George Shirley wrote:
> 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


Livingston is in God's country (East Texas Piney Woods, more
specifically, in the "Big Thicket") -- but you know that already.

The redbud trees are blooming right now. I don't know if there are
any dogwoods left in the area or if the anthracnose epidemic killed
'em all.

-Bob