We are clearly the most exciting couple in the world

You can tell because we spent New Year's Eve in a library.  The McAllen Public Library to be exact.  Another rainy and chilly day here, and when you are mostly planning outdoor vacation activities you have to improvise when the weather doesn't cooperate.

We had been to the library here before, and it's a great one.  The outstanding feature is that it is a building that used to be a Wal-Mart.  Here's an article:  http://nbclatino.com/2012/07/13/walmart-transformed-into-library-unites-a-community/

But it really is a great public space.  Not only have we seen for ourselves that it is well-used, we spoke with some local people who confirmed that.  It's also beautifully landscaped.  Tons of study rooms, a huge computer room, a quiet study area, and books, lots of books.

Steve found a place for me to sit that was just two stacks from the Travel Guide section.  Coincidence?  I don't think so!  I managed to do a little travel planning while there.

Out for dinner on New Year's Eve

We didn't eat breakfast or lunch, so we were hungry early.  We thought about 4 at a Texas Roadhoues woudn't be crowded at all.  We were wrong!  But we managed to get in and have a meal, and enjoyed being by far the youngest people in our section.  Winter Texans were the predominant crowd.

And that's it.  Back to the room where Steve is watching a Walking Dead marathon and I'm continuing some travel planning.

When Room Upgrades Count

It's all relative of course, but it is rainy and chilly here in South Texas (46 right now).  This beats 3 F at home, but it does mean that there is no birding, butterflying, or golfing to be done.

Luckily, when we arrived here we had been upgraded to a suite and this was waiting for us:

So I didn't meander at all yesterday.  I did laundry, read a book, and worked on a quilt square:

It was all made more comfortable by being in a suite.  Lots of room to spread out.

Unfortunately, it looks like a few more days of this :-(

Warning signs of Texas

We have a running joke in my family about warning signs I encounter in Texas (Hint, there are a LOT of them).  I'm also prone to mishaps on vacation, usually minor (well, except the time I fractured four vertebrae falling off a runaway horse when we were in Belize).

This was the only warning sign I encountered yesterday.

It was not at all helpful when, while innocently sitting at a butterfly feeding station, something came up and stung me on the wrist!  Dammit Texas!

Since this was not the first time we had been stung or bitten by Texas inhabitants, we had Sting-Eze in the car, and once applied I merrily went on my way.

We were at Estero Llano Grande State Park.  It was a gray, chilly day so not a lot of activity.  Steve had nice views of the Green Kingfisher.  I had some nice looks at the buff-bellied hummingbird.  Unfortunately only two American Lady butterflies, and no Pavon Emperor to be found. 

http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/estero-llano-grande

Dinner with Virtual Acquaintenaces Made Real

Over the years of going to the Rio Grande Valley I had received some travel advice on a travel board from a poster who lives here in McAllen, TX.  They generously asked us over for drinks last night and took us out to dinner.  We enjoyed playing with Kelly Ripa, their new rescue pup (sort of a Chihuahua/Terrier mix of some sort) and we enjoyed the conversation.

Dinner was good at Koko's, and they seemed to know everyone in town!

 http://kokosuptown.com

Camo is the new black, and a visit to the Edinburg Wetlands

Camo is the new black

Okay, so I know camo is fashionable, but at this hotel, it seems to almost be required.  I don't know anything about hunting, but there has to be something hunting-related nearby, because I have never seen so many people wearing camo in my life. Camo with leggings and cowboy boots, camo overalls with camo long sleeved shirt, camo gaiters.  

Edinburg Wetlands

Steve spent a little more time at the Brooks County rest stop chasing the Painted Redstart, then about noon we hit the road again.  This time we were headed for the Edinburg Wetlands, a World Birding Center.   For me it is also a good butterflying location. 

The Admission sign at the entrance listed that over 55 you get senior rates.  Woo hoo (for Steve anyway) but we didn't get to take advantage because apparently the last Saturday of every month is Spectacular Saturday and admission is free.  Double Woo Hoo!

The bird sighting listed a black throated gray warbler, so Steve went off to chase that.  I chased butterflies, and got lucky enough to watch a ceranus blue with its wings open for quite awhile.  I spotted the green kingfisher and was able to take a picture.  A beautiful buff-bellied hummingbird made lots of appearances.  Possibly not an exciting day for everyone, but a nice relaxing day for us.

http://www.edinburgwbc.org

Unfortunately the clouds were rolling in in front of the cold front that was on its way and butterfly activity slowed early.  Steve got the black-throated gray, and we decided to get on our way a little after 4 to head to Harlingen, where the best-laid plans of mice and men were thwarted.

Rainy and cold

Even in South Texas it happens.  We were using a free night from Marriott to stay at a Courtyard in Harlingen, the closest Marriott property to where we thought we wanted to be on Sunday.  And that was to be South Padre Island so I could go on Dolphin Watches and we could chase birds and butterflies in that neck of the woods.

Unfortunately a cold front has swept in and it is cold and rainy.  No birding or dolphin watches today, so we are going to see the last Hobbit movie today.  Always have a backup plan!

I'm meandering again.

We spent the first offical day of vacation at a rest stop.  The Brooks County, TX rest stop outside Falfurrias to be exact.

This isn't just any rest stop though (for one thing, there might be snakes!)

You might be asking yourself why we spent all day at a rest stop?  A Painted Redstart, that's why.  We don't get this bird where we live, and the only other option for us to see it is to go to Arizona.  We had seen it there, but not particularly good looks. There had been reports for months that this bird was hanging out here, so on our way down to the Rio Grande Valley we hoped to see it, and we did.  

In fact, there were quite a few birds--bluebirds, the painted redstart, the Audobon yellow rump, yellow throat, golden-fronted woodpecker, caroline wrens, and more.  It was a beautiful, warm day, and Steve chased birds and took video, and when I tired of that I sat at a picnic table and drew.

I also opened up my Christmas morning Crackerjacks and found this as my "surprise"

Naturally I posted it to Facebook to rib a few friends who are Royals fans.

Driving to the Lower Rio Grande Valley

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day found us driving to Texas.  The first night we made it to Pauls Valley OK and luckily Santa found us the next morning and brought us stockings.

We drove the rest of the way to Falfurrias on Christmas Day.  I had established a TXTag account earlier in the month so we could use TX Tollways at a cheaper cost, and just drive through.  We took the 130 around Austin all the way to Seguin.  It was great to go 80 then 85 legally!  That last stretch though had really wavy pavement.  It was like being on a boat without the benefits of blue water and dolphins, and at 85 mph you really felt it.

Christmas Night

After a brief stop at the rest area, we checked into our hotel and went in search of food.  There was none to be found.  The ONLY place in town that had food was the Stripes at the gas station.  It was surprisingly good Mexican and the lineup was practically out the door.  The other thing we found in Falfurrias was Game Rooms.  The only places open (besides gas stations) as we drove around on Christmas night were these Game Rooms.  We asked the desk clerk on our return what they were, and apparently Falfurrias is the only place for miles around that have slot machines.  These Game Rooms were packed!  Gambling away the Christmas money I guess.

The Breakfast Room

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express two nights.  The breakfast room is a great place to people watch, no kidding.

A conversation between two young women the day after Christmas:  Did you have a good Christmas? Yes, we went hunting (she's wearing camo pjs).

And PJs are apparently de riguer now.  In addition to the young woman in camo pjs and slippers, a woman in black silk pj pants and short robe made her appearance.

This morning was a little more boring in comparison, although camo jackets, leggings and cowboy boots did make an appearance (yes, all worn by the same person).