And last, but not least...

...Grandaughter #5, Clara!  Clara spent Friday and Saturday, probably the coldest weather we've had here, with us.  She chose dinner carefully and decided on McDonald's.

Saturdays breakfast of choice.  We've had more pancakes in the past 2 weeks than in the past 2 years.

On Friday I wouldn't pay the $6 to go into Seawolf Park just to find their painted turtle.  But Saturday I justified it because Clara could play on the toys.  It was a short stay though with the cold temperatures and strong winds.

Across from and sponsored by the Naval Museum is Zeke, created by  Brian "Visker" Mahoney and Hannah Claudia James.  Why is he decorated like a submarine?  

WWII submarine USS Cavalla (black),  and the USS Stewart (grey). The USS Cavella was built in 1943 and decommissioned for the final time in 1971.  The USS Stewart is one of only 3 destroyer escorts in the world.  Built in Houston and commissioned in 1943, it was decommissioned in 1947.  Seawolf Park is also home to the Galveston Naval Museum.

The concrete oil tanker SS Selma in the fog.  Built in 1919 in Mobile, AL it sunk 1 mile north of Galveston Island in 1922.

Wonder why this ship was being towed in?

Seawolf Park is located on Pelican Island.

We stopped to see a few turtles on our way back to the RV, picked up a movie at Redbox,  and selected Sunday breakfast from Home Cut Donuts.

Texas A & M, Spirit of Sea Aggieland, created by Nick Dominque

Hope, created by Rachel Dilion

Wags, located at the Galveston Humane Society, created by Katherine Zimmerman.

Temperatures in the 40's, winds over 20 mph and no sun = 🥶.  Hopefully Clara can come back next weekend to make her shell creation on the beach.

If Mom sees this, the marshmallows Clara brought to practice toothbrushing on came in handy.  Why marshmallows I asked?  Because they look like teeth, of course! 
Where are the Piepers now?  Siberia?  No. Pat says we're still in Galveston, TX.

6 down, 44 to go !

Do they reall need those music stands?  How rude, Lilah is mostly hidden.🤣

What to do on a cold, windy, and rainy day?  Well, the Turtle Island Restoration Network and Clay Cup Studios teamed up for"Turtles About Town."  There are 50 painted turtles throughout the Galveston area, raising awareness of the work being done to protect endangered turtles on the upper Texas Coast.  5 of the 7 endangered turtle species can be found here.  Businesses and organizations sponsored the Kemp Ridley sea turtle statues, and local artists were commissioned to give each turtle its own personality and meaning.  On Weds. Pat and I checked out a few.  

Turtle #1 is just across the highway from our RV Park, but we've not noticed it before.  Bubbles was created by Jane Young French in 2019.

We contined on to the 5 turtles east of our park.  Turtle #2 was in Jamaica Beach, a community of around1,000.  Ohana was created by Kristie Baker Barlow in 2020.

#3, MiShell, was located further east at Sea Isle, population 2,000.  It was created by Jacque V. Stanley.

Lucky, turtle #4, located in Sea Isle was created by Taylor H. Rich in 2020. 

Turtle #5, located in Sea Isle, was at a house and did not have a plaque.  The names of  Ray and Jean Cook were painted on the turtle.

As we headed back home we saw our final turtle of the day back in Jamaica Beach, Sunshine, created by Doug Hiser and Trinity Torres.

I don't know much, if anything, about computers.  They work or they don't.  I posted my last Sat. blog 2 times this week for a reason.  The first post did not put up the cover picture, it  was blank.  So I go to my computer person (to remain nameless) whose job was working with computers his entire career.  To make a VERY long story  (argument) short, I was informed it was Facebook's problem and nothing could be done.  After much discussion (yelling) over several days, this computer person found a way around the problem for now and I reposted that blog with a picture.  Tonight Facebook has posted a picture with my Monday blog so I guess the computer person and myself can quit arguing (at least about this).😉

My ill camera was returned today.  Glad to have it back but I'm not sure the zoom is fixed. 

One of several Galveston balconies decorated for Mardis Gras.

We're always on the look-out for a restaurant that has outdoor seating, as well as nice weather.  Today fit the bill.  Nice to eat outdoors at a restaurant, rather than eat  in the car.  Didn't realize at the time that it was National Margarita Day, darn!

We overlooked the ocean as well as historic Pleasure Pier.  The history of Pleasure Pier goes back to the early 1900's.  It has been various things over the years and was heavily impacted by 2 hurricanes.  In 2012 it opened as an amusement park, going back to it's original roots.   You can find  various food venues there too, including the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Food was wonderful.  Loved the hushpuppies (jalapeños gave them a little "bite") with their special sauce. If you ever go there, Ivory was the best waiter.  Even have enough left for tomorrow. 

Tonight the La Port middle school varsity  band did a practice run-through for their upcoming contest.  They performed 3 songs and then were given a piece they had never seen before to site read.  They did a great job and we loved getting to hear Lilah, a budding Trumpet player.  5 year-old Clara told me she was going to play the flute and she "played" along on a couple of songs to show me her skills.   

Where are the Piepers now?  Someplace that shouldn't be so cold (Galveston, Tx)!

Grandaughter #2

Sunday we picked up Lilah for an overnight visit.  I think the last and only time they came at different times was when Emma and Lilah were very young.  I told Lilah this day was all about her.  I think she discovered some things, like playing in the ocean, are more fun with her siblings.  Although I'm not sure her reasoning, "I could throw Alexa in the water," was necessarily out of sisterly love, or was it?  I must agree though that it's more fun when there's someone else to play or get into mischief with.

My first failed sandcastle.

Pat added some stairs which looked much better than the sad castle.

Lilah and I moved closer to the water to build something.

After we got a little wet Lilah decided to do some swimming.  The sun wasn't out, the wind was chilly, and then Pat said the water temperature was only 57° so I cut her swim time short.

Papa and Lilah enjoyed several episodes of "Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

Before taking Lilah home Mon. we went to "La Kings" on The Strand in Galveston.  Case after case of chocolates and goodies.  We didn't get to watch them make taffy today.  We did pick out something for ourselves, and Lilah thoughtfully selected treats for those not with us.  Lilah headed over to the other side of the store, a 1920's style soda fountain, for a shake.  By the way, my fudge and sponge candy were wonderful!

This is what I wanted to build (see above).  The gentleman on the left was giving sandcastle lessons. I'm going to give it one more try and then I might have to call  Sandy Feet Sand Castle Services and fork over the bucks for a lesson.  

Foggy all day Monday.

When they took out our dinette and captain chairs we were prepared for a 6 week wait to get them back.  Totally surprised when we heard from Mike who said they were completed, and it had only been a week and a half.  So excited to get them back!!

Old captain chair.

Mike from 5 Star Upholstery in League City found the exact material and color used on our theater seating.  

Old dinette that had chunks of material peeling off.

They recovered the entire dinette and replaced the uncomfortable foam that came with it.

Old sofa that killed my back.

 

In 2020 we replaced the old VERY uncomfortable sofa with theater seating.  Still love it.

Where are the Piepers now?  Galveston, TX