Whisper

It is very quiet in the park. I can almost hear a pin drop...or the closing of a mail box lid. There is rarely someone to stop and talk to on our walks. I told Butch we would not be distracted when we are fixing to leave because there will be very few people left here to distract us... or wave goodbye.

Do not be dismayed by this post. I am not sad. It is just very different 'round here.

Finally Home

We finally made it back home to Wisconsin after leaving the park two weeks ago today. It was one misadventure after another starting with getting the rock in the truck windshield when we were on the expressway the day before we were supposed to leave. That delayed us two days and then we had two days of high wind warnings while we were in New Mexico so that was another two days. Then when we were in Canyon TX it became very obvious that two of the 5th wheels tires, which had at the most 16,000 miles on them, were bad so we had to wait until Monday to get two new ones. Then when we were in Iowa it poured and poured so we waited a day for that to pass. Today was kind of fun as Chet & Irma were right behind us most of the day (they left Magnolia on Wednesday) and then 60 miles from home they overtook us. We talked several times on the phone so that helped pass the time. The sun finally came out this afternoon and it was in the low 50's. Quite a change from Texas. It is good to be home and safe travels to everyone who is, or will be traveling.

What Kay Voss did today

I canned 36 pints of carrots today.  Dave Greening gave us about 40 pounds of sweet Texas carrots!  I canned  Carmelized Onions last week, also have been dehydrating onions to make powder.  YEAH, my preserving season has started.

A bit of the unusual...

This morning I went for a haircut. Yolanda at Alicia's is my hairdresser while we are in South Texas. It has been that way for several years now. Alicia's salon is on Roberts street that runs parallel on the north side to business 83 on the west edge of Donna Texas. In the block before Alicia's, is this strange tree with long hanging strings and large pods. I asked Yolanda what kind of tree it was but she didn't know so when I came home I googled it. It is a sausage tree! And that is indeed what it looks like. Taxonomy - Kigelia africana (Sausage tree) (Kigelia pinnata)

I didn't take a picture of it but I googled a couple of images.

Yolanda told me that the tree her clients most often ask about is the one nearer her salon. She said it is called an elephant foot tree. So I googled it as well and it is more commonly called a ponytail palm but is actually a member of the lily family.

Here is a snipped image of it. Always fun to become better acquainted with your surroundings.

Harris Hawk

I spotted these Harris Hawk while sitting in the motorhome. The sheer size of the bird is what caught my eye. Not a bird I expected to see in our park. I wish my photos were less blurry. My intent was to get it done and worry about blur later.

The caracara has more white around the neck so these must be Harris Hawks. They do have some similarities.

Latest Photo's

House Finch at the Pearce residence. 

This nest is often used but happens to be currently empty.

This cactus will soon be abundant with blooms.

This is a bloom on the Magnolia tree by the mailboxes. It is on the southeast upper quadrant and a bit difficult to see from the ground. Easier to see from my kitchen table. However, if it were not for my new camera I would have never been able to get this photo.

Great-tailed Grackles- lovely graceful bird even though they can be a pest at times.

Just something fun to watch.

Fun to watch this guy dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ueJ4-lTa1s

Onions, onions everywhere!

I am seeing lots of onions all over the park. I assume there will be lots of onions given as gifts or lots of onions eaten. I saw this recipe and decided to share it with you in case you are in need of onions recipes.
I read the reviews on this recipe and they said to either cut back on the amount of spaghetti or increase the sauce.


 

Onion Spaghetti

"Onion Spaghetti is a great filling vegetarian dish that comes with a BANG! You would never guess that it's vegetarian!"

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 large onions, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes

 

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 pound spaghetti

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onions and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in tomato paste, tomatoes, salt, pepper, basil and water. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes, until thickened.
2. While sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. Toss sauce with hot pasta.

Seasonal

The Winter Texan season is about to come to a close. It runs from November 1st to April 1st with some people venturing down for a short time and some come for the entire season and sometimes far beyond.
This is the time of year when it starts letting up with traffic and it becomes noticeable that there are fewer people on the streets and in the activity centers throughout the park.
A whole different feel comes about.
It is a natural progression. We leave for a few months and then come back again. It cycles. This is the time of year when those of us in RV's get what is known as "Hitch Itch" where you get a bit anxious to hitch up and move out to get back to the other half of your life.
We hope to keep you informed throughout the summer. So keep checking in.
I would appreciate it if you will send me pictures of your summer activities. It helps us get to know you better and it helps in keeping people interested in the blog.
Keep in touch!!

From Phyllis B.

Phyllis and George's Flowers are in full bloom.

Second hole in one!

Janet Rader shot her second hole in one last Sunday on hole number 8 of the executive course. Way to go, Janet!!

Beau on the run

Beau likes people and comes on the run whenever he can get loose.

Onion's anyone?

 Fred's patio held some Sunday morning neighbors enjoying each other's company

Dave and Sue enjoying the great outdoors.

And here are some onions. I will let you go on a hunt to find them.

Saturday's Shuffleboard Fun

Hamburger Fry

 A very fine looking kitchen crew. Leslie, Peggy, and Jan

Meanwhile outside working on the burgers are Eugene and Mike.

 Bob and Max have their gloves on and ready.

 Duane, Chet, Dave B., Dave G. and Abe

 Butch brings more burgers for the grill.

Larry and Dick take the fee from Gert.

And last but not least is the dove hanging out in Gordon's tree.

Birdsong

I am sitting here listening to a mockingbird singing non-stop. I particularly like it when they mock a ChaChalaca. The bird seemed so close, I grabbed my camera and caught these shots.
I am loving this camera!

This one is a Curved Bill Thrasher

This week in pictures

Kay Stilson planted a celery root end and is now growing her own celery. Trouble is it looks so pretty she doesn't want to harvest it.

 These are the crafters at our annual crafter's luncheon held this year at Jalisco on Westgate in Weslaco.

 Down here all you have to do is stick something in the ground at it will grow. In this case there must have been a bit of soil on the roof.

From the Van Houwelings

This is what we woke up to this morning!!!  My suggestion is to stay in TEXAS!!!  We got home yesterday around 2pm ... got the dogs and chickens all unloaded and are hunkered down!  Susan.

   

Tavie's Rock and Roll Show

 Tavie's rock and roll show would get 5 stars from me. She is very talented and when she belts out one of Brenda Lee's songs you cannot believe the trueness of it. Her repertoire is lengthy.

 Mary, Gert, Chris, Mary, Gail and Genevia donned poodle skirts for a contest.

 And then she had Cheryl, Joyce and Gert help her out with another tune.

And then Eldon pulled off being the "Duke, Duke Duke of Earl"

Once again Fred found himself the center of attention. Fred will celebrate his 93rd birthday in 3 days.

 Larry Ergen did a Charlie Brown bit with Tavie, "Why is everybody always picking on me?"