A trip through the Mid-Valley this week proved that entertainment abounds for Winter Texans. From live entertainment to games to golf, Winter Texans in the Weslaco and Donna area are creative in their ways of having fun.
A stop at Ranchero Village in Weslaco showed that a crafts sale had just ended and residents were off to new activities. A group of ladies were playing a card game called nine-hole golf. The ladies included Jessie King of Colorado, Idella Kucher of North Dakota, Floresce Senske of Minnesota, Vi Theisse of South Dakota, Colleen Lyne of Manitoba, Canada and Evelyn Olsen of Iowa, said they played some type of card game almost every day.
"Idella plays cards 25 hours a day, eight days a week," one of the ladies info noted.
"And Jessie plays with her," another added.
While they often play different games, the most important reason is to get together and enjoy one another’s company.
Other residents of Ranchero Village were enjoying quilting. The group quilts on Thursday mornings for charity and in the afternoon they work on personal projects. This afternoon they were working on laying out a quilt that belonged to one of the women. Those involved in that project were Darlene Ekstrand of Wisconsin, Carolyn Dunlop of Kansas, Anna Rendon of Weslaco, Adrienne Archambault of Manitoba, Aileen Schwartz of Missouri and Terry Fishers of Manitoba.
It was a warm day and a stop at the Ranchero Village pool revealed a lone man being held hostage in the swimming pool by women. Bill Schiwberle of Wisconsin was surrounded by eight swimming companions: Jan Schiwberle and Dorothy Hawkins, of Missouri, Vine Heimstra of Iowa, Katie Senske of Minnesota, Kerry Stuart of Michigan, Lurene Prielipe of Illinois, Jan Murphy of Michigan and Helen Bemull, formerly of Michigan but now a full-time resident of Weslaco.
The group was enjoying exercising in the pool while their friends back home were shoveling out from under record snowfalls and facing wind chill temperatures of minus 30 to 40 below.
A drive over to Siesta Village revealed a long line of people waiting to get tickets for the dinner and one-act play that was to be held later that evening. Though it was still early, people were lined up with table services and wine glasses in anticipation of the evening.
A quick stop at Estero Llano Grande State Park revealed Winter Texans at work for fun. Avid birder Karen Nayki of British Columbia, Canada was enjoying her work as a park host. (See related story).
Trails End in Weslaco was winding down for the day although it appeared they had a full schedule of events with line dancing classes, painting and stained glass classes, Thursday night suppers, Friday jam sessions and shuffle boarding. The Ivan Watts Tournament for shuffleboard was scheduled for the weekend. A spaghetti dinner to benefit the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley was planned for Saturday, and "Bring a Tin for the Bin" was the admission price.
A stop in Donna at Casa del Sol found Winter Texans getting ready for their annual luau, one of their big events of the season. The partygoers were wearing festive hats and leis. Tables were filled of happy people ready to have a good time eating Hawaiian foods and being entertained Hawaiian style.
No matter what Winter Texans are looking for--good food, fellowship, or activities--the Valley has something for everyone.