Cold and wet in the valley.

48º with bright sunshine here in Kenwood RV at 11:37 am on Saturday.  Supposedly, it was at or near 32 degrees for several hours early this morning, but I see no evidence of any frost on our Bougenvelia bushes.  Is to be sunshine today and tomorrow and get up into the lower 60's and then rain Sunday evening and all day Monday.  Temps don't show above the 60's.

Finally getting around to putting together a frame and workspace on wheels that includes a set of plastic drawers.

Finally finished it up.  Used all recycled boards, new wheels, and drawers from Harold's shed.  Will easily move around and think it will better organized some of my stuff and make a little work bench area, also.

This Thursday the weather was mean -- wet, cold and windy -- and there were six of us showed up for Meet & Greet.

1

In spite of the weather, or maybe on account of the weather, we had a pretty good turnout for Beanbag Baseball Thursday evening at 6:30 pm.  Everyone has been cooped up in their units for several days and wanted to get out, I guess.  Anyway, everyone seemed to enjoy the evening at the Rec Hall.

1

Bobi Raab, our neighbor to the east, has been hearing some animal gnawing under her mobile home for more than a month.  The park maintenance man put out a trap under her unit, but the bait was always gone and trap not tripped.  The trap was old and would not trip even when you bumped it.  She finally bought a new trap from Johnny's Hardware in Harlingen and I set it (actually two traps, there was a small one inside the large one when she bought it) with various goodies.  Bananas, oranges, and we finally put hot dogs in them.  The food was always gone, but no luck in tripping the trap. 

Bobby finally came up with the idea of hanging a hot dog from a string which would make the animal reach further to get it and maybe step on the tripper.  For two days the wieners hung there and then they finally disappeared, with nothing caught.  She heard that a possum was caught at Dave Engle's unit with doughnuts in the trap.  So she drove to Shipley's in Harlingen, got some rolls for her and Bob as well as us, and a couple cake doughnuts for the traps.  I put them in yesterday and just checked -- doughnuts still there.  Will see what happens.

Wednesday evening we had Pot Luck Supper at the Rec Hall.  Fair turnout, lots in the park are not attending.  Courtney, Darlene's Granddaughter, is at the left of the table here.  She came in Tuesday and will be here for some 9 days.

We had picked up Patty at the Airport in Harlingen on Tuesday and she fit in with the people in the park that she has been well acquainted with over the years.  She will be here until about March 2nd.

Shortimeers Ardel & Marianne Finken are in this photo at the Pot Luck Supper.  They are leaving March 1st.

Later Wednesday evening we did Pegs & Jokers at the Raabs.

With the warning of freezing, all the potted plants were once again moved into the Texas Room.

Has been wet and windy and cold much of the week, but don't think the rain amounted to .05".

Last night's entertainment drew 30 people - Pickpocket Gene.

 

Photo at left - Margaret Henning, from Missouri, had her two sisters visiting and good friend Terry Servin stepped in for a photo during the break in the Pickpocket show.  Pickpocket Gene gave a lot of information on fraud and internet security.  He mentioned one thing that I did not know: a lot of the credit cards now let you place them over a receiver instead of inserting them into a credit card machine.  He showed how anyone can get a hand-held receiver and take that info off your card if they are near you.  This I had heard of before, but he went on to say that if your driver's license has the star, it too sends out the signals and can be picked up by thieves.   He sells, and recommends, you get the little aluminum lined pockets for your credit cards AND your driver's license so the info cannot be stolen.  He also sells that type of sleeve for Passports.  He spends much of his time working for corporations; banks, and others that need information security.  He had told us at the Showcase a few weeks ago in Mission, that he is not coming back to the Valley, at least not next year.

2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” ―Henry James

Until next time, Lynn

RAIN

70 degrees with sunshine here in Kenwood at 4:30 pm Sunday..  Have had rain most of the week and it is forecast for rain all day tomorrow.

 Up-to-date video of Kenwood RV streets

Had a new photo of us taken this morning.

First church service of the 21-22 season this morning here at Kenwood RV.

 .  This quartet practiced at break time during our Tuesday Men of A-Chord practice.  Our director, in the blue shirt, tested positive for Covid-19 later that day and we have had to cancel the concert for tonight as well as next Tuesday's practice.  Will see how things go for further practice or concerts.  I was able to reschedule tonight's performance to February 27th at LLano Grande RV Park in Weslaco.

These two photos don't mean anything; I just thought they were neat when I saw them online.

Saturday we went, with Bob & Bobi Raab to Rudy's BBQ in Pharr and met Doris Winter and her daughter Kate who was visiting from Minnesota.

Then we went back to Doris's park and visited and played Pegs & Jokers for several hours.

Phyllis MC'd for program Saturday night.  A pair of twins with lots of comedy and music.

One routine had 3 of the audience members participating in a routine.

These guys spend 3 months in Texas, 3 months in Florida and 6 months in and around Ohio.  They were so good we had several people come from another park where they had entertained last week and wanted to see them again.

We are looking forward to having Patty from Shenandoah getting here this Tuesday for a month.

Later, Lynn

Rain and "cold" in the RGV

46º with light rain at 11:45 am on Saturday.  Had about 2/3" of rain the last couple days, with temps between 33º and 45º and lots of wind with the rain.  Pretty cold for this far south!

Click HERE for article on CALLAWAY 

Went to the Riverside Club which is on the Rio Grande River southwest of Mission, TX on Thursday afternoon to a music program/dance with Justin Trevino from Brady, TX, Sharon and Roger Kenaston from Lyons, NE, Barry and Linda Burton from Bethany, MO, and Mike Hughes from Oregon, MO.  Have heard all of these musicians many times -- at Wahoo, NE, Macon, MO and other places.  Very good.

Earlier Thursday we had gone to Mission, TX to the second "Show Case" where entertainers show their talents and you can book them for your park.  Phyllis booked this one-man-band for sometime in 2023.  He played all the instruments as well as sang and his wife sang with him.  Looks kinda cornie, but really sounded pretty good.

Tuesday we were in McAllen for barbershop chorus practice.  This quartet was doing some practicing after our regular session.

Wednesday we went to Mission to the Winter Texan Expo and Health Fair.  We got there at opening and there was a very small crowd.  Some of the exhibitors said there had been a decent sized crowd the first day of the Expo, but we didn't see many people.

Did some shopping, and price comparisons for the Valentine's Dinner Phyllis is planning for at both Costco and Sam's Club.

This is some beef tenderloin at $15.99 a pound -- over $80 for a package.  Know the ranchers aren't receiving a very big chunk of this price.

Wednesday night was our first, of the month, Pot Luck supper.  A poor percentage of the park people attended, but those who did got a good variety of very good food to eat!

Last Sunday we did our first performance of the Men of A-Chord barbershop chorus at Casa De Valle RV Park in Alamo.  Had a pretty good turnout.  Don't have any photo of the whole group, but this is one of the quartets who performed during our break in the program.  When Patty gets here she can take some pics of the group!

That performance was in the afternoon and we made it back to Kenwood in time to be at the "Festus" program that Phyllis had lined up.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we will have the grandson of Floyd Cramer performing at the piano here in our Rec Hall.  Have heard him at the show case and he is a terrific piano player.

Last night she had the Baker Family here.  They always put on a good show.  In this picture the Dad is performing the Auctioneer Song--the only time he performs on stage with the rest of the family.

How do you feel about these cleaning recommendations?

All the potted flowers are in the Texas Room until this cold spell gets over with.  

Until next weekend ---- Lynn

Kind of busy this last week

55 degrees here in Kenwood RV at 11:15 am on Sunday - was a low of 39 degrees this morning and yesterday was strong winds (20-25 with gusts to 30 mph).  Little wind now and bright sunshine today.

Have been busy this last week -- twice drove the 35 miles west to McAllen for Barbershop Practice--we will give our first concert this afternoon at 4 pm at Casa Del Valle in Alamo.  Though we have had 25 to 30 singing in the group the last four or five years I have been active, we will have only 12 this afternoon.  Don't know how long we can keep the singing group going.

 Of course, this doesn't show any motion, but the weather station wind catcher was really spinning when I took this photo over the top of our roof.

Tuesday morning we took part in the shuffleboard games.

Went to Men of A-Chord barbershop chorus practice after lunch.

Wednesday we spent a long day at the Rio Grande Valley's Show Case where entertainers perform for a short time and Activity Directors/Entertainment Directors have a chance to book shows for next year.  Heard some 30 different acts and Phyllis did get several booked.  Will be doing it again next Thursday -- were told it would be a shorter list of entertainers that day.

Wednesday evening the Pegs & Jokers group met at Butch's place.

Thursday a very small group met for Meet & Greet at the hall at 4:00 pm.  Just a gab fest and snacks that everyone brought.

At 6:30 pm Thursday we had a pretty sizable turnout for Bean Bag Baseball.

Friday morning we were again in McAllen, TX for barbershop chorus practice.

At 5 pm Ed Stanger and his crew put on a Chili Supper at the hall with a good turnout.

Saturday morning we worked with several other people sorting out the damaged folding tables at the hall.  I took down my reciprocating sander and smoothed off dings and scratches on several.  Sorted out about a third that were considered "bad" and not to use and stored them to the back so people wouldn't get them out.  Fixed a few chairs that had missing plastic pieces for supporting the back legs and have three of them that don't have them on that are also segregated.

Above was taken during the wind on the west side of our patio/entrance.

Hoping for successful performance this afternoon and we have to return quickly to work with "Festus" as he puts on his hilarious comedy routine, including up to 40 character improvisations.

Later, Lynn