Week in Review: January 27 through February 2

Sunday, January 27 was a cool day that brought occasional rain and wind. After church, we once again had breakfast at Caroline’s Turtle Bay Café, a local “hole-in-the-wall” landmark that serves the best breakfast around. We’ve been there three times and I am unable to steer myself away from her corned beef hash and eggs. Dick usually has her pancakes--or something sweet--and eggs. YUMMY!!! There are turtles everywhere, of every size, shape, material, color, etc. The booths are a conglomeration of anything easily obtained, and there are “I (heart) Texas” paper table coverings. Food is served on paper plates and in Styrofoam cups. Real silverware is used, though. Will try to get more photos next week. Oh, and Caroline has a permanent home here in our RV park, and drives an old pickup that has hand-painted lettering on it. Just wait ‘til you see it! Fun! This photo was taken inside as we were waiting for our breakfast. 

(Dick thinks I look like a convict...???)

Then…we went to the circus! The Shrine Circus was in Corpus Christi at the American Bank Center. Neither of us had been since we were in elementary school, so it was quite fun. Dick insisted I have my photo taken with “Biscuit” who was walking around outside beforehand, getting the kids all ramped up for a fun-filled afternoon.

There were tigers, elephants, camels, poodles, ponies, as well as more clowns, aerialists and trapeze artists, dancers, and all the paraphernalia and stuff that comes with the circus! Oh, and the human canon ball at the end of the show! Here are just a few photos of what we saw. Apologies for the blurred photos—there was just so much movement.

The most amazing routine was in the 2^nd half, when 5 motorcycles when ‘round and ‘round inside a metal mesh globe, followed by a motorcycle jump across almost the entire length of the circus floor. Amazing!

Rather than cooking when we got home, we decided to eat at “Whataburger,” a Texas mainstay. Whataburger has been around since 1950, and began in a little burger stand in Corpus Christi. Harmon Dobson wanted to “serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a burger!”  Burgers are still served on 5” buns, and are made to order.  Another Yum!

Monday and Tuesday were more warm and beautiful days, with temps reaching the low 70s. The wind had picked up on Tuesday, so we were unable to walk. The severe draught caused much dust to be blown around the park, so everything got really dusty. I attended the first “Stitch and …..” session, and met quite a few ladies who were also into knitting and crocheting. Some beading, weaving on plastic canvas and framing were also done during this hour. I took along some knitting to keep me busy.

Wednesday was still too busy to walk much, but we did take a turn around the park while the laundry was being done. We were able to site outside and read later in the day, before we headed to the clubhouse for a “Caribbean Dinner” of pulled pork, red beans and rice, pasta salad, and pineapple upside down cake. Another Yum! All for just $6 per person.

Thursday dawned calm and beautiful. We were able to walk along Fulton Beach Road again, in bright sunshine and calm breezes. Lovely.  Later, Dick installed MaxAir vent covers on the roof of the RV, which allows us to keep the roof vents open during all sorts of weather. They’re also an added measure of protection during any hailstorm we may encounter. While he was busy with this, I made a couple loaves of banana bread and shared one with our wonderful neighbors Marvin and Shirley from Illinois.

Due to the dust and dirt we accumulated during the wind storms on Tuesday and Wednesday we decided we needed to take time to really clean the inside of the trailer. I vacuumed, dusted, and swept inside while Dick washed the windows on the outside. (Nice to be able to see out again! Ha!)

Friday was another lovely day in the neighborhood. We rented our site (160) for another month, so this is where you can find us if you’re around. We are really enjoying this park, the area, and the people we meet. That afternoon we were invited to another neighbor’s for wine. Louise and Bruce are full-timers like us, and hail from Nova Scotia. Unlike us, they stay a week in every place they visit. They’ve been on the road for almost 2 year, and from here head towards the Brownsville, Texas area. Currently they travel in a pull-behind 28’ trailer, but are seriously thinking of moving up to a 5^th wheel. They lived in Vancouver, BC for a time, and in Thunder Bay, Ontario, so we had lots of things from those areas to talk about.

Saturday, Ground Hog Day. Showers were forecasted, but it was a beautiful day with lots of sun. We walked for about an hour on Fulton Beach Road, and then spent some time outside reading and enjoying the day. We were expecting other friends, whom we met in Ashdown, Arkansas to arrive that afternoon, but we wanted to take a motorcycle ride before they got here. We rode to Copano Bay which is behind our park and the airport, and then went to tour the Fulton Mansion.

Copano Bay

The French Second Empire Fulton Mansion was built in the 1870s and was the home of former cattleman George W. Fulton. The house features, among other things, several modern conveniences such as central (gas) lighting and plumbing, as well as indoor plumbing with hot and cold running water.  The mansion is 3 ½ stories and overlooks Aransas Bay. A few days following Mr. Fulton’s death, Mrs. Fulton moved out, never to return. After that the mansion and its acreage was sold multiple times, and was used for different things, including a restaurant and RV park. The mansion was restored in 1976-1983 and was opened as a historic house museum in 1983. In 2008 ownership was transferred to the Texas Historical Commission. (It is due to close this year for a multi-million dollar renovation, to restore the foundation, roof, and some interior areas.) Its library, parlor, dining room, sitting room, bedrooms and bathrooms are available for during the guided tour. I’ve included a few photos, to give you an idea of the wealth of this South Texas family. It was difficult to select the ones to share.

Master bedroom and original canopied bed.

Library and original desk. Encyclopedia Birttanicas in bookcase are
the 3rd printing and are leather-bound. 

"Hidden" shutters, hidden in woodwork until needed.

Bassinet and cradle, trimmed in red. (Pink and blue
weren't in vogue until some time later.)

Original commode (with cover up)
and original paper holder.

Parlor with original mirror and fireplace, and
original piano in corner.

Original wrought-iron plant holders in the conservatory.

Original walnut bannister

Parlor with original gas-light chandelier

Shadowbox with human hair detail. When hair was
brushed, any that fell out was saved and used for
flowers, braids, brooches, pictures, etc.

View of Aransas Bay from front of mansion

Here’s a link to a brochure that shares more of the history of this lovely old home.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_br_p4502_0073e.pdf

After the tour we walked around the block to see the “windmill in a tree,” supposedly blown there from the Fulton property during a hurricane in 1919. The tree grew around it. Curious!

We returned home to welcome Jill and Del, who have the site very near ours. Was fun to catch up and share experiences since we last saw one-another. They’ll be here for a week, so we have some fun things planned during their stay. Catch up with us next week when we share our adventures!

Hugs to you! We do hope Punxsutawney Phil stays true to his prediction that Spring will indeed come early!

Love ‘n’ blessings,

Dick and Gail