Olympic Winners!

Magnolia Park had an unprecedented 3 FIRST PLACE WINNERS in the valley wide senior Olympics. Pictured here are Char Wolfrom and Carol Kapke who took first place in women's pool. We are very proud of this talented and dedicated pair of pool players. The other first place winners were supposed to stick around for their photo shoot after yesterday's coffee hour but failed to do so. I will catch up with them at a later date.

Last I heard...

Yesterday I heard that Don Soole had a better day and we are all very thankful for that. Keep the prayers coming because we all know they can do wonders.

Rain drops

I awoke to the sound of rain early this morning. It is the first rain we have had for months and it sounded good. It is also 70 degrees so for you folks up north think of those summer showers where it comes straight down for brief periods and it is a warm rain. That is our experience this early AM.
Today is supposed to be golf day but now there is a question mark about it. It is also Coffee social hour day and I will be in charge due to the illness of our great president Don Soole. I hope I can do half the job he does with it.
Till next time...

Don Soole

Don Soole, pictured here with his wife Marge, is in a fight for his life and not doing well. A month ago he was busy doing the things he does so well, cooking for us, presiding over meetings, taking care of all the things the President of the Magnolia Seniors Association takes care of and doing it very, very, well. Then he caught a cold or a sinus condition or whatever it might have been that started it off and he didn't get better. After waiting perhaps too long he went to the doctor but by then he was in dire straits. Pneumonia they said and put him in the hospital after a wait for a bed. His condition declined from there and he is now in ICU. His family has gathered.
He is very much in my thoughts and prayers and I am sure he is in yours too. Let's all pray for him and his family very, very hard.

Valentine/Anniversary Party

Herb & Pat Jones were one of 7 couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday afternoon and evening.

Friends visiting

We have friends visiting and that means we revisit all the old haunts we like to go to. This group is mostly Texans but somehow they have neglected what we think of as "The Perfect Place to Spend the Winter". They arrived on Wednesday and we went to eat at the El Dorado in Alamo. The service was borderline at best but the food made up for it.

On Thursday we went to South Padre and walked the beach with hopes of eating shrimp at Dirty Al's. Too,too busy so we ate at Pirates Landing in Port Isabel. Excellent as well.


We then stopped at the Atascosa Wildlife Refuge. Short of birds in my opinion but a few did show up for camera opportunities.





Yesterday we did the Ropa Usada experience. As most of you know you either love it or hate it but it was a hit this time and they plan to go again.
It is so sweet when your friends come to visit and like the same things you do.

South Padre Beach

There are still signs of Hurricane damage to be found everywhere on South Padre but business is carrying on as usual and a walk on the beach was still a pleasure.

Kite Festival Pictures

Kite festival pictures

We went to the kite festival on Sunday and since it was also Super Bowl Sunday the crowd was light. The weather was as near to perfect as one can get.

Behinder I get!!

I have kept going in a minimal manner for a couple of weeks because of allergies. The tree pollen is high right now in sunny south Texas and I am apparently quite susceptible. I must mark it on the calendar for next year and go into the season better prepared. I went to the doctor yesterday so I am properly medicated and on the mend. Feeling much more like myself today. That other person I was feeling like was a miserable individual.

The Goose Whisperer

Wild Bill otherwise known as the Goose Whisperer has made friends with the geese at the golf course. Unfortunately, the goose pictured here lost his mate. She had an injured wing and a dog did her in. Now we wonder if the goose will hang around for Bill.

New Directory

The new park directory is ready for purchase and will go on sale this morning before coffee hour. They will be $3.50 this year. If there are changes to any info pertaining to you let me know any time during the year.

Stump burning

There was a stump burning in the park a week or so ago and no opportunity for a party is passed by. They grabbed their marshmallows and headed over to Lime & Center to watch the stump burn and enjoy a treat.

Busy week-Busy Months

January and February are big busy months here in the park. That is when most everyone has arrived and settled in for the winter so it is party, party, party. Most of these happy celebrations include food. I have trouble remembering the last time I cooked a meal. It is also a tad bit difficult for me to keep up with it all so if you have pictures of any of these events you would like to see posted on the blog send them to me and I will post them on here.
Party on!!!

Marylu Scholl's Big Birthday

Marylu celebrated a big birthday and her family put on a big party. It started at noon yesterday with lunch then lots of entertainment then cake and more entertainment followed by a delicious BBQ rib dinner. A great time was enjoyed by all. Happy Birthday Marylu!!!

Jan & Joe Stinchfield Wedding Dance

Jan & Joe Stinchfield were married last October and enjoyed big celebrations with each side of the family. Last Thursday they threw a big dance party to celebrate with their Texas family.

A group of friends shivareed the happy couple after the dance too.

Kite Festival Info- January 31 & February 1st 2009

South Padre Island Kite Festival

Got the winter doldrums??? Then pack up your kites and come on down to beautiful South Padre Island, Texas, for the 9th Annual SPI Kite Fest taking place January 31st and February 1st, 2009. It's a great place for all kite flyers and non-flyers to come and have a great time.

South Padre Island is just 25 miles north of the Mexican border. The 34-mile long stretch of white sand has the Gulf of Mexico to the east of it and the Laguna Madre bay to the west. The Island is the perfect playground for sailing, fishing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, dolphin watching, bird watching, shopping, golf, and, of course, flying kites.

Port Isabel, which is on the other side of the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway (bridge to the Island), has many unique shops, restaurants, museums, and the Point Isabel Lighthouse and Keeper's Cottage. The Point Isabel Lighthouse is the only lighthouse on the Texas coast to be open to the public. Crossing over into Mexico can add a little spice to your trip to the Island. There is a lot of good shopping, fabulous food, and entertainment to experience south of the border.

The SPI Kite Fest is held on the "flats" just north of the Convention Centre on the north end of the Island on the bay side. The flats is 20 acres of wide-open flat sand butting up to the beautiful Laguna Madre Bay overlooking the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway. The average wind on South Padre Island is 14 mph. In February, the winds are generally a constant 10 to 15 miles per hour. The temperature is usually around 65 that time of year.

The festival is put on by B & S Kites, which is owned by Bill and Susie Doan. It brings in huge crowds from all over North America. That is due to the large population of Winter Texans (what Texas calls their Snowbirds) that live in South Texas during the winter. They are the greatest audience you could ever wish for.
Kite demos and shows and many beautiful single line kites fill the sky throughout the day. The local kite team of Team SPI, made up of Jeff McCown, Donna McCown, Claudia Steen, and Guy Blatnik, will be performing throughout the day. We're also excited to be getting iQuad back down to the festival this year for a return visit, joining in will be John Barresi, David Hathaway, Bazzer Poulter and Steve DeRooy, performing and teaching with their quad kites.
SPI Preview

Gayle Woodul, AKA Region 8 director, from Austin, Texas, along with several members from the Cloud Chasers Kite Club, will be bringing some kites for display and putting on shows and demos as well.

The festival runs two days starting at 10 a.m. and going to 4 p.m. Besides the kite displays and demos going on all day, there will be people available to teach individuals to fly kites. There will be a silent auction with all kinds of merchandise to bid on throughout the two days. There will be some prizes given away throughout the festival. Food will be available to purchase from the Laguna Madre Christian Academy. Saturday night there will be a banquet/auction held after the festival. Banquet tickets will be available during the festival.

Whether you're flying or driving, South Padre Island is easily accessible. If traveling by air, you would need to fly into Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas, on Southwest Airlines or Continental; or you could fly into Brownsville/South Padre International Airport in Brownsville, Texas, on Continental. Harlingen is 50 minutes from the Island and Brownsville is 30 minutes away. Ground transportation is available at both airports along with most major car rental companies and taxi service.

If you'll be coming to the festival and are interested in performing, please contact Jeff & Donna McCown. We invite everyone, kite fliers and non-kite fliers, to come experience a warmer climate during the winter and join us at the SPI Kite Fest this coming January 31st and February 1st, 2009.

If you have any questions about the festival, contact Bill and Susie Doan of B & S Kites at (956) 761-1248.

Fisherman Jim

Message from Kay:
Jim holding one of the Red fish he caught Tues. He went fishing with some of his trap shooting buddies, on their boat.....all got their limit. He had a good time, and I sure hope his sunburn calms down soon! Kay


Barb says: What did that fish say to you that made you look grumpy,Jim?

Crafts at both ends

An unprecedented number of people showed up for craft day at Allen Hall. These are shots of the woodcarvers at the east end of Allen Hall. Lloyd Sachs is their leader.

Perpetual Putter

Jack Robinson on E Pecos street has a perpetual putter in his front yard.

Pepe's on the River last Saturday

A group from the park traveled west to Mission to Pepe's on the River. A popular spot for food, drink, music and dancing.

Grackle

I feel I am so very behind in posting and I know some of you are so very faithful about checking every day. This grackle caught my eye. The shape against the sky- the graceful lines of its body-so every now and then I take pictures for more than utilitarian reasons and this is one of them.

Off to the Printer!

The new park directory will be taken to the printer today and hopefully available for purchase next week. The purchase price is unknown yet but should be in the neighborhood of $3.00, same as in the past.

Parrot sighting

The parrots landed in the park tonight with enough light left to photograph and stayed long enough for me to grab my camera.

Our people

Several of our people here in the park are also vendors at the Don-Wes Flea Market. Pictured above are Droogsmas who sell a number of different items and Jack Robinson who sells golf related items. Jerry Keyser pictured below selling honey to Butch is also one of our people here in Magnolia Park.

Tomfoolery

Betty goes to the flea market and gets hugs!!

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