Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Busy Tuesday

53º now at 8:15 am Wednesday with predicted high of 75º here in La Feria, TX
Photo at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.  L to R - Toni Frith, Lynn Miles, Deanne Messer, John Beaupre, Phyllis Miles, Marion Finken, Ardel Finken, Patty Steckelberg, Claire Beaupre, Kathy Connelly, Bill Connelly, Mike Banken, Maryjo Banken, Dick Messer, Lillian Witt, Cissy Knudsen, Jerry Witt, Bob Knudsen, Susie Martin & Bill Martin.
Drove over by the Messer's and  then they followed us the 33 or so miles to Brownsville and the Gladys Porter Zoo.  We didn't ride together since I knew I would have to leave before the end of the Zoo presentation to drive the 60 miles back northwest to McAllen, TX to be at a 2:00 PM Men of A-Chord Barbershop Chorus practice.  Phyllis was in charge of the 20 of us from Kenwood on this tour.
First thing we had orange juice and coffee with Pan Dulce
(Sweet Bread/Rolls)

This is the group gathering for the photo taken by Zoo official
at the top of this blog.

I have forgotten the guide's name, but he was very, very knowledgeable about everything
to do with the zoo and all the animals in it -- including their history, treatments of injured animals,
the interchange between the Zoos in the US, and about everything. 

We are near the perimeter fence, behind buildings where animals
are worked with.

Our pass
Feeding celery to a tortoise 

Feeding celery to a tortoise - they recommended not holding on
to the celery when you had less than half the stalk in your hand.

Patty feeding celery to a tortoise

Don't remember the ages, but seems like one was over 80 years old.
Spent some time with Kangaroos and were given a lot of
interesting facts about them by a lady.

They lady explaining the kangaroos while they were being
fed Lead Tree branches.  A group of Kangaroos is called a Mob

I ham holding branch at left and Phyllis at right.  The little guys would
hold onto the branch with their front paws and keep quite a grip, in case you
were going to pull it away from them.
There were 7 adult giraffes and one young one.

Phyllis feeding a giraffe  Huisache
 (pronounced Wee-sochee) leaves
 

Patty feeding a giraffe

The young giraffe is in the right-center of this photo.
Some of these photos are out of sequence, but show some more of what we saw.
In the "gallery" above the kangaroos

Looking down on the kangaroos

Some of our group as we were coming out of the tortoise pen
(Tortoises are land based and turtles are water animals)

More of the group listening about tortoises


One of two different types of  Flamingos they have in the zoo.
I took many photos and we heard a lot of interesting history and explanation of the animals that have been on the nearly extinct list for a long time.  Fortunately they did not have a test when we were done.
At noon we were treated to a nice lunch.




After lunch our guide presented talk on several animals.

I left about 12:40 and drove the 60 miles, stopping at our house on the way, and made it to my Barbershop Chorus practice by 2 pm in McAllen.  Phyllis & Patty rode back to Kenwood with Dick & Deanne Messer.
Patty is getting used to the 3-wheel bike I picked up last week and seems to be enjoying it.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Mrs. Applebee, the 6th grade teacher, posed the following problem to one of her classes: "A wealthy man dies and leaves ten million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his wife, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his butler, and the rest to charity. Now, what does each get?" After a very long silence in the classroom, Little Johnny raised his hand.
The teacher called on Little Johnny for his  answer.  With complete sincerity In his voice, Little Johnny answered, "A lawyer!"
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The bridegroom, who was in a horribly nervous condition, appealed to the clergyman in a loud whisper, at the close of the ceremony:  "Is it kisstomary to cuss the bride?"  The clergyman replied: "Not yet, but soon."
--------------------------------------------
On a rural road a state trooper pulled this farmer over and said: "Sir, do you realize your wife fell out of the truck several miles back?"   To which the farmer replied: "Thank God, I thought I had gone deaf!"
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I should confess that these "Groaner's Corner articles are copied from an interesting blog I follow written by a Canadian that winters in Arizona The Bayfield Bunch. Click here to his site

Later, Lynn

Monday, January 29, 2018

Patty's here!

51º at 8:00 pm in La Feria, TX after reaching 73º this afternoon.
Picked up Patty Steckelberg from the Harlingen Airport just before noon.  She flew in from Kansas City, MO and will be with us about a month.  We had our Iowa people of Kenwood RV Park lunch at noon and then a planning meeting for the August 2018 summer rally at State Center, IA.
Lillian and Jerry Witt will be co-hosts with Dick & Deanne Messer.
Saturday night first concert of Men of A-Chord in Mission, TX

Saturday night first concert of Men of A-Chord in Mission, TX

Saturday night first concert of Men of A-Chord in Mission, TX

Second concert in Alamo, TX Sunday

Second concert in Alamo, TX Sunday

Second concert in Alamo, TX Sunday
1


Second concert in Alamo, TX Sunday - 2nd half

Second concert in Alamo, TX Sunday - 2nd half

Second concert in Alamo, TX Sunday - 2nd half
Phyllis cooking Sunday afternoon.

Entertainment at the Rec Hall Sunday Afternoon

At Spanish class in the Friendship Room this morning

At Spanish class in the Friendship Room this morning

At Spanish class in the Friendship Room this morning

At Spanish class learning about Pan Dulce




















GROANER’S CORNER:((  Three elderly people were talking about what their grandchildren would be saying about them fifty years from now.  "I would like my grandchildren to say, 'He was successful in business,'" declared the first man.  "Fifty years from now," said the second, "I want them to say, 'He was a loyal family man.'"  Turning to the third one, a lady, he asked, "So what do you want them to say about you in fifty years?"  "Me?" the third one replied. "I want them to say, 'She certainly looks good for her age.'"
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What's the difference between people
who pray in church and those who pray in casinos?   The ones in the casinos are serious.

--------------------------------
Years ago George W. Bush was getting off of Airforce One in Israel, when he walked passed Moses, who didn’t seem to notice him. He turned to Moses and said, I am George W. Bush, the President of the USA, the most powerful nation on earth. Why didn't you greet me?   Moses replied, The last time I spoke to a bush, we starved for 40 years!
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Heading to Brownsville, TX early in the morning where Phyllis will escort some 20 people from the park to a "behind the scenes" tour of the Gladys Porter Zoo.  I will then head to McAllen for Men of A-Chord practice.

Later, Lynn

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Today is 68th Anniversary of my sister's birthday

65º here at Kenwood RV with heavy over-cast skies.  Rain moving up from Mexico to make it a wet day before too long.

Today is the 68th Anniversary of my little sister Louise's birthday.  She passed away in 2008, but is still remembered.

Louise in the center of her 4 brothers in 1963, with Mom & Dad
Louise on day of her getting her Nursing Cap in 1972, standing
between Mom & Dad and Aunt Ruth, a  retired Nurse, at left.
Louise with her 4 brothers on May 3, 2008.
Louise passed away May 13, 2008 after nearly 10 years being disabled with diabetes, renal and heart problems.  She is missed.

Later, Lynn


Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Rain

54º with rain in La Feria at 3:10 pm Wednesday as I start this.  Been raining much of the day after a cloudy, but warm (67º) day yesterday.



                             Must put in a photo taken off Facebook  of Granddaughter
and little Jesica, our 
Great Granddaughter.


Yesterday, with weather quite nice, the guys with their Radio Controlled cars set up place on the grass at southwest corner of the Park.  In the afternoon they laid out a course by using drainage tile for edges of the course.  Don't have a photo for it yet, but here is the type of tile they are using;

Some watchers, too.


Our Canadian friend Merve returned to the park this year.  Hasn't got a workshop built yet, but since
he is now living full time in the trailer, has all his shop tools under and behind his trailer.

Final practice on the ramps for the Barber Shop group yesterday.  No, the
bass guys aren't giving up, they were to identify themslves.

Lead guys on the back corner.

Friend Dick Messer putting in new battery for me.  Took out the 6-year old
battery, hoping to avoid having it quit at an inopportune time.  As you can see
by the dots at the front, it was just starting to rain, so we got done just in time.
Groaners Corner :))  Why On-Line Colleges are Booming
  • One could attend in the nude and not get sniggered at.
  • Psychopath or beauty queen—they all look the same to the instructor.
  • Nobody knows if you cheat.
  • No football or basketball games to go to.
  • No running between classes on a frigid December morning.
  • No mandatory PE classes to satisfy so sadistic state statute.
  • Anything that happens in your house stays in your house.
  • Every girl that emails you looks like Julia Roberts, every male looks like Leonardo DiCaprio.
  • Your instructor could look like "Our Miss Brooks" or "Mr. Chips".
  • Your wife could help you with the tests.
  • You could be a valedictorian without leaving your bedroom.
  • Nobody has ever heard of your school, but that’s all right, nobody has time to check it anyway.
  • Your school used to be in the Big Ten. Now it is in the Big Ten to the power three.
  • This sort of thing is spreading in the lower grades. Now it’s called "home schooling."
  • You do realize that half of your school’s enrollment are socio-misfits, or just too lazy to attend a real school campus.
  • The school president’s name is Al Gore. He’s there running the place because nobody outside of academia would believe him anyway.
  • You also pay your tuition via email. Notice how fast the prices go up, just like the real schools.
  • The head of the Psychology department is named Schickelgruber.
  • The music department course consists of a download of MP3 music from pygmy tribes in Chad.
  • The only team allowed is chess. You do not have to bulk up for it.

 This is 3-wheeler I got for Patty to use.







To have Pegs & Jokers game at our place tonight.  Will be picking up Patty on Monday for her month-long visit.  Will be glad to see her.  

Later, Lynn

Performed in Easter Cantata

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