Getting Prepared For Cold Days

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well and adjusting to these winter-like conditions that we are having. Winter doesn’t officially begin for over a month, but it seems as though it is giving Fall a stern push out of here early. As I sit here having some hot chocolate and writing on Nov. 9, I can hear the winds howling outside at 25+ mph, with a light rain coming down and the temps steadily falling. Matagorda Bay is a churning mess of solid whitecaps right now. And in a few days, an even colder and harder blowing norther will be pushing down to the coast. Nasty weather days like this are pretty much just spent stuck inside on this barrier island. I think that I am ready for Spring already.

With the high winds and nasty, rainy weather a few weeks ago, at one stretch it was 12 days before I could venture across the bay to get supplies. Having not planned ahead, I was basically out of everything, except eggs, and those days were a harsh reminder that I have to stay overstocked on supplies beginning this time of year. Small packages of frozen hamburger, canned meats and veggies, bread, crackers and evaporated milk are essential items during the winter months out here. Also extra propane for the fridge/freezer and my heat sources are very important. It just seems like we have went straight from summer to a wet winter, with a very brief mosquito filled glance at Fall. Also Lord, if you happen to read these articles, please hold back on any more rain, I am quite ready for a month of dry sunny weather. And thank you to Britton and Tim for the offers of braving the rough bay to bring me a few supplies during that stretch. I will be much better prepared from now on.

During periods of nice weather, I have stayed busy getting a few of my islander yards mowed out here. I’ve gotten behind on them because of the ground staying saturated from all the rain, and of course it’s still raining. I’ve also been cleaning up around the place and burning all non-essential paper and plastic stuff. Corky and I have taken advantage of a few nicer days and went down to the beach so he can let loose and run and chase the birds, one of his favorite things to do. The beach is very clean right now, the extremely high tides a few weeks ago pushed all the debris up to the dunes.

I’m trying to get a little more use out of my island truck out here, basically wiring and duct taping it together until I’m forced to find another one. An area of the frame has rusted apart, the drivers window won’t roll up and the brakes are pretty much non-existent on it. Fighting and dealing with corrosion is a never ending battle out here. . just part of island life. So if anyone has a decent and mechanically sound four door 4WD truck you’re needing to part with, please holler at me.

Mom is holding her own and doing ok. Weather permitting, I go in a few days a week and stay with her at a local nursing home, and I enjoy every minute of her company. My sister, Darla, flew down from California a few weeks ago, and all of us siblings, and our dad, spent the day with mom at her home in Seadrift. It was a great day. I’m gonna have my Thanksgiving with Mom on the 15th at the nursing home, and that also is gonna be a nice day.

Well, that’s it from the island for now. Everyone please have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and enjoy your time with them.

Starting this week the dredge Susan Crosby will begin to finish replenishing King Fisher Beach, after the accident that stopped the dredging that was in process on April 17, 2018. The beach was such a success this summer, with so many people enjoying it, but will now be bigger and better this coming year. So please pay attention and be cautious of the discharge pipes from the Y at the ship channel running west to King Fisher Beach.

Thanksgiving is almost here. I just love it. Great food, crazy family, good friends, time together all make it special. Still, I hope we are not waiting for that once a year holiday to realize how very much we must be thankful for every day. We are blessed to live in a great community, have friends and family around us, food and shelter and most of our needs met daily. We are especially blessed to call America our home and Texas our state. Whatever the day might bring, there is more good than not, so look for it and you just might find it.

The ladies of the POC Service Club are so thankful for our community and the support shown for each other. As an expression of our gratitude and love we are pleased to invite all community Senior Citizens and their caregivers to join POC Community Service Club Christmas Luncheon on Friday, December 7th at the POC Community Center. The doors will open at 10 AM and lunch will be served at 11. Entertainment, fellowship, great food and special surprises are in store for you. We want to encourage everyone to attend. If you absolutely cannot make it and would like a lunch plate delivered to you, please call 361-237-0476 with your name and address and how many plates you need delivered. There is no charge for this luncheon, it is our gift to the community. Dress is casual and the theme this year will be so much fun. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend.

The POC Service Club continues to reach out to our neighbors and our community. We volunteer, raise funds to award scholarships to local students, support other not for profit and service oriented groups in their efforts, donate time, talents and food to others, bequeath memorials in honor of those we lost this year to benefit community efforts such as this year’s donations to the POC Cemetery Fund, back community projects and try to make a difference when and where we can. It’s a diverse group of women who work hard and play hard together and would make you feel a welcome part should you want to join them. We meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 10:00 AM at the POC Community Center.

In addition to the Christmas Luncheon, we are actively working on other projects like the Community Thanksgiving Service and Benevolence Fund Food Baskets, Angel Tree, Toy Run, Lighted Boat Parade, and many others. They are also preparing for the next big community garage sale in April. You can donate to the next sale anytime you have quality used good available for the sale. Call Donna Vuichard at 361-237-0476 to arrange for donations.

Hopefully, you are sowing thanks and reaping joy every day. If not, find a place to give and to share. POC if full of opportunities to be a part if you want to. Read the newspaper and check the website thedolphintalk.com, visit the library, the Chamber of Commerce and other websites to stay in the know.

So, until next time, be safe, live simply, love openly, forgive generously and remember this quote by Leo Buscaglia, great author and motivational speaker known as Dr. Love who said, “Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means.” Come on by and we will share a little love with you.

If you have a child who will be between the ages of 8 and 15 at the end of July/ early August of this year and they are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Texas Lions Camp offers a free one week diabetes camp just for them.

Your child must be sponsored by a local Lions Club. You can contact Seadrift Lions Club President at 361-746-2542 for more information.