Mission TX - 3rd Week - 2nd Month

Feb 20th (Monday)
Went into McAllen to McAllen Glass thismorning for some more stained glass supplies. Framing fir the ones I have almost completed, more glass for a couple in the plnning stage, and some patina to change the color of the solder from silver to copper. Of course it can't just be that simple. You have to buy one kind to change solder to copper, one to change solder to black, one to change the zinc frame to copper, and another to change the zinc frame to black. Then there are three different widths of zinc frames and another frame of copper. Bought a range of all of them. Also needed a mitre box and a hack saw to cut the framing. I'm building up a fair stock of equipment and supplies for this simple hobby. Better not tire of it for a while!!!

Once home added some framing to my completed projects.
Feb 21st (Tuesday)

This morning went to the RV Park Town meeting. They just filled us in on coming activities. Seems as though the winter season is starting to come to a close, as little is planned for after the end of this month, After the meeting we pulled up our chairs to the street running around the park to watch the Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Parade, All the golf carts in the park were decorated and made one loop around the park. Actually quite good. Then a fair amount of action on the Rio Grande as the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, was here inspecting the border defences. There were up to 6 Border Patrol boats and 3 helicopters making their rounds up and down the Rio, showing the committment and strength of her security in the area.

Feb 22nd (Wednesday)
One of the nicest days we have had here. Temp got up to about 90 F in early afternoon. Was away too hot for Denice, but I sure enjoyed it. In the morning started out at about 75 F and was dead calm. The Rio was like a mirror and stayed that way all day. I worked on stained glass outside a good share of the day and Denice stitched and read inside. She did come out in the evening and we ate out there with the mirror calm Rio as a backdrop.



ELTORO



It just doesn't get any better than that!!!
Feb 23rd (Thursday)
Denice up early and off birding with Laura from down the row a ways - I stay home and do the domestic stuff, at about 2:00PM I take a run into town and pick up a few groceries, and then oner to Home Depot for some chisels and a mallet. I need to remove the bark from the wood turning blanks that I had bought.. When I got home at 4 PM Denice was already there. Tonight there is no pot luck supper, instead there it a free Turkey Soup meal at 5 PM so we went up. It was very good!!
Feb 24th ( Friday)
Rather windy, light rain, but warm at 76  F when we got up at 7 AM. Had planned on going to the South Padre Island Craft Show today, but the weather is really not good. Forecast for South Padre is rain and wind, so will likely wait until tomorrow
Feb 25th (Saturday)
Still a little unsettled to go to Sourh Padre
Feb 26th (Sunday)
South Padre Island today. Its always a pleasure to go there. I love the beach and ocean waves. Left Mission at about 9:00AM this morning and headed east and south along the Military Highway or Highway 281. It goes all the way to Brownville, about 60 miles. A couple of reasons for returning once again to South Padre Island. #1, Denice wanted to go to the Craft fair that is an annual event at the Convention Center, #2 was to see the shore birds at the Birding Center, and #3 was to travel the up the beach a ways. Always enjoy that. It kind of an interesting trip to the Island. After you leave Brownsville, you travel along the canal leading to the Brownsville Port, but a couple hundred yards away. Occasionally you see an ocean going ship steaming along, but from the road it appears that it is just coming through the low bushes as no water is visible. The Port of Brownsville is an interesting place on its own. You would think it should be on the Gulf Coast, but in fact it is 20 or so miles inland, with the only water access by a 200 ft wide canal dredged to 40 ft deep, plus the complete port facilities all dredged to accomadate ocean going boats. A lot of the traffic is connected to the Gulf Oil Industry. Today was no exception. A large Jack Up Oil Platform was in port for some repairs, and it stood out high above the surrounding land.

 At the craft fair, we wandered around through the hundred or so booths and bought a few items that intriqued us. By then it was lunch time so we had to go to Schlitterbaums for all you can eat salad and all you can eat shrimp for 14 bucks, I believe. Money well spent.

 Then to the birding center for a look around and get some pictures of shore birds. Then my favourite, A drive up the beach. Winds had been strong for the last couple of days, and the tides high, so the water was pushing well up onto the beaches. "Men of War" jellyfish were in abundance. The beaches were covered with them.

Drivers, as they drove down the shore line kept running over them, and it was as if you were popping "Bubble Wrap"  Each one as you run over it, gave a very loud "Pop." We only went a few miles and the stopped for a few pictures, and then decided to head home, a two hour trip.