There is no doubt that winter is making its mark wherever we turn, and it is not going to get better on the road specially having to be in Atlanta mid January. We were still in Big Bend last year at this time, and now looking at the weather map… even colder. And then I read the casualties up north from a winter even bitter than here and I realize that we don’t have anything to complain about. There is still a window of opportunity every day to go riding a bit, Spirit got his windshield back today after cutting it shorter. The skirt and windshield should again give him the protection he needs with of course his heated blanket. This is a good time "to try" planning our way back from Georgia in March as our destination will be Moab for a bit, and then on to Wyoming and Montana as summer comes along. That is the general idea anyhow.

I am having a blast with food here, stopping at HEB just about every other day! Fresh produce… avocados, tomatoes, green onions with the big white bulb, huge bunch of cilantro here, fresh tortillas and the chorizo is out of this world, thin sliced pork, fish… all cooked simple, juice of those aromatic little key limes on just about everything with some olive oil and the cilantro. How can anyone eat out when all this is so readily available and so easy to cook. It is called the good eating on a budget! A package of chorizo, a dozen eggs, tortillas with a home made tomato, avocado and onion salsa can last you quite a few meals and still lets you look forward to the next ones. Potatoes and Talapia below, cucumber and tomato salad, all fast and easy… I feel like I had not touched food in 3 months!… besides Thanksgiving of course.

Well, I have to tell you about the Museum we visited and I do say ‘we’ as dogs are allowed, a rarity these day. It will not fit in one Blog! It is located passed the old Del Rio downtown which I did not even know existed. A few Cafes, shops, as most downtown I think there is going to be a revival. Definitely a more attractive sight then the four lanes leading to it, a main road lined with the usual "Any Town USA" Mc Donald, Walmart, Auto Zone, you name it. The Whitehead Memorial Museum came to life about 40 years ago. In 1962, a noted local ranching family, the Whiteheads, purchased the Old Perry Mercantile Building and donated it to the City of Del Rio and Val Verde County for a Museum. Since that time the Museum has grown to include 21 exhibit sites and occupies more than 2 acres.

There is so much to see that the office will give you a map, basically making a big circle. The "La Zappa Chapel" is the first building. It was build in honor of the 300 years of Spanish influence on Christianity in the area. It is named for the type of underground shelter used by travelers who passed by the area and as a working Chapel it is still used also for weddings.

A little further down is the Perry Store and War Room. It was built in 1870 and one has to imagine it was the largest store between San Antonio, Eagles Pass and El Paso! Replaced by today… the Super Duper Giant Walmart a couple miles from it! That was a lot of territory to cover, Deserts and much isolation. The store itself is now being used as a War Room displaying items from the Confederacy, WWI, WWII and Laughlin Air Force Base.

It is a Historical Landmark and the Perry’s lived upstairs as all remains as it was…

Next was the replica of the Jersey Lily, Judge Roy Bean’s famous Saloon and Court. For several years, Judge Roy Bean was the only "Law West of the Pecos". I imagine he was an interesting character and did live a full life till his and his Son’s burial right behind the building.

More ahead is the Office of Dr Simon Rodriguez, a furnished Log Cabin, Blacksmith shop, the incredible Cadena Nativity which took a lifetime to create, a little garage, the Barn with exhibits of Prehistoric nature and Native Indians of the area… it was endless. Also a Caboose… a traveling RV on rails! But I would like to take this time to wish you ALL a Very Happy Holiday. I apologize for not having the ability to individually and personally wish it to each of you, my friends, my readers, every one that I have met these past 14 months, every one that I have corresponded with, maybe some day I will have that ability. These are the times when I go back through my own Archives, read your names, look at the pictures, having kept all my e mails since day one including all the invitations you have cordially extended… It overwhelms me as to the kindness we have encountered, as all your contributions to keep this site going, hopefully one day at the time for many more years to come. As Lance would say "It’s all good".

You be well… always wishing you the best.

Ara & Spirit

Don’t forget the "Spirited Doggie Treats" and "Art Cards"…. Dogs cannot live of Love and food alone… they need treats, they like treats… we know!

The feedbacks are coming in… this is from real people… with real dogs!!!

* My dogs went crazy over the Spirited Pumpkin Treats!

*I just got the pumpkin doggy treats. JC loves them. He’s prancing around my apartment with one hanging out of his mouth..

* Ara, just wanted you to know someone ordered our dogs some of your treats and they loved them.

We are always under deep appreciation toward the readers that have send in a contribution helping this website’s expenditures. For those who have not, continue enjoying the site, pictures, recipes, and if you feel it’s worth $1 a month, the contribution button is above, snail mail is below…

Ara Gureghian   853 Vanderbilt Beach Rd #245   Naples, Fl 34108