I just have to say.....I love my job. I love who I work with. I love the family I come home to. :) Life is good! And summer is less than 2 months away!!!!!!!!!!!
Updated Summer Agenda
---------------------------
June 3 Last Day of School
June 4 Drive to Abilene, Texas
June 5-June 13 (approx) COLORADO!!! and New Mexico
June 13-20 New Braunfels Tubing the River
June 21-27 CRUISE to Caribbean!!!
July 1-10 ENGLAND!!!! London, Windsor and Chester
July 10-20 Texas 101 Chowdown Shows with Deborah
July 20-30 NORTH CAROLINA and my nephews
August 1-10 Connecticut Part II
GET EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tyler, Texas....Trip 2
Well, I went back to Tyler this weekend for a re-do of the Azalea Trails and for the Four Winds Renaissance Festival. I went with both of my aunts...Bev and Sherry. The Ren. Festival was quite the let down so we ended up actually seeing a lot of places from flyers that I had gathered from our previous trip.
Without further ado....
New camera settings lol will be having LOTS of fun with this with the bluebonnets for the next month.
The aunts in front of the gazebo
Dogwoods...
There were the Tyler belles at some of the more popular houeses. It was pretty cute....some people were taking pictures with them.
CHERRY BLOSSOMS! :)
Then we headed to the Four Winds Renaisssance Festival. LOL kinda bare, huh? Anyways, what really matters is the people were amazingly friendly and I would totally support their hobby business.
Pirates sword-fighting lol
The Easter bunny showed up with the king and queen to watch the jousting tournament.
We gathered on wooden benches and was really impressed that we began the (REAL) tournament with a prayer. Plus, the announcer had a crush on me since he kept coming over and making fun of how I say "Kazaa!" which is what you're supposed to scream.
Our knight that our section cheered for was Sir Dustin DuGrey. He was horrible. LOL Not gonna lie! The horse was beautiful but he said after the tournament that the horse was a little skiddish and was pulling away.
There were four games but then there was an actual jousting match where they were scored upon hitting their shields. I could have gotten a much better shot if the wooden poll wasn't there!
Our knight lost lol
And, as a lesson to all the kids there, the drunken pirate won. Nice, reallllll nice.
There wasn't really any food at the Ren Fest so we went and had some food and margaritas The Jalepeno Tree. That's when I pulled out my flyers that I hold on to. LOL
So, we ended up at the Goodman Museum. We toured around the house and luckily it didn't take too long, as it was nearly closing time.
Woohoo!! Another registered historical place down!
One of the bedrooms...
Then another flyer was to this Antique Mall. I didn't find anything but my aunts did. I did find some funny things though that are pictured below. Maybe it's because I'm going through an extensive house remodel right now but clever.
Haha! Nice way to recycle your toilet.
Without further ado....
New camera settings lol will be having LOTS of fun with this with the bluebonnets for the next month.
The aunts in front of the gazebo
Dogwoods...
There were the Tyler belles at some of the more popular houeses. It was pretty cute....some people were taking pictures with them.
CHERRY BLOSSOMS! :)
Then we headed to the Four Winds Renaisssance Festival. LOL kinda bare, huh? Anyways, what really matters is the people were amazingly friendly and I would totally support their hobby business.
Pirates sword-fighting lol
The Easter bunny showed up with the king and queen to watch the jousting tournament.
We gathered on wooden benches and was really impressed that we began the (REAL) tournament with a prayer. Plus, the announcer had a crush on me since he kept coming over and making fun of how I say "Kazaa!" which is what you're supposed to scream.
Our knight that our section cheered for was Sir Dustin DuGrey. He was horrible. LOL Not gonna lie! The horse was beautiful but he said after the tournament that the horse was a little skiddish and was pulling away.
There were four games but then there was an actual jousting match where they were scored upon hitting their shields. I could have gotten a much better shot if the wooden poll wasn't there!
Our knight lost lol
And, as a lesson to all the kids there, the drunken pirate won. Nice, reallllll nice.
There wasn't really any food at the Ren Fest so we went and had some food and margaritas The Jalepeno Tree. That's when I pulled out my flyers that I hold on to. LOL
So, we ended up at the Goodman Museum. We toured around the house and luckily it didn't take too long, as it was nearly closing time.
Woohoo!! Another registered historical place down!
One of the bedrooms...
Then another flyer was to this Antique Mall. I didn't find anything but my aunts did. I did find some funny things though that are pictured below. Maybe it's because I'm going through an extensive house remodel right now but clever.
Haha! Nice way to recycle your toilet.
Old tub? Turn it into a flower garden!
Well, next weekend will be another weekend of festivals but closer by. Maybe Galveston...maybe Chappell Hill bluebonnets. Whatever it may be it'll be fun and totally enjoyable if this BEAUTIFUL convertible weather keeps up!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Spring Break
Well, this Spring Break was a fun week. It was pretty relaxing, which I'm starting to enjoy, rather than RUNNING AROUND all of my vacations. The beginning of the week was pretty relaxing but from Thursday-Saturday I got around a lot of Texas. Looking forward to the summer now! Got quite the line-up now. Colorado, New Mexico, New Braunfuls, Cruise, England. I'm getting excited. But I'll enjoy my last 2 and a half months with the kiddos.
Thursday is FREE Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston buildings. Sandi and I went later in the day.
I loved the different painted walls. Saw some exhibits on India, Korea, and Native America (Mesoamerica).
Then, I went to HOLLYWOOD, lol, jk...just the name of the restaurant.
The picture turned out funny and bright lol
Friday, I went to West, Texas. It's a Czech town full of love.
Started my journey here at this store. Found the CUTEST longhorn ring, guitar pic earrings and Czech ornament. Could have spent a LOT more but I resisted a bit.
This was the Old Theater that was pretty torn up but...
it had a historical marker. :)
The reason I went to West was because of this place, Sulak's. It's a Cafe that serves a range of food including Czech food, what I would call German or Bavarian. I had the sausage, no schnitzel or sauerkrat though. While I was there I discovered some AMAZING news that I'll post soon.
Saturday, Aunt B and I, my PITC (partner in travelling crime) went to Tyler, Texas to follow the Azalea Trail. Well, 1) the azaleas aren't blooming yet and 2) it was FREEZING and raining. Started at the Chili Cook-off but as you can see the tents were pretty bare. Aunt B bought us two cups but I thought it was DISGUSTING. She completely disagreed but I threw mine out immediately. :)
We went inside for the judging but it was no big deal.
The room beside us was the Flower Show. Really pretty set-up...
Both of those events were here, in the Tyler's Women's Building...Found out the historical plaque was on the OTHER side of the building. Bummer...
Down the street we found this BEAUTIFUL backyard. Amazing...
And, they let complete strangers wander around in their backyard!
Um, excuse me, may I please move into your backyard, thanks!
With the weather keeping us inside we stopped at the McClendon House.
Historical :)
Lots of pink in here.
Beautiful porch....
OMG, I was with Aunt B the first time she had STARBUCKS!! HAHAHA yes!!
That night we just played with Corkie and hung out. Poor thing.....
Sunday morning it SNOWED. Yes, it SNOWED!!
Thursday is FREE Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston buildings. Sandi and I went later in the day.
I loved the different painted walls. Saw some exhibits on India, Korea, and Native America (Mesoamerica).
Then, I went to HOLLYWOOD, lol, jk...just the name of the restaurant.
The picture turned out funny and bright lol
Friday, I went to West, Texas. It's a Czech town full of love. 
Started my journey here at this store. Found the CUTEST longhorn ring, guitar pic earrings and Czech ornament. Could have spent a LOT more but I resisted a bit.
This was the Old Theater that was pretty torn up but...
it had a historical marker. :)
The reason I went to West was because of this place, Sulak's. It's a Cafe that serves a range of food including Czech food, what I would call German or Bavarian. I had the sausage, no schnitzel or sauerkrat though. While I was there I discovered some AMAZING news that I'll post soon.
Saturday, Aunt B and I, my PITC (partner in travelling crime) went to Tyler, Texas to follow the Azalea Trail. Well, 1) the azaleas aren't blooming yet and 2) it was FREEZING and raining. Started at the Chili Cook-off but as you can see the tents were pretty bare. Aunt B bought us two cups but I thought it was DISGUSTING. She completely disagreed but I threw mine out immediately. :)
We went inside for the judging but it was no big deal.
The room beside us was the Flower Show. Really pretty set-up...
Both of those events were here, in the Tyler's Women's Building...Found out the historical plaque was on the OTHER side of the building. Bummer...
Down the street we found this BEAUTIFUL backyard. Amazing...
And, they let complete strangers wander around in their backyard!
Um, excuse me, may I please move into your backyard, thanks!
With the weather keeping us inside we stopped at the McClendon House.
Historical :)
Lots of pink in here.
Beautiful porch....
OMG, I was with Aunt B the first time she had STARBUCKS!! HAHAHA yes!!
That night we just played with Corkie and hung out. Poor thing.....
Sunday morning it SNOWED. Yes, it SNOWED!!
Tried to get a picture of the snow on the trees on the first day of Spring. Lol, only in Texas, you know....
Looking forward to seeing my friends and students at work tomorrow. But eagarly awaiting next weekend. Going to Goliad, Texas to watch the Goliad Massacre reinactment. Stupid Mexicans took out Texans. I think Texas should secede from the USA, declare war on Mexico and the drug cartell and take their asses out. That's right. Remeber the Alamo, Remember Goliad. We could take them.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Last Weekend *Running Behind!*
Last weekend I explored Gonzales, Texas. It's about 2 hours the west of Houston. It was a great trip I took on my own. I wish the city was a bit more renovated but with the lack of businesses, and therefore, city taxes, there's little hope for this brave city, where the state of Texas was born and bred. Long live Gonzales...COME AND TAKE IT!
I began my journey at the Gonzales County Courthouse, a building on the National Historic Registry. Really beautiful...
Old Square of Gonzales still looks like the old town, it almost transforms you into another time period as you walk around.
The state historical marker on the courthouse...
The view from across the street of the courthouse.
Around the courthouse were the historical First Baptist Church that was started in the 1800s.
The First United Methodist Church was also started here in the 1800s. Interesting how they were right beside each other.
Lol, and here's the Old Jail and Museum. Hilarious story....
I had to go in to see the Visitors Center and was greeted by a nice, friendly woman. I got plenty of brochures for the area. The place is the old jail and the entire place is open to tour...at your own risk. When I went in there was a family of four touring the upstairs cells and gallows. I looked at the rooms pictured below. Then I went to climb upstairs and the family of four left. All of a sudden, I was very aware that I was all alone in this abandoned jail where many men died by hanging. I couldn't even get up the stairs lol. All I could think of were those ghost shows you see commercials of where the guys are inside the dark places and they start feeling and hearing things. Yea, so I got the HELL outta there quick. Lol, I plan to go back when I have my dad with me...or someone else to protect me from scary noises. :)
The jail is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Two for one!
On the first floor was the jailer's bedroom.
This was beside the bedroom, where the woman and "lunatics" room was.
That about says it all. Below was the room it was posted on.
I think they call this solitary confinement now.
This was almost at the top of the stairs. The wooden frame you can almost make out would be the gallows where all the criminals were hung. Yea, then the stairs lead to more cells.
Monument to the soldiers who died in the Civil War fighting for the Confederacy.
Memorial to the men who died fighting for Texas.
Next, I was off to the reason I came. The Gonzales Memorial Museum was written about in the March issue of Texas Highways. It talked about the restoration that was needed and how important it was to Texas history.
The reflection pond
To the left of the Memorial are the giant oak trees where the families met after the Alamo fell. Sam Houston was here and made the decision to burn the city of Gonzales to the ground as he knew Santa Anna would use all the resources they had. The families who lived here, even though they had just lost their husbands, brothers and fathers at the Alamo, had to pack up their belongings and head for refuge. The curator of the museum said this is the only time in history where there were Texas refugees.
Love my historical markers...
On either side of the museum were two different rooms of artifacts. One room was set up with many artifacts used by women and children. I took lots of pictures for the lessons I teach on how children lived in the past.
This was a 5 foot mammoth trunk that was found in the area by some local boyscouts.
And on the opposite side was the museum of the war history museum. Here is the cannon that started the Texas Revolution! Mexico gave Texans this cannon to protect themselves from threatening, dangerous Native American tribes. However, Mexican laws and taxes were hurting native Texans and they decided to revolt. They fired this cannon at the Mexican troops which started the war. That's what the battle cry, Come and Take It is for. Days after we fired this cannon and took out a few Mexican troops we had the tragic Battle of the Alamo. The day I visited was the day anniversary of the day the Alamo fell.
Up close and personal
The curator who ran the museum has letters from many historic societies proclaiming that the proof he had for this to be the actual cannon was accurate. We won't ever really know but it's pretty neat to think that you're starring at the one that started the Texas Revolution.
And behind the Memorial is the Ampitheater...
All in all, I would love to return to the do the marathon from Gonzales to San Jacinto and go to the jail. So, hopefully, this won't be the last Gonzales sees of me. :)
I began my journey at the Gonzales County Courthouse, a building on the National Historic Registry. Really beautiful...
Old Square of Gonzales still looks like the old town, it almost transforms you into another time period as you walk around.
The state historical marker on the courthouse...
The view from across the street of the courthouse.
Around the courthouse were the historical First Baptist Church that was started in the 1800s.
The First United Methodist Church was also started here in the 1800s. Interesting how they were right beside each other.
Lol, and here's the Old Jail and Museum. Hilarious story....
I had to go in to see the Visitors Center and was greeted by a nice, friendly woman. I got plenty of brochures for the area. The place is the old jail and the entire place is open to tour...at your own risk. When I went in there was a family of four touring the upstairs cells and gallows. I looked at the rooms pictured below. Then I went to climb upstairs and the family of four left. All of a sudden, I was very aware that I was all alone in this abandoned jail where many men died by hanging. I couldn't even get up the stairs lol. All I could think of were those ghost shows you see commercials of where the guys are inside the dark places and they start feeling and hearing things. Yea, so I got the HELL outta there quick. Lol, I plan to go back when I have my dad with me...or someone else to protect me from scary noises. :)
The jail is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Two for one!
On the first floor was the jailer's bedroom. 
This was beside the bedroom, where the woman and "lunatics" room was.
That about says it all. Below was the room it was posted on.
I think they call this solitary confinement now.
This was almost at the top of the stairs. The wooden frame you can almost make out would be the gallows where all the criminals were hung. Yea, then the stairs lead to more cells. 
Monument to the soldiers who died in the Civil War fighting for the Confederacy.
Memorial to the men who died fighting for Texas.
Next, I was off to the reason I came. The Gonzales Memorial Museum was written about in the March issue of Texas Highways. It talked about the restoration that was needed and how important it was to Texas history.
The reflection pond
To the left of the Memorial are the giant oak trees where the families met after the Alamo fell. Sam Houston was here and made the decision to burn the city of Gonzales to the ground as he knew Santa Anna would use all the resources they had. The families who lived here, even though they had just lost their husbands, brothers and fathers at the Alamo, had to pack up their belongings and head for refuge. The curator of the museum said this is the only time in history where there were Texas refugees. 
Love my historical markers...
On either side of the museum were two different rooms of artifacts. One room was set up with many artifacts used by women and children. I took lots of pictures for the lessons I teach on how children lived in the past. 
This was a 5 foot mammoth trunk that was found in the area by some local boyscouts.
And on the opposite side was the museum of the war history museum. Here is the cannon that started the Texas Revolution! Mexico gave Texans this cannon to protect themselves from threatening, dangerous Native American tribes. However, Mexican laws and taxes were hurting native Texans and they decided to revolt. They fired this cannon at the Mexican troops which started the war. That's what the battle cry, Come and Take It is for. Days after we fired this cannon and took out a few Mexican troops we had the tragic Battle of the Alamo. The day I visited was the day anniversary of the day the Alamo fell. 
Up close and personal
The curator who ran the museum has letters from many historic societies proclaiming that the proof he had for this to be the actual cannon was accurate. We won't ever really know but it's pretty neat to think that you're starring at the one that started the Texas Revolution.
And behind the Memorial is the Ampitheater...All in all, I would love to return to the do the marathon from Gonzales to San Jacinto and go to the jail. So, hopefully, this won't be the last Gonzales sees of me. :)
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