Texas Spring

The last couple of weeks has seen birthday's, our CEO from Australia and VP from Virgina Beach visit, friends come to dine at our RV and the State flower of Texas blooming.
This week stared with Wayne celebrating his birthday so here is Larry, Ted and Soojin helping him to enjoy the day.

The next week started with Craig coming from Australia and Chuck from Virginia Beach.  This evening we took the opportunity to enjoy dinner out at the Texas Land and Cattle Steak House. 

We also spent some time down in Eagle Pass, a 3 hour drive from San Antonio which shares the boarder with Mexico.  While there we usually dine at San Miguel, a great Mexican Restaurant.  This night we were serenaded by a very skilled Mariachi Band.

As we are now moving into spring the nurseries are having a very busy time time.  Many of the blooms are the same as we have in Australia.

The nursery also features wild life - brightly coloured chickens who parade around the grounds.

The weather is now very pleasant so we are spending weekends in our RV.  This is an evening shot after a relaxing day.

Wayne and Susan also joined us for a late lunch on Sunday and as you can see the location is a great place to enjoy a pleasant Sunday afternoon (PSA).

Even the local sheep have a great paddock to play in.

Finally dotted along the sides of the roads and in paddocks around Texas we are able to enjoy the Bluebonnet which is the State flower of Texas.  It is truly magnificent.

Best wishes to all.

Beverley and Ross

Out and About at Canyon Lake

Recently we had the opportunity to dine at the Cottonseed Cafe which has a very interesting menu and is the sight of an original cotton gin.  To see more about this cafe have a look at cottonseed cafe.com

We started the meal with an interesting plate which featured local produce.  The platter was made up of citrus marinated olives, cheddar wafers and spiced pecan nuts.  All delicious.

Here is yellow beets with fried goat's cheese.

Ross enjoyed locally caught trout.  Another day we visited the oldest bakery in Texas which is called the Naegelin Bakery and has been around for 142 years first opening its doors in 1868.  To see more about this interesting store have a look at www.naegelins.com
It has amazing cakes, pastries, pies and breads.  When you leave the bakery there are some interesting murals to be seen.

It is very worthwhile getting off the beaten track and to enjoy the many and varied places that dot the Texas landscape.

Cheers Beverley and Ross

Ross' Birthday

 It is said that a birthday is not just a day but should cover a week and this was the case for the recent birthday for Ross.  The week before we had been to see "Elvis Lives" at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio which was a great show.  On 13th February 1950, Ross Leslie White, first child of Monica, and Neil was born, now in 2015 he started the day by celebrating with our Aspen Medical USA friends who had surprised Ross with a birthday cake.

Here Wayne and grand baby Ava, Ted, Soojin and Susan assist Ross is cutting his cake.

That evening we booked into the JW Marriott where we enjoyed a great dinner inclusive of lobster.

As well as locally sourced cheeses and meats from around the Texas Hill Country.

During the week we enjoyed lunch at the Hoppy Monk which puts an interesting slant on the food it serves.

The bistro provides something for everyone and the customer in encouraged to sample before buying.

It also provides an outdoor entertainment area which is great at this time of the year but will be far to hot for us in a couple of months time.

The menu is very interesting.  Brussell sprouts have never been a favorite of ours but we really enjoyed these. 

Fish and chips on the other hand, a comfort food for us was cooked to perfection.

As were the mussels.

Well it is only 11 months until we celebrate another birthday week for the first born son of Monica and Neil and much loved husband of Beverley.

Cheers to all.

Out and About in San Antonio

It was mentioned in the previous blog that we had been to see 'Elvis Lives' at the Majestic Theatre.  It is a very nice Theatre and was built in 1929 and is located on 226 East Houston Street in downtown San Antonio, Texas. The Majestic Theatre has a seating capacity of 2,311 and Majestic was listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1975 and also designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993.

It is a very decorative theatre inside with an amazing foyer.

After leaving the theatre it was a just short walk back to the hotel.  The city was delicately decorated with lights which made the walk so much more enjoyable.

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   San Antonio is a very historic city and has many churches one if which is St Mary's Catholic Church.  To know more about this church have a look at :Saint Mary's Catholic Church - DOWNTOWN San Antonio

Yes, Ross does go to church.

San Antonio is now the 7 th largest city in the USA and this is what the traffic is like on a normal day going to work.  This morning it took 30 minutes to get off the 1604 loop to get onto HW281.  You never want to be in a hurry to get anywhere at this time of the day.

We are now in the 4th year of living in the Texas and each day we learn something new.  If you have not had the opportunity to visit this historic city you should think about coming for a holiday.

Cheers Beverley and Ross

Vale Lynne C Myer

It is with great sadness that we write this blog as a dear friend Lynne whom we have know since 1993 when Beverley was posted to Fort Sam Houston, passed away on 25 February following a heroic fight over many years with illness. 
Lynne earned her nursing degree at The Mercy School of Nursing, in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1969 and entered the U.S. Army as a 2LT, retiring as a Major in 2002.   She served in Vietnam after which she completed Master's Degree in Nursing. During her career she worked primarily in intensive careand the emergency room but also spent several assignments as an instructor for enlisted medical personnel. Once retired from active military service, she continued working at San Antonio Military Medical Center in the Emergency Room as a civilian until finally retiring in 2013. Her military awards included the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service (2nd award), and Army Commendation Medals.

Lynne was known for her service to others. Whether as a nurse, a mother, a wife or a grandmother she took care of others far beyond the call of duty and enjoyed the friendship of many of her professional colleagues.

Lynne and Edward married 1972 and in 2013 they joined us for her 65th birthday at our home.  It was a great day.

Lynne was interned with full military honors on Friday, February 6, 2015, at 9:15 AM at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.    She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Edward Meyer, her daughters Adrienne and Jessica, and her grandson Samuel. She was the second of six children, including her older brother Bruce and her younger sisters Bette, Michelle, Patricia and Andrea.

Lynne was always smiling and did not focus on herself.  She was a person who always made you feel better for knowing her.

Now she rests at peace and we will miss her.

Our thoughts are with her family.

Beverley and Ross

Wimberley - Texas

Wimberley is located in central Hays County in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, between Austin and San Antonio, only 16 miles from San Marcos.  The center of Wimberley is situated at the confluence of Cypress Creek and the Blanco River,  roughly 1,000 feet above sea level on the Edwards Plateau.  It has lots of trees and an interesting place to spend a couple of hours poking around the shops.

About 1 mile down the road is a reconstructed Pioneer Town which captures the period of time of 1860 to the 1890's.  During spring and summer the town becomes a working town.  A real education for all.  To see more have a look at http://texashillcountry.com/blog/cities/wimberley-texas/

There is a very interesting museum to visit in the township and has an amazing array of interesting memorabilia.

So much to see and do around the Hill County of Texas,

Cheers Beverley and Ross

Devils Backbone Tavern

Unlike Australian bars and pubs which serve both alcohol as well as food there are a number of places that are beer only Taverns throughout Texas.  One such is a haunted Tavern located not far from where we have our RV located.  It's called the Devil's Backbone Tavern. It is a typical cash only, beer only bar where friends meet and enjoy a quite beer and good times.

The ceiling is littered with dollar notes.  An interesting talking point.

The service is very good as evidenced by the the board below which identifies the bar staff.

To read  more about this tavern google "haunted bars in Texas".

Amongst the many 4WD vehicles parked outside there was also room for an old but new hotrod.

We are taking the opportunity to see the many interesting locations around the Texas hill country area close to where our RV is located.

Cheers Beverley and Ross