Barb's Next Adventure

Yesterday...

2026-11-11T11:52:34.292-06:00

Another Tuesday at Dr. Mustre's in Progresso. Paul and I left early because I needed to return some items to Amazon and that means a trip to Staples in McAllen. The process is so easy although I do wish they were in a far closer vicinity.

We arrived at Dr. Mustres on time and a very short wait to get started. I was fitted with my new plates and they feel wonderful. I expected Paul to take a couple of hours but 2 turned into 4! He was feeling pretty beat up by the time they let him loose. He knew the whole process was going to be challenging but was caught a bit off guard yesterday. They found some infection so it was all necessary. My only concern was getting to Trivia by 6:00pm. I did get there but getting ready took up every minute.

Trivia was good. We had 4 tables of players so it was a good start. I have started making the questions the same for both Evergreen players and Trophy players. It is too hard to keep them in line otherwise.

My friend and neighbor, Gail lost her husband yesterday. Bruce was the can collector in the park. and he worked right up to the end. He did have mouth cancer with chemo and radiation in his future so it was a blessing that he doesn't have to endure that. He passed in his sleep.

Trying to get the memorial of Butch into this blog. I started putting it together a while back but getting it to work in the blog has perplexed me.

Day by Day!

2026-11-11T10:44:21.701-06:00

Settled

2026-11-09T10:47:56.303-06:00

I finally feel fully settled in!

First trivia will be tomorrow night at 6:30 PM in the main hall. For the record, you do not need a full team to join in. Come alone and I will find a team for you.

The first Sunday Mixed doubles Pool took place yesterday afternoon. Our recorder, Betsie Brown will post the results in her 'Bits and Pieces'. For my followers in Iowa-My partner and I had 4 wins out of 6.

My laundry is caught up and housekeeping is passable.

Paul and I will be going to Progresso tomorrow where I will be getting my new dentures and he will be going through another session of his major dental work.

Gail finished my chickens and they are beautiful! You would never know they started out as "rustic" eyesores. I am so tempted to take at least one of them back to Iowa with me...but probably won't! Texas chickens would most likely not be comfortable in Iowa. Truth is I have limited space there. Hmmm,... maybe the baby one?

A step back in time

2026-11-05T10:31:11.650-06:00

Before we landed in Trophy Gardens RV Park we were in Magnolia RV Park in Donna. Don't bother looking it up because it doesn't hold "Winter Texans" anymore.We greatly enjoyed our years there and made many friends. So I was looking at old posts (2004)? and ran across the one posted below. I left it as I found it but thought there may be some who would enjoy it.

Things to do in the RGV

Rio Grande Valley To Do List

I am going to need some help with this list. Help me add to it, please. And you folks who are no longer coming down please send me an email to tell me what you most miss about the Rio Grande Valley. In no particular order...

1. South Padre Island
a. Beach walk
b. Dirty Al's
c. Pirate's Landing
d. Kite Festival
e. Port Isabel- The Shrimp boats is a comin'

2. Basilica at San Juan
http://www.sanjuanshrine.org/
Even if you are not Catholic this is worth a stop.

3. Nuevo Progreso, Mexico
Everyone has a favorite place to eat/shop so go on down and develop your own favorites.

4. Riverside- right on the Rio Grande River. Great Food and Music. A fun place to gather with friends. Located south of Mission TX

5. Ropa Usada- means used clothing in Spanish and there are several places south on 23rd street out of McAllen where bargain hunters load up with used items for pennies a pound. An experience not to be missed.

6. Los Ebanos hand-pulled Ferry. This is not a highly touted tourist attraction. You can ride the ferry across the Rio Grande by car, bicycle or on foot and then it is about a mile to the first little Mexican village. They do not cater to all the fanciful things you will find in Nuevo Progreso. They are friendly but it is Mexico at a more primitive level. English is not spoken by many. It is a whole other country.

7. Golf at several different courses all of them a bargain compared to other parts of the country.

8. Park Activities- We cannot overlook our own backyard. Our own Magnolia Park Association schedules a mulitude of things to do sometimes making it difficult to find time for the other things on this list. $3.00 dues per person per season. The very best of bargains!

9. Santa Ana National Park- Your Golden Age Pass will get you into the park to spend several hours enjoying nature.

10. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
See Javelina and every bird known to the Rio Grande Valley.

11. The original Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlingen TX

12.https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna_atascosa/

Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

13. http://port-mansfield.com/ Lots of people go to Port Mansfield to see the deer and other wildlife

14. Port of Brownsville tour

https://islatours.com/tours/port-brownsville-tour

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Time gets away!!

2026-11-05T09:58:28.645-06:00

On my second visit to the dentist I didn't get my new ones just yet. That will happen next Tuesday. It was more fittings done this Tuesday. Paul had a lot more done on this visit. He was numbed up well so we went next door and got pedicures. I was long overdue for one as I didn't get one I planned to last spring. This was Paul's first pedicure and he was pleasantly surprised. There were other men getting pedicures too so he wasn't a lone duck.

I have been taking pictures more readily so will rely on them to catch you all and me up on happenings.

Sycamore Tussock Moth caterpillar came to happy hour yesterday. He was too late to see everyone.

Gail is finished with the chickens and they are looking fine! Doing this kind of work is only one of Gail's many talents.

You will see them again when I get them placed in their new home.

Before pics of the poultry: They were very "Rustic". The cat was a neighbor!

These are pic's I took at the dentist office in Progresso.

I was waiting for them to get to me, so these are my perspective while waiting.

Women's Restroom...and it looks every bit as clean as mine at home...probably better!

When they first started working on me they had a few "students" come in to watch. I think my situation is not one they see often.
My implants were done in the 1990's by a dental surgeon in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It was the best $3000 I ever spent! I went nuts over nuts afterward because for most of my prior life I was not able to eat them. I still eat nuts and enjoy every bite.

I have currently worn my dentures down to a flat surface. I will once again have more chewing power!

Till next time...I know you can hardly wait, I say sarcastically!

Dental cost in US

2026-11-01T10:02:24.435-06:00

Of course I had to find out what the cost would be in the US for what I am having done.

"For a completely new set of top and bottom dentures—utilizing the 2 dental implants you already have in place on your bottom jaw—the total estimated out-of-pocket cost in the US typically ranges from $4,000 to $10,000.

Because you already have the two lower implants surgically placed, your expense on the bottom is strictly for the prosthetic work and connections. Meanwhile, the top jaw will receive a standard, traditional removable denture."

My life in South Texas...

2026-10-31T12:42:02.160-05:00

I forgot to relate one whole episode of something I am surprisingly looking forward to! New dentures! Butch's best friend and pool partner, Paul K. was going to Mexico to get a very large amount of dental work done. He is in the process of getting 6 extractions, 5 root canals and 10 crowns for 7k.

I had some trouble getting some meds I needed in the US so I asked if I could ride down with him. He was having two hours worth of work done but I figured I could shop and I toyed with the idea of asking about getting new dentures. I got my meds and then went back to Dr. Mustre's office. This is where most of my friends that I know go to get work done. In my discussion with them they told me it depended on if you wanted top's, bottoms or both. I have had mine for about 30 years and I can almost see through them in a few places so they escorted me to a chair to have a look. I was told for tops only it would be $450. I have implants, also 30 years old. He said to get everything to blend well, both should be done and I agreed. So 3 visits, would be $1200. I thought that sounded reasonable. It is early in the season here and it is much easier to get appointments lined up now than later.

He said we could get started now if I was willing and I agreed wholeheartedly. So all of the preliminaries have been attended to and I will get them next time we go down, which is next Tuesday! When he was looking things over, he did some cleanup and changed out my O-rings. I already feel like I have new teeth just with that procedure!

Now for all the questions about the safety of doing this in Mexico. Dr. Mustre has offices in Progresso and the US. His office is pristine. I took a couple of photos while I was there.

Almost all of my friends go to Mustre. Butch's brother Bill and his wife Jo went to him when they came here. The photo isn't the best. If this office could be lifted out and placed anywhere in the US it would stand up to all scrutiny. I will get some better pics when we go back Tuesday. Dr Mustre has patients of all ages fly down to have their dental work done. I am not the least bit leery of having this done. And neither is Paul!

I have no idea how much this would all cost in Iowa but if you know let me know!

My Morning walk

2026-10-27T08:57:23.424-05:00

I walked from 7:04 to 8:15. I had to slow up a bit. Too much,too soon. I took some photos along the way.

It's a hard to tell but this is cabbage. Crops grow on the east side of the park.

Beautiful sky this morning and the temp is 71 degrees

Later in the season there will be other people walking too.

I am going to label this one "At the end of lonely street" My friend Renie and her hubby Alex own the first place on the left. There are only two people actively living on the entire street and they are on the far end.

I have a 10:15 Doctor appt. (Tummy issues) and a 2:30 haircut appt. At my age it takes awhile to attend to all the body issues.

Last I knew Jason was safely in Peculiar Missouri with his brother Gary, playing Pickle Ball and Golf.

My friend and neighbor Gail is going to paint my rustic chickens. She has started on the first one and it looks fantastic! I can hardly wait to show you. This is a before pic of the hen and rooster.

Gail has finished with the first one. I love it!! Who would have thought, as rustic as they were, that they could shine up like that. She is now working on the rooster.

Its definite! It is cabbage and the difference of growth in one day is surprising.

I walked again this morning. Increasing my distance a bit each day. It feels good to get fired up by a walk. And the weather is perfect at 7:30 AM

Better Luck...

2026-10-26T10:45:40.661-05:00

Next week!

No one showed up for Doubles Pool. Not too surprising since the park is short of citizens at the moment. It will fill up fast. It always does. Personally I enjoy being here early so I can get my shit together and feel somewhat grounded.

Today I am going to the pool hall to meet up with Barb U. and play a few rounds. Barb U. is our sub for league play. Renie will be here soon and we can get all of this rolling.

Today I started my walking routine and neighbor Ron, who is the watch keeper of the neighborhood said, "I wondered when you were going to start." I have started!

Jason is enroute to Iowa. Last I knew he was stopping for a rest overnight. I hate to call him when he is on the move for obvious reasons even though he doesn't seem to mind. He will call me when he can safely.

I have these two on my dash. I purchased the one on the left and Jason made me the one on the right. They quiver, shake and appear to communicate with each other. I entertain easily!

Till next time...

Settled

2026-10-24T11:56:59.645-05:00

I am settled in and now it is merely what do I dive into next. My Evergreen friends would be surprised to know I have yet to play pool with the exception of playing a few games with Jason when I was very tired. I do not know if I am an exception but when I play a competitive anything I have to be settled and rested to have good results. I am thinking I will go to the pool hall today to knock some balls around to see how it feels. And tomorrow we are starting mixed Doubles. Paul has said yes to being my partner and I don't want him to be sorry he agreed.

Jason left to go back to Iowa. He had a great time here, made new friends and enjoyed every minute. He helped me beyond belief and I am very grateful. I texted him a little bit ago and he made it to San Antonio in 4 hours. That is going at a pretty good clip!

We ate out a few times at the El Dorado in Alamo. It was always a favorite of me and Butch. It has held up over the years. Jason ordered a Seafood Combo. We shared and it was plenty for both of us.

Happy Hour with Bill and Sandi is in full swing. From 4:00 to 5:00 we solve all the troubles of the world. Rules are, no politics, no religion, no gossip. Definition of gossip: It means to chat, idle, or spread stories about another person's private life.We adhere to these guidelines and everyone goes home happy. We are a family and do our best to care for our friends at Trophy. Currently, we are having a great time wishing our friends a good time coming back to our Winter home.

Trivia doesn't start until November 10th. That is a Tuesday at 6:30 PM.

A sidelight: if you are wanting to rent a car from Enterprise call a few days ahead to reserve a vehicle. Jason had a heck of a time. He finally managed but he drove a Jeep home!

Take care and check in now and then!

Time marches on

2026-10-23T14:02:09.025-05:00

And time waits for no one! The first week of arriving is always a test of stamina. My first week will be up come Monday and with that in mind we have come a long way. Jason has done so much! The house is cleaned both inside and out, he knows his way around the kitchen, every little thing that might need fixed is fixed. It is far more than Butch and I would get done in a short time. I am very grateful!

The saddest news we ever heard was that Dirty Al's is closed in McAllen! The one on South Padre is still in business but that is a 70 mile drive.

Jason is headed back tomorrow. I will miss him and so will the guys in the pool hall. His level of play is right up there with the best of them. Before he gets too big- headed not everyone is here yet.

Leo sent me these pics of his tree's. Beautiful!

It is either Wiley or Callie who both live in Peculiar MO.

My neighbor Gail.

My neighbors Bill and Sandi

I must get back in the Blog and picture groove.

I feel a nap coming on.

Till next time.

Trip info

2026-10-21T14:03:46.082-05:00

Smooth sailing most of the trip. A couple of minor glitches but doesn't everyone? Unless you've made multiple trips on the same route.

We stopped in Missouri at Gary and Susan's place. Played several rounds of Wizard and laid eyes on Amanda and the not so young, youngsters Elise and Leo. It had been quite a while since I had seen them and they have grown and matured ever so much!

Jason and I stayed in Mineral Wells Texas on our second night. Sometimes I put things in my blog for future reference. On Monday we pulled into Trophy Gardens about 3:00 PM and hit the ground running. We took time out for Happy Hour at 4:00 PM. A person forgets all the details of settling in. Warmly greeted by many as usual. It is good to be back and see all of my friends. It takes me about a week to settle in as I remember.

Jason and I played pool. When I caved from weariness, Jason played with the big boys and held his own well. They soon knew by his play that he was Butch's son. And the first thing they asked was how long he was staying. You see one of the first things that happens in the fall is choosing partners for team play. Jason does well at holding his own.

To be continued:

Headed South

2026-10-16T14:05:39.272-05:00

Jason and I are headed South tomorrow. Should be in Trophy Gardens late afternoon on Monday.

There was a big send off for me put on by Keri and Betty and their wonderful helpers. The food was greatly enjoyed by everyone!

I have a mixed feeling about going. It happens every season coming and going. I love it in Texas and Iowa. Good thing too after doing it for 26+ years.

I am a bit pinched by time now and will be for awhile. Hang in there I should have lots to share with you soon.

Towing the line...

2026-10-13T12:21:17.832-05:00

Clicked on my good old blog today and was faced with a policy thing that I chose to read thoroughly from top to bottom. There were too many things that I cannot do. One of witch is; I cannot post nudity or lots of other stuff without labeling my blog as "ADULT" content. I wasn't aware I could or should do that to begin with!! Trust me you will not see any of the naughty stuff from me. Now that you can rest easy I will find something less startling to entertain you.

Jason and I are heading South next Saturday. I should be packing and I promise I will start on it post haste. I know, you have read that before! It is similar to moving and I have had a great deal of that in this past year.

It used to be when I didn't have much to blog about I would resort to photos. I was looking through some photos and now I don't remember if I had ever posted them or not. Since we are mostly senior citizens I will count on you not remembering as well as you used to.

This is my beautiful and talented Great granddaughter, Elise

I still call him 'little' Leo. He is not so little these days. He is sticking with playing the drums.

Leo

Sofa Bed story

Rich slept on my new Sofa bed when he was here. He gave it a very high rating in the morning and said it had been a long time since he had slept that well. Sofa beds have had a bad rep in the past and now they may be more comfy than ever before!

I have been asked where I got it so thought I would try to get a link for it along with a photo. The best I could do is send a link to what is available now. Of course it is Amazon! They used to only sell books now they sell everything!

FiveWillowise Sofa Bed, 4 in 1 Multi-Function Fold Ottoman Couch Bed, LGrey

Modern Convertible Sleeper Chairs with Ottoman, Adjustable Backrest, Breathable Linen for Living Room Apartment Office

Visit the FiveWillowise Store

(190)

Till next time!

One whole week!

2026-10-11T14:57:02.375-05:00

My three sons have been close by this past week. It has been a very long time since they were so close for so long. We played "Wizard" a card game that many either love or hate. Or we played pool. Or the guys went to play golf. Very busy, very fun! It started last Monday and ended this morning with Rich's departure.

They made new friends with my Evergreen neighbors. They are a decade or so from joining us here but I can hope, can't I?

My only regret is that I didn't get any photos!

Here is an old pic of the guy's. Rich on the left has lost lot's of weight since this was taken. Gary is in the middle and Jason is on the right. You might notice that Butch is in the background. In looking again they have all three lost weight! This may have been taken at the surprise party of our 60th wedding anniversary.

Switching Gears

2026-10-02T10:14:27.343-05:00

There is a whole process changing from Iowa to Texas. You might not think so but it takes about a month to get all the ducks in a row. This is last years check list.

I will be making a new one this year. I know it will be smaller. My ducks will be a bit easier to coral this season. if you can imagine what you would need to get by in the next 6 months that is what I will be getting ready. Pool cue and related items. Toiletries and meds. I have clothes in both places. I do not like to carry food so I won't. The computer and related items are a must go.

Then there are the crafts. I have slowed it down to beading and Diamond Art with the emphasis on beading earrings. Of course I will miss things but experience tells me I can do without most things.

Bert and Sharon

Bert and Sharon are friends of mine. Sharon I have known for years. Bert is a new acquaintance upon moving to Evergreen Ridge. They found each other through trivia

and circumstance. They recently took a trip to the Ozarks. They are due home today. Living the good life in their late 80's!

Yah!

Okay, Give me a minute...

2026-09-30T07:44:05.533-05:00

And I will think of something to write about. I am about to do a rerun post. Happy Hour has many definitions. Almost one definition per person! Currently, I am in Iowa and our happy hours at Evergreen Ridge are very flexible. They take place loosely from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. Soon I will be going to South Texas for the season where the happy hour I attend is next door to me. Last season I wrote an entry about a happy hour that was above and beyond in quality. It set a goal for me as I would like them all in Iowa and Texas to meet that standard. Why you might ask? Because I go home refreshed in many different aspects. Let's strive for the HAPPY in happy hour.

Here is the rerun post:

Happy Hour Conversation

I keep telling people that our "Happy Hour" is NOT a gossip fest and they give me a skeptical look. One person even said, "Aren't they all?". So as a random thought I decided to take notes on the subjects covered during happy hour. Ours runs from 4-5. After all we are a very busy bunch and we have other things awaiting our attention.

So yesterday this was the rundown:

1. What is the population of Reynosa Mexico. I had recently heard it was 4 Million and that seemed very high. One said they had heard 1 Million. I looked it up and the answer is 1,000,000 in 2020. It was admitted that it fluctuated.

2.The Dangers of seniors and ladders. We shared ladder stories and it seemed everyone had one!

3. Good breakfasts are served at Victoria Palms.

4. We talked about Ropa. A place where people should go at least once. Some people are repulsed by it and others look at it as a fun treasure hunt. Ropa Usada is Used Clothing in English. There are large buildings in far South Texas where discarded clothing is gathered from all over the US with its next stop being overseas. Tre Demensions is a popular Ropa Usada place. This particular place has a mountain of clothing in the middle and people climb the mountain to find their treasures. Gotta see it to believe it!

5. Dentists in Mexico. Seems everyone has a favorite.

6. There is a German restaurant, 'Schneider's' that one of the happy hour people recently went to and gave a good review. It is located 1/2 block north of Dove on Ware Road.

7. We talked about allergies and the different types and suffering of such.

8. Tom Ball stopped by and we talked about his black powder shooting. Not a subject that comes up often.

9. Rumor has it they caught the bike thief, but then you know how rumors are.

10. One of us mentioned they had scratch marks on their car from a cat and would not have believed it but they witnessed it.

11. We talked about the new directory and how great it was!

12. We admired Linda P. new shoes!

13. We discussed food and things we had made lately. Such as Bacon and Waffles.

Promptly at 5:00 we depart and look forward to the next one!

My friend Colleen

2026-09-26T09:35:53.812-05:00

We grew up in the same town and we barely knew each other. That's a different story. We became friends in our adult life surreptitiously and that is a whole other story.

Colleen is a writer, and in my mind a very good one. By reading her writing and being her friend, I know we are on common ground. When we get together, time seems to disappear.

It might be odd to think that two widowed women would be such very good friends and still be so busy that keeping in touch is haphazard for both of us. It is true. Colleen writes for Greene County News Online and I know I can be in touch with her writings in the opinion section if I go there, and I write in my blog on a somewhat regular basis. We are both guilty of forgetting to read the posts of each of us.

Colleen writes about trees because she loves them. So do I. Go read her entry and you will learn something, about trees, about Colleen and about me. https://greenecountynewsonline.com /2026/09/16/what-trees-do-for-me/

7 second poop method?

2026-09-26T08:42:59.658-05:00

I was trying to find the method online. Just curious! I kept being led to another site with promises but no facts. Frustrating! But I am persistent, one of my best traits even though there are those who might not agree.😁

Here is the answer, my friend.

How to Do the Routine

Drink Water: Drink a full glass of room-temperature or warm water right after waking up to rehydrate and wake up the digestive system (some versions also suggest a small amount of apple cider vinegar).

Gentle Stretching: Do light stretches in bed to increase blood flow and relax muscles.

Wind-Relieving Pose: Perform Pawanmuktasana by lying on your back and pulling your knees to your chest for a few seconds to compress the colon and release trapped gas.

Diaphragmatic Breathing: Finish with deep belly breaths to signal calm and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Who has been hanging out at my house watching me do my morning routine?! This is something I have done for quite a few years. I admit to getting offtrack sometimes. I do the bed exercises first because if I waited I would be reluctant to return to bed to get them done.

Happy trails to you!!

Local News

2026-09-22T09:48:08.977-05:00

One of our Evergreen neighbors enjoys cooking. That is how Mike spends his time. If you are lucky you might get a sample. He is also willing to share recipes. Here is one that was mighty good.

We have had a string of dampish weather with no sun in sight. This morning I heard someone say it was going to be a long day. I said, "Good!,We can get more done!" Not sure it was appreciated. 😁 This is when we start thinking of heading South. Just a tad too soon, however.

Jason's latest artistic endeavor. ( Abstract, art, steel, wood, and stone)

My latest pair of earrings.

Till next time...

Recalculating!

2026-09-21T10:18:29.302-05:00

Planning

2026-09-21T09:26:55.333-05:00

Maybe I did...I don't remember!

Month from now...

2026-09-17T13:10:42.042-05:00

A month does not seem very far away and that is a date that has tentatively been chosen for "going South". So it is time to cut back on the groceries that will not stand the test of 6 month sitting in a fridge getting closer and closer to being outdated. Heaven knows we are well aware of what being outdated means!

This will be a much easier experience of preparation. The items to pack are minimal compared to years past. A few clothing items, toiletries, meds, craft supplies,T-Mobile hookup, and laptop.

I was surprised to learn that my mail can be put in my apartment by staff. And Keri has told me she will look at any mail that might seem important for one reason or another.

I have my cactus plant with me and staff also said they would water it for me. The cactus is special to me because my middle son, Gary gave it to me for mothers day in 2008. We were full-time RVing at that point and he had purchased one of those very small plants at WalMart so it worked great. I have been taking care of it ever since and there have been several generations since then.

Enough for now. Stay tuned.

Fall

2026-09-15T09:23:02.350-05:00

Looked it up. The type of Hydrangea I have outside my window should be dead- headed in the fall. Good news! They are truly beautiful and do not require much effort from me. I am currently seeing a few dead heads.

I have had a year of many things to take care of and it has come to a normal amount of every day items that happen in most every ones ToDo lists. I was not sure I would ever get here, but here I am and ever so grateful. I set out to simplify my life and simplify I did. I have small, tidy living quarters that I am enjoying every day.

In about a month I will be heading South to enjoy another part of my life in sunny South Texas. I am frequently asked which I prefer but that is asking a question I cannot answer because there are things about each that hold equal appeal. I have friends on both ends that mean so much to me.

Both places are like small town living. My life would be very different had I stayed in the house. As I looked into the future of that, I knew it was not for me. In a way it is a bit strange. I am somewhat of a loner on one hand and an extrovert on the other. I could see me going not days but weeks and perhaps even months without any human contact if I stayed in the house. The decisions I have made will allow a balance on both ends. If I want to sit at my computer and type out my thoughts on a myriad of subjects, or spend hours putting earrings together, or finding someone who wants to play pool, I can. Or it is easy to seek out someone to visit with if you are leaning in that direction. Uhh, the pool thing is easier in the southern part.😄

Well, it is time for some breakfast!

Grands and greatgrands

2026-09-13T08:23:51.848-05:00

My granddaughter Ann, with her husband Anthony and their 3 daughters. Scarlet, Skyler and Nina. Ann is second from left.