Spring Update

Better late than never...right?? I'm finally getting around to bringing you all up to date since our last post. After leaving Mason we spent three weeks at Abilene State Park near Buffalo Gap (TX), then on to visit the kids in Artesia (NM) for a couple of weeks, ending up in Lubbock (TX). We have been here at the Loop 289 RV Park since April 22nd. Donnie started having severe neck pain and is now in the process of getting it checked out. After xrays and an MRI, he has an appointment with the neurosurgeon on May 10th. We will keep you posted on the "old fossil's" condition (his words not mine!)...

Artesia...Our oldest grandson, Rylee, at the baseball field.

Our youngest grandson, Parker. Grandma won"t make any "little stinker" remarks, even if it is very tempting!

Parker before one of his games. PaPa and I sure enjoyed watching the boys play ball.

Near Abilene...We found this pretty patch of bluebonnets while out driving southwest of the state park.

The Jot 'Um Down Store in Oplin, southeast of Abilene. The store was first a bank, then a telephone exchange. We went inside and visited with Vera Bradshaw, the owner who is in her 80s. She and her husband, who passed away in 2007, bought the store back in 1983. Vera still cooks burgers most days at lunch time and we have heard they are really good. We were too late to try them out but still enjoyed Mrs. Bradshaw's stories.

The Windsor Hotel, built in 1927, was originally named the Hilton. This is the first hotel to bear Conrad Hilton's name. The building is now a middle income apartment complex.

The interior of the hotel has been restored.

The old ballroom as it was in 1927.

This old building on Cypress Street was the original Windsor Hotel built in 1890. The bottom floor now houses my favorite store in Abilene, The Texas Star. If you ever get the chance to shop here you won't regret it. The store is filled with all things Texas.

The Texas and Pacific Depot which was built in 1910, is now the Abilene Visitors Center. It is surrounded by a lovely park with a big fountain and nice shade trees.

While at the park, I caught a photo of this train rumbling down the track. I thought the flag on the side of the Union Pacific engine was neat. You can see the tunnel where passengers used to board the train. On the other side of the tunnel is the date 1936.