In the Hill Country of Texas

Leaving Lufkin, we headed West towards one of our very favorite areas in the country...the Texas Hill Country. We fell in love with this area last year and couldn't wait to get back!! We were also looking forward to spending time with more SKP friends at their Hill Country compound.
Now, don't ask me how to get there, because I don't think I could tell you; MerleDeen took us there precisely (she was doing pretty well that day) and the views of Canyon Lake along the way were beautiful...it was one of those sparkling, sunny days that we love!!

(MerleDeen, by the way, is the new GPS that came in the Bus. Her cousins, Lola and Freda Garmin, are a little smarter than their new counter part, which is of the JVC descent. We named her MerleDeen as we rambled thru the Alabama countryside following her lead)

Arriving at Tommie Sue and Harrell Hick's retreat, we were delighted to find lovely, natural grounds with lots of wildlife and birds. Now, the Cardinal might be the official State bird for Virginia, but the old saying that everything is bigger in Texas surely is appropriate...those were magnificent birds!!! We're thinking that it is Tommie Sue's generous feeding that keeps those bright red birds so plump and plentiful! The flocks were always surrounding her feeders.

The feeling of nature has been well preserved, using cedars and native rock. We backed into our site and I really wanted to find a cedar bough and erase the tire tracks, such was the feeling of just being a part of the landscape.

We spent almost a week enjoying the Hill Country with the Hick's and their wonderful neighbors, including Pete and Jo Peters.

Tommie Sue cuts the cake for Jo's birthday!

On Saturday, we traveled the Guadalupe River Road, ending up in the charming German town of Greune (pronounced "green") for Market Days, where we walked and shopped, enjoying more of what we call "Bavaria...Texas style".

During Market Days, the square is filled with many vendors of handcrafted Texas items of all sizes and shapes......

Harrell trys out a Texas- size handmade rocking chair in Greune!

Deb and Rod

Deb and Rod surprised us with a call from San Antonio and drove up for a visit. It was wonderful to see them again and we had a fun night chatting, eating and playing Mexican Train.

Of course, we had to have some cut-throat Hand and Foot games, as TS and Harrell, and Pete and Jo learned to play the game we enjoy so much

Once again, a nice week, with some bright, sunny days and even some gray ones, with a few flurries thrown in; but we can't think of any nicer people to spend it with!!
We'll return to the Hill Country after a month in Rockport!!