Goliad, TX

Birdie and I went to Goliad twice, once before the accident and again after....which seems to be how I am measuring time these days. Decided to combine both visits in one post.

On our first visit, we visited the Goliad Downtown Historic District.

The Courthouse graces the center of the square.

And conveniently in front of the Courthouse is the Hanging Tree.

 If only the Hanging Tree could talk...

Around the square, historic storefronts.

 Simba's checking to see if this cow is real.

 I wonder if this restaurant was there when the hangings were common. Entertainment while you eat...ack.

 Other side of the square..

 Looks like a faded mural on one side of the building, but didn't get a close-up view.

 Alley

 Market House Museum, formally a meat and produce market in the early 1870s.

 Inside we learn how Texas got her name.

A big part of the history of this place is at the Presidio la Bahia

 With a display of 9 flags representing different nations that have controlled it in its history.

The fort is largely authentically restored, and the Chapel is the only original structure that remains.

Bell tower and statue....more about that later.

 About the Presidio

Inside, we first watched a video, then took a walk back in time, each room representing a different time or event.

 Many artifacts were displayed. I remember this one because the sign said the tree-pattern glaze on this pottery bowl was created with urine and tobacco. Don't think I want to eat my breakfast Cheerios in it.

 The Presidio was there to protect the Mission and its surrounding community. This type of house was called a jacal.

 That was interesting because our campground area had the same name. I wonder if that was where the community of little houses once stood.

Everyone learns about and remembers the Alamo, but I learned that after that battle, an even worse massacre happened in Goliad.

 The timeline helps to put events in perspective.

 Looking out into the Presidio courtyard.

 Inside the walls

 Fannin was killed here and his grave and memorial are nearby.

 The first Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico was signed on the alter of the Chapel in 1835.

 The Chapel still holds weekly services.

 Inside the Chapel

 A Catholic Historic Site

 About the bell

 The bell, and in the background, what remains of the original Chapel doors.

 More about the Chapel's history.

 Living quarters within the Presidio walls.

 The roles of women

 General Zaragoza was born here, and later became known for his role in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is celebrated today as Cinco de Mayo.

 A mural depicting that famous battle.

The Presidio was built to help protect the Mission  Espiritu Santo which is located on the grounds of what is now Goliad State Park.

 I only got pictures of the outside, and was not able to tour the inside because...

There was a wedding going on.

 Goliad is also the location of the start of the first major Texas cattle drive.

Springtime was just beginning on our first visit to Goliad. Lots of cardinals were getting ready to do their mating.

 Wildflowers were just beginning to bloom.

 Saw a few birds....Loggerhead Shrike

 American Kestrel

 Beginnings of wildflowers.

But when we came back two weeks later it was beautiful!

 Simba loved running and rolling in all the flowers.

Couldn't see it all, so enough reason to visit Goliad again.

Cuero, Texas

I had started this post before the accident, so will finish it and do a series of shorter posts about some of the fun things we did before and after the accident.  There really was more good than bad.

Birdie and I visited the little town of Cuero, famous for its "Turkey Trot." 

Turkeys have been raised here since the early 1900s.

Back then, they didn't have trucks to take the turkeys to market, so they "drove" them sort of like cattle. This sign explains the tradition.

This is a photo of one of the early turkey trots.

The town is proud of this heritage, and you see evidence of that everywhere.

Inside the Main Street Koffee Haus where we had lunch, Ruby Begonia (prize-winning turkey) was depicted in a mural having coffee with her turkey friends.

The Chamber of Commerce had a large display of antique reamers (what I call juicers) in all kinds of shapes and colors.

There were two large rooms full of reamers, but you get the idea.

Driving around town reminded me of McIntosh...where trees have the right-of-way.

 Courthouse in Cuero

 This same fancy hardware was on the ladies room door too.

 A couple of the older homes:

Allert House 

Breeder House 

 THought this was a creative way to start seedlings for the garden.

Storefronts dating to the 1890s.

Drive-up service at the back of the pharmacy!

So if you're ever in the area of Cuero, it's worth the stop.

And if they're closed, well....

Climbing that mountain...

My last post was from "down in the valley" (Rio Grande), but since then, as most of you know, I've been in a valley of a different sort, which happens to all of us from time to time when bad things happen to us or to those we love.


And so we say goodbye to Silver Lining, wrecked beyond repair when she was hit head-on by a car careening out of control. I continue to pray for the driver of that car who will undoubtedly have a long recovery.

We must also say goodbye to Bandit, barring a miracle, because he ran away from the scene and has not been found. I will miss my kitty.

But I also know that when bad things happen, God is there. My good friends Marge and Dick used to sing a song about God being Lord of the mountain, and and Lord of the valley too. I think of that often as He sees me through the valleys in my life, and remember to praise him always.

He has placed good friends in my life, and many were near when the accident happened. They have given me such help, strength and support, my cup runneth over.

There are so many to thank, too many to name, all across the country for their help, offers to help, prayers, advice and good wishes. But I do want say a special thanks to some...

To Nancy (Birdie) who was there when it happened and stayed right with me through it all, feeding me, housing me, driving me everywhere I needed or wanted to go, and making me laugh.

For all those dog walks and pooper scoops she had to do...I will owe her for a very long time.

To Beth (sorry for the bad photo) and her friend Conni who came immediately when called to the hospital, and later helped me empty the RV of all my stuff and look for my cat. To Conni (whose picture came out even worse) for putting me up in her guest room for several days and let me store that "stuff" in her garage for even more days. And she had never met me before! Thank you Conni, for being such a great friend to Beth, and now to me.

To Karen, who generously loaned me the use of her RV until I found another one, and even delivered it to me at the Get-together at Mustang Island State Park.

To Colleen, who gave up a day at the Get-together to ride to Houston with Birdie and me to look at RVs, and gave me great advice in securing a good deal. She's smiling here because she just got her Golden Age Pass.

While inspecting my soon-to-be, new-to-me RV, Colleen took this photo detailing  my "wide spread".

To Diana (center) who helped facilitate the return of Karen's RV by driving from Austin to Kerrville where Birdie drove it, picking up Birdie and bringing her back to Goliad. Diana spent the night in the RV park before returning to Austin.

And so I am on the road to Florida, and I can see the mountaintop, praise be to God, and to all of my friends. If I've forgotten someone, I will blame it on my head injury.

I can never repay all that was done, but I hope to repay a little when the opportunity arises,

And spread the pollen to other flowers,

By paying it forward.

Everywhere I look it is Springtime! A time for new life...