Crockpot Ribs- easy and delicious

I know you haven't heard from me lately but these ribs were so worth the wait. Buy yourself a couple of racks and get them started. They were a big hit at our house.

Memphis Pit BBQ Ribs
What You’ll Need:
1 blender
1 3-quart crock pot
1 baking sheet
aluminum foil
basting brush
5 pounds (2 full racks) of pork spare ribs
1 apple
1½ cups applesauce
1 diced onion
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
18 ounces BBQ sauce
What You’ll Need:

Okay, now let’s get down to business. First, arrange your spare ribs in a circle around the edges of your slow cooker. Continue layering the meat until it reaches the top, but has a large hole in the middle. In this center section, place your cored and sliced apple.

Now for the marinade. In a blender, combine your apple sauce, onion, sugar, and vinegar along with half of your BBQ sauce. Puree until smooth and then pour the whole thing over the top of your apple slices and meat. Cover and cook on high for about 5 hours. When you come back, try to resist sneaking a taste. Instead, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the ribs separately onto the surface.
Using your brush, baste the remaining BBQ sauce over the top and sides of your spare ribs. Broil for 5 to 10 minutes and plate as soon as possible for the best and most unique version of this classic we’ve ever tasted!

July 4th celebration at Magnolia Park

Cherry pie filling

We have only one poor disabled cherry tree (due to ice storm 3 yrs ago).   Jim lifts me up into the tree via his tractor bucket and I pick.  We did this 3 times this season and harvested 3 gallons which then have to be pitted.   I canned 9 quarts and 1 pint of pie filling. 4 jars of cherry jam, and made a cherry cheesecake.  Delicious!  I use Clear Jel from the Amish market for my filling;  it turns out thick and clear, like the commercial product.

What big eyes you have!

We made these "gourd eyes" to keep an eye on the traffic past our place!

New Owner

Marie Flood says:
"We have a new Owner of both Magnolia and Shady Acres . The new owners names are Chris and Dorthy (Dolly) Howard. They live in Victoria, B.C.  Chris is in his thirtys. He has plans for improving the park. He has already made arrangements for trees to be put around the front and sides of the park. There will be more improvements made as he goes along.  There will be no raise in rent.  Here are a few pictures taken today at coffee."

Asparagus!!

We are picking 3 pounds at least every day!   I freeze bags every few days and have a storehouse of the veggie in the freezer.  We give bags away and still have more than enough;  I just can't stop picking it.....some stalks grow a foot in 24 hours.   We are also busy with strawberries.   Nothing better than a fresh strawberry from the patch!

Bad WiFi in RV parks and a solution.

I have told many of you that WiFi is bad in most RV parks and here is verification of that fact. He offers a solution and I agree with it. It involves taking the problem into your own hands. It would be wonderful to have park-wide WiFi, but even if we did it would not be a satisfactory solution and Chuck Woodbury does a great job of explaining why.

http://rvtravel.com/rv-travel-newsletter-issue-747/

Kitty Foster passed

I was told that Kitty died this morning at 8:45 AM of a massive heart attack. She will be cremated and there are no services planned. If an obituary can be located in the future I will post it.
I do not have an address yet where condolences may be sent however I am sure they will get to the right place if sent to her Magnolia address.

Kitty Foster Family
318 Cottonwood
Donna Texas 78537
or
Joseph and Linda Blees
513 4th Avenue SW
Long Prairie MN 56347

Magnolia's Memorial Day Cookout

Crafts-from Marie Flood

 Genevia finally finished her queen sized bed spread only took 10 months.

Ely showed his appreciation with this sign he made.

Happen at your house?

From Nancy H.

May Flowers:
Doris Nelson's Cactus Flower

From Nancy H.

May Flowers:

Perfecto's New Awning built by his brother, Hector and his new rose bushes that he planted.

Dottie is the manager

Most of you already know that Dottie is back, but for those that don't. This to let you know she is back.

A Message from the Magnolia Park Family

Something wonderful happened at Magnolia Park 5/16/16. Last week there were bikes and 3 wheelers stolen. One of those 3 wheel bikes stolen belonged to Eli who is a disabled Marine Vet and a newer resident. He used his bike on a daily basis.  Monday at Crafts it was discussed to see if we could get enough donations to replace Eli's bike. Several residents contributed on Monday and more gave at Tuesday morning coffee.  Because of everyone's generosity the amount received was enough to purchase the new 3 wheel bike and a chain and padlock. Everyone gathered and the spokesperson presented Eli his new bike. The tears flowed. Eli was so humble and grateful as he thanked the people. Eli asked if he could pray. It was beautiful. It wasn't about him, but for the people of Magnolia Park. This is what a compassionate loving community is all about.

Message sent for Karen Steil via Marie Flood about Eli.

Nancy Herberholz's 63rd birthday

 On May 10 at 8:30 am, we had a great group to celebrate Nancy Herberholz's 63rd birthday with donuts, coffee and Cinn-a-bon cake.  A fun time was had by all as we discussed and tried to solve the problems of the world.

Eileen Lowrance Obituary

Rose Eileen Lowrance
(September 22, 1922 - May 10, 2016)


   Mass of Christian Burial for Rose Eileen Lowrance, 93, of Farber, will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 13, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Vandalia with Father Paul Hartley officiating. Burial will be in Farber Cemetery.
   Visitation will be Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Bienhoff Funeral Home.
   Mrs. Lowrance passed away at 7:30 a.m., May 10, 2016 at Tri County Care Center in Vandalia.
   She was born September 12, 1922 in Rutland, Illinois, the daughter of William and Rose Ehrnthaller Schmillen.
   She was married to Gerald Lowrance on March 6, 1943 in Oklahoma and he survives.
   Other survivors include: three sons, Michael Lowrance of Farber, Gerard (Laura) Lowrance of Osage City, Kansas, and Timothy (Maria) Lowrance of Vandalia; two daughters, Mary (John) Wallace of Vandalia, and Susan Sheridan of Greenwood, Mississippi; three brothers, Gene Schmillen of Normal, Ill., Donald Schmillen and Gaylord Schmillen, both of Toluca, Ill.; two sisters, Delores Tapay of Los Gatos, California, and Colette Rogers of Peoria, Ill.; ten grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
   She was preceded in death by one grandson, Tanner Lowrance; and three brothers, Tom Schmillen, Bill Schmillen, and Frances Schmillen.
   Mrs. Lowrance moved to the Vandalia area in 1962 with her family as they set up a farming operation. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church Altar and Rosary Society, and Homemakers Club. During her life, she enjoyed gardening, embroidery work, and working with crafts. When they spent the winters in Texas, she pursued her artistic talent including many mediums of painting.
   Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Steven Sheridan, Scott Sheridan, Chad Wallace, Patrick Lowrance, Aidan Lowrance, and Tyson Lowrance.
   Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church Altar and Rosary Society.

Eileen Lowrance's passing

I received a call from the son of Eileen Lowrance the other day;  Eileen passed from complications of a stroke and pneumonia.   I have waited to send along her obituary in the local newspaper, but none has surfaced as of yet and there might not be one.   Eileen and Gerald were our neighbors when we lived in # 21.   They sold to Ron and Elaine Wingert about 10 years ago.  I still miss Eileen;  we had  lots of fun together.   Gerald loved to  play cards with his special group of men;  he is in a Veteran's Home now near Farber, Mo.   I will forward an obituary if I find one.   Kay Voss

From Dick and Leslie Cleaveland

"We will be celebrating Erma's 98th birthday on Thursday, May 12th. I know she would love to hear from her friends. Her address is 737 No. Hwy, #317, Oakland, Ia. 51560"

Miss Steak

I, by accident, posted the "Cold to the Bone" entry on this blog first so it is posted on this one as well as my own at www.brooker3.blogspot.com. I do not usually do that because the two blogs have two distinct personalities or at least I like to think so. I feel a bit freer to express myself on my own blog. That being said I will say I am very aware that things posted on the Internet are there for posterity so I try to behave myself no matter where I am posting.  I thought about deleting this one but changed my mind. I will not put it both places every time I post.
Bottom line is that you are welcome to look at both of them at any time.

Cold to the Bone!

It has been very cold here this past week and we weather it much better in the house than the motorhome but it is still not good. Yesterday we went to an auction. It is in a big old building that is not heated. Once we became thoroughly cooled we came home. My only purchase of the day was an ironing board I acquired for a dollar. It wasn't even on the auction. I have been looking for one and there it stood right by the door so I asked the auctioneer about it and he sold it to me and even asked me how many I wanted. Apparently they are not a hot item at auctions. If you start looking on Pinterest you will want an ironing board too.

These folks are better acclimated than I am.

They do not appear cold at all.

So we came home and heated up some leftover chili, the perfect meal for the day.

A few days ago when the sun was still shining the neighbor cat came over for a visit. She laid claim to our place and many others over the winter. Her name is Fluffy and she keeps her distance. I do not mind having cats around as they keep the mice away. So meet Fluffy:

 I spent too much time on Pinterest this morning getting inspired for projects. Butch will soon have lots of things to do. If you feel you are in a rut just visit Pinterest and soon you will be flooded with all kinds of ideas for all kinds of projects.

This afternoon we will be going to a birthday party for a new teenager, Devon Hiller. He is a good kid so I think we are all safe for now.

Whether the weather is cold,

Or whether the weather is hot,

We will weather the weather,

Whatever the weather,

Whether we like it or not!

Asparagus!

I thought I heard our asparagus growing!!!  This is why we came home, and why we have the furnace running and wearing winter clothes!!!  It is hard to go from 80-90 degrees to the 40's in a couple of days.   We made it past all the stormy weather without hardly a raindrop on us.  Have a great summer, see you in the fall.   Kay and Jim

Canning at the Voss house!

We bought 11 boxes of mangoes for $3 a box;  we finished with 25 quarts and 1 pint of sliced mangoes!  Now Jim has to find a place for them and the jars of lemon juice and jars of pinto beans--plus the canned pork!   We will have 2 big coolers of frozen pork from the wild hog Jim shot and then there is the 150 pounds of ropa!   The jars will go on the roof of the van and everything else stuffed inside.   We hope to leave Thursday morning for Minnesota!

Dorral's mobile being moved out of park today.

Real or Rumor

 Yesterday, I received word that the park has perhaps been sold. All of the info received is sketchy, unverified and unofficial. This can change many things if true and I am telling you only because some people do not like surprises of any nature but ones you are semi-prepared for can be less startling and softer to the system. So, as I operate on the "Don't cry till you are hurt" principal I will wait and see how I wish to react and I suggest you do the same. In the past, I have waited for verification before posting because of repercussions so I hope I do not regret this blog post.
Sincerely, 
Barb B.

Rose Marie Wingert Obit

Rose Marie Wingert

1942 - 2016

Rose Marie Wingert passed away April 14, 2016. She was 73.

Rose Marie Konda was born on July 11, 1942 on a farm near Montrose, SD to John and Grace (O'Hara) Konda. She graduated from Parker High School in 1960. After graduation, she started her career in the medical field as a secretary. She worked first as an x-ray secretary at McKennan Hospital and began her career as a lab secretary for the next 40 years at LCM. She retired from Sanford Labs in August 2013. Her hobbies were square dancing, line dancing, knitting, crocheting and other crafts.

Rose Marie was united in marriage to Alvin Wingert on May 22, 1965 at St Joseph's Cathedral in Sioux Falls. She enjoyed camping, bus tours and square dancing with Alvin. She was a member of Christ the King Church, Shirts & Skirts Square Dance Club, and Active Generations.

Grateful for sharing her life are her brother, Francis (Judy) Konda; nephews, Jim (Kris) Konda of Jackson, MN, Mike (Amy) Konda, Sioux City, IA; niece, Cindy Konda, Sioux Falls, SD; brothers-in-law, Ron (Elaine) Wingert, Francis (Tuny) Wingert; sisters-in-law, Eilene (Cecil) McCoy, Mary Lou (John) Tunender, and Pat (Ron) Leber; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her parents; and brother, James.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am Monday, April 18, 2016, at Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will follow at 1:30pm at St. Patrick Cemetery, Montrose, SD. Visitation begins at noon, Sunday, with the family present to greet friends from 2:00 to 4:00pm and a prayer service beginning at 4:00 Sunday afternoon at Miller Funeral Home, 507 S. Main Avenue.

www.millerfh.com
Published in The Argus Leader on Apr. 16, 2016

Larry and Noreen Ergen's Flowers

I took this one day in early March before we left. I thought their flowers were so pretty. In fact, Aspen Street has a lot of homes with beautiful yards and I do have some more photos that I took when I was out wondering around which I will share when we have nothing else newsy to put on the blog.

Charity quilts Show & Tell 2016

Looking through my pictures I came across this and don't think I have posted it before. These are some of the many charity quilts that the quilters made during our past season. They met every Wednesday morning and produced an amazing quantity of items. I really like the variety of colors and they certainly are for a good cause

Spring photos 2016

Don Harper fixed up a doorstop for his motorhome, using a golf club shaft, mop head and some tape. 

Meanwhile, the pidgeons are taking advantage of the pool while they can.

Gehman's Flowers in March

I took this before we left and I'm thinking you are probably tired of looking at snow so thought I would share this. It was so pretty for most of the season but it is one mean plant with many thorns on it.

April 2, 2016 Neillsville WI

This is how it looked this morning and the wind was blowing straight out of the north. If you haven't started home, it might be a good idea to wait a while!