Sunday, April 22, 2012

Shoes

Due to a situation that occurred about eleven years ago, I cannot wear "off-the-rack" shoes except for a very few brands. Most of my shoes are custom made or special orders. Recently we went shopping for spring/summer clothes for us and for new sandals for Ken and new tennis shoes. I had already received my new special order sandals, but Ken found some skecher type tennis shoe sandals as well as his Rockports. We looked for some for me - I wanted the tennis shoe Mary Jane type shoes. Nope, couldn't get them -- not wide enough, not deep enough. Didn't figure I would be able to have any. BUT, found that several companies that specialize in orthopedic/extra depth/diabetic shoes now have them!

Sure enough Drew Shoes (drewshoe.com) had them so I was thrilled to arrive home today to find these have been delivered! And they fit. I see Dr. Malofsky tomorrow afternoon; I can hardly wait to show him my new shoes!

They are a wider width, deeper shoe, so the "stump" (bulge) of my right foot that has been amputated and the heel removed actually seats in the shoe! I am a happy camper and feel so modern!!! My orthotics will fit nicely in these. Even the left foot feels good in these!

San Antonio

Knowing that Tamara would take great care of our fur babies, we packed up for a short vacation. We decided to take the Beetle because the Saturn needs new tires. And because we enjoy the little Beetle. People are surprised that we are able to put two mobility scooters and have enough space to throw in clothes/shoes as well! But we do!

So, about 8:30 last Wednesday morning we headed out for San Antonio. We meant to stop in West at the bakery, but we missed the turn and elected to keep on going. We finally pulled off the road in Salado. It was a little early so we did a little driving thru town, stopped at a quilt fabric store (way too expensive!), then went to the Ambrosia Tea Room for lunch. The chicken ranch soup (basically tortilla soup) was good. My chicken salad sandwich was not. Way too much mayo! Nevertheless, I ate it 'cause we were paying for it.

We hit the road again after Salado and arrived at the Red Roof Inn in San Antonio about 2:30 p.m. Wasn't hard to find, but is located a little distance from the "happenings" around the Alamo and the River Walk. But the room was nice, and we had our scooters. So, we plugged in the scooters for a bit, did a bit of unpacking and resting, then headed out. Red Roof Inn is located at Houston and I-37, so from the hotel we had to travel under the bridge, cross a lot of traffic at lights, and work our way up Houston to the back side of the Alamo at Robinson, travel around the Alamo to the Menger Hotel side, and go across the plaza to go anywhere. That first day we were headed for Little Rhein Steakhouse which is located immediately adjacent to the Palacio Hilton Hotel. We had reservations and had made reservations for our scooters to be parked and cared for by the staff while we had dinner out on the terraced patio overlooking the river. What a beautiful place for dinner, and what scrumptioius food!

Ken had a martini, I had a glass of white wine. We had crab meat stuffed avocado, beef tomato salad, we always split one of the ribeye steaks because they are HUGE, and we had steamed mushrooms along with potatoes au gratin. We shared a Creme Brulee. Afterward we went in and out of a shop or two but decided we needed to make our way back to the hotel before too late/too dark because of the distance. I was feeling uneasy about two old people on scooters zipping around that far from major public places.

Thursday morning we went to breakfast at Denny's and then headed back to Alamo Plaza to visit the Alamo and the Alamo gift shop. (Wasn't nearly as frightening as it had been the evening prior.) I had been hankering after a denim bag I had seen there Labor Day weekend of 2010!! So, we got the bag, Ken got a hat. Next we headed to the river - we always go thru the Hyatt because it is the nicest place and they have a wonderful elevator that takes one down to the river level. Plus they have a nice bar and a nice coffee shop. Seems we always turn left when we go out their door, so this time we went right! We went quite a ways and then doubled back to the Hyatt. we found electrical outlets where we plugged in the scooters while we had wonderful latte and shared a bagel with cream cheese. We looked at the map of San Antonio and decided we wanted to visit the Buckhorn Museum but couldn't figure out how to get there! From the GPS on our phone we knew we were only 420 feet from it but couldn't figure out how to get there. One of the excellent maintenance men at the Hyatt assisted us and took Ken to the window to show him how to get there. It was just across from the Hyatt at the back on the corner of Houston.

We made our way to the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. What a neat place! Except I am REALLY stupid. This place has the Hall of Horns (marvelous museum), and the Texas Rangers Museum. Well dumb me thought it was a sports museum so I told Ken to go by himself to see it and I would wait. That's when he and the staff person laughed at me! Oh, well, I wasn't stupid for long. Yes, it's a museum about the Texas lawmen, the real Texas Rangers! (The picture of the Texas longhorn is just a sample of what is in the museum. Every horned animal imaginable is represented in this museum. Has to be seen to be appreciated.)

The Hall of Horns Museum is upstairs in the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. The Texas Rangers Museum is downstairs. There is much history here about the famous law unit and individual officers, and there are some very fine pieces of western sculpture as well. This picture shows one example.

After leaving the museums we visited the gift shop. I bought a fabulous necklace and earrings set (should be shot!), Ken got a shot glass for his collection, and I think he got a small horned figurine as well. Then we made our way back down Houston Street heading toward the hotel but crossed to the other side to visit a gift shop that sold Mexican dresses, tops, blankets, etc. I bought myself a new Mexican dress (I love San Antonio - they sell them in MY size!!), and we picked up a pink Mexican blanket for Tamara. Then we headed back to the hotel.

We plugged in the scooters and rested for an hour or so. Then we loaded the scooters in the back of the Beetle and headed for Market Square at the opposite end of town. Ken was very worried about being able to get back to the hotel because the streets were being closed off because we were there for the opening of Fiesta (Flowers). He thought we couldn't get back. When he gets fixated on something, he cannot let it go, and he ended up being rude to the desk clerk that was trying to help us. It is so damned embarrassing.

But we made it to the market - after first missing the turn into the parking lot and it being MY fault of course. The thing about the Mexican market is, once you've seen one shop, you've just about seen them all. They all carry about the same thing -- Mexican dresses, skirts, shirts, tops, pottery, silver, turquoise, straw hats, whatever. We were there to find replacement wine glasses for the beautiful two wine glasses I got in 2010 that were dropped and broken. We found them - this time I bought six instead of two. Then I had to protect them the rest of the trip!

After purchasing the glasses, we found a wall cross for Tamara - she collects them. This one is in pewter, not silver. We had problems finding a nice one - they were all pretty gawdy. Afterward we headed for the outdoor market area down to the El Margarita Mexican Restaurant. The food was really good, and of course we ate too much! Ken had a frozen margarita, I had one on the rocks. One is our limit. Then we headed quickly thru the rest of the market (just looking - didn't buy a thing), and then back to the car. We had driven to the market via Commerce (one way), so I had Ken go out on the other side which goes back one way the other direction. I knew when we got to the other end of town we could turn left on Bowie then right on Houston to get to the hotel and never get close to the blocked off streets. We had no problems.

Ken took just the batteries to the room, plugged them in, we rested while they were charging. We cleaned up a bit (no hot water) then headed back to the Alamo Plaza because Thursday night was the opening ceremony/first night of Fiesta. What a party! And so many people!! But we made our way thru, managed to get a Fiesta t-shirt for Ken and had it signed by the artist who won the competition for the Fiesta t-shirt logo, and then made our way through the crowd back down to the river. We would have gone to Pat O'Brian's, but there was some kind of acousic music in the dueling piano bar instead of the pianos. No dueling pianos until Friday night and we would be gone. So, on to the river. We did our usual turn to the left out of the Hyatt then decided we wanted to cross to the other side.

To cross to the other side of the river is tough for disabled folks. You can't take the scooters/wheel chairs up the stairs, you have to find a city elevator that works and go up to street level, cross a bridge over the river, hope there is an elevator on the other side, then go back down. Well, there was no elevator. We finally found our way down a ramp through a pay to park lot but after going quite some ways on that side of the river figured we better get back toward the Hyatt. We couldn't find a way back up. A fellow in a wheel chair familiar with San Antonio led us to an elevator then asked for money. We gave him what cash we had. However, when we got to the street level, we had no idea where we were and there was no elevator on the other side of the street!!! We went the wrong way, ended up on the other side of town (in the dark, two old people on handicap scooters, lost, scared). We were asking everybody, a kid that looked like a hoodlum, a truck driver, anybody. We stopped in the parking garage on one hotel but the guy working there didn't know any more than we did. A truck driver we hollered at pointed ahead of us and let us know that we were about 40 feet from the river. Once we found that bridge we were able to find our way across it, go down to river level, and back track to the Hyatt! We went to the bar, plugged in the scooters, had a drink, then decided that these two old people had no business being out on the streets that late so we went back to the hotel.

There was still no hot water Friday morning. I found out when I woke up - Ken had already taken an ice water shower. There was no way I could. I managed to take a spit bath and clean up, then we headed down to go to Denny's for breakfast. The hotel manager attempted to say good morning and apologized, wanting to make an explanation. I told him I didn't care about the explanation - I was a paying guest and expected to have hot water. His remark was, "You had hot water 'til 6 o'clock last night." Golly and gosh durn, why would I expect to have hot water at night and in the morning? After all, at 6 o'clock the night before we were leaving the hotel for the evening! Anyway, we got off on the wrong foot that morning.

When we returned from breakfast we packed up and headed back thru the lobby. We stopped to check out. The clerk asked what she could do to make it up. I said I didn't want a future night at Red Roof because I would never stay in a Red Roof again and would be sure my friends knew about it. I asked for a 10% discount - which would not be much but would be a token. She said that was not a problem. About that time the manager came up, apologized again, I said I just wanted to leave, he said he would comp one night of our stay, I agreed. We left. Never again.

Hill Country

On to the hill country! I had mapped directions to Kerrville in my phone. Ken insisted I drive us out of San Antonio. Don't know if anyone knows or not, but in the past year I have become quite frightened of driving. But at least I knew HOW to get us out of San Antonio! So I got us to Highway 10 and to an exit for gasoline, and then Ken took over. Kerrville is roughly 62 miles from San Antonio. I've always wanted to go - now I can say I've been.

The drive to Kerrville wasn't difficult at all, and both sides of the highway and the center strip were covered with wild flowers. Not bluebonnets, but at least wildflowers. Yellows, oranges, whites, and a few blue scattered through.

We stopped at an antique store in Kerrville, took the time to go through everything, and then headed out of town to the James Avery "factory," which looks more like a ranch with multiple large buildings scattered across multiple acres. We didn't buy a single thing! Way too expensive! And I guess I'm one of the few people in the world who are not so impressed by James Avery pieces - especially at those prices. So after browsing we headed toward Fredericksburg. We were going to go to Hilltop Cafe (http://hilltopcafe.com/), but they don't open until 4 and the kitchen doesn't serve until 5. The Hilltop Cafe is a converted gas station; one of the members of Asleep at the Wheel (country band) is a partner.

But instead of the Hilltop Cafe, we had lunch at the Altdorf Biergarten (http://www.altdorfbiergarten-fbg.com/) Ken had an imported German beer (bottle) and I meant to save the bottle but forgot and went off without it. Grr...

Instead we headed out to the ranch to see if we still knew the way. We found it, then headed to the Willow City Loop.

For those unfamiliar, that is not a highway. It is a loop through private land/ranches, that is about 13.3 miles, where one can enjoy wildflowers (if any), cactus, canyons, snakes, etc. Warnings are posted to keep moving, do not stop, do not park, do not get out of the car. This is rattle snake country. In making our way thru we ran over a snake that was wiggling its way across the road. Ken never saw it, I did. I was terrified it might have gotten entangled in the tire and be thrown into the wheel well into the engine compartment or something. Here in Texas one hears of those kinds of happenings - snake bite the tire and be caught. I'm never opening the hood! Anyway, Ken had never been, I had seen it once before, we will never do it again. Once is enough.

The "Ranch" and Fredericksburg

The "wildflower" trip is an annual event/trip to Fredericksburg by a bunch of people who know one another mostly from Sunday School class/classes at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth and who invite friends and family to come along. This year we had quite a crowd because the mother of a long-time member of this group died earlier this year. Her ashes were scattered at Willow City Loop and her memorial service was held at the Fredericksburg Funeral Home on Saturday morning.

The place where we stay is a converted ranch on Crabapple Road, a few miles outside of Fredericksburg. Reservations are through Country Inn and Cottages. There's a motel type facility in town, and then the ranch facility which includes the big main house with lots of bedrooms, and converted out buildings. One is a former winery and now has 3 bedrooms, and several other outbuildings. All very nicely done, and beautiful rustic furniture. This is about the most peaceful place I have ever been. Ken and I had a private room this time in one of the "motel" dog trot type rooms. We were in No. 7. Information about this facility and the room where we stayed can be found at http://www.mycountryinn.com/.

In one pasture the owners have a herd of elk. They will come right up to the fence and lie down, and some will even stick their noses thru the fence wanting to be petted. But the owners warn not to! Not many listen. In the front of the place, every evening the owner (lady) comes in her truck. When she gets out you can see deer coming from every direction from all around. They are coming out of the tree line, jumping fences, coming from across the road, from everywhere. It is amazing. In a short time there are anywhere from 50 to 100 deer around her and she is feeding them. It is like watching a deer whisperer, something out of National Geographic. Amazing. And they are almost tame. Visitors can almost get close enough to reach out and touch but are warned not to. Yet the lady walks among them. She also has belted galloway cattle that feed with the deer. One of them is a bull - been hand raised, and is pretty gentle. but don't test it!

After unpacking, checking in with the main house, we headed to the grocery store for supplies. Coming in from San Antonio we had not packed food drinks, etc., from home. At the ranch we all put things to share in the main house kitchen and then everyone eats whatever is there. We paid friend Joan who had picked up BBQ at Coopers in Llano as our part of the Friday evening share...good sliced beef for me and jalapino sausage for Ken (and for whomever else wanted it). So from the store we picked up some breads, fruits, dips, chips, crackers, and some things for our room as well. Ken and I do not like going to the main house for food, and we like having things in our own area for light meals, snacking, and late night low blood sugar issues (Ken mostly).

Everyone sits out on the patio in the evening, having a glass of wine, sometimes a fire, sometimes guitars playing, visiting, relaxing, decompressing. It's great.

Saturday morning Ken and I ate from the food we bought instead of breakfast in town, then headed downtown to roam the stores. We found a new harness for Luci, then we got out my scooter and headed west on the main street. We went to the Fredericksburg Winery (http://www.fbgwinery.com/pass.html?month=3&day=6&year=1948&x=47&y=27) where there was free tasting. I didn't participate, Ken did. We ended up buying a bottle of riesling wine along with a shot glass for Ken's collection. The fellow overcharged us for the shot glass and instead of returning the $2.50 overcharge gave us a $10 wine glass (I wanted it!).

We were headed on down that south side of the street when we saw Susan (adult daughter of our friend Joan) across the street She knew we were looking for a cross for our "foster" daughter Tamara. She had spotted some at the Lazy S store. Ken went back across the street jaywalking with her while I went back to the corner to cross. After saying hello to friends Kim and Roger, we headed to the Lazy S, but found a winery before we got there (http://www.water2wine.us/fredericksburg/). We ended up spending a bit of time in there speaking with the owners/operators and doing tastings! Oh, man. And we had a bottle of Blueberry Pinot Noir special labeled for us to celebrate our upcoming 10th anniversary on May 25. I believe it says, "Casten's Private Reserve, Est. 2002." The owners replaced the top seal paper with one matching the label, and did a decoration for the anniversary. label cost was $10. We're kinda cheap!

Then we made our way down to to Rathskeller's German restaurant (http://www.fredericksburgtexas-online.com/ftorathskeller.html - we had vouchers that came with out room) for lunch. All that way for German food and had their special of the day - ravioli (lol). Afterward we crossed the street and headed back, wandering thru all the funky little stores, really looking for another cross for Tamara - from Fredericksburg. Finally found one at all places in the Five and Dime store! All the others, just like San Antonio, looked and seemed cheap or gaudy. I managed to find myself a really pretty sterling silver rose ring as well -- I'm cheap, so this I chose the one for $19.99!! By this time it was after 4 o'clock so we decided instead of heading back to the ranch we would go on out to the Hilltop Cafe and talk our way in early instead of waiting until reservations at 6. Glad we did. We ate about 5 o'clock, then headed back to the ranch. We visited a bit with friends, rested, nibbled, sat out on the patio a bit, had a diet coke (too much wine already that day), and then went to our room and went to bed.

Ken had a pretty miserable night - didn't get much sleep, tossed and turned, was up and down to the potty room, and finally just got up and went outside very early. I finally gave up trying to sleep so we dresed, packed, and headed for home about 8:30. We headed east out of F. on 290 to 281 and came home thru Marble Falls, Burnet, Lampasas, Hamilton, Hico, Glen Rose, and Granbury. We stopped one time - In Lampasas at McDonald's for breakfast and a mocha frappe. We were home by about 1:30.

Greetings from the Babies

Tamara was at her house when we got home (she doesn't live far), and had children with her so we were greeted by the babies when we came through the back door. From the reports we received Luci cried some of the time we were gone (she is a momma and daddy girl), and apparently she was afraid of Tink - Tamara's little chihuahua (sp?). Luci and Bennie were ready to be picked up and rocked. And I promised we will never leave them again (maybe?). We will take our babies with us if we go again. I will never leave Luci again if we are traveling by vehicle. Nor the other two either for that matter. With the motorhome we don't have to leave them - they just stay in the rig.

Tamara came about 5, the kiddos told her hello and goodbye, we got hugs, paid her for taking care of the babies, and then she left us. I'm sure she's tired of us and our dog children and having to run both places. Next time I think we'll just take her and Jason with us. We dearly miss having children and granchildren in our lives. It's been nice to have these two young people be willing to be a part of us. They are both really sweet.

So, that's about it for Casten's travels for now. Ken has already hit the hay and I'm not far behind him. We'll get unpacked tomorrow, maybe. Until next time, take care, and God bless.

Psalm 121:8 "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."