Visiting San Antonio missions

The Convento at Mission San Jose

Garden at the Convento at Mission San Francisco de la Espada

Last Sunday, June 8th I was in San Antonio, TX and decided to take a drive on the historic Mission Trail. I thoroughly enjoyed driving through the southeastern part of the city. It was a very warm day with temperatures reaching 100 degrees, but the beauty of the city almost made me forget the heat. The plants are so tropical and even with the heat there was lots of color.

Each mission is about 3 miles from the one before. I did not visit the Alamo on this trip, but began my tour at Mission Concepcion. After visiting Mission Concepcion I drove to Mission San Jose which is the largest and most well known after The Alamo. 

Then I went farther south in the city to Mission Espada (San Francisco de la Espada or Saint Francis of the Sword). This was my favorite of the missions. It is smaller but well preserved.  The Convento is the priest's residence and church office. The gardens around the Convento are quite lovely. The chapel is lovely and was incense filled with music piped in. The last mission I visited was Mission San Juan. 

All these churches hold regular services.  When I arrived at Mission San Jose Sunday mass was in progress and there seemed to be quite a number of people in attendance because of the number of cars parked in the area reserved for church-goers.

Hillary Steps Up

Hillary stepped up today with a rousing speech which endorses Barak Obama and calls for Democratic unity. I was impressed and hope to become an ardent supporter of Obama. I admit I am still withholding judgment until he announces his running mate for the general election. I would rather see him make a selection sooner rather than later on the matter. Of course, I would like to see him ask Hillary to be the running mate. She might not accept and that would be okay, but I'd like to see him offer it to her. I'd also like to see her accept if he were to offer.

As much as I admire Caroline Kennedy I don't want to see her put into this situation. Caroline has even less experience than does Obama and I think it would be a SERIOUS mistake to invite her to run with him. Hillary would be a steadfast, knowledgeable asset to his campaign. Barak don't let us 60-something women down. Solidify our vote by asking Hillary to run as vice president.

Sex and the City

Finally it has arrived and tonight I went to see "Sex and the City". Truly it was fun! I asked a friend to go with me, but she said she & another girlfriend went for her birthday. I was disappointed to hear that they left midway the movie. She said it would be better watching in on TV when the DVD comes out! Let me tell you, I did not let that deter me ... and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie ... alone ... no girlfriends, no husband, nada, just me by myself. I laughed out loud and thankfully didn't have to worry about whether one single person liked the movie...I was just responsible for ME!
To tell the truth ... I've been in a situation before where a girlfriend went somewhere with me and midway the event decided she wasn't happy & wanted to leave. Well leave sister & leave me to enjoy the silliness, the loveliness, the tears & laughter by myself. Thus is the reason I do many things by myself ... don't have to worry about how someone else is faring ... I'm just groovin' on my own ... by my own self!

Visiting Ginny Blue

After playing golf at Shadow Glenn in Manor, TX Gerald & I drove out to Hornsby Bend and stopped at Tecolote Farms to see the horse that I used to have. Her name in Blue Guinevere aka Ginny Blue. Of course, I always called her Ginny. I got her when I was 40 years old and she was a 2 year old waiting to have a new home. Michael had done some legal work for a rancher & took equine payment. That was 21 years ago and Ginny is as beautiful as she ever was. She loves her new home with Katy, David & the kids. She has a beautiful gelding to hang out with all day and I can tell they are best friends.
Having Ginny was one of the best experiences I ever had and I loved/love her very much. Ginny had stayed at Tecolote Farms during the time I owned her so it was very easy for her to feel at home in this lovely place with her new owner. Thank you Katy.

Springtime

Happy Birthday Gerald

February is the month of celebrating Gerald’s birthday which falls on the 2nd day of the month. This year Gerald celebrated 70 great years. We decided to take a trip to west Texas to do some birding and hiking in the Fort Davis area. On the way we stayed at Tapatia Springs Golf Club in Boerne, TX for a couple of days to play golf & break up the 8 hour drive from Bastrop to Fort Davis.

The photo was taken on Feb. 2nd as we began a birding hike into the Davis Mountain State Park. We stayed at Indian Lodge, in the park, and took advantage of a birding tour led by a state park volunteer.

We hiked two and a half miles up and around the hills at Madera Canyon Preserve. It was a great hike and not too difficult for a couple of senior citizens!

New Years Parade...New Orleans Style

It was slow to start, but fun once things got underway. I guess one can't "rush" a New Orleans style parade and about 45 minutes behind schedule the parade got underway. It was fun watching the stars step by and then watch as the viewers joined in the parade. By the time the parade turned onto Pine Street and passed by Gracie's Restaurant it was in full swing.




The following photos are fun tidbits from today. Gerald & I enjoyed a bit of gumbo and French bread at Gracie's while watching the parade wend through the restaurant and downtown area. While we were waiting for the parade to start I took photos of various people waiting. These are our local folks who came to participate... Bastrop isn't short on people looking to have a good time.











































Below are the leaders of the parade. The Steppers, Tremme Band, and Mardi Gras Indians.

After Christmas

Photo is from 12/24/2005 near Terlingua, TX.


Christmas is over... It was a nice holiday visiting with friends & family here in Bastrop. Christmas Eve Gerald & I relaxed and did a few things around the house so we'd be ready for Christmas brunch with David, Judy, Josh, & Caitlan.
That evening we went to Don & B.J. Long's home for a little get-together from 5 to 7. The Long's really seem to love having their friends drop by even when they are having family members. Their house was decorated and was warm and cozy. Lots of family were there, but also friends from Colo Vista. We were supposed to go to the midnight service at the Episcopal church, but 10:30 rolled around & we were tired.

The Mitchells arrived around 11 AM for Christmas brunch and stayed until about 3 PM. We visited, ate, and played a game that Cait brought with them. It was a fun little card game that kept us entertained for a couple of hours while we visited & laughed.
Around 4 PM Gerald, Gertie, & I rode down to Pine Forest Golf Club to walk around along the river and look for birds. We didn't see anything too unusual, but had a lovely walk around and I got to try out my new binoculars.

I'm pretty glad Christmas is over. I can see why it can be a depressing time for people. There is so much that we look forward to ... so many expectations that we have ... and many times there is disappointment. I think we try to orchestrate the event and put too much pressure on ourselves in trying to make things "perfect" and our perfect may not be another person's perfect ... and vice versa.
I am so happy that I have Gerald with whom to spend these days. I tend to get a bit sad about the people who I can't see. Some of those people are dead ... others live very far away ... and others are involved with events in their own lives.

So that is why I'm relieved that the holiday season is winding down. Things will get back to normal and maybe I'll be able to see at least some of those people in 2008 that I haven't been able to see in a while. I am thankful that last January 2007 I was able to see my brother & sister-in-law in Georgia and my nephew and his family in Charleston, SC. I got a wonderful visit in with Paul in December '07 out in Nevada and am thankful that Margie is getting healthier and she & I got to go to the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar on opening day. I'll see her in a week or so.

Tomorrow there is a pre- New Year's Eve parade in downtown Bastrop that Gerald & I are looking forward to watching. Then there is a free mini-concert at the Hyatt at 7 PM which we may attend. It should be quite lovely. The big concert will be New Year's Eve but we plan to stay home that evening. Then New Year's Day we'll to the Christmas bird count for the local Audubon Society and have lunch at the Mitchell's home. Supposed to be a chilly day for being out counting birds ... it'll probably be in the 30's when we start... brrr.

2 Days 'til Christmas

Gerald & I are off to the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar in Austin for a couple of items to purchase that I’ve scouted out over the last week or so. No matter what they call other bazaars the Armadillo Bazaar is the one and only and can not be duplicated. There is a new “Austin Bizarre Bazaar” open this year and it is terrible!








Jeanel, Gayle & I had some time to kill after visiting the one-and-only Armadillo so we moseyed over to the Palmer Events Center to take in the “Bizarre” ... we were there about 15 minutes and left. It is a little home crafts affair NOT the high quality artists that one finds at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. Oh well, we checked it out and that is over & done ... don’t have to do that again!











Gerald & I arrived this Sunday just 15 minutes after the Bazaar opened. Parking space right out front ... no crowds ... “Home with the Armadillo” was playing as we walked in the front ... I’m here with my Honey ... it doesn’t get any better than this!






Next we’re off to Whole Foods for lunch & a few more purchases. These are two of my favorite things in Austin. Everything is so festive at Whole Foods Market ... the energy is exhilarating! Lunch at the trattoria for a little pasta for lunch. Then off to the fresh fruits to collect for a Christmas fruit basket along with some other goodies. Then we’ll head for home and should be there by about 3 PM just in time to get in a little walk along the Colorado River. Life is good!













Back home in Bastrop ... it’s around 4 PM and we’re going to take in an afternoon walk and enjoy nature. There are few birds out along the Colorado but I’m able to take a few nice photos of a brisk winter afternoon. The afternoon sun gives a lovely reflection on the river. The railroad trestle crosses the Colorado along the parkway. Gerald & Gertie love hiking along the trail.


















Now we’re heading over to ColoVista Country Club to see what birds may be around in the late afternoon. We have about 40 minutes until sunset.










In the pond beside the Long’s house we spot a Great Blue Heron fishing for its dinner.











Then low & behold there are flamingos gathering in front of the Long’s home!!!

Happy Holidays!!

Settling in for Christmas

One more week until the eve of Christmas. I've always liked Christmas eve ... perhaps we'll attend an evening service at the Episcopal church here in Bastrop or at St. James in Austin. I'd like to have a quiet little supper and attend a service. At St. James the choir will have some nice songs prior to the service as well as during services. I haven't been to the Episcopal church here in Bastrop, but I think they have a concert prior to the service.

We've invited David, Judy, Kaitlin, and Josh for Christmas brunch at 11:00 AM. That is another thing I like to do ... the brunch and not a full scale Christmas dinner. It is usually fun and pretty laid back. I'd like to do venison, but Gerald has opted for spiral-cut ham for the meat. I'll do bread & spinach dip, eggs, jambalaya grits, biscuit, Gerald's fruit plate, orange or cranberry juice, coffee, cookies & champagne. I hope it'll be fun.

Years ago I would cook Christmas eve dinner for 8 to 10 people and then we'd go to the service at St. James. On Christmas day we'd go to San Antonio for a wild game brunch at Kaki's. That usually was lots of fun. Of course we'd start with bloody Mary's and/or mimosas and munchies. The wild game consisted of venison (backstrap), quail, dove, and some of Pepi's wild chili. Of course there would be bacon, eggs, biscuit and cheese grits.

Before Tim Murray died the place could be WILD ... there was no telling what he'd come up with. Once he & Tommy Williams were black Santas and had there cute little elf-ete with black fishnet hose, a short flouncy red mini skirt and Santa hat. Too much. Of course there was drinking involved ... always ... and that's what killed him. Too bad.

Now I have a new family. It's mostly just me, Gerald, and Gertie; although, David and his family are Gerald's step family. All my family is on the east coast. After all these years I continue to be rather solitary.