Sunday, September 16, 2007

Mission Accomplished

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
I attended a very memorable church service on Sunday, the ninth of September. Located in the South of San Antonio, stands A glowing legacy of our proud forefathers. Mission San Jose is one of the (still living) churches serving the surrounding community.

Established in 1720, this impressive compound served to protect the village from the onslaught of enemy attacks by the Apache and Comanche Indians. I feel so small standing inside these imposing walls. Seemingly reaching the heavens, Mission San Jose (Mission San Jose`y San Miguel de Aguayo) is famous for its impressive size, enthralling greenery ( lawn, plants, trees) and of course the serene ambiance. In this respect, it has been referred to as "Queen of the Missions." The intricate architecture of the church portrays the high craftsmanship of the skilled artisans. This splendid work is also notable in the famous Rose Window.


Entering the church at noon, I noticed a few large statues carved on the outside wall. I was anticipating a large church and surprisingly, (once inside) it impressed me as being much smaller than I had imagined, but the high vaulted ceiling with unusual curved archways presented an entirely different view. There is a fairly large group in attendance but the church isn't filled to capacity. Up in the front of the church is a colorful Mariachi band facing the congregation and waiting expectantly.

Father welcomed everyone from the community and any visitors. His captivating sermon was in English and the mesmerizing songs were in Spanish. I appreciated how both languages were incorporated. I am undoubtedly captivated by the blend of music and song and the rising crescendo of rhythm, both peaking in unison, the roaring of the trumpets, the throbbing vibrations of the guitar and enticing sounds emanating from the violin, all pulling on the strings of my heart. I feel recharged.

The grand finale is when Father requests that all those sharing birthdays and anniversaries, converge to the front of the church where he asked them, one by one, their ages and number of years married; most were children who leaped at the chance for their five minutes of fame in the limelight. Quite a few couples have been married for many years. Some of them looked humbled and obviously proud. It was a very touching moment. When the Mariachi and choir broke out in song, and proceeded to play Las Mananitas, EVERYONE joined in with enthusiastically. The mood was genuinely electric. This is a beautifully orchestrated song embracing the day with the coming promise of rebirth.

With Father's parting words, "Mass is ended, go in peace." I experienced an euphoric feeling as I left ... in peace.

San Antonio Missions, National Historical Park Texas/National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior: San Juan , "Queen of the Missions"

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Port of Call, Calling All Birds

Port of Call, Calling All Birds
Renovated Leeper House

Port of Call, Calling All Birds

Port of Call, Calling All Birds
Mitchell lake and company

Port of Call, Calling All Birds

Port of Call, Calling All Birds
Bird Pond

Port of Call, Calling All Birds

Port of Call, Calling All Birds
Amphitheatre and Toyota crew

Port of Call, Calling All Birds

Port of Call, Calling All Birds
Beautiful flowers and butterflies

Port of Call, Calling All Birds

Port of Call, Calling All Birds
Audubon Society Center

Port of Call, Calling All Birds

Port of Call, Calling All Birds
Mitchell Lake Wetlands
Port of Call, Calling all Birds

I went to visit the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center this weekend. It was a breezy and sunny day. Today, October 27, 2007, is National Public Lands Day. The Toyota company had 150 plus team members volunteering to do brush clearing, mulching , weeding, gardening, excavating and building benches to place at different locations on the trails at this center. Since there was such a huge group out there working, there were not any tours today.

Ms Betty Walters is a fountain of information and a member of the Audubon Society. According to Ms Walters, In the early 1900’s Asa Mitchell, a colonist soldier
and planter, purchased 14,000 acres, including the Mitchell lake acreage, that was later used as a sewage treatment center. This area was later an abandoned sewage lagoon. It was designated as a wildlife refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl.

The Mitchell Lake area was given by San Antonio in 1973 to the Audubon Society. In 1997 San Antonio Water System (SAWS) was formed and Mitchell Lake fell under their ownership. Since the society was unable to afford insurance for the site, they got together with the SAWS and through a grandfather clause, got around this issue. SAWS has a 25 year lease so the society is covered for a while..
MS Walters said that the Leeper House built in 1910 is the original farmhouse of the McNay Art Institute on New Braunfels. It was moved on the Mitchell Lake property in 2003 and the Audubon Society helped with the restoration.

In 2004 SAWS contracted with the National Audubon Society to Manage the site now known as the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. They manage this site in partnership with SAWS. The entire area of 1,200 acres includes Mitchell Lake, wetlands and ponds. There are 250 oil wells on the property. KB homes has constructed an impressive amphitheatre for classes and water-workshops.

Ms Walters loaned me a pair of binoculars and mapped out a route to take on my self- directed tour. Even with all the work crew in the area, there was an undisturbed quietness to the place. I saw many geese and ducks at the Bird Pond but I was disappointed that they were at a distance and I couldn’t get close up pictures. There was a funny looking contraption in the pond but I failed to ask about it.

There were a lot of different type of butterflies all around me. The vegetation was lush with lots of greenery. At one of the basins I saw what appeared to be a group of ducks perched on a log but when I looked through the binoculars, I saw it was a line of huge turtles with heads weaving in and out of their shells at times.

When I finally reached Mitchell Lake clearing, I saw a long line of huge birds, Geese I think all in a line on a type of pipe in the lake. It did not smell bad, Ms Walters said that the lake smelled sometimes and people mistake it for a sewer smell but she said that it is the blue-green algae. I had a very pleasant and informative afternoon.


Port of Call, Calling all Birds

I went to visit the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center this weekend. It was a breezy and sunny day. Today, October 27, 2007, is National Public Lands Day. The Toyota company had 150 plus team members volunteering to do brush clearing, mulching , weeding, gardening, excavating and building benches to place at different locations on the trails at this center. Since there was such a huge group out there working, there were not any tours today.
Ms Betty Walters is a fountain of information and a member of the Audubon Society. According to Ms Walters, In the early 1900’s Asa Mitchell, a colonist soldier
and planter, purchased 14,000 acres, including the Mitchell lake acreage, that was later used as a sewage treatment center. This area was later an abandoned sewage lagoon. It was designated as a wildlife refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl.
The Mitchell Lake area was given by San Antonio in 1973 to the Audubon Society. In 1997 San Antonio Water System (SAWS) was formed and Mitchell Lake fell under their ownership. Since the society was unable to afford insurance for the site, they got together with the SAWS and through a grandfather clause, got around this issue. SAWS has a 25 year lease so the society is covered for a while..
MS Walters said that the Leeper House built in 1910 is the original farmhouse of the McNay Art Institute on New Braunfels. It was moved on the Mitchell Lake property in 2003 and the Audubon Society helped with the restoration.
In 2004 SAWS contracted with the National Audubon Society to Manage the site now known as the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. They manage this site in partnership with SAWS. The entire area of 1,200 acres includes Mitchell Lake, wetlands and ponds. There are 250 oil wells on the property. KB homes has constructed an impressive amphitheatre for classes and water-workshops.
Ms Walters loaned me a pair of binoculars and mapped out a route to take on my self- directed tour. Even with all the work crew in the area, there was an undisturbed quietness to the place. I saw many geese and ducks at the Bird Pond but I was disappointed that they were at a distance and I couldn’t get close up pictures. There was a funny looking contraption in the pond but I failed to ask about it.
There were a lot of different type of butterflies all around me. The vegetation was lush with lots of greenery. At one of the basins I saw what appeared to be a group of ducks perched on a log but when I looked through the binoculars, I saw it was a line of huge turtles with heads weaving in and out of their shells at times.
When I finally reached Mitchell Lake clearing, I saw a long line of huge birds, Geese I think all in a line on a type of pipe in the lake. It did not smell bad, Ms Walters said that the lake smelled sometimes and people mistake it for a sewer smell but she said that it is the blue-green algae. I had a very pleasant and informative afternoon.

Port of Call, Calling all Birds

I went to visit the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center this weekend. It was a breezy and sunny day. Today, October 27, 2007, is National Public Lands Day. The Toyota company had 150 plus team members volunteering to do brush clearing, mulching , weeding, gardening, excavating and building benches to place at different locations on the trails at this center. Since there was such a huge group out there working, there were not any tours today.
Ms Betty Walters is a fountain of information and a member of the Audubon Society. According to Ms Walters, In the early 1900’s Asa Mitchell, a colonist soldier
and planter, purchased 14,000 acres, including the Mitchell lake acreage, that was later used as a sewage treatment center. This area was later an abandoned sewage lagoon. It was designated as a wildlife refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl.
The Mitchell Lake area was given by San Antonio in 1973 to the Audubon Society. In 1997 San Antonio Water System (SAWS) was formed and Mitchell Lake fell under their ownership. Since the society was unable to afford insurance for the site, they got together with the SAWS and through a grandfather clause, got around this issue. SAWS has a 25 year lease so the society is covered for a while..
MS Walters said that the Leeper House built in 1910 is the original farmhouse of the McNay Art Institute on New Braunfels. It was moved on the Mitchell Lake property in 2003 and the Audubon Society helped with the restoration.
In 2004 SAWS contracted with the National Audubon Society to Manage the site now known as the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. They manage this site in partnership with SAWS. The entire area of 1,200 acres includes Mitchell Lake, wetlands and ponds. There are 250 oil wells on the property. KB homes has constructed an impressive amphitheatre for classes and water-workshops.
Ms Walters loaned me a pair of binoculars and mapped out a route to take on my self- directed tour. Even with all the work crew in the area, there was an undisturbed quietness to the place. I saw many geese and ducks at the Bird Pond but I was disappointed that they were at a distance and I couldn’t get close up pictures. There was a funny looking contraption in the pond but I failed to ask about it.
There were a lot of different type of butterflies all around me. The vegetation was lush with lots of greenery. At one of the basins I saw what appeared to be a group of ducks perched on a log but when I looked through the binoculars, I saw it was a line of huge turtles with heads weaving in and out of their shells at times.
When I finally reached Mitchell Lake clearing, I saw a long line of huge birds, Geese I think all in a line on a type of pipe in the lake. It did not smell bad, Ms Walters said that the lake smelled sometimes and people mistake it for a sewer smell but she said that it is the blue-green algae. I had a very pleasant and informative afternoon.

Port of Call, Calling all Birds

I went to visit the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center this weekend. It was a breezy and sunny day. Today, October 27, 2007, is National Public Lands Day. The Toyota company had 150 plus team members volunteering to do brush clearing, mulching , weeding, gardening, excavating and building benches to place at different locations on the trails at this center. Since there was such a huge group out there working, there were not any tours today.
Ms Betty Walters is a fountain of information and a member of the Audubon Society. According to Ms Walters, In the early 1900’s Asa Mitchell, a colonist soldier
and planter, purchased 14,000 acres, including the Mitchell lake acreage, that was later used as a sewage treatment center. This area was later an abandoned sewage lagoon. It was designated as a wildlife refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl.
The Mitchell Lake area was given by San Antonio in 1973 to the Audubon Society. In 1997 San Antonio Water System (SAWS) was formed and Mitchell Lake fell under their ownership. Since the society was unable to afford insurance for the site, they got together with the SAWS and through a grandfather clause, got around this issue. SAWS has a 25 year lease so the society is covered for a while..
MS Walters said that the Leeper House built in 1910 is the original farmhouse of the McNay Art Institute on New Braunfels. It was moved on the Mitchell Lake property in 2003 and the Audubon Society helped with the restoration.
In 2004 SAWS contracted with the National Audubon Society to Manage the site now known as the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. They manage this site in partnership with SAWS. The entire area of 1,200 acres includes Mitchell Lake, wetlands and ponds. There are 250 oil wells on the property. KB homes has constructed an impressive amphitheatre for classes and water-workshops.
Ms Walters loaned me a pair of binoculars and mapped out a route to take on my self- directed tour. Even with all the work crew in the area, there was an undisturbed quietness to the place. I saw many geese and ducks at the Bird Pond but I was disappointed that they were at a distance and I couldn’t get close up pictures. There was a funny looking contraption in the pond but I failed to ask about it.
There were a lot of different type of butterflies all around me. The vegetation was lush with lots of greenery. At one of the basins I saw what appeared to be a group of ducks perched on a log but when I looked through the binoculars, I saw it was a line of huge turtles with heads weaving in and out of their shells at times.
When I finally reached Mitchell Lake clearing, I saw a long line of huge birds, Geese I think all in a line on a type of pipe in the lake. It did not smell bad, Ms Walters said that the lake smelled sometimes and people mistake it for a sewer smell but she said that it is the blue-green algae. I had a very pleasant and informative afternoon.

Port of Call, Calling all Birds

I went to visit the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center this weekend. It was a breezy and sunny day. Today, October 27, 2007, is National Public Lands Day. The Toyota company had 150 plus team members volunteering to do brush clearing, mulching , weeding, gardening, excavating and building benches to place at different locations on the trails at this center. Since there was such a huge group out there working, there were not any tours today.
Ms Betty Walters is a fountain of information and a member of the Audubon Society. According to Ms Walters, In the early 1900’s Asa Mitchell, a colonist soldier
and planter, purchased 14,000 acres, including the Mitchell lake acreage, that was later used as a sewage treatment center. This area was later an abandoned sewage lagoon. It was designated as a wildlife refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl.
The Mitchell Lake area was given by San Antonio in 1973 to the Audubon Society. In 1997 San Antonio Water System (SAWS) was formed and Mitchell Lake fell under their ownership. Since the society was unable to afford insurance for the site, they got together with the SAWS and through a grandfather clause, got around this issue. SAWS has a 25 year lease so the society is covered for a while..
MS Walters said that the Leeper House built in 1910 is the original farmhouse of the McNay Art Institute on New Braunfels. It was moved on the Mitchell Lake property in 2003 and the Audubon Society helped with the restoration.
In 2004 SAWS contracted with the National Audubon Society to Manage the site now known as the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. They manage this site in partnership with SAWS. The entire area of 1,200 acres includes Mitchell Lake, wetlands and ponds. There are 250 oil wells on the property. KB homes has constructed an impressive amphitheatre for classes and water-workshops.
Ms Walters loaned me a pair of binoculars and mapped out a route to take on my self- directed tour. Even with all the work crew in the area, there was an undisturbed quietness to the place. I saw many geese and ducks at the Bird Pond but I was disappointed that they were at a distance and I couldn’t get close up pictures. There was a funny looking contraption in the pond but I failed to ask about it.
There were a lot of different type of butterflies all around me. The vegetation was lush with lots of greenery. At one of the basins I saw what appeared to be a group of ducks perched on a log but when I looked through the binoculars, I saw it was a line of huge turtles with heads weaving in and out of their shells at times.
When I finally reached Mitchell Lake clearing, I saw a long line of huge birds, Geese I think all in a line on a type of pipe in the lake. It did not smell bad, Ms Walters said that the lake smelled sometimes and people mistake it for a sewer smell but she said that it is the blue-green algae. I had a very pleasant and informative afternoon.

Port of Call, Calling all Birds

I went to visit the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center this weekend. It was a breezy and sunny day. Today, October 27, 2007, is National Public Lands Day. The Toyota company had 150 plus team members volunteering to do brush clearing, mulching , weeding, gardening, excavating and building benches to place at different locations on the trails at this center. Since there was such a huge group out there working, there were not any tours today.
Ms Betty Walters is a fountain of information and a member of the Audubon Society. According to Ms Walters, In the early 1900’s Asa Mitchell, a colonist soldier
and planter, purchased 14,000 acres, including the Mitchell lake acreage, that was later used as a sewage treatment center. This area was later an abandoned sewage lagoon. It was designated as a wildlife refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl.
The Mitchell Lake area was given by San Antonio in 1973 to the Audubon Society. In 1997 San Antonio Water System (SAWS) was formed and Mitchell Lake fell under their ownership. Since the society was unable to afford insurance for the site, they got together with the SAWS and through a grandfather clause, got around this issue. SAWS has a 25 year lease so the society is covered for a while..
MS Walters said that the Leeper House built in 1910 is the original farmhouse of the McNay Art Institute on New Braunfels. It was moved on the Mitchell Lake property in 2003 and the Audubon Society helped with the restoration.
In 2004 SAWS contracted with the National Audubon Society to Manage the site now known as the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. They manage this site in partnership with SAWS. The entire area of 1,200 acres includes Mitchell Lake, wetlands and ponds. There are 250 oil wells on the property. KB homes has constructed an impressive amphitheatre for classes and water-workshops.
Ms Walters loaned me a pair of binoculars and mapped out a route to take on my self- directed tour. Even with all the work crew in the area, there was an undisturbed quietness to the place. I saw many geese and ducks at the Bird Pond but I was disappointed that they were at a distance and I couldn’t get close up pictures. There was a funny looking contraption in the pond but I failed to ask about it.
There were a lot of different type of butterflies all around me. The vegetation was lush with lots of greenery. At one of the basins I saw what appeared to be a group of ducks perched on a log but when I looked through the binoculars, I saw it was a line of huge turtles with heads weaving in and out of their shells at times.
When I finally reached Mitchell Lake clearing, I saw a long line of huge birds, Geese I think all in a line on a type of pipe in the lake. It did not smell bad, Ms Walters said that the lake smelled sometimes and people mistake it for a sewer smell but she said that it is the blue-green algae. I had a very pleasant and informative afternoon.


Port of Call, Calling all Birds

Port of Call, Calling all Birds

I went to visit the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center this weekend. It was a breezy and sunny day. Today, October 27, 2007, is National Public Lands Day. The Toyota company had 150 plus team members volunteering to do brush clearing, mulching , weeding, gardening, excavating and building benches to place at different locations on the trails at this center. Since there was such a huge group out there working, there were not any tours today.

Ms Betty Walters is a fountain of information and a member of the Audubon Society. According to Ms Walters, In the early 1900’s Asa Mitchell, a colonist soldier
and planter, purchased 14,000 acres, including the Mitchell lake acreage, that was later used as a sewage treatment center. This area was later an abandoned sewage lagoon. It was designated as a wildlife refuge for shorebirds and waterfowl.

The Mitchell Lake area was given by San Antonio in 1973 to the Audubon Society. In 1997 San Antonio Water System (SAWS) was formed and Mitchell Lake fell under their ownership. Since the society was unable to afford insurance for the site, they got together with the SAWS and through a grandfather clause, got around this issue. SAWS has a 25 year lease so the society is covered for a while.

MS Walters said that the Leeper House built in 1910 is the original farmhouse of the McNay Art Institute on New Braunfels. It was moved on the Mitchell Lake property in 2003 and the Audubon Society helped with the restoration.

In 2004 SAWS contracted with the National Audubon Society to Manage the site now known as the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. They manage this site in partnership with SAWS. The entire area of 1,200 acres includes Mitchell Lake, wetlands and ponds. There are 250 oil wells on the property. KB homes has constructed an impressive amphitheatre for classes and water-workshops.

Ms Walters loaned me a pair of binoculars and mapped out a route to take on my self- directed tour. Even with all the work crew in the area, there was an undisturbed quietness to the place. I saw many geese and ducks at the Bird Pond but I was disappointed that they were at a distance and I couldn’t get close up pictures. There was a funny looking contraption in the pond but I failed to ask about it.

There were a lot of different type of butterflies all around me. The vegetation was lush with lots of greenery. At one of the basins I saw what appeared to be a group of ducks perched on a log but when I looked through the binoculars, I saw it was a line of huge turtles with heads weaving in and out of their shells at times.

When I finally reached Mitchell Lake clearing, I saw a long line of huge birds, Geese I think all in a line on a type of pipe in the lake. It did not smell bad, Ms Walters said that the lake smelled sometimes and people mistake it for a sewer smell but she said that it is the blue-green algae. I had a very pleasant and informative afternoon.