Canning Jars

I asked Kay V. about her canning jars and she was kind enough to answer me. I am sure there are people out there who will find it interesting so here is her answer. 
From Kay:

Ha.  Well when we leave for Tx in the fall, I usually have canned at least 800 to 1000 jars of food.  Some is dehydrated and I  do not count the freezers.  Probably another 500 jars that are empty.   This all includes what our 2 girls take and what is stored in Tx.  Jim stacks boxes of jars in the barn and in the garage....we brought 7 boxes of empties home from Tx and there are 3 big boxes still there.  

Jim also bought pressure canners at auctions....we have 30!  I finally put my foot down....we have all sizes and styles.  Most are WW2 era, they are the heavy ones.  Victory gardens were important, so the government let canners be made....other items were rationed during the war.

I use 2 that hold 21 pints each.  One is my mom's.   The rest line shelves in the garage.  Neither daughter has much interest in canning, but 15 yr old granddaughter has learned and enjoys her own "basement grocery".  Kay

Kay- Canning has begun

Today it is 11 jars of mushrooms and 12 various jars of papaya jam.   Definitely more fun than unpacking....Kay

From Barb-" Just curious Kay, How many canning jars do you have to work with? You are the canningest person I know! And yes, I know it isn't a real word.😁"

Dottie says Thank You

Dottie asked me to send a great big THANK YOU to all the people who sent cards and prayers, also to those who called. She really appreciated everything. So again THANK YOU ALL.
from Marie Flood

Virginia Stavrum's 90th Birthday

From

Beverly Lokensgard

"Mom will be 90 this year, so let's get together to celebrate with her. She did say she doesn't need a party, but she's not going to get away with no celebration at all, so we are just calling it a special bingo day. We will have a light lunch and there will be a dj (who has a volume control) 
 Come help us celebrate Mom's 90th. I don't have facebook names for everyone, so please, if you do, please invite them."

Images from Magnolia Village 2016-2017

Here are just a couple of images from this past season. The yellow flower is on Bob and Dawn's Prickly Pear cactus and the other shows how papayas bear their fruit.

Canna Lily

"Ever have a day like this?  My canna just couldn't make up its mind on what to wear today!   This is one plant."

Barb says:
I have a good idea who sent this to me but not 100% sure. When sent from your phone please add your name. It will save me some time. 😊

Back in Iowa-Brookers

I am back on my good internet connection so doing a bit of catching up. I will be relying on all of you to send me items to post on the Magnolia blog. Keeping up this one and my personal one is more of a challenge when we are in our Iowa home. 

Below are two baby Kiskadee's. These are the little tikes born in that cactus home on Texas street. I was privileged to see their first experiences with water. They took turns skimming the top of the pool and it did not take them long to be proficient. The cactus nest remained empty from this day forward. 

Curved-bill Thrasher

Oil refinery at Three Rivers.

Michael Key obituary

Key, Michael  Visitation: Date: ***  Time: *** Visitation Location: *** Service: Date: Graveside service to be scheduled at a later date  Time: *** Service Location: *** Interment: ***
Memorials/Donations Obituary Michael Lee Key, age 71 entered into rest April 13, 2017 at his Festus residence. He had worked as a heavy equipment operator at Millstone Banger and was a member of US National Guards; he enjoyed fishing, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Born May 4, 1945, in St Louis, Missouri, to the late William and Mabel (Gillam) Key.  Survived by his family which includes his wife: Dorothy "Dottie" (Ware) Key; sons; Michael (Anita) Key of Park Hills, MO, Matt Key of Fulton, MO, Jason Key of FL and Donald Hurtgen of Dittmer, MO; daughters: Lisa Key of Fulton, MO, Shelly Key of Cape Girardeau, MO, Jessica Key of FL, Pamela Hurtgen of Festus, MO and Debbie Redwine of Festus, MO; brothers: Frank (Gensey) Key of FL and Edward (Pam) Key of Festus, MO; sister: Ruth Ann Meyer of Festus, MO; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by son-in-law: Mark Redwine; brother-in-laws: Frank Meyer and Paul Sperry; and great grandson: Oliver Caldwell.

From Marie Flood

"Mike Key, Dottie's husband, passed away last night in their home in Festus, Mo. That's all the information I have right now."

The Pierce's

A wonderful photo of Max and Mary Pierce, two valued members of our Magnolia family. (snipped from Facebook)

Peggy says, "Help!"

Home again, Home again, jiggidy jig

Nelson and Mabel Zoet are home and they had a good trip.

A day in the park with camera

 Kiskadee's have taken up residence in a cactus. From all the activity my guess is they are feeding babies.

          Bird of Paradise-above  Kiskadee-below

Great Kiskadees are a treat for bird watchers who visit south Texas—and the birds won’t keep you waiting. They’re boisterous in both attitude and color: a black bandit’s mask, a yellow belly, and flashes of warm reddish-brown when they fly. Kiskadees sit out in the open and attract attention with incessant kis-ka-dee calls and sallying flights. Despite their small U.S. range, this is one of the most widespread flycatchers in the Western Hemisphere.

Canning-Kay Voss

FYI

50 pounds of onions dry to 3 quarts and 1 pint of powder.    3 pineapples make 6 pints of cubes,  plus an extra for Jim's snack.

April in South Texas

Butch's cousin Dick Jorgensen and his wife Joann came to South Texas for the first time. It was such a great time for them to come here as we had all the time in the world to show them around. It gets hectic during the season so this worked out extremely well. Joann had a bout of "Travelers Disease" but once she recovered we resumed our tours.
Here are some photos of the past few days.

Carmen Friesen's Cat

Carmen's cat, over on Aspen, would often be out when I would walk by. I think this is probably the most unusual looking cat I've ever seen and really enjoyed meeting up with it. Sometimes Carmen will take it for a walk in a stroller and I don't know who enjoys that more, Carmen or the cat.

Chicken littles are getting bigger

Susan sent a picture of her chicks. They are coming along nicely. She said they did lose a couple of the littler ones on the way home. She promises to bring down eggs next fall.

Last days of the season

Fading Rose

Blushing shyly

Last Bath till fall?

Pidgeon footed

Pecan Bill

No more Pecans to crack this season.

 One for the road!

Butch is doing some 'splainin'.

Mockingbird that swipes cherry tomatoes. He is on Kay's naughty list!

Madison Walker Obit

   Madison Elwood Walker, 92, of Macon, formerly of Mexico, died at 4:30 a.m., Monday, March 27, 2017, at Loch Haven Nursing Home in Macon.

   Funeral services will be at 2 p.m.Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at Pickering Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Keeling officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from Noon until service time. Burial with Military Honors will follow at East Lawn Memorial Park.

   Mr. Walker was born on August 8, 1924 in Toledo, Ill. His parents were Berle and Effie Herren. On October 5, 1944, in Mexico, he married Dorothy Davidson who preceded him in death on May 25, 1984. On July 23, 1996, in Mexico, he married Joann Jennings who preceded him in death on April 26, 1998.

   Madison graduated from High School in Stoutsville. He was a veteran having served in the US Army during World War II. He had worked several places including Oliver Trucking, Holsum Bakery, A.P. Green, A.B. Chance, and for the City of Mexico.

   He was a member of Centennial Baptist Church, Lions Club, Moose Lodge, and Mexico VFW Post.

   Survivors include one daughter, Phyllis Ratliff and husband Cliff, of Shelbina; one brother, Bob Herren and wife Mary Lou, of Peculiar, Mo.; three sisters, Betty White and husband Jerry, of Moore, OK, Jean Stoy, of Wellington, KS, and Moeta Escareno, of Eureka, KS; seven grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren, and 13 great great grandchildren.

   In addition to both wives he was preceded in death by one daughter, Dorita Donaldson; two brothers, Bill and Morris Herren, one sister, Doris McCarty, and one great grandson, Bryson Jones.

Porch kitty to Wisconsin kitty

This is a porch kitty stray that was rescued by Kathy Ferrell and transported to Wisconsin. She was in danger of losing her life and now she is alive and well and enjoying her Wisconsin home. Peggy and I called her Portia.

Nobody but the chickens

You have heard the expression 'nobody here but the chickens'. Well, Darlene told me that is true and sent me pictures to prove it.