Saturday, March 19

Butch talks to a pooch who was hankering for a burger himself.
Marlene had just ordered her burger at Bertha's Burgers on Silver Ave. in Donna TX.
Last week nephew Dwight Kelley, his wife Carolyn and his daughter Anna came to South Texas to visit his Mom and Dad, Marlene and Bernard Kelley. This picture is of Carolyn and Anna looking things over at the flea market.
The Keep Movin On blog is getting left behind these days but that will be changing soon. Yesterday 7 women from the park went to a Ropa Usada in McAllen and grubbed around in the mountain of clothes searching for buried treasure. Then we went to Progreso for lunch at Bucardo's which was a new place to me and one that friends Wayne and Bert Shipley had recommended before they left to return to Arkansas. We shopped some after lunch and then we returned home and I caught a nice nap!

Tuesday, March 15

"It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. "
- Dale Carnegie

Saturday, March 12

This was this from "Tailspin" a few days ago. What a story! My cousin "John" has listed different items on ebay from time to time.. His present item is listed as number 5563385645 .... just in case you actually happen to be interested in bidding on it..The current bid is $66.00 and there are 3 days and 12hours bidding time left ... as I write this.

Description



Genuine heavy steel casket. Works great at Halloween parties, bury your pet, use it for yourself, makes great conversation piece. It?s brand new, never used. The story behind the casket?.. Son worked as funeral director for several years and he called me one weekend and wanted to know if I would like to have a casket. He said that a deceased person had bought it years ago and had it put in storage. When the person died, it was discovered that they had gained too much weight over the years and would no longer fit inside it. His boss said to throw it in the trash, but son, knowing his father was a pack rat offered to him(me). Incidentally, it measures approximately 28 x 82 inches, outside dimensions. It has been used at Halloween parties several times at a local bar, with great success. But, it?s time to clear out the storage shed, so the casket must go. It has a few blemishes on the outside, needs a good cleaning, and the rubber seal under the lid has come loose so I took it off and it?s stored inside the casket, along with three ends to the carrying handles that came off. Potential uses only limited by your imagination. For example, It would make a dandy side car for your chopper or three wheel bike. Be the first person on the block to own one. Will strap to a pallet and ship via Yellow Freight. You pay shipping on your end. Payment by Paypal, cashier?s check or money order. Thanks and good luck bidding.


Sunday, March 6

Today is my birthday. Last night we went to the Lone Star Restaurant in Harlingen in celebration of my birthday and Dave and Marge Scott's 47th Wedding Anniversary. I had a 1/2 rack of back ribs and they were mighty tasty. Another good place for ribs is Jose's Cafecito in Weslaco. I finally got my Texas driver's liscense so I am now officially a Texan. I have a temporary one for 3-4 weeks before I have the permanent one with photo ID. That perplexed me a bit because in Iowa you get your laminated photo liscense right away. No wait. Is this just in Texas or has 9/11 changed that too? Oh well, it will catch up with me eventually. I guess I can wait. Smile!
Butch cleaned the motorhome. I sit outside and watch with the cellphone in hand ready to call 911.Smile!

Saturday, March 5

Thursday, March 3

Here comes the Easter Rooster!

Tuesday, March 1

Grandchildren Ann 15 and Chris 20...or they will be this month. They reside in Georgia.

Monday, February 28

a

Smile!Mondays are a very busy day for us. Butch has golf and of course that shoots the day. I start the day with shuffleboard. For an old peoples game it sure is alot of fun. Then I have Warblers...a singing group and that is followed by crafts in the afternoon. I am kind of independent ( no news to anyone) so if I do not care for the current project I bring my own. I think it is a good idea to go down and mix with the rest of them. Some of the neatest ideas arise. We have one more month down here and then I think we are headed west. Let us know when it is good and warm up there!

Sunday, February 27

http://www.ripleys.com/games/iq.html

Butch's brother Don sent this deceivingly simple little game. Let us know if you win. I have not by the way.

Saturday, February 26

I put the last finishing stitch in last night. I am very pleased with the outcome. I have the next one ready to start today and since we are having a springlike rainy day in south Texas and I cleaned house yesterday nothing should get in my way.Smile!
The background is a butter yellow-yarn is variegated blues
Close up of the pattern used

Thursday, February 24

These Green Jays blend in with their surroundings so very well.
This from Tailspin in Atlantic Iowa... Our paper boy seems to come when ever he feels like it. I never know until I look in the box if he has come or not... But I could tell he had been here this morning...How could I tell??
Barb says: Hmmm...think I will stay here.

Sunday, February 20

Life is short. Enjoy it!
Dust if you must,
but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake a cake or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?
Dust if you must,
but there's not much time, with rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.
Dust if you must,
but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around again.
Dust if you must,
but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.
Thanks Zoe for this one... I abide by it.
At the South Padre Kite Competition

At the South Padre Kite Competition
Wayne and Bert doing a little beach dancing.
The parrots finally landed in the park and in the tree right next to us. They are plentiful and colorful but the little twerps always visit when it is too dark or cloudy or both making a really good photo a tough thing to do.

Saturday, February 19

One more time...
My sis sent me these pics in an email labeled cloning gone bad. Someone had great fun putting these together. I thought this might be an easier way to share them with you all.

Here kitty, kitty
Eaglepooch
Cute ...Orangapup

Thursday, February 17

Kiskadees... This was taken in Harlingen at the Encore RV Park

Wednesday, February 16

From Connie Jones...one of the very best cooks I know anywhere!

Italian Meatball and Potato Bake
1 (24 oz) pkg. shredded hash browns
8 oz. finely shredded cheddar cheese ( I use shredded velveeta)
1 cup sour cream with chives and onions
1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. peppered seasoned salt
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of celery soup
12 frozen cooked Italian meatballs, thawed
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 with pam. In medium bowl combine potatoes, 1 1/2 c. cheese, sour cream, Itatian seasoning, peppered salt, and soup; mix well. Spread into pan. Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, uncover and arrange meatballs in rows over potatoes, pressing in slightly. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Return to oven and bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Italian Meatballs
1 egg
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan with foil; spray with pam. In large bowl beat egg, stir in remaining ingredients. In pan shape beef mixture into a 8 inch square. Cut into 36 squares; do not separate. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until meatballs are thoroughly cooked. With sharp knife, cup meatballs apart. Freeze any leftovers for later use.
* I tried these this fall and worked great in other recipes. And my guys loved them.


Tuesday, February 15

Butch and I when we were on the cruise.
We learned how to make button necklaces this week at crafts. This one is mine. I need to make another one real soon so I do not forget how! Cost on this one was less than $4.00
GRANDMA'S CURES
Keep this on the Fridge

Did You Know That? Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache
pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by
traditional "pain relievers."

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with
mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids
peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in
1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as
a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1
tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two
tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms.
Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly
-- even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes.. Cover the blemish with a dab of honey
and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin
sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail
fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful
antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from
loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to
the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Coca-Cola cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers Just
saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The
phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps,
hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the
insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground
instantly.

Smart splinter remover...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the
splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter
sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's tomato paste boil cure...cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as
a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the
boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few
drops of Listerine... a powerful antiseptic.

Heinz vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and
apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and
speeds up the healing process.

Kills fleas instantly. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a
few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse
well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas.

Rainy day cure for dog odor... Next time your dog comes in from the rain,
simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly
making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Eliminate ear mites... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in
your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat
daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and
accelerates healing.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief....It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2
cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the
microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands
for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Saturday, February 12

Our Angel...I am missing her!
I have had to take some much needed time off from having fun to tend to chores...like laundry...defrosting fridge...and today our monthly stack of mail came from our mail service. I have snuck a little fun in between. Friday afternoon I went to the pool hall and played with the ladies. It had been awhile since I had been there. We didn't take it seriously.

Thursday, February 10

This was sent to me by...Tailspin...Thanks, Ray
Of interest to Iowans:
1913 car made in Grinnell comes home
Now just a pile of parts, the Spaulding will be rebuilt for the new transportation museum
Fewer than 1,500 Spaulding automobiles were built in Grinnell between 1910 and 1916, and the only one known to exist is coming home to Iowa.

Don't expect to see the vehicle cruising the gravel roads of Poweshiek County anytime soon, however. The 1913 model car is no more than a few baskets of rusty parts being purchased for $12,000 from a car collector in Joplin, Mo.

Over the years, the vehicle had been converted into a wrecker, and then it was disassembled for use as a stationary power plant.
"We have about 60 percent of the original vehicle, including chassis, engine, drive train, a set of wheels, a pair of doors and other miscellaneous parts," said John Swanson, executive director of the fledgling Iowa Transportation Museum. The museum, which is acquiring the parts, is under development in Grinnell in buildings that once housed the Spaulding Automotive and Carriage Works.

The old Spaulding automobile's body, fenders and most of the interior will need to be fabricated before the car can be restored as a fully operational vehicle, Swanson said. He hopes to have the auto rebuilt by experts and put on display within about two years at a cost of $75,000 to $100,000.
Spaulding automobiles - 1,481 of them - were manufactured in Grinnell in the years before World War I. The Spaulding company was founded in 1876, and during its peak years, the Iowa factory produced 10,000 horse-drawn vehicles annually. The firm went out of business in the 1920s.

It once was common for automobiles to be manufactured in Iowa. Statewide, about 100 different types of cars have been produced, mostly prior to the 1930s, said William Johnson, a curator for the State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines.
Among Iowa's carmakers were brothers Fred and August Duesenberg, who built their first car, the Marvel, in Des Moines in about 1904. They eventually moved to Indianapolis, where they made luxury custom cars considered the most expensive in the world.

"The Spauldings were a very fine automobile, but they just didn't have the buyers," Johnson said. "Iowa didn't have a great population and they weren't doing a very good job of marketing, and other companies were far ahead in getting started."
The Spaulding parts are being sold by George Gagle, 58, a Missouri collector who owns 27 antique vehicles. He acquired most of the parts after they had changed hands several times among other rare car collectors.

Because different models of old automobiles often contain many similar parts, such as Timken axles and Rushmore headlamps, Gagle said it would be acceptable to use certain parts from other vehicles when restoring the 1913 Spaulding. He has been on the lookout for such interchangeable parts, although several years ago he obtained a pair of authentic Spaulding automobile doors from a seller in Forest City.
"I asked the guy if he had any more of the car than the doors and he said, 'No,' that was the only thing he had," Gagle said.

The delivery of the Spaulding parts, which is expected within a few weeks, will fulfill a dream of the founders of the Iowa Transportation Museum, said Gerald Schnepf of Des Moines, the museum board's president. They have scoured the country looking for old Spaulding automobiles, but they aren't aware of any others that exist.
"I think it's important to preserve these pieces of history," Schnepf said. "To me, this is a symbol of how we can show the real challenges of restoration, everything from metal work to woodwork, to painting and cloth work."


The well worn path to the Rio Grande River within the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge.

This is the changing room upon departure from the river. We saw two border patrol fellows on bicycles patroling the park. They have a never- ending thankless job.
This is a flotation device used to navigate the river.
Yesterday the Magnolia Bikers went to the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge to ride. This is the Rio Grande River where it was clearly visible where the 'illegals' entered and exited the river.

Tuesday, February 8

Here is Butch's panchos. What makes them panchos, instead of nachos? The tomatoes, onions and refried beans.
This looks like a wild bunch...not sure what happened with this photo
We went to Mexico today. Butch wanted a haircut and I wanted some nachos and a margarita at Garcias above the Canada Store.

Monday, February 7

I happened to get a head coldSmile! late Saturday. There are a few of you who know that really ticks me off! I do not have time to be laid up with a cold. Well, I did the Zicam number as soon as I felt it coming on and I am mucho better this evening. Butch and Bill are tied up with a water heater. I am sure they hope to be finished very soon.

Saturday, February 5

Lately I have been overbooking myself. I'll forget that I have said "yes" to one event and then say "yes" to another. Then having to say "no" to something. I think I need a secretary or hang a calendar around my neck. Today we are having company, friends Bill and Shirley Franey from the old home town of Jefferson Iowa and I said I would do the monthly garage sale. So Butch will have to be the lone host till around noon. I am sure he is up for the task...well,not really...he is still in bed! But he will be up for it soon. I am leaving him a sinkful of dirty dishes so he won't get bored.

Friday, February 4

Cheapskate Monthly Online

Those who know me probably think this website stole my idea!

Cheapskate Monthly Online
I haven't taken any new pictures in the last 2 days so I was browsing through my old ones and decided to post our wedding picture. July 25th 1959

Thursday, February 3

Wednesday, February 2

Taken over the west fence in 2004
This Amaryllis is one of the most perfect I have ever seen. This one was at Eula's house when the picture was taken.
Butch and Bill The Ropa Usada Experience. Ropa Usada (Translation-used clothing) is a unique south Texas experience. I liken it to a treasure hunt. There are several ropa usada places on south 23rd street in McAllen Tx. Tres Dimensiones is a favorite spot for many winter Texans and where we went this afternoon. There is mountain of clothes in the middle of the room. The routine includes climbing the mountain settling in and digging through the clothes. You are sure to find something that pleases and surprises you. After all of your treasures are gathered you take them to the clerk to be weighed and then pay your 20 cents a pound. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

Tuesday, February 1

Smile! Butch and I have been busy despite the cool and rainy week we are having. It's kind of put a damper on golf, shuffleboard, going for long leisurely walks and stopping to visit with folks on every corner. Butch and I must renew our drivers licenses this year so we decided to do that today. We got a start but needed several documents we didn't have with us so we will have to go back another day. Butch has his plane ticket to KC to join up with son Gary and drive to Colorado to join up with son Jason to ski. This will all come about in March. Nope, not I! I will stay in warm south Texas till the ol' guy comes to get me and our cozy little abode. Till next time...

Monday, January 31

A Little Trivia to get you started

Many years ago, in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven:
$6,400

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National
Monuments.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great
king from history:

Spades - King David

Hearts - Charlemagne

Clubs -Alexander, the Great

Diamonds - Julius Caesar

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If a statue in a park is of a person on a horse with both
front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one
front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?

A. Their birthplace

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have
to go until you would find the letter "A"?

A. One thousand

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield
wipers, and laser printers all have in common?


A. All invented by women.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?

A. Honey

My project is getting a good start. Swedish Weaving... I sure love doing it.
Jo Brooker's current project is nearly finished.

Sunday, January 30

This recipe is aptly named. They do not come any easier than this one. Crockpot Bachelor Roast

1 medium roast (any size, even the cheap, tough cuts)
1 can coca-cola
1 16 oz. bottle of ketchup (generic, or whatever is on sale)

Put all ingredients in crockpot and cook it for several hours until the
meat falls apart and your house smells great! The coke will break down
the tough fibers in the meat, so even the toughest comes out tender and
tasty. This recipe is good enough to serve to the best company, and
leftovers (if you have any) make good BBQ sandwiches.

Friday, January 28

We have been very busy since returning from the cruise. It seems that everyday is overly full. I am ready for it to slow down a bit. It has been fun though. Today I played pool from 9:00 to 1:00 to determine who goes to the valley olympics. It isn't me but it took 13 games to determine that! I thought it would take 3. Then we went to Mercedes to watch Marlene K. throw bean bags in a competition when Butch returned from his golf game. Weekends do slow down some and I am ready for some weekend slowdown. Till next time...Smile!