A Kentucky Derby here in Texas (sort of??)

Sunday was a beautiful warm sunny day just right for our RV park to showcase its "Bentsen Derby".  It was a fun event to raise money for the activities fund.  A 6-lane checkerboard-type track was laid out in chalk on a driveway down by the woodworking shop.  There were five races held with six horses (volunteers) in each race.

Here is the starting lineup for one of the five races.  Note that each contestant is holding a colored horse.  Betting was allowed and encouraged but $1.00 was the limit for any race.  Two big foam dice were rolled and if a horse's number came up that horse got to move ahead one square.  It took 12 squares to win a race.

Each race had a new set of racers.   You can see the two large dice on the ground.  Note the strange hats these mares are wearing.

Female attendees were encouraged to wear their best Derby Day bonnets and a prize was given for the hat that got the most votes.  Needless to say, the lady above won the prize for originality.

Her hat was unique and fit the occasion  to a tee.  

Hot dogs, chips, and pop were served and it was a fun day at the track.  Bill and Karen each bet 50 cents on every race.  Bill picked two horses that came in first so we almost broke even at the track.

Almost.

🐎 

A Repost of Where We Are

Below is the RV Park sign in which we are now staying.  It is on the southwest part of Mission Texas and away from major roads and railroads.  (Quiet)  We are less than a mile north of the Rio Grande River and Mexico,  and  we are right next to the Bentsen - Rio Grande Valley State Park.

Our resort has about 700 RV sites as well as small house and cabin rentals.

We are less than 1/4 -mile from the National Butterfly Center.  Last year the center was one of the main organizations fighting against the building of a border wall here, as this area is a main migration route for butterflies.  

🐝

The Veterans Cemetery Nearby

A few miles east of us is the Rio Grand Valley State Cemetery.  It is a beautiful memorial park for departed service people from all four branches of our military

We have shown the Cemetery in our blog previously, but we are featuring it again because it has had an upgrade since last year.

Now every grave has a wreath on it!

And we mean every grave.

We believe the wreaths have been added for the Holiday Season - and will soon be removed; but time will tell.

On one wall are the four official emblems of our four military branches:

Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

At one grave site a couple was sitting under this umbrella to shield them from the sun as they reached out to their departed loved one.

Sad!

🎀

A Strong Wind and Messy Palm Trees

On Friday we had a brisk northwest wind that blew all day.  It made bicycle riding a challenge but it showed us what it could do to some of the Palm trees here.

Here is the trunk of one of many Palm trees we have around us.

Consequently, here is a nearby lot and road in our RV park after the wind died down in the afternoon.  The trees shed quite easily and the wind must be Nature's way of getting rid of old bark and to make way for new.

At our campsite Bill gathered and piled up many of the sheds to make it easier for the ground crew when they come around.

🌴

Blooms and Flowers

This is what our yard looked like when we left  our home on December 26 in Michigan.

As you can see - it was cold and bleak.  We had about five inches of snow on the ground.

This poor cold Heron in the river was looking pretty stiff.  We think he forgot that he could fly south if he wanted.

Now here in the Rio Grand Valley it is pleasant to see so many plants in bloom.

It is not yet Spring here but the plants do not seem to care.

The bright colors are cheerful to see this time of year.

🌹

Community Garden

Our RV park here in Mission has an area in back that is tilled up and dedicated to the use of any resident who wants to plant a garden.  It is fenced off and dogs and other pets are not allowed here.  As you can see below, the gardeners believe it is still early in the planting season.  Nevertheless, a few plants have started to sprout for one camper with a green thumb.

Here in south Texas we are seeing plenty of birds but unfortunately one of the most abundant species is Long-Tailed Grackles.  They are nest marauders and a type of bird we do not really appreciate.  

Our next door neighbor puts our feed every morning and that seems to draw a small flock of these nasty birds.  We wish she would let their cat out to have some fun, but it stays permanently in their 5th-Wheel Camper.

🐈

Christmas Decor In Texas

The campers at this campsite at our RV park took the time to decorate for the Christmas season.  This scene below is what you might expect this time of year.

But, as we all know most Texans love their guns.  Likewise, they hate trespassers and will not hesitate to use their guns on intruders.  So....

  This household is sending a message for all to see.

Down here a trophy kill is a trophy kill.

Beware!

😠

Go Blue - beat Alabama

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