Christmas in Florida.

Jim and I are in Florida helping my sister Patti

 during a couple of surgeries. 

 

 Over Christmas Melinda came to visit

and we all went to the Cocoa Beach.

 

Gorgeous weather...sorry...I know it's been

pretty cold and wet back at SPR.

 

Sunny, breezy, warm sand.

 

Had to indulge at a beach side café. 

Rum drinks, wine,  beer, oysters, clams, yumm!

 We are laughing as Jim tries to not scrape his knuckles while hand grating potatoes for a Lithuanian specialty...potato kugula.

And yes, we look alike!

We will find out Patti's next surgery date soon, then we'll be able to plan the next few months. 

 

 Also, daughter Liz is having baby Max (due date is Feb 1st)

 so must visit New Orleans, too.

 

Busy winter!

Can You Help with a Tote Donation?

The Quilters have been gifted with a lot of wonderful fabric to use in making quilts for the children of our Adopt A Families. 

 

 Now we are asking for donations of extra-large storage totes with a lid so we may keep this fabric stored properly.

 

We have a great room to use, thanks to Karen,

but we want to keep it organized. 

 

 If you have large storage totes to donate,

 see Bernie at lot 36 or Mary at lot 5

or stop Jakz on Monday or Thursday from 9 am to 11:30 am.

 

 Your support is greatly appreciated

Creative Journaling Seminar-Jan 22

CREATIVE JOURNALING SEMINAR

 

Marsha Nelson, PHD, is making a return visit to SPR to present a seminar on creative journaling

in Flip Flopz,

Wed. Jan. 22, 7-9PM.

 

She will demonstrate how by using your dominant and non-dominant hands you can access the more creative side of your brain. 

 

This has always been a popular event at Sandpipers-you won't want to miss it!

 

Snacks will be served.

Seating is limited to 60.  Please let the office know if you are planning to attend.

 

Handwriting Seminar-Jan 8

HANDWRITING SEMINAR

JOIN HANDWRITING EXPERT, JAMES DUNN, ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, FROM 7 PM – 9 PM IN FLIP FLOPZ AND DISCOVER WHAT YOUR HANDWRITING SAYS ABOUT YOU AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE BY MAKING CHANGES IN YOUR HANDWRITING.

 

 SNACKS WILL BE PROVIDED.

 

WE ARE LIMITED TO 60 PARTICIPANTS SO LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Turtle Power! News from Tom B.

Below is a note from Kat Lillie of Sea Turtle, Inc.

This is a unique opportunity for those interested in sea turtles.  The recent cold snap has resulted in several hundred sea turtles being beached (stranded on land) as a result of their body temperatures dropping with the cooler water temperatures.  Being reptiles, when their body temperature drops their muscles become unresponsive and they can not swim.  They drift with the tide and are eventually washed up on shore.  If left, they will die in the cold air.  Sea Turtle, Inc. on South Padre Island rescues these turtles and keeps them until the weather and water temperature warms.  That day has arrived and some of the rescued turtles will be released on Wednesday afternoon.  The public is invited!  I encourage everyone to enjoy this special event.  I am committed to another project so will miss this event.  Tom Butler, Lot 44

From: Kat Lillie <klillie85@gmail.com>
Date: December 16, 2013 at 8:04:38 PM CST
To: Kat Lillie <klillie85@gmail.com>
Subject: Cold stranded turtle release

The cold stranded turtles are all warmed up and we are preparing to release them. As many of you remember, we release these cold turtles off the Gulf side of the island since it is a few degrees warmer than the bay. 

We will have a public release for the turtles on Wednesday, December 18th at 2pm. It will be held in Isla Blanca Park at the SOUTH pavilion (closest to the jetties). We will be releasing about 100 juvenile green sea turtles. Feel free to come and watch and pass the word to your family and friends! :)

--
Kat Lillie

Sea Turtle, Inc. Assistant Curator
6617 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island, TX
78597
(956) 761.4511

Gloria's Goodies!

At the  'Craft Show' on Saturday morning 

there will be a table set up with my

 'nude wardrobe' (pareos, sarongs, etc)

and

some household items

for the benefit of the Edinburg Food Pantry. 

 

 Contributions can either be cash (you decide the amount) or grocery items e.g. peanut butter, boxes of cereal, canned tuna/chicken, boxes of mac and cheese etc. etc.

Gloria (Site 43)

Cold Enough for Soup!

 

Soup Night, Tuesday, Dec. 10th. at 5:30 p.m.

At Flip- Flopz

$5.00 donation to support our Adopt A Family program

Soups: Lentil and Taco

Delicious dessert

Come for soup, come for fellowship and come to support AAF.

Mary 

Too Cold to Ride!

The weather forecast for Tuesday is

 highs near 50 and winds 10 to 20 MPH from the north

 so I am canceling the bicycle ride

for Tuesday, December 10, 2013. 

 Please put the word out by all means possible to let everyone
know that our next bike ride is planned for

December 17, 2013 on the Mission Bike Trail. 

 We'll hope for better weather then!

Tom Butler
44

Florida Bound

OK my lovely peeps.

After several days of travelling I-10 I have several observations.

 

Jim & I are on our way to Melbourne, FL to give some TLC to my sister after she has had major surgery.

 

 

We've noted hundreds, HUNDREDS, of line trucks heading west into the storm zones.  fortunately we've had pretty good weather...a little drizzle, but warm temps.

 

Diesel isn't too much of a surprise...$3.50-$3.80, so far!

We are staying tonight at Suwanee Valley Nudist Resort just north of Lake City.  VERY nice. Very friendly.  Would recommend!
It's Passport America!

A carpet of pine needles and leaves with squirrels scampering...and an absolute bargain at $18.00 a night.  Free ground fees the first night.  AND they only have one small page of rules-common sense, giving credit to adults.


I am getting a new computer...my portable died a screaming death!

Robert's Needs

NEEDED

ROBERT, LOT 220, NEEDS YOUR WINE BOTTLE CORKS.  SO AS YOU’RE OPENING THAT BOTTLE OF WINE,  DON’T THROW AWAY THE CORK. GATHER THEM UP AND TAKE THEM TO ROBERT AT LOT 220.

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

FOR SALE

ROBERT, LOT 220, HAS SEVERAL CRAFTSMEN TOOLS THAT HE WANTS TO SELL; A 3/8 DRILL; A 19.2 VOLT BATTERY AND A ONE HOUR CHARGER.  IF YOU NEED ANY OF THESE TOOLS, SEE ROBERT AT LOT 220.

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

LIP SYNC

ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, JOIN ROBERT AND LOUISE, LOT 220 IN THE PAVILION FROM 3 TO 4 PM TO LEARN ABOUT HIS LIP SYNC PRODUCTION.



Assorted Announcements for Early December

GRILL NIGHT

 

TUESDAY DECEMBER 3 FROM 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM AT FLIP FLOPZ IS GRILL NIGHT. 

 

BRING A DISH TO SHARE AND SOMETHING FOR THE GRILL FOR YOURSELF. 

BYOB (BRING YOUR OWN BEVERAGE). 

TABLE WARE PROVIDED.

SEE NANCY AT LOT 212 WITH QUESTIONS.

 ********************************

 

BIKE RIDE

THE BIKE RIDE IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3 TO ANZULDUAS PARK AND DAM AND LA LOMITA MISSION ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.

BRING A BICYCLE LOCK.

LUNCH IS AT DANNY’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

 IN MISSION.

BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD DRIVE, THE BIKE RIDERS WILL LEAVE AT 9:30 AM.

THERE ARE NO ADMISSION FEES FOR THIS RIDE.

ALL RIDES DEPART SANDPIPERS GATE AT 9:00 A.M. TOM AT LOT 44 SAYS THE RIDE IS CANCELLED IF NO ONE SHOWS UP. IF PEOPLE SHOW UP WE GO!

TOM SUGGESTS SUN SCREEN, BUG SPRAY, WATER, CAMERA, BICYCLE LOCK, BINOCULARS, AND A SPARE INNER TUBE FOR YOUR BICYCLE.

TOM CARRIES A SET OF TOOLS INCLUDING A TIRE PUMP AND PATCH KIT ON ALL BICYCLE RIDES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE TOM OR CHECK OUT THE SPR CALENDAR.

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

 

 

 MOTORCYCLE RIDES

 

THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS WILL BE HEADING OUT  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3.  THE MOTORCYCLE BIKERS WILL RIDE TO SAN BENITO.  LUNCH IS AT LONGHORN.  RIDERS MEET AT THE SANDPIPERS GATE AT 10:30.   IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SEE LOWELL AT LOT 601.

 

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

 

LADIES LUNCH

 

 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5,

 THE DECEMBER LADIES LUNCH WILL BE AT

VICTORIA TEA ROOM IN MISSION.

 

THE LADIES WILL HAVE A GIFT EXCHANGE.

IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, BRING A GIFT THAT COSTS BETWEEN $5 - $10.

SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE SOMETHING HANDCRAFTED, A GIFT CARD, A CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT.

 YOU GET THE IDEA.

 

 IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU RSVP TO NANCY, LOT 212, BY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, SO SHE CAN NOTIFY THE TEA ROOM THE NUMBER OF LADIES TO SET UP FOR.

 

 MEET AT THE FRONT GATE AT 11:30 AM AND CARAVAN TO VICTORIA TEA ROOM.

 NEED A RIDE? JUST COME EARLY TO THE GATE AND WE’LL FIND YOU A SEAT.

 DIRECT QUESTIONS TO NANCY AT LOT 212. 

Back From Italy

 

I'm back from spending Thanksgiving week in Florence & Rome with daughter Melinda.

What a whirlwind!

 

Here are some of the high-lites and low-lites.

 

Low-lites:

26 hours of travel one way, not including the 4 hour delays for the outbound leg. Jet Lag!

 

Freezing...I mean bone-chilling, howling wind and spitting rain chilling! Had to buy wool to live.

 

High-lites:

Many!

* I got to travel first class and am now spoiled forever.

 

*A marathon run amongst the monuments and statues of Florence.

 

*Our wine tasting mini-class being photographed for brochure and advertising purposes.

 

*The tourist thrown out of the Sistine Chapel for ignoring the no photos rule...with a flash yet!

 

*The street vendors selling illegal knock-off designer bags, who on a hidden signal, scurried to hide their wares from police.

 

* After touring the coliseum we lunched at a cute café.  Sitting next to us another Mother/Daughter duo.  During chit chat turns out they were from Anchorage, Alaska...we volunteer my nephew works as a teacher there.  She asks his name.  She is his principal!!!

 

* Major high-lite-THE FOOD & WINE!

 

 

Romans love white wine but in Florence, especially with this famous steak, you just can't beat a Brunello!