Spring has sprung!

 Time in sunny South Texas is growing short. My friends Sherri and Sam will soon be here to see what wintering here has to offer. They get barely a taste in a week, but perhaps they will choose to come again when they can stay longer. They are flying in and escorting me home in my car.

Trivia will take place two more times before it folds up shop for the summer. It has been a year of growth for trivia. We had some record-breaking nights with over 50 players a few times. I plan to head up trivia again, "if the good lord is willing and the creek don't rise."

Stay Happy!

Trivia Pics

If you are looking for the fire, I removed it. It is a complicated world we live in.

Latest trivia photo- March 10th, 2026

My helper Shelly Brower. She is very helpful. When I am ready, I hope to hand trivia over to her. She is one smart cookie!

 

She's a Lady

A family member of Bill and Sandi D. took this photo of a snowy owl. 

Here is some snowy owl info. 

• Appearance & Size: They are one of the heaviest owl species in North America, weighing 3.5–6.5 lbs, with a wingspan of 4.2–4.8 feet. Females are larger and more heavily barred with brown, while males become whiter with age.

Winding Down...

We are seeing the South Texas exodus heading north. Easter seems to have some meaning in the thinking process of setting a departure date. It can't be the weather! It is still cold up there, and the leaves are not on the trees.

Happy Hour: Happy hours tend to have a reputation for gossip. Ours do not. No brag, just fact. I brought my notebook to one of our recent gatherings so I could get a handle on all the subjects covered. It was hard to keep up! 

The Anzaduas Park was a recent location for the biking group, and it was highly rated as an excellent event by a couple of the bikers who attended.

(Anzalduas Park, located in Mission, TX, is a scenic recreational area that offers a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy walking trails, picnic areas, and beautiful views of the Rio Grande. The park also features playgrounds and open green spaces, making it a great spot for families and nature lovers alike.)

We talked about the water coloring craft classes and how helpful the instructors are in getting new people started.

 We talked about tacinite and the mining of iron.

(Taconite is a low-grade, iron-bearing (25–30% iron) sedimentary rock found in the Lake Superior region, particularly Minnesota's Mesabi Range. It is processed into iron-rich (~65% iron) pellets used for steel production. The mining involves large-scale, open-pit blasting, crushing, magnetic separation, and pelletizing, creating significant waste tailings. )

I knew nothing about the subject or that there existed a Mesabi range!

We had a discussion on the many ways to throw a bean bag and the success rate of the choices.

We talked about harvesting cranberries.

We talked about Dillinger and his demise.

We talked about Amway and are they still in business. Yes, they are.

Worms and itchy stuff: I don't remember the details of this one.

Every session is like this one to some degree or another. We liken it to "school for seniors", and this one is well attended.

Birthday Yesterday

 Yesterday was my birthday. I have had many birthdays and, thanks to my friends, this one was a doozie. It started off with my walk with Renie, and you will be glad to know we have solved all of the world's problems.  Happy Hour, Sandi passed around Shipley's birthday donuts. They are the best! Bill and Sandy treated me to a birthday supper at Dirty Al's, which you all know by now is the best place and my favorite place to eat. Shrimp and Fish Combo with coleslaw side, Yum! Darrel and Linda Millard joined us as Linda's birthday is March 8th. You would think we are done, but Noooo, we came back to Bill and Sandies to enjoy a birthday cake provided by friends Gina and Carl! Thanks to all my friends, I had a perfect birthday event.

This morning, I went with Bill and Sandi for breakfast at the Alamo Cafe as usual, but I decided to have something different, so instead of having a veggie omelet, I had a waffle with strawberries! I did not know what I was in for! 

Dee-liscious!

                               

This House of Sky

I do not recommend books often because tastes are so very different among us all. I could not pass this one up. Butch was a fan of Ivan Doig, the author of this book, so when I ran across it, I decided to test it out. This is by far one of the best-written books I have ever read. The sentence that left me thinking this morning was "The two I remember the best were as alike and different as salt and sugar." When a sentence pulls you up short and makes you think, it's a good one! This book is full of them.

This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind

 "Ivan Doig grew up in the rugged wilderness of western Montana among the sheepherders and denizens of small-town saloons and valley ranches. What he deciphers from his past with piercing clarity is not only a raw sense of land and how it shapes us, but also of the ties to our mothers and fathers, to those who love us, and our inextricable connection to those who shaped our values in our search for intimacy, independence, love, and family.

 
A powerfully told story, This House of Sky is uniquely American—yet also universal in its ability to awaken a longing for an explicable past.
 
"Engrossing and moving."—Time"

I wandered

 I wandered back to 2003 in my blog. Yes, 2003! And one of the first entries I come upon was on "Downtime". I have not changed a bit on this subject.

Tuesday, December 30, 2003
I subscribe to www.powerquotes.net. They send a quote and a question pertaining to it every weekday in my email. Recently, the quote and question were about downtime.

"Downtime is where we become ourselves, looking into the
middle distance, kicking at the curb, lying on the grass
or sitting on the stoop and staring at the tedious blue of
the summer sky. I don't believe you can write poetry, or
compose music, or become an actor without downtime, and
plenty of it, a hiatus that passes for boredom but is
really the quiet moving of the wheels inside that fuel
creativity."

-- Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer


Questions to Ponder

Do I get enough downtime?

How can I get more?
How will it benefit me?

I have long known the value of downtime for creative processes to kick in. Early morning, after awakening and before arising, is one of the times when ideas, projects, and solutions, etc., and the other end of the day is another one. A third time is while walking or biking if I am doing it alone. I also believe we are all talented, creative people, but we need to not only listen to our internal dialogue, but also take the time to let our creativity blossom. I also feel that if we are deprived of that time, our spirit declines, perhaps only minutely, but declines all the same.

While on our walk last night, I took some pictures of unusual and beautiful sky conditions. It was good walking weather. We needed a jacket but pleasantly comfortable.

Seasonal and other stuff

Some things happen seasonally here. This time of year can be hectic. So many things to do and obligations to take care of...and then in mid-March it slows down considerably. I am ready for the slowdown.

Renie and I are getting our walks in as the weather has warmed, green foliage is happening on the trees, and the early morning temps hover around 69 degrees. Rain is desperately needed. The last rain was 21 days ago. I looked it up. It also said we are way below a 30-year average. 

This photo was taken a few days ago. Things are greening up!

This mornings "walk" photo. Meeting up with Renie.

This was taken about a week ago when it was cooler. Notice the change in the sun.

The best advice ever!!!

Renie and Barb

Sure, this is what Renie and I look like on Trivia night!

 

Wedding Rings

 Due to Butch's job, he could not wear his wedding ring much. After he retired, he wore it more. My ring would fit inside his, and when I noticed this, I came up with the idea of having them attached and wear them as a necklace.  I brought both rings with me because I knew there was a jeweler at the DonWes flea market. Of course, I procrastinated. But when Lil Droogsma came to visit me, I asked her about it. Lil and her husband, Ray, had a booth at DonWes for many years. She told me about Phil Walker, also with a booth at DonWes, and said he was very good. Lil did the legwork for me, and I now have the necklace pictured below. It turned out beautifully!

Another change for me is about my beading endeavor. I am now able to create the projects I had in mind. Pictured below are two sets of earrings. I timed myself and found I can make one of these style earrings in 1 1/2 hours.

Other stuff: We are in the busiest time of each season. If a person participated in every activity, they would need hospitalization. It is too much for this old lady to even attempt, and truth be known, I am quite happy to be a hermit. I pick and choose carefully.

We will now be seeing the exodus back home. By mid-march, the number of people in the park is much less, and this coincides with the number of activities that end for the season.  It is still cold back there, and I am happy with the weather here.

Till next time...

Some Roads

And it is okay...

Happy!

 A long, long time ago, an old lady told Butch and me that if she were any happier, she would have to take a pill. I think I would have to say that I, too, am that happy.

I talked with Evergreen Ridge (independent living facility) a few days ago, and they have a place for me. That means I will be putting my house on the market when I get back to Jefferson in April. Lots of changes are taking place. I am excited about this one, and I think my kids are too. They won't worry about me.

This is a picture of Butch taken last February at Fast Eddy's Pool Hall in McAllen. I think his medal was silver.

This is my friend and neighbor Sandi Danielson and me at Dirty Alls in McAllen!

I was hungry for fish and shrimp, and that is the very best place to get it.

Candy takes a pic of me every week at Trivia, and this is a recent one.

Last week, I was called to sub for a mixed team of league players outside the park. We played at Tropic Star. The protocol is that you play 5 games, once with each member of the other team. I expected to get whopped, but I won two of the five games. I was surprised and pleased!

Also, last week, the top-notch men's league played the team from Casa de Sol. That is the park that our friends from Magnolia moved to when the Magnolia fell apart. I had not seen them since we moved 6 or so years ago. Dick and Leslie Cleavland, Leslie was a scorekeeper, and Ray and Lil Droogsma. Lil didn't have anything to do but talk to me. Lil and I started talking when they came, we didn't stop till it was time to go home!

Last week, on one of our walk mornings, I took this pic of the sun. That is the golf course area.

Spring has sprung...

 Spring has sprung in South Texas! How can I tell? Those pesky leaves are finally dropped from all the trees that do that, and there are hints of green.

And to top it off, the birds are going crazy. There are lots of them, and they are singing their little hearts out. 

I am doing fine. I had a follow-up appointment yesterday, and all is good. I have learned a trick or two on scheduling an appointment. On a Tuesday at 11:30 works very well. I walked in at 11:10, and there was one other woman filling out paperwork. Within minutes, I was called back, and I was home by 11:45!

This is by far the busiest time there ever is in Trophy Garden. I keep my schedule tight, adding each new one carefully. My delicate self does not like running from one event to another with barely a chance to breathe.  Yes, I am getting old. It is interesting to see how your priorities can change with age.

Last night was trivia night. It has become quite popular, with 7 tables of players being faithful to the event. It is one of the rare things that will stay on my calendar as long as it is thriving.

Renie and I play in the women's league this morning at Siesta Village, and we play Alamo Palms, one of the tougher teams.

Till next time...

Catch-up!

 The older I get, the harder it is to catch up! There are so many things I want to do, but finding the time to do them can be challenging. Staying in touch with all those I want is perhaps the biggest one. I used to post a comment or two every single day, and sometimes more than one. Please be sure that I think and wonder about you even when I don't post, call, or visit.

Right on top of a nasal virus came a UTI. I ended up seeing a doctor for the UTI, and I am now assured that I am on the road to health. 

I am dabbling in beading, diamond art, pool, and trivia, so my schedule is full. Renie and I still walk 2 miles every morning as long as the temperature is above 50 degrees.

Below is one of my many thoughts for the day. LoveYa!!

Who?

 Trying to fix a sound issue on my Chromebook and in the process ran into this picture of ....who do you suppose?

Brrr...

 After many years of traveling South in the winter, the bite of winter is quickly forgotten until it finds its way close to the southern border. It used to be a rare thing, but with climate change, that is no longer true.

Way back when, I would pack one pair of jeans in case the weather cooled off or for the trip down and back. Now I pack plenty of options for cold weather. When a person is not acclimated, it can be quite miserable. And here we are! In the middle of a prolonged stretch of unfriendly weather. Yesterday it was around 80 degrees, and I used the golf cart to go to the main hall to help with a rehearsal for a comedy presentation on Monday. Suddenly, the outside temperature dropped like a rock, accompanied by a biting north wind. It's about a 3 to 4 block ride from the hall to my home, and I drove faster than I ever have! My hands were numb by the time I got home. I also had left the house open with the 80 degrees it had been at noon. It didn't take long for me to get everything winterized.

It feels so closed off...but cozy.

A week later...

 I am on the road to recovery. I can once again mix with my peers. I might have a minor throatclearing but the horendous neverending hacking-up-nothing is no longer in the works. The symptoms that are still taking their toll are lack of appetite and tiredness. A pleasant nap sounds good almost anytime.

Today is Sunday Pool, and I am signed up.

I took my Sunday morning trip to HEB this morning. I have to keep up my driving skills. The thermometer was showing me 41 F.! and the roads reflected that! Hardly anyone was out and about. It is hard to shop with a low appetite. I think I will survive.

When my energy is elevated, I might be a bit more wordy. Till next time.

Better

 Wore the same clothes (pajamas) for 3 days and coughed. Today I showered and dressed, and plan to eat breakfast. I haven't been hit that hard by something (?) for quite a few years. I ate because I knew I should. Sunday, I realised at 8:00 PM that I had not eaten all day, so I forced down some soup. I did drink. Little sips of cold water did help suppress the coughing. My drink was a mixture of cold water and an electrolyte beverage. When I wasn't coughing, I was sleeping. Monday, I started to see some relief. And now I hope to resume my normal life. 

I want to thank my Trophy family for all you have done for me. Just knowing you have my back is so reassuring. 

Backing up a bit...

 I have one med that is in the "Oh My God" bracket. When I first tried to get it filled, they said the cost was $427 a month. I said no. The pharmacy is next to my doctor's office, so I popped over there to file a complaint and see if changes could be made. They handed me a card, SingleCare, and said, " See if this makes a difference. It did! Now it was $63 a month. 

So now I am in South Texas needing a refill at CVS Pharmacy. I handed them the card, and once it was processed, it came to a whopping $85 for 3 months!! I am still not sure why there is that much difference, but I will get it refilled here before I go home to make sure.

You can check out your meds and get a card at SingleCare.com. Who knows it may help you too.

I was going back to read old posts and decided this subject was worth the effort.

On another note, I am being pestered by a dry cough. I slept okay between coughs, but there were way too many cough interruptions.

We are having a cold spell for the next 3 days. It will be in the 50's and 60's. I don't mind too much because it will give me some time to catch up. Knowing that it is coming, I put the door's back on the golf cart. It is easy to do, thank goodness. As I was putting them on, I was thinking of all the chores that were Butch's. There are quite a few, such as making the bed. The rule was that the last one out had to make the bed. Taking the garbage out. Making decisions on insurance, all upkeep on cars, mowing the yard, and many more. Yup, I miss him tremendously. 

Till next time!

And then she...

 I firmly believe in keeping yourself busy, but there is a limit.  This past week was crammed full! The Golden Age Olympics took up a big part of it. I didn't come home with any medals. I have decided that my delicate self has a limit on stress. I knew that, but it was brought home for sure. I found out some other things as well. I was the oldest woman participating in the pool events, and not by just a little! I am 82, and the closest other player to me was 75. I am going to bow out on the singles next year due to the pressure. 

Now, in the doubles, Renie and I thought we did okay. There were only 6 teams, and we played two other teams. The format is two out of three games, and we played  3 games on each of our sets, which says we did have a chance to win. The two teams we played came in first and second. I might consider that next season.

Renie did come home with a medal in the singles, coming in 3rd.  I rooted for her, of course, and I think it helped. 

In the Wednesday league, we played well and came up a couple of notches. 3 days of competitive pool is two days too many!

So now my schedule can settle down some.

They say we have a cold spell coming soon with highs in the 50's. Supposed to last about 3 days. I will most likely hibernate! I hope to get back to my craft projects.

Did I show you my rooster? It was a gift from my neighbor Bill D. It will get a special spot in my Iowa home. 

Bill's work is beautiful.

Happy, Happy New year and beyond.

 Candy takes pictures every Trivia night. She likes it when I post them on the blog. I do it because my friends and family can verify that I am not wasting away! I like some better than others, and only the likes get posted.

I started this post a few days ago. I am heavily scheduled.  Next week is full! As I age, I get slower than I ever believed possible.

Golden Age Valley Olympics begin Tuesday. Add that to my usual schedule, and you get the picture.

In my free time... that's a joke, I am making earrings and doing diamond art. 

My latest endeavors.