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Revisiting the 2018 Memorial Day Shiner Picnic.

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We have attended many of these church picnics in past years and don't seem to get weary of driving 90 miles for lunch.  Well, its more than lunch, its to get revitalized on the norms of rural America, many  of the norms which seem to have been lost in urban areas.  This day, in Shiner, was the picnic sponsored by the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church.
This is no small production.  It is held in the American Legion Hall in Shiner.  Its a great place to have Memorial Day Picnic as this hall is a good reminder of the contribution the military people have made to the security of our nation.  Last year the church served about 10 thousand picnic goers.  This year the price had risen from $8 to $10, but still a bargain for this great picnic. Here is a photo of the picnickers inside the hall.

This is mainly Czech and German country with a dash of Polish.  They seem to enjoy their ethnic differences.  As we were in line, the ticket taker said to the man and woman ahead of us "I see that the Poles are hungry today".

We always look for a place to sit and have our picnic lunch near people that may prove to be interesting to chat up.  We picked an older lady who was just here to eat here lunch, then she was off to Hallettsville church picnic because they have a bingo game.  Then, a man a two women parked across the table from us and we chatted about a lot of things, from interesting places to visit, to the spices in apple pie, to green grape pie and on.  Then, two ladies sat next to Dee and we began talking about the children of today.  She was a teacher in the Richmond area and had many stories to tell on how the approach to educating  children has gone downhill these last many years.  Basically her point was that children now rule and parents and adults are then required to serve them as they please.  We seven at this section of the table made it clear that if we were in control all that would get reversed. As an aside, the lady across the table works in New Braunfels, the man in San Antonio but is ready to leave that crowded city and move to his farm in High Hill.

Outside around the picnic grounds, under a lot of good shade there were people milling about the various booths where people were attempting to sell their handiwork.



These people are not only on good terms with each other, but apparently they are on good terms with Heaven as well, as evidenced by this sign.


There is a large building, open on all sides, with benches on the perimeter.  In the center is  a bar in a closed rectangle, inside of which there is an box shaped island  filled with ice and beer--all kinds, you name it..

We were there about two hours, talked with a man who is a wood worker and selling the product of his hobby.  He rescues downed trees, saw them into slabs and makes various items, all nicely made and a good price.
On the way home, we stopped in the Exxon station near downtown and had coffee.


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