From Donna Stevens in Canada

Family Day on Feb 19th, a holiday for us. Also our 35th anniversary. We are going to head to the maze to celebrate with the family! Have to make the best of this weather but it is starting to warm up a bit, 34 here tomorrow.
https://www.narcity.com/ca/on/toronto/travel/you-can-visit-the-worlds-largest-snow-maze-at-this-ontario-town-this-weekend

Trivia Winners

The Bills rose up as winners this week with a score of 136.  A perfect score would be 150.

We had 5 teams play this time. The interest is growing. One of the players told me she liked it because a group gathers around a table and discuss different topics and it allows a different look at dynamics between players and their problem-solving skills etc.

We also learned that a large team is not necessarily an asset. It is a learning process for all including me.
Come join us on Sunday after Ice Cream. 6:00 PM. If you do not have a team we will find you one or form one.

Gertrude Anderson-Rietveld Obituary

Gertrude Anderson-Rietveld

Memorial services for Gertrude Anderson-Rietveld will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 9, 2018, at New Life Christian Church.  Rev. Vern Harris will officiate.  Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday at New Life Christian Church.

Gertrude Anderson-Rietveld passed away unexpectedly on January 31st, 2018 with her family around her in Edinburg, TX.  She gained her angel wings on her 79th birthday.  Gert went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus.  Gert loved spending time with her family and friends, she loved to travel, camp, fish and read.  She loved family reunions and spending holidays with family.  Christmas was her favorite holiday and she always wanted to be with family at Christmas but once she retired a day or two after Christmas was time to head south to warmer weather.

She will be sadly missed by her sister Dena Larsen, her husband Cornelius Rietveld, her children Le Ann Schommer (Tom), Keith Heim (Angela), Brenda Wilkerson, Ron Heim (Sherri) and Jan Heim, her stepchildren Janice Burton, Neal Rietveld (Sandy), Connie Kingsley, Angela Strommer (David), Ron Rietveld (Jackie), Dan Rietveld (Roxanne) and Bob Rietveld (Jessica), her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Marie and Everett Heemsbergen, late husband Jerry Anderson, her brothers Gerritt, Bill, Marion, Marvin, Melvin and John, her son Mark Heim, and son-in-law Tim Wilkerson.

Worth Pondering

“In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.” —Lao Tzu

At the Piche House

When our younger family members come down from "up-north" sometimes the weather does not cooperate and that is when the games come out.

Picture snipped from Facebook😉

Edna and Jerry Walker

Edna posted this on Facebook. I am hoping she doesn't mind that I found a way to share it with her Magnolia family. Barb B.

Trivia versus Super Bowl

Last week I asked the trivia group if they wanted to have a trivia session even though it was Super Bowl Sunday. There were only two who were going to be absent so we continued. We had 4 teams and a good time was had by all. For the first time, we had a tie. A newly formed team named Team Rug Rats tied with Team The Bills each having 132 points. They decided to remain tied and stand as duo winners.

Team Rug Rats

Team The Bills

I think someone should form a team called 'Furrowed Brows'.

2018 Directory

We have the new directories and they will be available Tuesday morning at coffee/donuts/announcements. The cost will remain the same at $3 and I would appreciate it if you don't bring anything bigger than $10 to break.

The Last Fig Leaf

Magnolia Golfers at the Executive course

Every now and then I look through pictures to see if I have missed posting something. I snipped this picture from Facebook and then forgot about it.
These are Magnolia's golfers who play on Tuesday's at the Executive Course on HWY 1015.

Seasonal illness

First off, I am not sick and neither is Butch. We thought he might be so we went to the Day and Night clinic in Donna. He got checked out with a few tests and the PA told him he was the healthiest person she had seen that day. So I started thinking about it and it always seems to me I get sick on weekends. Bad luck that way. At any rate, here we all are in South Texas and away from our usual doctors so what do we do when we need to see somebody.
Our experience with the clinic was excellent. I have enough medical experience to know they did it all right and in a timely manner. So here is all their info.

Betty Lev Obit

Elizabeth Lev

On January 31, 2018
Elizabeth Lev, 94, of Jackson, Minnesota passed away at the Good Samaritan Society in Jackson Minnesota on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30a.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Saturday, February 3, 2018 with Father Seitz officiating.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Elizabeth “Betty” Mary (Kocak) Lev was born on August 16, 1923 to Andrew Kocak Sr. and Mary (Stinar) Kocak on the family farm in Minneota Township. She was raised with her stepmother, Mary (Pavelko) Kocak after her mother died in 1930.  On September 26, 1946 she was united in marriage to Darrell Lev at the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakefield.  Together they had four children, Linda, Mike, Carole, and Bill; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Betty was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Good Shepherd Catholic Church, and Birthday Club.  Always a hard worker with many talents, she will be fondly remembered at the local upholstery shop and as a longtime Riverside school cafeteria employee.  She loved spending time with her grandkids, tending her beautiful garden, and playing cards with family and friends.  She loved to dance and enjoyed watching Polkatime on TV, recognizing several of the participants.  Later in life she took up golf with her special friend Bud and prided herself in needing only one club, Big Bertha.

Betty is survived by her four children, Linda (Larry) VandeBrake of Georgetown, TX; Mike (Judie) Lev of Jackson, MN; Carol Hansen of Augusta, GA; and Bill Lev of Sioux Falls, SD. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, RyanVandeBrake and Mark VandeBrake; Brian Lev and Christine (Brad) Reiff; Ross Hansen and Sara Hansen; Alison (Matt) Wise. Ten great-grandchildren, Hillary, Austin (Kristin), Kaitlin, Sckye, Shianne, Jackson, Hollyn, Avree, Brecken, and Landon. Her son-in-law, John Hansen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of forty-seven years, Darrell; her parents Andrew and Mary (Steiner) Kocak; stepmother, Mary (Pavelko) Kocak; sister, Evelyn Garms; three brothers John, Andrew Jr., and Steve; and special friend, Bud Mier.

Blessed be the memory of Elizabeth Lev.

This isn't Paris

Susan suggested I send Don and Lil to Paris but I thought perhaps they would feel more at home down on the farm. Hey Lil, is Ray somewhere nearby? Butchering a cow?

Shower Cleaner-cheap and effective

 My granddaughter informed me of this solution for cleaning the shower and I haven't used anything else since. It is so handy to clean the shower walls when you are finished. All you need to do is rinse it off. No need to squeegie because the water beads up and rolls off.
MAKE A VINEGAR & DAWN CLEANING SOLUTION

Grab a container and mix DAWN and VINEGAR in equal parts.

I used half a cup of
 each and stored the remainder in an empty Dawn bottle. It takes about a 1/4th cup to fill the handle of the scrubber. To get the vinegar and Dawn to blend better microwave it for about 30 seconds. I have used this method for at least 3 years now. 

I read that it works for stains as well but I have not tried it

 First the Dawn, then the vinegar but adjust your amounts to the size of the stain.

All you may need is a TABLESPOON of each.

TIP: Do not dilute the mix.

Leave it for 15-30 min and rinse. 

Trivia Winners were 69-and-Holding

Team 69-and-holding won with a score of 96. 4 teams participated and there was an abundance of laughing, learning and good-natured teasing. It grows in popularity each week. We get those old dusty brain cells all worked up. Come check it out on Sunday at 6:00 pm. If you do not have a team come on down and we will get a team for you or you can gather up a team of your own. Warning!One time may get you hooked.

 

Supper at the El Dorado

The El Dorado in Weslaco used to be located across the street south from the HEB. It was a small building and the parking was atrocious but the food was really good. This season upon our return we discovered the El Dorado was missing and there was another restaurant where it used to be. A little later we discovered the El Dorado had moved to the mall on Pike where Big Lots is located and it is on the opposite side from Big Lots about in the middle. We first tried it for breakfast because that was usually when we would go there and it proved to be the very same El Dorado as which we were accustomed. We have eaten breakfast there several times now and we have never been disappointed.

Tonight we decided to try it for supper. Butch had a hamburger steak, baked potato, and salad, while I had a chicken taco salad. Both meals were excellent. And we most likely go there for breakfast on Sunday.

Thomas “Alan” Enestvedt Obit

Thomas “Alan” Enestvedt, 81, of Sacred Heart passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at the Renville Health Services in Renville. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Monday, January 29, 2018 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sacred Heart. Visitation will be from 3 – 6 PM on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Opdal Lutheran Church, rural Sacred Heart and will continue one hour prior to the service at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sacred Heart. Interment will be at Opdal Lutheran Cemetery. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family.

Thomas “Alan” Enestvedt was born on May 17, 1936 to Alfred and Edna (Samuelson) Enestvedt in South Sacred Heart Township and was baptized and confirmed at Opdal Lutheran Church.

On June 29, 1957, Alan was united in marriage to Verla Mae Hetle at Rock Valle Lutheran Church, rural Echo. They made their home south of Sacred Heart where Alan farmed. Alan was a lifelong member of Opdal Lutheran Church and was active with the church council. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, wintering in Texas, playing pool and socializing with the neighboring farmers in the shop, especially on rainy days. He loved his time at the lake with family and grandchildren and had a passion for IH tractors.

On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, Alan passed away at the Renville Health Services in Renville at the age of 81.

He is survived by his wife Verla Mae of Sacred Heart; children Steve (fiancé Rita Andree-Thomas) Enestvedt of Sacred Heart and his children Melanie (Mike) Gordon, Stephanie (friend John Zetah) Geer and Carrie (Juan) Leal; Dean (Deb) Enestvedt of Sacred Heart and their children Stacy Knott, Chris (Whitney) Enestvedt and Cory (Emily) Enestvedt; Kathy (Mike) Knutson of St. Louis, MO and their children Tom and Ben Knutson; Lynn Enestvedt of Granite Falls and her son Austin Enestvedt; 10 great grandchildren; brother and lifelong farming partner, Dennis Enestvedt of Sacred Heart; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents,  sister-in-law Linda and husband Doug Schulte and mother-in-law and father-in-law Idell and Earl Hetle.

Blessed be his memory.

Random Photos

These are pictures I have taken lately. Perhaps in the last week.

It was a windy day and that can be a challenge when grilling so Myron and his brother-in-law Bill found a spot of calm. 

Meanwhile, Don and Larry were gathering cans.

And then there is Donn tending to his papaya.

Don L. and Lil D. sharing a laugh at the steak fry

Haircut?

Kay insisted that Bill get a haircut. He is getting his eyebrows trimmed in this photo and one is done and one is not. It is a fine looking haircut he has too.

 This was my first experience with this shop. My regular hairdresser has been seriously ill and will not be working this season. Kay and several other people in Magnolia park go here to get their haircut so I decided to give it a try. It is located in Donna at 1015 Miller Ave. No appointment. Women's haircut is $8 and a man's haircut is $7. I do not know the hairdresser's names but I will find out next time. I was very impressed. They are quick, efficient and knowledgeable. I liked my haircut enough that I will be going there regularly from now on.

Now if you are going to be a fussybutt about how the place looks you might want to go somewhere else. But if you are focused on having a great haircut this is the place to go.

Stepped in Doggie Do? Or kitty Do?

Get Poop Off Your Shoe

You get home to find you stepped in dog do-do while on your evening walk. No problem! Just spray some WD-40 on the sole of your shoe and use an old toothbrush to clean the poop out of the crevices. Rinse with cold water and your shoes will be as good as new.