Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Spring Weekend at Sandpipers!

This weekend we have several exciting things going on.
It starts with Junque & Java on Saturday at 8 am.
Then there will be Easter Egg decorating in the pavilion right after that.
Saturday night there will be our
last karaoke
starting at 7 pm.
And then on Easter Sunday,
our fabulous pot luck dinner
with the ham provided by Jay and Karen and prepared by Chef Robert,
served at 2 pm in the pavilion.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Texas Wildflowers

Texas Wildflowers

This past Saturday 7 Peeps joined a group from the Native Plant Project to view some beautiful wildflowers outside the gates of La Prieta ranch near Raymondville.

Sandy and David, of course, were the ones who let us know about the viewing.

They’d be glad to share the directions with other interested Peeps. Bill and Laura pointed out a pretty red and yellow flower. Up close it looked like this.
Joe juggled his coffee and his camera...
to get pictures of flowers like these.
Everyone, including Pam and Bob, enjoyed the flowers, the weather, and the company.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Sandpeeps, on the move!

From George & Pauline....
We are on our way home and are currently in Tucson.

While staying at the South 40 RV park
we ran into Bruce and Rochelle (whom were at Sandpipers 2 years ago).
Had some nice chats and they say hello to everyone.
Pauline took a picture of the couple with me for the blog, with their permission,
for people who might not remember them.

Hugs,

George and Pauline
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**************
Remember the Edinburg 10K last month?
The picture of the participants made The Monitor recently.
And Pam has submitted an article for the May AANR Bulletin
showcasing Sandpipers' runners from AANR-East who participated.
Dennis and Nora's roses made the perfect background.

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Book Club Report from Louise....

We had a smaller, but no less vociferous and opinionated group, at book club this month discussing, The 19th Wife.

We also discussed the plans for the April meeting which will feature a scientific experiment apropos to the spirit of our last book this year, The Ghost Map. Don't worry Jon, I'm not going to blow up the Community Room. I am a professional after all, and I've never destroyed a building---yet.

At the end of the meeting we voted from 21 selections on our books for next year. I arranged the books from the longest to the shortest to accommodate slow readers like me, who have to get a jump on the selections during the summer.

The Sandpiper’s Book Club
Nov. 2010-April 2011
November: The Walking Drum by Louis L’Amour
December: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
January: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
February: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
March: West With the Night by Beryl Markham
April: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Sunday, March 28, 2010

CAN/USA Challenge & California Wine Tour

Well, a great day was had by all under the gorgeous 90 degree south Texas sky!
The USA placed first in the challenge, with Canada placing second.
The new plaque produced by Gary & Yvon was presented by Karen to the USA captain Rich, and will be on display in the pavilion in a few days.

The volleyball followed a packed B.A.B.E cafe lunch of Monte Cristo sandwiches & salad
(it was delicious - thanks Tony & Sherry),
and was followed by a super happy hour with beer, wine, snacks and music.
Happy hour concluded with open volleyball until the sun went down!

Thanks to all who participated, and we'll do it all again next year!
************************************
We are back at Melinda's Santa Ana home after three wonderful days in the Santa Ynez Valley, drinking wine and being tourists.
The scenery was gorgeous...The weather cooperated...sunny & cool. We stayed at a great hotel in Solvang, The Corque.
and we picnicked at the vineyards every afternoon...
after buying a bottle of a chilled white from the vineyard we feasted on dates & olives, cheese and Italian salami, crackers & apples. We felt soooo sophisticated!
I remembered what Bob & Bernie taught us in the many wine classes...swirl, sniff, admire the legs, the color...I had to hurry though..look at that hand reaching for the glass!! He got it.... again & again!
On our way back to LA we had lunch at a 150 year old stagecoach stop...
Then it was back to reality...

Friday, March 26, 2010

“Full Moon Party”

“Full Moon Party”
at Estero Llano Grande State Park
set for March 30th

The next full moon will be out on Tuesday, March 30th and Estero Llano Grande
will hold another “Full Moon Party”.
The event will be held at 8PM .
On this evening, brightened by a full moon, everyone will get out on a night walk to enjoy the sounds and sights with a knowledgeable guide.
If the park’s friends cooperate, everyone should expect to hear the park’s Common Pauraques (night flying insect-eating birds), the Whistling Ducks, coyotes, frogs and insects.
“Black lights” will be carried by the guides
to show off the creatures that glow when the light is shined on them.
They will also show how to see spider’s eyes shine in the dark of the night.
The event will go on regardless of weather and, if it rains, will be held on the
park’s huge covered deck.

There is no extra charge for this program, just the regular park admission applies.
Please call us at 956-565-3919 to let us know how many in your family are coming so we can have adequate staff on hand.
A “Full Moon Party” will be held on Wednesday, April 28th.

Estero Llano Grande is on of Texas ’s unique World Birding Center parks.
It is at 3301 South International Boulevard (FM1015) on the southeast edge of Weslaco .
The park’s normal hours are 8AM to 5PM.
Daily admission is $4.00 per person, Texas resident seniors $2.00
and children under 12 are free.


John Yochum

Park Ranger IV

Estero Llano Grande State Park

Weslaco TX

956-565-3919


Breakfast with the Birds, March 27 8am

Night Hike, March 30 Tuesday

Bird Walks Wed/Sat/Sun 8:30am

Butterfly/Dragonfly Walks Fri 1:30pm

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Owls Fly North For the Summer.


It's that time again.

Time for many Owls to migrate north on their summer journey.

How do they fuel themselves for such a long flight?

With ICE CREAM! That's how!


On Tuesday, March 30, at 1:29 Owl time,

stop by the pavilion to get your icy fuel, hug departing Owls

and/or learn more about the secretive Owl society.

Proudly wear your Owl shirt.

Toot your Owl hoot,

and wave your regal secret Owl wave.

All Owls, wanna-be Owls and others of the anti-owl persuasion are welcome.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Bragging on Our Kids!

Patsy was somewhat concerned about the blog being a place to brag about our kids accomplishments but I say, "Go for it!". If we can't be famous playwrights ourselves we can live vicariously through our children or our friend's children.
IF you feel that this is appropriate, you can put it on the blog. On the other hand, I can understand why you might not want to encourage everyone to brag on their children, etc.
That could go on and on.
*
My son-in-law, Doug Armentrout, began writing a play about 10 years ago
when he and Paige first married.
They were living in a teensy, tiny, expensive apartment in Manhattan when their first child, Emery, was born.
Doug used to go to a small neighborhood park
to get some peace and quiet while writing.
Just to prove that persistence sometimes pays off, Doug's play had its World Premiere in Duvall (near Seattle) on March 19, 2010.
We are flying to Seattle to see his play.
We will also get to visit my daughter, Paige,
and my grandsons, Emery and Wilbur.
I can't wait to see it--he would never let anyone read what he was writing.
It's called "Invasions of the Public Order,"
a dark comedy for mature audiences.
(http://cascadecommunitytheatre.org)

Patsy

Horse Tales

Blog Fodder from Dr. Bob.....
As I am sure you know, Sherry and her horse, Chiquita, Catherine and Touchstone, Bob and Dreamer and Gizmo went on a major trail ride
from Monday 3/8 through Sunday 3/14.

We rode 57 miles from San Manuel, north of SPR on 281,
to the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show in Mercedes.
Our longest day was 13.9 miles.
We camped each night and moved the rigs in the mornings to the next camp site.
The drivers were "ferried" back to the horses in a large stock trailer.
The group organizing and running the ride was the "North Val Verde Trail Riders".
They provided three wonderful meals per day, live bands for evening entertainment two nights, 4 porta-potties on a trailer, a "rider taxi/bus wagon" for tired riders, a large stock trailer for tired or injured horses and four traffic control riders.

We rode on FM roads, blacktop highways, paths, dirt lanes, perimeter field roads and for a few miles on Expressway 83.

We camped in an old rest area, in a field at a cattle feed lot ranch, at Delta Lake, behind the Bikerz Bar in Elsa and two nights at a private ranch near Mercedes. We had close to 50 instances of loose horses running around in the camps.
On most days we had between 35 and 50 riders and horses. On Saturday, however, we had some 120 horses and riders for the Opening Parade for the livestock show.
"Sherry's horse, Chiquita, learning to stand tied to a fence without pawing the bottom rails. Notice the hobbles on her front feet..."


Wow Guys! What a great time you had!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Ghetto's & Cucumbers.

Material for the blog is getting a bit thin...where are the stories,
impressions, remarks and opinions?
Tired of Disney and garden and toothless cat pictures?
Well then, send me some fodder...until then enjoy Bob's (#36) take on The Golden Ghetto!
Then keep reading for the many uses of cucumbers from our beloved veggie expert, Karen W.
*******
We keep hearing the back row called the "Golden Ghetto" by those who don't know what a Golden Ghetto really looks like, so I have supplied this photo to illustrate what a Golden Ghetto should look like!

Bob

Condo living, ghetto style! Looks good to me!

***************
Apparently #14 was a less than family friendly use of this phallic shaped vegetable....because she edited that one!!! heeheehha

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their
"Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways
to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one
cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin
B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium
and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up
a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that
can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a
cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a
soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a
small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The
chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent
undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the
area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or
to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem
area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen
in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the
visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices
before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers
contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential
nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a
hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers
have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders
and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't
have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the
shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only
looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and
rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the
spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the
chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water
and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has
been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during
final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints?
Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your
tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill
the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless
steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to
clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine,
but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while
you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and
slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and
markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

14. Edited for decency.

*****

Who knew?

Monday, March 22, 2010

Can Usa Beat Can or Can Can Win?

The CAN-USA challenge is heating up, along with the weather!
The rosters for Team Canada and Team USA are posted in the pavilion,
along with the schedule and rules.
Play will start at 1:00 on Saturday, March 27,
immediately after the delicious Babe's Cafe lunch.
Nine games will be played (3 women, 3 men and 3 co-ed games),
and the nation winning the most out of the nine games will be declared the winner!

The tournament should be over by 3:30, and will be followed by a
"SUPER HAPPY HOUR"
at 4:00 with Jimmy buffet music and who knows what other goings-on!

We encourage everyone to come out and support your country,
and most of all have lots of fun!!!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Burst VolleyBalls and Cats With No Teeth.

While we have been slaving away at daughter Melinda's house in Santa Ana, CA...Jim has been corresponding with the new volleyball Czar Ian about the splitting volleyballs.
It appears we got a bad batch about a year ago and they continue to burst apart at the seams.
Hang in there volleyball-ites, Ian will fix!
****
Meanwhile...
in the land of fruit & nuts,
we deal with toothless cats...This is Pickles. He has two teeth.
Not enough teeth to hold his tongue in place.
He likes to sleep in the dryer.
This is the boneless cat, Madison. She has so much fat you can't feel her bones.She sings while I compute.*****
This is the front garden entry that I planted with Kalenchoe.
One of the charming small succulents that pepper the front garden...And my terrific field stone walkway...needs more sand.

We have been soooo busy..but this week we are going on a wine country excursion...yippee!

Friday, March 19, 2010

California Update.

After our early-in-the-week Disney break...
which included beer tasting...and pricing "Grumpy" shirts (ouch)...

it was back to the grindstone.

This is the flagstone walkway that widens the front sidewalk entry.

I will then plant mini succulents so it looks like a dish garden.

We (I) moved a gazillion roses from around the property and replanted them to the front border. Jim helped so he could get into the picture. Actually he did dig the holes for which I am eternally grateful as I was just about out of steam at that point.

Today we finish up the flagstone walk...then shopping! Trader Joe's, Ikea, The Container Store...and Home Depot, of course. Fun days!