Catching up with Friends

Another great weekend spent with friends. On Saturday evening here Ross and Merrilee are enjoying curried shrimp and rice while I took the photo.  Merrilee is USAF (ret), and a traveling CRNA. 

While we do not have inch worms in Australia this is not the case in the USA.  On this occasion one came and joined us for dinner.

This same evening we had the company of 10 deer. 

Sunday afternoon saw us getting together with good friends Randy and Wanda.  Randy is USAF (ret)  and now works in wound management.  They had a 3 year posting to Australia in the late 90's. Trish and Murray our friends from Australia who have been coming back to the USA for 9 years now and traveling in their motor home also joined us.  Here Ross,  Randy and Murray are having a discussion.  Hopefully it was about the food we were about to devour.

Trish always has a camera at hand while Wanda was focused on the food.

Randy who has a variety of critters which fortunately he keeps safely away, introduced us to his baby Ball Python called Snapper.  Snapper has a healthy appetite , hence the name.

Before we said our goodbye's Randy lead us in " I still call Australia home",  the choir was not the best but we gave the song our best effort.  Thanks Randy and Wanda for thinking of us.

As the afternoon came to an end we got together for the group photo. 

We all know that everything is bigger in Texas as evidenced by the boot below. This one at a boot store in Wimberly TX.

It was a great weekend.  To Merrilee, safe travels and thank you for fitting us into your busy schedule.  To Trish and Murray, enjoy your tripping around the wide US and to Randy and Wanda thank you for making us always welcome in your home.

Cheers Bev and Ross

Texas Wild floweres in Spring

Hello All,

Following are some of the magnificent wild flowers that we see in the Texas spring. There has been a lot of rain recently and everywhere around the Hill Country and San Antonio is alive with colour.

Best wishes to all.
Beverley and Ross

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