You add a side of onion rings and you have a meal fit for a king!  These folks operate out of an unidentifiable (no business sign) refurbished house a couple of blocks off the main drag in Donna and are open only as long as it takes to sell out of the beef they grind fresh each day for their burgers.  With lines out the door, they are seldom open after 2pm.

When we aren’t bargain hunting or haunting one of the local “mom and pop” eateries in the area, we can usually be found relaxing on our patio with a cold drink and a good book…

My Bride carries an assortment of pennies, nickels and dimes with her at all times and is not the least bit hesitant to simply overturn her purse on some store’s counter and sort out $8.43 in small change.  I usually disappear into some dark corner or leave the premises altogether until transactions of this nature have been completed and the folks lined up behind her have had the opportunity to cool down and re-holster their firearms.  This IS Texas after all!!!

Every pickup truck in the state is equipped with a set of steer horns bolted to the hood and either a hat holder or a rifle rack over its rear window.

Those of us who flock to the RGV each year when the snows begin to fall in the north are lovingly referred to by the local cowboys and Tejanos as “Winter Texans” and are occasionally reminded that we are “all hat and no cattle.”

Unlike North Dakota, Wisconsin or Minnesota, you will not find one single Jorgenson, Kjellberg or Wigdahl in the mix.  However, folks with surnames such as these can be found in abundance at the various RV parks and resorts throughout the RGV and nearly everyone of Norwegian heritage owns at least one accordion and a likeness of polka legend Happy Louie proudly displayed on the side of their RV.

Flea markets and farmer’s markets can also be found in abundance throughout the area offering fresh fruits and vegetables as well as such age-specific products as denture cleaner and high magnification reading glasses at discounted prices.  And wherever a bargain can be found you will also find lurking nearby that most canny of creatures, the bargainus huntress…

Winter Texans                                                             December 4, 2012

HALLELUJAH!!!!  The election is finally over and life can return to some degree of normalcy.  Living, as we do, in the Rio Grande Valley (that’s RGV to us locals), so near the Mexican border, brings a “south of the border” element to elections that I have never encountered in other elections farther north of the border.  Cars and trucks with huge speakers drive through the area proclaiming the virtues of various political hopefuls and the roads to the polls are paved with signs for a plethora of candidates unlike any you will find in the frozen north…

While my Bride enjoys the various discounted shopping venues in the area, I was looking forward to that first bite of a giant “Gonzalez” burger…

I am now the proud owner of an el-cheapo electric weed whacker.  My Bride, meanwhile, has been busily distributing fliers throughout the park offering affordable yard boy services in an effort to recoup the $21 she paid for my new toy.

Considering that I had absolutely nothing to say when I began this diatribe, I think I have said quite enough so we’ll leave you with this…

See y’all next time.  Hugs, C&K

If you look very closely at the above photo, you will notice that our orange tree is surrounded by a ring of tall grass which our maintenance people can’t seem to reach with their mower.  And soooooo…