if the furnace did run a couple of
times last night and we had to sleep under a blanket. The peach tree is
blooming and the plum trees are budding out as is the huge oak tree in
the backyard. We hope everyone in the northern and eastern tier states
are staying warm and dry as we head into what looks to be a lovely spring.

George

Father Confessor, HOSSPOJ