Waitin'........and Waitin'........and Waitin'

We were told that the weather is warm and sunny in South Central Texas this time of year, but as they say down here: "We ain't seein' it." Of the 45 days we've been here in Kerrville, we've seen 8 nice days. So one of the primary reasons that we came down here....the famed Texas Bluebonnets....have not yet bloomed. We'll be here another two weeks, so we're "hopin', and wishin'" for warmer days!

In the meantime, we've passed the time with our good friends Bill and Diane from Georgia, gradually eating our way through the state.

Last Sunday, the 10th, we drove back to the cute little town of Bandera, TX, to have lunch at TJs at the Old Forge, and stroll through town. In the General Store, we took note of the latest edition of the Bandera Bulletin:

Took awhile to figure that one out!

Tucked back in a corner of the General Store hands a sign that says it all:

A couple of days later, we went to Fredericksburg for lunch with Bill and Diane at Hondo's. This restaurant is named in honor of the gentleman that is so famous for establishing the dance hall in Luckenbach, Texas, where so many country and western stars have gathered over the years.

In the afternoon, we drove south out of town to the Old Tunnel State Park. Originally carved out of a mountain to enable railroad traffic to Fredericksburg, the now-abandoned tunnel is home to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats from May through October, all crowded into 950 feet of tunnel!

During their stay, thousands of visitors drop by at dusk to see the bats emerge. Viewing areas have been set up to watch this sight.

Before having Barbacoa at Bill and Dianes motorhome a few days later, we visited the Texas Ranger Heritage Center in Fredericksburg. This work-in-progress nevertheless has some awesome sculptures depicting the lives and times of the early Rangers.

Adjacent to the Texas Ranger exhibit is the site of Fort Martin Scott. Active from 1848 to 1853, the fort protected travelers heading across Texas toward California. It was occupied by General Philip H. Sheridan during the Civil War, but was eventually again abandoned. In 1870, Johann Wolfgang Braeutigam purchased the fort and operated a biergarten on the property until his death in 1884 at the hands of four strangers intent on robbing the biergarten's cash box. The fort has been restored to its original state at the time of abandonment, but is now only maintained in a state of "arrested decay".

Two ladies, volunteers, were demonstrating what they called "spindle tatting".

By moving the spindles, wrapped with thread, in a pre-determined pattern and tightening the thread as each knot is made, a length of lace is created. These ladies were creating lace bookmarks for the giftshop. They loved their work, and told us of lace made this way in the 15th century being taxed. The tax was determined by the length of lace attached to a garment!

Saturday got the four of us back into the car heading east toward the town of Dripping Springs, Texas. Donna and I remembered it to be a quaint little town, but in the years since we've been there, it has become a suburb of Austin, so we drifted right on through. Just south of Dripping Springs is the hamlet of Driftwood with it's signature business: a Sotol Tequilla distillery. Sotol is a type of agave plant that only grows in certain areas, and these people have figured out a way to get alcohol out of it.  Fortunately, they also have iced tea, but while we sat and enjoyed a bit of quiet time, we watched some people outside play a game. Two moves after this pic was taken, the stack fell!

So, maybe the weather will improve in the next two weeks, so we can enjoy some Texas Springtime!

We're hoping!