Road Trip: Bergheim

by Celia Hayes

The name 'bergheim' means – if I remember my several years of high school and college German correctly – 'mountain home'. Strictly speaking, although the beating urban heart of Bergheim, Texas, is not anywhere near a mountain that I would recognize as such, (having lived at the foot of the Wasatch Range in Utah, or from living in the foothills of California's San Gabriels) it is pleasingly situated at the top of a substantial rise in the Hill Country, and a pleasant drive north from San Antonio. Especially, if you take 46 to get there; either east from Boerne, or west from Bulverde; the road rambles through rolling country, sparsely scattered with small ranches and housing developments, groves of trees, campgrounds

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South Texas Energy Utility Bill Saving Secrets!

We're coming up on that time of year again, you can feel it. It even feels like the sun just loves to shine a little too much on this state. With temperatures brutally scorching into the 110's at times in June, July and August you can notice a loud buzzing noise outside, it's that beautiful sound of all the air conditioners just humming, some all day, every day. This is also the same noise as money going down the drain. The only heat we like to feel in San Antonio is the Spurs heating up as they go into the conference finals against OKC.

Now what you may not be familiar with is all the little secrets that can hack away at that electric bill of yours. Coming into June you know you're going to war with

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It's New, It's Huge, It's Buc-ee's New Braunfels!

by Celia Hayes Click photos to enlarge

Since we are somewhat experienced as long-haul road-trippers, we are – thankyouverymuch – aficionados of those beside-the-highway establishments set up to offer gas, food, conveniences, or even just a place to pull over to stretch one's legs and let the dog romp for a bit. Some of these places – like the Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J truck plazas – offer (or did offer, the last time we checked) amazing coffee, with half-and-half on tap, not those nasty little mini-containers of liquid chalk. And when I was stationed at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah, we always used to calculate our commute to Southern California on I-15 to include a breakfast or lunch stop

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Time in the Vegetable Garden

by Celia Hayes

I look at the pictures that I took in the early spring, and I can hardly recognize my yard. A bitter winter freeze and various large and small animal depredations had pretty much laid waste to it for the last year or so ... but what a difference five months have made! And a half-truckload of free mulch. And $65 dollars worth of timber and hardware from Lowe's, and approximately $200 spent here and there, at the Antique Rose Emporium, HEB, and Sam's Club for vegetable starts and premium potting soil and one or two other essential items. Considering that these expenses were spread over four months and between two of us, it's not very much at all. The back yard garden looks good enough that I can invite

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Gov. Perry Renews Proclamation Extending Drought Emergency

Rick Perry, Governor of the State of Texas, issued an Emergency Disaster Proclamation on July 5, 201I, certifying that exceptional drought conditions posed a threat of imminent disaster in specified counties in Texas. 

18th day of May, 2012, Governor Perry renewed the disaster proclamation and directs that all necessary measures, both public and private be implemented to meet that threat.

This state of disaster includes the counties of Andrews, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Brazona, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Bumet, Caldwell, Callahan, Cameron, Carson, Castro, Childress, Clay, Cochran, Coke,

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Commemorating Armed Forces Day Message

May 19, 2012

Armed Forces Day is a special day assigned for the commemoration and recognition of military service member's unique and necessary sacrifices for the good of all. Observed every third week of May since 1949, the holiday continues giving people more insights and opportunities to realize how noble and how great the profession of the military is.

Thanks to all United States Veterans that have served, are serving and will choose to serve in the United States Military. US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Marine Corps and the US Coast Guard.

Thank you for your service!

SATXBlog Crossword Puzzle 9-"Classics"

Print and Solve the Crossword Puzzle #9. We also have a daily interactive crosswords puzzle, too!

"Classics?" by Myles Mellor

Across 1. Certain sandwich 5. Broodish 10. Sky box? 14. Celestial 15. City in Rio de Janeiro 16. It gets pumped 17. Classic film 20. Lt.'s inferior, in the Navy 21. Carry away, in a way 22. Floppies, e.g. 23. Ticket info, maybe 24. Floor items 26. Stephen King title 29. Threat word 30. Drink from a dish 33. Group of eight 34. Horned mammal 35. Old Italian bread 36. Classic film 39. Bolted 40. Lions' prey (pl.) 41. Great success 42. Load from a lode 43. Arctic sight 44. Underline 45. "Go ahead!" 46. Swaddle 47. "M*A*S*H" extra 50. Garlicky mayonnaise 52. Car accessory 55. Classic film 58. Carpet type 59.

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The Spur's Dynamic System

by Randy Watson

Who would have thought the San Antonio Spurs had it in them? Even with three future Hall of Famers on the roster, no one thought they would be this good. How many people wrote them off? They are pretty much the same team as last year, right? And the year before? What did they do then? Well, that does not matter exactly because they did not win a championship and they did not shine at all, certainly for anyone outside of San Antonio.

Well, how things have changed. Duncan is playing like he is still a college student at Wake Forest. Where did those energetic legs come from? Is it because Gregg Popovich (Pop), the Spur's coach, knows how to manage an NBA team? Or is it because Duncan decided to work extra

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The Beauty of Garden Ridge Real Estate

by Randy Watson

Located about 19 miles north east of downtown San Antonio, Garden Ridge is a serene bedroom community with about 3,250 residents. Situated in Comal County, it has all the amenities of the big city without the hustle and bustle. It is the perfect solution for families seeking a residence in a peaceful area with easy access to the big city. Commuting to the city is a breeze given the proximity of Garden Ridge to Interstate 35 and is a quick trip to the airport. Though only about a little over seven square miles yet still have numerous sub-divisions. Some examples of Garden Ridge real estate include: Georg Ranch, 7 Hills Ranch, Wild Winds, Park Lane Estates, Oak Meadows Estates, Forest Waters

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Happy Mothers Day!

Hi Mom,

Happy Mother's Day! Sorry, I am unable to be with you today, but I will see you soon.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers Everywhere! I love you!

I hope all Mothers have a great day!

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. - Jewish Proverb

The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.
~William Goldsmith Brown

M-O-T-H-E-R
"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.