More Kites

Went back to the Kite Festival today. I take back what I said about the bigger kites just getting them up and nothing else to do. It's a challenge getting them up and then occasionally they fly around and get tangled together. They are heavy when filled with air.

Go Fly a Kite

Bruce and I went to the South Padre Island Kite Festival. It was pretty cold and windy. I never thought about it being too windy for flying a kite but it was for some of the kites. There were groups that came from as far away as Oregon and Canada to fly their kites. One of the groups was a five man one women team called the I Quad. They flew their kites in a synchronized routine to music. Very cool!!! Their control was amazing. Some of the kites were so big that they were tied to the tailgate of the car. Once the kite was in the air there was really nothing to do. I liked watching the smaller kites doing their routine. Seemed like more of a challenge. Afterward we went to a different beach and flew one of our kites. It "seams " I may be sewing up some kites for us to play with.

Howdy Partner

Bruce and I are still meandering around southern Texas. We've spent a lot of time in the Rio Grande Valley. A few days ago we went to a bull riding competition in the town of Mercedes. It was pretty cool, although I hated to watch the guys get thrown off of the bull. A few of them were stomped on or chased by the bull. Most of the younger guys wore helmets and padded vests for protection.







What do you call a bull that is taking a nap?

A bulldozer. LOL!!!







We've been to a couple of wild life preserves for bird watchers. (Bentsen Rio Grande State Park and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge) Those bird watchers are serious. They have all sorts of cameras with telescopic lenses and they hide behind blinds to wait for the birds to arrive. Have you ever heard of a green jay? Either have I, but we saw a few and they are pretty. We saw a bunch of chachalacas and if anyone ever calls you a chachalaca it's because you talk too much. They say 80% of the red head drake from Canada and northern USA spend the winter down here in the Laguna Atascosa Refuge. The parks are pretty and have trails to walk or ride bikes on. The American Bird Conservancy designates the refuge as a "globally important bird area".

Just about every town has a flea market and we've gone to a few. The one we went to in Mercedes was mostly Mexican. They sell lots of used clothing, new clothing, fruit and veggies and the usual junk. We've been eating lots of tacos and found a very tall Mexican making some authentic tacos. I say very tall because it seems that most Mexican men are short. Anyway his tacos were really good. We bought the usual ground beef tacos but he had us try a fajita taco, which was awesome. Of course we had to buy two more. Mexicans don't put cheese on their tacos. He put cilantro and onions on. I usually don't like cilantro but these were really good. We listened to some music at this market also. They call it conjunto music. It's like polka music with a Mexican twist. There is aways an accordion in the band.

Since Mexico is just across the Rio Grande we decided we should venture over the border. It's easier to park the car and walk over. It only cost a quarter each way, and the US checks passports on the way back. It was interesting. All the venders wanted you to check out their stuff. I found the tin ornaments I wanted. We had a nice lunch in a recommened restaurant that was filled with tourists. Mostly older retired people. We bought a bag of Churros from a street vender and his wife. These are fried dough type things with sugar on them. I also found what they call milk candy. This is condensed milk and sugar cooked to a soft ball stage with pecans on it. I might try to make this some day.

Tonight we are at South Padre Island and are going to a kite festival tomorrow. I'll post picture of kites tomorrow.

Quote for today

Life isn't fair
But it's still good

I saw this on a sign this morning and thought it was a good quote. I especially wish younger kids could learn this lesson, they might be happier.

The Other Woman

Her name is Garmin "sita" and she saved our marriage. Usually the "other woman" destroys marriages, but not this one.

I must have some kind of mental block when it comes to directions, although I have noticed some family members who have issues with directions also. Maybe it is an inherited disability. Bruce just thinks I don't pay attention. I kind of like that reason because that leaves room for improvement. Years ago when we took flying lessons and I had to read charts, Bruce thought that my map reading skills had improved. I probably got good at it because I didn't want to crash into a radio tower or a tree. Driving around you just get lost and have to turn around a few times. No biggy!!! No pressure!!!

With Garmin "sita" we just push her buttons and she tells us where to go. She is sometimes wrong herself, which is even better because then I can blame our wrong turn on her. Instead of Bruce and me telling each other to go to !#@%, we let Garmin "sita" tell us where to go!!

Lansing NY, Lansing MI

I recently discovered that Lansing MI was named after Lansing NY.( I've lived in Lansing NY for over 20 yrs) I thought this was an interesting fact.

The North Log Cabin, the oldest in Tompkins and Cayuga Counties and one of the oldest in the country, was reassembled in Myers Park this summer. It was originally built in 1791 by Thomas North. The family played a part in American history since the Revolutionary War. Two of Thomas North's grandsons moved to MI where they named their new home Lansing. I Googled Lansing MI history and this is what I found. I was hoping Lansing MI was named after Lansing NY for a more romantic reason !!!

The area that is now Lansing was originally spotted by explorer Hugh Henward in 1790 while canoeing the Grand River.^[7] The land that was to become Lansing was surveyed in 1825 in what was then dense forest. There would be no roads to this area for decades to come.^[8]

In the winter of 1835 and early 1836, two brothers from New York plotted the area now known as REO Town just south of downtown Lansing and named it "Biddle City." All of this land lay in a floodplain and was underwater during the majority of the year. Regardless, the brothers went back to New York, specifically Lansing, New York, to sell plots for the town that did not exist. They told the residents of Lansing, New York that this new "city" had an area of 65 blocks, contained a church and also a public and academic square. A group of 16 men bought plots in the nonexistent city and upon reaching the area later that year found they had been scammed. Many in the group too disappointed to stay ended up settling around what is now Metropolitan Lansing. Those who stayed quickly renamed the area "Lansing Township" in honor of their home village in New York.^[8]