Bev, We'll Miss You Forever.

Beverly J. Dobbs was taken unexpectedly on September 19, 2013 at her home with her family. She was a life long resident of New Castle. Over the last few years she wintered in Edenburg, Texas. She spent many years as a waitress in Glenwood making friends and serving those she loved.

 

She is loved and missed dearly by her family and friends. Survived by Husband, Robert M. Dobbs; Son, F.C Dobbs (Jaci Dobbs) and Daughter, Ginny May Adamson. Along with numerous Grand and Great Grand Children.
Memorial will be held at Farnum Holt Funeral Home in Glenwood on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 10:00 am.

Amazing Tomatoes and Updates...

First, I was so amazed at these pictures of Duane Dupor's tomato plants I had to steal the pics from Facebook and share here...wonder what he does to make a tomato forest???

 

Can you believe this?  Huge!

 

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

An update from Bob D.  He is home from the hospital and taking a day at a time. Funeral arrangements for Bev are in process.

Sandpiper's collective hearts are broken.

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

Tom & Louise are still shaking from the horrible experience of having their parked-next-to-neighbors RV burst into flames.

The elderly couple had to scramble out the emergency exit window of their RV, lost the RV and their car, and their pets.

Tom & Louise have some cosmetic damage from the heat but were able to travel on, still shaking.

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

Lots of rain here in the valley was certainly appreciated, but not the resulting mosquitos!

Cooler temperatures are nice, too. Around 90 every afternoon, but 70 or below by morning.

October's Girl's Breakout Day!

Cordon's Taste of Chicago

4304 W. Freddy Gonzales Dr.

Edinburg

956-383-4567

 

Thursday, Oct. 3rd.

Meet at the front gate by 11:30 am.

 

Menu:

Maxwell Hot dog, Calzone, Chicken Parmesan, *Deep-dish Pizza, Steak and cheese with onion rings, *Capone Calzone, Giant Pizza.

 

*Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza

 

 If you want to order deep dish pizza it's best to call it in ahead of time

 because it takes at least 45 minutes to prepare.

 

* Calzones

These take 15 minutes

 

Of course they have good desserts, too!

and.....

 

a cute boutique shop is just next door!

Time to shop!

 



Summer Book Club Books – September 12, 2013

Thanks to Karon for not only hosting September's meeting
but also for compiling this list.

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

The following books were discussed

at the summer book club meeting.

Some are repeated suggestions from other meetings.

Happy reading!
 

Non-Fiction; Historical Fiction; Science Fiction
 

Dreams of Joy – Lisa See
 

Shanghai Girls – Lisa See
 

Crossing Purgatory – Gary Schanbacher
 

Healing Hearts – Beth Wiseman
 

*The Book Thief –Markus Zusak

 (Ranks among Sue Z’s top favorites)

It's just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . . Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist - books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

 

*Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts

(One of Pam Smith’s top favorites)

In 1978, gifted student and writer Greg Roberts turned to heroin when his marriage collapsed, feeding his addiction with a string of robberies. Caught and convicted, he was given a nineteen-year sentence. After two years, he escaped from a maximum- security prison, spending the next ten years on the run as Australia's most wanted man. Hiding in Bombay, he established a medical clinic for slum- dwellers, worked in the Bollywood film industry and served time in the notorious Arthur Road prison. He was recruited by one of the most charismatic branches of the Bombay mafia for whom he worked as a forger, counterfeiter, and smuggler, and fought alongside a unit of mujaheddin guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan. His debut novel, SHANTARAM, is based on this ten-year period of his life in Bombay. The result is an epic tale of slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison torture, mafia gang wars and Bollywood films. A gripping adventure story, SHANTARAM is also a superbly written meditation on good and evil and an authentic evocation of Bombay life.

 

Only Time Will Tell – Sheryl Lewis
 

The Secret Sisters – Joni Rodgers
 

Where Are You Now? – Mary Higgins Clark
 

Non-Fiction
 

Riddle of the Labyrinth – Margaret Fox

It's Wine Time Again!!!!

Greetings from Bob & Bernie:

 We plan to host the Wine Appreciation Classes

 as we have done for the last 12 years. 

 

The classes will be on the second Sunday of the month

 at 3:00 PM...

December,

January,

February and

 March. 

The cost for the January, February and March classes will be the same as in the past:  $10 for each person per class.   

The December class is free as long as you bring a bottle of wine (or two) to share with the others.  Some snacks are appreciated also.  It is a good time to introduce to others a good wine you have discover in your travels.

The January class will cover wines from the area around Venice, Italy.  We have already procured these wines as they would prove hard or even impossible to obtain in South Texas.  These are excellent wines as Bernie and myself sampled while we were there the last spring.

The February class will be wines for the American picnic. 

  No MD 20/20 or Boones Farm allowed! 

 You will really enjoy this one.

 The March class will be bubbles, bubbles and bubbles. 

This will be a very festive get together!

Bernie will be involved in her various sewing activities this season as she has in the past.

Bernie and I will get to Sandpipers in early November.  We will go to Cancun for two weeks after we are there for a week.   

See you this Winter at Sandpipers!

Bob & Bernie

Ladies Water VolleyBall

Ladies water volleyball is cancelled

until the whole family is back together.

 

Wait till the regular season starts,

then the laughter and fun shall continue!

Bike Rides 2013-2014

Sandpipers Resort Bike Rides 2013-2014        

   Tom & Louise Butler  Lot 44

Depart Gate at 9:00 a.m.                               2tmb@earthlink.net                                                       314-374-5889

Texas Bicycle Laws

 

Nov 5 –Estero Llano Grande State Park & World Birding Center south of Weslaco is one of the premier wildlife parks in the Rio Grande Valley.  The park has abundant water resources and features a rich variety of waterfowl, raptors and butterflies.  The park is also the closest place to Sandpipers Resort that has alligators.   We will ride about 3 miles through the park and take a short walk to see the alligators.  The trail we ride is a mix of pavement, boardwalks and gravel without any hills.  There is a $5 per person entrance fee for those who do not have a Texas State Park Pass.  We will eat lunch at Fat Daddy’s BBQ on FM 1015 near Weslaco.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Nov 12 – One McAllen Bike Trail parallels Col Rowe Boulevard (2^nd Street) in McAllen.  The trail is level, paved and is off roadways though it has many street crossings.  We will ride through some of the interesting homes on residential streets near the trail.  We ride a total distance of about 12 miles.  There is no charge for this ride.  Lunch will be at Gatti’s Pizza Smorgasbord near Nolana.  The lunch stop will be during the bike ride so you should bring a bicycle lock to secure your bicycle during lunch.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Nov 19 – Bentsen State Park& World Birding Center near Mission has water features, scrub forest and grasslands.  The Hawk Tower is handicap accessible and gives us a nice overview of the area near the Rio Grande and Mexico.   There are bird feeders with blinds for observers which make bird watching extraordinary.  We will ride about 8 miles on level paved park roads and take a short walk to the Hawk Tower.  There is a $5 per person entrance fee for those who do not have a Texas State Park Pass.  We will eat lunch at BJ’s Brewhaus near the McAllen Convention Center.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Nov 26 – South Padre Island and Isla Blanca Park are featured on this ride.  The ride is on level, paved city streets.  We ride about 12 miles from the Convention Center to the southern tip of SPI in Isla Blanca County Park and return.  On the return we will stop for lunch at Blackbeards Restaurant, bring a bicycle lock to secure your bicycle during lunch.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 3 – La Lomita Mission and Anzulduas Park and Dam combine to make an interesting ride right along the Rio Grande River.  La Lomita Mission is one of the missions begun by the Oblate Brothers.  The original chapel has been restored recently.  Anzulduas Park is a Hidalgo County Park adjacent to the Anzulduas Dam.  We will also see the floodway which directs floodwater from the dam to Laguna Madre on the coast.  We will ride about 5 miles on a little used public road and park roads.  There is one hill as we leave Anzulduas Park and we will also climb the levee going to and from La Lomita Mission.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  We will eat lunch at Danny’s Mexican Restaurant in Mission following the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

 All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 10 – Edinburg City Park & World Birding Center features a sports and recreation center with a walk, run, and bike trail.  The World Birding Center has several bodies of water with abundant waterfowl.  Gardens at the WBC also feature a variety of native plants and extensive butterfly gardens.  This ride will be about 4 miles on the level, paved bike trail within the park.  There is a $3 per person admission to the WBC.  Lunch at Willie’s BBQ on Closner in Edinburg will follow the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 17 – The Mission Bike Trail runs through native scrub forest and along an irrigation canal.  We will ride about 10 miles on this paved trail which includes several hills and levee climbs.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  We will travel to the McAllen Convention Center for lunch at McAllister’s Deli following the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Dec 24 – Merry Christmas – Due to the likelihood of heavy reindeer traffic there will be no bicycle ride this week.

 

Dec 31 – Happy New Year – Join us for the Tour de Donut.  Decorate your bicycle or wear a costume.  This will be a zany ride around the city of Edinburg in search of donuts.  Be ready to show us where you find the best donuts in Edinburg!  We will ride the bicycle lanes where possible and will be on city streets at other times.  Don’t eat breakfast before this ride.  There will not be a lunch stop scheduled for this ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.  All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 7 – The Old Hidalgo Pump House pumped water from the Rio Grande to the irrigation system in the early days of agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley.  We will ride the grounds adjacent to the Border Wall, past the retention ponds, along the canal system and through the town of Hidalgo.  There is an admission charge or $3 per person.  The ride will be about 5 miles on paved and gravel trails and city streets in Hidalgo.  There is a climb to the top of the levee at the Pump House.  LunchTBD.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

 All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 14 – The Port Isabel starts at the parking lot near the old lighthouse.  We will see the Port Isabel Yacht Club, the causeway that crosses Laguna Madre and the shrimp fishing fleet.  We ride across a unique side swing draw bridge and explore the housing along the navigation canals within the city.  The ride is about 4 miles on city streets.  There are several gradual uphill grades on this ride.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  We will eat lunch at the White Sands Restaurant following the ride.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire. 

All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 21 – Bentsen State Park& World Birding Center near Mission has water features, scrub forest and grasslands.  The Hawk Tower is handicap accessible and gives us a nice overview of the area near the Rio Grande and Mexico.   There are bird feeders with blinds for observers which make bird watching extraordinary.  We will ride about 8 miles on level paved park roads and take a short walk to the Hawk Tower.  There is a $5 per person entrance fee for those who do not have a Texas State Park Pass.  We will eat lunch at BJ’s Brewhaus near the McAllen Convention Center.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.  This is a repeat of the November 19 bike ride.

  All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

 

Jan 28 – One McAllen Bike Trail parallels Col Rowe Boulevard (2^nd Street) in McAllen.  The trail is level, paved and is off roadways though it has many street crossings.  We will ride through some of the interesting homes on residential streets near the trail.  We ride a total distance of about 12 miles.  There are no admission charges on this ride.  Lunch will be at Gatti’s Pizza Smorgasbord near Nolana.  The lunch stop will be during the bike ride so you should bring a bicycle lock to secure your bicycle during lunch.  Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, bicycle helmet, binoculars and/or camera as you desire.  This is a repeat of the November 12 bike ride.

  All rides meet at the Sandpipers gate and depart at 9:00 a.m.

Rain, By Golly!!!

First, a picture of our resident hawk overseeing his kingdom.

 

Then...

RAIN!

 

with a rainbow between showers.

 

 

No flooding yet, but the rain event is young.

Reminder...

All you menopause fans...

wait, that didn't come out right.

 

All you Menopause The Musical fans...

there, that's better.

 

All you Menopause The Musical Fans

 wanting to go to the

Harlingen Municipal Auditorium,

on Tuesday, September 24,

need to contact Karon by

 Thursday, Sept. 19, so she can order the tickets.

 

 

 

Tickets are $40 but if we get at least 10 people signed up, the price is only $30. You can pay her and she will put the tickets on her credit card.

See what millions of people worldwide have been laughing about…

contact Karon at lot 42 or call her at 956-578-3032

 for more information and to reserve your seat.

New Water Volleyball Hours

 

Here's a bulletin direct from the water volleyball pool...

 

 

Because of darkness,

 

 colder evening temperatures,

and higher threats of thunder storms,

 the new water volleyball hours are...

 

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 11am,

  with Sunday hours at 1pm.

 

Women's volleyball is still Tuesdays at 6:30pm.

Spread the word!

Lightening Strike!

It's been raining every afternoon for several days...

lots and lots of rain. 

 Yesterday we received about an inch. 

Doesn't sound like much in the grand scheme but at one point it was raining at the rate of 4 inches an hour!

 

And the thunder

and the lightening!

Wowzer!

 

Heard a huge boom and a rattle crack that shook the house.

 

Did more than shake Tom & Adele's house though.

Hit their roof!!

It took off some shingles and fried their electronics.

ALL their electronics.

 

Computers, TV's, AC...probably microwave, so many things got fried!

I guess they are out shopping today.

 

Phew! That was scary.

Menopause the Musical

It’s Menopause the Musical!

 coming to Harlingen on September 24.

Four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but

 a black bra,

 memory loss,

night sweats,

 not enough sex,

too much sex,

hot flashes

and more!

This hilarious musical parody set to classic oldies

will have you cheering and dancing in the isles.

Tickets are $40 but if we get at least 10 people signed up, the price is only $30.

See what millions of people worldwide have been laughing about…

contact Karon at lot 42 or call her at 956-578-3032

 for more information and to reserve your seat

 to…

Menopause the Musical,

coming to the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium,

Tuesday September 24^th.

 

Let’s go to…. Menopause the Musical:  A celebration of women and the Change.

Contact Karon to reserve your seat. 

Summer Book Club

Summer Book Club

Plot Twist

 

The Summer Book Club will be meeting

Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7pm…

only this time there is a twist in the plot.

 Instead of meeting at Gloria’s house,

 the book club will be meeting at

Karon’s place, lot 42.

Everyone’s invited to come on over

 and tell us about your summer reads

and enjoy some great conversation

along with some wine, tea, and sweets.

That’s the summer book club meeting,

this Thursday, Sept. 12th, at 7pm

 at Karon’s place, lot 42.