Retama Connection s ************************************************************************************************* November 23 rd 2014 Volume 35 ************************************************************************************* Whether you re having dinner with friends in the Clubhouse, at a home or going out to eat. We wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving From your Activities Committee (As always please check the calendar for full details) Current Signup Sheets in Library: Thanksgiving Dinner (Thursday 1pm 3pm in clubhouse) Vendors for Christmas Bazaar (Dec 6 th ) Bake Donations for Bake Sale during Bazaar (Dec 6 th ) Upcoming Classes available in Craft Room Yo Yo Christmas tree Class Dec 1 (signup sheet in Library) Reminders for the Week First Responders Cookie drive Nov. 24 th (Please bring 2 doz cookies or treats to kitchen by noon on the 24 th ) Wednesdays Ticket Sales Dec 6 th Breakfast 1
I Remember When A memory of many years ago that will always be a part of you Gayle Pagel I had a pet crow called Yucup. He was always getting in trouble with my mom and dad. My mother would drop a clothes pin and Yucup was right there to pick it up and run. He would go around the bush and my mom after him. He would go one way and mom the other. I was inside laughing. Another time dad was fixing the lawn mower and Yucup stole a few nuts unbeknown to my dad. And one time mom picked beans dragging the bucket behind her. When she got to the end of the row it was empty. Yucup once again was in trouble. Ginger Anderson I remember my first job working at 18 yrs old for the government during the Vietnam War checking Blanket Purchase Agreements and having to send out prophylactics- hundreds of shipping boxes. I quit & went to college Vicki Mayberry I remember dreaming of the day I would graduate from the kids table to the grownups table at Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa Johnson had a small house with no dining room. The kids would carry their plates to the basement and eat at folding tables. I was the oldest grandchild and relished Grandma telling me that soon, real soon, I would be able to make it to be able to sit with the adults. Weird thing happened; Grandma quit hosting Thanksgiving an my aunt and my mother both promised me the same as grandma had. Kathy Bevington One of my favorite memories that I have is on our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We were in Hawaii on the island of Kauai. We were walking along the beach in the evening and I remember feeling very loved and so happy to be sharing paradise with the love of my life ************************************************************************************ Pizza Night Sue & David McCarron Twenty one people met for Pizza Night on November 19. This month the pizza came from Buck's Pizza Parlor. Everyone seemed pleased with their pizzas. The weather warmed up enough that the group was able to sit outside. The tables were set up in a large circle with the diners all sitting on the outside of the circle. Not only could everyone hear each other but they could all easily see each other. There were a lot of the regular Pizza Night followers but we also got to meet some new neighbors including Ellen Hermann, and John and Dottie Farrar. It was a lovely evening. 2
A LITTLE THIS... A LITTLE THAT Holiday Decorative Drinks Put mint or a cherry in ice cube trays with water to freeze for decorative drink treats. Replacing Onions If someone in your family doesn't like onions, use cabbage instead in the recipe for the same quality taste. Did you know? Apple cider was the original American beverage. Early U.S. settlers depended on apple cider as their primary drink and often consumed it morning, noon and night when unsure about the safety of drinking water. Website of the Week Explore Texas http://www.thc.state.tx.us/explore-texas Sarah Shong posted this site on Retama FB Page. Great Site Retama Website Did you know there is a Resident Emergency Contact Site? All residents are able to go into this section and fill in your family or friend information you would like notified in the event of an emergency. You ll need to go into your account to fill this information in. Rio Grande Valley the Magic Valley By Kathy Detweiler During the 1920s, local boosters coined the term The Magic Valley to allude to the miraculous fertility of the delta, as well as to encompass the enchanting Spanish culture of the Valley that attracted settlers to the area. A new land boom emerged in the Lower Rio Grande Valley by the mid-1920s, particularly with the development of the citrus industry. 3
I Spy Did you find last weeks I Spy. It was a little harder as you had to peek up by the front door of a home. But I m sure Carl and Freda Weber on Pelican Way didn t mind. Here s this weeks I Spy!!! Think about it, talk about it, walk around the village until you think you found it. Who Am I We re always trying to come up with something new. Especially if we can make it fun, weird and silly for the newsletter. Can you guess who this ear belongs too? ***************************************************************************************** Winter Wonderland Where the earth is covered in a white blanket And the air is crisp and clear Where icicles stretch so low at times They almost touch the ground Where families gather in front of the fireplace And children snuggle in their blanket Where moms and dads sit and dream of future days ahead And children giggle and tease hoping not to have to go to bed OR Retama s Wonderland Where the earth is covered in flowers And the grass is green and rich Where the air is dry and warm Well after the Sun sets Where icicles are large and huge To keep our coolers cool Where Retama families gather each day To lift our glass in salute That we are the lucky ones Who don t have to put up with that crap 4
Pet Spot By Pepperpuppy Moore I haven t done a lot of interviews with these 4 legged puppies who are called kitty cats. You all know how Lucy Zinnecker swats me on the end of the nose when I get close. Well the other day mom said I needed to spread my wings (didn t know I had those but ok) and talk with a new kitty resident. I thought: sure I can do this I m brave and who doesn t like Pepperpuppy (other than Lucy and she s just weird). So off we go to meet our brand new neighbor Spaz Hanley. No that s not a type-o on the name, that s he s real name. Well we did a little checking out of each other, we seem to have the same kind of parts, (well almost all the same) but he sure does have a long tail that he s pretty good at swinging. I m thinking to myself ok this is good I can handle it maybe we can become good friends.. until I heard it. that sound that only a puppy kitty can make. That low echo sound that comes from deep down inside just like Lucy makes before she swats me. That s it I m out of there. After mom found me hiding (I mean lounging) under our bench she tried to explain that Spaz wasn t making a mean nose swat noise; he was just doing a little kitty talk. Yaw right, does she think I was just born yesterday. Be that as it may (like my grown up words) when mom said it was time to go over and do the interview I told her: you go right ahead and do it. I ain t a going nowhere near that place. Besides it s time mom learned how to do a puppy interview anyway, why do I have to do all the work. So here s mom s interview with the Spaz, and I want my readers to be nice, remember moms never done this before. Mom: Spaz, I m sorry Pepper wasn t able to come today but I d like to ask you just a few questions Spaz: Pepper??? Oh ya that weird kitty with the funny blue eyes (Pepperpuppy What!!! Who s calling who weird, and I am NOT a kitty and I have beautiful eyes) Mom: Oook,.. Well tell me Spaz, how did you get your name Spaz: Well my dad gave it to me; he likes to find unusual unique names for the pets in the household (Pepperpuppy I ll buy the unusual part) Mom: Spaz your mom said you just started living in a RV, how do you like it Spaz: I think I m getting use to going to sleep in one place and waking up in another. (Pepperpuppy.. If it was me I d.. oh alright mom said I can t say that here) Mom: Spaz what type of kitty are you Spaz: Well I m told I m a Bengal which is a 3 rd generation cross between a Wild Asian and domestic cat (Pepperpuppy Well that explains everything he s supposed to be out in the wild) Mom: And how old are you if you don t mind me asking. Spaz: Mom thinks I m either 19 or 20 years old; I ve been with them so long they aren t sure (Pepperpuppy Yup now I know I m right, he s an Old Wild Cat (and don t let that sweet face fool you) Mom Spaz seemed to be a very nice kitty and I know if you see him out walking with his mom & dad he will be very happy to meet the other 4 legged residents. As for Pepperpuppy. Well I guess it s time for a talk (Sorry I took up a whole page this week but this was moms fault since she didn t let do an article last week, Pepperpuppy) 5