Kiss Me, I'm Navy!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!

Blessings,

gk

The British Are Coming, The British Are Coming!!

One of the fun parts of military life is the interaction of our US military with those of other nations. I thoroughly enjoy meeting folks from various countries and/or cultures. This week two guys were here from UK (That's United Kingdom just in case you don't talk in acronyms.). We took them to Los Barrios. It is San Antonio after all and what says Texas or San Antonio any better than Tex-Mex??

Warm enough to eat outside!

Serenade

 

Always chips.....

.....and salsa

Sopapillas for dessert! YUM!!!

The guys were pretty adventurous. One even ordered enchiladas with mole sauce. That's mo-lay not mol! It has a bit of chocolate in it but isn't a sweet sauce. Bob and I shared the fajita special. The serenade was supposed to be for a birthday but the birthday boy was in the rest room at the time. We all had a good laugh over that.

The next day Bob was presented with a small token of appreciation. It is the cutest little container of rum I have ever seen! 50 ml of Pusser's Rum from the West Indies in a porcelain container hand cast in China, the perfect international gift!! We are told it's the one used on British ships.

Pusser's Rum

It's ALL just so much fun!!!

Blessings,

gk

Around the Neighborhood

Ellen and Ta Yah left on Monday. Before they left Ta Yah agreed to be an adopted daughter of the family. We are blessed with quite the wide-reaching adopted family! It's so fun...and rewarding....to add constantly to our family circle!

Flowers are popping up here and there now. These are tiny little flowers on a pittosporum hedge.

Tiny Flowers

These pink evening primroses were shining in the grass when I walked over to Michele's house. I wonder how much we miss by always being in a car!

Evening Primrose

Lastly, I had to go by and check on the little pond near our house. This pair of ducks has taken up residence there. I expected them to run away when I approached but they ran toward me instead! I guess someone has been feeding them. LOVE this photo....it came out nicely.

Friendly pair

Things are moving along here. An inspecting roofer told us our prospective house needs a new roof. It could have killed the whole deal but we have worked out an agreeable solution so for now the sale is still on. Nothing is really set until the check clears and the papers are all signed. I'm really hoping this happens as Bob has already hit up http://www.vistaprint.com for free business cards with the new address! Ever the optimist....and cheap!!! 8^)

Blessings,
gk

Another Quadrangle Visit

Last Sunday we went to church, drove by the potential house, ate at Pasha's (mmm, mmm, mmm!) and then came home in time to head over to the Quadrangle, the oldest structure on Fort Sam Houston, built in 1876. We wanted Ta Yah to have a chance to see the animals there. We took carrots along to bribe the animals into coming as close as possible.

First we fed the deer....

Enticed by carrots

Ta Yah braved the deer

Even Bob came along!

On to the peacocks..... 

Up close to the peacock

 

 This was pretty special as Ta Yah remembers her dad making things with peacock feathers but she had never seen a peacock in real life, just heard the description. I think it brought back special memories of her dad who died shortly after they came to the US. I'm so happy we got over to see the peacocks!

Baby albino

All grown up now

Three in a tree

And the ducks & geese....

 

Asleep in the street

Nap time

And finally the chickens.....

Brave enough to come really close.....

Who knew chickens would eat carrots!

And good friends!

Ta Yah and Ellen by the Clock Tower

Blessings,

gk

Busy Day

After a misty walk around Fort Sam Houston we headed to the Market in downtown San Antonio so Ta Yah could find some souvenirs to take home. What's a trip without taking back 'stuff', usually somewhat tacky stuff?! Before shopping though it was eating at Mi Tierra at the Market...

Bob, Ta Yah and Ellen

And dessert! Fried ice cream was totally new for Ta Yah....

Fried ice cream

After shopping, which got NO photos, we headed by the Alamo. How could we pass up the most visited spot in Texas? Only Ta Yah and I braved the rain. She got the fastest tour of the Alamo on record!!

Rain at the Alamo! We got soaked!

After returning home and drying out a bit we headed over to Michele's. She cuts my hair and agreed to give Ellen and Ta Yah both a trim. We all had a fun time visiting and playing with the two dogs, Shiloh and Scooter.

I like it!

Then back home to Ta Yah's first ever meal in an American home. Wow! Bob did a fine job feeding us!!

Dinner at the Kiser's!

What a privilege to have Ta Yah in our home. Talking with her about her life has certainly made us much more aware of all that we have. It's good to be reminded of so much that we take for granted every day.

Blessings,

gk

Ta Yah's First Day On Fort Sam

Ta Yah has been in the US for 4 years. She had never been in a car and now she is driving. She didn't speak English before and now she speaks English very well. She works hard to care for her family and her community. I am so impressed by her. What an amazing young lady!

We had miserable rainy and overcast weather but we went out for a walk anyway. 

Ta Yah and Ellen on Staff Post

 

 

 

Posing by the biggest house on the street

Ellen cannot resist any bug-like critter.

 

Ta Yah is a star! (That's a tank back there.)

Silliness around the big guns

 

Posing with the copter (Notice we are not climbing on it!)

The experience of an ordinary walk in the neighborhood becomes extraordinary when you are with family and friends!

Blessings,

gk

Airport Pick-up

We woke up to a damp, chilly, overcast day. Bleah! But I'm warm inside because about noon a flight arrived with these two on board!

Ta Yah and Ellen

Kid #3 showed up with a friend, Ta Yah. They have not admitted to bringing the nasty weather but it's great to see them anyway. Ta Yah and Ellen work together at Catholic Charities in Jacksonville, FL. Ta Yah is Karen (an ethnic group from the country of Burma) but was born in a refugee camp in Thailand. It's so interesting and fun to meet someone with such a different background than our own. I never get tired of that!! Off to enjoy.....

Blessings,
gk