Bella

Once in a while I may make a less than flattering comment about our Bella. But she does insist on being front and center at all times. She is a "me, me, me...look at me" kind of dog.

She pushes Dora out of the way to be petted or greet visitors or when treats are offered or when there is something to see out a window or door...always first...always in front...

I was going to check e-mail on my computer last evening but when I approached my seat in the front of the motorhome, this is what I saw...poor Dora, smashed against the seat back by Bella's rump! No doubt Dora was already there when Bella decided to take over that viewing seat...teehee.

Lovin' Life ~~ With the Girls

Bev

SALTGRASS Steak House

Ta da...this is my final post about Galveston, I assure you. When we were in San Antonio, Rich mentioned wanting to eat at a Landry's restaurant because he heard they have great steaks. Turns out that the name of the Landry's steak house is SALTGRASS. Anyway, even though we walked past it on the Riverwalk several times, we were so enamored of the fabulous Mexican food we were being served that we passed on by.

Not completely giving up on the idea though, he said that we should perhaps eat at the one in Galveston. Are we ever glad that we did!

The Shiner Bock Beer Bread, Caesar Salad, the Wagon Boss Top Sirloin, Maudeen's Center Cut Filet, the steak fries, the loaded baked potato, the onion strings...absolute perfection...every single bite! Rich's sirloin was nearly gone by the time I turned on the camera. I did manage, through extreme exercise of willpower though, to save a couple of bites of filet for each of our oh-so-lucky girls! They loved it too! This was the real thing, perfectly seasoned, robust beef flavor...yummmm!

We just pulled into an RV Park in Longview, Texas for the night. Today was just a driving day, lots of miles of pineywoods and hills through lovely east Texas.

Lovin' Life ~~ And Great Steak

Bev

Beach Girls

I'm talkin' about our girls, Dora and Bella! Yesterday morning we all went to the beach. It was a kick watching them. They would walk out onto the wet sand with Rich and then RUN back to drier sand when the waves came toward them...over and over we laughed at them. Naturally, Bella was the braver of the two and the first to actually walk into the water. Here is a series of photos...

Even though I would have loved a sunny day for a walk on the beach, I do like the flat light in these photos.

It was all worth it, but what a mess they were in the car and the motorhome...yikes!

Lovin' Life ~~ Entertained by The Girls

Bev

Jamaica Beach RV Park

Rich picked what must be the very best RV park on Galveston Island.

The office and other guest amenities are housed in the beautiful "home" on the right.

There was a small herd of Alpacas for petting...

There was an outdoor fitness area. The equipment looked great but I never saw anyone use it while we were there.



There were lots of Oleander bushes which always remind me of California!

But wait...there's more!

Ahoy, mateys! A pirate ship has beached on the other shore!

It appears they're unloading cargo. Oh no, shiver me timbers, there's a sword fight between two pirates if you peek through the jaws!

Captain Hook is manning the cannon. 

Whilst this seafaring lad hoists the day's catch.

Look closely at the face of this bemused pirate. Do you recognize him? Doesn't he look like Captain Jack Sparrow?

Here's a closer view...

This was the Pirate themed miniature golf course at Jamaica Beach RV Park...the coolest we've seen by far. The playground and pool were top-notch too. The dog run was small, but they do have one.

Lovin' Life ~~ At Jamaica Beach

Bev

Galveston

As we take our leave this morning, the sun shines on Galveston Island.

We arrived Tuesday under a thick cloud cover with winds so strong that the roiling waves crashed violently onto the Gulf shore, depositing their bounty.

After settling in our RV Park, we took a drive to get the lay of the land. The town seemed a bit weatherworn or timeworn; the ocean does take its toll and there remains unrepaired damage from the 2008 Hurricane Ike. Also, as we travel we continue to learn, even about ourselves. A recent revelation is that after leaving a place that we LOVE like the kids' house or Seattle or San Antonio it takes some time to adjust before we can appreciate a new landscape. Or sometimes it's simply bad timing...the gray skies and strong winds continued until this morning.

Did you know that I love pelicans? Well, brown pelicans rule here, we saw hundreds of them, along with many other species of birds.

Can you see their noble heads and long beaks?

Aren't these pelicans magnificent looking in flight?

These are Laughing Gulls...their cry is "ha ha ha"!

This is a Great Egret; I loved the colors of the grasses.

Here are Cattle Egret and, yes, there are small cattle herds on the island.

These are Black Necked Stilts; see their reflections in the still water?












Much to our surprise, as we drove under a local highway overpass at the end of the island, there were seven of these raccoons and a cat perched on burlap sandbags eating ?? I don't know what. The cat was nonplussed but most of the raccoons drifted off when we stopped. They may be cute but their bared teeth made them quite intimidating!

Typical of beach communities there were homes in every color of the rainbow; I would love a teal house with bright yellow trim! The Strand Historic District, Galveston's downtown area, is filled with fabulously ornate buildings, many of them dating even before the horrendous hurricane of 1900 destroyed much of the island. All of this would have been stunning, I'm sure, if we had seen it in the light of the sun.

Lovin' Life ~~ Stay Tuned for More of Galveston

Bev

San Antonio Missions

I gave you the weekend off because posting about it would have been just too boring. We spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the dog park, at Riverwalk, eating fabulous Mexican food at a variety of restaurants, visiting with our neighbors, watching parades on TV, reading, relaxing, etc. The last two parades of Fiesta are the Battle of the Flowers and the Flambeau. They are held on Friday and Saturday respectively; each of them draws 300,000 to 350,000 spectators lining the downtown parade routes. With parking at a premium and our attitude toward crowds of that size, we opted to watch them on TV all comfy at home. Oh shoot, I guess I could have posted photos of floats and marching bands taken on the TV screen...see what I mean about boring blog material?

Even though the Alamo is by far the most famous, there are four more missions on the San Antonio Mission Trail. Since yesterday was our last day there, after taking the girls for one last romp at the greatest dog park ever, visiting the missions would be the last of our San Antonio sightseeing. The first Spanish mission on the San Antonio river, the Alamo was founded in 1718. Over the next thirteen years, the other four were established along the river.forming the largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America. The compounds were open, but I could not enter two of the four churches because San Jose is being renovated and San Juan closed early, just as we got there.

Mission Concepcion

Mission San Jose

This is the largest compound with most buildings and the walls intact, known as the "Queen of the Missions."

Mission San Juan

This is the entrance through which a gatekeeper would give permission to enter the mission...y'all know by now how I love gates and doorways.

Mission Espada

Another gateway, this one framed that magnificent tree with the tangled trunks.

I was deeply touched by the simplicity of this church.

Lovin' Life ~~ Experiencing History

Bev

P.S. We are driving through Houston as I click on "Publish Post"!

Riverwalk Mariachi Festival & A Wedding!

We visited with our neighbors after returning from Austin. The dad, son, and two older grandsons had left the mom, DiL, and youngest grandson here Tuesday when they left to hunt javelins. They got back yesterday and were proud to report that they killed three of the wild hogs and have several coolers of fresh meat to prove it. We even got to see movies he took of the hunt.They are delightful, friendly folks from Alabama and we found lots of common topics and places...another joy of RVing!

But the day was long from over! Last evening we returned to the Riverwalk for the Mariachi Festival. It was the first time we've been down there in the evening...it was crowded and festive and the atmosphere energy-filled. On the tour we had taken, the guide pointed out an area on Riverwalk where lots of weddings are held. I wanted to find that spot. So, we walked what would have seemed like several miles just a couple of days ago but was actually twice as long and not at all taxing. Obviously I need to do things like this more often!

The tiny wedding island is actually the root ball of an enormous, old cypress tree. Here we are beside the sculpture of hands, two rings, and a cross.

Just after this photo was taken, a barge with a large mariachi group passed by. Since I was talking to the couple who had taken our picture, I nearly missed it...sorry for the blur!

The most exciting thing happened next! The couple who taken our picture were actually waiting for the minister who was going to marry them...right there...on the wedding island. They were eloping and no one was with them so I GOT TO BE THEIR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER! Oh my! I loved that!

After their marriage ceremony, folks who were dining outside at nearby restaurants on the river applauded...it was so romantic and sweet and they were so happy; I was ecstatic to have been a small part of such a lovely event. Timing really is everything.

I realize that I have posted so many photos of the Riverwalk but I do love the place and want to share just a few in the fading light of evening.

There were strolling mariachi groups...

...and lovely lights reflected in the river.












And there was PARTYING everywhere you looked. We had never seen this; do you know what it is?

I had to ask after seeing the flourish with which the server quickly placed a full bottle of Dos Equis XX Lager upside down in the large margaritas. At a table near us, all  four people had one so we got to enjoy the show. It is called...are you ready? A Dosarita! We declined the server's offer to bring us one; have you ever had one?

At the same restaurant, Rich and I were serenaded by these great guys...what a blast! 

On the way out of the city last night, we were treated to this view of the Tower of the Americas...stunning!

I suppose you're not surprised to hear that we have extended our stay here for a few more days. It will be hard to leave; there is much to love about San Antonio.

Lovin' Life ~~ San Antonio Style

Bev