Weekend with Brother Ray!

Well we have one week left in the valley and we are fortunate to be able to spend it with Eric’s big brother Ray from Houston! 

Our weather forecast for this week..            our weather forecast for Birchwood this week!

 

hmmm.. 90 here today, 26 in Birchwood! so why are we heading home so soon? Well, we are out of maple syrup.  Need to get home to make another batch, hope mother nature is good to us this season. 

We met up with Ray at his hotel in Pharr, then headed into Mexico.  Walked around a bit, had lunch and shopped. 

had to stop at to pay tax on alcohol!

Ray’s suite:                                                   and Bar:

 

We had such a great day, talking, eating and drinking..  We are so happy to share South Texas with him, although he lives in Houston he has not spent any time here in the valley.  we have a busy weekend scheduled.

Friday: headed to South Padre Island.  A bit cooler today, 70’s by the water, 80’s inland and very cloudy/foggy.  we started at Port Isabel at a few of the museums before heading over to the island.  we had to skip the lighthouse, it was closed because of lack of visibility. we were hoping to catch it on the way back but it was still overcast, maybe next time.

we did stop at:                                             for a drink on the beach. it was pretty windy!

 

Not too much to take pictures of since it was so overcast but we drove the island, stopped at a few places, had a late lunch at Dirty Al’s then drove home.  the traffic getting off of the island was horrible!  we had never seen traffic like that on the island or the bridge.  there was an event at the convention center, assuming that it let out when we were leaving.  Headed to Ray’s suite for the evening.  We were pretty full, but Rudy’s has smoked catfish on Fridays sooo.. Eric went to pick up something for us to nibble on, Brisket and catfish!

 

 

the catfish was out of this world!  it just melted in your mouth, was a bit too spicy for me but ooohhhhh sooo good!  the brisket was very good too. I really need to try smoking fish when we get home.  I said that 2 years ago but never got the chance, this year I jus have to do it!

Friday: we started out at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.  Wanted to show Ray where we work. it was a bit cool on the tram ride.  it was very good, learned a lot and got to see an indigo snake!

Next was Smokin on the Rio.  Ray had to try judging and did the charro beans!

he taste tested 11 different entries!

we ate and ate and ate some more:

most was all good…  all of it was free..  the participants cook enough to share with everyone.  this one actually had a whole meal. but most just gave you a taste.  did not see anyone we knew!  afterwards we went to our favorite state park to walk off some of the BBQ before heading to Ray’s place to look at pictures of his trips to Chile, Peru and Easter Island.  beautiful pictures and great stories.

Sunday: we picked Ray up for Lunch at Torinos in Edinburg. 

Ray’s Margarita vs.. my bloody mary….

then off to the Museum of South Texas History.  great museum, not too big and very well laid out.

Back to Ray’s to watch the Academy awards..  what a fun weekend we had with Ray.