Starlink to the Rescue!

Big news is our household—we have purchased Starlink!  Previously, we used Verizon as our provider for cell phone/internet hotspot, but service in our section of Rainbow’s End RV Park is non-existent, as confirmed by Verizon themselves when they had us run speed tests and by discussions with neighbors who also suffered from shoddy service.  It could take as much as 2 hours for Mom to just pay the bills and download all the monthly statements.  It was a major source of aggravation for Mom, which resulted in her unleashing her NJ attitude, using some colorful language not meant for my delicate stuffed rat ears, and eventually hauling herself and her laptop to the Livingston Municipal Library to complete the tasks, where the Verizon signal was stronger.  We have been Verizon customers for 19 years and swore by the service up until 3 years ago.  Things started to dwindle then, but Verizon attributed it to taking down 4G towers to replace with 5G.  When Mom reported reduced service to Verizon last year, they tried to blame our phones, but they were newer Samsung models and 5G compatible.  In January, Verizon’s excuse was that our plan (which touts being “unlimited”) is obsolete and doesn’t allow the use of hotspots.  This was a total load of horse poop since our Verizon phone hotspot service works well in other areas.  It was Verizon’s third strike out with Mom.   So, as our household CFO (chief financial officer), she authorized the purchase of the roaming version of Starlink ($650 equipment purchase, $150 monthly service fee).  Amen and hallelujah, what a wonderful investment!  Dad had it up and running within 20 minutes.  The monthly financial tasks that previously took Mom 2 hours now take only 10 minutes!  We have had several intense thunder and rain storms since we installed Starlink, yet lost the satellite for only a minute or two.  Our only regret with Starlink is that we waited so long to get it!  We are locked in to our phone contracts with Verizon until November, at which time we will research other providers and/or reduced plans. But thanks to Starlink, Mom’s sanity is restored (at least temporarily).  We will see if it works as well when we return to the road.

 

 

The Starlink Dishy! 

Check out the video of the prequel to a massive storm that put Starlink to the test.

We continue to keep busy here in Livingston, which has made time just fly by for us. 

 

The residents at Escapees Rainbow’s End are mobilizing to resurrect Park activities, many of which were canceled during COVID and were never reinstated.  In fact, they held their first pot luck dinner since 2019 at the clubhouse in late May  It was an enjoyable event and good for everyone to reconnect.  They hope to make these a monthly feature.

 

 

Escapees enjoying eats and treats at the first post-COVID pot luck dinner.

 

Joining some Escapees dance buddies for some treats at Lemon Tree Bakery.  So nice to have a little cafe right in the park!

We attended the annual garden party hosted by our dance instructor Diane.  She has the perfect property for this big gathering of 100+ guests.   We dined on delicious food resulting from a pot luck, and we socialized with folks from many towns.  And with a DJ and dance floor, we could all participate in many styles of dance (square, line, and couples two-step).  Heck, some folks even did some karaoke (thankfully, my parents refrained from that activity—neither one of them can carry a tune).  What a blast we all had!  We were honored to be included and grateful to have met so many wonderful people through attending dance lessons since late February.

 

Dance Instructor and host Diane greeted all of us.

Some of the guests (including Mom) demonstrating some line dances.

I've noticed God's creatures have been busy these days!  I love to watch nature at work!

This garden guest was Dad's pesticide--he ate all the bugs that could kill Dad's vegetable plants.

We spent Memorial Day weekend doing several Patriot Guard Rider missions, including placing flags at Houston National Cemetery on the graves of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.  We also attended ceremonies at Gipson Funeral Home in Lufkin and visited the gravesite of our local heroes, including Army PFC Stuart W. Moore.  Sadly, the meaning and reason for Memorial Day is lost on so many people.  As a member of Post 8568 Auxiliary in Livingston, Mom distributed Buddy Poppies, hoping that participating in this VFW tradition served as an educational tool to raise awareness.

 

Houston National Cemetery

Memorial Day Ceremony at Gipson Funeral Home.

Balloons released in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.

Patriot Guard Riders at the gravesite of our local hero, PFC Stuart Moore.

Mom distributing Buddy Poppies for VFW Post 8568.

Blueberries are here!  Yes, I was thrilled to learn that we have a pick-your-own blueberry farm right here in Livingston!  C&M Farms on Holly Grove Road has tall bushes, so no need to bend to reach the berries.  And the fields are manicured, so no worries about snakes hiding in the grass (although we did encounter a snake along FM-943 while driving to the farm.  Dad tried to swerve but ended up hitting him with the rear tires).     We have made several trips to the farm throughout the season, picking 60+ pounds of berries!  Our freezer is filled to capacity and we have shared our treasure trove with neighbors and friends.

 

From bush...

...to bucket...

...to my belly!  Yummy blueberry crumb cake.

Things have really heated up here in Southeast Texas!  We have had record-breaking temps, with ridiculously high humidity levels and dew points—and it is only mid-June!  This has negatively impacted the crops at Heavenly Fresh Farms, from whom we purchase produce and fresh eggs (thankfully, Dad’s tomato and zucchini bushes have held up thus far).  The intense heat has also affected our activity schedule.  We now play pickleball outdoors at 7:30 a.m. and do most of our walks/hikes late in the day.    The squirrels and cardinals are still partaking of the buffet we provide them at our feeders, though, they, too, have altered their schedules due to the weather.

 

It was so hot, this frog hitched a ride on Dad's water bottle.  No one told Dad, but apparently he is an Uber for amphibians!

A small sampling of Dad's garden bounty.

On a trip into town one day, we stopped at the small but very interesting Polk County Memorial Museum.  We attained an understanding of the lives of early settlers and local tribes within Polk County.   Plus the Museum had a wonderful special exhibit on the works of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) here in Texas.  As we travel the Country visiting various State and National Parks, we see the magnificent projects of the CCC, and are so appreciative of their efforts.  We wish the government would reinstate the program.  It would provide a paycheck, purpose, and opportunity to acquire new skills to those who are suffering financial hardship, a true hand up instead of a hand out.  And, their efforts would add amenities to our public spaces which would benefit us all.  That's a win-win situation in my book!

 

Gorgeous baskets made with the long leaf pine needle by members of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe.

Natural materials and the talents of the women of our local tribe are a winning combination.

I made a new friend!

                                               

CCC Company 840 of Livingston, TX in 1934.  Thanks for all your efforts!

The many places within TX to view the completed projects by the CCC.

Locomotive No. 5, which now resides in Heritage Park, is a steam-powered engine used in yesteryear to haul timber.

Jonas Davis Log Cabin in Heritage Park, circa 1933.

We also took a motorcycle ride to the Heritage Village Museum in Woodville, TX.  It has a collection of period buildings and furnishings that depict pioneer life in East Texas.  We walked along the property’s mile or so of shaded nature trails.  Though it gets good reviews, we passed on dining at its Picket House Restaurant.   It has a set menu of comfort, down home foods (so nothing that Dad can eat) and caters to large groups, so you end up sitting with folks you don’t know (which earned a “pass” vote from my anti-social Mom).

On the way home, we ran into a bit of a traffic situation on TX-146.  It seems a young calf busted out of his pasture, leaving his worried Mom behind.  It took 4 pick-up trucks and our own Big Boomer to box him in before a wrangler lassoed him on the first attempt.  Yee ha!  That’s some cowboy action!

 

Well, I’ve got to go pack.  We are heading out on another mini motorcycle getaway, this time to Fredericksburg, TX in Hill Country.  I’ll tell ya all about it in my next blog.