The 11th Street Cowboy Bar

This whole post is pulled off of Bob and Molly’s blog;  blatant out right thievery, but she does it sooooo much better and they are having me cook dinner so that is my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

 

  In the little town of Bandera, which is known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, you will find The 11th Street Cowboy Bar.  There are some things that are just “purely Texan” and the 11th Street Cowboy Bar is one of them.

On most Wednesday evenings in pretty weather, they fire up HUGE charcoal grills…..

….and you bring your own steaks to cook on these big, hot, grills.  For $5.00, you get a large cooked-to-perfection baked potato, salad with all the fixin’s,  and hot rolls.   Oh, and a plate to put your steak on!!! (Bring your own steak knife!)   Then you gather around and cook your steaks and share a Texas style meal and listen to some of the best Country Western bands around….with lots of two-steppin’ on the outdoor dance floor.

If you wander thru this Cowboy Bar and Grill, you will find the most unusual decor……

   …..rumor has it that they will give you free beer for your bra…..(thanks, but, No thanks!:) )

Thanks to some gorgeous weather and great friends, we shared a really fun evening in Bandera this week…..

Bill and Helen…..

Lynette, Gregg, Chuck and Kathy…A few of the girls checking out the entry to the ladies room…hmmmm….. big grins there :)……

…more of the group waving back at us….Mary and Rich…..

..and then it was time to say GoodNite, …Gregg, Bob and Bill, chattin’ up the Indian……

…it was a night to remember, Texas style for sure!   More good memories, made and shared, and lots to be grateful for!!!

Shop Till They Drop (guys that is)

We took off for Fredericksburg today and  started at the Wild seed Farms.  There were many flowers in bloom and it was great to just walk around enjoying the sights and the many shops they had.  The country side on the way there was totally in bloom and truly awesome.

Bluebells, red bells and purple bells.

Poppy field in bloom

 

From there is was lunch time, sorry no pictures, but Chuck and Mac ate so much that Bob had to literally haul them out.

From there it was on to some serious shopping at many of the original shops, and you might expect to see on the nightly news where the economy has picked up rather well in this area.

Bob waiting patiently for the women shoppers.

Tomorrow it is off to the Biker Bar for dinner.  Nothing but the best for us!  Life is Good!

Corpus, Rockport & Wind

We arrived in Corpus with some of the best gas mileage ever, almost 13 miles per gallon, needless to say we had a tailwind  most of the way.  If we could have put up a sail we would have arrived with more gas than we departed with….lol.  With the exception of yesterday we have been blessed with the that wind.

Dinner?

After getting settled in the Navy campground, in the humongous sites, and getting recommendations of seafood restaurants we were off to dinner at Snoopy’s.  It was okay, nothing special, but we enjoyed eating on the bay and watching the antics of all the birds. The fishermen coming in would dump their left over bait and the birds sure knew it.  They were all waiting for their free hand out. The next day we were off to the beach up the coast into Rockport, actually scouted out Alice Fay’s for a  late lunch, and the fish there was great.  Did mention the Rockport gang to the waitress as the reason we were there, but got this blank look, so evidently she had no idea.  We were on a hunt for whoppers and not sure if we found them or not as they were so far away.  They were in a meadow by the '”the big tree”.  The tree is estimated to be over 1000 years old.  The flowers were just beautiful in that area.

Whooper's????????

It was an awesome day, could not have asked for better weather and we just put zed around being tourists.  Yesterday took us to the Botanical Gardens,and the roses were fabulous, but would not put it on a bucket list.

 

Always said that Chuck could fall asleep on a rock, and this was very deceptive, but it is all rock.

But no, he is not asleep.  Although touring the gardens was not one of the things he especially wanted to do, so thank you dear, for humoring me.

Tomorrow we will be moving to Bourne, looking forward to meeting up with friends both new and old.  If you ever find yourself behind the “Damnearahouse” be sure give us a honk.

Happy Easter

Tomorrow will see our wheels turning, as we are leaving the valley.  We plan on going to Corpus Christi for a week or so.  The Navy has a nice campground that is right on the beach, where we planning on staying. 

This park is so empty, almost everyone but the people who live here year round are gone, except a few Canadians who are holding off till the last day. 

We have enjoyed our stay here very much, Chuck gets to play as much cards and golf as he wants, which leaves me free to do as much or as little as I like.

We are in the process of revamp our travel plans, which will revolve around how quickly Chuck will be able to get a small hernia taken care of in Colorado Springs.  Instead of picking our grandson up in California and heading north to Washington, we plan to fly him into Los Vegas, and go from there.  Think that there is a lot more to entertain him in that part of the country, San Diego, Disneyland, so he is sure to be happy with it.

The wind is blowing today, hopeful it will die down some, glad that we have such a short trip tomorrow, got to ease back into the travel mode.

Hope all have a wonderful Easter, life is good.

Too Good Not To Share

Children Writing About the Ocean...
1) - This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly, age 6)
2) - Oysters' balls are called pearls. (Jerry, age 6)
3) - If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you don't have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. (age 7)
4) - Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend any more. (Kylie, age 6)
5) - A dolphin breaths through an a$$hole on the top of its head.
(Billy, age 8)
6) - My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and pots and comes back with crabs. (Millie, age 6)
7) - When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn't blow the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. (William, age 7)
8) - Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? 
(Helen, age 6)
9) - I'm not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write. (Amy, age 6)
10) - Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves in to chargers. (Christopher, age 7)
11) - When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6)
12) - Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Divers can't go down alone, so they have to go down on each other. (Becky, age 8)
13) - On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water fired right up her big fat butt. (Julie, age 7)
14) - The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don't drown I don't know. (Bobby, age 6)
15) - My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean. What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom. (James, age 7)

I’m Bald

Well, almost that is.  This is the 3rd time since we have been here that I’ve had my hair cut, all by the same person.  The first time was good, the second perfect, but this time it is so short. that all I have is cow licks.  I’m sure it will grow and the world won’t end, but third time was suppose to be a charm.

Getting closer to the time of leaving here, have people coming to wash and wax the fiver Friday.  Glad that we are having it done, don’t like Chuck up on the roof. Park is getting emptier by the day.  We debated making a reservation for next year, but decided that we did not want to be committed to being here at a certain time, or for that matter , even to being here next year.  Very seldom do we make reservations, we are more of the whatever, when ever, maybe never type of people.

We made it to Rudy’s Bar B Q last night and it was soooo good.  Brought a lot home, so we will have dinner tonight with more of the same.  Also saw the movie Bounty Hunter, which was better than I thought it would be.  Other than that we have been just hanging out here doing a lot of this and that.

Life is good.

Smelling the Orange Blossoms

There are three trees around our rig and the smell is heavenly.  Sure glad that we don’t have allergies.  Weather has gotten ever so nice, time for the swimming pool, need to get some color back, as the foul weather has taken it’s toll on my tan. This is more like what we have come to expect here in Texas, warm to hot and windy. 

 

Texas Bluebells

We are seeing a lot of our new friends leave, as they are making their way home, although most of the Canadians are putting off the move for a few more weeks.  We are getting that ole “hitch itch” too.  Our last bridge lesson is next week and Chuck has a doctors appointment for the 26th and after that we are free. We are planning a big loop around the country this coming year, from here up to Colorado Springs over into the lower half of Utah, on to the Grand Canyon, California, where we will pick up our grandson, then a meandering trip up into Washington.  We will fly him home once he’s tired of us and we will continue on to Indiana for the Escapees & Nicks rally’s.  From there over to the east coast and down to Key West and back up the west coast of Florida and follow the shoreline, as much as possible back to the RGV by January.  If your going to make a plan it might as well be a big one, and this one makes me tired just writing about it.  

We are on cable here, so we had our dish put on inactive, which means we can not use the dvr, but there was a channel from Canada that had the Amazing Race on at 6, so I was able to get my race fix and make it to out Sunday night card game at 7.  But once daylight savings time kicked in that no longer works, so last night had to make a big choice.  DARN!  We have so enjoyed our time spent at this park, though the spaces are extremely tight.  There are some premier sites in among the park models that are quite spacious and we are planning on reserving one of those if possible, just have to decide on a date for our arrival here. 

Got our taxes done, renewed our passports, even though I sent in some pictures of some “old” people.  Life is good.   

Finally Made It To Mexico

Sign that greets entering Mexico

Made the run over the border yesterday, and we had a great time. Had my super shrimp cocktail at the Red Snapper, along with 2 margaritas. Sound like a great diet to me! But it is working great and that is all I care about. Picked up a few meds, 10 videos, couple of things for the great grandkids for Easter….AND a “PRADA” purse for 25 dollars. LOL….Been looking for a lime green one, also got another one for a gift, but in red.

Will be the last time we probably make that trip this year as our passports expire in a few days. Guess I better get that taken care of while I’m thinking of it, out of sight, out of mind, has been kicking in on me. Have to start writing them notes that I’ve laughed at Chuck for doing it for years.

Today it was bridge lessons in the morning, ran home for lunch, and back to a session playing with the “big dogs”. Those are the people who really are out to cut your throat, I’m being a bit unfair, there are a lot of fun people, but a few take the game waaaaay to seriously. But it sure feels good when you can beat them at their own game.

Princess Kylee’s 2nd birthday

Sure wish we could have been there, she is growing just too fast. Her mother made the castle cake, did a fabulous job.

Days are flying by, miss all our friends, just knowing that they are no longer just down the road, but know that we will be together again before too long. That’s the RV life.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN??????

Wow, the time has just flown by.  I’ve been back from my trip to Wisconsin for Aunts funeral for a couple of weeks now.  Glad that I went, and flying was not too bad, hand carried my luggage as I had to change planes 3 times and sure wanted a change of clothes while I was there.  Those people that live there are hardy souls.  They go out in below zero weather, cut a hole in the ice and fish for hours and then call it fun!  Brings real meaning to flash frozen.  The fish are sure good though.

Nothing much has happened in the past few weeks, a few get together with the Dreamers, who are fixing to leave us in a few days.  We did have a Girls day out the other day and it was a real kick. There were 8 of us and we first hit the restaurant supply, then it was off to a Vintage Tea Room.

  Must say from the outside it did not look to promising, but……..we had a great time. Moral of the story, never judge a book by the cover.    

It was a funky eclectic atmosphere  and we were invited to get in the spirit of the times by dressing in the clothing that was found through out the rooms.

Netters looking good.Love hats, hate hat hair                                       

                                         Arlene, hats suit you!

                                     

                        Dortha, hmmmmm

Our lunch decision was very easy too, chicken salad or chicken salad sandwich.  Peach tea, iced or hot.  But the laughs we had were continuous..

Putting the Tea Room in the rear window, we headed for a Rio Grande experience, a ROPA.   Where these clothes come from I have no idea, but they are baled….yes….just like hay.  People do go there and dig, sift, sort and all the rest looking for a bargain.  We did spot one thing, but just left it lay.

Neiman Marcus bag

Actually we were very careful not to touch anything. Note the two women in the pile.

ROPA,  it is 10 cents a pound, over priced by a dime.

 

We did do a little shopping, but everything was on a hangar.  After arriving back at Netters RV, waited for the guys to get back from the golf course and once they did, the biggest swarm of mosquitoes followed them that we had to make a run for the truck.

This is one Olympia match you will not be able to see on TV.

   But they were 2nd in pinochle…(card game) in the Senior Olympics.

Sure hope that the weather we had today is what we are going to see more of from here on, it was wonderful, low 80’s, just what we have come to expect here, unfortunately there has been very little of it this year.

We are still trying to get to Mexico one last time, but the weather and the gun fights have made it nigh impossible up to now, but we will play it by ear, if we make fine, if not, oh well.

Feel like I’ve caught this blog up some what, life is good. 

Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Bridge has taken over for us these past few days, think that we have played almost every day in some form or another. But the rain has kept us indoors most of the time too, and it did rain buckets on Wednesday.

Tonight we went to “Taste of the Valley” along with 10,000 other people. It was so crowded that it was a total failure as far as I’m concerned. You could not move, sure will be checking that off the bucket list! Did run into the other “Dreamers” and they gave up on the event and went some place else. We were with some other friends and we just came home.

Tomorrow I have to run around and get a few things done as I’m having to fly to Wisconsin for a funeral. My Aunt passed away last night, and during our visit this summer she asked me to promise that I would attend her funeral no matter what. One thing I will be much more appreciative of this “bad” weather we are having here in Texas. Checked the weather for up there….nothing over 19 degrees. So, I’m off.

Wow!!! Time Fly's

We have been so busy chasing our tails, opps, no that was the cat, but we have been going in circles. Having a great time doing it though.

Last Saturday, 23rd, we had bridge in the morning, and Chuck was sweating bullets trying to remember all that he had learned in the lessons. Then we met up with “the dreamers” for lunch at the Chicken House Opry. Must say that we are eating at some high end places lately. Here we lined up and got our lunch and basically stood at tables to eat. But for 5 dollars it covered lunch for two, and included drinks, yeah, not a complaint was heard. Show was okay, but not nearly as good as the time we went last year.

Our dining tables

Boudrou, one of the entertainers

My new man

Sunday, we met up at Mac & Netters for a Mexican feast. And everyone was surprised at the appearance of Rod and Deb. They decided that they would just drop down a few hundred miles on their way to San Antonio for a few weeks of D&D. (Dine and Drink) What RV’ers are pro’s at. When we first started full timing I laughed and said my goal was to eat my way across the USA. Well, been there, done that! Now I’m paying the price with carrots sticks and celery.

Monday, took us to Mexico, with Donna & Nolan, lunch at the Red Snapper, I had a great shrimp cocktail, while the others had fried or garlic shrimp. Then we wondered off to find a place for pedicures and a barber for Nolan. Poor Chuck, his feet are so sensitive that he laughed the whole time they were working on him. We made it back to the RV in time to get to the clubhouse and play up & down the river. Fast game, Lots of fun.

Wednesday we had bridge lessons in the morning. Turned the truck in for some warranty work. Thursday, we had a golf tournament for the Senior Olympics, which started, as far as I was concerned, late Tuesday. We had to be at the course by 7:15, which meant leaving here at a quarter till. And of course the weather man got it wrong again, it was raining, well, at least a heavy mist, and windy. But with a 140 players there was no way it would be cancelled, but the rain did go away, where as the wind only increased through out the day. It got so bad that one of the carts in our group actually had there roof blow off! Some how we did have a good time, did not place among the winners, but we all have a t-shirt saying we are Olympians.

Friday was spent doing nothing, waiting on the truck they had promised would be ready the day before. Finally about 6 we got to pick it up, run to the store and that ends the week.

Senior Road Trip
While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant, and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table, and she didn't miss them until they had been driving for about forty minutes. By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around, in order to return to the restaurant to retrieve her glasses.
All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy old man. He fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up for a single minute. To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer yelled to her, "While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."

Back to the Future.......

AND THIS IS WHAT I ATE

There is a small “burger joint” not too far from where we we staying, although for the rest it is a little drive.

But this place proves the point of give them great burgers and they will come.  They have no outside signs, only a open sign in the window, and their  are hours are according to how long the meat holds out.  They bring in 2-3 hundred pounds a day, and when it is gone, they turn the sign to closed.  Pretty simple, but when you see it, it is truly amazing.

And the line goes on

and out the door!

 

Chucks lunch

My lunch

Mac & Netter sharing

Dortha giving it her full attention while Mark is waiting patiently for his half.

Once again, Donna & Nolan managed to evade the camera. 

Really loving the new computer, know that it is waaaay more computer than I need, but better more than less, right?  The weather is absolutely wonderful, think it calls for a trip to the pool, so I’m off.

I’M BACK

Did not fall off a cliff, get eaten by a giant grasshopper or been spending time in rehab. Got my new computer the other day and then comes the fun part of setting it up. The only real problem that I had was my air card would not work on Windows 7. Got a new one today, but not working like advertized. The good news is we have very good wi-fi here, so can just hop on it.

For a few days there Mitilda was looking to head out for warmer places. We were going through propane like no ones business. We pay for our own electric here so there is no choice of what we heat with. But it has been wonderful the last few days.

We have been busy doing a whole lot of nothing……well, getting reconnected with a lot of people we have met along the way the last few years. And that is great, it is amazing how so much time can pass yet it is like we have just seen each other last week. Roger & Barb are not far from us and we went to an Escapees luncheon. The next day we met up with the “Dreamers”.

There was Mark & Dortha

Mac & LaNette

Roger & Barb

Ed & Marilyn

Jessie & Ginger

Also there were Donna and Nolan, but there were no pictures of them, The Best Half of Our Life just have to check them out. Everyone is here in the valley for a few months or more, before going different routes again.

I really twisted Chucks arm and we are taking bridge lessons. I’m surprised how much bridge has changed, and that he is enjoying the lessons very much. Now we will see if we can actually play together.

Saturday was a golf tournament, and as usual the weather did not cooperate, cold and windy, but the day before and the day after, wonderful. Plus we had to be there ready to tee off by 8:00AM. I actually gave some thought to getting ready the night before and sleeping sitting up. Early morning and I are not on friendly terms. Getting up is not the problem, getting going is!

We did attend a Pressure Pro seminar put on by the McFalls, and we now own a unit. I’m feeling better already. Felt like we were pushing our luck, and the third time might just do us in. Also got the Bose system installed and a flat panel TV for the bedroom. We installed it so it can also go outside, which will be wonderful when our grandson is with us this summer for the wii. Course we can we can use it out there now too. Just a little close inside to golf on the wii. One project to go yet and that is installing a shelf under the desk for the printer. Chuck will be one Happy Camper when it is all behind him. Carpentry is not a high point for him.

Using livewriter (thanks Dortha) it is wonderful.

Life is Good.

SMELLING the ROSES

That is what we are doing.

Actually I'm having computer woes,

and there isn't any way

that I could post using this

computer.

All is fine, life is good.