It sure is a good thing we went to the hill country when we did, and got back when we did, because today is a dreary cold day. It was even sleeting hard for a while there. But Rebeca and I have plans to go out in this mess anyway! :-)
Those were all the posts for the year 2009. Here's hoping for a Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Visiting Fredericksburg, Wimberley and Gruene
December 26th
Jason and Rebeca got back sometime around 2pm and we took off shortly after that for Fredericksburg. It was a beautiful sunny day, and just a little bit cold. When we got to Fredericksburg, we were happy to see that most everything was open so we parked the car and headed to the shops. The first shop we went to was Dogologie, where Duke and Jack had a blast looking around and smelling all the treats in there. It was fun taking Duke and Jack around with us in Fredericksburg. Everyone seemed to love the dogs as we passed by and lots of people asked if they could pet them. Duke was loving all the attention, but Jack at times wasn't so sure about it all. It was fun, though, to watch Duke strutting down the street holding his new toy in his mouth. That sure made people smile. (Should have gotten a picture of that). And Jack strolled around town smartly in his new camouflage outfit. He looked just precious.
December 27th
We got up early this morning to see Jason off. He is heading to Dallas to spend a little Christmas time with his family and he wanted to get to his Dad's place before his dad left for work. After Jason left, and after spending a little longer in bed, we got ready to go have breakfast at the Wimberley Cafe. Then the fun began for Rebeca and me, but not so much for Guillermo. Well, at first he was ok with going around from store to store - and the stores there in Wimberley are all so precious! These stores are actually very sensitive to all the men who get dragged around by the women in their lives because practically every store had benches outside on which to pass the time. After about 3 stores though, we could tell Guillermo was dragging. He was a trooper about it anyway, gamely sitting on the benches outside and especially savoring the benches that were in the sun since it was a cold day.
We caved after a few hours though, and offered to take Guillermo back to the cabin so he could relax as he wanted. So, we all went back to the car, and then once in the car, decided to drive out to the Lavender farm. We drove for quite a while before Rebeca found out on her phone that the farm was closed anyway, so we turned around. We got back to Wimberley and drove around to the places that Guillermo and I had stayed before so that Rebeca could see them. Then we dropped Guillermo off at the cabin - where we could tell he'd be much happier with the recliner, the TV - and when he got tired of those things - the rushing creek outside could beckon him.
So, Rebeca and I drove back into Wimberley and went to every single other store that we hadn't yet visited. We got back to the cabin close to dinner time, so we relaxed for just a little while and then drove to a nice little Italian restaurant in downtown Wimberley. The food was just excellent there! Back at the cabin, we alternately watched the Wizard of Oz and the Cowboys game in front of a nice warm fire. It was a very relaxing evening.
December 28th
A very relaxing morning again. After packing up, we drove to a little Hawaiian coffee shop and had breakfast there. Then we drove out on River Road and fantasized about the homes we would love to own along that road. Then it was time to leave Wimberley and head to Gruene! Gruene was another trying spot for Guillermo, although we didn't visit as many stores there, and didn't stay as long. But he did enjoy a bench or two at some places and before we knew it, it was lunch time. Gruene also has many precious little stores with so many cute things, but after lunch, we decided it was time to head back to San Antonio. It's going to be COLD tomorrow!!!
Jason and Rebeca got back sometime around 2pm and we took off shortly after that for Fredericksburg. It was a beautiful sunny day, and just a little bit cold. When we got to Fredericksburg, we were happy to see that most everything was open so we parked the car and headed to the shops. The first shop we went to was Dogologie, where Duke and Jack had a blast looking around and smelling all the treats in there. It was fun taking Duke and Jack around with us in Fredericksburg. Everyone seemed to love the dogs as we passed by and lots of people asked if they could pet them. Duke was loving all the attention, but Jack at times wasn't so sure about it all. It was fun, though, to watch Duke strutting down the street holding his new toy in his mouth. That sure made people smile. (Should have gotten a picture of that). And Jack strolled around town smartly in his new camouflage outfit. He looked just precious.
This is what the boys did while Rebeca and I checked out the shops.
We stayed at a nice little cabin along Cypress Creek in Wimberley.
We had our second part of Christmas there the night of the 26th.
Duke getting his Christmas present
Jack enjoying his Christmas present.
Guillermo got a Spurs calendar!
And Vicki got a brownie pan that is guaranteed to make the best brownies!
Just enjoying being together.
So happy to all be together!
Jason tending the fire.
These pictures were taken on the deck of our little cabin.
This was our cabin - Cabin #1.
A few views of Cypress Creek - it was pretty and the weather was cold.
A few pictures of when Rebeca and Jason were on the Riverwalk.
December 27th
We got up early this morning to see Jason off. He is heading to Dallas to spend a little Christmas time with his family and he wanted to get to his Dad's place before his dad left for work. After Jason left, and after spending a little longer in bed, we got ready to go have breakfast at the Wimberley Cafe. Then the fun began for Rebeca and me, but not so much for Guillermo. Well, at first he was ok with going around from store to store - and the stores there in Wimberley are all so precious! These stores are actually very sensitive to all the men who get dragged around by the women in their lives because practically every store had benches outside on which to pass the time. After about 3 stores though, we could tell Guillermo was dragging. He was a trooper about it anyway, gamely sitting on the benches outside and especially savoring the benches that were in the sun since it was a cold day.
We caved after a few hours though, and offered to take Guillermo back to the cabin so he could relax as he wanted. So, we all went back to the car, and then once in the car, decided to drive out to the Lavender farm. We drove for quite a while before Rebeca found out on her phone that the farm was closed anyway, so we turned around. We got back to Wimberley and drove around to the places that Guillermo and I had stayed before so that Rebeca could see them. Then we dropped Guillermo off at the cabin - where we could tell he'd be much happier with the recliner, the TV - and when he got tired of those things - the rushing creek outside could beckon him.
So, Rebeca and I drove back into Wimberley and went to every single other store that we hadn't yet visited. We got back to the cabin close to dinner time, so we relaxed for just a little while and then drove to a nice little Italian restaurant in downtown Wimberley. The food was just excellent there! Back at the cabin, we alternately watched the Wizard of Oz and the Cowboys game in front of a nice warm fire. It was a very relaxing evening.
December 28th
A very relaxing morning again. After packing up, we drove to a little Hawaiian coffee shop and had breakfast there. Then we drove out on River Road and fantasized about the homes we would love to own along that road. Then it was time to leave Wimberley and head to Gruene! Gruene was another trying spot for Guillermo, although we didn't visit as many stores there, and didn't stay as long. But he did enjoy a bench or two at some places and before we knew it, it was lunch time. Gruene also has many precious little stores with so many cute things, but after lunch, we decided it was time to head back to San Antonio. It's going to be COLD tomorrow!!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Ahhh, there's nothing like Christmas
What a lovely day today!
Rebeca and Jason came in last night around 10pm and we all just happily enjoyed being together again. We went to bed kind of late, but happy.
The next morning was nice and leisurely. We fixed a huge late breakfast of Guillermo's scrambled eggs, and I made pancakes, and we enjoyed that with fruit. Then we all opened one present, and the dogs opened their presents. Duke had his toy practically destroyed within an hour, that's how much he loved it. Jack resented his little snuggli, and tried to always get out of us putting it on him.
The rest of the family came over at 4 and it was fun and loud and good times. We all ate too much, had fun doing the "white elephant" gift exchange, then exchanged our regular presents, then had dessert and coffee. After some group picture taking, everyone went home and we considered it a very nice Christmas day.
We were also thrilled when we heard the phone ring during the day and it was Fernando calling!!!
So, it was a great Christmas day all around!!!
Later, Rebeca and Jason left to go spend the night at the Grand Hyatt on the Riverwalk. Tomorrow morning we will drive with them to Wimberley, Texas where we will spend two nights.
....On the road again!!.............. :-)
Well, if this was our last Christmas in this house, it was a very very nice one. We had such a nice time with everyone. It is just too bad that Fernando and Eva couldn't have been with us, but at least he called. If they could have been with us, though, we think this Christmas would have been MORE than perfect.
Rebeca and Jason came in last night around 10pm and we all just happily enjoyed being together again. We went to bed kind of late, but happy.
The next morning was nice and leisurely. We fixed a huge late breakfast of Guillermo's scrambled eggs, and I made pancakes, and we enjoyed that with fruit. Then we all opened one present, and the dogs opened their presents. Duke had his toy practically destroyed within an hour, that's how much he loved it. Jack resented his little snuggli, and tried to always get out of us putting it on him.
Duke wants his present
Duke really wants his present
Patiently waiting for his present
Ahhh, finally
Jason with Duke's present
Guillermo wondering what's going on in Jack's head
Two nice frames to place pictures of some of our trips
Guillermo about to open one of his presents
Jack with his snuggly, which he did NOT like.
Duke working on his next gift, which he destroyed within an hour.
Jason trying on his new shirt.
The afternoon came rather quickly, and it was time to get the turkey going.
So, it was a great Christmas day all around!!!
This was grown from seeds Rebeca gave Guillermo last year!
Jack taking a stroll through the greenhouse.
Later, Rebeca and Jason left to go spend the night at the Grand Hyatt on the Riverwalk. Tomorrow morning we will drive with them to Wimberley, Texas where we will spend two nights.
....On the road again!!.............. :-)
Well, if this was our last Christmas in this house, it was a very very nice one. We had such a nice time with everyone. It is just too bad that Fernando and Eva couldn't have been with us, but at least he called. If they could have been with us, though, we think this Christmas would have been MORE than perfect.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Great day in Panama City
Well, our day didn´t start off too well. The taxi driver who said he´d pick us up at 8:30 this morning to take us to the locks didn´t come, so we hailed another taxi. This nice taxi driver took us out to the locks and dropped us off. But we found out within a few minutes that no boats would be passing through the locks this day until noon. And this after everyone told us the best time to be at the locks is 9am. I guess this day they were doing some maintenance on the locks, and the boats had to wait. So, we didn´t know what to do. Our taxi driver had left, and we had asked him to be back for us at noon. We had no way to call him to come back, or to come for us later or anything. So we decided to try to get another taxi and have him take us to the causeway, where we figured we could use a phone to call the first taxi driver.
As luck would have it, there was a taxi driver waiting out front. We hired him to take us to the causeway and as we rode along, we could tell he was very nice and full of good information. Once at the causeway, we made a deal with him that for a certain price, he would take us to several places in Panama City worth visiting. So he was ours for the day! And he was so nice and willing to stop at whatever we wanted to see and do.
From the causeway, he drove us to Cerro Ancon, a hill in Panama City from where you can see in all directions. So, we saw the locks from up high, we saw the entire city of Panama City and it really was an impressive sight from up there.
From Cerro Ancon, he (Francisco) drove us to Panama Viejo, the original site of Panama City. That was also extremely interesting.
By this time it was lunch time, so Francisco drove us to Mi Pueblito, where we had a delicious lunch in a restaurant that was in a replica of an African village.
From there, we drove to the locks of the Panama Canal. Francisco waited in the parking lot, and we agreed to meet him out there again in one hour. The locks were every bit as interesting as I thought they would be and we could have stayed there much longer.
But from there, Francisco drove us back to our place where we thanked him for such a beautiful day. We were actually pretty tired at that point - must have been the heat mostly. It´s pretty hot here. Anyway, it was a great day.
In the evening, we walked to a store again, and bought a few items for breakfast, dropped them off at our place and then walked to a restaurant in the area called Ego. Guillermo had a delicious salmon dish and I had chicken paprika shish-kebobs. We got two desserts too, which were delicious, and that was how we ended our stay in Panama! Now it´s time to pack up and get ready for our flight home tomorrow.
As luck would have it, there was a taxi driver waiting out front. We hired him to take us to the causeway and as we rode along, we could tell he was very nice and full of good information. Once at the causeway, we made a deal with him that for a certain price, he would take us to several places in Panama City worth visiting. So he was ours for the day! And he was so nice and willing to stop at whatever we wanted to see and do.
These were our views from the causeway.
From the causeway, he drove us to Cerro Ancon, a hill in Panama City from where you can see in all directions. So, we saw the locks from up high, we saw the entire city of Panama City and it really was an impressive sight from up there.
From Cerro Ancon, he (Francisco) drove us to Panama Viejo, the original site of Panama City. That was also extremely interesting.
We climbed this tower and got some great views from up there.
By this time it was lunch time, so Francisco drove us to Mi Pueblito, where we had a delicious lunch in a restaurant that was in a replica of an African village.
That's Francisco with an employee at Mi Pueblito.
From there, we drove to the locks of the Panama Canal. Francisco waited in the parking lot, and we agreed to meet him out there again in one hour. The locks were every bit as interesting as I thought they would be and we could have stayed there much longer.
In the evening, we walked to a store again, and bought a few items for breakfast, dropped them off at our place and then walked to a restaurant in the area called Ego. Guillermo had a delicious salmon dish and I had chicken paprika shish-kebobs. We got two desserts too, which were delicious, and that was how we ended our stay in Panama! Now it´s time to pack up and get ready for our flight home tomorrow.
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