Visitors

 Our Missouri kids are here for a visit. Gary and Susan Brooker, Amanda Teeter and her two children, Elise 14, and Leo 11. We all have been busy. Yesterday we went to South Padre. Butch and I are familiar. We used to go down at least once a season and walk the beach, and eat shrimp at Dirty Al's. Covid changed many things and this is one of them as we had not been there since before covid. Maybe once with Renie and Alex but I do not remember specifically what year that was.

The kids love the beach so that is basically what we did. They have gone back today to do a bit more besides the beach. 

It is all about FEET!

Butch and I dressed for the sun but we forgot to protect our feet so we are struggling with sunburned feet. 

Put your right foot in...

Butch BEFORE the burn!

 

Butch Two Foot

GullOneFoot

Pic of the kids on South Padre: Gary, Elise and Leo.

Waiting for the wave!!

Leo, Elise and Amanda

Leo has a plan...

The Missouri Five

Elise in her happy place...the beach!

Time Flies

 I know it has been a while since posting. Life gets in the way. Living it is far more important than telling about it. One of lifes many lessons. However I do love sharing funny, unusual, interesting, informative happenings. 

Right now I have a pesky head cold and nothing changes your everyday life and brings you up short like a cold. Today is Tuesday and that is trivia night so I am going to have to make a decision about being healthy enough to do it myself or arrange for someone else to do it. It would be easy enough to hand it over. I have all the questions and answers ready and the activity directors have told me they would be glad to help. And I know Renie would help as well.  So....later!

Butch took me to Dirty Al's in McAllen for my birthday. There is no other shrimp in the world as good as Dirty Al's and I am not the first to say that! Linda and Darrel Millard went with us. My birthday was on the 6th and Linda's was on the 8th so it was a natural to share the occasion. That and they are good company! 

While we were at Dirty Al's a woman was helping her elderly mother to the restroom and she was unsure of its location so we pointed it out to her. When she came back she leaned in close to me and said, "I love your hair." I said thanks and then she asked if she could touch it. I said sure. I once had a hairdresser down here tell me my hair was soft as a bunny. My hair does seem to attract attention. Better that than other possible things!

The Missouri kids are coming down the end of this week. The last time they were here Amanda was twelve and now Amanda's daughter Elise is twelve! It will be a funfilled week.

Spring in Iowa 2024

 Jason sent me these photos taken in Boone Iowa on 3/13/2024! 

Daffodils

                                                    Rhubarb!!

                                                     Tulips!! Pella's big celebration will be in jeopardy.

Rhubarb!

 Rhubarb doesn't grow in the South. But it will be starting to peek its leafy head before long in the midwest. I have had a Rhubarb Pudding recipe for most of my life that was a must-make every Spring.

Here is the recipe from an earlier post;This is an old-time, all-time family favorite and one the whole family asks for every Spring. You cannot even imagine my relief in finding it. Like finding a long-lost friend. Thank you, Sherri Clark for sending me on the last of many searches for this recipe.

 Rhubarb Pudding

3 C. Rhubarb, Coarsely Chopped

1 C. Sugar

1/4 t Cinnamon

Dabs Of Butter

1 Egg

1 C. Flour

1/2 C. Milk

1 t Baking Powder

1 C. Sugar

[Note: Via Shirley Franey and Marian Feld. A very old family

favorite. ]

Place first 4 ingredients in a 8" x 8" pan. Mix together remaining

ingredients and pour evenly over rhubarb mix. Bake 45 min. at 350 deg.

 

And now!!!!! Here is the recipe for an upscale one I found today. It is similar to my old standby. I am anxious to try it. Butch will like it, that's for sure.

Magic Rhubarb Pudding Cake

Yield: 9 servings. Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

2 cups of rhubarb, chopped

1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup white sugar (for topping)

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup sifted flour

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2/3 cup boiling water

Directions

Cover the bottom of an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan with fruit.Mix 1/2 white sugar, brown sugar, butter, baking powder, salt, extracts, milk and flour together. Add a little more milk if it is too thick to pour; pour over fruit.

Instructions

Grease or spray an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish

Put the chopped rhubarb evenly in the baking dish.

Mix 1/2 cup of white sugar, brown sugar, butter, baking powder, vanilla, almond extract, milk, and flour. If batter seems too thick to pour over the fruit, thin it with a little more milk.

Pour the batter over the rhubarb. Make sure the batter reaches clear to the edges of the pan.

Mix the remaining 1 cup of sugar with the cornstarch. Stir well, so it's thoroughly combined.

Sprinkle the sugar/cornstarch mixture evenly over the batter.

Gently pour the boiling water over the sugar mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes. The top will be crinkled and crackled.

Have You Ever Thought About This?

In 100 years like in 2124 we will all be buried with our relatives and friends.

Strangers will live in our homes we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today. All our possessions will be unknown and unborn, including the car we spent a fortune on, and will probably be scrap, preferably in the hands of an unknown collector.

Our descendants will hardly know who we were, nor will they remember us. How many of us know our grandfather's father?

After we die, we will be remembered for a few more years, then we are just a portrait on someone's bookshelf, and a few years later our history, photos, and deeds disappear into history's oblivion. We won't even be memories.

If we pause one day to analyze these questions, we may understand how ignorant and weak the dream to achieve it all was.

If we could only think about this, our approaches, and our thoughts would change, and we would be different people.

Always having more, no time for what's really valuable in this life. I'd change all this to live and enjoy the walks I've never taken, these hugs I didn't give, these kisses for our children and our loved ones, these jokes we didn't have time for. Those would certainly be the most beautiful moments to remember, after all, they would fill our lives with joy.

Some of us waste it daily with greed, selfishness, and intolerance.

Every minute of life is priceless and will never be repeated, so take time to enjoy, be grateful for, and celebrate your existence.❤️

Salisbury Steak?

 There was a happy hour conversation about Salisbury Steak so I started perusing the Internet and came across this recipe. Sounds like a good one!

https://bellyfull.net/salisbury-steak-recipe/

2024 In-Park Olympics(Men)

 The winners of the Men's in-park Olympics for men are; First place winning gold Ron Beeksma, Second place winning silver Butch Brooker and Third place winning bronze Greg Dowhaniuk.

March 2024

By the Ides of March, the population of the park will be diminished. It is just the way of things and after all the years we have watched it happen we know how it goes, and it is okay.

I looked at the calendar and noticed it was Bill Stilson's birthday. Bill is gone now. He and his wife Kay were close friends of ours when we were in Magnolia. Kay is back in Iowa and we miss them both very much. I know she keeps track of us through the blog and we check in on each other once in a while...So Hi! Kay. Thinking of you today.

This is going to be one of those days where I will write randomly about whatever pops into my mind. The daily happy hour: Some people have a misconception about Bill and Sandi's happy hour. Everyone is welcome. It takes place from 4:00 to 5:00pm daily. Bring your own drink. No politics or gossip. It has been my experience that the knowledge obtained is priceless. You will find answers to nearly every question you may have. Some days are a history lesson of the park, while others are local places to find the best food. Somedays we just laugh...and laugh from the funny stories of our youth. I really enjoy happy hour.

Looking through old files in my laptop. Lable on the file was Articles of Interest. Here is a sample. Number 17 puzzled me a bit.

For boys and men.

Today’s thought

“And that’s the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.” ―Khaled Hosseini

I took my super-duper camera with me this morning and photographed the moon in the western sky.

Also taken this morning...

Looks almost real!

Oranges are real! and this was taken this week (2/23/2024)

Mars? YES, MARS.

 I came upon this photo of Mars. It is a NASA photo taken by Mariner 9 easily found on the Internet. It is the clearest photo ever taken of Mars. This was on Facebook. Being an amateur photographer, it caught my eye. I have a Nikon P900 camera and I have taken many close up pictures of the moon.

Below are photos I have taken of the moon with my Nikon P900...Read on...It is worth a click for the moon pic. At least I think so!

https://blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3952739/7349726570977869514

I took those pictures myself with my own camera. What is your point, you might say.  I started reading the comments under the Facebook photos of Mars and was shocked to see the number of posts claiming those photos were fake! Now I know you can't fix stupid but this got under my skin and I contemplated posting facts myself on Facebook trying to educate the uneducated but an old saying comes to mind.  "You do not have to show up to every fight you are invited to."  However, I do own a blog and I can post as much truth as I want. Thanks for your patience. Barb Brooker

More Craft Expo Photos

 The talent and dedication to craft in Trophy Garden is remarkable. Enjoying the warm clime and sunlight is far from being all we do here.

The little tea set in the top photo is a zoom-in of the Tea set below.

Gary Gibson, Instructor

All that art and Walking Tacos too!!

The two pieces below are the unfinished work of Linda Paige and Diane Ringen who took up Swedish Weaving exactly one week earlier. Lessons are being given every Thursday evening at 7:00 by Marg Sturm. One of my afghans is partially visible on the far left.

Quilting is not only big in Trophy Gardens; It is HUGE!

The woodworking is also huge and the quality of the work will blow your mind!

Stained Glass also has some dedicated artists. I might add that the instructors are always ready to teach new people. Everyone has been a beginner themselves.

And then...

Trophy Women's Tournament

The tournament started last Tuesday. There were only six women players. I was a bundle of nerves and lost my first match. A match is  2 out of 3 games. I had to sit for a long time for my next match and I had settled down by then and won that one. We had an issue with slow play, so they decided to continue the tournament to next Tuesday. The slow play issue will be discussed. Hopefully, it will not be an obstacle next time. There is a Billiards book rule to define it. Bottom line; I am still in the mix.

and then the second half of the Trophy Men's singles took place on Wednesday and Butch didn't get in the top of that one.

Wednesday night we went to a square dance, the second one we have attended. We have continued to go to lessons but have passed on the dances with only one exception.  It felt like old times! I am not in much of a hurry to add one more activity but it seems it has happened. The plus side is that it increases the physical and mental capacities at the same time and that is a huge bonus! They will be starting beginner lessons next January in Alamo Palms. Hopefully, we can get some new people enthused from Trophy Gardens to go with us. My next thing will be to retain the physical and mental capacities I have gained when I return to Iowa.

Today the feature in the park is a craft expo. 

These are random pictures I took during the Craft Expo.

This is the last Swedish Weaving project I did.

Bill Danielson's Stained glass projects.

Sandi Danielson, instructor of Diamond Art. Monday night at 7:00 in the craft room.

Renie Stinson's quilt project.

Diamond Art

Betsie Brown's incredible and diverse talent!

The amount and quality of talent in Trophy Garden is mindboggling!!

Starting in Reverse

 This is the time of year when it starts turning around. Come the first of March and sometimes sooner people start returning to the Northern parts. As February fades and March marches in people will start disappearing. We have watched it happen for nearly 20 years now; back to their other life.

We won't be leaving for a while. Mid-April is when we venture north and even then it often could be warmer up there. Both of our lives, our summer lives and our winter lives appeal to us and we in turn look forward to both.

So this last week of February is loaded with things to do. Today is square dancing at noon in Alamo Palms with new friends Diane and Dean Ringen and old friends Terry and Lisa Linder. And then Diane and I will head to the pool hall to catch the last hour of ladies day. I have a pool board meeting at 3:00 followed by happy hour at 4:00 with Bill and Sandi Danielson and whoever else can make it.

Tomorrow is Women's in-park pool competition; followed by Trivia at 6:30. The trivia people will be anxious to be there after missing last week due to a scheduling conflict that didn't happen.

The rest of the week slows down a bit for us and that is a good thing.

Really?

 This was part of a comedy skit in the main hall. This was one of the musical instruments; I thought it was funny!

Gelman Stained Glass Museum

 Gelman Stained Glass Museum 411 Virgen de San Juan Blvd, San Juan, TX 78589

I went to the Stained Glass Museum with the Linders. It is one of many places to visit in the Rio Grande Valley. And I know from experience you cannot see them all in one season. In fact, it takes several seasons.

Here are some photos from the trip:

This one was in the ceiling of the entry.

When you first step into the main room...

This guy caught my eye...wonder why?

The pipe organ that is very large. None of the photos do it justice.

Catching up with the Brookers

 We both have been steadily engaged in many activities. January and February are the two busiest months of the year for us in South Texas. When we left Magnolia I made a vow to myself that I would not be as heavily scheduled when we were in Trophy. At times it is a struggle although I am not nearly as busy as I could be if I continually said "yes". Having too many interests is definitely part of it. I enjoy doing the things we do very much. Monday, we square dance at noon in another park. I can still get in an hour or so of pool when we come home even though I arrive late. Tuesdays are my busiest day. Pool is from 1:00 to 3:00 for me and then trivia from 6:30 to 8:30PM. Butch goes to the pool hall on Tuesday nights to practice up for Wednesdays.  Butch is tied up with pool on Wednesdays and it is my day off. I say it is my day off but I do have to get next weeks trivia questions put together and do household chores. Thursday is a day off for both of us and that is when we do things outside the park, like go to Mexico, shopping and appointments etc. Fridays is a big pool day for Butch. Enough already!

I plan to go to the Stained Glass Museum with the Linders tomorrow. I plan to take my camera and I hope they allow photos. Photography has been mostly on the back burner. I do not count phone pics as photography. There is a definite difference when compared.

Thursday night I am going with a couple of friends to a Swedish Weaving class. No, I am not teaching it. There is already someone doing the teaching and I will be a helper, gladly.

So I have given you a peek into what's happening with us. 

Going through some old photos: 

Guessing on age...Butch at 17.

.

Barb at 15

Pool Hall results for Mixed Doubles

Our friends may notice that neither I nor Butch made it to the winner's circle this week. I do not know what Butch's reason is but mine is that I have been in a slump. I am ready for it to go away. Oh well....we will try again next week! It was fun anyway as we were among friends.

Sunday Pool Hall Event 2/11/2024

Mixed Doubles Pool

Each team played eight games to determine the winner this week.

Coming in first this week with 

 7 Wins were Mel Hokkala and Bob Nance

6 Wins -Barb Utech and  Greg Dowhaniuk

             Bev Mcenaney and Darrel Millard

5 Wins were Arja (?) and Joe Chambers

See you next Sunday for another chance to meet people and have fun. The sign-up sheet is inside the pool hall just right of the entry. Expertise is not a requirement!