Things I buy...

Two places I always stop at the flea market are the Rada knife booth and the glass nail file booth.

Butch buys honey...

...from Jerry Keyser at the Don-Wes Flea Market yesterday

Haircut

Judy says she only knows one style of cut so if you want to look like Tom she will be happy to cut your hair too.

Water Aerobics

There are so many people taking water aerobics that I had to take two pictures just to get them all in. I was told there were eighteen people getting healthier.

Creamy Ham & Potato Soup

A good cook here in the park told me she had tried a new recipe and it was very good. She brought me a sample of it and she was not kidding. VERY good. I tasted it cold and it was even good that way!
So lucky you...here is the recipe:
Recipe: Creamy Ham & Potato Soup 1/6/2009
Category: Soup
Author: Sharon Hvam

2 C Potatoes cut up
1 C Carrots chopped
1/2 C celery chopped
1 C water
1/2 C onions chopped
1/4 tsp dried Thyme or Basil
1/4 tsp pepper
10 oz can cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup
1/4 C shredded American cheese
crushed dry dill
1 C ham chopped
1 1/2 C half and half or milk

In large saucepan combine potatoes, water,carrot, onion, celery, thyme and
pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 10-15 minutes or until
potatoes are tender.
Stir in half and half, soup and ham;heat through. Do not boil. Reduce heat to low.
Add cheese and stir until melted. Garnish each serving with chives, cracked
pepper and/or additional cheese. Makes 4 servings.

A Cool One

We have a cool day on tap and I have so many chores lined up that I may not even notice! Tony is cleaning the swimming pool and he has a warm jacket and hat on. Just yesterday we considered turning the air conditioning on. Such as it is in SunnySouth Texas. Those cold fronts come whipping in from the north and the temperatures drop 40 degrees in a matter of minutes.
Thought I might mention that there will be a steak fry later this month for all association members. Tickets will go on sale soon. They sell out fast so keep that in mind.

New Years Day

Iowans watching Iowa play on New Years Day





Below is Myron and Bo

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.