Friday, April 24, 2009

Rosenburg

We had a good visit with Mary Nell while in Rosenburg. We talked about a lot of kinfolk and remembered things we did when we were kids.




Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Wallis, TX.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Day Two - Gulf Coast

Last Spring we had a very good seafood meal at Clifton by the Sea in Bacliff, TX.  I had been curious about how they survived the hurricane so we went by to see for ourselves.  The diner was completely restored and again serving good food.



This was the view from our table.



We ordered an appetizer to get started.


 
Maybe this was an appetizer for a party of eight!



The pelicans were just sitting on the poles.  Last year they were diving for fish.




We drove on to Galveston where the look of winter was everywhere.  All the trees were dead!  Must have been the result of so much salt water during the hurricane.  Most palm trees survived but all other trees, shrubs, crepe myrtle, oleander and the like were dead.






The only place showing much plant life was the cemetery!



The spring flowers were beautiful.



I checked on the Star Drug Store where Sue Ellen and I had spent some good times while Grandma was in Postmaster convention many years ago.  The drug store was open for business again.




Reconstruction was underway along the waterfront.




And the timeless waves were rolling in as if nothing unusual had ever happened.


Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Road Trip to Galveston (Part One)

Hitting the road around 10am got us to Rosebud by noon.  The Hiway 77 Cafe has possibly one of the best chicken fried steaks in the state of Texas!  Grandma and I shared one.




At Independence Grandma examined the ruins of old Baylor Female College, the predecessor to Mary Hardin-Baylor.



A field of wildflowers was blooming near the ruins.




Then we visited Independence Baptist Church where Sam Houston  was converted.  This is possible the oldest Baptist church in the state of Texas.




I bought a rose at the Antique Rose Emporeum.




In Brenham I checked out their fire engine.


It could pump 600 gallons per minute!




We drove through the campus of Blinn College.






This sunflower grew just outside the entrance to our Motel in Brenham.



Check back soon for more pictures.