An Icon Of The Old South

This gorgeous Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) - also known as the southern live oak, an evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States - is located at Alamo Plaza, within The Alamo historic complex.

The informational plaque near the tree says:

"In the early part of the twentieth century, many San Antonio residents believed it was impossible to transport full-grown trees.  Walter Whall - a retired English seaman - started San Antonio's first tree moving company and proved it could be done.  He carefully removed the earth from around the roots of the tree to be moved and then used a block and tackle to lift it out of the ground.  They transported the mature trees through the streets on a wagon pulled by four mules.  Whall contended that the hardest part of moving a full-grown tree was avoiding power and telegraph lines.

This Live Oak was approximately forty years old when Whall brought it to the Alamo around 1912.  The base of the century-old tree now measures twelve feet in circumference while its main branches are over fifty feet long."

Click the panoramic photo below to enlarge and see the beauty of this tree.

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2018: Free Spirits
2017: May Your Guiding Light Be Strong
2016: Rock The Moc
2015: Hustle And Bustle In Ancient Guatemala
2014: The Flakes Got Up Early And Stayed All Day
2013: Headed For A Slow Boat To China
2012: A Roaring Forties Tasmanian Devil Of A Blue
2011: Waiter! There’s A Beer In My Soup!
2010: I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Wolf
2009: Eddie Getting His Licks Friday
2008: The Place Is In Ruins
2007: Winter Shadows
2006: The Angels Of The New York D.O.T.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Remembering The Shrine Of Texas Liberty

We made it to The Alamo!  And during a selfie, Ed captured this lovely photo of us just as I was fixing my scarf.

Normally, I'm pretty interested in the historic sites we visit, but the Alamo just didn't do much for me.  We took the self-guided tour, walked around the grounds for a bit and read some of the plaques describing its history.  

The mission was founded in the 18th century by Roman Catholic missionaries and was used for the education of local American Indians after their conversion to Christianity.  It is best known for being the location of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836.

No pictures were allowed inside of the chapel and we were told not to touch the walls.  The guard said the limestone reacts to the oils in people's skin and damages the structure.

The Wikipedia page about The Alamo provides a lot of information on the history of the complex if you're interested.

"According to Herbert Malloy Mason's Spanish Missions of Texas, the Alamo is one of "the finest examples of Spanish ecclesiastical building on the North American continent".  The mission, along with others located in San Antonio, is at risk from environmental factors, however. The limestone used to construct the buildings was taken from the banks of the San Antonio River. It expands when confronted with moisture and then contracts when temperatures drop, shedding small pieces of limestone with each cycle. Measures have been taken to partially combat the problem."

Here you can see the exterior of the building:

 Wrought iron lamp on one of the garden arches in the complex.

 Side exit of the church.

The front side of the mission.

The Alamo is the No. 1 tourist attraction in Texas and sees almost 3 million visitors each year. Even in the rain, people are still remembering The Alamo.

The Independent Travel Cats put together a great guide for visiting and other information on The Alamo.  Check out their post here.  



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2018: Healing, Herbs, And Community
2017: This Is Everything
2016: Shocking
2015: Waiting For Turistas
2014: The Still Before The Storm
2013: Sizzle, Drizzle, And Pour
2012: Dreams Explored Over Dinner
2011: I’m In Love And It’s Not Even Valentine’s Day Yet
2010: Eddie As Fisherman Friday
2009: Birds And Barbells On Muscle Beach
2008: A Girl On The Shores Of Cozumel
2007: I’m Not Exactly Sure What You’re Proposing Here
2006: The Blizzard Of 2006
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Worst Bar-B-Q In Texas

When we're in Texas, Ed wants barbecue.  I don't know that Ed would be able to pick a favorite place, but one of the places we've been to is Rudy's - they have several locations throughout the state.  This one in San Antonio wasn't too far from our delivery location and they had parking for the tractor.

Ed always likes to have at least two meats - brisket and sausage are his two favorites.  I wanted ribs, but they didn't have any ready so I settled for brisket and some chicken.  For sides, we chose creamed corn, coleslaw, and potato salad.  Along with the meal, they give you several slices of plain 'ol white bread, and pickles and raw onions are a must. 

They serve the BBQ sauce on the side in big bottles on the tables, with industrial-sized salt and pepper shakers, hot sauce, and toothpicks.  Drinks, paper towels, and plastic utensils are self-serve. 

I always find BBQ to be an expensive meal, but knowing the time that goes into smoking meats, I can see why they charge what they do.

We ended the meal with peach cobbler.

The meal hit the spot and should keep Ed going until he gets back home and starts smoking his own brisket again.



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2018: Bestie In The Caldera
2017: A Living Snapshot Of Another America
2016: C'mere, Give Me A Hug
2015: La Bufadora And Almejas Gratinadas
2014: In The Nick Of Time
2013: This Business Means Business
2012: A Nodding Donkey On The Hill
2011: What A Croc
2010: Flash Of Pole
2009: They Hire ‘Em Young These Days
2008: Setting Sail At Sunset
2007: Happy Bee
2006: It’s Not Unusual
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Invoke His Name To Help Find Things Lost Or Stolen

San Antonio, Texas was named after Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of miracles. 

This seven-foot bronze statue, located on the River Walk, was made by Portuguese sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida and was a gift to the city of San Antonio from the country of Portugal.  It was presented during the 1968 HemisFair when the Portugal Pavillion opened. 

According to a 2015 article in the San Antonio Express-News, "Born Fernando Martins in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 15, 1195, Anthony left his wealthy family life to immerse himself in theological study at the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, Portugal. A subsequent meeting with friars in Coimbra drew him deeper into the mendicant evangelical life, as he joined that new Franciscan order and adopted the name Anthony.

Anthony would become a renown preacher and follower of Francis of Assisi, revered as much for his passionate delivery as for his erudite knowledge of scripture. Pope Gregory IX, who would later canonize Anthony, referred to him as “Ark of the Testament.”

Anthony died on June 13, 1231, in Padua, Italy. He was canonized May 30, 1232, the second-fastest canonized saint after St. Peter of Verona.

Centuries later in 1691, Franciscan chaplain Father Damian Massanet bestowed the name San Antonio de Padua on the Yanaguana River on June 13, the feast day of Saint Anthony. The river ran alongside a Payaya Indian settlement, which Massanet came upon while part of an expedition led by Domingo Teran de los Rios, the first governor of Spanish Texas.

The river and subsequent Spanish mission built near it would become the heart of a settlement that has since flourished into what is now the seventh largest city in the nation.

Hence it’s only fitting that a life-size statue of Saint Anthony overlook the banks of the River Walk, the Christ child standing in its arms as if blessing those very waters so connected to San Antonio’s past, present and future.

“San Antonio of Texas is a symbol of human resourcefulness and man’s belief in taming what was considered to be untamable,” said Portugal ambassador Vasco Vieira Garin in a 1968 address at HemisFair, a presentation that officially opened the Portuguese pavilion and gave the city that very statue from Portugal.

“His vision was universal,” Garin said, “despite the kind of society prevailing in the 13th century.”

Garin called that time an age of despair, hate and unprecedented rivalry between men and nations. He lauded Anthony as “a legend in his own time,” one with a unifying approach to faith and family whose preaching had a profound impact on people from creeds other than Catholic."


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2018: Scraggly Winter Tree
2017: Finding Money In The Mule Mountains
2016: The Sounds Of The Desert
2015: The Ancient And Mysterious
2014: The New Rest Area
2013: Sidestepping Nemo Wasn't All That Hard
2012: Fun, Fresh, Fabulous Little Neighborhood
2011: What Do You Get When The Daily Rant Meets The Plum Trucker? A Plum Crush!
2010: Industrial Morning
2009: Sunset On Venice
2008: Knots And Nautical Miles
2007: What Is The World Coming To When The Girls Next Door Think They Are Fat??
2006: T.T.D.L.I.T.H.A.T.I.F.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Barging Through Downtown

A River Walk Barge full of tourists on the San Antonio River in downtown San Antonio, Texas.  

This river is the focal point of the San Antonio Riverwalk.


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2018: Maybe This Time
2017: Queen Of The Copper Camps
2016: He Ran By And Told Me To Share Links
2015: Heading To Shore
2014: Chocolate And Gnocchi - The Best Of Any World
2013: Looking And Smelling Good Behind The Wheel Of A Big Rig
2012: Necessary Evil
2011: Getting Drunk On Summer Fun
2010: How Is It The Fish Don’t Freeze???
2009: A Meal Even 300 Year Old Monks Would Love
2008: Not A Knock Knock Joke
2007: Eddie Shades Friday
2006: The Idiot And The Box
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Punctuation IS Important

source

Mi'kmaw "are a First Nations people indigenous to Canada's Atlantic Provinces and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as the northeastern region of Maine".

In Canada, the First Nations (French: Premières Nations) are the predominant indigenous peoples in Canada south of the Arctic Circle. 

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2018: Wipeout!

2017: Protecting The Garden

2016: A '58 Turns 58

2015: The Animals Came In Two By Two

2014: The Jolly Green Giant Lives In Blue Earth

2013: My Man's Got More Than A Million

2012: He Might Not Be Able To Move A Rubber Tree Plant, But He Can Certainly Get Transportation In California To Come To A Screeching Halt

2011: Business As Usual In America

2010: Teeny Tiny Cows Are So Delicious With A Side Of Teeny Tiny Tortellini

2009: Sleeping Atop Signal Hill

2008: Eddie Reads A Book Friday

2007: Finally! Someone Who Thinks I’m God’s Gift To Man

2006: Pool Shark

2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Daisy Mae Was Nowhere To Be Found

Last night we celebrated Ed's birthday at Li'l Abner's Steakhouse - a restaurant that's been in Tucson, serving Mesquite grilled steak, ribs, and chicken, since 1947.

When I first visited Tucson in 1980, my parent's friends took us here.  It was the place to go.  I hadn't been back since then.  Back then, it was soooooo far from our house, in the middle of nowhere, the only place for miles.

I've heard rumors over the years that it closed, but because it was a bit of a drive from our house, it wasn't a place I ever considered going so I didn't pay much attention to its status.  But lately we've been talking about checking it out and since Ed loves steak, I thought it would be a good time to visit again.

They cook all the grilled items on a big, outdoor grill over an open Mesquite fire.  

It's a very casual place.  The building sits on a dirt lot, now on the side of a busy road since everything has been built up out there over the past 35+ years.  They're only open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekdays and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends. 

I don't remember anything about the place.  It's a very casual place with checkered tablecloths, plastic plates, paper napkins, etc.  Intentional graffiti, photographs, bottles, and license plates lined the walls and ceilings.  The interior was dark and rustic.  All main courses are served with all you can eat family style sides (Ranch Beans, Garlic Toast, Salsa, and one dinner salad per person).  

My mother and my friend Kim joined us.  Ed went big, opting for the "The Cowboy", a 2-pound Porterhouse ($44.95) - he took a doggie bag home with what he couldn't finish.  I had the 16-ounce bone-in Ribeye in the photo above ($39.95), my mother had a 12-ounce Boneless Ribeye ($29.95), and my friend Kim had the Half-Pound Harris Ranch Cheeseburger ($12.00).  Us steak eaters added a baked potato ($4.00 each) and Kim chose Potato Wedges ($5.00) for her side.

The steak was delicious.  So flavorful, tender, and grilled to perfection.  It was a little pricey but definitely worth it for a birthday dinner.  With drinks, tax, and tip it came to just under $200.00.  I'd definitely consider going back - it was much better than the pricey steakhouse we went to for my birthday a couple of years ago.  Although, I did like the decor at that place much more.

I'm glad to know this restaurant is still in existence.  The restaurant business is always risky and it's unusual for restaurants in this town to have this kind of staying power.  We arrived at 5:15 p.m. and were seated promptly.  It didn't take long for the place to fill up.  On a Wednesday night.  That's a pretty good sign.

Tucson's a few notches up from Dogpatch, USA.  



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2018: Beware, Stupid People
2017: A Creator's Paradise
2016: The Naked Truth
2015: True Civilization
2014: Late Afternoon In South Dakota
2013: Farm To Market
2012: Providence Silhouette
2011: We Got Fatter But We Lost Weight
2010: Stripping, Vitamins, And Cheesecake
2009: Ocean Front Crowd
2008: He Wouldn’t Recommend His Wife To Anyone He Knows
2007: Spring Has Sprung In My Hotel Room
2006: High School Hottie
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

An Inflatable Party

Ed taking a morning stroll through the balloons I hung in the kitchen for his birthday.

Happy Birthday, sweet husband!



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2018: First Birthday As A Married Man
2017: Established 1975
2016: Happy Birthday, My Sweet Prince!
2015: Celebration At Sea
2014: Winter Baby
2013: Let Me Count The Ways
2012: He’s Been Waiting For This Day For Thirty-Seven Years
2011: Twisted Raoul
2010: The Spring Chicken Celebrates His Big Day
2009: Eddie It’s My Birthday! It’s My Birthday! Friday
2008: As Pisghetti Gains Another Year, I Lose Eight
2007: Happy Birthday My Sweet Eddie!!!
2006: The Many Faces Of Ed
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Second In Line

I don't know who created this, but whoever did is a boss.  



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2018: Binging On The Box
2017: Ghost Town Patrol
2016: Steakhouse Din
2015: Water Is Precious
2014: Who's That Behind Those Foster Grants?
2013: Where Are The Cushy Couches And Fat Laps?
2012: The Stealth Trucker
2011: Aisles Filled With Q-Tips
2010: Lights, Camera, Action!
2009: Desktop Material
2008: C’mon In
2007: Eddie Hits The Bricks Friday
2006: Built With The Organization Gene
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Ornamental Iron

Made a trip to the metal mart this week.  Exciting.  



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2018: Quonset Quartet
2017: Baltic Gold
2016: 350 Days Of Sunshine Per Year
2015: Tenderly
2014: What Else Is There To Do When It's One Degree Outside?
2013: Packing Up
2012: A Man Can Do All Things If He Will
2011: Spinning Our Wheels
2010: It Takes Two
2009: Buona Sera King Louis
2008: The Newest B & B Trend Might Not Take Off As Expected
2007: Pirelli
2006: Classic Sal
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

One Thousand Grams Of Flour

Look at this gorgeous loaf of bread.  

LOOK at it.

We made that.  Ed and I made this loaf of bread.

Yeah, that's right, we're amazing. 

OK, so people have been making bread for thousands of years, but there aren't a lot of people these days making bread.  And now, more than ever, I think I'm capable of anything.   

The recipe - Saturday White Bread - was taken from Ken Forkish’s book, Flour Water Yeast Salt: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza.

1,000 grams of flour, a little salt, a little yeast, and a bit of water and you've got the makings of a masterpiece.  It was a time-consuming process - with more downtime waiting for the dough to rise than it took to mix the ingredients - but it wasn't difficult.

We used my beautiful 15.5-quart oval Le Creuset Dutch Oven to bake both loaves at the same time - which was a judgment call on our part because the book specified two separate dutch ovens being used, a loaf in each one. We separated the loaves with a piece of aluminum foil so they wouldn't bake together, and it worked perfectly.  

This is the first time either of us has baked a loaf of bread and we were so excited by the result.  The loaves were truly beautiful.  BEA-U-TI-FUL.  It smelled delicious while baking, and tasted amazing! We’ll definitely be doing this again.

Head over to my Instagram account to see a few more photos and to watch the short video of Ed making the first slice in the bread. 

Be sure to turn up your volume - the sound of the crust is divine! 



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2018: The Land Of Little Water
2017: Urban Creep
2016: Ed's View
2015: Place Of Refuge
2014: A Story Told In Stone
2013: Eddie Sandwich
2012: Finally – Freight To Buzz About!
2011: For The Crybabies
2010: Chillin’ In Utah
2009: Taking The Peas For A Ride In A Cozy Little Shell
2008: Wyth Jane’s Kin In Wytheville
2007: Color In Architecture
2006: Living On
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Click, Buy, Deliver, Consume

Last week, Ed and I placed our very first grocery delivery order. 

We went online to place the order, picked a delivery time window, and went on with our day.  The next day at 11:05 a.m. (our delivery window was 11 a.m. to 12 noon), a woman from Postmates rang our doorbell.  Our order had arrived!
We ordered everything from dairy items like Fage Greek Yogurt and eggs, to produce, to crackers, to a non-stick pot to replace one I have that's scratched from years of use.

I was concerned that the cold items wouldn't arrive cold or that they wouldn't pick good product items, but I was surprised.  The dairy was very cold, and the produce they chose was beautiful.  They did one substitution - Ed ordered a watermelon, but they didn't have a large watermelon so they sent three small seedless ones.  That was just fine by us.

I've been meaning to do a post about how I like to bundle my errands because I don't like to go out every day.  When I have appointments, I make them early in the morning (like the 7 a.m. dentist appointment this week) so I can get back home as soon as possible.  I don't like driving all over town just for the sake of being out.  Some people need to go out.  I need to stay home.  If you looked up "homebody" in the dictionary, my photo would be there.  So grocery delivery may be dangerous for me. 

It does seem to be the way things are going these days.  Amazon, online shopping, Uber Eats.  So many people are utilizing delivery services these days, and more companies keep offering them.  It is convenient.

I can see using it in certain instances - like holidays where my time is taken up with preparing for family arrivals or cooking for big dinners.  Not having to waste time walking around the grocery store.

You know...this might just be a gamechanger.



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2018: Fiber, Feed, And Food
2017: Time For A Questival!
2016: The Last Link Should Be Your First Stop
2015: The Gods Are Angry. Or Laughing.
2014: These Four Guys Always Have The Same Expression On Their Faces
2013: Save Money On Sandwiches, Buy Nice Car
2012: Big Money Needed For A Relaxing, Feel-Good Experience
2011: The Original Metrosexual And The Petting Zoo
2010: Cribs For Corn, Not Celebrities
2009: LL Cool E
2008: Hunt On Hold
2007: The Blondes Come Marching In
2006: Thank You Is Not Enough
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Welcome To The Local Googie

Last week Ed and I had lunch at the Welcome Diner.  I read about it in the latest issue of the Tucson Guide and since we were on that side of town, thought we'd check it out.

The exterior of the building is designed in what's called Googie architecture.  A style of post-modern architecture - eventually becoming part of what we know as mid-century modern - it originated in Southern California in the 1940s through the 1960s.  This style was used on gas stations, coffee shops, motels.  Think space age, the future, The Jetsons.

I've seen many buildings using this style, especially old drive-in movie theaters and gas stations. I love the retro look of the interior.  The color of the upholstery, the slant of the roof.  

 These light fixtures.  They're beautiful.

The menu looked pretty delish, and several reviews mentioned the Three Sisters Burrito as a must have.  But we were there for lunch, so we ordered from the 11 AM hits section.

Ed had the Bumblebee (fried chicken, local honey, house mustard, and b&b pickles...$12) with a side of Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($4).

I was in a burger mood so I had the Frenchman (6 oz. Niman Ranch beef patty, bacon, tomato confit, caramelized onion, gruyere chese, aioli...$16) with a side of fries ($3.50).

The meal was good, but I very overpriced for what it was.  They didn't have Diet Coke for me so I ordered Ed's beverage of choice, Ice Tea.  Which was $3.50!  I rarely look at prices when I'm out at a restaurant, I order what I like, what I want, and I don't care what it costs, but $3.50 for iced tea??  C'mon.

Because the meal was just okay, and not great, and because it was a little pricey, I wouldn't go back.  But it was nice to see the place and I enjoyed the decor.  Like this bar setup.  

 And even the cash register area was pleasing.  I want those hanging lights! 

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2018: One Of Many
2017: The First Mustachioed Man In My Life
2016: Cooking Is Love Made Visible
2015: Hawaiian Memorial
2014: We Do Not Remember Days, We Remember Moments
2013: Sharing The Long Haul Lifestyle
2012: Love, Peace, And Soooouuulll
2011: Taste The Fire
2010: Finally, A Shot At Playmate Of The Month! (Sorta)
2009: Remembering
2008: Eddie Gets His Eyes Checked Friday
2007: Shifting The Sun
2006: My Daddy Is Gone
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!