Without going all the way to France, you can see some of the beautiful French Impressionist works by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne. Mexican graphics by Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros are there.
The "Water Lilies" by Renoir occupied a large wall space.
In the patio where one strolls by pools floating with water lilies and brightened by gold fish are many statues. One in particular we photographed the "War Mother" representation of a woman holding a child, the latter so thin his ribs show. On the face of the woman a tear and the signs of suffering, this by Umlauf.
Another beautiful piece looms behind a smaller pool where a fountain plays from the mouth of a lion.
Mary Boone Lowry Ervin, who helps as a volunteer, a docent, is prepared to lecture on the various exhibits. She showed me around the beautiful place.
The McNay was once the home of Marion Koogler McNay, who left her home, 23 acres around it, and her art collection for a museum. The Spanish Colonial Revival mansion was the work of Atlee and Robert Ayers. The tile work in the exterior and interior is wonderful. Austin Highway and North New Braunfels is the address, or 6000 North New Braunfels.
About Mary Boone Lowry Ervin, we learn that one of her ancestors was frontiersman Daniel Boone.
Over lunch at Earl Abel's she told me a story I had never heard before. In the late 1880s, there was an Indian attack which caused some people to climb the tower at Christ Church Episcopal in the 1600 block of Farragut to view the battle.
Earl Abel's has been opened since 1933, and the clientele for the most part would date from way back. At one table was a birthday party, cheered by the waitresses gathering to sing "Happy Birthday."

More about Mary Ervin
Born in Laredo to Dr. Ruby and Dr. Willis Lowry, Mary Boone graduated from Martin High in 1949, then attended Sullins College in Virginia and Southern Methodist University, where she took her B.A. degree. Her M.A. is from Laredo State, now TAMIU.
Mary Boone was married to Kyle Ervin, successful businessman, now deceased. They had one daughter, Tracey, now Tracey E. Garfano; she and John ranch on the Sabinal River in the Hill Country. The Ervins moved to San Antonio in the 80s.
There Mary Boone is a member of Christ Church Episcopal, serves as Bible study teacher for Thursday, and teaches Bible to eight-year-olds.
Though she lives in San Antonio, she is still a member of the Lucy Meriwether Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She helps in the Naturalization Ceremony for new Immigrants. On Friday, July 26, she went to Laredo for the admission of 240 new citizens at the Laredo Civic Center at which they were given a small American flag by the DAR. She is also a member of the Society of Martha Washington.

A visit with Sara Leal Cavazos
Ever since my coming to San Antonio in December, I have wanted to visit Sara Leal Cavazos, my classmate from old Laredo High in 1927.
Then in July, Nelda Drury née Guerrero took me. Sara is just as enthusiastic about life as ever even though she sits in a wheelchair because of arthritis in her knees. Wonderful to see her.
Married to Amado Cavazos, the right-hand of the late H. B. Zachry, she honors Amado's memory, showing his book written about Zachry and Amado's home office full of photos and many plaques celebrating honors. They moved to San Antonio in 1952.
Her very pleasant home in northeast San Antonio is well kept by an excellent housekeeper. Hovering over her is her daughter Sally Kavenaugh, who is her mother's constant companion.
We looked over La Pitahaya of 1927 and recalled events of our youth. Of the graduates only Ezequiel Salinas, Angelica Farias Gonzalez, Virginia Bayette Puig, and I are left.
Sara graduated from the University of Texas and taught at Urbahn School.
As we ate some ice cream, we looked out into her back walled garden. There innumerable mocking birds fluttered around a bird feeder. To see Sara so completely satisfied with her wonderful life was a somber pleasure indeed.

Great to know
Nelda Guerrero Drury
Red and green skirts swirling, castanets clicking, heels pounding to Mexican music -- that is my earliest memory of who immigrated to San Antonio though her formative years and first position were in Laredo.
Nelda is the daughter of Adelfa Gonzalez, sister of María and Aminita Gonzalez, the latter two prominent LISD teachers.
After earning her B.A. in physical education from the University of Texas, she headed the girls Physical Education Department at Martin High, then the only high school in Laredo, in 1940-42. She left to study at Columbia in New York where she earned an M.S.
From 1952 to 1982 she taught folk dancing at San Antonio College. She now helps at the Folk Culture Center of Our Lady of the Lake University.
She has had many honors from the dance world but the latest was the Heritage Award from the National Health Physical Education and Dance Association. At this she was given a scrap book filled with congratulatory letters from other dance enthusiasts and teachers.
Her son, Jimmy Drury, is a retired accountant who now teaches violin and piano. Her daughter Elizabeth lives with her in her spreading red brick home in Castle Hills.
Recently she invited to lunch, which she prepared, her good friends Estela Zamora Kramer, Mary Elva Cruz, Kramer's weekend guest, and your reporter.
Mary Elva retired from teaching at Cigarroa, we learned.
Also arriving to visit was long-time friend Sarita Ligarde Gilbert, of Cuesta, New Mexico, and her daughter. They had come to attend the wedding of the late Honore Ligarde's granddaughter in Austin on Saturday.
Nelda showed us a multiplicity of dance costumes, which she has collected on her round-the-world travels. She has taught folk dancing in Japan, and in many other countries.
Though retired, she is a board member of Dance Umbrella and Texas International Folk Dance, and on the Council for International Relations and council for Foreign Visitors.

Estela Zamora Kramer shines
She has given her life to the youth of Laredo and now she flourishes in the love of her three children, Betty, John, David, and Walker (Gogi) here in San Antonio.
Estela, daughter of the late Arnulfo and Hermina Zamora, graduated from Martin High a year ahead of her class. She graduated from Texas Women's University, majoring in physical education and dance.
Even at 16 she was teaching swimming at the Laredo Boys Club. She organized a dance precision team at Nixon, the Golden Spurs, the first of its kind. Through the years the Spurs performed as ambassadors to Canada, Mexico, and Washington. She designed their costumes, which are still used. Later she organized the Silver Roses, the dance team of Cigarroa High School. After she retired in 1987, she substituted at Blessed Sacrament School.
Her awards have been numerous; named to the Women's Hall of Fame, the Latin American Hall of Fame, she made the Congressional Record, having been nominated by late Rep. Abraham Kazen. The Jaycees, LJC, KLAR, CYO, Tecolotes, and Nixon High School have all given her awards.
A member of the San Fernando Cathedral congregation, she enjoys living in San Antonio, first with Betty, who is with the San Antonio Health Department, and soon with her son Walter, who works with the San Antonio Independent School District. They will live in a garden home settlement off Blanco Road.
She has Laredo visitors often: Mary Elva Cruz, Cynthia Rodriguez, Suzy Shaffner, Sammy Johnson, Delia Zamora, and Tweety Salinas. Yes, it's great to find Estela and to know her once again. She was my student.
Sea World a must
If you come to San Antonio, take time to visit Sea World. You will be amazed at the wonderful performance of the whales.
These are not the huge gray whales one sees cavorting off the coast of New England. They are smaller with black and white coloring like a man wearing a tuxedo. They cavort, performing marvelous feats, such as lifting up the trainer high on their snout. They do routines in unison like ballet dancers. How a man can train them is a marvel.
The vast park, planted in flowers and shrubs, was full of people, most of them with children in tow. In our party were four generations, I, the eldest at 93; the grandparents, Jean and Walt Kittleson of Huntsville, Alabama; Dr. Scott and Virginia Lynn, the latter my granddaughter, who brought along a little red wagon for their young daughters, Isabelle and Emma, to ride in while two-year-old son Henry rode their shoulders. I rented a go-cart which is motorized as there is much walking. Here the Budweiser horses that appear every year in the Washington's Birthday Parade in Laredo are housed. These monstrous animals are worthy advertisements for the Budweiser Company. One views porpoise in a huge outdoor pool and the aquarium. Fun rides for the youngsters entertain the crowds. The company operating the amusement park also has a day camp business for children.

Happy birthdays
What a great birthday party Josephine Brand had in 1999 when she was 90. Now she and Leah Longoria celebrated birthdays together with a recent luncheon in the Laredo Country Club inviting their bridge group. After vacationing in Vail, Colorado, Linda and Seymon Deutsch and family returned hone to celebrate Josephine's 93rd birthday.
Congratulations to Sammy Johnson, who celebrated his 75th in June with one of his fabulous parties. Since the night was a scorcher, each guest was given a fan. There were tables spread in white linen where many guests assembled. The patio was still warm. Among those reporting on it were the Glassfords, who since have gone to attend the 65th reunion of Chris' graduating class in Peoria, Illinois, and Mildred Reyna and daughter, Judith. She wrote of a shower at Jan Little's home for Courtney Kriewald, who will marry in August.
Nelda Guerrero Drury and I were going down to attend but my cough was too bad to do any celebrating.

Veronica sends a novel
Veronica Castillo, who sent me a delightful book, At Home in Mitford, about an Episcopal minister, writes about the newly hired superintendent of schools for LISD to replace Paul Cruz, who has gone on to greener pastures. Dr. Barber's father and grandfather were superintendents. The latter was also a Church of Christ minister.
About the Jan Karon book, yes, it was easy reading. The main character was a minister. Only someone who really knows the life and problems of a minister could have written the book. For Bible students, the inclusion of appropriate Bible references is pleasing.
Veronica, please check to see if students are still given scholarship grants from the Elizabeth Sorrell fund. (You know that LISD and the Laredo Times combined to give me a grand send-off when I retired from the Times eight years ago.) By now about 16 grads would have been awarded scholarships.
Emelia García writes about her son Eddie and his wife Berta. They have recently returned from Spain where they attended the international Rotary Convention. Their younger daughter is attending Texas A&M University. Her sister works with the A&M Alumni Association. Emelia, Mary Solis, and her cousins the Saldañas, enjoyed a dinner together recently.
Jan Witt, an artist who once lived in Laredo, and her husband John recently moved to San Angelo from Del Río. Her visitor recently was Marilyn de King, former Laredoan, who had been living with her daughter Megan in Honduras.
Mildred Reyna writes of the visit of Catherine Kemper, once secretary to the late Elpha Lee West at the then-Junior College.
From Connie Miles, secretary at Christ Church Episcopal, comes news of the dinner given there for Wilson and Liz Harris, who are retiring and who also celebrated their anniversary recently. I will always remember the beautiful oil painting of Wilson's two family members, young boys, who later served in the Civil War, one not surviving.
Great to see Philip and Dorothy Lane, who were in Helotes visiting their son Larry and his wife. Philip retired from TAMIU and Dorothy retired from nursing. They plan to move from Laredo to Helotes to be nearer their son.
E.H. Corrigan has the most exquisite touch. In the pamphlets given out at the funeral Mass for his sister, Mary Alyce Corrigan, he produced a work of art: her photo in color on the cover; the organ music of Ray M. Keck and the solo of Timothy Jones of San Antonio, accompanied by Fritz Gechter on the piano, made the event memorable. The mass by Rev. Monsignor Stanley Sliwick, assisted by Deacon Larry Sandlin; Anna Escamilla and Fredericka Yates Johnson, eucharistic ministers; Julie Staggs and Doris Valls presenting the gifts; and Anita Rothwell, daughter of the superb Mary Alyce, giving family remarks.
I think it was Gallsworthy who wrote of a glorious funeral. This was one and afterwards E.H. in his hospitable manner, invited those attending to his home.
Aaron Collazo, who was en route to a youth conference in Wyoming, visited St. Francis Episcopal Church in San Antonio on recently and there he was assisted by Susan B. Hardawat, finance office for the Diocese of West Texas. He brought your reporter greetings from the Rev. Sherridan Walker.
From Washington, where she and Rosemary Contreras went to a DAR National Convention, Julia Muller Ruhlmann sent a card depicting the National Cathedral. She wrote that this church took 83 years to build. It is the sixth largest church in the world.
Hellen Keller, famed nurse, and two of her nurses, are buried here. They also visited the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials.