Wesley at home

 

Wesley McFluff has been enjoying life on Toscana Isle this week and these pictures prove just how much fun life is when you're the Alkula's cat!

Sunday, part 3

Buckhorn Saloon

Rattlesnake rattle art



Texas Ranger Museum

 

Before leaving downtown, Charles took in a bit of local sight-seeing, visiting the famous Buckhorn Saloon and Museum & the Texas Rangers Museum. The Buckhorn dates from 1881 and is a unique place, even by Texas standards!

The Buckhorn has an impressive collection of horns and animals from around the world and is worth the time to look around. They also house a museum dedicated to the history of the Texas Rangers (the lawmen, not the baseball team!).

 

Sunday, part 2

"Hill 881 South - April 30, 1967"

"Night Watch" - "C" Co., 20th Inf. BN, USMC

 
Before worshipping at St. Mark's Episcopal Church Charles took a few minutes to visit the Veteran's Memorial across the street from the church.  Memorials were there for the Vietnam, Korean and WWII veterans.

Yesterday in Iraan, Burton Lanehart, a WWII vet who had served aboard the USS Ranger (CV-4) was buried.  Burton was a member of the First UMC in Iraan (where Charles had been pastor until mid-June).   With Charles' interactions with veterans from WWII through Iraq/Afghanistan, it was nice to be able to take a few minutes to remember this way.

 

Sunday, part 1

Charles made his way back dowm this morning to attend worship at two of San Antonio's historic churches, Travis Park UMC and St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

Travis Park UMC

Travis Park UMC sanctuary organ

Travis Park

St. Mark's church hall

chapel window at St. Mark's

Travis Park is the oldest United Methodist Church in Texas, founded in 1852.  The sanctuary is very pretty and the church has done a really good job of blending the old with the new.  It might be interesting to come back for the contemporary service and see how it looks/sounds in a traditional-looking setting. After the service, the congregation was invited to the 'ministry fair' where representatives from the numerous church ministries were on-hand to answer questions and sign up interested persons. 

A short walk across Travis Park and it was time for worship at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, founded in 1858.  The sanctuary is undergoing renovation so the service was held in the church hall.  In such an intimate setting the singing and the liturgy took on a special air.  It was fun to see this activity and energy pulsing in every corner of this downtown church.  Charles especially enjoyed browsing in the church bookstore!

This afternoon in San Antonio

Villa Finale visitor center

San Antonio Art League Museum

Southwest Art School gallery

Ursuline Academy gate (from the San Antonio Riverwalk)

Former Ursuline Academy chapel windows

A wonderful Saturday afternoon here in San Antonio for Charles as he spent the afternoon playing tourist!

A brief stop at the San Angel Folk Art Gallery @ the Blue Star art complex (the rest of the center is being renovated) was followed by enjoyable visits to the Villa Finale visitor center and the San Antonio Art League Museum in the King William historic neighborhood. The Villa Finale house looks like an interesting place to visit (which Charles looks forward to doing with Belinda)!  The Art League's museum is also in a historic house and is really lovely. 

After a pause at the Hemisphere Plaza for a drink, it was off to the Southwest School of Art to see their two museums.  The original building houses a fantastic collection of work done by students and guest artists.  Really cool stuff!  The rest of the museum is housed in the former Ursuline Academy (run by the sisters of the Order of St. Ursuline, 1851-1971). 

At the top of San Antonio

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

Enjoying the view from the Chart House Restaurant atop the Tower

The flag plaza at the Institute of Texan Cultures

 We had a delightful day here in San Antonio!  Belinda started us off right with some home-made waffles, just the ticket we needed before we headed downtown. 

We got to enjoy the Tower of the Americas, the 750-foot tower at the center of the Hemisphere Park.  A nice afternoon treat at the Chart House restaurant (at the top of the Tower) made for a delightful end to a pleasant afternoon!

Peeking in

It's been a quiet week for us here on Toscana Isle and at the Audie Murphy VA Medical Center.  We're staying busy at work while Wesley McFluffy keeps an eye on things at home.

Charles was the duty chaplain this weekend which included preaching at the Protestant chapel service this morning.  The duty chaplain gets the Friday and Monday off on either side of the weekend so we're hoping to do something fun tomorrow!

Mother's Creations!

Suggested Donations Price List

The "models" look

The "fun!" look

Belinda took some of her mother's hand-made creations to the ladies retreat.  The young ladies who helped Belinda unload her car were very excited about the beautiful scarves, especially the variety of colors on display.  It was a fun time for Belinda, because woman of all ages said how much they enjoyed her mother's handiwork. 

The money that was donated for the items will allow her mother to buy more yarn and create more fun, beautiful gifties for others to enjoy.  Yea, God!!!

Ladies Retreat, Iraan, Texas

Becky Wright, wife of the pastor, First Baptist Church, Iraan

This past weekend, Belinda attended the annual Ladies Retreat in Iraan, Texas.  Every year, the Iraan First Baptist Church lovingly sponsors this amazing retreat.  So much love goes into all the details of the retreat!  Everyone really appreciates the get-away to retreat and celebrate our faith and our faithful God!

This year's theme was about servanthood.  The wonderful keynote speaker was Glyn Kelsom and her husband Wink provided fabulous music.  Their ministry is called "Servants of Servants."  All in all, it was a Spirit-led retreat; thanks be to God!!!

Worship in San Antonio today

Trinity UMC's "Victory Garden"

Charles continued our visiting of area churches today, visiting two congregations on Wurzbach Road.  First up was the traditional service offering at Trinity UMC. It was a small attendance service (their second, contemporary service, is much better attended), and today they were hearing a mission talk about Africa University.

In between services Charles ventured just up the road to a nearby Starbucks to pick up the Sunday NY Times, a real treat for Charles!

Following that break, it was back on Wurzbach to the second service of the day at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (LCMS).  Along with a baptism, this service contained no less than EIGHT hymns!  And boy, do these Lutherans love to sing!!!

Rather than venturing back downtown, Charles treated himself to a visit to Schlotzky's and then back home to read the Sunday Times.  And of course, there was plenty of time spent with our sweet kitty!

Playing tourist in San Antonio

Museo Alameda

St. Anthony of Padua (namesake of San Antonio)

at the San Japan event

 
Charles took some time this afternoon to get in some touristing downtown.  He had hoped to visit one museum in particular but its hours had changed so it was off to the Museo Alameda, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution.  This museum looks the culture of 'old Mexico' and is a real treat - and like the Smithsonian museums in D.C. this one too is free!
One of the odder sights was at the convention center where the "San Japan" event was taking place. It might have been worth checking out but at $35 for a one-day ticket, Charles decided to keep walking.

Charles had hoped to visit the San Fernado Cathedral but there was a wedding taking place there so it was time to wander about for a bit.

After being downtown in the heat it was time to head home for a quiet night with our kitty, Wesley McFluff!