A new Me is in the works!

First, another plug for the cookbook. We have the pricing structure all worked out. Buy one, it's $10. Buy two and the price drops to $9 each. If you want three books they will be $8 each, and four or more will cost you $7 each.

Such a deal we are making....

There are plenty left even after counting up all the ones on "hold", so don't worry, you can still pick up some during the next season. If you are here at Sandpiper's and want one now just drop by #38 with your money and I'll fix you up. We'd rather not mail them to you but if you are truly desperate we could make an exception for a substantial handling and mailing fee....a truly huge fee(is that discouraging enough?)*********************

Also...the 4th of July!

After a rousing afternoon of water volleyball we will be dining on grilled hot dogs courtesy of Roy & Kathy & Mel. Bring something yummy to share, and your beverage and your table service...about 5 pm, in the Comm Room.

I am bringing fruit instead of a decadent dessert. Why? You whine....

'cause I am about to be reinvented.

On Tuesday, July 7th, I will be having gastric by-pass surgery at the McAllen Heart Hospital.

No more ooey-ooey desserts for me....so you all must suffer!

I am hoping to lose a chin or two and be nearly half assed while remaining whole hearted.

Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Mel & Darbi!

Somebody left the gate open at Sandpipers and we all escaped!

Actually, a bunch of us got together at Los Comales (Closner in Edinburg)

to help Darbi #3 and Mel #23 celebrate their birthdays.

Any excuse for good Mexican food, and let me tell you...

it was gooooodddd!

We brought balloons.And a few more balloons. Birthday kisses were exchanged.

Darbi was very happy!There were 28 of us there, and it took a little time for our food to show up.

Was it ever worth it!

I really wanted to take some plate pictures but we were hungry!

By the time I remembered my camera my plate was half finished.

I had tacos mollejas...outstanding! They were served with fresh chopped cilantro, and nopales and avocado slices, with tender corn tortillas. What are mollejas, you ask?

Maybe I'll tell you someday...meanwhile order it, you won't be sorry!This is the Mexican plate. Sorry. Wasn't quick enough.

All the plates on our table looked like this.

Empty.

More balloons!

I love the bright and happy Mexican colors in this picture, but Bill doesn't look convinced.

We were a very festive bunch... all dressed in our finest.

Mel says, "Thanks, everybody!"and so do Darbi & Bill.

We all had a great time!

Coming Right Along...

The shower house is progressing nicely, and has a target date for completion.

Labor Day.

We'll all have to take showers to celebrate.

June 19 ............................................................. June 25

In contrast with past building projects this time there seems to be a big crew working most of the time. Because of the building boom in the last few years here in the valley, it has been sometimes difficult to get a committment from the builders. This time we seem to have the right guys. There has been some difficulty rounding up materials, but some ingenuity with exterior design seems to have solved any problems.

June 19 ............................................................June 25

The exercise room will be part of the shower complex,

with sidewalks connection the building to the pool.

June 19 ....................................................... June 25

Yep, it's coming right along!

"Love Letters" from Absent Friends.

At this slow time of year I relish the emails from goners.

Here is one from Sandy J. that has a link to a super magazine, chock full of Texas recipes.

******

There is a magazine that I read from cover to cover each month, even the ads.

It is Saveur, a combination of National Geographic Travel and the BEST cooking magazine.

The July 2009 issue is the TEXAS issue.

It can be purchased at Borders, Barnes and Noble

or googled at http://www.saveur.com/.

Even though it doesn't mention the Valley there are great recipes for TX favorites.

Some yummy ideas for potlucks, food contests, etc.

How about Book Club Sangria, Longhorn Bull Shot or a Crayfish feast!?

Also, there is an interesting article in the June 1, 2009 issue of The New Yorker

about health care in the McAllen area.

Seems that it is one of the most expensive health care markets in the US.

I read the article twice and there is no mention of "Winter Texans".

I e-mailed the author, a prof. at Harvard School of Med. to see why.

I'll let you know if/when he replies.

Love & hugs,

Sandy J

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

Very timely, 'cause

OUR COOKBOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!

We are working on a sliding price scale to give you a break if you buy more than one. We have the list of those who ordered throughout the winter and will hold them for you, but we have extras, too. Plan on sharing these great recipes with family and friends.

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

Another "love Letter", this time from Lanny & Donna:

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

Thought you might like this tidbit for your delightful blog:

Where are they now?

We spent most of the day yesterday with SUE ROBERTS!

Remember Bingo Sue, aka Kentucky Derby Sue?

She now lives in Key West, FL, on the 7th floor of a condo with a fantastic sunset over the Gulf view. She works on Duval St. at a higher class department/tourist trap store and looks great. And yes, she still drives her hot rod Chevy SSR pickup!

Anyone wishing to contact her can call her at

(email me or Lanny for the number. We don't want every salesman from here to Calcutta calling her), since she chooses not to be of the computer persuasion.

We also visited Ron & Donna K. & Charlie & Kim B. while in Ft Myers, FL.

Next stops are Haulover nude beach in Miami and then on to Cape Canaveral.

Hugs, Lanny & Donna

Water Conservation Guidelines & More

Look!

We caught ANOTHER raccoon!

This one was just about as big, not nearly as feisty, and hopefully the last one.And no, they aren't cute.

They growl.

They try to bite.

They are bandits! Look at the mask!

They don't smell as bad as a possum, but they dig up pots looking for tasty treats, and make a mess everywhere. There are reports of a trail of Tootsie Roll poops all over the place...in chairs, on my bicycle seat of all places!...on patio tables.Hasta la vista, baby...

Don't come back.

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

Now...on to water conservation.

You know it hasn't rained very much...only a few inches in the last 9 months.

The City of Edinburg has issued a water alert, and we must try to comply.

Water Conservation

Stage 2-Mandatory Compliance-Water Alert

(Wow, sounds serious!)

Designated Days

Odd address = odd days

Even address = even days

(Although we are a pretty odd group, our address makes us "evens").

Sprinkler irrigation of lawns, gardens, landscaping, trees, and shrubs-before 10:00 am and after 6:00 pm on designated days only. Watering at any time, on designated days only. With handheld hose; a handheld, faucet filled bucket of 5 gallons or less; or a drip irrigation system.Washing of vehicles, trucks, boats, airplanes or mobile equipment-before 8:00 am and after 6:00 pm, on designated days only, with a handheld bucket or a handheld hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses. Washing may be done at any time on premises of commercial car wash or commercial service station.

Washing or sprinkling of foundations and refilling or adding water to swimming and wading pools-before 10:00 am and after 6:00 pm, on designated days only.

That's Mandatory Compliance....

Wonder if the water police will get us if we transgress?

Raccoonamania

Lately I've been plagued by something digging in my container plants, knocking over pots and leaving Tootsie Roll poops all over the place.

Not being an expert in poops, other than my own, I thought it was a possum.

Jim got a trap and made a peanut butter sandwich bait.

Heck, everything likes peanut butter, right?

The first night the sandwich was eaten but nothing was in the trap.

Guess what? Not set right.

Nothing the second night either.

But the third night we succeeded.Ahhhh...Ricky Raccoon...how cute.Curled all up, awaiting my wrath.Not so cute close up.

Demon eyes!That raccoon was most unhappy, let me tell you.

Snarling and hissing and trying to attack Jim. It was a big sucker, too.

Heavy.

Jim took it over to the garage in hopes Ricky will be disposed of or relocated.

If he comes back and digs up my plants again we will be having raccoon stew!

A Little Slooowwwww.....

This time of year is a little slow. Not quite enough players for water volleyball, but we make do. Usually with 5 or 6 a side, however, a few days ago we had 5 against 2....and the 2 beat us. Us being the ladies, and the 2 being a couple of guys (including Spider-Man Mike). Humiliating!

The cookbooks, the famous Sandpiper cookbooks are finished and on their way to Sandpipers. We worked on that project all winter long, collecting recipes, reading, editing, drinking a little wine, rereading, checking each others work, drinking a little more wine....wonder what the finished product will look like? We are still fine tuning the pricing structure, but it will be set up so the more you buy the cheaper per book they will be. They will be available when you return. If you signed up for a book it will be held for you. We will also be selling the cookbooks at Junque & Java, if they haven't already been snapped up by then.

*****

It's been way too hot too early and we are all just panting in the shade, but we still have a few fun things planned for the summer.

We are having lunch by the pool every Saturday and it just keeps getting better and better.

A steak dinner with all the trimmings is planned for Father's Day. Ribeyes, yum!

4th of July is shaping up to be an All-American Treat with grilled hot dogs.

And July 11th....oh, boy!

To celebrate our participating in the record breaking skinny dipping event that is taking place all over the nation we may just have a shrimp boil. Working on it!

Hmmmm...seems to be all about food doesn't it?