I have been able to log in to CIS both last night and this morning.  It appears that it is back up and running.  Do be aware that we are having times of power outage in our area of the country.  Ours were to last only 15 minutes.  For part of our city, it is still out.

A reminder:  The 10th Annual Gingerbread House CCO is taking place this weekend at the Ellis County Expo Center. Gates open at 10 am Friday morning for early arrivals. Plenty of dry camping/RV parking available; no hook ups. Friday night stew and cornbread dinner, plus FREE BEER, for the cooks along with an 8 pm chili turn in (grind only). Saturday we will have CASI Chili, Junior Chili, Novice/Local Chili and Beans - all turn in at 1pm (grind only). All chili cooks will receive free admission to the benefit barn dance Saturday evening. Sunday's turn in is at noon (grind only), giving everyone plenty of time to get home for the Super Bowl. We will have a 1st Place Stove Friday and Saturday, as well as a raffle stove on Saturday and 10 Liquor Baskets and a Starbucks Gift Basket to auction off. This is a fantastic cook off to get your points towards Terlingua! Please bring throw down chili for the concession stand and your own tables. Indoor cooking is available as well!

From Connie Collier:
The 11th Horn Toad Roundup and Chili Cookoff will be held in Rankin, Texas at the Tommy Workman Park Saturday, Feb. 5th. First place will be awarded a beautiful Lloyd Goldwire Bronze Horn Toad. Be ready for lots of good food, fun, and fellowship. Here’s a schedule of events:

Friday
         6:00 p.m. Fish Fry
         7:30 p.m. Tequila Rose Toast-Women, don’t forget your pink boas, hats, Tequila Rose, poems, etc.

Saturday
         8:00 a.m. Breakfast
         9:00 a.m. Registration
       10:00 a.m. Cook’s Meeting
         2:00 p.m. Turn-in

Soup/Stew Pot Luck Dinner approximately one hour after results

       6:30 p.m. (approximately) 42 Tournament -Find you own partner.

Hope to see you there!!!!

NOTE:  Our plans are to head for Rankin sometime to day if we can get the motorhome out of the shop, load it and get on the road.  It is still very cold.  It is currently 15 degrees with a wind chill factor of -1.  It just like living in the mountains again except there is not as much snow and not even enough to scoop.
 
If you did not get the registration form for Texas Men's State, contact Alan Dean.  His email address is pepperdean7@verizon.net
 
Everybody have a safe weekend.  Keep warm!!