Christmas week in Rio Grande Valley of south Texas

More than a week has gone by since I have written.  Lots of activities going on in the park every day.  Will show some we took part in.  At right is picture of Phyllis with Bobbi Raab and the sisters Ila Mae & Betty at a "cookie exchange" held by Activity Director Allison at the Rec Hall.  Phyllis said about 25 ladies were present.  Each took a dozen cookies and came back (if they didn't eat them) with a dozen different cookies.  They also exchanged gifts.

At left is photo we received with Christmas card from Bob and Marliese Talbot in Paragonah, Utah.  We visited with them on our Southwest trip this summer.

      Progressing some with my patio/storage area addition.  Only thing left on the north end outside is trim around windows and corner as well as coat of white paint.  Still work on inside.

Doris & Lyle Winter (who moved their unit to a park near San Juan or Alamo) arrived in the valley last week and were over to our place for some Pegs & Jokers one night. 

 Our neighbors Harold & LaRohda Neir and Bob & Bobbi Raab came over so all could see Doris & Lyle and we all had a good visit.

Oh yeah, Phyllis & I were there also.

Last Sunday we joined some neighbors for early lunch at the cafe in Santa Rosa.  Place is always crowded on Sunday morning.

Man just turning away (I came that close to getting his picture - didn't realize until later that I clicked a bit too late so don't have a face picture) is serving as Pastor for the winter at the Rec Hall and his wife is at right.  Though we have not heard him speak, all who have are happy to have him.  They are staying at Bibleville--to the west of us.

Phyllis talking with Pastor's wife.  Can't recall their names.

 Our next door neighbors Harold & LaRohda Neher.

Another Kansan Burl Penny (they live fairly close to Nehers in northeast Kansas)

Donna Penny sat next to me.

           Phyllis tried one of the Facebook posted recipes - homemade chicken-pot pies with mixed vegetables.  Turned our right well!

     Thursday evening we drove our neighbors Bob & Bobbi Raab to the Harlingen Airport.  They had a direct flight to Minneapolis to be home with family for Christmas and Bob's granddaughter's wedding in early January.  They called that tho the plane was a bit late and it was nearly midnight when they arrived home they were safe though not excited about the difference in temperature!

 The "girls team" (needed a couple guys to balance the numbers) at bean-bag-baseball the other night.

 The guys team at bean-bag-baseball.

Phyllis & I helped AD Allison serve Nachos Supreme  after Diego performed on Thursday afternoon.  Don Ferguson was helping with ice and pop sales.

Said Diego performing.  He seemed to make up an entire band with his keyboard.  Many danced to him.

Diego and his wife and daughter.  She is drawing a 50/50 ticket for Allison.

Phyllis went to an afternoon at Betty Snyder's place with several other gals in the park.

 The gals at Betty's table.  Pam is only one not shown--think she took these photos (which I purloined from her Facebook page).

Saturday morning we helped put on the "Omelet in a Bag" breakfast.

Phyllis frying the hash-brown potatoes with crew waiting - they had tested the boiling water with a couple eggs already.

     Each person got a Zip-Lock  bag with two eggs in it.  They then had added choice of any of following:  Diced ham, peppers, bacon bits, sausage, cheese, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms.
They wrote their name on the bag with permanent marker.

The Zip-Lock bags were dropped into boiling water until done - about 6 to 8 minutes, depending on how many added ingredients. 

        Then they could add cheese on top and/or salsa, as well as get a helping of hash brown potatoes.

                       The line kept busy and did not hear any complaints on this sumptuous $3 breakfast which included coffee or milk and orange juice.

Purloined this photo off Facebook of Daughter-in-law Patty and their dog Pepper.  Pepper was killed several weeks ago in their back yard--they think by a deer.

Another photo taken from Facebook of our son Cameron and their daughters Ashley and Emily when they were hiking in Yellowstone National Park this summer.

Have been getting 10 miles on the trike nearly every day.  At right I am passing nearly 90-year old Robert exercising his dog on a leash on his right.





Since we leave early next Thursday morning to drive to Oklahoma City to join our 17-day bus tour to the west coast (including Rose Parade in Pasadena) time is getting short for me to get the storage area enclosed and lockable so can leave all outdoor stuff inside it while we are gone.  Had thought of putting the trikes and some other things in the living room, but we have let neighbors Bill & Darlene have their daughter and kids use our place for sleeping when they visit just after Christmas.   I am at the point of installing shelves in the storage area and moving stuff into there.  Today will put up the last panels on the outside of the storage area and start working on the two 3' wide french doors to enclose it.  When both opened this will allow ample access when doing woodworking.

After our unusually cool weather last week we have been enjoying temperatures in the 70's and 80's.  Last couple of days were terribly windy -- understand some gusts reached 45 mph.  Today is to get in to the upper 70's.  A contrast to the 20 degrees now at home in Clarinda, Iowa where they got about 6 inches of snow last night.

Will try to post once before we head out and am taking the laptop to post when at hotels along our trip.

Till later, Lynn