Alongside a secondary highway, in San Juan, Texas, there’s a little park that we pass often.
There’s a mini Lady Liberty, so we’ve often wondered what the park was all about.
Last week, we finally stopped to check it out.
The park is a war memorial, dedicated to armed forces members from the area who died serving their country in various wars since WW2 . Its name is Liberty Park.
The subject of this post, and my feature photo is the juxtaposition of the words carved in the back of the bench and the abandoned items on the bench that hinted that maybe someone had spent the night there. What would be your guess about this scene?
Before Christmas, I asked my FaceBook friends and family if any of them had any experience with the Chef Preserve Vacuum Sealer.
I was looking to vacuum seal a good lot of Swiss Raclette cheese that would be left from our Christmas Eve meal. The cheese is dear in price, so I sure didn’t want to lose any of it to spoilage. Vacuum sealing was the number one suggestion.
A nurse friend of mine from at home in Canada was the first to reply with a detailed and thorough positive review. This gal is a great cook and a thrifty homemaker, and an honest, sincere person, so I trusted her opinion. I gave it a few more days and no one else replied with personal experience, but another nurse friend gave the system a very good review via her friend who uses it.She said she planned on buying this for herself. This is another gal whose opinions I trust.
Although I always check them, I’m never sure of online reviews by folks I don’t know.
I ordered the sealer, and immediately vacuum sealed and froze the leftover cheese.
Raclette cheese saved for next time
I was thrilled with how slick and easy it was to operate. I love that the unit is small and that the bags are reusable.
** I’m in no way affiliated with the company, so this review isunsolicited and unpaid**
Last Saturday, we took a little road trip to nearby towns to explore their main streets. We were also on the hunt for an infamous roadside tavern.
Many people we know here in south Texas had told us about the uniqueness of an establishment called “The Junkyard Bar”.
We’d passed the location several times over the years but had never spotted the bar.
This time, because we were paying attention, we spied the sign (feature photo)
There were no vehicles in the parking lot (except, of course, for the truck on the post) but we could see a young fellow cleaning inside so we asked if we could come in and take some photos. He told us that the bar didn’t officially open until 3pm but we were more than welcome to come in and take a look around, and he even offered us a beer.
We’d been told that this place is wall to wall people during opening hours, so our arrival time was perfect to explore and get some photos of things you’d never see if the place was packed.
I don’t know if you’d call it “atmosphere” but its decor (or lack of it) certainly lives up to its name.
I laughed at “No outside food or drink or drink”Stage is reminiscent of the old westI wonder how many actually payA tribute to a football teamThe BarThe tables have seen better daysIt makes one wonder Would hesitate to visit if it was rainingTiniest sink I’ve ever seenCorrugated metal stalls in the ladies bathroom Budweiser is famous for their adsThe fence on the hill behind hubs is a part of the border wallThe top of the original bar sign says EST 1957
There’s something about a new year that drives us to want to make significant improvements in our lives.
Resolutions for a new year are usually made with the best intentions.
Unfortunately for me, and almost anyone else I’ve spoken to over the years, these New Year’s Resolutions all too often morph into New Year’s failures, disappointments, self-doubt and self-chastisement.
I later moved on to setting goals. This was somewhat less discouraging, but still never 100% successful.
This year, I’m trying yet another approach. This one is about asking intention questions and then working with the answers to set daily affirmations. The affirmations are a guide instead of a hard and fast rule or goal. I like that.
These are my questions and affirmations for 2026 and beyond:
How do I want to live my life? Affirmations: I’m thankful for my many blessings. I’m happy, I’m healthy, and I’m eager to continually learn new things and develop new skills.
What personal qualities do I want to embrace? Affirmations: I continue to care about my health and that of others around me. I share what I know and learn, in hopes of helping others.
How do I want to experience relationships with others in my world? Affirmations: I make regular contact with friends and family. When necessary, I set healthy boundaries. I experience joy in my interactions with others.
“The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight…
[Breadmaking is] one of those almost hypnotic businesses, like a dance from some ancient ceremony. It leaves you filled with one of the world’s sweetest smells… there is no chiropractic treatment, no Yoga exercise, no hour of meditation in a music-throbbing chapel. that will leave you emptier of bad thoughts than this homely ceremony of making bread.”
The fireworks in our area of deep south Texas start on Christmas Eve and continue every night, with a few small bursts, until the grand finale on New Year’s Eve.
We can watch them from our back yard and if I take a walk around the yard, we’re surrounded by fireworks in all of the nearby neighbourhoods.
After the massive midnight display, the pops and big bangs continue until around 3 am and because our houses aren’t insulated and our roofs are mostly metal, sometimes a particularly loud pop nearby can sound like it’s directly over our roof or even in an adjacent room.
This was a completely foreign custom to us when we first started wintering here, but after six years, we’ve grown accustomed to it and actually look forward to it, even if it means a mostly sleepless night … thus, my late post today.
As is my custom, on New Year’s Day, I pop open a bottle of prosecco after lunch, and toast the new year with a mimosa.
Cheers to 2026, and with the new year, I look forward to positive changes in my life, and in the world at large.
I wish all of you health and happiness in the coming year!
Before we left Starbase, we noticed one Tesla truck that was bright orange.
It stood out from the pack of identical metal coloured ev’s like the proverbial sore thumb.
There was a fellow plugging it in to the charger and his wife/girlfriend was taking photos. There was another couple nearby who appeared to own one of the grey metallic clones.
Hubs thought that these people looked approachable, so he decided to stop and ask them some questions about the cyber trucks.
They were all extremely obliging, answered all of hubs’ questions, and even invited us to their Mars-themed beach party, which was to take place last Saturday evening.
We asked if they were Space X employees and they told us they were from Dallas and Missouri and were just major Tesla fans visiting the area over Christmas.
They told hubs that once you buy a Tesla cyber truck, you can customize it any way you wish to.
The young couple that owned the orange Tesla, had every electric kitchen appliance you could think of, plugged in to the box of the truck!
Friendly and fun folksHubs shirt matched! They even had a sleeping tent on top!Funny name, and there’s a story behind it, of course
Once again, we learned that people are friendly and kind – all you have to do sometimes is ask a question.
P.S. Although we appreciated the invitation, we didn’t attend the Mars Beach Party. I would imagine that it was pretty “far out, man!”
Our Christmas Day here in SouthTexasinvolves an hour’s drive over to Starbase at Boca Chica Beach.
This past year, Elon Musk was able to rename Boca Chica Village and the surrounding area to Starbase.
Each year, the growth in the area is mind-boggling. Christmas day is a great day to visit because many of the employees have the day off, and there aren’t many tourists.
This year, in addition to the massive expansion happening at the rocket production facility, there was a new hotel in progress, and Tesla Trucks galore.
Rocket production facility will be over one million square feet when completedNew hotel behind the rocket production facility Tesla trucks everywhere
We met a safety technician who explained to us that when the sales of Tesla vehicles dove this past year, Mr. Musk brought all of these trucks (and more in other lots at Starbase) for his Space X employees to lease at very reasonable rates.
Radically Retired 