A SELF-SUFFICIENT LIFE

April 27  - Yesterday we also visited Homestead Heritage Traditional Crafts Village. A traditional crafts village at Brazos de Dios of homesteading community, Homestead Heritage is a 510-acre community. This community is a Christian agricultural settlement. Brazos de Dios is the home for many farmers, craftsmen and their families. the aim of Homestead Heritage Farm is to demonstrate the possibility of deriving a family’s food needs from a small farm. At the same time, it serves as a teaching and research facility for homesteading subject and related essential skills. This place is a working homestead that consists of animal pens and corrals, pastures, a huge area for horse farming, a vineyard, berry patch, an orchard and almost everything you can see in a farm.

Homestead Farms Deli & Bakery features daily lunch specials, smoked barbecued brisket, deli-style sandwiches made with our original whole wheat breads and real homemade ice cream.  They even have wood-fired brick oven breads. The place was packed when we visited.

The Barn was built by Dutch settlers during the early 1800’s. The restored barn now showcases the work of our community craftsmen. This two-story Dutch-English structure stands as a unique testimony to barn architecture—its 200-year-old chestnut and oak frame still secured with the original hand-cut mortise and tenon joints, locked in place by oak pegs.

Inside you’ll find our handcrafted furniture and accessories plus hundreds of one-of-a-kind heirloom gift items—pottery, wrought iron, quilts, handmade brooms and baskets, mesquite shepherd’s lamps, wooden cutting boards and spoons, oil lamps, beeswax candles, natural soaps, needlework, original watercolors, cards, children’s storybooks and homesteading how-to’s as well as Homestead Farms specialty foods and Homestead Gristmill Baking Mixes.

Paul loved the ceiling. He said he could live in this place.

It had so many neat homemade items.

Wow…this took Marsha back to her earlier days. She used to love making these. How many of you had made these for your mom and every relative and friend you had?

Neither of us ever heard of this. Do you?

They did have homemade brooms.

Now here is the real dozy. We have never heard of pine needle baskets until Marsha started to make them. Just guess what they had here…YEP…pine needle baskets. They were really nice.

The Potter’s House was filled with beautiful pieces of pottery all made right in this building.

The Gristmill had millers who operate the water-wheel-driven mill to produce fine flour for baking. The gristmill is housed in the 1750's timber-framed "John Mott Mill."

Recycle pond water is used to run the water-wheel.

For those who love woodworking, Homestead Furniture provides an opportunity to watch the experienced craftsmen and their apprentices to demonstrate carpentry skill.

They have a beautiful garden.

We found a gentle pair of mules that Paul couldn’t resist to touch.

Marsha could.

They also had a Heritage Furniture, Silversmith, and Fiber crafts. It was a wonderful visit. One of those “must see” places when visiting Waco.

Thanks for stopping by, Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!

SUSPENSION BRIDGE AND THE CATTLE DRIVE

Tuesday, April 26 – We moved to the Northwest today to Waco, Texas. Boy, Route 190/Hwy 6 is a FABULOUS highway. Smooth as glass. Made riding in the motor home a real treat. Texas highways continue to impress us.....heck with the interstates!

A balmy 95 degrees today in Texas......YIKES!!! We were concerned about leaving Livingston yesterday due to the threat of bad storms in the direction we were headed. Unbelievably, the Livingston area got hit by bad storms and even a tornado sighting was reported. Thankfully, no real damage at the Escapees Rainbow's End Campground. We didn't get a drop of rain or any big winds in College Station. Funny how these storms are hitting some places pretty bad and missing others completely.

We left College Station this morning and drove about two hours to Waco. We are spending at least two nights at the I-35 RV Park. It is just a few miles past Waco in Elm Mott, TX. We think it is overpriced but the cheapest in this area. They do accept most club discounts, and they do give free WIFI. The sites are all gravel and a bit too small. Our pull-thru is long but narrow.

Looking down our street.

Other way.

We have been in a lot of parks but never saw a pet washing station. Great idea for those of you who have dogs.

We did some sightseeing in Waco this afternoon. We stopped at Waco's Suspension Bridge.

Driving the herds from the immense south Texas ranches up the Chisholm Trail, cattle drivers came to Waco seeking the safest crossing to ford the wide Brazos River. By 1870, those hooves marched across the newly opened suspension bridge. Today, it is a tourist attraction closed to all but pedestrian traffic and is now a National Historic Landmark.

Looking back at the counter weights.

Paul explaining to Marsha how the bridge is suspended by the cables.

Marsha can’t even get her hands around all the cables.

When built, it was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi.

There is a beautiful sculpture at the entrance to the bridge. It represents the cattle drivers of old.

There is a River Walk along the Brazos River. We walked just a short ways. It was too hot to go too far. As we went under one of the bridges we saw this cute little family.

But they were being attached by these…

Paul had to run over and chase them away. He is such a hero!

We had a terrible storm this evening. We had golf ball size hail. Tons of lighting and thunder. We had  winds gusting over 50 mph. Really scary!

We also visited the Homestead Traditional Crafts Village but will tell you about that in the next blog.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!

GEORGE H. BUSH PRESIDENTAL LIBRARY

Monday, April 25 - Time to pull-out of Escapee Day's End. One last picture of the RV port being built across the street......It's done but the owners haven't moved back in yet.

We headed west to College Station, Texas. We are staying overnight at Primrose Lane RV Park in nearby Bryan, TX. This isn’t the most beautiful of campgrounds but the price is right…$14/night, Passport America discount. The pull-thru is really long but are a bit unleveled. The hostess was really nice and helpful.

A bit tight on the passenger side.

Looking down our road.

Our way out.

First stop is the George H Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

What a beautiful facility and surrounding grounds here on the campus of Texas A&M.

It was a bit breezy for our visit. Notice the flags.

Pond out back.

This sculpture is called The Day The Wall Came Down…A Monument to Freedom done by Veryl Goodnight.

The exhibit galleries trace his life from his years as a young boy, to his years as a Navy hero and world leader.

While exploring the museum, we viewed a real WWII Avenger Torpedo Bomber similar to the one flown by President Bush during the war.

His was shot down in the Pacific. There is a replica of his Camp David Office,

the Oval Office,

and the Situation Room where Desert Storm was directed.

The museum spans a total of 17,000 square feet. With fascinating exhibits documenting George Bush's leadership during times of crisis, including the reunification of Germany, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the Gulf War. The importance of family, friends and politics are a part of the museum's colorful story, while the overall theme of the museum is the nobility of public service exemplified by the lives of George and Barbara Bush.

Remember this famous jump on his 80th birthday.

You can explore items ranging from a 1925 film of George Bush's first steps in Kennebunkport, Maine, to records and memorabilia from his tenure as the 41^st President of the United States.

We saw this flyer from one of his campaigns. Read what they were serving. Sounds like our type of party.

Paul is giving up on his bid as President. He will be making his announcement some time soon.

Both of us couldn’t resist telling George how they felt about his Presidency. Marsha seems to using a little of her female persuasion.

Paul is just telling it like it is. George seems to be taking it well.

In addition, a special section is dedicated to former First Lady Barbara Bush. There is a special display titled “The Heart Truth.....Red Dress Collection. This is a display of red dresses worn by famous ladies in honor of Ladies Heart Disease.

The one is front is Michelle Obama, and the one next to her is Roselyn Carter.

Barbara Bush and Laura Bush

Marsha didn’t know this display was here but wore the right color for the visit.

The Bush gravesite is on the grounds. One fact that neither of us knew was that George and Barbara lost their daughter, Robin, at three years old to Leukemia.  

We spent several hours in the Library and could have easily spent several more hours----I think Marsha was being kind to Paul and avoided reading EVERY WORD of EVERY DISPLAY!!! Thanks Marsha! Ha! Ha!! We enjoyed our visit and would recommend to if you're ever in the Texas A&M area.

We visited the Texas A&M campus but will report on that in a future blog.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!