Thanksgiving Day 2013

After working Wednesday with crew that prepared the Turkeys, Potatoes, Gravy & Dressing we worked today getting the food set up and served.  Many of the folks came early and made place settings for their group.

And, finally, 12 Noon and 99 people are gathered ready for dinner.   At left Burl is welcoming everyone and ready to give prayer.  In center of photo are tables with dishes brought by all, of salads, casseroles, deserts, etc.

       Two serving lines for the turkey, dressing, potatoes & gravy.

Our tables, of all the servers.

Weather had broken so we had sunshine and temperature in the upper 60's.  Really nice day.
Later, Lynn

Thanksgiving week.

Am sad to say we will not be great grandparents in July.  Our Grand Son-In-Law Heath Long posted this on Facebook which states it well:

"At this time of year I am thankful for my wife and all of our supportive family and friends. For those who don't know, We are no longer expecting. God decided it was not meant to be at this point. Ashley is perfectly fine and we are doing ok. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers."

 

 We picked up 7 turkeys at El Centro grocery here in La Feria at 7 am this morning.  They were thawed and ready to work on.  Back at the Rec Hall Kitchen the crew jumped in and washed and bagged them and got them in cookers by a little after 8 am.  The ladies are now working on the stuffing, etc.  Will go down later and help set up chairs and tables.  Many of the people come in either this evening or early tomorrow morning and decorate their own table as they like.  We will be helping set up the food and serving tomorrow at noon.   At right Dave Kiper and Pat Sumner are working on getting the turkeys seasoned.

Pat Sumner doing clean up.

Mrs. Penny getting bag ready for turkey.

More later, Lynn

Cold in the RG Valley

Last Friday the temperature plunged from 84 degrees to 54 degrees and hard rain came with very high winds in the afternoon.

On Saturday morning we were picked up at our house at 4:30 am for a ride to a bus in Harlingen to go to the Ranchhand Breakfast at King Ranch near Kingsville, Texas.  We had a very interesting tour guide who did ranching in the area and told of his life and family.  We got to the ranch just after first light and with the wind and misty rain with temps in the lower 40's it was less than comfortable. 

Our bus wasn't full -- probably 24 to 30 people.

As we headed toward the breakfast area we passed a chuck wagon set up that had big pot of beans cooking.  On the other side they had fried bread.

They had lots of servers that handled the crowd.

Breakfast was good, and hot.  But, with the wind and misty rain it soon got a bit cold.

We ate at stand-up tables.

We watched a while at the arena.  At right is the crew getting ready for the calf roping.

The calf is ready to go.

 One cowboy roping the head, with other rider beside him ready to rope the heels.

             Calf roped, two others are on the ground to throw the calf.

                  All involved in tying the legs of the calf.  The flag went up to give the time when they were done roping.  The calf had to remain tied for 10 seconds in order for their time to stand.

 We walked around the area for a while.  At left is a large display of  historical items. 

 At the Chuck Wagon they had a good fire going under coffee pots and some beef testicles as well as several pans over and under coals cooking things.

Serving fried bread made over the outdoor fire.  Several guys were playing guitars.

For all the photos I've taken this November check out This Link - Click HERE

                     At the chuck wagon, waiting for some fried bread.

The chuck wagon itself.

               A little after 10 am we went back to the King Ranch Visitors Center and our Step-On Guide Dusk (She has a twin sister Dawn) got on board and narrated a very interesting history and pointed out lots of livestock and stories about the ranch.

Part of the income of the Ranch is from WildLife Management and Hunting.  They have Turkeys, Deer, Grouse, Dove, Nilgies  and other stuff.  Wild turkeys at left.

The Santa Gertrudes  breed of cattle was developed on the ranch back in the 1920's and named for the river of the same name that goes through the ranch.  Some of their breeding stock is at right.

At left is one of the self-closing gates that the oil company who leased mineral rights from the ranch developed many years ago after their employees had trouble remembering to close the gates after going through.

      They had a small pen of several Texas Longhorns who are direct descendents from some of the early 1800's Longhorns.



We went into Kingsville where they had a lot of craft and food booths set up in town for the event.  We ate lunch at a coffee shop that was overwhelmed by the crowds of people.

We have had over 4 inches of rain in the last three days and temperature has not made it out of the 40's and the wind has not died down.  Though I have worked on the wall under the awning by the deck it is now all waiting for warmer, drier weather to continue.  To be cold through Thanksgiving Day.  Phyllis is in charge of cooking the Thanksgiving dinner here at the Rec Hall this Thursday for the nearly 100 people who will be dining.  We made one trip to Sam's Club in Brownsville last week and another run to Walmart here in Harlingen today for food.  Seven Turkeys are to be picked up at El Centro early Wednesday morning (already thawed out) and Dave Kiper is in charge of cooking them that day.  Thursday morning will be the heavy work day getting the potatoes, stuffing, gravy cooked and turkey will have been boned Wednesday afternoon and put in roasters for warming.  Will have to set up tables and chairs and get crew lined up for serving, then cleanup.  Will be nice when it is through.  Though we were riding the trikes 10 miles or more each day, we have only ridden a few miles the last few days.  Better weather days are ahead.

Later, Lynn

Getting in to routine at Kenwood

 Kenwood - La Feria, TX
With more people showing up daily we are starting some of the regular winter-time activities.  Thursday evening had first Bean Bag Baseball game with good turnout.

Though I  don't have any photos, Don Unger started up the chair stretching exercises this week each morning at 8:00 am.  We got to a couple of them.  Finding a few muscles that weren't in use during the summer.

Usual haranging, harassing, and general nonsense going on during the two games.  Gals won first game and then teams split up for second game.  Phyllis' team won second one.  I, on the other hand, managed to be on loosing team both times.  

 In first game the gals scored something over 20 runs in the 7th (last) inning.

In the second game the "other" team did about the same thing in the 7th inning.

This week we went over to Nuevo Progreso, Tamaolipas, Mexico for annual teeth cleaning and I had work done towards finalizing 2nd tooth implant.  Dr. Cerreon's office is on second floor of the orange building to the left of picture.  This is immediately by the bridge over the Rio Grande River.

Blooms on one of the bushes we planted last year against the fence behind our unit.

 Bush in the picture above.

Last year I found this cactus, about 8 inches tall, on carport of neighbor's place.  Planted it near our trailer and it is now about 4 feet tall.

Looking straight down on the cactus.

Cactus sure protects itself.

Giving our new grill a further workout.  These are couple of chicken breasts using the grill mat we bought.  It keeps all the juices around the meat and none dripping through to flair up the grill.

Felix Paterak, Helen Miles, Pat Sumner, guy from Canada, and Burl Penny at grill.

 Helen Miles checking the meat.

Burl Penny, Dave Kieper, Dave Engle, and Dortha Hall waiting for the grill to do it's thing.

 Felix Paterak, Pat Sumner, Helen Miles, and Burl Penny.

Last night - Friday - the Activity Director Allison prepared meal of salad, break sticks, baked beans, and potatoes.  We each brought meat to grill outdoors.  Good meal---and most of the people behaved themselves!

 At right above, Dave Engle bringing his plates. Below Jan Engle, Karen Norden, Susan, Jean Snyder and Marion Finken working on supper.

Marion and Ardel Finken across table from us.  Note plates full in bottom of picture.

Ricky serving baked beans and Allison Schneider, Activity Director, serves potatoes.  Phyllis in foreground.




I have been working, very slowly, on walls for area north of our deck.  Have some of the plates, of treated lumber, down and got the 2" x 4" for studs on back wall yesterday.  Will start removing the 2" x 6" floor boards  of deck today to use as studs on the outside wall which will enclose the storage/shop area. today. 

Was cool last couple days.  To get into mid 80's today.  Not bad weather for riding recumbent trikes.  Did 4 miles a day for first week or so.  Have upped it to 10 miles a day most days.  Getting back into the routine of riding that we found it difficult to follow during the 5 1/2 months we were in the RV full time this summer.  The paving crew has about finished three of the streets in the park.  One was new last year so now 4 of the 5 are in really good shape.  Our street is a little rough, but not too bad so guess it will not be redone at this time.

Later, Lynn