Magnolia Album on Webshots

I posted all the pictures I have taken so far this season on webshots. I will add more to this album as I take them. Feel free to go to the site at any time to view photos.
Click on picture below to go to the album.


by barbie1943

Christmas Eve Program

Joanie Kent- Our Christmas Eve MC

The 12 Days of Christmas

An abundance of enthusiasm...Most of it from Ambrose!

The 12 Days of Christmas

It is becoming a tradition on the Christmas Eve program and we are all improving with age.

Crafty Ones

Judy Hunt (not pictured) spearheaded a pinecone wreath project for craft day. Several women chose to make one, me included. Bob Hendry spent several hours assisting Judy in the preparation of the oodles of Canadian pinecones it took to do the project.

Crafty Ones

Carmen


Mary P. (caught with her eyes closed)


Kathryn H.

Non-Denominational Church

Joan Kent plays a hymn while the minister prepares to give his sermon.

Non-Denominational Church every Sunday morning in Allen Hall at 8:45 AM

Kiki

Neil and Julia's fur baby Kiki

Rio Grande Valley ToDo List

I am going to need some help with this list. We have friends coming in February and we need a somewhat thorough list of things to do. I thought I had one all made up but I cannot seem to lay my fingers on it. I am going to start it and be as complete as I can be so help me add to it please. And you folks who are no longer coming down please send me an email to tell me what you most miss about the Rio Grande Valley. In no particular order...

1. South Padre Island
a. Beach walk
b. Dirty Al's
c. Pirate's Landing
d. Kite Festival (January 31st, 2009)
e. Port Isabel- The Shrimp boats is a comin'

2. Basilica at San Juan
http://www.sanjuanshrine.org/
Even if you are not Catholic this is worth a stop.

3. Nuevo Progreso, Mexico
Everyone has a favorite place to eat/shop so go on down and develop your own favorites.

4. Pepe's on the River- A thatched roof bar right on the Rio Grande River. Great Food and Music. A fun place to gather with friends. Located south of Mission TX

5. Ropa Usada- means used clothing in Spanish and there are several places south on 23rd street out of McAllen where bargain hunters load up with used items for pennies a pound. An experience not to be missed.

6. Los Ebanos hand-pulled Ferry. This is not a highly touted tourist attraction. You can ride the ferry across the Rio Grande by car, bicycle or on foot and then it is about a mile to the first little Mexican village. They do not cater to all the fanciful things you will find in Nuevo Progreso. They are friendly but it is Mexico at a more primitive level. English is not spoken by many. It is a whole other country.

7. Golf at several different courses all of them a bargain compared to other parts of the country.

8. Park Activities- We cannot overlook our own backyard. Our own Magnolia Park Association schedules a mulitude of things to do sometimes making it difficult to find time for the other things on this list. $2.00 dues per person per season. The very best of bargains!

9. Santa Ana National Park- Your Golden Age Pass will get you into the park to spend several hours enjoying nature.

10. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
See Javelina and every bird known to the Rio Grande Valley.

11. The original Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlingen TX


More! More!! Send me more.

Neighborhood Entries

Kay and Jim Voss were surrounded by parade entries. She sent these photos of her neighbors entries.

H.E.B. 's Feast of Sharing

H.E.B., the Texas grocery chain puts on a feast of sharing each December and they feed thousands of people a very tasty meal. Yesterday many people from Magnolia park attended the Feast of Sharing in Weslaco.

Do You?

Do you have some really good parade photos you would like to share? Send them to me and I will add them to the album. Send to keep.movin.on@gmail.com

Christmas Parade 2008

Click on picture to view the rest. Then in upper left click on slideshow to see them better.

Christmas Parade 2008

Santa flies over Iowa

My sister sent this and if you have traveled in Iowa lately you know that Santa will have quite a time maneuvering around the wind turbines.

From Iowa

This is a photo from the Des Moines Register this morning. AND this is why they do not feel sorry for us. They think we are pansies!!

The December Dance

This is an album of pictures taken at the dance by Bill Sager. Click on the picture to see all the pictures in the album. Then I think you can figure out a slide show of them from there.

December Dance

Caroling Practice

Max and Don

Flea and Fruit Market

We went to the market this afternoon. I needed carrots, onions, and peppers. Oh! and jicama!! And Butch went across the street to the golf shop.

Browsing or Buying?

Cattleman's Beef & Beans

Norma C. sent me an email filled with Crockpot Recipes and I picked out the one featured here and it will be on my "do again" list. I followed the recipe to the letter and it is scrumptious! My only suggestion would be to start it in the evening and cook it all night unless you get up pre-dawn and start it then. It takes a very long time but it is so worth it.

Recipe: Cattleman's Beef and Beans 12/12/2008

1 lb. dried pinto beans
6 c. water
3 lbs. beef brisket or round roast
1 lg. onion, chopped
½ c. dark molasses
2 tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. dry mustard
¼ tsp. pepper
1 bay leaf



1. Rinse beans under running water, place in a large kettle with water; bring to
boiling; cover kettle; lower heat; cook 15 minutes; let stand 1 hours.

2. Trim all excess fat from beef; brown meat on all sides in remaining fat in a
large skillet.

3. Place meat in the bottom of the slow cooker; add beans and liquid, onion,
molasses, salt, ginger, mustard, pepper and bay leaf. Add more water, if needed
to cover meat and beans; cover.

4. Cook on high for 2 hours, stir beans, adding more liquid if needed to keep
beans and meat covered.

5. Turn heat control to low and cook for 8 hours, or until beans are very tender
and liquid is absorbed. Taste and season with a spoonful of hot prepared mustard,
if you wish.

6. Remove meat to a carving board and cut into slices; spoon beans around beef
on platter.

From Tony Spagnuolo

Just to let you know I miss all of you. I am feeling well. God has Blessed me with good health. At 91 I can drive and take care of myself. Very lonely with out JO. Miss her very much. It don't get any better as time goes bye. My reason to send this e-mail is to wish each one of you a,
VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
God Bless all of you.
Tony Spagnuolo

In Iowa on Tuesday

Iowa is getting hit hard and fast again this winter. This photo was in the Des Moines Register online version and it shows why we head south.

An RV Tip

Many RV's with slide outs have a decorative board on them. The ledge it creates is hardly wide enough to be of any use and anything placed there must be stored while moving. Friend Sharon B. in north Texas uses the space to display family photos and I thought it to be an excellent idea. She buys the inexpensive
( a dollar or less)clear plastic frames and turns them upside down to hang on the ledge. Also easy to take down and store while in transit. Great idea Sharon!!

Grape Salad

From friend Shirley F. who has a place in Split Rail RV Park in Mission:I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. It makes a big recipe. You could cut the dressing in half.


Grape Salad
1 8oz pkg cream cheese.
1 8oz sour cream
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c powdered sugar
1T vanilla
1T milk
1tsp almond flavoring

Blend ingredients together.
Fold in 1-2 pounds of grapes (green and red)
I add a chopped apple.
Sprinkle chopped walnuts over the top. Chill

Especially Good

Every now and then I get a really good photo. I consider this photo of Chico one of those really good ones.

Hawk

Marge Scott called to tell me there was a hawk perched on her car. It stuck around long enough for me to take several pictures.

1940 Barn Dodge

Tony Spagnuolo sent this article about this 1940 Barn Dodge. He was sure that many of you "old guys" would enjoy it and I am sure he is right.
Click on the link below:
http://www.californiaclassix.com/archive/40_Barn-Dodge_c154.html

Flooding in

A virtual flood of people have arrived in the last few days and we know of even more coming in the next week or so.

Don't forget the garage sale next Saturday, December 6th.

The Christmas Parade will be the 18th. Get your "floats" ready.

Cacti

We have been told that Cacti will grow just about anywhere. Here is the proof in 3 different locations.

Just because

Just because we need a bit of humor now and then... Click on it to make it bigger.

Bernie's Fruitcake

Bernie was a neighbor of ours when we lived on Lake Panorama. One Christmas season I told Bernie I didn't like fruitcake. Bernie said, "I'll bet you like MY fruitcake." And was he right!! The best fruitcake I ever tasted. I asked Bernie for the recipe and every year he put me off saying he would make it for me and he did. Finally Bernie did give me the recipe and I am very glad he did. Bernie has passed on now but his fruitcake will live on forever in my heart if not on my plate.


Recipe: Bernie's Fruitcake 12/1/2008
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 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, mix gently.
Pour in ungreased tube pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Increase heat to 325 degrees and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let cool in pan
then remove. Wrap in foil or plastic and store in refrigerator. Allow 1 to 2 days for flavors to mingle before serving.
I never liked fruitcake until I tasted Bernies. :-)

A Quiet Day

It is a quiet Sunday in the park. There have been a few people in the pool but for the most part I think people are out of the park enjoying other things. Generally it is quieter on weekends because the bulk of the activities take place on weekdays. Next Saturday will be lively because it is the monthly garage sale day. I clean out my "house" each fall in preparation for the December garage sale. Some people sell items every month but I find one time to be sufficient.(grin)
Usually I am busy with computer class on Friday morning but this next Friday will find me busy getting ready for the garage sale instead.
But about computer class... I learn as much or more as the students do each Friday. It refreshes my memory on things and often times sends me on a search for answers. Come to the little hall on Friday the 12th and see if you can stump me. It could happen!!

Thanksgiving History

Thanksgiving History – The Thanksgiving Proclamation
New York, 3 October 1789

By the President of the United States of America: a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me `to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks -- for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted -- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions--to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually -- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us -- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

Thanksgiving Day @ Magnolia Park

Kay Stilson made pilgrim hat cookies for everyone.

People were milling about before the meal was served.
Chet and Irma make their way to Allen Hall for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.