Brazos State Park outside of Houston

On Sunday while in Houston visiting Vivian and Dick's oldest son, Craig, we  took a Sunday afternoon drive to Brazos State Park.  Our main goal was to track down alligators.  We were successful.  We first saw some babies being raised in the science center.

We then set off on a trail around a pond.  We found a small alligator and more.

Here is a family of Black Belly Whistling Ducks.  They were quite willing to be photographed.

Then we saw this well camouflaged alligator.  Can you see him?  He is about halfway up the log.  He is small and covered with some of the green stuff floating on the surface.

Finally we spied the big prize of the day.  He was about five feet long and just lying on the edge of the water.  Some people got very close, but I was happy to stay several feet away.  We were told they can move very fast for short distances.  I wanted to be sure I had enough of a headstart to beat him if need be.

The white spots in the far back are ibis (the white spots in the foreground are mushrooms.)  I was carefully approaching them when several boys came running toward the birds and scared them.  These are the pictures that resulted.

This was the best I could do.  We also saw a buck and a doe. They were not together, but apparently this is the rutting season and he would be looking for any eligible doe.  We also saw bunnies and turtles.  I think I have a picture of the turtles

Can you see them out there on the stick.  If you can zoom in or expand, you will see them sitting out there sunning themselves.

All in all it was a very nice afternoon. It was kind  of Craig to spend his Sunday afternoon driving us there and back.  He really made every effort to help us find an alligator, but in the end it was Dick who discovered the big one.

San Antonio - The Riverwalk and The Almo

San Antonio is a beautiful city.  We were very fortunate to have hotel rooms about two blocks from the Riverwalk and the Alamo.  Our rooms were some of the best we experienced on our travel so our two nights there were very enjoyable.  The first night we walked to the Riverwalk for dinner.  The next day we spent most of our time at the Alamo.  After the Alamo we took a barge ride on the San Antonio River.  This lovely tourist attraction known as the Riverwalk has a very functional purpose. It is designed to prevent flooding of the downtown area.  In 1921, a rainstorm left 9 feet of water on Houston Street, killed 50 people, and damaged many downtown shops and business.  After that the city built a by-pass channel, flood gates and storm drains to prevent this from ever happening again.  As years passed, although it was effective, the water had become very polluted and the area was unsightly.  Some citizens called for the channel to be filled in, but some foresighted city leaders refused and instead revitalized the channel, upgraded the flood control devices and encouraged businesses like shops and restaurants to settle in this area. Today it is a very lively area filled with people strolling on the sidewalks, eating at outdoor cafes, shopping at boutiques or riding on the river.  At night music is in the air and the restaurants are filled with diners.  Seafood, steakhouses and of course Mexican restaurants are the most common.  However, you could probably find any kind of food you could imagine along this 2.5 mile area. 

The Alamo was fantastic.  We did an audiotour and a guided tour.  I learned a great deal about the history of Texas, and the battle of the Alamo.  It was a very inspiring story.  I even found if you can prove that you are a descendent of person who died at the Alamo you will be granted a large amount of land.  I found that there was a doctor by the name of John Purdy Reynolds.  He was a surgeon trained at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.  My maiden name is Reynolds and we come from West Virginia.  It would not be inconceivable that one of my relatives was educated in Philadelphia and moved to Texas.  I will have to do more research.  If you are interested in understanding Texas history or the Battle of the Alamo, let me know and when I return I will fill you in on this.

First, the battle did not take place in the chapel.  It took place along the walls of the Alamo.  Alamo in Spanish means cottonwood. The Alamo was orginally a Spanish mission intended to teach the natives the Catholic religion, the language, and how to be successful Spanish subjects.  They learned trades including, farming, construction, weaving, and much 

These next two plaques must be zoomed in on or stretched if you have an Ipad.  They are about the Masons and their association with the Alamo.

more.  

Unfortunately, they would not allow pictures inside any of the buildings so all I can show you are exterior shots.

This is a very special tree. It is a Live Oak and is hundreds of years old.  It sit next to the well the settlers used while fighting. 

Farmington, NM

We made our motel reservations in Farmington, but had intended on going to Aztec, NM, to see the Anasazi ruins.  However, the government triumphed in this case.  All of the sites in Aztec were national parks.  There was nothing to see there.  Instead we found a small private museum and research library site where we could see some partially excavated Anasazi ruins.  This was called the Salmon Ruins Museum and Library.  

They provided us with a written text to guide us around the exhibitions.  We also were very lucky to happen upon a researcher who was an astrological archeologist.  He explained some of his research there and in other local desert caves or rock formations.  He told us of finding pictographs and specially cut openings that lined up at the summer/winter solstice and spring/fall equinox.  The technology that these ancient people demonstrated was impressive.  Their architectural design was both decorative and practical as well as serving a spiritual/religious purpose.  Although the great kiva was not complete it was huge and the description of what had been there was surprising.  This semi-subterranean structure was encircled by a bench.  It was covered by a roof and provided for ventilation needed for the firepit and fresh air.  They also had a small hole in the floor to symbolize the entrance to the spirit world below.  From the ground there is no apparent reason for the placement of the Great Kiva in relation to the rest of the community, but from the air it can be noted that the Great Kiva and the Tower Kiva are on a north/south axis.  Obiously they were a highly organized society with a strong government/leadership.  They were prosperous farmers because they had storage for the corn and other crops they grew.  They had developed hybred corn and other seed crops.  The remains of the pottery and tools reflected highly skilled artisans and craftsmen.  The women were the potters and the men were the weavers of cloth.  They left artifacts that also indicate they they traded with tribes from other areas.  These were not savages that survived by hunting and gathering; they were a highly developed culture who were colonists from Chaco Canyon and only occupied the area from A.D. 1088 to A.D. 1094.  Much later other groups moved into this area such as the Navajo, Utes, and Apaches.  Following this there were Hispanic and Anglo farmers who claimed the land.

 I have pictures of the actual ruins in addtion to the reproduction of the village, and examples of different Native American structures.  Finally the remaining structures of the Peter Milton Salmon homestead were also there to see.  It is his family that have established this museum and research center.  

 Note the layers of large blocks with layers of smaller stones.  This was the style of the earliest construction. When later Mesa Verde builders constructed walls they looked like the bottom picture.

This is one view of the Great Kiva.

These are examples of walls and rooms.  One thing we learned is that they frequently turned unused rooms into trash dumps.  This is where some of the artifacts were found.  Also they would sometimes use a room as a burial crypt. They had one area where they kept Macaws.  They used the feathers for ceremonial purposes and acquired the Macaws by trading with tribes from Mexico.

Next we saw the buildings that comprised the Salmon Homestead.

The picture below is the root cellar.

The following are the replicas of various Native American structures after the Chaco Valley settlers.

The next picture is a storage cyst that they constructed.  It would be about 5 feet deep.  The soil was burned to harden it and then the adobe top was contructed by making the hole the right size to roll a large rock over to prevent animals getting inside.

MacDonald Bed and Breakfast

After leaving Sedona we went to visit the MacDonald's, Jeanne and Llyod.  They live in Scottsdale, AZ., but lived in Shrewsbury before going to AZ.  Viv and Jeanne MacDonald became very good friends through the speech team at the Shrewsbury Middle and High School.  I was their youngest son, Bill's, homeroom teacher in seventh grade.  Bill is now a Sophomore at Arizona State and came home for a night to visit with us. I can tell you that the welcome mat was rolled out for us.  When we arrived, we had difficulty finding the house, even with the help of our trusty GPS, Gladys. We called Jeanne and she ran out into the street and was jumping up and down waving her arms.  She had made unbelievable preparations for us and said it was like waiting for Christmas when she was waiting for our arrival.  

They have a very lovely home and we were provided with every accommodation that resorts or top tier bed and breakfast's would offer.  First, the amount of food she put before us included Kobe beef hamburgers, tons of fresh fruit, cheeses, fresh vegetables, dips, deviled eggs and much more. After eating, Jeanne offerred homemade desserts and ice cream.  We were totally satisfied by the meal and snacks.  Then we retired to our suite, complete with a pool table and television.  Our rooms included bottles of water, writing tablets, pens, mints, our own body scrubber, and lemon scented lip balm from AZ.  The beds were very comfortable and the bathroom was supplied with every possible need.  I must say I loved the bodywash and the pumice wash for the feet.  I felt like I was in a place where all the comforts of home were available and every wish was anticipated.  

Unfortunately we were only there for one night.  We had a great time connecting with Bill and enjoying conversation with Jeanne and Lloyd.  We also got to make the acquaintance of the newest member of their family, Max.  He is a standard Schnauzer who they rescued in August.  He is adorable and very loving.  Viv and I really got our dog fix with him around.  When we left, Jeanne packed us enough food to feed an army.  We are still enjoying some of the fruit and yummy treats she sent with us and we have been gone for a week.

This is their backyard and pool.

Here is Max.

Jeanne had made a great deal of effort to decorate for Halloween.  I however, did not do as well photographing and documenting her efforts, but I will show you what I shot.

Now the front door was a challenge of two theme's Halloween and Patriotic.  I think this was due to Columbus Day weekend.

Jeanne evern found Tide Vivian and had it ready for us so we could do our laundry.

Finally we had to say goodbye (note the view from their upstairs porch.)