I Spy ...

Can you see me now?



This tiny lizard - his body isn't much longer than an inch - lives in the gardenia bush on the patio. So far, he has survived Denny the Master Hunter's regular patrols.

Las Colinas & the Dallas Brewers

Our end-of-July vacation at the Four Seasons Las Colinas was a fun visit with the Dallas Brewers. Jerry and Jason played the tournament players course and we had lots of pool time!

Melissa and I took advantage of the pool, while the guys played golf and - even in 100 degree heat, the boys had fun going from the hot tub to the pool. Here's Luke ...



And Zach loved sitting on the big rock letting the hot water run down his back.



Here's a beautiful view of the hotel and golf course. Saturday morning, Jerry and I walked the entire course (have to finish by 7am) as our morning exercise.



Saturday afternoon, we had worn out the pool, watched a lot of Olympic events and the boys wanted to practice their pitching. Jerry showed Luke how to use the seams on the baseball to control different types of pitches.



Impromptu baseball set-up on the lawn at the Four Seasons in front of our Villa (no one complained)



Luke, zinging one in there!



I'm not sure what kind of a stance this is, but it's probably not seen in the major leagues. Good leg work, Jason!



Although he's got less experience - and control - than Luke, Zach throws a fierce fast ball. Facial expressions are a critical element in the fast ball pitch!



The boys spent the night with us Saturday and we had room service while watching the Olympics. Here's a cute picture of Zach wearing a teeny-tiny hat that was in our room for some reason.



Since the Olympics kicked off on Friday night, the boys were having their own "Brazilian Olympics" (not sure why they weren't called Brewer Olympics) and there were lots of games and competitions through the weekend. One game was seeing how many back flips they could do without taking a breath. Zach nailed it with four flips!



Those of you receiving this post via email may not be able to click and view the video clip. If it doesn't work, visit http://nanbrewer.blogspot.com and watch it from the online post.

29.18631N by 94.47416W

Although he passed away in December, and we held a graveside service for he and Mom in March, we wanted to honor a request that Dad made to me many years ago. He asked that his ashes be spread from the Bolivar Ferry, half-way between Galveston and Bolivar, since he had spent so much time there in his youth.

Ed had retained 1/2 of his ashes - not buried in Rockdale - and worked to arrange an event with the Bonura side of the family. After several delays, plans finally came together for July 21st. Ed arranged a luncheon at the Stingaree and Jerry arranged a charter back in Galveston for later that evening.

We all boarded the Ferry for the ride to Bolivar. Jerry, Hope, Ed & Ray ...



Switching places with Hope ...



Initially he was not too keen on the idea of driving onto a boat, but Memphis soon warmed up to the idea of ferry travel.



After a short detour, we found the Stingaree!



We had a big group and a great lunch! It was good to catch up with our Beaumont area cousins, including Dad's only living sibling - Uncle Joe Lee.



Before lunch, we entertained ourselves out on the deck, watching the barge traffic.






Hope, Mary & Memphis on the deck ...



Kent, enjoying a cold XX!



We saw lots of seagulls, pelicans & dolphin on the ferry rides and took this photo of the Bolivar Light House while waiting in the L-O-N-G line to cross back to Galveston.



After a quick run to pick up some flowers and snacks, we headed to Pier 19 to board the Island Girl, the larger of the two Aqua Safari fishing boats. Fresh off his second ferry ride, Memphis had become an "old salt" and was singing and ready to go!



Dad's ashes in a pretty wooden box, provided by Suzanne, against a backdrop of our very utilitarian fishing boat.



Leaving port ...



Toni, Memphis & Ray ...



Ray, Kent, Ed & Hope ...



Jerry, enjoying the view



Photographing the photographer ...



We stopped several times along the way to watch dolphin swimming by and soon we were at the mid-point between Galveston and Bolivar. Our captain pointed the boat up-wind and we shared a Prosecco toast (Italian champagne) to Dad.

As Ed got the bag of ashes out of the box, we noticed a group of dolphin in the distance, making their way towards us. Three dolphins continued towards the boat and surfaced several times as they approached us. They came up about 3 feet from us before diving under the boat and surfacing again on the other side, as they made their way towards the lighthouse. Nature always amazes me and I believe it was a blessing, of sorts.

I took this photo with a telephoto lense before they got near the boat.



Ed started the ceremony by scattering some ashes and then dropping a lavendar and red rose into the water.






Mary went next ...





Followed by me (no photos) - we saw some barge/tanker action since we were more-or-less stopped in the middle of the channel.



Jerry spreading ashes ...



and flowers



Followed by Ray ...



and Hope



Ed finished the task ...



and we had a pretty stream of flowers and dried rose petals (being tossed by Memphis) trailing the boat.



We were visited by a single seagull and it made me think of the song, I'll Fly Away. Dad would have been very happy to know that we had carried out his wishes, expressed before the dementia took hold, and more importantly that we were all together out on the water. It was something that he loved and sailing in Galveston Bay was something that we all shared with him.



Heading back for the "harbor cruise".



Ms. Hope ...



Toni, Hope, Ray, Ed & Jerry ...



On the way back, we passed a large, sunken concrete boat - apparently it's been out there for years. I was clueless!






Hope, Jerry, Ed & Mary ...



Memphis & Toni



The beautiful Elissa ...



Toni and Ray ...



Memphis, taking it all in