BBQ with friends

We are so fortunate to have great friends as our neighbours and recently we decided to have a get together.  As it looked like it was going to rain ( not a very familiar event in San Antonio) we decided to have it in our garage.  Keith cooked all of the meat in his BBQ which you can see and Ross cooked the salmon out the back on our BBQ.  We had a great time.    

As you can see there was no shortage of food.  All together there were 6 children who all had a good time.  Kaci was playing "mum" to them all.

 To help run off some of their energy they took to the street.

Even Princess the cat came for a visit.

Impromptu get togethers are always fun and we plan to do this on a more regular basis.

Best wishes,

Bev and Ross

Hawaii

Aloha from Hawaii.  I have just returned from Honolulu having attended the ICRC HELP course at the University of Hawaii.  We were warmly welcomed with a lae.

The University has a number of interesting statues on its grounds and this is a professor with some of his students.

There were 32 students undertaking the course which consisted of military and civilian personnel.  On day one we were introduced to the national dance of Hawaii and as you can see most of the class got into the swing of things.

 While the course was rather intensive we did have the opportunity to enjoy some off time.  One evening we did a dinner cruise and the band played some great music.

 We were also provided the opportunity to enjoy professional dances from surrounding countries.

 The views from the ship were spectacular and Diamond Head is always welcoming.

 It was also an opportunity to catch up with old friends.  I met Art Wallace some years ago when we were both in the Army.  Art was a Colonel in the US Army Nurse Corps.  Jenny his lovely wife, Art and I enjoyed a great lunch looking over the blue waters off Waikiki Beach. 

On the second last day of the course Sass, Clarissa, Sarah and I took the opportunity to dine at a fine restaurant right on Waikiki.  Great food and good company.

The time went by rather quickly and it was time to think about returning to San Antonio.  There is nothing like an Hawaiian sunset as I departed back home.

The only thing missing was that Ross was not able to join me as he was baby sitting Dennis' dogs and fish.

Best wishes,
Beverley

Pasta night

Each weekend the extended family take it in turn to invite and entertain the clan.  Last Saturday evening it was at Steve and Theresa's home and we had decided that we would give Theresa's pasta maker a go.  So Ross took charge of the dough making.  

He was ably assisted by Theresa.

 When it looked like the home made pasta was not going to be a success Theresa quickly turned her hand to pizza making.  It was a great pizza.

The Italian community has nothing to be concerned about. We were pathetic pasta makers.

Happy days.

Bev and Ross

4July 2012

Over the many years we have been coming to America this was only the second time we have been in the USA on the 4th of July.  So it was with great pleasure that we were able to fly the US flag from our home.

We were also given a "Yellow rose of Texas" by our friends.

Our lovely neighbours Kaci, Keith, Mary Alice and Albert (not in the photo as he had taken the boys home) joined us for lunch and we had a great day.  The Aussies wore the US shirts.

A couple of days later we all went around to Dennis's home where the children really enjoyed the pool.

We were also able to celebrate Cameron's 6 th birthday. 

It was a great evening.

Best wishes,

Bev and Ross

Mission San Jose

San Antonio has a number of missions which came about in the 18th Centuary when the Spanish church built 5 Catholic missions along the San Antonio River.  The purpose was to extend its denomination northwards from Mexico and to convert the native population to Catholism.  The five missions are The Alamo of Davey Crocket fame, Mission San Jose considered the Queen of the missions, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada.  We visited Mission San Jose which is the most restored mission of the five.   It was established in 1720 and is the finest example of a completely restored mission in the USA.

 The church continues to provide services and weddings.  At the entrance of the church Christ's family tree is evident.  To know more about the missions have a look at

www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/sanjose.htm
www.nps.gov/saan/

On the groungs of the mission is the San José's grist mill in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.  It never ground corn, only wheat? The mill was built late in the mission period; by then the mission Indians had acquired a taste for wheat-based foods. Today the mill is mostly a reproduction, but is in operation five days a week.

There is a lot of Cactus around Texas and it even grows on the roof.

The missions are worth a visit as they provide some insight into the lives of those who fought so hard just to survive.

More to folllow.

Best wishes,

Bev and Ross

Australian Friends Visit

Over the last week we have had the pleasure of hosting some of Australian friends who came for a visit.  So one of the first places we visited was the Alamo.

While walking around we enjoyed not only the stories of the fateful events of 1863 but also the gardens which surround the barracks block.  It was a very hot day with temperatures of 100 F so as sun wise Australians Julie, Ross and Beverley ensured they were well protected.  None of the hats would have won  an award but they did the job.  No sunburn for us.

No visit to downtown San Antonio would be complete without a trip to the Riverwalk.  So after a visit to the Alamo and a 45 minute tour bus tour around the city we headed for lunch at a favourite Mexican restaurant located on the river.  Jennifer, Garry and Julie had never been to San Antonio before so we introduced them to some Tex/Mex fare.  The fajita and the margarita.

Another staple of this part of the country is the pizza.  We thought we were doing well with a 20"- 16 slice.

Our friends had the giant version.

Have a look at the slice from the giant pizza.  Brendon and Patrick thought this was just great.  As you would be aware 'everything is bigger in Texas' especially if you eat at Big Lou's.

June is also Dennis' birthday and so this was good opportunity to spoil him.  He really enjoys chocolate cake and did a good job serving it up to us all.

Jennifer was the photographer while we looked on.  Marilee was also able to  join us.

It was a delight to have Julie, Jennifer and Garry come to stay and to be able to introduce them to some of our friends.    

Best wishes to all,

Bev and Ross

Dallas

Everyone has heard of Dallas and whilst we have been through this town many times we had never had the time to have a good look around.  So we took the opportunity to visit and enjoyed looking around at the interesting city buildings. (All three photos taken from the seventh floor of the book repository - there no photos allowed from the sixth - see below).

It is well known that many Texans enjoy hunting and fishing so much so they make furniture out of their hunt.

The Texans really enjoy owning a good pair of boots and as you can see there are a lot to choose from.

Dallas is also the place that JF Kennedy was asassinated in 1963 so no visit would be complete with out immersing oneself in the activities of that fateful day.  The photo below is looking from Elm Street towards the grassy knoll, long a point of contention for those who believe there was a second shooter.

This is from the roadway towards the grassy knoll where it was thought that the second shooter was located (in the trees behind the wall).

And this is looking from that location. (if you look closely you will see an X marked on the road and this is the location where the second shot hit Kennedy).

The Book Repository (building on the left) where officially all the shots came from.  The window at the end near the road, second floor from the top (just hidden by the tree) is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots from.  The Repository is now a museum and very worthy of a visit.  To know more about the events of this day in 1993 please have a look at http://www.jfk.org/   and http://www.jfkstudies.org/   There are a number of conspiracy theories about who did what and to whom on this day and while the US Government has officially closed the case there are many who believe the truth has not been told.  So its up to you to make up your mind about the events of November 1963.  JFK is still a significant part of the American psyche.

The weather was hot with temperatures around100F.  But it was worth the visit.

Best wishes,
Bev and Ross