WELCOME HOME - December 31, 2011

 It is good to have you back!

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Activities Blog – We have a new look and design to our Activities Blog.  We hope that you find it helpful in figuring out what is happening at Winter Ranch.  If you forget a time or a place for an activity, you can find it right here.  Mary Benfield in Lot 740 is the Blog Administrator.  She would love to hear from any of you Group Leaders for all the crafts so that the blog page would have the information you want it to have.  Please contact her either at Lot 740 or by e-mailing her at blogwinterranch@yahoo.com.

Winter Ranch Directory Picture/Proofs - To set up an appointment to get your picture taken, see Shirley Snell.  Shirley would also like to see all the people who had their pictures taken in October so that they can review their proofs and make sure that everything is correct for the Directory.   She will be available after the Wednesday morning meetings in Friendship Hall or on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM in the Video Room in Friendship Hall. 

The Ladies Luncheon is scheduled for Monday, January 16^th, at 11:00 AM.  It will be held in Fellowship Hall.  Tickets are $7.50 and they are being sold from Wednesday January 4th through January 11th between 10 AM and 11 AM in front of the Activity Office.

The next Craft Show is scheduled for January 10^th in Friendship Hall.  Residents can sign up for a table for $5 and non-residents can have a table for $10.

There is a Health Fair scheduled for January 26^th at 11:00 AM in Fellowship Hall.

Woodshop HoBo Dinner - The Woodshop is sponsoring a dinner on the 24^th of January at 4 PM in Fellowship Hall. $5  Proceeds will go to the Woodshop.  Meal:  Hamburger, potatoes, onion, cabbage.  There will be door prizes.  Bring your own table service.

The 50th Anniversary Party is for anyone celebrating 50 or more years of marriage.  There is a signup on the Bulletin Board in Friendship Hall.  The Party will be held on February 12th at 2 PM in Friendship Hall.


The Cowley Sugar House Bus Trips have been cancelled since the trip didn't include a tour through the processing plant   The sugar growers will send out a narrator to show the film and answer questions on February 20th and March 1st, 2012 at 9:30 AM in Friendship Hall.

Deluxe Alaskan Adventure will be presented by Travel Ambassadors on Thursday, January 12th in the Winter Ranch Library from 3-5 PM.

State Potlucks are being planned.  The dates are as follows:

January 15 - Michigan
January 22 - Wisconsin
January 29 - Minnesota
February 3 - Missouri
February 5 - Colorado
February 19 - Iowa
February 26 - Canada

State Potluck Coordinators, please contact Mary Benfield at Lot 740 or e-mail her at blogwinterranch@yahoo.com and give her the specifics for your potluck.

Classes are in full swing.  We have classes in everything from computers to tap dancing.  Check the Activities Listing for times and locations.

Sports indoor and outdoor are also in full swing.  We have everything from indoor Pickle Ball to Bowling to outdoor Shuffleboard to Horshoes.  See the schedules for all of our sports on the side, they are labeled Sports, Indoor and Sports, Outdoor.

Thirsty Tuesday Social is from 3 to 4:30 every Tuesday poolside and in the Hall by the concessions.  It is a time for everyone to come and renew friendships or to make new friends.  The concessions will be open to purchase soda and popcorn, etc.  On January 3^rd, Wildside will be entertaining us and on the 10^th, Peggy and Lloyd will be here.  We are looking forward to seeing you there!

55 Alive is driving course for seniors.  It is being offered at Trophy Gardens on January 11, from 8-11 AM.  The cost is $12 if you are an AARP member and $14 if you are not.  Contact Fran at Trophy Gardens for more information or to register.

Our volunteers are outstanding.  If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to offer all the activities that we do and we wouldn’t be able to keep the costs down for those activities.  We are always looking for new volunteers.  Check out those volunteer opportunities in the Current Information Section of this blog.

WINTER RANCH WRANGLER for December 2011

WINTER RANCH WRANGLER

Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter.  Your comments and suggestions are requested. The purpose of the newsletter is to keep everyone informed of some of the less well-known aspects of living here at Winter Ranch. Let us know what you'd like to see included. If you have something you'd like to see here, please write it down and give it to Donna Hulsey (Lot 10).

Wizard of Oz on November 11^th at the State Farm Arena was awesome. We had a straight-on view of the stage and were close to the bathrooms and beverages. There is an elevator to take you to the top floor, if walking all those stairs is too much for you. To be able to see a Broadway show for only $36 is absolutely phenomenal and then to get a free ride there! Thanks to Lynn for setting it up.

November flew by and now we're looking at some December fun. There are 4 bus trips scheduled for the Festival of Lights in Hidalgo. Be sure to check the board and get signed up. Guaranteed to get you in the Christmas mood, the lights are awesome and change every year. $3 pays for a trolley ride around the city and it's well worth it. By the way, the City of Hidalgo is reaching out for some help this year. They need volunteers for ticket selling, selling souvenirs and acting as a guide to the lights. They will provide a script for you to follow. One night would help them out a lot.

December 7^th is your chance to go on a Mystery Trip. These trips have included museums, saloons with Karaoke, and nature trips in the past. The bus fills up fast, so get to the Activity office and sign up. Other December trips include the Border Patrol, always fascinating, the Symphony and something new this year – the Glory Bells, a hand bell concert.

Mannheim Steamrollers will be at the State Farm Arena on December 30^th. Group rates are $49.50. If twenty people sign up and pay in advance, WR will provide a bus. Make your decision by December 5^th. Wanda Wheeler is working on a ticket package, so it could be cheaper.

A bus is planned for the Christmas Regatta (boat parade) in Port Isobel on December 3^rd. People who attended last year said it was well worth the trip. Dinner will be at the White Sands

Restaurant, which is located right behind the Judges' Stand, so you should be able to get a good look at all the boats decorated in their Christmas best.

SOCIAL HOUR AROUND THE POOL

Don't forget the social hours around the pool on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5 PM. The concession stand is open for snacks to soak up the adult beverages. Bring your lawn chairs and beverage of choice. Sometimes there will be live entertainment, sometimes just records. The November Tuesdays were a great success, so join your neighbors at the pool. In case of inclement weather, the festivities will move indoors; check the schedule for time change.

December also marks the first Craft Sale of the season, the first Saturday Jam and the re-opening of most of the crafts and classes. Check your park calendars for details. Take your vitamins, cuz it's fixin' to get crazy around here!

New to the Ranch? Are you wondering how to meet people? Volunteering is the quickest and best way I know of, and it's fun too. When you see a sign-up sheet on the board for anything that interests you, put your name down. You get into the dances and entertainment free and the work is easy. Besides that, you never know who might be taking your picture. 

Christmas is coming and the Valley needs our help. There is a box by the Activity Office door for your toy donations. We will also be involved with the ARISE program again, with the Christmas stockings and Angel Tree. See Barb DeGaramo if you're interested in helping to make stockings. A list of preferred gifts will be posted near the Activity Office. Most of us have been blessed throughout our lives with good jobs and enough money for the extras. Here in the Valley many people are struggling just to provide food for their families. We can help them have a Merry Christmas in the true spirit of the holiday. Thanks to Barb and all the other quilting volunteers who help with this project.

One of our past Christmas families suffered the loss of their home by fire in June. Gerry Rezac (Lot 586) and Lloyd Buchholz (Lot 608) are coordinating volunteers to assist in finishing the inside. Right now it's a hollow shell with curtains around the bathroom area. Please see one of these fine gentlemen if you can wield a paint brush, dry wall, or any of those other things that go into finishing off a house. They will probably need some volunteers to provide lunch for the workers as well. Since we won't be having any more yard sales here, maybe you want to donate some of those unwanted items to the family?

MONDAY POT LUCKS

Bring a dish to pass that will serve 10-12 people at 5 PM on Mondays. This is another good chance to meet new people and enjoy the diversity of favorite dishes from all over the US.

FRIDAY NIGHT DANCES

Come on out to the dances on Friday nights. They are tailored for us “seniors” - starting at 7 PM and ending at 10 PM. The concession stand is open, providing ice buckets, popcorn, soda and other refreshments. Bring your favorite adult beverage, enjoy the music, dance, visit with your friends and neighbors. This is another opportunity for you to volunteer too. Shirley Ress is our dance coordinator, so if you hear a good band around the Valley, let her know. She tries to make everyone happy, with the different types of music.

NOTICES

Don't forget the water restrictions in the Park. If your lot number is even, your days to water are Thursday and Sunday. Odd numbers are Wednesday and Saturday. If water is running into the street YOU ARE OVER-WATERING. Look in your packet for a complete listing of the watering policy.

Remember to see Shirley Snell after the meeting on Wednesday to make your appointment to have your picture taken for the new picture directory. It is a great way to put names to some of those faces you see around the park. Mine is well-worn. NO, not my face, my directory! Well, maybe my face too. Thanks, Shirley, for taking care of this.

Speaking of the Wednesday meetings, if you haven't been attending them, think about doing so. This is another good way to keep abreast of what's going on, including coming events, bus trips and volunteering opportunities. Plus, you get a chance to win some money at 50/50. The various organizations take turns selling the tickets. Half the ticket money goes to the organization, and half to the lucky ticket holder. Even if you don't win, the money goes to a worthy cause.

A reminder to all you speed demons – slow down! The speed limit in the park is 10 MPH. Stop signs are not just a suggestion – they mean STOP. That includes all vehicles, bicycles and golf carts as well as cars and pick ups. We send enough sympathy and get-well cards around here – we don't need to add more to that list.

Check the activity lists for times for Horseshoes and Bowling. Pool tournaments are on Thursdays starting at 8:30 AM.