"Today is a Good Day to Drive!" .....Van-Go

Got up with the sun this morning.  Our tomato plant is doing well.  It was saved by John and Sylvia a few days back when we were out driving around big Texas winds carried it away and it was rolling about.  John tucked it under the front tire.  Luckily it has roll bars so the plant was not damaged very badly. This is our walking path.  Clyde walks with us each morning. Today big trucks arrived with containers and guys to pick the grapefruit trees clean of fruit.  About half is on the ground about this time of year; they must wait this long so the fruit left on the trees is tree ripened and ready to juice.  Have a good morning.

Our favorite spot is the Red Snapper Restaurant.  We enjoy listening to Rigo and Panchito. The waiters are all so nice. Opps, this waiter was out on the deck when we took the picture so here is one of just he and Kathy. The view of Nuevo Progresso from the deck of Red Snapper looking up towards the International Bridge. This is the view from the deck looking south. The mural work outside and in is just amazing. On our way back to the bridge we stopped to have our boots polished. This little girl climbed right up on Will's lap and played with his bracelets the entire time.

Kathy is working on landscaping. Will is doing some wiring. In Harlingen on Jackson Street we found a Model Railroad Club where we can go and play!!!

John Harley.  He is warming up and checking the speakers a few hours before the crowd arrives. We get there around 1:30  to make sure we get our favorite table. Inside the bar people are watching the Daytona 500. Scott's parents owned a BBQ place; he sure knows what he is doing out there at the grills.  Hours before people arrive he gets the mesquite wood burning so that the charcoals are just right. Calida and Kathy. Will put a metal license plate over the hole in the dance floor. By 3:30 the room is filled, outside people have brought their own chairs and are seated on the deck or in the grass on the side. Brothers...or so they say.  Can you tell which is the oldest? Kathy, Kristen and Hal, Jim, John and Doris. Jim is a single guy who comes out and enjoys dancing. Connie was the tip girl, but since she is not down in the Valley this year (We really miss her and Bud and Duffy too) Kathy is doing it. Love when everyone gets up to dance! The free BBQ on Sundays is ...

Just up the road from Bayview about 50 miles is a small town of fishing enthusiasts.  Port Mansfield has a population of about 400 people. And lots of deer! People come and feed and photograph them, but the locals just ignore them and wish they didn't eat all their landscape plants. The gulls come and compete for tossed bread or corn. This buck has a nice little herd. Some of the deer are a little jumpy as the kids toss out bread. The deer hairs are all mismanaged and ready to shed to their spring coats; the summer coat is actually thicker per. The hairs are hollow!  Big ears! Big beautiful eyes. Look at the lip stripe; cute. The docks in Port Mansfield are long as the water is so shallow. Fredstone Park is a busy place today.  Most times we have been the only ones at the park so it is nice to see it busy. Families all come out to fish. Brown pelicans also like to fish here. So graceful. Pelican cove was open so we decided to peek inside and look what we found; a big deck...

Moja is getting very silver and look at those muscles! Martha has a big scar on the back of her head.  Her baby, TJ is doing well and becoming more independent.  Bangori is so attentive to visitors. Penny made of score of veggies and fruit this afternoon. Back.... Front.... A new baby orang!!!  Dottie is a very loving Mom. She even carried it up to the window to show us. "See my new baby" The Gars were eyeing the whistling ducks. Trees are starting to bloom. Nap time for rhinos.  Check out this freeloader white pelican fishing in the resacca. We actually saw it get something...frog, turtle, fish who knows what in that muck at the bottom. The camel exhibit is by far the worst for viewing, but the camels seem to like it. The baby giraffes are resting. Look the tiger has light stripes! The ostrich is sort of featherless on his back side. So curious; check out those big ears! Palm tree blooming. The baby gorilla left today on a private Reds jet for Cincinnati, Ohio. ...