Hail, the Lone Star State!

I'm a little late, but here are a few highlights from our trip to Texas. We flew into San Antonio, spent a couple days there, drove around the Texas Hill Country for a few days and then went down to Houston. We spent a day driving along Galveston Bay and Island. We then drove back to San Antonio for our flight home.
1. Debbie and Rod Barnes. They have a nice guest room and pool outside, they serve up a really nice barbecue dinner, and daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Ron Jones and grandson Parker all live nearby.
2. Jennifer Barnes Jones and Ron Jones. They joined us at Debbie's for dinner. Jen was a little stressed out about her new job, but they are a really sweet couple (especially considering that Ron is an FBI agent!) and Parker is a neat kid.
3. Sarah Barnes Stellges and Brandon Stellges. They took us out to a REAL Mexican restaurant, where I had the absolute best Margaritas I've ever had. (First ones, too.) Sarah is well along in her pregnancy and we had a really delightful evening with them. We had lunch the next day and went into a Lucchese Boot shop – the least expensive pair was $775. That's about as much I have paid for all the shoes I have bought in my entire life. (Almost.) But Sarah gave us a recommendation for another store which was on our way out of San Antone and I got meself a mighty fine pair of Tony Lamas – and a Lucchese belt, which Janet picked out.
4. The LBJ Ranch in Hill Country, along a river spelled "Pedernales" but which everyone pronounces "purrden-alice." It's a moving visit.
5. Riverwalk in San Antonio. Mobbed (including many cadets from a nearby Air Force base), but worth it. We had dinner one evening in SA and went back for our last dinner.
6. Alamo? Meh. But south of SA is Mission San Juan, a well-done Park Service site which educates you well about these missions, which were designed to domesticate the Native Americans so as to settle the area, since not enough Spanish could be persuaded to come to the New World.
7. Hill Country. Pretty. Very pretty. Lots of bluebonnets. Almost every river and creek bed was bone dry. They really have a drought problem.
8. Hill Country wineries. I had no idea there are so many, and they use Texas-grown grapes. As is the case with so many small wineries, the locals get all the good stuff. We had some truly marvelous wine.
9.  We decided the fool-proof way to foment an armed rebellion in Texas would be to prohibit (a) pickup trucks and (b) fences.
10. Galveston, on the Gulf. It's getting more built up and touristy, but the views of the Gulf are pretty amazing. We had lunch in a great little honky-tonk crab shack right on the water. Gives new meaning to the term "eat local."
11. Houston traffic. Bad, bad, bad.
12. Hugh and Judy Thompson. Hugh was a roommate (for one year) and good friend at Princeton, but we've had no contact since graduation. They served up a nice dinner at their house, just 15 minutes from Debbie and Rod.
13. LBJ Houston Space Center? A real bust, all Disney-fied. Phooey.
14. Fredericksburg, in the center of Hill Country. A town settled by Germans. First night: the worst sauerbraten I've ever had. Second night: much better sauerbraten.
15. Rod Barnes. You gotta love this guy. In my foolishness, I had thought we would take three of those wines back on the plane. Oops, 3 oz. limits on liquids. We didn't want to check any luggage, so Rod offered to pack up the wine (and two glasses) and ship them to us. They arrived a week later so hugely armored that a direct hit from Kim Jong-Un wouldn't have done anything.

I'd definitely go back. Thank you Debbie, Rod, Sarah, Brandon, Jennifer, Ron, Hugh and Judy.

News flash from Illinois

Rumor has it that Bill and Jen have posted on Facebook news that they are expecting another child.

That is WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC, even!

Love

Finally

What is it about spring that when it finally comes, it is so new and joyous, as if it doesn't happen each year, round about the same time?  Today, the temperature reached 70, and we did a little yard work, cut some grass, cleaned the porches and planted some marigolds (in trays, inside still, but getting ready.)  We've even seen the groundhogs.  They're getting ready for our new garden.

Dan was here for the night, as he joined us to attend cousin Peter's 60th birthday party.  It was a surprise party, and he was surprised.  Many cousins and two Collins aunts were there, as well as many of the next generation, and the one after that.  Nice family, that knows fun.

Soon, I'll know fun again, as I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel for this spring's classes.  Today was the first day in weeks that I did  not spend the first hours on the computer writing.  A month ago, when we went to Washington, I couldn't see a way to the end.  Now I am closing in on completing three projects: a book proposal on history and memory in the Foreign Service, a national registry nomination for the mill next to our house and an exhibit on Pittsfield in the Civil War, for Arrowhead Museum.  Let's hope something comes out of each of those besides a class assignment.

Last weekend, Mary and I went to Ottawa for five days!  The national public history conference this year was in Ottawa, too big a temptation to forego.  And, we stayed in our old house, thanks to the Nealons, friends who joined the Foreign Service at the same time as us, and he is now the DCM.  And, another couple also from our class, the Dickmeyers, came up from Toronto where he is Consul General.  Time flew by.  The photo is in the backyard of our old house.

Speaking of flying (don't you just love the transitions?), Joe is flying to India this week, as he accompanies a delegation going to the Asian Development Bank meeting.  He has been uber-busy with preparations for that meeting.  Margaret too has been busy at work, as it is getting close to summer when all the Fulbright orientations she;s been working on take place.  And, Annie flew too, to Malaysia, to get her China visa renewed.   

Big news from Florida, as John and Marilyn bought a house, their winter escape in Daytona.  Looks nice; they got a great deal and have extended their trip south for an extra week, to get it ready.  

We talked to David, who was on his way to Albany, and then this week went to New York City.  He had some business, but he and Paula were hoping to go see a play.

Mary has been busy with one last class to renew her certification for teaching.  She's hoping something comes up this summer.  She had a swim meet yesterday, in southern Vermont.  In one race, it turned out she was going to be swimming by herself.  When she threatened to back out, the two coaches, both champions swam with her.  Go team.  

May starts this week.  Hope returns.  Love from over here.    

Turning the corner and

Rounding home.  It happens every year.  Baseball season.  You thought I was going to say spring.  Or April showers.  Or crocuses.  (We actually have our first struggling to stay out when the temps go down below freezing every night still.)  No, baseball season.  It makes me wonder what I've been doing with my life for the last 5 months.  And some of us have even gone to the park to see a game.  Mary and I went to see "42" the movie - very inspiring.  The normally staid audience here in Pittsfield broke out in applause a few times.  

I know what I've been doing, trying to keep my head above water at school.  Are you ready for this next year Annie?  How are you holding up, Tina and Sean?

It's been a while since the last entry, so there's much to catch up on.

First of all Easter.  Hope everyone had a great day.  Margaret and Andrew came up for the weekend, and were hoping to bring Joe who couldn't come at the last minute because of work.  Too bad.  Dan Boyle joined us for the night, and we had our now traditional Easter dinner at the Red Lion Inn.  It's a tradition if you do something three times, right?

Dan brought news that Patrick had returned from Colorado and was planning to get a job back east, maybe go back to school at some point.  Kathleen has a new job in Boston.  And Maura got into nursing school.

Speaking of Boston, it's hard to write the usual family news without a quiet prayer for those hurt in the senseless attacks at the marathon finish line. 

We have heard a couple of times from Annie, who has moved to western China, the mountainous province of Yunnan.  Her pictures look beautiful.  She is planning a trip to Malaysia to renew her visa.  So many places.  Exciting.

Speaking of places, Joe is headed to India in May for a meeting of the Asia Development Bank he is helping prepare for.  

We spoke with David and Paula since their return from a three-week swing all the way to Florida.  They attached the sun to the back of their car and brought it back with them.  Travel tip:  Florida Keys may not be worth it.  

John and Marilyn are down in Florida for the month of April.  We keep texting them about the snow showers and freezing nights to make them feel good about their decision to go south.

Spring also means burn season, so last week we burned our big pile of brush which had accumulated over the summer and fall.  Good thing we chose Thursday, because it snowed on Friday.  Last year, Joe was here to help out.  Miss it?

Out in Dundee, it sounds like everyone is plugging away, at school, at work and at sports.  Claire, are you having a bout of senior-itis yet? 

Tomorrow, Mary and I head north, since we haven't had enough of winter.  Mary will put aside her yoga, swimming, photo and guitar classes to join me back in Ottawa where I will be taking in a public history conference.  We'll be staying in our old house.  Last time I think.

And, next week is Peter's birthday.  Have a hap, hap, happiest day.

That's all from here.  Love