Enjoying Thanksgiving Dinner

I was sent these photos from yesterday and it looks like there was plenty of good food to go around and as I understand it, enough to go back for a second round at supper time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Day

It's been a year of changes for Magnolia Park (Village) but some things never change for both past and present residents. It's a place where old friends can meet and get caught up on what has happened in their lives since everyone was together last spring, whether they live there full time or are Winter Texans. We are entering the Holiday Season with first Thanksgiving and then the hustle and bustle of Christmas and all that means. It is a busy time of the year often times filled with gatherings of friends, lots of good food and of course, maybe even shopping! Take some time to enjoy the season with family and friends!

 Happy Thanksgiving

Fred Seldon Obituary

Fred Frank Seldon, 90, passed away Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Weslaco Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.  Funeral services are under the direction of Hawkins Funeral Home in Donna.

Fred F. Seldon, 90 years old, passed away on October 26, 2019. The funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian Church in Edgerton, Minnesota. Fred was born on July 11, 1929. He attended Country School 39 and graduated from Edgerton High School in 1948. Fred joined the Navy in October of 1950, and served four years in the Pacific during the Korean War. He returned home to help his parents on the family farm near Edgerton.Fred married the love of his life Carol Kroeger on June 11, 1960. They continued farming on the family farm and enjoyed being winter Texans in the Rio Grand Valley for 20 years.  They moved full time to Donna, Texas, in 2014.Fred and Carol were blessed with three daughters, Peggy, Kim and Nadeen, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.  Fred picked up his first guitar at the age of 14 and did not stop entertaining until God brought him home to sing with his angels. He enjoyed meeting many friends who became family in the Rio Grand Valley. The family asks that any memorial be given to the Selah Hospice Care, 1101 East Dallas Avenue, Unit 6, McAllen, Texas 78501.

Good Times, Good Memories

This is one of my favorite pictures. Kay Stilson and Norma Cooklin laughing it up!

Naoma Pratt, Marj Soole, and Dick Cleaveland taking part in a Chivaree. I am not sure who the recipients were but it might have been Dave and Mary Bruun when They bought their place.

Mary Bruun all bundled up for the Wednesday morning bike ride. She is a trooper!

Winter Texans Drifting In

More and more Winter Texans are arriving in the park. Dave and Mary Bruun got in a few days ago as well as Susan Van Houweling. They met up around Joplin and traveled together the rest of the way. Keith Gilbertson got in I believe today. Edna Nelson got in a few days ago and Edna has sold, or is selling her mobile and going back up north. I think her grandchildren came down with her and will help her take the things that she wants back up north. She will be missed as she was a long-time resident in the park and always called the numbers for Bingo. When we first started coming to Magnolia her husband Charlie was a fixture up in the pool hall in his wheel chair. I'm not sure quite how long Edna has been a resident but I know it's been a very long time.

The weather up here in the north has moderated slightly but I'm guessing there will be more and more arrivals soon as people want to escape the cold and snow. I know that's how we feel. Jim has one more eye appointment to have the prescription rechecked for his new glasses which he got after cataract surgery. He only needs them for reading and actually he reads just fine without them but they said, oh these will make everything a little sharper. In fact, he can't read with them at all or use them for his laptop either so something is wrong. We haven't decided if we will wait for the lenses to get changed or just have them sent to us. It has been quite the summer between dermatology and eye appointments and we are more than ready for a break.

Just a reminder, this blog is intended as a place where present and former Magnolia Park (as the park was known for almost all of the years that most of us have lived there either full or part time) residents can keep in touch and share where they are now, what is happening in their lives or, news that none of us like to hear, if someone is sick or has passed. I know that Duane Ergen and Reggie Holland will be elsewhere this winter. I seem to remember that Reggie told me they were going to Florida but I may have that wrong. Larry and Noreen sold at the end of last season so they won't be in the park this year either. I think Nelson and Mabel Zoot are staying home, but again, I think that's what Mabel told me but I'm not sure about that. Now that there are two mobiles on the spot we had reserved we will be at Trophy Gardens which is where Barb and Butch spent last season and are already there. We are looking forward to maybe shooting some pool with them although to be honest we are pretty rusty as we've played two games since we got home and that is all. When we are in the park we spend every night up at the pool hall and when we get home even though we have a perfectly good pool table we can't manage to find the time to play. It's more fun I guess when there are lots of people around as half the attraction is all the camaraderie that goes on in the pool hall as well as a fair amount of "smart" remarks that get tossed around. We will miss that!

As always, if you have news you would like to share, let me know and Travel Safe to those of you on the road now or shortly.

This and That

A few more Winter Texans have arrived in Magnolia, Larry Josie and Cathy Toms got in a few days ago and I believe Kathy Gonzales arrived today.

I received this note from Marty Harper which she asked me to post.

     "Deon, Will you post that we are in our new park, Trails End and are very happy here. We went to our first meeting, we got introduced and met a few more people. Linda W, our welcome person showed us all around, she was so helpful. You drive in and you feel at home. I am glad we made the move to Trails End. Heads up, NO bars on the windows or doors, don't need them. And No sewer smell. Boni the office manager is so nice to talk to.
     That being said, we do miss our Magnolia family and hope to come and visit and our door is always open, 937, last mobile in the park. Marty Harper"

It's certainly no secret that there are several others in the park who will be going to Trails End also just as soon as it can be arranged, as I understand it. As we've been saying for quite some time now, change has happened and is still happening. I believe there are more mobiles that will be coming in soon so it is a much different park from what we were all used to. Even though we lost our spot we are looking forward to seeing the new mobiles and from the pictures they do look nice. The office area has been spruced up and looks inviting. Like Marty, we also hope to come and visit during the upcoming season.

Dale M. Buzzard Obituary

Dale M. Buzzard, 90 years of age, of Burchard passed away Saturday, November 2, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Society in Beatrice. He was born in Saint Elmo, Illinois on May 26, 1929 to George and Mary (Radcliff) Buzzard. Dale graduated from Lewiston Consolidated High School in 1948. He married Carol Hunt on June 6, 1950. Dale served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1953. He was a lifelong farmer, attended Burchard United Methodist Church and was a member of the American Legion and VFW. Dale enjoyed old cars, boating, fishing, motorcycles, water skiing, snow skiing, traveling and especially time with his grandchildren.

Dale is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters, Michele Tegtmeier and husband Jim of Burchard, Sherri Lovell and husband David of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Brant Lovell, Jordan Lovell, Wyatt Tegtmeier and wife Kacey; great grandchildren, Jacob and Lukas Tegtmeier; brother-in-law, Ramon Hunt and wife Dolores of Crab Orchard; sister-in-law, Pauline Malone and husband John of LaVista; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ayres and wife Bonnie, Neil and wife Marilyn; and sisters, Lois Adams and husband Don, Miriam Rondali and husband John and Ruth Metcalf and husband Roy.

Funeral Services were held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice with Pastors Hyunsook Kim and John Henderson officiating. Interment with military rites followed in the Lewiston Cemetery. Visitation was held from noon to 8 PM with family greeting friends from 6 to 7 PM Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice. Visitation at the Harman - Wright Mortuary from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM on November 5, 2019. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice in care of the mortuary.

More Winter Texans Coming In

As the weather "up north" gets colder and colder, more and more Winter Texans are heading south. Joe and Linda Bleess arrived a few days ago and they live over on Aspen. Ken and Lettie Pavelka also got in and they live back on Cummings. For those of you who may not know them, Ken is the gentleman who plays the trumpet so beautifully when we have our patriotic presentation. Last night Darlene Jansen and Gail Lubinsky arrived in Donna but I believe it was rather late and rather than try to get their mobiles opened up  at that hour they spent the night at the Donna Super 8. Jim and I have stayed there a couple of times many years ago when we used to come down just for a week or two to visit Chet & Irma, before we ever started RVing. Doug and Sharon Nelson also are in and for the present time they are residing on the corner of Rose and Pine but only until December 1 when they will have to move to a different spot.

Tonight on the weather they were saying that three years ago in 2016 it was 70° on this date. Not this year! It is COLD and next week it looks even colder. I looked to see what the temperature is in Memphis as we are considering stopping there for a few days at a RV park along the Mississippi and it was 56 ° there today which sounds good. We were going to do it last year but it was very cold, too cold to watch the barges on the river so we didn't bother. Maybe by the time we get out of here it will be too cold again with the way the weather has been behaving lately.

As always, safe travels everyone and keep your eyes on the weather forecasts as you head down to the Valley.