Home Sweet Home
By Modestah
@Modestah (11179)
United States
June 16, 2008 7:15pm CST
I spent the last three weeks in deep south Texas - about as far south as you can go in the Rio Grande Valley. It was a great visit which I am glad I made because with fuel costs I may just not get down there to visit my mother again any time too soon. My son heads off to college this Fall so it was good to get him in on the visit as well.
I did a lot down there - we went through slides and photos and sheds and closets and Dad's attache cases... I went in to Mexico several times and picked up some nice little gifts for friends and godchildren. The spices were incredible in aroma and quality so I grabbed some cumin, cinnamon, vanilla bean and vanilla extract, black pepper and I do not know what all else.
We enjoyed so many fruitful delights - I thought I liked Avocado before, but now having them in Mexico going back to the store purchased on the state side there is just no comparison to the Mexican purchased. I guess they know when to pick them? cantaloupe which is around $3 here can be purchased 3 for $1 in S. Texas, watermelon $1, honeydew $1, limes 40 for $1, mangos $3 a case.... my son loves the cactus tunas at 10/$1 Oh and big honkin space bags of onions 25 pounds for $2
I pulled out from Mom's house at 7 am but a half hour later I got a call on the cell phone that we forgot the kids' bathing suits so back we went... which was a good thing because mom corrected some errors in the directions I got off of mapquest. So, we pulled out again at about 8 am Sunday morning and pulled into our driveway at 10:30 am this morning. It was a long haul.
The traffic was slow during much of Texas - crawling about 20 mph in several of the large cities and we also encountered some storms along the way which slowed us down a little. I did pull off to a rest area at 1:30 am and we "slept" or at least closed our eyes till about 6am. A lot of people were sleeping at the rest area I reckon we all have the same idea of applying would be hotel costs to the fuel funds.
Anyhow, I am glad to be safely home - travel is always a little disconcerting for me. I loved the palm trees and cactus' and the colors and flair down there, but it was also welcoming to come back home to my rolling hills and woods.
3 people like this
10 responses
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
17 Jun 08
you really did have a great time while in mexico..while im reading this i remember also the time when we used to go on a trip to Bohol where my husbands parents live and born..it was fun to visit the old home and got to see the famous chocolate hills there and series of mountain that are used for catholics for the way of the cross/procession during holy week..so quiet and very cool...and yes its always good to be back home after that...theres no place like home i guess..
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
18 Jun 08
One of my favorite light 'murder mysteries' is set in Texas. The China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert. I think it's in the Texas hill country though. Some parts of Texas can be pretty parched and desert like.
I see we have more in common than just chickens! Hehehe. I LOVE cumin and avocados!!! I go through cumin so fast I had to start buying it in bulk sizes! And avocados might be my favorite food, even better than chocolate! I bought about 10 bucks worth of them recently. They were all hard, but I wanted them to last for awhile since it's so hard for me to get to the store. Usually they ripen up nicely in a paper bag, but for some reason this time almost every single one of them went bad before they ripened.I think I got to eat 2 out of about 10.
I can hardly believe the price of limes and mangoes you quoted!!!!! I pay something like a dollar apiece for both of them! Do you eat mangoes with salt and lime? Also mango lassies, with a little cumin and cardamom... man I love these earthly type delights!
I have slept in my share of rest areas. And since I was always the driver I ended up sleeping with the steering wheel greeting my thighs every time I tried to get comfortable. We did it so long that the sound of the semi's purring all night long became like a lullaby.
I want to live around rolling hills and woods! I cannot ride my bike over these mountains, I don't know how those mountain bikers do it!
I am glad you had such a 'soul satisfying' visit... I am getting a vicarious enjoyment from your experience... hehehe!
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Welcome home Modestah, I know I am late getting to your welcoming here, I have not made it into mylot much as of late....
When we lived in AZ we use to shop right over the boarder and you are so right about the prices and how much better the produce is. The only thing we never bought was dairy and fresh meats... It is always good to visit, especially a mother, but coming home is priceless.... You have been missed my friend.
@mummymo (23706)
•
17 Jun 08
That sounds like you had a fantastic time Modestah and I am so glad that you enjoyed it! I wish we could get some of those fruits at a price like that here - we pay around $5 for a watermelon, a canteloupe would be about the same, and you would pay about 80c per lime! One of these days I may get to visit that area and if I do I will certainly ask your advice! xxx
@ladyljs (1303)
• United States
17 Jun 08
SOunds like you had a wonderful time! I am so glad that you had the opportunity to do it!
We are going on a road trip next week. GOing to visit my sister and her family in Missouri. She has plans for us to go to Branson and watch a couple of shows....and who knows what else. It will just be good to see them all.
The trip will take us about 12 hours...so we are getting the DVD portables ready for the kiddos!
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Oh I hope you have a wonderful trip. That is a lovely area of Missouri...and offers so much to do (fantastic caverns, silver dollar city, the aquarium -discovery center etc) make sure she takes you to lamberts (home of the throwed rolls) we like the one in Ozarks.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
17 Jun 08
I Love South texas so much I bought a Mobile near McAllen where I now spend 5 months in the winter. Winter does not exist in the Rio Grande Valley, as the fresh fruit and veggies are harvested at that time. The Winter here in Ontario Canada is fraught with Ice and snow and way too Cold for this old Senior to withstand. Its just over 2000 miles each way, but we don't mind the drive to Texas.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
23 Jun 08
Gosh that sounds incredible. You seem to have the best of everything the way you describe it. At least you have wonderful diversity. Did you bring back lots of produce? I love avocados but some are nicer than others. They are too expensive for me now, they were selling at $1.55 each at our local store this week. Everything is so expensive. Tomatoes are about $1.00 each even. Everything has gone crazy down hee.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
17 Jun 08
wow! that's great for you and your family Modestah. There is nothing like home for me really..It will always be give us a wonderful feeling to be in the place where we grew up and sharing the moment with our loved ones. I know you were reminded of so much wonderful memories....Cheers!
@kimbers867 (2539)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Unbelievable fruit prices! My youngest would be in heaven, she is such a fruit nut.
That's good that you got to spend time with your mom.
I know a lot of people are not planning summer getaways this year because of fuel prices. Is it true that gas prices are cheaper in Mexico also?
That's interesting about the rest stops because I didn't think you could sleep in them.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
17 Jun 08
yes, in Mexico it was running around $1.20 cheaper, perhaps because they do not have all the sales taxes added on as we do?
I put a shade across the windshield and a cover over the side windows to allow for privacy and block out the flood lights. the lots had several vehicles pulled in for the night as well as the big rigs.
