Flat Stanley

Stilson's grandson is involved in a Flat Stanley project. They are pictured here with Flat Stanley on their patio in Donna TX! His project differs a bit from the description below. The teachers can adjust the project to best fit the needs of the class. This Flat Stanley has been to Mexico!! Ole'
Students make paper Flat Stanleys and begin a journal with him for a few days. Then Flat Stanley and the journal are sent to another school where students there treat Flat Stanley as a guest and complete the journal. Flat Stanley and the journal are then returned to the original sender. Students can plot his travels on maps and share the contents of the journal. Often, a Flat Stanley returns with a pin or postcard from his visit. Some teachers prefer to use e-mail only. Especially creative hosts send the Flat Stanleys back with pictures, souvenirs, stories and reminders of the visit.

By Request

Recipe: Marble Bars 3/29/2009
Category: Snacks
Author: Barb Brooker


1 c White Sugar
1 c Corn Syrup
1 c Peanut Butter
6 c Rice Krispies
1 c Chocolate Chips

[Note: I add a little more cereal than 6 cups. Personal choice.]
Combine sugar and syrup in heavy saucepan. Over medium heat bring to
the boiling point but do not boil. Remove from heat and add peanut
butter to syrup mixture; stir till combined. Pour over rice krispies;
stir till covered; add chocolate chips and stir for marbled effect.
Press into a 9 x 13 pan. cool and cut into squares.

Olive Blossoms

Olive Blossoms- taken yesterday.
Everything has slowed down as the usual activities are closing down for the season. Many of us are leaving on the first. There may be a real pile up at the gate. We always leave later...Butch sleeps in you know...so we probably will have the gate to ourselves by then.
I am slowly getting things ready for travel in the RV. Making sure the cupboard contents are in place and protected. Things get a bit lax when you are in one place for any length of time.
One thing I am fairly good about not doing is accumulating. When your RV is your home clutter is a big issue. Can't let it happen. Keeping things pared down is a priority committment.

Oleander

Oleander Blossoms- taken yesterday

Golfers

Golfers Del,Paul and Tom wait near tee box number three.

Dart Winners

Left to right, first, second and third place winners in darts are Leo Tschetter, Lavon Linn and Larry Ergen.

Womens Pool League Winners

Char and Carol have proved a force to be reckoned with this season. They won first place in the Senior Olympics and now they have also won the Womens Pool League. They are pictured here with the traveling trophy. It is the first time this trophy has resided in Magnolia Park.

Back on their feet

Here is living proof that Don Soole and Doug Nelson are back on their feet. Don and Doug were both able to attend Coffee hour on Tuesday after having quite a time with health issues this winter. It was great to have them back amongst us.

Another zoomed in one

I zoomed in as much as possible to catch this hummer I happened to see land in this tree. Click on the picture for the full effect.

Big ol' Fish

When we went to the Atascosa Wildlife Refuge we saw this big bird with something in its beak but we couldn't tell what it was so I zoomed in as much as I could and then I had to zoom in even more with the computer. So I lost a few pixels in the process thus the grainy look. I think this birds eyes were a bit bigger than its stomach!!

A St. Pat's Party

Ed Piche caught unaware.


Mamie turned green!

Jim Rader dressed up for the occasion. I understand he later enhanced his image even more.

Bikers

Tom and Judy Hunt went on a 700 mile overnight trip to Fredricksburg TX on their bikes. Needless to say a certain part of their anatomy was in need of relief by the time they returned to the park.

Paint Class went to lunch

The paint class put their brushes down for a bit and enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant.


An egret with a fish.

Golden Age Pass

I thought I should mention that we seniors are all eligible for a Golden Age Pass to all National parks. It is no longer called a Golden Age Pass however. It sports the new name of Senior Passport. We purchased ours at Yellowstone Nat'l Park and it has saved us hundreds of dollars. They can be purchased at any National Park. A member of our group purchased one at Atascosa last week. If any member of a carload has a card they all can obtain entry for free. Do not pass up this bargain.

Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge & Dirty Al's

A group of us went to the Atascosa Refuge this past week. Always a good photo opportunity. We saw a variety of birds and animals. The Green Jays do not seem to mind riding on the back of a smelly Javelina.

Later we meandered down to South Padre Island for a tasty meal at Dirty Al's

Show and Tell 2009

The artists in the park do great work. Click on the picture to view entire album. If any of the artists would like more pictures taken of their work I would be glad to do so. I think your family up north might like to see your artistry. Right Donna Rae in Thunder Bay?

Show & Tell

Ropa Style Show Album

I know you all are looking for these pictures and this is the fastest format to get them to you. I may refine the offering later.Click on the picture to view entire album.

Ropa Style Show

Ropa Fashion Show 2009

Group Photo of participants

Cool Spell

We are experiencing a cool rainy spell. It is very unusual to have this kind of weather this time of year. Usually it is beginning to get hot enough that heading north sounds like a good idea. That is until you do head north and run into that chilly wall that seems to exist up there till June or July.
In the meantime we all go into winter mode and stay in our homes and do winter-like things...till Monday when the highs will be in the 80's once again.

Don is home

Don Soole was able to come home last night about 5:00PM. I am sure he is very happy to be home. Hopefully we will see him out and about very soon.

Thursday Traveling Pool League

First Place- Snow to Sun

2nd Place- Ranchero Village

Third Place- Magnolia Park
Pictured L to R Don Louks, Butch Brooker, Don Loring, Don Howard

Don S. Update

I talked briefly with Marge this morning and Don Soole had surgery. I hope I am right about this. I think the surgery was a tracheotomy because trying to get oxygen into his lungs was not working as well as it should through his nose. He is in ICU right now but if things go as hoped he will be home in a couple of days. I know he will be happy about that.
I have been getting email inquiries as to his status so thought I had better get this posted.

All Things Irish

This page is a LONG but informative quiz on things Irish. At the bottom
is a menu for many fun Irish things, such as blessings, games, etc.

Erin go Bragh!

http://www.brownielocks.com/stpatrickstrivia.html

Mira & Myra on Aspen St

This pair of pups belong to Ron & Cynthia Daigle. They sit in the window nicely watching all the activity in their neighborhood. They were only mildly cooperative in getting their picture taken.

Bikers New Duds

The bikers left this morning sporting their new duds. They are a far safer group now.

Mama moved them

A crying wee one left behind.

Mama moved her babies all but one. There was far too much activity around the remaining kit for her to chance it. An intervening Good Samaritan moved it for her to where she felt enough safety to finish getting the final one to the safety of her bosom.

Outside my door

The doves are non-stop in their efforts to attract a mate...I want to say find one already!!! The cactus tree has been in bloom all year. It grows like a weed....hmmm...maybe I hit upon something.
 
 
 

Paint Class

Judy Hunts painting is one of her daughters Belgian horses. All the members of the paint class do amazing work. My picture of Judys painting is a little fuzzy and doesn't do it justice. Great work Judy!

Wednesdays

Wednesdays are one of my quiet days...a day where I catch up on things like laundry, housecleaning, posting to the blog etc. There are so many activities to do here that you can meet yourself coming and going. Butch and I joke that we feel like we are on vacation when we pull out of the park in the Spring. Make no mistake- we love every bit of it but the change in routine is also welcome.
The exodus out of the park has begun. There are starting to be gaps where RV's have been for two or more months. The process will continue throughout the month of March and beyond.

Pssst (whisper) I shouldn't tell anyone but November and March are very pleasant months here because the traffic is less, restaurants are not as busy and the overall pace of things is much slower.

Election of Officers

The annual elections of officers of the Seniors of Magnolia Park Association were held yesterday. Larry Ergen was elected president while all other officers remained the same. The March meeting is always a long one and this one seemed longer than most. Many things were brought before the membership and thoroughly discussed.
Now we can all get back to the real business of being here. Having FUN!!!

Just a taste

Every now and then we get just a taste of weather from up north. Yesterday and today we are getting that taste. It is jacket weather. Yesterday I had my sweatshirt on with my hood up and one of our Canadian residents got a real hoot at the sight of me. Hey! We get acclimated to these warm climes and a bit of a chill in the air doesn't feel good.
I do remember the days when we came down for a couple of weeks in February and we would see the locals all bundled up when the temps were in the 50's and we got a real hoot out of them too. I am much more sympathetic and understanding now.