Just think about what we would have done had we known what 2020 was going to hand us? The reality is probably nothing because I doubt we would have believed it could possibly happen.
But here we are looking at a brand new year and all its possibilities. Being an eternal optimist I am going out on a limb here and say it will be as good as the last was not. The pendulum must swing the other way.
So with a big dose of hope in my heart I wish you all a happy new year.
Bits & Pieces
Thursday 12-24-2020
David Pardo would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Also thank you for the gift of bread.
Peggy Carnes would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I miss everyone and especially my oil painting students. Hopefully 2021 will be a better year for everyone. I’m doing well, but miss teaching! Love you all!
I got the wrong address for Marcella Rook. It is 1431 West Second St Pella 50219. I used an old book---sorry
Hello from the Tilton's (former) residents for eighteen years. Had a lot of fun, miss you, Merry Christmas to all. Gail and Shirley
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy
Betsie Brown
Bits & Pieces
12-27-2020
I got a call from Coke Fellenstein today. She is asking for prayers for Charles as he is in the hospital. He went to the hospital on Christmas morning. Need to get the prayer wheel spinning for Charles.
Mary Beecher wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year. Spent 16 years at Trophy and enjoyed every day of it.
On Wednesday night, December 23rd, playing Hoss Collar was great, the big wind and cold didn’t arrive until after midnight, so we had fun! Dot Zylistra came in 1st Place with 574 points, (and I am so happy that she did this so I could finally, after all these years, learn how to spell her last name). John Chalko came in 2nd with 566 points and Dan Lang came in 3rd with 560 points. We play Hoss Collar Wednesday nights and Saturday nights at 6:30PM. Bring a dollar bill and your mask, we sanitize the sticks, pencils, and benches, and play every other court for your safety. We play regular shuffleboard every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00AM. All times are weather permitting. We will teach you how to play both games. EASY to learn.
Any time you are not getting Bits & Pieces please let me know so I can check it out.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy
Betsie Brown
...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHTyzBRvAQ
...and to all a goodnight.
Pets tell the story of Santa and his trip.
Bits & Pieces
Sunday 12-21-2020
Wishing You A Merry Christmas and the Best in 2021!!
Marcella wanted to let you know that Herman Rook passed away yesterday, Dec.17th. Private services will be Monday, Dec.21st. Cards can be sent to Marcella at 2677 Pierce Ave., Pella, IA 50219
Former Trophy resident Mary Hartgerink wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. She misses her winters in Texas as she is now living at Prairie Ridge Assisted Living 819 Wilcox St, #15 Waupun, WI 53963 Phone # is 920-324-4116
Another fun Sunday afternoon in the pool hall. There were 8 teams signed up and each team played seven games... Alex Stinson & Bev McEnaney won six of the seven games played... Team Liz Pish & Moe Lafavre won five games and teams Mikie Patrick & Jerry Thibodeau and team Janet Yeley & Paul Kelleher four games... The sign-up sheet is up for next Sunday, December 27th. The start time is at 1:00 pm. Come have some fun.
Saturday, December 19th, another beautiful night for Hoss Collar. Donna Hanke came in 1st Place with 596 points, Lance Pearson came in 2nd with 586 points, and Dale Hustad came in 3rd Place with 544 points. We play Wednesday and Saturday nights, weather permitting. The excitement starts at 6:30PM, bring a one-dollar bill and you will probably get your dollar back. 1st Place gets 3 dollars back, 2nd Place gets 2 dollars back and the bottom three players get nothing but a good time. We sanitize sticks, benches, and pencils. We wear our masks and use social distancing. Come and have a great time under the moon and stars. We play Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 9:00AM regular shuffleboard. Covid rules apply and precautions are taken as well. This game is also very easy to learn and involves strategic plays that you develop yourself. Come and get your vitamin C and make new friends.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy
Betsie Brown
This Christmas remember the Spirit of Christmas and keep it dear. And make the very first gift you give the greatest one: Give the gift of love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians Chapter 13
May you and those you love have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS filled with love and joy – and the true spirit of Christmas.
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Barb and Butch Brooker
Bits & Pieces
Thursday 12-17-2020
Lynn reported that there are 304 people on 171 sites with 53 pets. The numbers are growing.
CFO (Caring For Others) Donation Station is currently closed. We are cleaning and organizing. We are not taking donations at this time. We appreciate your patience. Plans are to reopen in 2021 Thank you for your support.
Thank you for all of the calls and cards following Jim’s death. Our years at Trophy Gardens were filled with such special memories of our friends and the many activities we enjoyed. Trophy will always be a heartwarming memory. Lynette Jackson
Hoss Collar results for Saturday, December 12th. The evening started out pretty windy but soon the wind died down and the weather was downright pleasant. Many of the players were really “hot”, as we had some extremely high scores. LeRoy Moore was on fire and took 1st Place with an astounding 794 points; Dale Hustad was trying to catch up with 734 points and took 2nd Place. Linda Lang beat out John Chalko by one point with 694 and 693 points respectably. Lance Pearson followed with 687 points. LeRoy only needed 6 points to put him in the “800 Club” whose only member is Kristi Johnston with a total of 802 points. LeRoy is the highest point member of the “700 Club”. Linda and LeRoy tied Ted Peluk and Linda’s high score of 317 points for a single game, which is really weird. We play Hoss Collar Wednesday nights and Saturday nights starting at 6:30PM We wear masks, our sticks are sanitized and we practice social distancing. Regular shuffleboard is played Mon, Wed, & Friday mornings starting at 9:00AM. Wear a mask, and sticks are sanitized and we practice social distancing. Come out and get some Vitamin D.
Sunday's Mixed pool doubles..... We had another fun Sunday afternoon in the pool hall with 12 people playing. 16 people signed up but two couples had to cancel... Our top winning teams were Barb Utech & Harry Link. Janet Yeley & Butch Brooker and Bev McEnaney & Jim Weeks... Our next Mixed doubles games are on December 20th and the start time is 1:00. The signup sheet is up... Come join in on the fun...
There is going to be a Christmas Eve church service at 6:00 p m. Wear your masks and sit in the chairs as placed in the hall.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!!
Betsie Brown
And now you know why we sanitize the pool hall equipment after every use.
You know how they’ve been saying not to go to a gym during the pandemic? Well, this might have something to do with it… FitRated.com collected samples from 27 pieces of gym equipment from three different gyms and found there were more than one million germs per square inch on every piece of equipment – hooooooly cow! The equipment with the most germs was the treadmill, followed by the exercise bike, followed by free weights. Free weights, they found, had 362 times more bacteria on them than a toilet seat.
The last post was supposed to go on my personal blog so if it makes no sense to you that is why. I am leaving it there because it is something different for you to mull over!
Moving back to our hometown of Jefferson Iowa was a good idea and we didn't even know to what extent at the time. As anyone who knows me can tell you, my Internet connection is important to me and surprisingly more so as time goes on. It is my one indulgence and I do not see that changing as long as I can rub two brain cells together.
And here is an article that surprised and pleased me on this subject.
Bits & Pieces
Friday 12-11-2020
Ronald Stadick, age 86 of Walnut Grove, passed away Sunday, December 6, 2020, at Valley View Manor in Lamberton. He is survived by his wife Evie Stadick. Ron”s obituary can be seen at https://stephensfuneralservice.com/obituaries/ronald-stadick/150/
Thanks to all of our Trophy family for all the wonderful cards, notes, and kind words of sympathy when Bill passed away. We had so many great friends and memories over our many years at Trophy. Love, JoAnn
Gene Hill will have about 20 canvas art pieces for sale this Saturday at his lot 627. All for $49 or less. It will be worth checking it out? Moving onward is one that has a story behind it, ask me about it,
ATTENTION POOL PLAYERS: WE ARE NOW ALLOWED 16 PEOPLE IN THE POOL HALL AT ONE TIME-----SOOOO---- NOW INSTEAD OF FIVE COUPLES FOR THE MIXED DOUBLES WE CAN HAVE EIGHT COUPLES... SO COME SIGN UP AND ENJOY FUN TIMES WITH FRIENDS... A FUN WAY TO SPEND A SUNDAY AFTERNOON... START TIME IS 1:00......
Wednesday night, December 9th, was another night with great weather for Hoss Collar. Dale Hustad won 1st Place with 643 points, Rick Dewey came in 2nd with 592 points and for 3rd Place, we had two winners, Kathy Ringler and Bob Yeley with 587 points. We play Wednesday and Saturday nights at 6:30PM, bring a dollar bill and prepare to have a good time, and meet new people. You can learn to play in seconds! We play regular shuffleboard Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 9:00AM. Get your Vitamin D and have fun too!
Stay Saft and Stay Healthy!!
Betsie Brown
The management at Trophy Gardens has made it known they have 11 apartments available for rent for the month of January 2021. This is unheard of! They usually tell me that March is the best month to find an opening.
Great care is being taken in the Rio Grande Valley as far as the virus is concerned. Masks are required EVERYWHERE and you will get called on it if you choose to not abide by the rules. As of right now, Alamo Texas, where Trophy G. is located has a percentage of 4.3. Masks and distancing do work.
So pick up the phone and call (956) 787-7717 And see when you might be able to enjoy some sunshine in sunny south Texas.
Bits & Pieces
Monday 12-8-2020
It is with sadness that I tell you of the passing of Bill Hammas this morning. He was Wynn's dad. Mary tells me that she, Wynn, and Mark, Wynn's brother, were able to say their goodbyes. He passed away very peacefully. He had gone out to the farm on Saturday and Sunday with Wynn and Mark to “hunt” (to enjoy the view) and to drive a truck so this last weekend was his Heaven on Earth. Then he went to Heaven above today. As Mary said he was the best loving father-in-law a girl could have. Most of you will remember Bill for taking care of the “Hammas Rose Garden” when you drive into the RV Park. Cards can be sent to Wynn and Mary Hammas 4243 E. 58th St., Davenport, IA 52807
We are back at it... This Sunday, December 6th. was our first official Mixed Doubles pool tournament and we did ok... Well some of us did ok... There are only ten people allowed in the pool hall at one time... So, we had five teams and each team played two games with the same team... Each team played a total of eight games... Winning team was Teri Thibodeau & Paul Kelleher with 6 games won. Two teams won 5 games each and they are team Sally Kelleher & Moe LaFavre and team Janet Yeley & Alex Stinson. We were careful to obey all the rules and everyone wore their mask and stayed a social distance... We also cleaned the tables and pool balls with disinfectant. The next Mixed Doubles is Sunday afternoon December 13th at 1:00 start time--the sign-up sheet is up...
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!!
Betsie Brown
Bits & Pieces
Saturday 12-6-2020
This is a schedule of events coming soon to Trophy Gardens. Sounds like fun to me!!
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!!
Betsie Brown
Bits & Pieces
Thursday 12-3-2020
From Shirley Greving Word has been received of the death of Donna Rypkema on Friday, November 27th of George, IA. She and Bud (John) Rypkema were Trophy Garden residents a few years back. Her obituary can be viewed on the web page of Jurrens Funeral Home, George, IA
Bonnie Christian has a very nice Tan colored Loveseat for sale. Please call Bonnie if you are interested 956-607-4635. Asking $50. Can be seen on Lot 650.
We had a beautiful moonlit evening for Hoss Collar, Wednesday, December 2, 2020. Janet Yeley came in 1st place with 558 points, Roger Francis and Bob Yeley won 2nd place with 539 points and Chuck Hull took third place with 533 points. We play Hoss Collar on Wednesday and Saturday nights at 6:30PM. Bring ONE DOLLAR BILL PER PERSON, everyone gets their dollar back except the bottom three players. We require masks, we do social distancing and we sanitize the sticks, benches, and pencils. Bob and Janet Yeley are the hosts for Wednesday evenings and Dan and Linda Lang are hosts on Saturday evenings. Regular shuffleboard is played Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00AM. Masks, social distancing are required and we sanitize the sticks, benches, and pencils. We offer lessons, lots of fun, the opportunity to get some vitamin D and meet new friends. Come and join us.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!!
Betsie Brown
Bits & Pieces
Tuesday 12-1-2020
This from Carol Rossmann: I Thought I would let you know that I have moved from Ames to Waukee. I am living in a 55 plus community called Attivo Trails. The kids wanted me to get closer to one of them and they located this place near my son Darin. He is only 5 minutes away. My new address is: 835 NE Boston Pkwy, Apt 3212, Waukee, IA 50263
Dale & Marlys Husted wants Trophy people to know that there will be lots of free items at Lot # 680 on the day of the in-park garage sale on Saturday.
From the park meeting this morning Lynn reported there are: 272 people in the park on 155 sites. There are 50 pets.
Corrections on the December Birthday & Anniversary calendar: Ann Bunke should be on December 7th, Remove Jerry Hibbs, and Bunny Schultz I spelled her last name wrong. Add Tim Schmuck on December 13th.
Can you believe it is December already? At times I didn't think this year would ever end with all that has gone on. Besides the virus, Marion was hit with the Derecho. I'm still cleaning up from that storm. We had winds up to 145 mph.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!!
Betsie Brown
