We were discussing this recipe last night. I haven't made it in quite some time but I have the ingredients on a grocery list. When it is just the two of us I cut the recipe in half. It also reheats well but the leftovers never last long. I have received some good humored flak about recipes but this one is different-trust me! Title: Runza Casserole
Categories:
Yield: 12 Servings

2 lb Hamburger
2 Onion,Finely Chopped
4 c Cabbage,Shredded
Salt & Pepper,To Taste
2 Refrigerated Crescent Rolls
1 lb Mozzarella Cheese,Shredded

[Note: One of my standby recipes. One that Butch is always happy to
see on the table. ]
Brown hamburger and onion, drain. Put cabbage on top of meat and let
steam for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper. Using one tube, spread
the crescent roll pieces over bottom of a 9x 13 inch pan. Spread
hamburger/cabbage mixture on top. Add layer of cheese. Using the second
tube of crescents, put pieces on top of cheese. Bake in 350 F. degree
oven for 35 to 40 minutes, covering with foil the last 10 minutes to
soften the crust

This is Butch getting his kitty fix. Fancy looks so much like our Angel except for her big "fancy" tail. Bob was on his way to the dumpster and Fancy was along for the ride.

Our weather has been delightful! It is as if we special ordered it and the answer was "Yes!". The park has filled up this week. There are so many new arrivals I cannot possibly keep up with all of them. It is a beehive of activity. Last night we went to eat at Mexican Fiesta with friends. It is a small local restaurant that reminded me of the Chuckwagon in Cumberland. That is funny because we all had Mexican food and it was Thursday night. For those of you who do not know Thursday night has been Mexican night at the Chuckwagon for many years. Butch did not have a Mexican potato which was his standard order at the Chuckwagon. They would have laughed him out of the place or more likely given him a very puzzled look. He had three enchiladas, refried beans and rice. I had a taco salad. It was good...and authentic.

A Beautiful sky last night

For those of you wondering what the weather is like after our White Christmas- get a gander at this!

Scott and Myrla

A couple of interesting items from the news last night. It was the first white Christmas EVER in the Rio Grande Valley. It sure was a surprising coincidence. Second- A freeze does not hurt the citrus crop. In fact it seals in the juice. The ground crops however, such as cilantro are wiped out.

Ice Sculpture

White Spikes

Snowmobile Route?!? It was supposed to be a joke!

Shimmering and shivering palm

Fantastic Display

Iced Oranges

First time there has been snow in deep south Texas since 1897! 100 miles north in Victoria TX they are enjoying nearly a foot of snow.

Icy south Texas

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

Our winter home...summer home too!

Bananas anyone?

White banana tree

Bill & Jo Brooker's winter home!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

Shuffleboard Anyone?

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

White Christmas in Deep South Texas!

Snowy Grapefruit

Icicles! Yes, Icicles in deep south Texas! Folks we have ourselves an ice storm.

I know the sympathy level is about zero for us down here in DEEP SOUTH Texas but we are shivering in our little residential vehicles. The usual parade of early morning walkers are conspicuosly missing. The furnace is humming away frequently...and we are grateful for all we are blessed with in this life we are living. I can't help but wonder, hope and pray for the local people I have seen who live in homes without windows and doors. Last night on the news they said a hard freeze has happened 4 times in recorded history. This all adds so much to the danger for those who are homeless or live in inadequate housing. I hope for a quick warm up, more for their benefit than ours.

The Christmas Envelope

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription.
It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas.
Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it . . .
overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma -- the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike.
The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son, Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly black. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class.
And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them."

Mike loved kids, all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition -- one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there.

You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up.
But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.

Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope.

Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

~ Anonymous ~

May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always.

May God bless you and yours this holiday season with the true spirit of Christmas.

Yesterday we met friends from Carthage Mo at Fat Daddy's for burgers. Harold and Nancy weren't camera shy. I didn't get a shot of Mary and Allen or Bill and Jo. Maybe next time.

Fancy, the fancy cat that lives down the street gave me these roses as a Thank You for taking her picture.

Zoe sent me this adorable picture. Had to share.

The little brown puppy that has eluded capture was caught by my camera this morning. I had to zoom quite a bit just to get this shot.

The Pup

The weather man here usually doesn't have much to say. I think the report usually lasts about 30 seconds. But last night he was telling us that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will definitely feel like Christmas. It may get into the twenties and there is a chance of FREEZING precipitation! Can you believe it?! I know it has happened here in the past but we have never seen it. It still remains to be seen and then it is to be in the 80's again next week. Now thats a contrast!

Marlene and Bernard made it to Harlingen Sunday afternoon. Marlene uses AOL instant messaging so when I see her name signed on I know she is at her computer in Texas. And then Bill, Jo and Maggie arrived yesterday.

My cousin Pauline stopped in yesterday. I usually only see her at family funerals so it was great to see her on a pleasant occasion. Pauline and Clark still farm near Farnhamville Iowa but they winter in Mission Texas and have for many years. It was a very nice surprise for a Sunday afternoon.

Here is the cake. No one would ever say it was light and fluffy but the flavor was good.

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Today I made a cake. So? You say. It is a big deal! I haven't baked a from scratch cake for probably 20 maybe even 30 years. So I assemble all the ingredients ahead of time. I like to be prepared. First off I had Butch light my new oven. Yes, I am doing a from scratch cake in an oven I have never baked in before. So I tear into this project and it seems to be going well. I divide the batter into the two round pans and pop them in the oven. Then I decide to read through the recipe again just to be sure and WHOOPS! I left out 1 cup of hot water. It was in the microwave and I forgot it. What to do-what to do... They had not been in the oven long so I pop them out and mix in a half cup of water in each pan. I know you real cooks out there are saying to yourselves "This isn't going to work." Well , I did get them baked. I am sure they are about half the height they are supposed to be. I did get them frosted and it doesn't look too bad. I think I will take it up to the hall early so no one sees me carry it in. There is supposed to be cake and ice cream after the Christmas parade tonight. Check into the other website later for pictures of the parade entries.
Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Taz isn't happy about the elf hat.

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Recommended by a great friend who is also a great cook! She says it is fast, easy and tastes great. Thanks Mickey! Santa Fe Soup

1 lb hamburger
1 lb Velveeta cheese
1 can corn - undrained
1 can kidney or black beans - undrained
1 can stewed tomatoes - undrained
1 can tomatoes w/ green chilies or Rotel
2 T. taco seasoning

Fry hamburger with some onions. Drain fat and pour into crock pot. Dice cheese and put in crock pot. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer for 3 hours.

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

There is a frost and freeze warning for just north of us tonight. Friend Mary Nebola lives in Raymondville which is 20 miles north of Harlingen and they are told they will be getting frost. Our low for tonight is supposed to be 38. I know...I know A little hard to feel sorry for us I am sure.
Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Jo's Rose

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

That cold front you are enjoying up north has made it to the valley. It was 49 degrees this AM and it is not going to warm up a great deal today, tonight or tomorrow or so they tell us. We did have an interesting cloud formation this morning. This is the view from our window, facing west.

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Butch and I had a bunch of fun with this website. How well can you place the States in their proper place?

Place The State - Intermediate

Tom Toomire, three year old pooch belonging to Bob & Kitti Toomire

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

This is a floorplan of our new home

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

A different view

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Good Morning all you blog checkers! Butch has joined a pool league and is off to Rio Valley Estates RV Park for a match this morning. If I tell you he has purchased a new cue it will give you a clue as to the type of pool he is enjoying. The weather has been moderate (70's) and cloudy but that is quite adequate for December. So far we haven't had the very cool weather that was here the past three winters. I sent out Christmas letters to our non Computer friends this past week. The rest of you will receive a greeting in email. I used to do the big letter every year and many people told me how much they enjoyed it but now that I keep the blog going I feel anyone who wants to keep up with us can do so and if I sent one I would be repeating myself. I just spotted a neighbor coming in for the first time this year with his 5th wheel. If his slideouts are on the west side it could be very close. This may turn into an interesting morning!
Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

I had a request for this recipe so thought I would share it with the rest of you too. Stained Glass Pie
Yield: 12- Servings

1 pk Cherry Gelatin
3 C. Boiling Water,Divided
2 C. Cold Water,Divided
1 pk Lime Gelatin
1 pk Orange Gelatin
1 C. Pineapple Juice
1 pk Lemon Gelatin
1/4 C. Sugar
1 ct Frozen Whipped Topping
-Thawed
2 Graham Cracker Crumb Pie
-Shells

[Note: I prefer the shortbread ready made piecrusts. ]
In a small bowl, dissolve cherry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water;stir in
1/2 cup cold water. Pour into a 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan coated
with nonstick cooking spray. Repeat with lime and orange gelatin using
two more loaf pans. Refrigerate until firm, about 1-1/2 hours.
In a small saucepan, bring pineapple juice to a boil. Stir in lemon
gelatin and sugar until dissolved. Stir in remaining cold water.
Refrigerate until syrupy, about 45 minutes.
Cut cherry, lime and orange gelatin into 1/2 inch cubes. Pour lemon
gelatin mixture into a large bowl, fold in whipped topping. Gently fold
in gelatin cubes. Divide evenly in 2 prepared graham cracker crumb pie
crusts. Refrigerate until set.



Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Harold and Nancy Piepmeier were into the settling in phase after arriving at Kenwood RV Park in LeFeria.

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Yesterday Butch and I stopped at Kenwood RV Park in LeFeria to visit with other full timers we met in Carthage. Allen Anglin is busy cleaning the mold and mildew from his patio. A little bleach, soap, persistence and a power washer did the job.

Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

Anyone looking for a new vocation?

WANTED: RV TECHNICIANS
Since 9-11, RV sales have boomed. As sales have risen, so has the demand for trained RV technicians. In response, Texas State Technical College in Waco recently began an RV Technician training program. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average hourly wage for RV technicians is about $14 an hour, but in Houston, for example,the hourly wage is more than $20. Given the demand for trained RV technicians, the wage is expected to rise.


Send news to roadramblin@yahoo.com

We are trying to be a bit more involved in the park this year. I went to the pool hall on Friday to get started with the ladies but there were only three of us there. I will try again next week. Butch played bridge yesterday afternoon and euchre last night. There are some kinds of activities taking place most anytime that we could participate in if we are so inclined.