Another Birthday

 I received a message today asking me to let you all know that we have another important birthday coming up among our Magnolia family (at our ages, all birthdays are important). On July 13 Elaine Misfeldt will turn 85. It would be nice if  we could fill her mailbox with birthday cards and wish her well. Her address is 612 7th St NE #1, Pipestone MN 56164. I chatted with Elaine just before LeRoy's birthday and she sounded just like I was sitting across the table from her in Allen Hall in Magnolia. It was nice talking with her. Mark your calendars and get those cards in the mail! 

Here it is almost the 4th of July, time does fly by. I know it sounds trite, but it's true. It seems like we just got home from the valley at the end of March and here it is the end of June. We are in an area where strawberries are grown at this time of the year. You can pick your own at some places or buy them ready picked. We bought an ice cream bucket full (that's how they are sold here) from one of the many Amish roadside stands in our area. The cost was $10 and they were worth every penny of that. I made a pan of Better Homes and Gardens Rich Strawberry shortcake recipe, we ate that up so I made another pan full (9 inch layer cake pan) and we ate that up and now the berries are gone too. We are thinking maybe we'll get another bucket full on Monday (no Sunday sales at the Amish places) and have some more shortcake. It's such a short season and there is nothing like fresh strawberry shortcake! Yum!!

Other than that I have no other news of any importance. Remember, if you have something to share, please let me know and I'll be happy to put it on the blog.

Enjoy Summer!!

This and That

 I know it's been a long while since I posted anything but it's getting harder and harder to find anything to write about. I do think there will perhaps come a time when the blog will be ended, or at least new posts will no longer be made. 

Up here in West Central Wisconsin we have had days and days of heavy rains and tonight the meteorologists are talking about the possibilities of very strong winds even derechos which I think are becoming more common. I know a few years back Iowa was hit with one of these. We are keeping busy with mowing our lawn because even though it has not been overly hot it has been wet so the grass keeps growing. 

We enjoy watching the wildlife out our windows including a couple of does with fawns, one has one fawn and another has twins. They race around like crazy on the lawn just like a bunch of little kids playing. They are fun to watch! We haven't planted a garden for many years but we do plant tomato plants. Jim started them after we got home and we planted them outside a couple of weeks ago. We like the cherry tomatoes so have red and yellow. We have lots of plants so most likely if the weather cooperates we should have a bumper crop.

I thought I would share a couple of photos with you of some of our wildlife. These were all taken out our living room windows. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male

Indigo Bunting

Red-headed Woodpecker

LeRoy Misfeldt Birthday date change

 Elaine called the other day and told me that the actual date for LeRoy's birthday is May 30, not May 31. Just a reminder to get those birthday cards in the mail and I sure hope a lot of you remembered Mabel Zoet's birthday yesterday. Every once in a while recent photos of both these long-time Magnolia residents will show up on Facebook and they are looking great.

Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend!!

Another Birthday edited

 I had a nice note today from Mabel Zoet and she told me she too is going to be 90 and her birthday is May 22. I remember Nelson and Mabel well, Nelson performed the auctioneer song many times for the enjoyment of Magnolia residents. So folks, I ask you to not only remember LeRoy Misfeldt on May 31 but Mabel Zoot on May 22. Both of these folks will be 90 years young and it'd sure be fun to send them both birthday cards. As I stated for LeRoy, let's try for at least 90 cards for each of them. 

When Nelson and Mabel left the park they lived in Wyoming MI but when I looked her up I found an address of 5683 Leisure South Dr SE  Kentwood MI 49548 which I am assuming is current.  I just found a different address for Mabel and don't know which is correct. 301 44th St SW, Grand Rapids Michigan 49548-4107

Please, if you are able, greet them on their birthdays!!

Birthday News

I had a really nice message from  Susan Van Houweling and among other things she told me that LeRoy Misfeldt is going to be 90 on May 31. I remember LeRoy and Elaine very well and I'm sure you do too. How about if we all send him a birthday card for this special occasion. Not everybody makes it to the 90 year milestone. The address is 612 7th NE #1, Pipestone MN 56164. Wouldn't it be great if somehow we could get at least 90 birthday cards from former Magnolia friends. Let's do it!!

The Older I Get...

 ...the more difficult it is to keep up. Not just with blogs, but with everything. Despite that, I still feel these are the best years of my life. 

I find that when we come South we become wrapped up in park activities. Never saw that coming! I made a promise to myself when we came to Trophy that I would not become so immersed in too many areas of the activities. I have held to that but am still busier than I want to be at times. We do not seem to do much outside the park...like visit our Magnolia friends

I do frequently have a mental touch with the former Magnolia people, most often when looking at my photos. Good times, good people!

Our lives are made up of pool, both of us and trivia for me. I sometimes think of stopping trivia but there are fifty-plus people who would be very disappointed. Butch also plays golf. I have a walking partner. At 7 each morning we check the outdoor temp and if it is in excess of 50 degrees we walk for 2 miles. We use both Winter Ranch and Trophy Garden.

Here are some Magnolia Memories for you.

Spring

 I know it's been a while since I last posted and to be honest, I'm not sure if anyone reads this anymore or not but I think a few do so I will keep posting periodically to this blog.

We left the RGV March 28 and in three days we were back home here in Wisconsin. As usual, Spring has been rather fickle since we arrived home. Up here, it was the winter that wasn't, because they had very little snow and it really wasn't very cold. Since we've been home, it's snowed and it's been far colder than we were used to down in Texas. Neither Jim or I like it and it seems like we just can't get warm. We got used to the great weather we had all winter down south so this is a bitter pill to swallow. The last few days have been somewhat warmer and a bit rainy and windy. We are lucky though when we see the tornado destruction that took place yesterday in numerous states. I certainly hope none of you were affected by the severe weather outbreak the last few days and perhaps ongoing even as I type this.

It has warmed up sufficiently that the grass has gotten green, is growing and will need to be mowed very shortly. Once we start mowing it's an ongoing thing probably well into October although as fall approaches the grass does slow down in its growth. I see tulips, daffodils and rhododendrons blooming all over in our area. At one time I had hundreds of tulips but the deer found them tasty and the squirrels thought they should all be dug up. That was enough of that!! The problem with all of those flowers is, yes they are so pretty in the spring but after they bloom for a short time, that is it and they are done until next year. I'm looking for new ideas for flowers that will bloom most of the summer. I have had a wildflower garden for several years and while it is pretty for quite a long time, at the same time it is also very messy looking and drives me crazy. I am going to till it up and plant perennials that bloom most of the summer and that I can weed around, or at least that is the plan.

The only Magnolia people that I still hear from are the ones in Trails End, where we are, and those over at Roadrunner where there is another contingent of former Magnolia people. Through Facebook I do have contact with a few others but contact is minimal. Lots of good memories though from those years. We did not drive into Magnolia at all this season but did drive by several times. It looks quite dreadful. I wonder how the inside of the buildings are where we all spent a lot of time, probably as dreadful as the rest of the park looks. There are a very few of our former neighbors at Magnolia who are still there which most of us find interesting.

As I say every time I post something on this blog if you have news to share please let me know.

This and That

Today is Tuesday, March 26 and day after tomorrow we will be heading back home to Wisconsin. It has once again been a very busy winter and the time has gone by very quickly. It seems like we just got here and now it's time to pack up and head north.

Back home it was the winter that wasn't, that is until the last several days. Wisconsin did get snow but I don't believe as much as some other areas did. I just looked at the weather and it appears that the temps will be in the 40s and I do know that the snow turned to rain so I'm thinking there can't be too much snow left.

Our little group of Magnolia people here at Trails End. for the most part are doing well. I believe Ron and Chris Pearce will be living here full time but I'm not 100% sure about that. We get together some Sunday mornings for snacks and chit-chat and it's always nice to see everyone. I run into Don Harper most mornings when I'm out on my morning walk and he's out walking his dog. I always ask him "what's new" and usually his response is nothing or words to the effect. 

We'll pack up the car tomorrow and head out as soon as it's light Thursday morning. Our first night out is usually Henderson TX but that may change, depends on where we are and how tired we are. The second night should be Marion IL and the third night we should get home. Of course that's if all goes as planned and we don't get delayed anywhere. Who knows, sometimes traffic is stopped because of an accident up ahead. Then all plans will be changed.

As I always say, if you have news or information to share, please do let me know and safe travels to those of you heading home.

This and That

Time is flying by it seems at a record speed. It seems we just got here, actually around the 1st of November and here it is almost March. We will stay until the end of March or thereabouts as we like to be home around April 1.

I've been busy this whole season, what with one thing or  another. We are still remodeling the mobile home we purchased in December of 2022 but are almost done. We are waiting for the roofer to come to put on a new metal roof which hopefully will happen before we head back north. The winter had been very dry until last weekend when we got around 4 inches of rain here in Weslaco which was so badly needed.

There are quite a few Magnolia people here and it's always nice to stop and chat a minute with them. This park has lots of Canadians in it and we've met some very nice folks here.

We've been birding a few times and plan to go a bit more often now. I am working on the park directory and now also do the monthly newsletter, both of which I do enjoy. We shoot pool on Friday evenings, mixed doubles, much like we used to do in Magnolia and we do not play with who we came with but draw cards to find our partner. It's a great way to meet new people and get to know them. Darlene Jansen plays as does Terry Froseth, Pat & Mike Jordan, Don & Marty Harper and Jim and I, along with others from the park. It's fun!

I seldom hear any other news from Magnolia people and as I've said before we do wonder about them. We drive by Magnolia and it sure doesn't look like it once did. Kind of sad.

As I say every time I post, if you have something to share, please let me know.

I'm going to share just one photo I took a couple of weeks ago and it is of an Audubon's Oriole.

Do You remember Edna?

Do You remember Edna?

Edna Anderson has been trying to rid the west side fence of sandburs. She has spent endless hours digging away at them. Edna used to be a resident of the park but had to move due to the number of pets she adopted. She still lives nearby.

I have a suggestion if you would like to take a stroll through the good old days of Magnolia. On this page you are reading this, scroll to the bottom and on the right side you will see a list of the years. Click on any of them and have a look around. The one above happens to be from 2004. Have fun!

Winter in the Rio Grande Valley

 What a difference from the last time I posted. We once again got extremely cold down here in the RGV. This time was not as bad as the "Big Freeze" in February of 2021 which lasted almost a week with no power but that time we were in the 5th Wheel and had a generator and we were snug as two bugs in a rug! This time it got down in the upper 20s and about 2:30 this morning our neighbor's generator which he installed last year, came on. I thought wow, we have power, I wonder why they don't. Well, silly me, yes we had power B U T. . . down here it is called 1/2 power and at home we would call it a brownout. We had power for the lights and TV but that was it - no coffee maker, no stove, no microwave and most importantly, no furnace, thus no heat. We are all electric here. As it turns out there were very few homes that had lost half their power. A transformer on our end of the street had a wire hanging down off of it so two streets were affected, our street and the one in back of us. All homes affected were in a relatively small area but we were one of them. AEP came in and fixed the problem and about 10:30 this morning the furnace was humming away. It did take a long time to heat the house and everything in it, back to a comfortable temperature but tonight everything is just fine and has been ever since it came back on.

Ron and Chris Pearce both have covid and Darlene had it a short time ago. Everyone (not us) went to the New Years Eve party and that turned out to be a super-spreader so lots of sick people in the park. Once in a while we will run into former Magnolia people and it's always nice to see them. Barb & Butch Brooker  who live over at Trophy Gardens in Alamo went square dancing and ran into Mary and Dave Bruun  and Barb had posted a picture of them on her blog. It was nice to see and did remind us of the "good old days" when we all were part of the Magnolia family.

Lots going on in our park this week, a big shuffleboard tournament which has had to change the days due to the extreme cold, a Welcome Back dinner tomorrow night put on by Encore, the corporation that owns this park and many more, and then a big shuffleboard dinner Sunday night which will have lots of guests. Everyone keeps busy that's for sure.

I hope all is well with all of you and as always, if you have news to share do let me know. I hear from quite a few prior Magnolia people quite often including Mabel Zoot and Edna Walker, just two of them I'll mention. We do wonder about others that no one seems to have any contact with. Lots of good memories, that's for sure.

Do keep in touch, it's always nice to hear from you.

Summer in January!!

 It got pretty warm here today, I believe our thermometer read 89 degrees this afternoon, had to turn the air on. We really haven't had to use the air or the heat too much this season. When we first got here in early November we had the A.C. on once in a while and then we needed the heat once in a while but most days we just turn the ceiling fan on and we're comfortable. It was extremely windy here today too which is not too uncommon down in the Rio Grande Valley. 

We went to Mexico last week and on the walk back over the international bridge from Progresso we encountered lots of immigrants who were camped on the side of the bridge that returns to the states. These are not people who are trying to sneak in and enter illegally but they are people who appeared to be from European countries looking to escape Ukraine and other countries where living is very tough. There were lots of families with children, some folks were sleeping in their tents and others were just gathered together talking. We could hear them and most everyone who has encountered them suspect some are from Russia, and other countries in that area just overhearing the languages spoken among them. I noticed that someone had placed ziplock baggies with toothbrushes and other hygiene items for them to use. They were evenly spaced all along the railing all the way to the middle where there is now a checkpoint at the US border and we had to show our passport to get through. We, who live in the United States sometimes forget how fortunate we are because in spite of the issues we all face, nothing is comparable to what people in some other nations are going through.

Last week the parrots decided to visit and they settled in trees right next to our house. How lucky is that! It was great fun, I took lots of photos and here are just a few. Remember how they used to visit us in Magnolia. It was fun then and it's still fun. They make so much noise you can't miss them when they are overhead.

Pictures from a ways back

 

A very young Butch Brooker

Butch's brother Don

Butch's brother Leo

Kite day on Padre. Maybe 2012?

 The golfing years. I was there but when you are the photographer you are rarely in the picture.

Did you ever have to put around a tree on a green? Butch did.

Gary, Jason and Butch.

I was looking at Pictures on my computer and this was the result but now I simply must walk away from the computer and do something else!

Christmas Greetings

 

From Our House to Yours

This and That

 Once again, I've been remiss in not posting much but as usual when we get down here in the RGV we are busy and this year I seem to be especially busy. I'm on the Trails End Board and while very interesting, it is also a lot of work but I have to say I am enjoying it. We are getting ready for our Christmas program on Sunday evening December 17. We will have a choir which I am accompanying and that is a whole lot of fun. One of our residents volunteered to direct and she is doing a great job.

Some of the Trails End residents who, like so many of us are former Magnolia residents told me I should list those who are down here and I told them I know the ones here and a few who are in some of the other parks but others I'm just not sure about and probably not everyone has yet arrived for the winter as many come after the holidays.

In our park we have Ron & Chris Pearce, Gail Lubinsky, Don, Marty, & Andy Harper, Darlene Jansen, Keith Gilbertson, Terry Froseth, Carmen and DeWayne Friesen, Darrel & Kathy Forsgren (not here yet), Mike & Pat Jordan, Natalia Poprawski, Mike Reddick, Joe & Cheryl Raleigh (not here yet), Deral Rogers, Shirley Truitt, Connie Dziuk and Beverly Lokensgard I know for sure are at Roadrunner as is Doris Nelson and I think Michael & Carolyn Murray are also there. I'm not sure about the Krafts or Steils and I believe there are a few more former Magnolia people at Roadrunner but don't know for sure. I think Don & Mary Knorr are at our sister park, Leisure World as is Joanne Olson. Don & Kathy Ferrell, DA & Kathy Baustian, Marge Soole, and George Morgan & Phyllis Branstetter are at Rio Valley Estates. Dick & Leslie Cleaveland and Ray & Leslie Droogsma are at a park I think in Donna but can't remember for sure which one it is. Last year I believe Dave & Mary Bruun  were at Palm Shadows but could be wrong about that and these last few I'm not even sure if they are down here yet. Butch & Barb Brooker are at Trophy Gardens where they have bought a park model.

I would imagine I've missed a few but most of this info was off the top of my head and not really researched. I've probably even missed someone here at Trails End.

There are still a few of the original folks left at Magnolia Park and every time we drive by it we are grateful that we no longer live there as it does not appear to be very good.

My computer battery is almost completely run down so that is all the information you are going to get tonight! Safe travels to those who may still be coming down to the Rio Grand Valley.

Chester L Johnson

It is with heartfelt sadness that I have to tell you that our brother-in-law Chet Johnson passed away very early this morning. Most all of you will remember Chet who was very involved in Magnolia Park for very many years, whether he was cooking steaks or shooting pool or doing any of the many other things that he did in the park. He almost always had a smile on his face  as he would ride around the park in their golf cart giving their cat Chico a ride. If you would like to send Irma a card her address is 807 W 4th Street, Neillsville WI 54456

Chester Johnson, age 90, of Neillsville died November 10th, 2023 at his residence. He had been in declining health this past year and was under the care of VA Home Based Primary Care and St Croix Hospice.

Chester Leon Johnson was born June 18, 1933 in the Town of Eaton, Clark County, Wisconsin, son of Leo T. and Tressa (Roum) Johnson and brother to 9 siblings. He attended Greenwood and Loyal rural schools while working at several farms as a youngster and many years for Dan and Sylvia Boh in Willard. In his late teens, he was employed by Kurt Marg Fur Foods in Neillsville. He served in the U.S. Army, spending time in Arkansas, Colorado, Virginia and Iceland. Chet's last 37 years of employment were at Nelson Industries in Neillsville, retiring in 1994

He married Irma Spangler on October 24, 1956. They had three children, Tom (Carrie) Johnson, Neillsville, Sharee (Steve Karklins) Johnson, Winton, MN and Dan (Jandy) Johnson, Fayetteville, OH and now four grandchildren and two great grandsons

When the children were young, there were many family camping trips and vacations, visiting 46 states and Canada. After Chet and Irma's retirement, they spent 25 winter seasons at a retirement park in Texas. He enjoyed being outdoors, cooking maple syrup in the spring, making firewood, fishing, hunting, refinishing auction finds, and recycling items into yard ornaments.

He is survived by sisters: Donna Brandt, Brenda Johnson, Helen (Don) Anderson; brother Carl Noah and sister-in-law Sheila Noah. Preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, four brothers: Lloyd (Dolores), Allen (Marjorie), Lyall (Margaret) Johnson, and Keith Noah; and a sister Linda (Clarence) Krause.

At his request, there will be no services.



Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com

Come to a conclusion

 I have come to the conclusion I get triple the exercise in South Texas as I do in Iowa. Now I am well aware that it doesn't need to be that way but it comes in a way in Texas that you do not realize it until you crash!

Yesterday we went to Mexico, needing a few items such as Gingivitis mouthwash, Volfenac and a zpac. No, neither of us are sick.  We try to keep one on hand. When we go to Hectors it becomes a two-mile walk. Before going, Renie and I had done our walk. And if you work in playing some pool you can see how you could rack up miles.

The main question we get from telling anyone we went to Mexico is "How is it in Mexico, specifically Nuevo Progreso Mexico?" It is fine! They have spruced things up so it looks much cleaner and they have pushed venders down the street a way so it isn't nearly as crowded getting started down the street as it used to be. Butch got his teeth cleaned ($40). As a general rule, everything costs more than it used to and that is because of the Peso/Dollar relationship. For instance, we had lunch at Jessica's and it was $5 in the past and $7 now. That shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone. It was still delicious!

We came home and took a nap!

Turkey for Two

I have posted this recipe for years now...And here it is again!

https://brooker3.blogspot.com/2023/11/turkey-for-two.html

This and That (Again)

 It seems I can't think of a different title so will just talk a little bit about this and that.  I was wrong, Marty Harper is in Texas and Don will be coming shortly with the motor home.

I heard from Darlene (thank goodness she's very good about keeping me informed) and she tells me that Chris has the cast off and by now the stitches most likely have been removed. She is doing therapy at home. Ron, however is in the hospital with a UTI and pneumonia. The UTIs seem to be a popular illness this summer. Jim had one in July and a worse one in late September. He landed in the hospital for a couple of days where they pumped him full of antibiotics and he seems to be fully recovered. It is nothing to fool around with that's for sure and to be on the safe side we have a filled prescription with the antibiotic that he has taken so if something should happen on the way down we are prepared. Will have to drink more (and that means more stops) along the way but it's good to get out and stretch our legs anyway. 

We got our covid and flu vaccines last week and think we will get the RSV and latest pneumonia shots before we head out. We've had two pneumonia vaccines in the past and thought that was the last we'd ever need but apparently there is now another one they are recommending we get.

Our son is coming for a short visit at the end of next week and shortly after he leaves we will head south, all depending on the weather of course.

I will mention here, just in case you are not a Facebook friend that we will be bringing at least two cases of Jim's freshly extracted honey with us, most of which is already spoken for but if you are in the Valley and would like a jar, please let me know. A two pound jar is $10, and this is raw, filtered but not heated honey. Pretty tasty!!

Chris Update

 This will be a short post but just want to mention that I talked with Chris Pearce briefly yesterday and her wrist surgery went very well. She said it felt much better than last time and we are hoping to see them in the RGV by mid-November or thereabouts. 

I heard from Marty Harper and she and Don are already in Texas. I'm guessing some of the rest of you are already down there too or getting ready to head that way. We still have some fall work to take care of, namely we are waiting for the maples to drop their leaves so they can be raked up and then mowing the lawn one last time. We have not had a killing frost yet here in central Wisconsin so it's taking a long time for the leaves to fall. A memory from last year on this date showed up on Facebook and our big maple right in the front of the house had no leaves so things are quite different from a year ago.

Yesterday we had rain, lots of rain and also lots of wind and still the leaves are hanging on, darn it! Today we had our yearly "fall fling" with Chet & Irma and also the Morehouses who at one time lived at 11 lime in Magnolia. It's always nice to get together for a meal and conversation together before winter sets in.

If you are or will be on the road, safe travels and if you have news to share, please let me know.