Texas is a state of mind.

"I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that.  It is a mystique closely approximating a religion.  And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox.  But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing.  For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America.  Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study and the passionate possession of all Texans."  ---John Steinbeck


  For a few days this past week, we were fortunate to be in the Northern suburbs of San Antonio, Texas in the Texas hill country.  I love the Texas hill country and find it very beautiful. It runs from northern San Antonio up to west of Austin, Texas.  There are rolling hills with a thin layer of soil over limestone.  The hills are covered with vegetation ranging from Texas live oaks (evergreen oak trees) to yucca, prickly pear cactus, and many wildflowers.
     It was constantly windy there.  Is that why Texans always choose to wear those ten gallon hats?
     Our Austin family came down to stay for a couple of days.  We got in some tennis, swimming, and a guided nature hike.  We learned about feral pigs and the problems they can cause, katydids, fossils, limestone and the aquifer beneath, turkey and black vultures which are always flying overhead, and Mexican free-tailed bats. We enjoyed all the Mariposa lilies, the rosemary shrubs, the yucca and flowering sage plants.
     Dean then attended a 3 day seminar.  I just relaxed at the hotel.  It was wonderful.  Finding vegan food was difficult, as at most places, so I ended up eating a lot of trail mix and fresh fruit gotten from a nearby Super-Target, and supplementing them with salads. When will restaurants learn that Americans really are trying to eat healthier.  They, the restaurants, will make more money providing menu options that reflect this change.
     The last night of the seminar had entertainment....ice fighting.  Two contestants had 3 short rounds in which to use chainsaws and other electric tools to carve 300 lbs. of ice and sculpt it into art.  We, the audience, chose the winner, who received a championship belt.  It was fascinating to watch.
     The winner carved a gryphon, which if you read the Harry Potter series, you know is a majestic creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.....the king of animals meets the king of the birds. The other contestant carved a magnificent butterfly....la mariposa in Spanish.  What transient beauty is ice sculpture.  (Alex, we know you love gryphons so we took these pictures to show you.  We hope you enjoy them, too, Syd).