While spending a month in Lubbock, TX...

Several years ago we watched an episode of Texas Country Reporter featuring the Silent Wings Museum and always wanted to see it. The museum, in the old airport terminal, tells the story of the U.S. Military Glider Program and its role in World War II. The majority of American glider pilots received their wings at South Plains Army Airfield (SPAAF).


This plaque was presented to the city in 1997 in memory of the WW II glider pilots. I hope you can read it okay...


After watching a short film with actual WW II footage, we toured the museum which includes three extensive exhibit galleries, a research library and the theater. This is one of only a few restored CG-4A Gliders still in existence. Can you imagine piloting a glider, made of little more than plywood and painted canvas, into enemy territory? Many of those glider flights ended in a crash landing earning them the nickname "One way tickets". The pilots and the soldiers they transported truly were brave individuals.


The interior of the glider, which delivered ground troops, equipment, (including jeeps and artillery), even pack mules behind enemy lines. The nose of the plane lifted up to load the equipment, etc.


This flight jacket on display was worn by a pilot from Meridian, TX.


One of several posters displayed in the museum.


The Douglas C-47, known as the Skytrain, was primarily used as tow plane for the U.S. glider.


We also visited the Buddy Holly Center which is housed in the old Lubbock train depot building. The center includes the Buddy Holly Gallery, Texas Musicians Hall of Fame and an Art Gallery. The BH Gallery, shaped like a guitar, features a permanent exhibit on his life and music, including his Fender Stratocaster.
The photo above is of The West Texas Walk of Fame across the street from the Center, which honors musicians, singers, songwriters, actors and artists from the Panhandle Plains and West Texas. Some of the honorees in addition to Buddy Holly are Roy Orbison, Mac Davis, Waylon Jennings, Bob Wills and Tanya Tucker.


A week or so ago we drove over to Slaton, a dozen miles southeast of Lubbock. This downtown mural showing the history of Slaton was recently restored.


The 1912 Harvey House near the RR tracks in Slaton is now a Bed and Breakfast, Museum, Events Center & Texas Historic Landmark. Scottish immigrant Fred Harvey created the Harvey House chain in 1876, partnering with the Santa Fe railway, which built the restaurants and delivered food and supplies. Harvey provided the equipment, management and hospitality staff, including hostesses known as Harvey Girls.
Locals saved the building from the wrecking ball in 1989, buying the Harvey House and beginning the twenty year process of restoration.


Slaton Fire House built in 1928, is still in use today. My Dad was a Denton fireman for over three decades, so I thought I'd post this photo. At least there are no pics of old gas stations this time!

We're Back!!!

We are back in Artesia visiting with Casey, Angie, Rylee and Parker. Here are the boys in their construction gear that PaPa and Grandma brought them from Texas. They were outside hammering nails and measuring stuff with PaPa right after this photo was taken. Parker (age 4) is on the left and Rylee, (age 6) on the right. We have really enjoyed our time with the kids, visiting, going to Rylee's ball games and Grandma got to join Angie and the boys at the movies yesterday afternoon. By the way, if you get the chance, be sure to see "Rio", wonderful animation and music!
We are heading to Lubbock tomorrow for three or four weeks where we will do all those necessary "doctor-y" things: eye exams, checkups, etc.


One of the Texas State Longhorns at Abilene State Park, where we camped for a couple of weeks in March.



A classic Sinclair station in Albany northeast of Abilene. Yep, I find them fascinating and keep taking photos.



They really DO make 'em bigger in Texas! "Barbadilla" at Perini Ranch Steakhouse near Abilene State Park in Buffalo Gap. Perini Ranch has great steaks and an outstanding Sunday lunch buffet. Y'all know I couldn't blog without mentioning food, didn't you?



We also spent a week in Stephenville, where we stayed at the city RV park and visited old friends, Darwin and Winnie Stem. While there we ran over to Dublin to stock up on Dr Pepper. Our last visit there we toured the bottling plant and the museum. If you haven't tasted Dublin DP (original 1891 recipe made with Imperial pure cane sugar) you don't know what you are missing! I'm beginning to sound like the company's PR person. Hehe!

Greetings from Mason, TX

We have been in Mason for three weeks now, heading to Abilene State Park in Buffalo Gap next week. After leaving the valley, we had planned on spending a few weeks at Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi. Shelby had other ideas when she got sick so we came to Mason instead. Her vet (one of many) is in Brady just 30 or so miles north of here. Shelby is now on heart medication (after all she is 77 in dog years!) and is feeling better.
Below are photos of Mason and the surrounding Hill Country. Those of you who are familiar with the area, stifle those yawns, and bear with me!! Ha!


Our site in the Mason City RV Park just southeast of town. This is one of their better spaces with a large front yard. Even though it is near the golf course we haven't been hit with a golf ball (unlike previous visits), but Donnie did find one under the fifth wheel yesterday!
Oh yeah, check out the little red Tracker, that we tow behind the fifth wheel. Great for running around the countryside, it has kept us from putting a bunch of miles on our truck.



Sunset looking towards the park entrance on Hwy 87.



Mason City Courthouse. The Chamber of Commerce has a good website with a webcam: http://www.masontxcoc.com



Seaquist Home in Mason. Construction began in 1887 and was completed in 1919. The house boasts a 3rd floor ballroom.



The Broad Street Bridge, built in 1918, is a single lane bridge crossing Comanche Creek.



This building, near the bridge, started out in the late 1910s as a grocery store. The North Side Cafe has one of the best burgers we have ever tasted. I'm sure the other menu items are good too, but I wouldn't know as we always order the big cheeseburgers. Their soft drink machine is stocked with Dublin Dr. Pepper and RC Cola. Does it get any better than that??



The Doss Lutheran Church built in 1913.

The back of the church is as charming as the front.
The Doss community is about 25 miles south of Mason. There is a post office, school (grades K-8), and General Store/Feed Store in addition to the church. We drove out there a few days ago to check out the place and also to sample the chicken fried steaks at the cafe inside the General Store. The CFS was pretty tasty and we were told their burgers are good too.


While looking around Menard, 40 miles NW of here, we noticed this neat old Sinclair gas station. Built in the 1920s, it has been converted to a living space with a nice covered patio in back. I told our son, Casey, that we planned to buy it and move in. Needless to say, he didn't think his Mom was very funny! Oh well...





Two old churches and old general store in the community of Katemcy, north of Mason. This area is supposed to be a good place to hunt for Texas topaz, but it was too hot there yesterday to be a rock hound.

One More Trip to SPI

Last photos of South Padre Island for this year. We have really enjoyed the time we spent in Rio Hondo, making new friends, seeing new sights and we look forward to being "Winter Texans" again next year.



The South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Center.


Feeding the gulls one last time. Shelby ate almost as much bread as the birds!

Beach at Boca Chica

The following photos were taken at Boca Chica, which is the southern most beach in Texas. It is also where the Rio Grande runs into the Gulf of Mexico. Donnie and I had seen Boca Chica on one of our previous winter trips to the valley, but were unable to drive out on the beach as we have only two wheel drive. Bob and Karmen asked us to join them for a trip down there in their 4X4 pickup so we actually got to explore the entire six miles of beach. When we first arrived the sky was a little overcast but then cleared up and we had a beautiful day for shelling and exploring.


Karmen and I just had to pose in our beachcombing attire. Check out those boots! Bob, thanks for loaning me your "waders"! We girls had a great time collecting shells while the guys watched the dredger in the ship canal.



A tug boat in the Brownsville ship canal. The canal runs between South Padre Island to the north and Boca Chica to the south. You can see the SPI high rise condos in the background.



A dredger at work clearing sand from the shipping lane. You can see a dolphin to the right of the dredger. Donnie said he and Bob watched several dolphins swimming in the canal.



A Mexican fishing boat in the Gulf.



At this point, center left of photo, the Rio Grande flows into the Gulf. You can see Mexican fishermen on the other shore. This is as close as you can get to Mexico without a passport!!



It was really interesting to watch these men casting nets into the river, each time bringing in several large fish.

February 2011 >>>> November 2010

Hello All!!! This update includes the last four months of the old fossils' travels... We are in the RGV (Rio Grande Valley) of S. Texas at our RV park in Rio Hondo. We spent a great couple of weeks around Thanksgiving with Casey, Angie and the boys in Artesia. Arrived here December 1st and plan to head up the coast in a few weeks. We have had great weather with sunshine and temps in the 80s. The exception was last week when the arctic front hit us with lows in the 20s along with sleet and freezing rain.



This past Sunday we attended the Kite Fest on South Padre Island with Karmen and Bob. When we first arrived there was very little wind, which is not so good for flying kites! After about a half hour the wind picked up and there were several individuals and groups who demonstrated the "art". They were all amazing, especially a group of six from the Portland, Oregon area. Their performance, set to music, was impressive - six kites in the air and no tangled strings!! Wow!! The blue skies, warm weather and good company made for a perfect day.



Okay, Dallas Cowboys fans, hands over your hearts for this one...A few weeks ago while driving through the city of Mission (about 40 miles to the west), we noticed the above street sign and had to stop for a photo. While walking around we discovered the mural painted on the side of a downtown building. Tom Landry was born in Mission where he played on the undefeated (his senior year) high school football team.


Shelby soaking up the sun on the South Padre Island beach.


A fishing boat passing through the ship channel near Isla Blanca County Park. The park, on the south end of SPI, is a good place to watch the boats, dolphins and pelicans. The sun streaming through the clouds made for a nice photo op.




The four of us (Bob, Karmen, Donnie and I) took a day trip to visit the King Ranch Museum in Kingsville, 100 miles to the north. We saw a film on the founding of the ranch, as well as lots of displays and impressive black and white photos of ranch life in the 1940s. The King Ranch, founded in 1853, is one of the world's largest covering 825,000 acres. After checking out the museum, we headed to the King Ranch Saddle Shop, filled with leather goods (smelled wonderful), clothing, and home furnishings. An interesting place to browse but I made sure to keep my wallet in my pocket...$$$$$$$$!! We finished off the day with lunch at Whataburger. Can't get any better than that!!


Below are just a few of the birds we've seen here in the valley. This place is definitely a birder's paradise. The first photo was taken at one of the birding centers, the rest were spotted along various county roads around here.

Tropical Parula


Vermillion Flycatcher


Osprey eating his/her catch


These alligators were in the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge just east of Rio Hondo where we are staying. The Refuge, on the western shore of the lower Laguna Madre, is home to lots of birds and wildlife. In addition to one of the largest (in excess of 15 feet) alligators we have ever seen, we also spotted two gigantic diamondback rattlesnakes. The largest of the two was over six feet. I'd post a photo but he was moving too fast for me to snap a good one. Glad we were in the Tracker when we saw him and not on foot!





Our first outing with our friends here at the RV park, Karmen and Bob, to the Festival of Lights in Hidalgo. We boarded a trolley that toured the town, complete with narration about the area and history. It was one of the best displays of Christmas lights we have ever seen, and we plan to make it an annual holiday tradition.


Below are pics of our grandsons taken during our fall visit to Artesia


Parker on his Preschool playground. Love that grin!



Rylee at the soccer field. Go Ry!



A little brotherly love...Aren't they the cutest??