Warm and nice day in the Rio Grande Valley

72 degrees here in La Feria, TX at 10:00 am Thursday.

We had a performance at a new (to us) place - Victoria Palms in Donna, TX on Tuesday.  We nearly outnumbered the paying people in the audience.  Of course, we had quite a group of non-paying spouses also.  Smallest crowd we have sung to in my memory.

I tried something different (for me) and had my phone camera set up on a tripod and had one of our singers wife start it and ran during the performance.  Here are links to those: 

https://youtu.be/6iNfwuREpWA  1^st half

https://youtu.be/y7XLNqnT5KE     last half

https://youtu.be/5DfM8IXC15Q  quartets

Monday we drove to the parking lot at the north end of the Progreso, MX bridge and walked over into the town about one block to get some medications.  The ones we get cost us less than our part after insurance if we buy here in the states.  Also picked up a supply of Spanish Peanuts that should last us the summer.

Long-time friend of Phyllis' family, Marylin
Casotti passed away recently.  She had lived
in Boone, IA at her home, then in a
facility and finally in Shenandoah nursing
home.  She was 90 years old.

This picture was taken from our kitchen table, shows how close the housing development that was built a few years ago across the fence from us is located.

Couple of photos I ran across in the computer from June of 2018 when all my family and many friends gathered in Clarinda for my 75th Birthday.

Click HERE for video that weekend.

Take care, Lynn

Cold & rainy in the Rio Grande Valley

 36 degrees, windy and rainy here in La Feria, TX on Saturday morning.  Been that way for last 3 days, was 33 degrees when we woke up yesterday morning.  A miserable day -- remembering the 95 degrees on the 12th of February.  For 3 weeks prior to that our temps had been mid 70's to upper 80's.  Am pretty sure will not venture from the house today.

36º with wind and rain
now for 3 days

Few pictures at Barbershop Chorus practice this last Tuesday.  I have been told I am never in any of my pictures, so below is one.

Had a good performance this last Thursday at Snow-to-Sun RV Park in Weslaco.

At left is picture of guy from WIC (Women in Crisis) organization picking up 13 quilts, some of the ones that the ladies here in Kenwood work on every Thursday morning.

An article and photo that I got into one of the two weekly
magazines distributed each week to all of the RV Parks.

After getting back from the Barbershop performance we went to supper with neighbors Tom & Lisa Urban and Tom's sister Nancy and her husband Cliff Weldon.  This is in the room they built onto the side of Darlene Winslow's old place.

Friday, yesterday, we drove to Mission, TX in the rain and had lunch with Phyllis' cousin Jan and her husband Lynn Frye, from near Lincoln, NE.  They have been in their 5th-wheel in a park some 10 miles west of there since mid January.  We "store" their golf cart at our place when they are not in the Valley.  (Phyllis gets a lot of use of it when we are here)  And, it is parked under our carport during the summer.

I felt the article below interesting and copy it here for your enjoyment:

When Mark Twain married Olivia Langdon, he told a friend, “If I had known how happy married life could be, I would have wed 30 years ago instead of wasting time growing teeth.” He was 32. Twain—born Samuel Clemens—grew up in a modest family, working from a young age. He started as a printer’s apprentice, became a riverboat pilot, tried his luck at silver mining (and failed spectacularly), before finally finding his true calling as a writer. His sharp wit and storytelling brilliance made him famous across America.

It was around this time that he fell in love—not with Olivia at first, but with her portrait. A friend showed Twain a locket with her image and later invited him to meet her in person. Within two weeks, Twain proposed. Olivia liked him, but she was hesitant. He was ten years older, rough around the edges, lacked the refinement of her wealthy, cultured circle, and had not a penny to his name. She admired his talent but turned him down. Twain, ever persistent, proposed again. Another refusal—this time, she cited his lack of religious devotion. He responded with his signature humor and sincerity: “If that’s what it takes, I’ll become a good Christian.” Despite her refusals, Olivia was already in love with him. But Twain, convinced he had no chance, left.

On his way to the train station, his carriage overturned. Seizing the moment, Twain played up his injuries and was brought back to Olivia’s home. As she cared for him, he made one final proposal. This time, she said yes.

Twain made every effort to please his deeply religious wife. He read the Bible to her every evening and said grace before meals. Knowing she disapproved of some of his stories, he never submitted them for publication, accumulating over 15,000 unpublished pages. Olivia became his first editor and toughest critic—so much so that when she came across the phrase “Damn it!” in *Huckleberry Finn*, she made him remove it. Their daughter, Susy, once summed them up perfectly: “Mama loves morality. Papa loves cats.”

Twain adored Olivia. He once wrote, “If she told me wearing socks was immoral, I would stop wearing them immediately.” She called him her “gray-haired boy” and watched over him like a child. He, in turn, credited her with preserving his energy, optimism, and youthful spirit. Olivia, for her part, loved his humor. One day, Twain was laughing so loudly that she asked what book had amused him so much. Still chuckling, he handed it to her. She glanced at the cover—it was one of his own books.

Their life together was not without heartbreak. They lost children. Twain went bankrupt. But while his indomitable optimism kept him afloat, Olivia’s unshakable faith gave her strength. They never turned against each other—Twain never once raised his voice at Olivia, and she never once scolded him. Twain was fiercely protective of her. When a close friend made a joke at Olivia’s expense, Twain nearly ended their friendship over it. And when Twain set off on a round-the-world tour at sixty, Olivia—knowing he needed constant care—left everything behind to accompany him.

Photo from the "Adventures of Mark Twain" drama

February more than half over!!!!!

74 degrees with heavy overcast at 4:30 pm Monday.  Was 53 degrees when we woke.  

Looks like we are going to have come cool weather in the next few days.  Nothing like the cold and snow up in the Midwest, though.

I did get a few of the cruise photos from late January, early February edited this weekend.

Here is some of our cabin.

This photo was taken from our 3rd floor dining room.  Our cabin was on the 2nd floor and we were, I guess, about 15-18 feet above the water.  When we were sailing at night there was always white water from the ship plowing through the water and lights from the ship deck shining on it reflected into our window to the point I had to draw the curtains nearly closed.  I know, it is rough being on a cruise.

Today, along with help from several others, we cleaned out the "little shed" and piled the stuff outside so pest exterminators could spray the building.

Some of it Phyllis brought home to sort

This afternoon I started the annual job of cleaning leaves and twigs off the Texas Room roof.  Leaves are all dry as we have been in a literal drought this winter here.

Last evening we listened to a man from North Dakota present a good music program--he wrote most of the songs.  His wife ran the sound system and was on stage with him for several songs to sing harmony.

Till later, Lynn

Valentine supper at Kenwood

 71 degrees at 9:45 pm Saturday.  Been a decent day weatherwise after the bitter cold the last few days.

Chef Tom spent most of Friday cooking.  Prime Rib and Shrimp for the Valentine Day Supper.

Here is the Program and the menu

About 50 meals were served of a very satisfying supper.

Look at the plates full of food!

And there was cake at the end!

I took many photos for the people who attended and gave them a link so they could look, and copy any they wanted.  CLICK HERE to go to the photo album.

Going to be a bit of a roller coaster for temps this week.

I finally got the schedule made up with new photo.

Later, Lynn

Valentine's Day 2025

 

57 degrees, heavy overcast, windy.  Couple days ago the high was 93 degrees, yesterday morning it was 53 when we woke up.  20 mph or higher winds out of the north.  Nothing to shovel, though.

Meet Butch -- short haircut this morning.  This was while we were eating at Sam's Club after shopping.

Had our second concert with barbershop chorus Men & Women of A-Chord last evening.  All members were present and we got a photo!!

Yesterday afternoon the group that attends the Kenwood Iowa Summer Rally in State Center met and decided  from Tuesday August 5th at supper through Friday August 8 at Breakfast and Lola Shoppe's KeLo RV Park in State Center, Iowa.  Last year or so has been small turn out but several want to have it again. 

Wednesday we went to Progreso, Tamaulipas, Mexico to the dentist for our annual teeth cleaning.  I had a tooth break off last May 7th and wondered if they could glue it back in.  They x-rayed it and took a look at the decay on the bottom tooth (it was a cap), dug it out, drilled and put in a post for an implant.  I went back Thursday morning and got the plate with one tooth on it.  Not enthused about it, but will put up with it until sometime this next November when I return and they will put the permanent tooth on the post.

Have Patty's bike back in
storage until next year.

 Patty had to return to Kansas City February 3rd, the day after we got back from our cruise account her niece in Kansas City being put on hospice--and passing about the time Patty was landing in Kansas City.  She is staying with her sister there for some family time.

Our drugstore in Progreso

Walking into area of our dentist.  Their office
is through the glass doors above the blue at left

Looking west from bridge over Rio Grande River.
Nearly dry from the drought, no water visible under us

Above is where we walk up from parking lot,

at right is where we pay $1 and start walking

across the bridge.

Arial view of where we park in Texas, walk south across the bridge to dentist office in Mexico.  Our pharmacy is a half-block south of the dentist office.- I am guessing we walk a quarter mile from the parking lot to our dentist's office and a bit further to the pharmacy (and next door to the source for 

Spanish peanuts)

Tonight we will go to the Valentine's Day supper at the Rec Hall that Tom & Lisa Urban, with friends, are putting on.

Till next time, Lynn