Bernie's Famous Fruit Cake

 My son reminded me today of Bernie's Fruitcake. We lived on Lake Panorama for a few years, and Bernie was our neighbor. He made this very delicious fruitcake every year, and it was something to look forward to. Turkey day is nearly here, and Fruitcake day is not far behind. I could write a whole blog entry about Bernie because he was a very special guy to us and all who knew him. I would ask Bernie for his recipe every season, and he would always say he would make it for me instead. Finally, he did give it to me. Bernie passed on quite some time ago, but his fruitcake will live forever.

Recipe:   Bernie's Fruitcake    12/16/2007

Category: Holiday

Author:   Bernie Craig

2 C Flour

1 1/2 C Sugar

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

4 eggs

3 T butter-room temp.

4 -8 oz. Jars Whole Maraschino Cherries (Drain 3 jars)

2 C Pecan halves or pieces

2 C Walnut halves or pieces

1 LB. Raisins

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Stir in eggs, one at a time. Add remaining ingredients one at a time in the order listed, mixing gently.

Pour into an ungreased tube pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Increase the heat to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Let cool in the pan, then remove. Wrap in foil or plastic and store in the refrigerator.

Allow 1 to 2 days for flavors to mingle before serving.

I never liked fruitcake until I tasted Bernie's. :-)

If you live close and decide to make it, I would love to have a slice and

think of our good friend Bernie Craig

Monarchs

 Monarchs migrate South to Mexico every year. Their route covers a large part of the migration through the Midwest, into South Texas, and on to Mexico. It is a magnificent thing and has been covered by many nature shows.

My son and his wife, Jason and Laura, are lucky to have a large number of Monarchs stop for a breather in their yard, and they enjoy the company as long as it lasts. 

Here we have had more fans with Dot and Wink. Wink recently passed, but Dot has carried on by paying attention and keeping them cared for as much as possible on their trip. Last season, Wink brought over a jar with a cocoon in it to happy hour, and we were able to watch the process firsthand. Wink built an "incubator" for them that made it more comfy for the Monarchs and easier for us to see what was taking place.

A few days ago, Dot brought over the incubator because a cocoon had opened and the Monarch was getting ready to use his new wings to head South, and we were lucky enough to be able to see it! 

Right before takeoff!

Childrens home

On Wednesday, six of us made our way to Reynosa, Mexico, to visit the Christian children's home. It was a wonderful day! So much happened and so much was learned!  I will do my best to convey it all to you. 

One of my first thoughts on reflection was that my boys and their wives would have enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Betsy was our tour guide. She runs the Thrift Shop in Pharr, Texas, that goes a long way toward supporting the home. She is also on the administrative team running the home. Betsy gives about 3 tours during the season, and we were lucky to be part of the first one this season. She did say she would be glad to do more if the interest was there. Six of us Trophy people met in the main hall and waited for Betsy to take us across the border in the Children's Home van. 

The trip across the border is a trip in itself. It is very different from going to Progreso

Betsy gave a whole different slant on it. She makes frequent crossings and has all the paperwork to speed it up. Reynoso is a city of over a million and continuing to grow. 

All of the houses have a reservoir on the roof. The reason for that is that citizens only have access to water 3 days a week, so they have to store it in order to have it on the other days of the week. When new houses are built, they do not include all of the plumbing and water connections that we take for granted. And yet they continue to build! This trip is filled with facts. 

The Children's Home is very secure, and without Betsy, we would not have been able to enter. It used to be a rural place, but Reynosa has grown so much that they are now on the edge of the city.

Bill D. is 6ft. 5 in. and the children looked him over thoroughly wherever we went. This photo was taken in the Art Classroom.

This is a small part of the family I enjoyed lunch with.

This is the whole group that lives together, plus the 3 of us visitors

The Dad of the group asked me if I wanted to play Bingo, and I said "yes". An aside to the question is that I always say 'yes' unless I have a very good reason for saying 'no'. So I read the numbers in English, and the Dad repeated them in Spanish. We played till all the numbers were covered.

There are local children who also go to school here, and the parents or guardians must pick them up after school. This is our group watching that happen.

On the ride home, we learned so much more! The traffic out of Mexico and back to the USA is an obstacle in itself. We waited over an hour to get back, and that is not a bad time.  The company was good, and the conversation was lively, which helped pass the time.

I will most likely remember things a bit at a time and will relate them as I remember them. Oh, yes! A boy about 10 years of age came up to me and patted my hair. I was sitting down. He then said "beautiful". I said "Thank you!" 

 

I did not have the Google Translate App on my phone. I do now, and when I do the trip again, I will make good use of it. I highly recommend getting it.

This might help guide you to the one that was recommended to me.

Google Translate - Apps on Google Play

Google Play

https://play.google.com › store › apps › details › id=com...

Translate between 108 languages by typing. Tap to Translate: Copy text in any app and tap the Google Translate icon to translate (all languages).

4.3(9,073,557) · Free · ‎Android · ‎Utilities/Tools

Turkey for 2

Turkey for Two
Did you have a meal with friends and family on the holiday and miss all the turkey and dressing leftovers at your house? Or there are just the two of you, and you do not want to cook a big ol' turkey for two people. I discovered an easy way to have it all. 

Grease the sides of your crockpot or use one of those nifty slow cooker liners. Place a small package of dry stuffing mix (StoveTop) in the bottom. Sprinkle with about a 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth. Slice an onion and dice a celery stalk, and layer them on top of the stuffing. Place a thawed Butterball 3-pound turkey roast (found in your grocer's freezer) on top of celery and onion. Cook on low all day or high for 5 or more hours, and you have the best of both worlds. A scrumptious turkey dinner for two with some leftovers if you are moderate eaters.

Elise

This lovely young woman is my great-granddaughter, Elise. ❤

Turkey Time!

 I post this every year for those folks who find themselves staying home for the big day. It is tried and true. Today I went to the BIG H.E.B., you know the one at the corner of Ridge and Cage? They have the Butterball Turkey with white and dark meat.

Turkey for Two
Did you have a meal with friends and family on the holiday and miss all the turkey and dressing leftovers at your house? Or there are just the two of you, and you do not want to cook a big ol' turkey for two people. I discovered an easy way to have it all. 

Grease the sides of your crockpot or use one of those nifty slow cooker liners. Place a small package of dry stuffing mix (StoveTop) in the bottom. Sprinkle with about a 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth. Slice an onion and dice a celery stalk, and layer them on top of the stuffing. Place a thawed Butterball 3-pound turkey roast (found in your grocer's freezer) on top of celery and onion. Cook on low all day or high for 5 or more hours, and you have the best of both worlds. A scrumptious turkey dinner for two with some leftovers if you are moderate eaters.

Taste of Home’s Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Ingredients
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup biscuit/baking mix
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
Whipped topping, optional
Read more:
Directions http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pumpkin-pie-pudding#ixzz3HYeQl3sp
In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker coated with cooking spray.
Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°. Serve in bowls with whipped topping if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

Happy Hour Discussions

 Happy hour every day from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, and then we go home. It has been said more than once that we should keep track of what we discuss because every day is a new adventure.

Yesterday I showed them my new toe socks. My toes are in love with each other, and when I walk, and I do a lot of it, my toes develop corns, calluses, and other interesting formations. I have tried lambs wool, Band-Aids, you name it. Toe socks are my newest and best solution.

Another one of our faithful contributors mentioned her newest hobby, String art rocks. It is intriguing! Don't we all need a new hobby? I sure like the idea. Whether I will have the impetus to get into it remains to be seen. Here is an example.

Our discussions take on many forms. The one above led to interesting rock formations. Petoskey Rocks were the next round of rock talk. 

Butch and I workamped in Northern Michigan one summer season. There was a gravel pit on my regular morning walk, and I discovered Petoskey rocks.

Found on the Internet in case you are interested. 

Petoskey stones are fossilized coral that were once part of a reef about 350 million years ago, now primarily found on the shores of Lake Michigan. They are characterized by a honeycomb pattern of six-sided corallites, the skeletons of the ancient coral polyps. These fossils are considered a prized rock for collection and crafts due to their distinct appearance. 

This is not an unusual occasion at Happy Hour. Personally, it is a refreshing part of my day, and I nearly always find out something I didn't know before.

Butch's Picture

This photo was taken in 2024 for the Trophy Garden directory. I was asked today for a picture of Butch to be put on the wall in the pool hall. I decided the easiest way for me to get it out there was to put it on the blog. He has a smile on his face in every picture I have of him!

Trivia a trifle short

Trivia was a trifle short of players last night. A good time was had by all who did come, and I will do a better job of advertising that we are back in business next week. Your next chance of having a great time with fun people in the main hall playing trivia will be next Tuesday night at 6:30 PM.

Candy took the above photo of me last night. I liked it. That is rare.

My thought for the day

I received word that another classmate has passed. Johnny Hamilton- Class of '61. I was writing a note to Alice, his wife, and came across the quote below. It rang a bell with me. I suppose it is our age, as most of us are in our 80s. Doesn't matter the age-it still hits you like a Mack truck when it happens. It has been two months now, and I can feel a slight lessening of the rollercoaster ride it has been.

Johnny was a big personality, and he will leave a hole not only among his family, classmates, and friends but far beyond that. If you have ever met Johnny, you will remember him. He was that kind of guy. 

My quote of the day.

• "A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water." — Eleanor Roosevelt 

Further South

 I made my first trip this season, with the Danielsons, further south to Mexico for a pedicure and lunch. It was great as always. It was busy, which seemed odd so early in the season. The little town of Progreso was all spiffed up. It appeared a great deal of effort was put into getting things tidied up and rearranged for all of us Winter Texans. I barely recognised it. We went down to see Hector, and I asked about the current prices of the meds I take daily. I was surprised to find there had been a significant drop in Xereleto, a blood thinner. Since April, it had dropped from $45 a month to $25. This is a med I checked on in Iowa because I was unsure I would be able to come down here, and wondered what it was going to cost. With insurance, it would cost me $247 a month!  I won't rant and rave about the highway robbery taking place in the U.S.  I will let you do that!

We returned to the park and took a nap before happy hour. It was a pleasant day.

Routine

I am developing a routine. Of course I am! It is human nature. My mail is getting here from Iowa at such speed that I have never seen before. I get previews of my mail. It is reassuring to know what is coming. It is a guess, but I think I will be able to wrap up the last of the loose ends soon.

I am still playing pool most days. It isn't going all that well. Time should take care of it.

Tonight is the first trivia session. There are lots of people who haven't arrived yet, so I expect a light crowd.

There are lots of adjustments to being single; some by choice, some by necessity. Time will take care of that, too.

Taken by me in 2012

Proof

 Well, I proved it once again! I can force myself to do things that give me small butterflies and chores I don't really want to do. I drove to the grocery store today for the second time. It may not be a big deal to you, but it is to me. :-) Do any of you remember this symbol for a smile in the early days of the Internet?  Just thought I would throw that in there.

This is not the entire cartoon; however, it is the part that made me smile.:-)

Time for an update

 I know it is time to touch base; however, not much is going on for me, and quite frankly, I am okay with that. 

I am playing pool every day at 1:00. That will change when more of the guys get here and fill up the pool hall. Then I will have to stick with Mondays and Tuesdays and find different slots of time on the other days. I know I can play with the men, and I am not opposed to it, and playing now and then is okay, but I can't see making a habit of it.

I planned on going to Mexico today with Gina and Carl, and then somebody opened the door to the northern tundra. Dropping from 95 down to 49 is nobody's idea of fun. Two days ago, the AC was working overtime, and today the furnace is doing the same. Oh, what a puzzling world we live in!

Today, my plan is to get trivia info up and running for the first official event next Tuesday night at 6:30 PM in the Main hall. Renie has agreed to step in and help train a new scorekeeper. It will be fun having her help me get started.

I really like pineapple! So the other day at the grocery store, I picked up some Pineapple soda on a whim. That purchase has led to a discovery. I have drunk 3 of the six that I purchased. I chose to indulge each of them at my supper meal. Every time I did was followed by a "multiple-trips-to-the-bathroom" night. I do not know if it is the chemicals or the carbination, or something else. The lesson is learned! Anyone want a Pineapple soda? I have 3 that are up for grabs.

I DID IT!

 This Sunday morning, I arose at my usual time of 6:00AM, waited till it was light outside, and ventured forth to the streets of Alamo, Texas, in my car! First stop was the Blue Wave Car Wash. After the windshield was replaced, they advised not to expose it to high-powered water for at least two days. I happily obliged because I didn't want to anyway. 😇 I waited till Sunday morning because traffic is much lighter than on any other day of the week. I am proud to announce that I washed the car, purchased groceries, and returned to my South Texas home without incident.

Most of the people who know me also know it has been a very long time since I drove anywhere. However, this past summer, I worked hard to get back to the confident driver I once was. Butch loved to drive, and I loved to let him. This is but one of the many changes that long-married couples deal with when one passes. I told myself I would do it when I had to, and now I have to. Done Deal!

Be OK - Song by Ingrid Michaelson

 Earlier this month, I went to the clinic for my usual exam before heading south. The song "Be Ok" was playing. I asked the receptionist if they were doing that just for me. She laughed and said, "No, but if you want to think so, it can be." It fit so perfectly for me, it has become a new favorite.

You can find it here:https://youtu.be/vpMI8Qu5fsc?si=0L8ZwWLD2H4zG5Mh

Settling in

 I am doing well in my southern home. There are enough of our closer friends here to keep me busy, so the days are going fast. 

Yesterday, I had the windshield replaced by SafeLite, and what a pleasant experience it was. The two fellows who were doing the work, and by some discounts, were able to save me a little over one hundred dollars. I appreciated their efforts. The speed and the quality of work were top-notch. 

Today I had the park model power-washed. It is something we do each season. I usually wait till our neighbors get here and schedule both of us at the same time, but this year I wanted to get the outside spiffed up quickly. It could be a little cooler, though. It is running in the low nineties. I hear it is supposed to cool off some next week.

So far things are going as expected and appreciated, smoothly.

Texas

 We arrived yesterday afternoon at about two. The travel went well except for the rock the size of a tennis ball that hit the windshield. Fortunately, it hit in the middle and high up, so it didn't impair vision. It was pretty scary when it happened. Jason saw it coming and ducked. It was loud.

When we pulled into our parking spot at Trophy, we were greeted with 3 large wasp nests across the front of the park model. Lots of wasp activity! I went to the office and made out a work order to have them sprayed. We then went to Dirty Al's Bayu Grill in McAllen for a very early supper. It was DEE-LISHUSS! 

When we came back, the manager had sprayed for the wasps. A neighbor told us it was a lively event!

Jason has done a good job of getting all the details taken care of to settle in. Butch had told him what would need to be done, and he remembered it.

We played pool for a while, but were too tired to really get into it.

Windshield:

Till next time!

Today's Greeting

 Jason and I will be headed for South Texas tomorrow. See ya'all soon. And to those I leave behind-See you next Spring!

Life goes on...

I tried to find a photo worthy of this post and finally settled on this one. This pampas grass and the sign are on the bike trail, a place I frequently take pictures. I haven't walked the trail in the past 2 days due to frigid temperatures. When it is in the forties in the early morning, I pass.

 I am slowly getting ready for the journey south. Jason and I have wrapped up the outside chores. Next week, we will wrap up the inside ones and head south. I am looking forward to it. This house has suddenly become too large. 

I don't mind being alone; in fact, I enjoy it. But it can be too much of a good thing, too. It will take me a while to find the balance of it all. The process will be good for me. I have always embraced change, and that will hold true. I do have plans. 

Till next time...