Up Close

Good parrot pictures can be a bit challenging. I tweaked this one a bit but if you click on it it will be very close. I took this one outside our motorhome. I was standing less than 10 feet from our front door.
 

Wild Parrots

 

Jo and her centerpiece

Jo Brooker at Craft Class assembling her pine cone centerpiece. 18 of us made them and they will be placed on the tables for Christmas after which we can take them home.

Family is here

Bill and Jo are here. They arrived yesterday around noon. And Marlene and Bernard are in Harlingen. It was Marlene who called about her mouse! I did not recognize her voice. So we ran over with a spare mouse for her to use.
So a family gathering should be happening soon.

Always Busy

It seems every time I find a few minutes to post here it pops into my mind how busy we are. Butch is still getting numerous electrical calls and I am getting the computer ones. Yesterday a gal called and left a voicemail telling me she was having trouble with her mouse. Trouble is she didn't leave her name. Her voice was very deep. That is my only clue as I deleted her voicemail before realizing I didn't have a name. Oh well, I assume she will get it fixed or call again.
Yesterday we (Leslie Cleaveland and I) made over 30 omelets in a bag for Saturday morning breakfast. They want us to offer them once a month because they are a hit. It was mighty tasty and an easy way to handle eggs for a large group.
Bill and Jo Brooker are due to arrive today and I have a feeling Marlene and Bernard Kelley are headed for Harlingen too. We have been having cool weather so their transition won't be as severe as in years past. We will have to schedule a family get together ASAP. But not to Mexico.
There was a big drug cartel shooting in Progreso on the welcome back winter Texans celebration day (last Saturday). Several people from Magnolia were down there when it happened. Floyd and Lucy Shaeffer were on the street when the shooting started and a store owner pulled them in and then lowered their metal doors. They all got on the floor and could hear the bullets hitting the metal door.
The Mexican military killed 3 or 4 drug cartel guys. No Americans or Mexican civilians were hurt in the fight which is some kind of miracle. The Mexican military were firing AK7's. Several of them were injured and hospitalized. The bad guys were shooting back.
Right now you can throw a rock on the main street and not hit a gringo. Some are going down but it is eerily quiet down there. Toomire went for Kitties cigarettes and he said it was VERY quiet.
I need some meds but haven't worked up the nerve to go yet. I suppose I will in time.
Those poor people down there are getting even poorer.
The town of Progreso had been spared all the drug cartel fights till now.

Iowa's Big Storm

From Leo outside Jefferson Iowa. Those sundogs do not appear until it is very frigid!


We keep track of the weather up there in the lands of snow and cold and we reminisce of storms from the past...and the memories are enough for us!!

The two pictures below were gleaned from the online Des Moines Register site. When these big boys get stopped everyone is stopped!

New job

We have taken on a new job here in Magnolia Park. We have agreed to be an after hour and weekend contact persons. We would help people find a spot...if there is one. Answer questions...call emergency people if needed etc. It is a position we saw a need for and offered our services. We are being compensated in an appropriate way for what will be expected. So we are workkamping once again!

As promised

Here is my mother's day cactus in its new home.

Bits and Pieces

Still trying to get warmed up after our cold spell. We participated in the garage sale yesterday and did well with the few items we had for sale. Gained a bit more space in the motorhome but it will fill up fast as it always does.
We picked up a new Verizon phone on Friday and it has a qwerty (full keyboard) so it would be easier to text if we choose and I am not at all sure how much we need to text. I have a computer and to me it seems like duplication of services. It also has a camera and we can send and receive pictures. The Iowa kids said they sent us 2 pictures but they haven't shown up yet in my phone that I can find. Something amiss there. The phone is enough like a computer that I am finding it easier to navigate than the old phone. I sold the old phone on the garage sale for $3.
Butch has been having fun on ebay. He purchased a new driver after much bidding and watching and losing. He finally won. y i p p e e.
I am in touch with several Swedish weavers I have met online. And next Wednesday a few of us are having a gathering in our park. Let's see...originally one is from Michigan, one from California and one from Missouri. The Internet can be a wonderful thing. Oddly enough someone at the garage sale had an old Good Housekeeping needlework book and I looked it over for Swedish weaving and found a few pages on it. I have the book now and we should have fun with that on Wednesday.
Caught up for now...

Bless this Kibble...

We are about to receive.

Busy Buzzin'!

Butch and I have both been busy. In the last two days I have had 3 computer repair calls and Butch has had a couple of electrical calls. Butch has been busy cracking and eating pecans we picked up on Pecan Plantation. I made homemade laundry soap. You can find the recipe and products at the following website.
http://www.soapsgonebuy.com
A friend gave me a sample because she uses it too and I love it. The clothes are so soft and that is a problem here due to hard water. It is a bit of a challenge to get it made in the motorhome because of space and container issues but I am going to try it for awhile and see what I think.
Today we plan to go to McAllen shopping. We are due for an upgrade on the phone. I spotted a fiber optic Christmas tree I would like to buy at Target. Butch wants to go to Sports Academy and we need a few groceries.
Tomorrow we have to set up for our annual garage sale. Annual for us, monthly for many in the park. The actual sale is on Saturday and it will be a success because it always is!!
Till next time...or when things slow down a bit. Whew!!!

Surprise!

Drum roll please....Our granddaughter Amanda and her husband Brad are expecting a wee one next Spring. This time we may be in the vicinity (Midwest) for the event.
All of our kids are grandparents now...Wow...who knew it would come to this way back when.

The Cactus

The cactus has a story. A few years ago, probably 3, the kids bought me a cactus for Mothers Day. It grew nicely and eventually needed to be repotted. Butch,believe it or not, found the perfect pot for it. It thrived in this pot and now needs a new home. Yesterday we went not quite to Mexico where they sell pots and purchased another perfect pot. I will move it into its new home today. An updated picture will follow.

Thanksgiving

Yesterday Butch and I had a work day. He was doing electrical work for Max who is refurbishing an old mobile home for resale. It is mostly finished. I got the grand tour yesterday for a quarter which I haven't paid as yet. It will make a very nice winter home for some as yet unknown buyer.
I cleaned house and it was long over due. I washed bedding and hung it out to dry. Later then I had to rush out to rescue it when I noticed black Texas snow. A sugar cane field was being burned off and when they do that we get drifting black ash. It stains everything it touches. The good news about it is that it smells like cotton candy you get at the fair. There is an upside to everything which brings us around to Thanksgiving. Giving thanks is a habit for me. Cannot say that has always been true but certainly for the last few years. Every day brings so much to be thankful for it cannot even be counted. So take time today to give thanks for all the great food on the table but also for the thousands of other things too. Some of which may not even cross your mind.
Thanks to all who read this. It warms my heart to know you are out there and think enough of us to care what we are doing. I care about you too and if you email me or start your own blog I promise to read it and be thankful for it.

How to Brine a Turkey: 5 steps (with video) - wikiHow

Interesting...and I may have tried this when I was younger and more adventurous but I think I will do my crockpot turkey again this season instead.
How to Brine a Turkey: 5 steps (with video) - wikiHow

Hard to believe

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is nearly here. It is my favorite holiday. I love the food. You can tell that by looking at me but that really isn't why it is my favorite holiday. I love it because of the meaning behind it. Being grateful and thankful for all that we are blessed with in our lives. Taking time to express that gratitude and all that it means. For me every day is Thanksgiving. My gratitude list is exceedingly long.

For SMR People...

And those who live in Colorado.

Snow Mountain Ranch Volunteers: You're from Colorado if...

Sweet!!

Ethan's First Birthday!


He loves birthday cake!!!

Humdrum

No AC this morning! It is a nippy 45. But it is supposed to warm up to the high 70's today. Tuesdays are a busy day for us. We have coffee hour at 9:30 and being an officer of the park association my attendance is required. Golf starts at 11:00 and it is a few miles away so Butch wants to head out at 10:30. We are usually through golfing about 1:30. That includes some social time at the clubhouse. It can be even later when we have more golfers participating. That puts us back in the park by mid afternoon but also puts me in the mood to put my feet up and forget it...bear in mind a morning and afternoon walk in addition to the walking on the golf course. We always try to make the two walks mandatory regardless of how much other walking has taken place. When it comes to walking more is better!
Today Butch plans to get some electrical work done for a couple of folks. I plan to get a haircut. I will have Yolanda do it this time. Kate is my favorite but she is in Atlantic IA. Butch does an okay job in a pinch.
I also have a couple of computer assistance calls to make. One will not take long. The other could be lengthy since she has a new computer.
So now you know what we are up to...not much!!

AC

We have had the air conditioner running the past two days but it looks like we can shut it off today with highs in 70's. The weather has been superb since we arrived. The only negative is the bugs. They thrive in this warm, moist environment and the chiggers are the worst! I spray OFF! on my feet and legs every morning before I head out the door.
The only thing that will take care of them is bug spray or a cold spell. We usually get at least one cold spell during the "season" and it usually happens in December or January sometimes but rarely in February. After the cold spell we have Spring!

Picked it up

We picked up Butch's computer this morning and I spent a fair amount of time getting it set up for him. So he is back to having his own to play games and check his email. He does check it more often when it is on his own computer. That doesn't mean he will answer anything just so you know.
It is a cute little thing and hasn't given us any challenges yet. Seems to be zippy enough and Windows 7 doesn't appear to be that much different. I found my way around without a hitch. It doesn't have a ton of hard drive so I do not plan to use it as back up for this one. I have an external hard drive for that tucked safely away. Oops...it does need to be updated. How easy it is to forget that!!
I do not have any idea what I did to this one to make it straighten up and behave itself but it is working fine. I have no plans to make a change until I am forced to. Setting one up for Butch is a whole different ball of wax than setting one up for me.

Butch has a new one

I finally purchased a new computer for Butch. He will have a Samsung Netbook once we go pick it up from Best Buy. He would get enmeshed in Freecell and Spider Solitaire and I would have to scoot him off to get my stuff done. He also missed his settings on his computer-the ones to get him to his financial sites and jigzone and his gmail which he probably hasn't looked at for a month or more.
So after I get it set up for him he will be back in business. Should be most interesting...it has Windows 7!

Reseeded

They reseeded the greens at the golf course Butch likes to play best so he hasn't been able to golf much.
Also there aren't that many people here yet. Much lighter in numbers than in years past at this time. Not sure that will hold true all season.
I know of an RV for rent if someone wants to come down. Email me and we can see about details.

Fun in the sun

We tend to get in somewhat of a rut while here...Tuesdays is golf...Fridays is computer class etc. But what that means really is that life is rolling along smoothly. We both feel well and are doing what we enjoy doing. What more could anyone ask for.

Butch has been doing some electrical work. I have had a few computer calls. We get our two plus miles of walking in every day. Life is good!!

Misting

We are getting a mist of rain today. So we are listening to an audio book. Angels and Demons. More Butch's cup of tea than mine.
This was taken this morning on Cherry street.

Sugar, Sugar

This is a sugar cane field. Not ready for burning just yet.

This truck was on the expressway loaded with cane. I assume it is headed for the factory where it is extracted.

Solar Oven

So how neat is this!!! I am thinking I would like to have one but I am also thinking I will be told there is no room. Neat though and very interesting.

http://www.solarovens.org/

Chicago Hot??

Note* I obtained this recipe from an August 1955 Workbasket Magazine. it
interested me because of a similar one I put together last winter. The salt content
worries me a bit but I plan to cut the recipe in half and try it.

Recipe: Chicago Hot
Category: Relish
Author: Mrs. Theodore Edner-Minnesota

8 C Tomatoes, cut fine
1 C Salt
2 C Onion, cut fine
3 C Celery, cut fine
2 Red and
2 Green Peppers, cut fine
2 C Sugar
1/2 C Mustard Seed
1 qt Cider Vinegar

Let tomatoes and salt stand, covered overnight. In the morning, drain well and add
onions, celery, peppers, sugar, mustard seed and vinegar. Mix, heat to boiling and
can in sterilized jars.

Snippets and a ladybug

You know how you accumulate little scraps of this and that- a meter reading- a recommended book title-tax info that needs filed-recipes- a recommended website ,etc. Well today I started sorting through this scrap pile and ran across a receipt for a package I had mailed on 8/31. It had included a check so went to check out if it had been cashed and it had not so followed up on that and asked for a picture of precious little Nina Grace Cortes while I was at it and got very lucky. This is Nina Grace with her Grandma Donna. You just never know where things may lead you on any given day.

Tuesdays in Texas

Golf is so much a part of Butch's conversation that sometimes someone will ask me if I play. I usually respond with "On Tuesdays in Texas". So I played yesterday and shot a 41. The first 3 holes I didn't do so well but it improved after that. There were 4 of us from the park who played. That number will expand as the season progresses. I think we had as many as 28 last year.

Warm and Wonderful

The weather has been wonderful and the ten day forecast promises more of the same. This picture that I took was through our south window of a mesquite tree with a reflection of a palm tree from the north window. Interesting concept, don't you think? Click on it to make it bigger to get the full effect.

It seems

It seems many of my friends have gone to Facebook. I do have a Facebook page but I have no plans to abandon this blog for it and it remains sparse. Our news and updates will remain here. I find Facebook chaotic and confusing and I am way too busy to "farm" or even help others out with their "farming". Scrolling down to find messages I want to know about is like sorting through spam. The only time I check facebook is if I get a reminder in my email and I may respond at that time. It is easy for me to see who reads the blog and who doesn't...maybe I should just go back to email only.
Hmmm perhaps I awoke on the wrong side of the bed this AM.

Butch went to the flea market. Looking for new golf clubs. Like that is going to help.
Geez...I am grumpy!
This too shall pass....

Plunked

When we arrived on Wednesday we felt as though we had been plunked into a hot humid day in the middle of August in Iowa! I haven't sweat that much for a long, long time! And the wind doth blow!! But now a cold front has made its way down and we are considerably cooler. Not supposed to exceed the low seventies today.
Yesterday we went to Mexico for meds. Progresso hasn't changed although they are digging up the street in the first block and replacing sewer pipes. Are they doing it safely? Well no, Mexico hasn't changed that much! We didn't stick around long just grabbed our meds and scooted back to USA. They were being very thorough on the check of the guys ahead of us but we sailed right through the border check. On our return we decided to go to Gonzales Burgers before the crowds get here. We were too late!! The place was packed and we waited just as long as we always do. Butch and I shared a burger and it was plenty for both of us. The prices have gone up though. A humongous cheeseburger is now $4.10.
It takes us a bit to settle in for 5 months and we are not fully settled but we are making progress.

Arrived in the Rio Grande Valley

We have arrived in very warm,windy sunny South Texas. We are settled in Magnolia Park. I must say not many people are here yet but a little down time before the deluge starts suits me just fine. I will put the time to good use getting ready for a busy winter.
Our trip down started with a bit of excitement of the negative sort. We use a brake buddy on our car. For the uninitiated, it is a device in the car that puts the brakes on in the car when Butch puts the brakes on in the motorhome. It is an additional safety device. Well the little bugger failed and not in a good way. The brakes came on in the car and stayed on!! Fortunately Butch noticed rather quickly as we have a device in the MoHo that lights up when the brakes in the car come on and we were able to exit I-35 and attend to it. We disconnected it and continued on our trip without incident...except for the wind. 40 MPH headwinds all day. But we are here!!! We saw this H.E.B. truck and took the advice. We went to the store first thing!



We had a fun time in Canyon Lake with the Linders. Butch and Terry played the Fling L golf course in Bandera TX while Lisa and I explored the town of Bandera. It is full of cowboys,bikers(the Harley type) and old people. It is a very interesting town indeed. I took a photo of an artist who was working in the senior center thrift shop. She had on very interesting pants.

Rain Day

Yesterday was a rain day so we spent it in San Antonio. We enjoyed a shopping expedition with friends Terry and Lisa Linder. It poured rain all day but with the promise of sun and dry for Tuesday it didn't seem too bad. Butch and Terry have golf plans for today.

Movin on down

We left the Pecan Plantation and our friends Mike and Sharon Bryce and moseyed on down the road to Canyon Lake TX...north of San Antonio.

When we open the door of the MoHo and hear the twirling chirp of grackles we have arrived in sunny South Texas!

Swedish Weaving Class-Granbury Texas

I met Cindy a few years ago online through a Swedish weaving site on Yahoo. I met her in person last year about this time. I told her we were in the area and she told me about her class so I stopped in yesterday afternoon.

Shortly after this photo was taken Cindy poked herself with a very large needle (the blood really spurted!)and had to go for medical attention. So our visit was cut short but Cindy is okay and will live to weave again.

Rain, Rain and More Rain

It rained all day yesterday and all night last night. There is standing water everywhere. Our home is on somewhat of a gravel pedestal so we didn't have any immediate worries. I know it was in excess of 3 inches of rain perhaps closer to 5 inches.
But today the sun has finally made a reappearance. Yippee!! We need to get ourselves outside for some exercise. And perhaps we can do some touristy things without getting wet.

Deer

The deer are plentiful on Pecan Plantation

Our son Gary

This is a great picture of our son Gary- the Missouri son.

Situation

Here is the situation as we have it right now. We are located at the Pecan Plantation Campground near Granbury Texas visiting friends Mike and Sharon Bryce. Our Internet connection exists but it is weak, slow and intermittent. I am able to check mail and do basics. Our Verizon phone connection is always or nearly always searching for signal which draws our battery down very quickly. So to reach us it is probably best by email while we are here. And we are not sure how long that will be. I can make phone calls however. The whole situation is a little weird.
They tell us it is really hot yet in the valley and the weather is nearly perfect where we are so we find ourselves in the midst of a balancing act. So while we are in limbo bear with us. I hope you blog checkers still check in and I will continue to try for daily posts but if I do not, you will know I ran into a technosnag(my word).
We arrived here about 10:30 this morning and Butch and Mike headed for the golf course shortly thereafter while Sharon and I visited the afternoon away.
Sharon made Runza Casserole and pecan pie bars for supper so you know Butch was in heaven. Golf and his favorite casserole and dessert to boot.
Tomorrow it is supposed to rain so not sure what we may be doing...but it will be fun for sure.

Parade Chickens

It was way too cold for us to go to the parade yesterday so we watched on tv and I took photos just like I was really there. No, the quality is not as good but we were much warmer. When the parade was about 2/3rds done it really poured! That made our decision even more sane!
Here is the slideshow!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Oops!

Butch just checked our "repair" on the fridge. We will be sticking around in Carthage until it is really fixed.

Maple Leaf Festival & Parade?

Maple Leaf Festival & Parade take place this morning in Carthage Mo and we seem to find ourselves in this area every year. Creatures of habit, aren't we all. Last year was chilly and damp but we went anyway because it is such a nice parade. One of the best we have ever seen. This year it is dark, dank and just plain COLD. We will most likely pass on it this year. Butch is still in bed for one thing and it takes us longer and longer to get ready to go anywhere. But more so the cold. It does not take much of it for me to go into hibernation. I received an email from an online Swedish weaver acquaintance who winters in La Feria TX every winter and she is in her Texas spot and says it is HOT. I am ready for some hot.
Yesterday we kept our appointment to have our refrigerator looked at. I was getting condensation around the door to the point where I needed a rug there to catch the drips. It was a simple fix. Something was not making a connection. Now it is and no more drips. Simple if you know what the problem is!
Tomorrow our Missouri kids are coming to see us before we leave the show me state for warmer climes. Monday AM will find us on the road aimed at Texas. Earlier than usual rather than later actually.
Till next time...

My Cousins Slideshow

My Cousins Slideshow of the Pacific Northwest-Photographer Howard Zimmerle
Way to go, Cuz. I am impressed.


The Pacific Northwest

Helpful Steps to Prevent the Swine Flu

In addition to the article below I want to mention a neti-pot. Butch has had trouble with allergies for several years and has taken medication for it. I have had a problem in the last few years and particularly in South Texas. We have started using a neti-pot. It is simple and easy to do although it can seem a bit daunting to begin with but after the first time or two it is easy...very easy. Butch has stopped taking the allergy meds entirely. Wal-mart carries the neti-pot we purchased. It is made by Neil Med. I used to use saline nasal spray with limited success. This is much much easier and more pleasant. Your sinus and nasal passages feel so clean and refreshed after using the Neti-pot.
www.NeilMed.com

Helpful Steps to Prevent the Swine Flu

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1, in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):



1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).


2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*


5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits).. *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.


6.* Drink as much of warm liquids (Tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the rever

Chili Weather

Rained most of yesterday, still dark, dank and dreary today. They are promising sun tomorrow afternoon. But highs are not expected to be above 55 whether we have sun or not. I do not mind a few days like this but a few is all I like.
I need to get back to walking and hope to do that today rain or no rain.
The park is full so there is plenty to watch. It is like being at the zoo. People are funny and do the funniest things.
We had chili last night for supper. Every cook I know has their own special chili recipe. Here is mine:
Barb's Chili
1 lb hamburger,browned and drained
1/2 large onion chopped
1 can Mrs. Grimes or Bush's Chili beans
2 cans Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chillies (one hot and one mild)
8 oz. can of V-8 or tomato juice
1 T. brown sugar

Combine ingredients in a crockpot and let simmer 6-8 hours
Sometimes I add green pepper,grated carrots or different kinds of beans. Butch prefers I use 2 cans of Ro-tel hot diced tomatoes. I also double this recipe if we are having company or I want leftovers.

Carthage MO

Arrived in Carthage yesterday around noon. Butch started washing the MoHo almost immediately! Been talking about it for months but yesterday was thee day. The water is exceptionally soft here. It always amazes me.
We are paid up for a week and then we do not know for sure. May decide to stay a bit longer or move a bit further south. We may make that decision on Friday when we have our appointment for the MoHo. In the mountains I was getting what we assumed were grease stains on my clothes when I washed them. They always had the same pattern and Butch was sure it was the washer. After we called for this appointment Friday it hasn't done it since. And then we were also having condensation around the refrigerator door, enough to make a puddle. That has let up also I assume due to less humid weather. So these two tenuous things are what our appointment is all about. So the outcome is also tenuous.

The Maple Leaf Festival is this Saturday in Carthage. It seems we are always in the area when that happens. Last year the weather was 'see your breath cool' and the forecast is for the same this year. It is always a good photo op though and they always have an excellent parade.