SPRING IS BEAUTIFUL IN TEXAS

     SCROLL AND ENJOY~~BEAUTY IN TEXAS

RESIDENT SWAN ~ WINTER HAVEN

When we came to Winter Haven Park two beauties were in the Resaca. Resident swans, majestically swimming the day away; being fed by a human resident. 
One day, as the swans were getting their meal, I inquired where they came from and what they eat. The park bought them from the Gladys Porter Zoo, here in Brownsville.  The food also comes from the zoo, a special combination made just for swans. The lady that takes care of them was told, by the zoo, that they were the same gender. WELL...

The other day I noticed one of the swans nesting, near the clubhouse.  She went in search of food and there were three eggs in the nest. I took these pictures of her replenishing her nest with dead weeds and grass.  She goes out in the evenings, looking for fresh food, my quest will be to get a better picture of her eggs when she's away.  She nipped at her feeder when I was there yesterday. 
Very protective, I'm staying far away from her!

This morning, on my way to the pool, I noticed the swan was gone and so was the hose that wound around her nest.  Being very watchful I took a new picture of the eggs.  She returned shortly and started gathering grass and dried weeds around herself. 

 The eggs are about the size of a cereal bowl.  Reminds me of the sugar eggs my mother made from molds years ago. They were hollow with miniature Easter scenes inside.                Oh...memories...

                         MEXICAN ARTISAN EXPO



This past weekend we went to the 4th Annual Artisan Expo, in Pharr, TX.  We put on the GPS and it took us right to the door of the Convention Center.  Good thing because we saw a parking lot full of cars, but no sign. 
There was one, we saw it when we were leaving!
Mexican artists bring their crafts to Pharr, TX to make shopping easy for the people in the area.
The place was crowded, with people selling and people buying. Food samples, straight out of Mexico, were offered as you strolled by the tables laden with crafts, art pieces and delicious looking foods. 

The girls above are dancing with glasses of water on their heads.  A traditional dance in the Mexican state they are from. 

Many religious articles were displayed and for sale.  There were dolls, pictures, pottery, ceramics (as the skelton lady, as tall as I am) candies, cookies, tostados, leather goods, serapes, nuts, glassware and a large variety of jewlery.  I purchased tostados that I used to get when living in Mexico--YUM.  Made salsa when I got home too!  I also bought very, very thin almond cookies and cinnamon drenched pecans--YUMMO!  A painted picture, with embroidery infused into the flowers, handmade by the lady in the above, was my last purchase.  A nice rememberance of being in Texas, which seems like a suburb of Mexico!

The two guys, in the picture below, were anxious to make the taco that I ordered.  Beans and cheese.  I added salsa and it was a full meal!   $2.00 ~ Took me back to the days we spent in Mexico, eating at the street stands.  Very delicious!  

A nice time at the Mexican Artisan Expo, in Pharr. Not too far from Mexico. (Pharr pronounced FAR.)  Plus, I had a chance to practice my Spanish, as most vendors spoke only in espanol!  Thanks to Hector (my teacher in Mexico) I still can get along asking questions and carrying on short conversations with the friendly people of Mexico.

JOE IS STILL LOOKING FOR SEVERAL BIRDIES IN EACH GAME...

Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course ~ where Joe shot a 39 on the front nine this past week and birdied three times on that nine.
For those of you reading this and aren't golf experts, that's a good nine!  As there are 18 holes/another nine on the backside/where Joe shot a 43/we will say he had a good day!  Not everyday he golfs is this spectacular!  Some days it's kinda stinky. (His words, not mine!) 

I took the picture of Joe standing in front of the sign at the entrance of the golf course.  As I turned around, up on the berm, there was a Border Patrol vehicle.  Fort Brown is in the USA, but the Rio Grande is only 200 feet from at least four of the golf holes, so there are Border Patrols making their rounds, as you are golfing.  The above sign is located in the clubhouse.  It is possible to hit your ball into Mexico, but that would be a very erratic shot. 

Joe also golfs at VICC and Brownsville Golf Center, (no picture here, but on a previous blog.)  He relates to me that they are fun courses, approximately the same difficulty as the courses in WI. One difference is that they lack nice grass, but it's only $12 to walk! 
Joe will walk, unless it's a cart only course.  Exercise!
Some would say, as John Feinstein book indicates: (Actually a saying "borrowed" from Mark Twain.)               
                    A GOOD WALK SPOILED!

A GREAT CONCERT! A GREAT ENTERTAINER!

Upon walking onto the grounds of the Livestock Rodeo Arena in Mercedes, TX the first thing we saw was this Longhorned steer.
He didn't look too happy, to me. He was meant to be an attraction, for picture taking.  They have a saddle on him and he's probably accustomed to it.
Guess we are in Southern Texas!

Our reason for going to Mercedes was to attend a concert, by Blake Shelton, country singer.  If you don't know country music you really should listen to a few of his songs. For instance:
The Baby - Austin - Old Red - Some Beach - Hey Romeo

Blake Shelton's songs were funny, romantic and touching.  He talked to the crowd about how nervous he was coming down to South Texas, so he picked a song that everyone could relate to. Then he sat down and sang the song from creditreport.com! 
It was very funny--if you've seen the commercials with the guy in the pirate hat--you know what I'm talking about.  The crowd broke up, screaming, laughing and enjoying the spoof. 
We found it extremely interesting and eye-opening to watch the crowd.  The average age at the concert would've been approximately 20 something. 
Down here the majority of music is country.  The young people were  decked out in cowboy hats, boots, jeans, decorative and name belts.  It was quite cool that night but "looking good" was more important than a warm jacket.  One thing everyone had in common was a personal light ~ in their hand ~ camera phones!  Might be better than the Bic lighters of days gone by!
Look at the second picture of the concert - the crowd had more cell phones than AT&T! 
         
      ~ A GREAT CONCERT ~ A GREAT SINGER ~ A GREAT NIGHT IN TEXAS ~

OUR NON-FISHING FISHING TRIP

Good Morning World! 

Six o'clock a.m. ~ we are off to go fishing on the bay, in Port Isabel, TX.  Following the fishing boat, being towed by friends.  Yes, it is still dark outside!  Light comes fast, sun is coming up and I'm anxious to see what we will catch.  Crossing the bridge, from Brownsville into Port Isabel, I comment to Joe, "Gosh, look at the white caps on the inlet. If that's the case, wouldn't you think the bay is really rough?"  It's very early in the morning and not being a fisherman, the only thing Joe is concerned about is his 40oz. of coffee! 

We continue following our friends to the bait shop where a purchase of live shrimp is made.  Squirmy little guys. I watch the guy scoop them into a plastic bag, now feeling a tiny bit sorry for them.  After they take up residence in the bait box we take off for the dock.  Yup, the waves are larger; the wind is wild!  So much for our fishing trip.  We'll try again next Friday.  Hopefully the wind is calm, but this is South Texas, so I won't count on that happening!

Oh ~ the shrimp ~ they ended up in the freezer waiting for their debut, in the bay, next week.

Back to Brownsville, to IHOP for breakfast, and home to relax in the pool. 

Ahhhh--retirement!

WATER VESSELS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO ~ SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS

The Coast Guard, boasting four Mercury  motors! Undoubtedly, they can outrun any other boat in the water.  They were probably watching me, as I was watching them.
Or not!

The kite sailer is ready to go--these are fun to watch. They maneuver their kites through the water and make it look effortless, which I'm sure it's not!

Most interesting to watch was this man, in the little wooden boat. He filled the boat with supplies, including many gallons of water.  He paddled out to the large boat on the right. Hoisted himself onto the boat, unloading his supplies from the tiny boat and waved his life jacket at the lady nearby me on shore.

We started talking and she told me he was her son. He was going to his boat for a vacation. He built both boats, in her driveway.  Ingenuity lives on...

Sailboats ~ kayaks ~ barges ~ and the tiniest boat I have ever seen.  The guy in the little orange boat was very brave and must be experienced, as the waves were rough that day. Oh, also very strong!

Parasailers have been sparse this winter. The weather just has not been cooperative. Springbreakers have been arriving this week, the weather is starting to be amazing!  I'm sure the parasailers will be more abundant around the Island for the next few weeks. 
As I see other water vessels I intend to post them. Like a journal of the various types I've seen off South Padre Island.


I don't collect "stuff", our living spaces are too small. 
Pictures ~ hmmm, don't need to dust them either!