With the Winter Texan season in full swing, the Winter Texan Times set out to see what Winter Texans in Pharr, San Juan, Alamo and Donna were doing to enjoy themselves last week. With great weather there were lots of activities going on. Special events such as the Square Dance Jamboree and the Rio Grande Valley Quilt Show held in Pharr attracted participants from all over the Rio Grande Valley.
In San Juan Gardens, a group of ladies was having a craft period where they were working on baskets made of potholders that could be used to hold soaps or hand towels for a bathroom. Computer classes and a variety of other activities, including CPR classes, were also on the schedule for the day.
Because the weather was so warm, many residents of Alamo Palms were taking advantage of the weather to sunbathe or take a dip in the pool. Robert T. Smith, who was in the pool, following doctor’s orders to use water therapy to work out the spasm in his back, said he was impressed with the Winter Texans. A resident of Michigan, he came down to work at a show in the Valley. He hurt his back while setting up for the show. When it just got worse, his neighbors at San Juan Gardens, whom he had only known two days, volunteered to take him to the hospital to get it checked, and then went to the pharmacy to get the medicines for him.
Although not retired, he already would like to become part of the Winter Texan community in the future because of the friendliness of the people he has met. In the meantime he was enjoying the warm weather because he had talked with his wife, back home in Michigan, where a blizzard had dumped 18 inches of snow on the ground that day and additional 12 inches were expected that night.
In the Alamo Palms recreation hall several groups of men were playing poker.
At Bit O Heaven in Donna, a group of people were playing 31. Everyone put three nickels in the pot to start and whenever someone got three cards of the same suite, he or she knocked on the table and everyone had to add another nickel. The average win per game was $1.20.
While they played, Gloria Shard and her assistants were preparing for the Thursday night soup and dessert dinner where up to 300 people met and enjoyed fellowship over dinner. Large kettles filled with potato, split pea with ham, chicken noodle surprise, beef and vegetable and bean soups were being prepared in the kitchen.
The dessert for the evening was a custard pastry that was flaky and delicious. It was worth going just for the dessert.
On Sunday, the Pharr International Convention Center was full of Winter Texans who came from across the Rio Grande Valley to see the annual Rio Grande Valley Quilt Guild Show, which featured 267 entries in different categories.
At Victoria Palms in Donna shuffleboard was underway. On one court Bob Limoges of Cabourg, Ontario, Canada, who is a new Winter Texan, was learning how to play shuffleboard from his neighbor, Dorian Ehrhart of West Plaines, Missouri. Later in the afternoon a shuffleboard scramble was scheduled to take place.
In the ballroom, the Sunday afternoon dance was underway with the Music Makers providing the music. While couples whirled to the music, others watched.
Don and Carolyn Stanley, who were in charge of collecting tickets, said Victoria Palms offers a wide variety of entertainment for residents. Hobbies such as woodworking, scrapbooking and sewing were available for those who wanted to participate. Karaoke, dances, and all sorts of outdoor activities such as swimming and shuffleboard were available. The restaurant had a variety of foods on its menu.
"There is no reason to go out of the park unless you want to," said Nancy Sapeta. She had been coming two years and the only reason she left the park was to "get groceries and go to the doctor."
And like many of the larger parks, Victoria Palms offers a variety of events, including entertainment such as Bernie and Red who did two shows there on Saturday.
While it was impossible to visit all of the parks and see everything that was going on, it was evident that Winter Texans, wintering in Pharr, San Juan, Alamo and Donna, are having a great time here in the Rio Grande Valley.