San Antonio - December 2022

It's usually "Pushy Paula" that rounds up a bunch of us to take a trip but this time it was Mimi.  So Paula and I joined Mimi and Tom along with two of her sisters - Margie and Joanie with their husbands. Our 8 enrolled in one of the Road Scholar (used to be called Elderhostal) trips called " The Holiday Season in San Antonio: Lighting up the River Walk ".  It was a 4 day, 5 night experience. They provided great lectures and interesting walks and tours.  If you would like to just see the photos and not bother reading the narrative - (That I will finish later - honest) - use this link. https://www.flickr.com/photos/katiea48/albums/72177720304522727/

Sunday - arrival and instructions and introductions. We were housed at the Drury Plaza Hotel which has a unique history. San Antonio seems to have a VERY strong preservation commitee because you will see a lot of old buildings that have been converted and/or moved into other areas and uses - our hotel used to be the Alamo National Bank  . Our room was a very large and comfortable corner room with a great view of the city. 

Alamo Stained Glass 

Monday - free hot hotel breakfast (same every day - pancakes, eggs, yogurt, cereal, fruit, bagels or toast, sausage, oatmeal - you get the idea) then attend a 90 min lecture at 8:15. Professor Allen Hamilton about the history of Texas. 6 different flags have flown over the Texas area - Spanish, France, Mexico, Texas, Confederate, then the American Flag. 

After the lecture we met up with a different guide ( retired architech ) who walked us around the area. First was the San Fernando Cathedral, built in the mid 1700 - one of the oldest churches in America by Spaniards from the Canary Islands. It is the burial place of of the ashes of Crockett, Bowie and Travis. 

 Then we walked to the Menger Hotel - which at one point in time housed Teddy Roosevelt, Sydney Lanier ( GA poet ) and Bill Clinton (he liked the Mango ice cream). This is where we ate a delicous lunch. 

Texas style decorated tree

lots of Live oaks and Pecan trees

The Alamo - was initially a Spanish Colonial Mission 

There were total of 5 along the San Antonio River 

We walked back to the hotel for a brief rest.  We were scheduled for a river walk boat ride that evening so we quickly took an Uber to a great Mexican Restaurant (Paloma Blanca- recommended by Jay T) with great marquritas and quac - made right at the table. 

Returned to the hotel by Uber again -- both were great drivers and friendly. Took our boat ride - learned some history on how the riverwalk was developed by R.H. Hugman.  Because of a bad flood in 1921 city officials decided to construct a damn and pave over the river - but with funding from the WPA and the very strong "San Antonio Conservation Society. The riverwalk was born - Hugman designed not only the paths but what would be included on the walk. 

Fall and a Little of the Winter - 2022

 This fall I took a couple of trips to see Penny and Ted in St Augustine. One for a beach visit 

and another for a UGA vs Florida and Halloween. 

Next St Augustine visit will be for their church wedding the end of December. (Penny is actually wearing my wedding dress - which was also my mother's) 

Also during my visit I got to see one of the launches.

In between visits, I continued my part time work at the Jekyll Convention Center and also pet/house sat for Judy and Ken. The animals didn't give me any problems but trying to figure out their new shower did.....

In October, Laurie, Gail and I drove down to Jacksonville for the very interesting Van Gogh exhibit. I loved watching some of the children be mesmerized by the room. 

In November, Rosemary and David came to SSI for a visit. Good excuse for an oyster roast - right ?!

Ted and Penny came for the Jekyll Shrimp and Grits Festival, which was delicious. Festival had lots of art, bands, and a little rain. It was also the first time Penny had ever ridden on a "Cheese Wagon" 

Living on the coast of Georgia, you are bound to get a couple of storms. This year two. No real damage except for some docks and stairs - just a lot of marsh wrack, and choppy water for the surfers.

Back to Salem for Thanksgiving, Zac's 50th Birthday and Christmas. Zac wanted an iron pour for his Birthday Party - so except for buying beer and sodas, making chili and cupcakes, I had very little prep work to do. Party afterwards in the warmer welding bay where we had food and music. Sarah (Katrina's mom) got Zac oysters so he was very happy spinning records and shucking oysters. 

I had previously watched Zac make the his molds, but never had watched the set up of the furnace and pouring area. Very interesting and time consuming.

Zac's Dragon egg cooling 

 Another first for me - was the Tractor Christmas Parade held in Dorset VT. It was a little drizzly so not as many tractors as expected.