§ A Look Back in Time....

Perusing blogs of others here of late, I have witnessed many authors going back in time with sharing photos of themselves and antiques from kitchens, etc. I enjoy these posts a lot. It is not only nostalgic, but it brings back memories of yore from my youth and early adulthood as well. I was too lazy to get all the photo boxes/albums down from the shelves, but I knew where a few "oldie" photos were. They are all in my old day planner at my desk. And they were handy to reach and get them photographed with my cellphone [remember scanners? Does anyone use them anymore...cellphones are so convenient!] and get them resized to share here. I apologize for the quality and clarity, they are OLD!! The first one, at the beginning of this post, is of me 1 1/2 weeks old!! If you embiggen the image, perhaps you can see the bird pattern on the blanket [bottom left]? Perhaps the beginning of my bird fetish!!

I guess for each photo taken there is a story behind it. And this one is no different. Many times at this age, I was told NOT to go near the 'crick'. Which in my language... it's creek! "The water is too swift and you will fall in and drown. Stay away from it." Of course I had that attitude "You can't tell me what to do" from the beginning of time! I went to the creek and threw rocks. Had a gay old time. Family searched and searched for me with the fear of the worst. I was hiding! I knew I was in trouble. Mud and all! So...the baby picture with the bird pattern, notice this one. Look close...on the wood door frame, there is a star...the Lonestar of Texas [Nebraska actually]. Do you see a pattern here? Seems I have been influenced and fate had a grip on me as a toddler to get to Texas. I wasn't born there, but got here as quickly as I could.

Since my sister and I have been celebrating our very own special Sister's Day on the 18th of March for years now, I thought it'd be appropriate to share this one. I was 2, my sister was 9! I have no idea where this photo was taken [she doesn't remember either], but it IS Nebraska of course. She DOES remember the colors of our dresses tho. Her's was dark blue plaid and mine was turquoise and white. We were inseperable forever. Always will be. In many cases we are two peas in a pod. Most everything in our lives and thoughts match to a "T". We sync our clocks, and each year we toast [me facing west to Colorado and she facing southeast to Texas] with a glass of champagne [I guess the correct term now-a-days is Sparkling Wine]. Here's to Sisterhood!!

§ CONCLUSION - Tale of Two Sisters

I tried to keep the routine of walking... a lot for exercise! One morning, early, as the sun came up, this beauty graced my time at a park on the island!! BEFORE Sharon was up for the day.

The last couple of days with my sister by my side, she wanted to go see the Gulf, the Bay, and find the "Red Bird"!! One sunny morning we walked the seawall and then had lunch at Joe's Crab Shack. We both ordered Coconut Shrimp. What we should've done was order just ONE basket and shared...there was way too much for one person to eat in each basket of shrimp. Delicious, but with 10 large butterflied shrimp per order...neither of us could finish our meal. Along the seawall, we stopped at the yacht club and watched the shrimp boats come in...stopped to read some of the landmark markers along the way, and enjoyed the sea breeze, the pelicans and gulls, the ships coming into harbor, and people watching. Being outdoors, in the humid, hot air, we never stayed long. So our dwindling time together was shortened as the days went on...it got hotter, and wetter. At home, with air conditioning, was the norm. Some of our plans were nixed because of inclement weather.

I've seen the bays in town, but yet to see the Gulf of Mexico! were her spoken words and wishes early one morning. So, off we went to the beach on the islands. The evening before it was stormy again, so the trip to the Gulf was 'iffy' chances of more rain. When we arrived it was sprinkling and the winds were strong so walking the beach was delayed a bit. I got in the trunk of the car and pulled out our two camping chairs and we sat near the pier on the leeward side watching the surf and talking of ol' times from our youth. After about an hour we hiked back to the car with the chairs and ventured along the coastline, with the surf by our side and sand beneath our feet. Again, we ended up eating lunch on the pier. Cheeseburgers and beer. Not the healthiest menus at these establishments, but still the company was the best part. Once we arrived back home, Bud took over. He cleaned the car of sand on the carpet and we sat down to reminisce more and ended up playing pinochle and then a few games of hearts, while the crock pot simmered of split pea soup that Bud had prepared for the three of us. For dinner, we watched a movie, Kate and Leopold, while enjoying the warming, comforting soup with salad, crusty bread, and fresh strawberry shortcake for dessert.

I look at this photo of my sister, looking out to sea, and wonder: "A penny for your thoughts". Was she thinking of her husband she recently lost? Was she thinking of her times long ago when she was single and living in Texas? Her family? Was she missing her home? What was gong through her thoughts? As I view the photos of the time had with her, I feel sad knowing that she has to be a lonely soul; without her love of her life beside her...maybe he's with her in spirit!! I like to think so....

In Colorado, there are no cardinals! I frequently text her photos of the beautiful red bird to share with her. Sharon mentioned she was hoping to see a cardinal. Of course, they're year 'round residents here along the coast. This time we drove to the northwest along the river. Oftentimes if not ALL the time, I find 'em at the park. We entered the park and hit the hawk platform first. We heard them singing in the trees, well hidden. Of course, being on the platform, we were looking DOWN upon the treetops. Patiently we waited for one to come out of hiding. Here they are....the female showed up at the drip fountain first. Then, as she drank her fill, the male arrived to join her!!  

Sharon: "Oh my...he's beautiful!"  "How on earth did you know where to find 'em so easily?" 

Anni:  "I'm a birder, it's easy to know where they are".

Sharon:  "Thank you!"

I just smiled silently and watched her with all the excitement of a child on Christmas day.

All too soon, she had to pack her bag and prepare for her return flight to the Western Slope of Colorado and home. The time flew by. We were both tired, but happy to have had some quality time with each other. Bud enjoyed her company also. At times, around the table, they talked politics and other such stuff where I just listened. We concluded our sister adventures with hugs and kisses and more tears...

Safe trip Sissy!! Text us when you arrive home.



Tale of Two Sisters:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three

§ Tale of Two Sisters - Part III

Historic FULTON MANSION Exterior Front, Fountain, Exterior Back Rockport, Texas  

I took Sharon to Rockport/Fulton Texas one day while she was visiting.  We toured an historical mansion of the Fulton family which is located in the small coastal town of Rockport.  To help out a bit, Rockport and Fulton merge together making it one town.  As you drive along the highway at one spot, you're in Rockport, cross the intersection at the same area and you're in Fulton. Together, the combined population hovers around 10,000 residents. It's popular to the Winter Texans [those who reside here during the winter months while their homes up north are snowy and cold!]. Fishing, camping, birding [well known for the Spring Hummingbird Festival] and museums are the norm. Just a few miles across the bay is Goose Island State Park.  First stop was the Mansion's Visitor Center....

...I will keep the images small in size for loading time. They can be enlarged for better viewing by clicking on them if you choose---

At one point I donned a cowboy hat, spurs and carried a lasso around the museum to 'get into the spirit'. I then convinced Sharon to dress in a corset and a bustle. I told her to look aluring. "Is this the best you can do?" I couldn't resist --

"Lord Have Mercy!!"

- - -

George Fulton was ingenious!! An inventor, a surveyor, a teacher, lieutenant in the Republic of Texas, customs director, land commissioner, among other occupations. He was 12 years senior of his wife, Harriet. Together they had 6 children. I say he was ingenious for the time frame in history...why? Mainly because of the designing and building the Fulton Mansion. It was reinforced by steel beams, had running water [even flushing toilets and wash basins in walnut cabinets with faucets that drained into a cistern for gardening the vast property], gas forced heating [he actually used gasoline vapors]. Surprisingly, never once having any fires from the vapor.

The mansion has withstood 17 hurricanes. And I 'guess-timate' it's just a mere hundred yards from the bay's coast as you can seen from the fountain photo at the beginning of this post!!

...the interior:


Front Parlor, chandelier, sewing room desk


Solarium


Bedroom Secretary, Beveled Mirror, Front Parlor heating unit  [faux fireplace]



Fulton Bedroom, Guest Bedroom, Guest Bedroom Wash Basin


Flushing Toilet [water closet above with Pull Chain], Bathtub and Wash Basin



Library Window


...in the basement



Kitchen, Kitchen Pantry, Servants Eating Area



Stairway from basement to Ground Floor, Laundry Room, Larder



...and last but not least, Mrs. Harriet Fulton's Lace Maker and Christmas Menu...

Altho Bud and I have toured this mansion a couple of times, since then it's been refurbished and much improvements.  This time the basement was open to the public which when Bud and I were there, it wasn't.  We two gals had a good time...some of the kitchen implements we both remember mom having!  I still have some of her antiques packed away....hopefully to be handed down to Irene sometime in the future.  We had lunch on the bay, then drove back to Corpus and enjoyed some nachos and beer while playing Trivial Pursuit.  Another Good day all the way around.  The next day is when it flooded from heavy rain.  Glad we went there to Rockport when we did!!

Part four will conclude the Tale of Two Sisters ---to be published later.

TALE OF TWO SISTERS
part I
part II

§ Tale of Two Sisters ... Part II

Another day with my sister... Sharon wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens. The last time she was here, it was the end of December a few years back. I told her then that she'd have to return in late Spring sometime when the gardens replants all the plumerias and they're blooming. You see, the staff painstakingly takes them out in case of freezing temps during the winter and then, replants them in the Plumeria Gardens for show during the Spring and Summer months. Well, she timed it right this time to come visit. I knew those tropical beauties would be out and no doubt beginning to bloom. That was the first of several gardens within the vicinity.

There laid in store for me that day, a bombshell! Which I'll get to in just a bit...


- - -

We walked through a lot of the 182 acres of the gardens...from the parrot houses, the orchid house, the hummingbird garden, the butterfly garden, the rose cotillion.  Then, ventured out along the nature trail where the gator pond is, the covered gazebo and the boardwalk to Oso Creek.  Turning back toward the visitor's center, we walked through the desert [cactus] garden, crossing bridges and twisting and turning along the trails to head for the turtle & tortoise  garden.

For a short time this year, the Botanical Gardens, along the nature trail, has a special showing of local art..."Nature's Brushstrokes". which the Botanical Gardens electronically enlarged to high quality 30 x 60 inch vinyl images, mounted on ibond plastic and installed the wildflower depictions on “art pillars” every few feet along the pathway. It was a good time viewing all the talented work from the city and nearby towns' artists'!!  My favorite piece [showing wildflowers of Texas] was this one... I fell 'in love' with the subtle colors and of course the egret in the middle of a pond with  wildflowers as a backdrop!!

For the whole day we were young kids again...giggling, acting silly, and enjoying each others company. I wanted a photo that is similar to one of my favorite art masterpieces, by John Waterhouse...the Soul of the Rose.  And while touring the orchid house, Sharon  agreed to be the 'model'  I dubbed my photo The Soul of the Orchid [lol]. The day was overcast, the temperature was warm but pleasant all the way around. The colors, the flower fragrances, the bird life, the morning ambiance was yet another perfect time spending it with my big sister! Further along, we climbed the bird tower that is above the lake and enjoyed the views of the water below us. Every minute spent there was a treasure of time I will never forget. By the time we got near the end of the trail heading to the cactus garden, we spotted a snake in the grass. Both of us thought it was time to head back home for the day...


By the way, this was a favorite resting place for Sharon that day.
Sharon:The butterfly bench:


...Around the corner, after the first wooden bridge on the trail, I had a surprise in store. Remember the two wildflower pieces of art I shared a few months ago? Here and Here? Well, those sketches were for the contest at the Gardens! One of my works was judged a 'winner' and I found my "Mexican Hat" wildflower displayed along the path!!  I was in total stupefaction since I was never notified [or the notice went into my spam folder].   My sister was elated...she was stopping people along the walk telling them I was the artist that drew the Mexican Hat Wildflower. A bit embarrassed I was. She had to take a photo on her cellphone and sent it to everyone on her contact list. LOL

Part three of a Tale of Two Sisters is coming soon....stay tuned

If you missed the Tale of Two Sisters, Part One....our 48th Anniversary...click HERE