More from Canadian Friends

Not to be outdone by Pierre & Diane, Raymond & Francine have sent their photos of the visit with Laura & Bill, Louise & Tom.

"Hello Sue and Jim, Hope you are doing well in the hot Texas weather.

Wow! Sue!!!

We were very happy when we saw those pictures of you, melting down so nicely.
I'm sure this will mean a big change in your life, not just for clothing but for a lot of
other things. Congratulations for such a good decision.

And, talking about decision, after seeing the pictures sent by Diane and Pierre,

I thought we could also send the ones taken when the same two couples

visited us at La Pommerie.

I was called out of the park on prior commitments and therefor, we didn't go site
seeing but Francine was present to them, playing tennis, playing Shanghai
while the menses were having a few beers in the shade.

We also had Bill and Monique to join us as well as Bill and Jocelyne our friendly neighbors at
La Pommerie who will spend a few months at SPR this coming winter.

I guess we all had a very good time, enjoying the good things of life like eating
a large pizza and savoring a good glass or two of Québec made Porto...

We wish you all well and send you our coolest hugs of the season."

Raymond & Francine

The Canadien Connection.

Got a call from Pierre & Diane which resulted in their sending me this update and pictures from a visit with Tom & Louise, Bill & Laura.

********

"We received a phone from Louise 2 weeks ago to tell us they will be here friday 21st.

We were very exiting.

Friday evening we had a meeting in our trailer to prepare our week end.

Saturday I found another lady (Lynn) who wants to play shanghi with us

(first time I played in my park, thanks to her).

We had happy hour on our lot with Jimmy & Micheline and take our

diner with Tom & Louise, Bill & Laura.

Sunday we visit Montreal with them accompanied by a beautiful day.

Monday we visit Mont-Tremblant and like you can see, Laura was imploring Pierre.

She really doesn't want to take the cable-rail-way.

We had another little happy hour when we came back and decide to take our breakfast together before they leave on tuesday morning.

We had a good time with them.

See you all in fall.

Diane&Pierre"

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

By the way,

it RAINED yesterday evening, .22 inches.

We all ran outside and stared!

Warning...Tongue in Cheek Ahead!

In celebration and remembrance of the 40th anniversary of

Woodstock

On Friday, Sept. 18 plan on attending and participating in

Weedstock...a weed & grass experience!

Join great hordes of your friends and neighbors as we relive the glory days of our youth!
The Rules:

1. Many kilos of grass will be smuggled in at $1 per sod piece. Have any bare spots in your lawn?

2. Weed...bags of weed will be exchanged for pizza & beer/box wine/Arizona Diet Tea.(4pm)

Just wander around aimlessly in the pavilion until you find the pizza sign-up sheet. Oh, and special brownies...oooohhh!

Don't have any leftover weed from your mis-spent youth?

There are several spots that you can pick up weed from reliable sources.

A few that come to mind..the "Big Johnson" grass in front of the tennis courts...the 300 row...lot 427...the firepit garden...or your own landscapes. Be creative. Fill up a bag with weed!

Why? You whine...

Because your bag will be exchanged for the pizza & beer....

AND...

the biggest bags will win t-shirts & hats...so get pulling!

Now if you want to experience all the fun, but can't (or won't) weed,

the munchies will cost you $6.

3. Music will be enjoyed around the pool from the likes of Jimi

& Janis

4. Wii games will make it the Happiest Hippy Hour yet.

5. In the event of rain (yeah, right!) we will reenact the famous mud scenes from that long ago celebration of youth, music and free love.

Questions? Ask and all will be revealed.

I'm melting, I'm melting....

...and not from the heat.

Here are a few pics of the new me.

The first, on the left, was taken in early July, pre-surgery.

The second one, in the middle, Aug 10, and the one on the right, Aug 21.

I'm doing better now that I can eat better food, but I'll tell 'ya, it's been no picnic!

Nausea, discomfort, no energy...these are just a few of the many little annoyances you have to put up with if you do this surgery...BUT...I can't argue with the results.

So far, in 7 weeks, I've lost 50 pounds!

Just yesterday I started cleaning out my closet and have several bags of clothing to donate.

What to do?

Where to go?

Then I ran into Sue Ross.

Her church has a food pantry, and the lady that runs it has her ear on the charities of the valley.

Sue has volunteered to take any used clothing, household supplies, toys, food...anything of use over to this special lady who will channel the articles to the right charity.

A win-win for everyone!

So...if you are cleaning out your closets 'cause you've lost just masses of weight like me...or there are cans you got from an HEB deal-of-the-week that you'll never use...or you have way to many pots and pans...drop them of on Sue's deck at her NEW SITE #336. She'll take it from there.

Thanks Sue!

Like the Swallows of Capistrano, They Are Returning....

Just like that famous migration our birds too, are beginning to return home.

This update from Barry & Carol puts Lanny & Donna on the homeward path.

****

"Lanny & Donna just left today on their trek back to Texas. We had lots of fun. It was good to see some Sandpiper friends in the summertime.

Sounds like they have had a great trip so far.

They have great pictures of New York they can share when they get back."

I think we should all go visit Barry & Carol next summer. Nice place!

*******

Rick & Kathy will be home by this weekend. Good thing too. We need them in the pool for the tournament.

Yes, indeed, there is a water volleyball tournament planned for Labor Day, Sept. 7. Sign up in the pavilion. Hey, do you want prizes? Like what? What is popular? Beer & pretzels has been suggested.

Tony is going to begin Saturday Lunch by the Pool that weekend also. He has a new oven coming to make food prep much easier. And he's going to make a brown bag lunch for Monday (tournament day) so he can play too.

Annie & Joey, The Golfers Amongst Us.

"Hi Guys!

Today Joey & Annie checked out the Los Lagos course!

We were very pleasantly surprised at the course condition.

The fairways were much softer, and the greens were plush and carpet-like.

We were told this is the result of using river water vs city water which contains salt.

We thoroughly enjoyed our play - with no one ahead or behind to rush us - like a private course. The scores are not relevant at this point - since there was no prize money involved!

Looking forward to your return home to Texas!

Joey & Annie"

The Softer Side of Janet.

"Hi Sue:

Congratulations on your surgery.

That takes a lot of moxi to say enough is enough and do the surgery.

With that in mind, I send to you this picture of my still fat self

but thought the place was so much fun.

Les and I are bicycling even up in the wilds of Glacier Park

in Montana where we have been all summer.

We found this little treasure tucked on a trail out in the boonies.

It was just your basic outhouse but someone has dressed up the women's side.

Check out the accoutrement's....

vase of flowers,

crossword puzzle book WITH a pen,

funky reading glasses,

Reader's Digest (a current edition),

National Geographic with a story about Glacier in it,

tissues,

nice little table to set it all on

and hand lotion and hand sanitizer as a nice finishing touch.

And if you cannot see, there is Charmin TP nearby.

Somebody understands true softness for the behind that's been sitting on a skinny bike seat.

This was a pit toilet with a five star women's attention to comfort.

Locals told me it is maintained like this all the time.

Yes, I am sitting atop the twa-lay.

As with all women's restrooms there was a line to get in and I didn't have enough time to stop, drop 'em and go naked.

Les and Janet Kolb"

Is Empire Haven Sandpipers North?

From John & Mary, before they headed off to Intercourse, PA.

(Don't you just love the name of that town..it is so, so... provocative)

"Sue, well the Sandpiper alum continue to visit EH. On the weekend of August 8 to the 11th we were visited by Rick and Donna Goodmurphey. They motored down from their home in Ontario.

This was their first trip to EH.

They had a good time as the weather was good except for

the two nights where we were engulfed with heavy rain.

Rick took up pickleball and became an overnight sensation. Look for him to ask Jon to make it an Olympic sport."

******

Update from Pam & Bob.

They are in San Antonio helping daughter's family pack for a move to Germany, but will be joining us in the pool at Sandpipers soon.

Sunday on the Rio Grande!

Sunday's excursion to Mission for the Riverside Dreamer cruise was a rousing success! 18 Sandpeeps converged at the Riverside Club to enjoy a lazy afternoon and a yummy dinner.

All thanks to newcomers Nancy & Bill, who innocently asked Karen H.

about a newspaper ad on the Riverside Cruise.

Thanks Karen for organizing the outing, and thank you Nancy for the idea.

I've never been to the Riverside Club, and not this time either, as I'm still a little "iffy", especially in the heat (and boy-howdy was it hot yesterday!)..but look at the garden patio. Pretty, huh?Even Karen & Jay took off the afternoon for a little R & R. And do they ever deserve it.

Work, work, work...that's all they do.

Some of the Sandpipers crowd enjoying the breeze off the water.

This next picture was taken from the boat, shooting towards the Mexican side.

Look at all the families enjoying a cool Sunday in the river.

The boat sailed down to the Anzalduas Dam and past this one mile section of the border wall (That'll keep out a passel of bad guys... not!)

Past the current Pepe's...

And past the now condemned original Pepe's.Then back to the Riverside Club for dinner.

I always like to show some of the food and the atmosphere of our dining outings...to see if it's worth going back.
The restaurant was clean and bright but had a more limited menu than Pepe's (I am just quoting Jim, so chime in if you opinion is different)Overlooking the garden is nice. Some people Really loved the food....right Bill?Others took pity on the last table that had to wait forever for their orders, so Tony sent over his leftover fries to stave off starvation.
Yum, thanks Tony.
This is somebodies burger....And here is Jim's Fish & Chips.

Didn't last long....Here Tony...want your fries back?

*******

Thanks Jim, for taking the pictures and reporting on the Riverside Dreamer Cruise.

Heads Up! Planning for the Future!

Already the great minds are swirling with ideas to fill our winter months

with interesting and fun things to do.

One of the events is a new one. One that can tap into a ton of talent.

Sometime in January, before the madness of Nude Olympics, we're gonna have a

Showcase of Talent.

Any kind of talent, whether it's baking artisan bread.....or scrumptious baked treats.....

or building Grandfather Clocks....Or other hands-on wood working projects....
Or maybe you make something like lace, or sew a mean seam....Or crochet or knit or quilt something quite spectacular....Or paint, or sculpt, or work with stained glass....

Or maybe you specialize in body adornment...

Like beads, or jewelry...
What are you PROUD of?

What do you want to show off?

We want to showcase the wonderful talents here at Sandpipers with a reception, perhaps sipping wine and nibbling cheese, as we wander thru exhibits of outstanding talent.

The items could be for sale, but that really isn't the point.

We want you to share your wonderful accomplishments

Start thinking, and if you need to bring it with you, do so.

*****

And start thinking about Halloween. Have you got a costume in mind?