Butterfly Garden Progress.

We are slowly getting the Butterfly Garden under control.

I want you to sear these images into your collective memories so when you return to Sandpipers the lush flowering growth and fluttering butterflies will be a pleasant surprise.

Gee, I must love pressure!I just love Round-up!

As soon as the wind dies down I'm out there spraying like a demented tomcat.

And it's working.Now the garden just looks like a bunch of bedraggled bushes in a field of dead grass.

With ruts.

Yes. My golf cart got stuck in the mud after the last rain.

I'm not used to mud. It's a foreign concept.

After all, no real rain here for, what, 9 months?
Fortunately Lanny was walking by, and with Jim & John P.'s help,

got me pushed out of the mire.Left my mark, though.

But....we have a plan to make the garden even more attractive than it is right now.

Oh, I can hear the skepticism. How can it be more attractive, you ask?

We Have A CHIPPER!

Yes indeedy.

An attachment to the Kaboda reduces all the

big piles of tree trimmings to wonderful mulch.

Mulch to cover the dead grass in the garden.

I am so stoked!I don't have a picture of it. It WAS sitting right here working mightily on this pile of branches...but...but...Jay touched it.

And it jammed.

So it disappeared for a day or two, but I am assured it's fixed and back to work.

Meanwhile,

Let's just admire the awesome beauty of the finished product.

Gorgeous!

Community Garden, and the New Entrance.

I've touched a little on this subject recently but I need input.

Knock, knock...anybody out there?

Rambling Community Garden Thoughts

We are exploring the community garden idea further and have pinpointed

that it truly needs to be in the center-ish (is that a word?) of the big field.

Lots of reasons.

To avoid having to move it because of future development...no shade...room to expand as needed. Drawback is no water at present. That may change soon, and if it takes a year, well, maybe we can find a really long hose! Or defer the idea for awhile.

Here are some pictures of other gardens that show what I'm thinking about.

Raised up beds. Small enough to grow some veggies without it being a chore.

Paths between wide enough for easy mowing.

Besides the plots we'd need a compost bin, a mulch bin, and a small storage shed for storing garden tools, fertilizer, etc. Perhaps a bench, too.

There are several ways to approach this.

One way is to have interested parties sign a contract for a year, promising upkeep. There would be a waiting list for gardeners who missed out on getting a plot. Just how many plots we will need is a question. Who would be interested? I have 5 people already expressing an interest.

Management could bear the initial expense and rent out the plots, or we could divide the cost among the interested parties.

Garden Club Peeps...are you reading this? Are you IN?

So...

Tell me...

Who's interested?

How big a plot would you like.

The picture above shows a plot about 8 x 4' using 4 x 4 lumber at a rough estimate of $40-50 (for the lumber) plus we'd need to strip the sod, bring in top soil and amendments.

Sheds aren't free, either.

But it is soooo rewarding!I hope I get feedback on this.....

Hello, anybody out there?

***********

*****

Take a look at the new front entrance.
Gary really worked some magic didn't he?

Are we classy, or what?

******

And by the way, check out the new weather report on the left side, above the updates.

Jim has a new weather station hoisted high in the sky over our house, and he envisions himself the weather master of Sandpipers.

All I know is that ever since he put it up we've had rain, so good going Jimbo!

Goodbye.

Sandpiper's recently lost one of our long time residents.

Sherry (#23) lost her battle but not her spot in our memories.Mel wishes to thank everyone for their cards

and kindness during his family's difficult time.

Goodbye, Sherry. You'll live on in our hearts.

Weekend Report

A rip roaring thunderstorm swept though Sandpiper's last night,

dropping about a third of an inch of much needed rain.

I think the winter drought season is over and we can look forward

to occasional afternoon showers. 'Bout time. The land is parched!

***

We had three teams playing volleyball yesterday and today, with much fun and laughter.

For lunch on Saturday Tony fed us scrumptious bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches

with additional add-ons of sweet onions and avocado. Delish!

This evening he fed us melt-in-your-mouth ribs, corn-on-the-cob,

potato salad, beans, watermelon and brownie bites.

There were 44 diners.

He prepared for 25-30, so a few end of the line peeps missed out.

But there were plenty of side dishes.

Nobody went away hungry...except for Jay who wanted a cheeseburger anyway!

There was some pre-dinner excitement.

After Jay & Jim fiddled with the Wii game and got it working, Jim & I played tennis.

Yes, it was a bit dangerous in the cramped quarters.

Yes, I clobbered Don (Chic) in the eye during a backhand!

And just when I was gonna send Jim down to his second defeat, too!

Don never saw it coming...

He thought he was in the middle of a bar fight. I'm going to fix up Abby with a seeing eye dog harness so he can get around.

Memorial Day

Let's gather to remember our heroes and to celebrate summer at Sandpipers.

*******This Sunday, May 24th.*****We'll start with the coolest and most fun sport we all love...water volleyball!

Then in the afternoon, when the sun gets too hot, let's try out some Wii games in the club house.

Tony will be grilling ribs for a great holiday supper (about 5pm-$4),

so plan to join your friends for the official start of summer at Sandpipers!

Bits and Pieces..cocktails & gardens & travel.

Remember our Cocktail Contest and Irwin's delicious submission?

His table and cocktail were a true crowd favorite.

He sent this newspaper article proving it is even more popular in Canada that here at Sandpipers...in fact they want to make the Caesar the

Official Cocktail of Canada.

I know the print is to small to read here, but I can give you the (secret) recipe!

It's 1,2,3,4!

One ounce of vodka

Two dashes of hot sauce

Three dashes of salt & pepper

Four dashes of Worcestershire

Top with Clamato juice******************************

The drought has broken, or at least we finally got some rain.

Almost 3/4 of an inch fell a couple of days ago and cooler air has moved in.

Nights in the 60's and last night, the 50's.

We are delirious with joy!

******

We are scouting the park for an area to develop a community garden.

Who is interested?

Gloria discovered the Edinburg Parks program where

they rent a small plot for a year.

Water and compost are provided by them, but it is a

drive of maybe 10-15 minutes to get there.

So we started thinking about having a spot here on the grounds,

and Karen & Jay came on board with the idea.

***

Ideally it would be out in the field however...biggie!...no water.

We are observing several spots where there is water available, but it occurred to me...just how many of you would be interested in a small plot to grow vegetables during the winter season?

We are thinking raised up, smallish plots, water nearby, a compost heap or bin, at least 6-8 hours of sun...what else? Ideas?????

It would help if we knew just how many gardeners would like a plot.

Send in comments or emails NOW!

*************************************

Latest from the leader....

Hi Everybody!
We've landed in Tempe (Phoenix area) for a couple of weeks of catching our breaths and also catching up with some friends that we have known since childhood (at least my wife has).
We visited the Fort Davis historic site and spent a few hours going back in time to see what military life was like back in the 1860's to 1880's.

From there we headed to the MacDonald Observatory for a full afternoon and evening of space exploration and fun. We listened to lectures on the sun, the solar system, stars, spectroscopy and a whole lot more. We saw the sun through a special telescope, then visited the 102 inch and monster 433 inch telescopes. They didn't let us look through them though... :(
With more information than my brain could absorb, we took a break for dinner, then attended another outdoor lecture about the night sky and what could be seen.

We actually saw the space station as it passed overhead just about nightfall. Our lecturer this time had a really cool laser pointer (I found out later it cost $600!) that reached WAY out into the night sky.

All we needed was the right sound effects and it could have been a light saber. Following this, we were taken to several telescopes that had been either set up or opened up for our use. We saw Saturn and its rings and moons, of course our moon, distant stars through the 30 inch scopes, and so much more.
By the way, the temperatures in the RV park were over 100 that day, but up in the mountains, it remained in the 50's to low 60's. Seemed almost cold at night.
From there we drove to Carlsbad Caverns and spent a day underground (56 degrees) to escape the outside temps of 100+ again. We took a couple of self guided tours through this huge underground complex and were totally awed by the size, scope and beauty of this natural wonder. After a quick dinner, we were back outside the cave entrance at dusk to hear a lecture on bats, then watched as over 100,000 Mexican Freetail bats exited the caverns in a continuous counter-clockwise spiral as they headed off to feed during the night. This exit flight continued well after full dark when we could no longer see these little critters. By the way, each bat eats half of its own weight in bugs each night.
The trip from there to Tempe was quiet and uneventful - just the way we like it. Here we are staying in a very nice park that is a combination of park models and rv's interspersed. The park models out number the rv's many to one, but since the residents of them are almost all "snowbirds", the park models are closed up for the summer and the population in the park is very low. We did end up by ASU (Arizona State University) Wednesday night to visit one of our favorite pizza places and were astounded by the police presence and crowds. It wasn't until we saw the news later that night we realized that we had driven right past Sun Devils Stadium and the crowds we saw were there for the commencement exercises and President Obama' appearance.
For the next couple of weeks, we will be quite sedentary, enjoying the local food, visiting friends, perhaps catching the Biosphere, and enjoying (?) the 100+ temperatures here also.
From here we plan on heading to Henderson (Las Vegas), then explore Utah a bit (?) and then on to Denver. This is always subject to change based on our whims and fancies.
　
Hugs,
Jon and Donna

Lunch & Creepy Crawlies....eeewwww!

What a great Lunch by the Pool today.

While Tony is out of the park Sherry has taken over kitchen duties,

and let me tell you...that girl can cook!

We had Chicken Quesadillas which were delicious,

with Pepper Jack cheese, and loads of fresh fruit.

Strawberries, bananas, melons, grapes...and a jello &

coconut concoction that was particularly yummy.

We volleyballers appreciated the lighter lunch.

We felt we could move afterward, and it even felt healthy!

The weekly lunches are proving very popular.

Today I'm guessing we had maybe 25 people enjoying Sherry's lunch.

*****
No creepy crawlies in the lunch, that's for sure, but in my garden this morning

I witnessed a real life and death struggle.

This is a Bold Jumper Spider, a Phidippus audex.

Very common.

Note the bright green fangs.

It is breakfasting on a stink bug. This struggle took many hours.

I'm guessing the spider is hanging on waiting for the paralyzing venom to take hold.

According to Internet info this spider disdains any prey that is smaller than at least half it's body size, and prefers big game.

Very bold spider. Further down the fence I found this one lurking.

Don't know what kind it is, don't care.

It's big, it's ferocious looking.

Keep away from me!

Most spiders are actually beneficial in the garden, eating bad bugs.

But I still am not crazy about them!

I found a neat chart with spider pictures and info about the poisonous ones.

Meanwhile the struggle continued...

I think the spider is drooling. Or the stink bug bleeding....

Possibly not great to combine Sherry's great lunch with bug death....but get over it.

Tony is Cheery in Cherry Red!

From Karen:

We wanted to thank Tony for his endless volunteer help

so we went to get the old green golf cart "fixed up" because Tony's

wish was that he could ride around in a candy apple red cart.

Boy! Did the Harlingen Golf a la Cart have some great deals for us.

And just in case anyone from the park is interested in

upgrading or buying new, see Ray.

He gave the resort discount price of $1995 for 2004 electric club car

without a trade. He has many of them but the offer is only good

until the end of the month.

We traded in and he gave us a great deal!

Cheerio Tony!

Travelogue

It's that time of year when things have really slowed down at Sandpipers and we long for news from our absent friends.

Send in your adventures and I'll share them here.

First up, Jon & Donna, from Monday, May 11:

******

Hi Everybody,

Thought we'd provide an update of our travel since we left last Friday afternoon . We spent Friday night at Falcon Dam State Park after driving only a few hours - very warm there. We had no hookups, but it was very peaceful and serene. Saturday we traveled a few hundred miles and stayed at a picnic site about 1/2 mile off Highway 90 overlooking the junction of the Pecos and Rio Grande Rivers. Gorgeous views and a very quiet spot. There was a sign that said "No Overnight Camping", but I pointed out to Donna we were not camping, just catching a few hours sleep in our vehicle.

Sunday noon brought us to the entrance to Big Bend National Park (this is a REALLY BIG PARK). It was 49 miles from the entrance to the campground. They did have a small RV section, but it was pretty full and was just a parking lot. So we headed for the more rustic area about a mile away. Here we parked under some trees to shield us from the hot sun. We expected the temperatures to reach the high 90's and then be cool in the evenings.

They ended up having an unseasonably warm hot spell - temps during the day reaching 110 and more and most nights not getting below 78 or so.

Generator hours in this campground (it had no hookups) were from 8 am til 8 pm, so the nights were spent with windows open and fans running - thank goodness for our inverter and large battery bank. It was still too warm for Donna, so each night we put a big bag of ice in front of the fan blowing on her - voila, poor man's air conditioning.

Days found us driving and hiking (yes, hiking in the heat!) through most parts of this 800,000 acre park. Was it hot? Did we sweat? Yes to both.

But what a great adventure and breathtaking views and vistas. Evenings found us seeking comfort in the air conditioning as our genset purred happily along until quiet time set in.

Now we are in the Fort Davis area - historical spot for old fort and settlement, but more importantly, the McDonald Observatory. With telescopes of 30 inches, 82 inches, 107 inches and the big whopper at 433 inches, this is one of the world's leading centers for astronomical research.

We plan to spend all of Saturday there and then move on toward Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico tomorrow. More news as we travel..

Hugs,
Jon and Donna

What's Your Fondest Wish?

What do you wish for Sandpipers? No boundaries, money no object!

In your daydreams, what would you like to see here.

I have asked a few people their heart's desire and dredged up a few of my own.

This is a wish list, practical or not, expected or not.

Let your imagination soar...for instance Jim, when asked, mentioned he'd like Karen to build an air conditioned dome over the whole park, but that was just summer sweat talking.

*

I know up there on many lists is a dedicated volleyball pool,

and that is promised in the near future. Along the same lines is a bigger pool deck with more landscaping, i.e. planting more palms against the day when a hurricane takes down the mature ones we have now.
Ooohhh...I have one. A garden staff.

And the butterfly garden to magically grow lush, with a path and benches.

(We are working on that, but I'm an instant gratification kind of girl--gets me in trouble)How about a resident's wood shop?

And a craft workshop for everything from sewing and quilting, to painting, to pottery workshops.

And a sauna by the new hot tub....

Individual fenced plots for growing vegetables, with a compost heap, potting area, and a WOOD CHIPPER to recycle all the branches we pay to have hauled away.

And a trash can by the mail boxes....That I would dearly love!And since this is a place to dream big wishes,

how about closed circuit TV with announcements made every morning,

then played on a loop throughout the day.

Performances could be played on the loop too.

Like they do on cruise ships.

Probably cost an arm and a leg, but hey!

We are dreaming big dreams here!And a shady, fenced in dog play park with benches for people to sit and watch their dogs run free. Pooper scooper's off to the side.Oh and heck, why not? A cafe!So, have I tweaked your interest?

What would you like to see?

What have you experienced at other parks and resorts that may work here?

Don't be shy. Enter your comments. Karen does read them and if she doesn't know what we want or expect, how can she deliver?

It may be wishful thinking....but you never know.

So comment!

Apologies to Alexandre Dumas!

You can count on lunch by the pool just about every

Saturday during the summer.

This Saturday Tony will again serve his famous Monte Cristo sandwich.

It's cheese and ham and turkey sandwiched between egg battered bread, then grilled to a golden brown. A sweet dipping sauce like raspberry jam, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar is a nice contrast to the savory filling. So where did the Monte Cristo Sandwich come from?
It is a dark and twisted tale.
Settle down, my friends, with another cup of coffee.
Read and marvel at the tale of
The Monte Cristo
*
It is little known that Tony began his cooking career in France where his innovation with sandwiches earned him great fame. Then, falsely accused by those jealous of his good fortune, he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the notorious island prison, Chateau d'Sherry.

While imprisoned, he met a fellow prisoner whom everyone believed to be mad.
The man told Tony of a fantastic treasure hidden away on a tiny island,
that only he knew the location of.
*
After many years in prison, the old man died, and Tony escaped disguised as the dead body. Tony found the treasure the man told him of,
and used the new-found wealth to exact revenge on those who wronged him.
*
To honor his triumph over evil, Saturday, May 9, has been
designated an international holiday, Nuevo de Mayo, as we celebrate his escape
from that notorious prison and his return to fabulous culinary creations, one of which is this now famous sandwich.
*
So let's put ham and turkey and cheese together
and count the Monte Cristo as one of his most delicious treats.

Butterfly Garden & Park Update

Remember when we had that big turnout to help start the butterfly garden.

I thought you worker bees would like to see what's growing...or not.The Texas Sage is very happy and starting to bloom.

Vinca, also called Periwinkle, is also hanging in there.

Notice the water system?Ahh...the secret to plant immortality here in the parched regions.

No rain. Nada. 100 degrees, hot blowing wind, and not a drop of rain.

So Activities has bought us a watering system. Yea! Ron & Gloria & Jim and me (me, despite suffering from Wine Flu, mind you),

spent several hours a few days ago installing this system.

It's on a timer!

It's a God-send!

We love it!Black tubing snakes through the garden delivering life saving liquid to the flowers.

Beautiful!!!!We have a slight...did I tell you I am prone to exaggeration?...slight grass problem.The wildflowers are coming up, but the grass thinks it's in a race, and it is winning.

I have sprayed about half the area with Round-Up and will do more as soon as the winds die down....maybe by next February.

Now lest you envision a complete garden let me bring you back down to earth.Kinda sad, still.

And nobody alerted the butterflies.
************
Stephen & Charlotte's house, #102, is no more.
Just an empty lot is all that is left.

I am very curious as to how Karen & Jay will develop it for their new home.It may be hot, hotter, hottest...with nary a drop of rain recently or in the near or far future...but the bougies love it! Put on your sunglasses and take a gander at my full blooming Bougainvilleas!******

******

And the front gate...

It's coming along. As soon as it is complete I'll take some pics.

The security system is being overhauled.

A new, temporary gate code is in effect.

Gate clickers may not work.

Get the new code from Karen.