Tenth Annual Blanco, Texas Christmas Rally Dec. 7, 8, 9 2012

[pienjim]

Nice pictures, everybody. We hated to miss, but glad to see (and meet) a few of you when we visited. Good job, Bruce!

Paula

[casa3805]

Originally Posted by Antique Pedaler

Are Alton and Anne Bell or Butch and Anna still volunteers there? We spent several months of March at Blanco S.P. They are great people! and really love the park.

I don't personally know the names of the camp hosts but had an interesting coversation with a man while packing to leave. He said he and his wife had been coming to Blanco for years. He lost her about 3 years ago. But she was the person who personaly held fund rasers and raised the money to put sewer hookups in the inner loop. The state did not do that, she and her fund raising skills made that happen. The stories help make the places sometimes...

[casa3805]

So...Skye and I spent a little time in The Blanco main square at Market days honing our newly found bartering skills (we watch American Pickers). In particular we were focusing on "bundling" which we have learned is the art of buying more than one item to reduce the cost on the overall package.

Here are a couple items we bundled. Rustic art, we intended to hang on the gate coming into the house. It would seem, upon closer inspection, that perhaps we should have spent a little more time actually READING the sign before getting that great price on it...

Got a funny story to share? (or need a No Solic ting sign?)

[Melody Ranch]

Hey Skye...That Guy at the Park is "Butch" Mumma. Retired Army who full times there.....several months at a time. He raised his family coming to the Park anytime he was stationed in San Antonio or back with the Family there while he was assigned remote....I could see the sadness in his eyes as he told me of the happy times. He was also the past Commander of the VFW around there somewhere.

[casa3805]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

Hey Skye...That Guy at the Park is "Butch" Mumma. Retired Army who full times there.....several months at a time. He raised his family coming to the Park anytime he was stationed in San Antonio or back with the Family there while he was assigned remote....I could see the sadness in his eyes as he told me of the happy times. He was also the past Commander of the VFW around there somewhere.

He was definitely hurting. But pretty proud of all the efforts to save the park. Apparantly there have been many attempts to close it. It is a small park, but immaculately maintained and just a beautiful place to be.

Oh...One more pic. And it could easily have been the winner, IMHO... Honorable mention for Flamingo decorating contest.

[whitsend]

To our soup'erb hosts, thanks again for yet another 110% Great Success Not Really a Rally Rally. Reading here, it's obvious everyone had lots of fun & once again didn't want to go home, yet. So, thanks again to Deb, Mary & Lora, plus Lora, Deb & Mary, and not to forget Mary, Lora & Deb!!! Ya'll Absolutely Rock.

To the trophy winners - and you really should remember who you are - If the Trophy Winners will send me (via PM) their names, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place ~ whatever . . . AND MAILING ADDRESSES ~ I will have little recognition name plates engraved & mail them back to you, for you to attach to your trophy, and thus be Forever Immortalized as a Blanco State Park Airstream Rally winner.

See you all next year.

[maryh2omann]

Super great pictures everyone! Thanks again to all for coming to the Blanco non rally/rally!!

[Silvertherapy]

Mary, Dennis, Laura, Mike, Deb and Ken, thank you for a wonderful time! It was the perfect RX for Johnny and I. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Connie

[Joy M]

Many thanks to the organizers and all the fun participants!!! Met many new to us streamers. We had a great time and look forward to being there again next year. What a lovely park, our first time to camp there. Great food too!! Thanks again! Joy & Jim

[MJMarkhams70]

Originally Posted by Westfalia

We also have a bunch of Emma's toys that she left at our campsite. We'll hold on to them all for a future rally or if you are in the area.

She's always leaving something, since she brings no less than 4 bags of "stuff" everywhere, including the grocery store

[sunnyskye]

Finally dragging myself back to reality (kicking and screaming all the way) We had a wonderful week of campering, fellowship and fun. I love being one of the "old folks" who go to bed early and wake early for coffee and conversation around the campfire!
Loved seeing old friends and making new ones! Never ceases to amaze me how quickly folks with ASs become friends!
Can't tell you how much the last 20 months have changed our lives...I NEVER, EVER, wanted to go camping, we bought Bud as a means to escape hurricanes...ha! Now, I count the days between trips like a child counts the days until Christmas! Yes, I am hooked!
All that said, a huge Thank You to everyone who made the weekend so much fun. Special thanks to: Mary and Dennis, Debbie and Ken, Laura and Mike, and Peter and Cindy, without them there would be no Blanco nonrally/rally! Thank you for sharing your fun visions with the rest of us on an annual basis!

[CatStream]

...... Quote from Lora ..."Thanks guys. Dirty Santa has been dirtier (note to selves) ..... Where is my flamingo Mac and cheese? Had to make Mike hamburger helper! Lol.,,,,


..... Well I guess Mike failed to tell you that he gave me your Flamingo Pasta as a gesture of I'm pretty sure was pity after you won the fab cooler and Peter made special sausages just for him and all I got was a Tee Shirt that's big enough for my entire family to fit into at once and it has a picture of Santa on it , as if that makes up for the rest of it but that's how the Dirty Santa Crumbles.... and hey Chuck , don't think I will forget how I Got that Tee SHIrT! just wait till next year, I'll think up some special rule just for you, even if Skye has that Chocolate to die for Cake!!!
anyhow, Lora I'm keeping the Pasta I plan to eat it soon! Thanks Mike

[MikenLora]

Oh poor Chuck and Skye.... take warning. Cyndi has a memory like an elephant about dirty santa insults "perceived or real" I still think she is holding some chicken sculptures hostage (they were mine, mine I tell you mine)

Yes Mike did tell me about how wonderful and kind Peter was with the sausages. Found the mustard at World Market. And the Pasta trade. Seems like a fair one to me. Turns out we LIKE hamburger helper....who knew!

Lora

[Deb and Ken]

Cyndi, I really liked that Santa t-shirt even if 3 people can get in it. I will send you the Bullshit I won. That's my life story always some Bullshit. LoL

[casa3805]

Dear Cyndi,
Please accept my heartfelt, humble apologies.
Chuck

(insert sinister laugh here)

[bwoodtx]

Originally Posted by Deb and Ken

Cyndi, I really liked that Santa t-shirt even if 3 people can get in it. I will send you the Bullshit I won. That's my life story always some Bullshit. LoL

At least it wasn't electrical tape..... or was it

[PeterH-350LE]

Cyndi and I decided that we will provide all the Dirty Santa Gifts for next year. We understand that it will take some fun out of stealing, but at least there won't be any of those long lasting hard feelings. Here is a preview:

[casa3805]

Originally Posted by PeterH-87MH

Cyndi and I decided that we will provide all the Dirty Santa Gifts for next year. We understand that it will take some fun out of stealing, but at least there won't be any of those long lasting hard feelings. Here is a preview:

Awesome! Who needs a flamingo on a rock anyway! Sigh....

[Melody Ranch]

I believe Frank and Mike won that same dirty Santa tape this year. I kind of had the feeling that it was to become a perpetual gift or award of some kind. Better check.

[CatStream]

Originally Posted by casa3805

Dear Cyndi,
Please accept my heartfelt, humble apologies.
Chuck

(insert sinister laugh here)

Oh Thank you Chuck, all is forgiven and I have already
forgotten how you snatched that fine fine flamingo from me.
don't worry, I can't possibly remember it next year, just like
I don't know where those Chickens are