A few days in San Antonio

Charles attended the sixth (of eight) sessions of the two-year academy for spiritual formation this past week at the Oblate Center in San Antonio. There are lots of interesting things taking place in the presentations, and the weather is really lovely this week.

Charles goes golfing

Charles arrived in San Antonio on Monday evening, ahead of his retreat at the Oblate Center. Since the weather was so nice, he decided to get in a round of golf. The Silverhorn Golf Course was the venue, and he reports having a great time!

Harvest time in McCamey

We've had a beautiful day here in west Texas with lots of productive activity taking place around the house. When Charles went to fill the bird feeders in the back yard, he noticed that the pecan tree was bearing lots of low-hanging nuts ready to be picked. Without much effort and no ladder involved, you can see for yourself that things are looking great here in the way out west!

Friday Night Lights in Iraan

Charles took in the McCamey - Iraan football game tonight in Iraan. He sat the first half with the McCamey fans and the second half with the Iraan fans. McCamey (6-2) won, 19-6 over Iraan (7-2) to take home the bragging rights for another year.

A trip to Fort McKavett (part 1)

Yesterday we went to Fort McKavett, a former calvary installation, for a day-long retreat sponsored by the San Angelo District. We had a great time and enjoyed seeing this nicely preserved reminder of life on the Texas frontier.

New looks at the parsonage


Made by Joan Condell and Charles Alkula in 1986


An etching of Golden Lion Tamarins given to Charles in
1984 (for being a volunteer at the National Zoo)


Charles cross-stitched this welcome sign
(begun in 1999 and finished last year)


Charles cross-stitched this last year

Rio Concho West Birthday Party (part 2)

Another great night in the Rio Concho West clubhouse. Everyone had a great time, and the outfits were wonderful!

Rio Concho West Birthday Dinner (part 1)

Tonight was the monthly birthday party at Rio Concho West, and tonight's theme was, of course, Halloween! Belinda and her mother had front-row seats and had a great time!

The call of the wild

Charles had to make a trip to San Angelo this morning, but before getting all the way out of town, he spotted a family of javelinas! Charles was able to get one picture before the group made a brisk escape into the undergrowth.

Today in west Texas

It was a beautiful day here in west Texas with trips to Odessa and Iraan (Charles) and San Angelo (Belinda) keeping us busy from start to finish.

Charles stopped on the way back from Odessa and picked up a few pumpkins from the First UMC in Crane (from their annual pumpkin patch). Lots of fun this time of year!

One the way back from Iraan this evening, a large white-tailed buck ran in front of his car! Good thing he was paying attention, because a few short miles later he came upon a large herd of sheep grazing alongside the highway! One never knows what will be encountered here along the Pecos River!

A pretty nice weekend

We had more rain during the early morning hours today, bringing our total since Friday morning to 3.1". Added to the joy of the rainfall was the accompaning low temps, in the 70's, and you have a picture-perfect time in west Texas!

RAIN!!!

We woke to the sound of thunder and rain this morning in McCamey, a rare event out here in the parched Permian basin. 
Our backyard rain gauge (which has to be emptied of dust more often than moisture) recorded 2.5 precious inches of rain. since Thursday evening. 

The barometer bush served as host to some of the Monarch butterflies passing through on their fall migration to Mexico.

Friday Night Lights

There is a tradition in west Texas of support for high school football and in Iraan, and McCamey there is a lot of reason to be supportive this season. Charles went to tonight's Iraan - Van Horn game in Iraan, and what a game it was! The strong wind made passing a challenge, but that was the only downside to the game. Iraan won, 19-18 which gives them a 6-1 record this season. McCamey, in the meantime, was beating Wink, 22-12 to make its record, 5-2. The Iraan-McCamey game will be in two weeks in Iraan; it should be a really great game!

Moving day (of sorts)

Charles went to San Angelo last night to help with some chores at Belinda's mother's home and to bring back some chairs for the parsonage. This morning, Charles was busy moving furniture around the home on Pinto Path before loading up the car for the drive back to McCamey. The chairs look great and we even have a place to listen to music, courtesy of a relocated chair (from the living room).