EASTER WEEKEND

Last weekend we decided to take a break from our packing since our builder told us that we will probably have another 2-3 week wait for the building permits to be issued. We headed off for the coast where two of our boys live and had a great time catching up with them and our grandchildren.

Although the weather was foggy and drizzling part of the weekend, there was enough sunlight to enjoy the perfusion of wildflowers everywhere. I took a zillion pictures and have lots of ideas for paintings. The bluebonnets are especially gorgeous this year. I also saw the newly developed Aggie "Bluebonnet" which is maroon. You can see a few peeking out of the bluebonnet picture on the right below.

We went out for Mexican Food with Son #1 and his family. His children are growing up way too fast. We enjoyed our food and the Mariachi band that played while we were eating.

On Easter Sunday we joined Son #4 and his family at our daughter-in-law's family gathering and enjoyed watching Miss Ella Bella and Mr. Colt run around and play. Miss Ella Bella is really into posing for pictures.

And in a nearby town I found another PAT'S PLACE (bookstore), but it had recently closed.

It was a wonderful weekend away, and we came back to our half empty house all refreshed and ready to do more packing and preparing to leave our home whenever it is time.

Thankful Thursday

Back in January I said that I was going to begin oil painting classes and wanted to paint two pictures. I am thankful to say that I finished the first one yesterday and am very proud of it. I have been working on the mountain picture and do not have it the way I would like to have it yet, but will continue working on it in the next couple of lessons.

Next, I want to paint a bluebonnet picture, so I have pulled out several bluebonnet pictures and want to find one of a single bluebonnet that I can paint in a small painting.

Here is a picture of my finished painting--not framed yet, but I am thankful that it is finished and that I am pleased with it!

A Bit of Texas History

This past weekend we went to Goliad to join friends from Corpus Christi to tour the Presidio La Bahia and the Mission Espiritu Santo for the 23rd Annual Goliad Massacre Living History Program which provided an accurate reenactment of the famous massacre of Colonel Fannin and his men in 1836. The reenactors wore uniforms and clothing of the time period and the weapons used were accurately depicted. The reenactment began with Fannin's troops abandoning Presidio La Bahia, under orders from Texian General Sam Houston. Fannin's men were to meet General Sam Houston's main army but delays slowed down the Texians. They were about nine miles east of Presidio La Bahia when the Mexican Army surrounded Fannin's men in an open prairie and a two-day battle ensued and became known as "The Battle Of Coleto Creek." On the second day of the battle Fannin surrendered and those men that were not wounded were returned to Presidio La Bahia and held in the chapel. Those that were severely wounded remained at the battlefield for up to three days. On March 27, 1836, Fannin and 341 of his soldiers were executed under orders of General Santa Anna. The massacre at Goliad was an important turning point in the Texas Revolution and this act of infamy was later recalled at the Battle of San Jacinto with the cry, "Remember Goliad! Remember the Alamo!" This reenactment gave us a new perspective on the horrors of war--especially the death scene, which I did not photograph.


Across the highway from the Presidio La Bahia was the Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zuñigla. It was established on the San Antonio River in 1749. For more than 70 years, the Franciscan missionaries taught the native Anarama peoples religious principles and craft skills they needed to become good Spanish citizens on the remote northern frontier. The immense herds of cattle that supported the mission population became the foundation for the ranching industry of modern Texas.




After our day in Goliad, we drove over to see Son #4 and his family. Granddaughter, Ella, entertained us at dinner and we caught up on her new counting skills. As you can see, Grandmother really enjoyed the visit!










And the wild flowers were gorgeous!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we are having this first day of spring! Trees are green, flowers are blooming, and birds are singing. It is a lovely day! I think the following poem is an appropriate one for today:

A Prayer in Spring
Robert Frost (1915)

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.


And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.


For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil.

The Colors of Spring

Signs of spring are popping out all over and I love the colors of spring. The mountain laurel bushes have beautiful bunches of purple flowers and redbud trees are full of gorgeous magenta flowers--all except ours which had about three flowers last year and has yet to put out anything this year. I think it is a late-bloomer!

The elm trees in our yard are beginning to have a light dusting of gorgeous spring green leaves breaking forth and the oak trees are covered with light rust-colored leaves that turn to green as they mature. Our purple iris have been blooming for about a month and the Carolina Jasmine is full of yellow blossoms.

The oxalis is spreading a blanket of pink around the back of the pond and even our grass is greening up with the two rain events that we have had over the past couple of weeks. I am hoping the rain will make the wild flowers bloom beautifully this year!