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!

Haircut

 I have a wonderful hairdresser in Iowa. She always does my hair just like I like it. I also had one here in Texas who lived in the park and was equally as good and very handy to have close. I should have known things are always changing and my friend and hairdresser decided it was time to hang it up. I always wondered how she could stand to be so busy. So now she is getting a well-deserved rest and is truly retired.

I tried a local place that was recommended and I went 3 times. I think that was a fair trial since I was unhappy with the cut three times. It takes me a while to decide if it will work or not. I never believe it is good to judge right away because your head and hair have to get together and decide if they will cooperate. They didn't. 

And then I caught wind of a woman in the park who in her working years owned 3 salons and taught at a cosmetology school and she was willing to cut hair for a donation. That sounded good to me so I made an appointment and I cannot praise her enough! I got up this morning, wet my hands, and ran them through my hair and I was ready for the day looking better than I have since leaving Iowa! It is amazing.

Her name is Rhonda and I was reminded of the song by the Beach Boys. The only part that applies is the title! Help Me, Rhonda!!! Her number is floating around the park and if you need it get in touch with me.

First Free Day

 I love waking up and thinking I have a "FREE DAY" meaning that I am not scheduled for anything. It hasn't happened in a long time. Today is the day! However, the 'should do's' start rearing their ugly heads. It's been a while since the floors have been vacuumed, lining up something for supper, catching up on the blog, looking over a stack of notes etc. I am thankful I have time for all that. I suppose if I didn't have anything to do I would be lost? Nope! I think I am quite good at entertaining myself.

Here is the latest thing to make me chuckle...

Pigmy Owl:

And here are a few pics I took this morning on our walk.