Festivals and Ice Cream

I am sitting outside at Lake Somerville as I write this.  It is Saturday afternoon and a very pleasant 72 degrees with a slight southerly breeze.  A lot has transpired since the last blog post and so I am trying to condense the events and remember details, as there is a lot of activity around me today.  With nice weather it seems this campground at Yegua (pronounced Yay’ wah) Creek Park is quite a draw.

There are a number of families gathered here this weekend.  This is quite a change from the norm during the week which sees mainly fishermen launching boats and only a few campers in the campground.  It is really buzzing today with bicycles, conversations and campfires.

We visited and toured the Brenham Creamery now known as the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory.  This was a tour we really enjoyed and are unable to share any photos with you as cameras are not allowed to be used during the tour.  We learned how the milk is brought into the factory and turned into ice cream while we were introduced to the various stages of production and watched the production lines filling continuous cartons of ice cream.  Not all flavors are made all the time.  There are seasonal flavors and rotational flavors in addition to the standard flavors made at the factory.  You can find these listings on their web site.  Of course, at the end of the tour, we were served a generous scoop of our choice.  A very nice way to end a tour in my opinion.

We had some rain this past week and so outside activities were somewhat curtailed.  We did manage a drive early in the week to explore the countryside.  We decided to take a southerly route to see what we could see.  Again we were not disappointed with the results.  We found ourselves on a highway through Round Top.  Matt and Rikki were down here to go to the annual antique show a few weekends ago.  Rikki mentioned it was big and she found out about it on one of her DIY type shows she likes to watch.  I asked her if they found what they were looking for and she told me they found some things but did not even begin to see everything.

I had a hard time understanding her statement, because every time I have attended these type events, I was able to see pretty much everything at the show.  After making the trip through Round Top, I now fully understand and believe her.  I don’t think you could see everything if you had two full weeks to look; it is that big.  Of course, it was all shut down when we rolled through but you could see the various venues, buildings, tents and display areas.  I cannot imagine the traffic jam and swarm of people that would show up at the annual event.  This will probably be a future stop for us and definitely is in the bucket list to revisit when the event is held again.

When driving through the area, we noticed the smallest church building we have ever seen.  Of course, this means stopping to get a photo.  So here is the "World's Smallest (Active Worship) Catholic Church."  The name is St. Martins and visitors are welcome. (That is what the sign has printed on it.)

After leaving Round Top, we found ourselves in La Grange.  Another place we have not been or seen before and was pleasantly surprised.  We found some very large older homes in the town itself and drove around looking at them.  The other surprise we had was when we turned the corner to see this tree growing in the middle of the street.  There was no explanation or plaque giving the reason why the tree was left and the street built around it.  There were only some warning signs located on each side of the tree that would illuminate at night when headlights shined on them.  Just one of the curiosities of life we find in our travels.

You thought I was kidding, didn't you?

View from around the corner.

Later in the week, I took advantage of our location’s proximity to visit Elgin, Texas.  The ‘g_i_n’ in Elgin is pronounced the same as in the word ‘begin’.  The reason for the visit was to do some genealogical research.  My second great grandfather, James Madison Quinn, moved from Tennessee after the War Between the States to take up residence in Texas.  He is the first Quinn in my direct line to make his way to Texas between 1865 and 1869.  Beverly and I spent part of the day in the local library, visited a historic train depot museum (that houses local historic documents and photos) and toured a couple of cemeteries.  The day was quite productive and fun for me as I learned new information and got to walk some of the same ground my ancestors walked.  I remarked to Beverly that doing genealogy research is a lot like a detective.  As you find information and answers to your questions, it invariably brings up more questions.  Oftentimes, these are questions that will never be answered.

Saturday found us sampling some local Bar-B-Que and then visiting a local festival.  This festival is located in a town of just 300+ people.  The town is Burton and the festival was the Cotton Gin Festival.  When we got up this morning, we had no idea we would see and tour a Cotton Gin that actually still bales one bale of cotton each year during this festival plus see an antique tractor pull.  Yes, you read that correctly, an antique tractor pull.  The only thing we missed (much to my dismay) was a performance from the Shiner (as in Shiner, Texas) Hobo Band.  We heard a little of the music as we passed by the tent when we first arrived but were drawn to the vendors, the cotton gin tour and the tractor pull before circling back around to the tent.  By the time we made it back, we saw them breaking everything down and storing it back into their buses.  Yes, two buses as there were probably two dozen band members.  Oh well, that goes into the bucket list too; to make a future performance of the Shiner Hobo Band.  (If this keeps up, I'm gonna have to get a bigger bucket.)

This year's 500 pound bale of cotton produced by this historic gin.

Hooking one up! ...And here we go!

Now I am back at the campground enjoying the ambiance and reminiscing over the previous week’s activities and sharing them with you.  Until next posting, keep on adventuring, for we will.

Bluebonnets, Bluebonnets and more Bluebonnets

We are still on the lookout for the tallest Bluebonnet (as previously reported in the last posting) ever recorded.  Luckily our intelligence sources keep providing clues as to possibilities.  Our latest location is near Spicewood, Texas in an area known as Muleshoe Recreation Area.  This is an area adjacent to Lake Travis in a spot controlled by the Lower Colorado River Authority.  Imagine our surprise when we topped the hill to take in this view.  (click the arrow to view the video)

According to our source, you can actually smell the flowers before you see them.  Since the wind was blowing rather strongly, we did not smell them before seeing them but once we made our way into the midst of them, we were enveloped in a smell that cannot be described but only experienced.  It was glorious to see the sights accompanied by the beautiful fragrance of all these flowers.  Since our mission was to locate the largest Bluebonnet, we drove through acres and acres of these bluebonnets but to no avail.  Even though our search was unsuccessful, we have experienced something beyond our wildest dreams with all these blooms.

After such an excursion, we were famished and decided we needed nourishment.  As we looked on our iPhone app to see what was around us to choose from we discovered an obvious choice after seeing so many Bluebonnets. Located just a few miles from the fields of Bluebonnets is the Bluebonnet Café in Marble Falls, TX.  It was as if a ‘sign’ was provided to affirm the choice.  So off we go to find this ‘landmark’ business that has been around since 1929.  One of the interesting phrases associated with this establishment is ‘Pie Happy Hour’ and you know that was enough to seal the deal.

Upon arrival (around 1 PM) at the café, it is determined this is a great choice according to the line waiting to get seated.  The line stretched out the door and was steadily growing in length.  In order to secure our place we hopped out of the car and hastily made our way to the end of the line.  We were not at the end very long as there were a number of folks with the same intent.  We spent maybe 30 minutes waiting before being seated.  Interestingly, this is what you pass right before you get to the point in the line where you will be seated.  You get to spend approximately five minutes in this spot surveying all of the possibilities.

Yes, that is super tall meringue on the pies.

Once seated, you are amazed as you watch this machine like performance of the workers as they steadily provide drinks, take orders, deliver food and slice the aforementioned pies to serve to the guests.  It is a well-oiled and practiced crew that can turn the seating over efficiently and keep that seating line moving at a respectable pace.  The food is fabulous too and the pie is delicious as well.  Unable to continue our search for the largest Bluebonnet (due to stuffed bellies and sleepy eyes) we managed to make it back to the campground for some needed rest.

See that guy staring at my pie, wishing he had a bite?

Lemon Meringue

During our stay at Canyon Lake, it was nice to catch up with folks from our past.  David and Sophie met with a former co-worker and caught up on what has transpired between the time they last saw each other and now.  Beverly and I got to meet her former supervisor and his wife at their Canyon Lake condo home.  After some very good directions we pulled up to a great looking place that was even nicer on the inside.  We had a nice visit and got to see their place with a view that was really outstanding.  We also encountered this friendly reminder during our visit to the lake and the dam.

  

As with all things, time moves on and we needed to do so too.  We left our recent home to head east towards our next destination at Lake Somerville just outside of Brenham.  This is our next destination in our quest for wildflowers, including the largest Bluebonnet on record.  Upon arrival at the park, we are pleasantly surprised about the beauty of the sites chosen online having never been here before.  We are not so pleasantly surprised to find out there is no water in the park and the distribution system is being repaired.  My comment to the gate attendant is for one day only correct?   Her response is, “We hope so, too!”  We had water by the end of the day and are very thankful we did not have to move.

Our first excursion into this area reveals many wildflowers but unfortunately, the grasses have grown up taller than the flowers.  Many spots have some beautiful fields of color that are all but obscured by the waving tall grass.  Oh well, we commented we have been blessed beyond measure as to what we have already seen.  Besides, we still have a Bluebonnet Festival to attend this coming weekend.  What better place to look for the largest Bluebonnet on record than at the festival celebrating Bluebonnets?

Before we make it to the festival, we have stopped to examine the first location of Baylor University at Independence, Texas.  Just down the street from where Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836.  This location is also close to where Sam Houston lived prior to taking up residence in Austin as President of the Republic of Texas.  The university was eventually abandoned when moved to Belton for the females and Waco for the males, eventually becoming Mary Hardin Baylor and Baylor respectively.  From there we pushed on to Washington-on-the-Brazos state park operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife.  Here we saw lots of historical sights and things associated with the birth of Texas.

Original site of Baylor

Flowers at Independence, Texas

Lutheran church built in 1860, addition on left was recent

Before heading back to the campground, we made our obligatory stop at Wal-mart to stock up on supplies once again.  It is tough having to rough it like we do.  Here is an example of one of our camp meals and just how tough we have it when traveling.

Baked Ham, Purple Hull Peas, Mac n Cheese, Rolls, Pickles, Iced Tea - This is roughing it!

The day has finally arrived.  It is overcast and threat of rain and thunderstorms so we head out early to the festival.  Not just any festival but the ‘official’ Bluebonnet Festival of Texas as designated by the Texas Legislature.  It is held on the second weekend of April each year at Chappell Hill, Texas right outside of Brenham, Texas.

51st Annual Bluebonnet Festival

Upon arrival, we head directly to the whirligig exhibit just inside the gate.  We could load up on these fun and animated by the wind objects but through great restraint just admire them and move on.  Now the same cannot be said about certain products encountered along the way.  Towards the end of the exhibits on Main Street, David and Beverly spotted a strange and unique sight.  It was a gentleman wearing an odd-looking apron (with a pattern resembling a Holstein cow) of black splotches on white background.

 

Like a magnet, they were immediately drawn to this odd looking sight and listened attentively to the sales pitch.  That was not their downfall, it was the next extremely smart marketing move employed by the gent.  He dropped some of the product he was hawking onto their hands and asked them to rub it in.  This they did obediently (since he had them in an almost trance-like state) and he began to close the noose, er I mean push for action on their part.  Being strong-willed our intrepid festival going partners resisted the urge to make a purchase and moved on.  However, this skilled peddler was not through with them by a long shot.  The product he was peddling and had liberally spread onto their hands was having the desired effect.  About a block later, the two of them had discussed the most economical means of obtaining this highly desirable product and had done an about face, double timing it back to the concessionaire’s location.  Here they are coming back, triumphantly showing the purchased goods.

Guess what we got?

Now what is this alluring, cannot be resisted product you ask?  Why it's Udder Balm!  Yes, that is correct ‘Udder’ as in a cow’s udder.  Of course that is part of the sales pitch.  “The balm that will make even a cow’s teat soft and just think what it will do for your skin.”  I am happy to report that it does make the skin soft and according to Bibi, makes her feel good.  However, I am not sure she appreciated my remark after caressing her skin, ‘that makes me want to milk your arm.’  I can say without hesitation that it is udderly fantastic as to how much fun I am having in describing this udderly wonderful episode from our udderly great travel adventures.  I think I will ask her to pass her udder arm to me so I can caress it too!

That is not the only strange and beautiful sight at the festival.  There were many things to see, including various live performances from different types of musical performers.  One of the most outstanding items was a huge, old house that was not part of the festival but belonged to a local resident.  This is a side view that shows its size, the manicured lawn and gardens.

Side view of house on Main Street in Chappell Hill, Texas

After leaving the festival, we decided we needed a pizza fix.  After consulting the iPhone app, we located a pizzeria and headed there to satisfy the urge.  There were other folks there and some we even recognized as having attended the Bluebonnet festival.  During the meal, Sophie announced she needed a new hairdo and was possibly entertaining trying the look sported by a lady in a booth close to our table.  From this ensued a very serious conversation between David and Sophie (as you can see in the following picture) about the ‘do’ under consideration.  You can see the ‘do’ in the picture immediately following the discussion picture.

David wants to know if she is serious about this potential change????

The DO - Please DON'T do the DO Sophie!!!!

Until the next post, let this thought (along with the udderly marvelous udder balm) dominate your every udder thought.

We found 'em...We found 'em!

One of our RV’ing buddies identified the unknown bird from our last post for us.  Sam tells us the bird is an Egyptian Goose.  According to his research it is native to Africa south of the Sahara desert which naturally brought up the question, ‘Are you sure you are still in Texas?’  Well according to all of our GPS devices, we are in Texas and we still recognize the language spoken and place names such as Poteet, Leakey, Medina, Albert.  You get the picture; the birds are way off course, not us.

We also found out the old sayin’, “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” is actually true.  It all started with deciding which desert to have first, Chocolate Pie or Banana Pudding.  Sophie had already laid out her pie crust to warm up to room temperature but Beverly had bought ripe bananas for pudding.  So a vote was taken and bananas were first due to ripeness and spoilage.  This created an issue for Sophie’s crust.  It had already warmed to a point where it was pretty droopy and needed coaxing to get into the pan.  Unfortunately, working with the crust in such a way created a hole in it.  In order to keep the pie contents in the crust and not let it seep outside and under the crust a fix was needed.

Leave it to David to find it.  Being familiar with all things mechanical, he surmised a patch was in order.  Very much like you would patch a hole in a tire.  So he reviewed the available items and came upon the idea that a soft flour tortilla would make an excellent patch.  Having not tried such a thing before, Sophie was obviously doubtful about this possible solution.  Unfazed, David blazed ahead and tore a piece from a tortilla and mashed it into place.  At the appropriate time, the pie filling was added and a meringue placed on top.  When it came time to cut the pie and serve it, David volunteered to try the patched piece.  Here is a picture of the slice, notice the patch sticking out from the side.  Amazingly, it worked and tasted okay for a flour tortilla crust in a chocolate pie.  Another amazing find in this journey we call life.

Tortilla patched pie crust

After this, I was feeling a bit shaggy and decided I needed to get spruced up a bit in the hair department.  We saw a haircut place in a building shared with a convenience store.  I thought that would do and I could go get some gas and watch the comings and goings of hair customers from a distance so I could determine whether the haircuts would be okay.  This was my plan until my 3 companions talked about the location and bad possibilities so long that I became paranoid and changed my plan at the last minute.  Instead I opted to look for a different location and barber.'

So we (Bibi and I) set out to locate a different option.  We drove past several that did not pass the 'smell test' or 'look test' only to find ourselves on Main Street downtown New Braunfels.  Well by this time I had become desperate thinking I would not get cleaned up after all and feeling despondent over this possibility, when all of a sudden this traditional looking barber pole literally appeared from nowhere.  In addition, there was a parking spot right in front of the shop.

Now many of you would say this is a sign or too much of a coincidence to be ignored.  I beg to differ with you as you will see from this tale.  After checking and finding they had time to give me a cut before they closed in 30 minutes, I decided to go forward.  Now this shop was a traditional old-timey shop with 3 barbers and a shoe shine parlor to boot.  I picked the middle chair (it was the only one open) and sat down.  My barber was nice enough and even asked how I wanted my hair cut.  I discovered later, it did not matter what I said or what I wanted, this is a one-style fits all kinda place.

The barber it turns out owns a farm in nearby Shiner.  That is where Shiner beer is brewed and he recommended I visit for a brewery tour.  I decided later that he hoped I would go and drink enough beer to not worry about how my hair looked after he cut it.  It did not take long to realize I had made a serious error in judgment and my decision process is flawed.  After a quick bing, bang, bop and thank you Ma'am you're through, I had been 'cleaned up' alright.

Here is where the trouble really starts.  It did not take long for the fun (at my expense) to begin from the same three people that scared me away from my first choice for a haircut.  One of them even took pictures of the result to send to her parents so they could have a real hoo-ha too at my expense. When I expressed outrage and hurt feelings about my predicament is when they all began to commiserate with me at the results of my haircut and tell me it doesn't look that bad and it will grow back out (in the next decade maybe) to try and make me feel better.  Next time, I stick with my original gut feeling and go with the convenience store barber.  Just sayin'.

Not happy, can you tell?

Grrrrrrr!

Now for some good news!  We are ecstatic.  We have officially been accepted into the highly exalted and exclusive organization of Wildflower Chasers.  Never heard of them?  Well they are similar to and akin to the other group you may have heard about called Storm Chasers.  These folks cast danger aside to wade into a good thunderstorm about to turn into a tornado.  Like our brethren, the Storm Chasers, we also cast danger aside to wade into a field of wildflowers.

Now before you dismiss this claim, consider the following.  When we get a hint of a potential sighting or a glimpse of color in the distance, we are off like a flash.  Speed and distance are not a hindrance to us.  With our emergency flashers on, we take the most direct and speedy route to the promising location.  Speed limits, traffic and sometimes roads do not get in our way to find our elusive and fleeting objective.  Once we make visual contact then things get really dicey.  The 'No Trespassing' signs and fences are nothing to us as we bust through anything and over anything to get to our target.  We have even stared down some of the most intimidating animals to get to the flowers.  Kicking aside rattlesnakes that are interfering with the perfect picture is nothing to a photographer.  This wild turkey is an example of what happens when encountering the Wildflower Chasers; the animals turn tail and run for the hills.

That's right turkey, take a hike and don't come back!

But I am getting a little ahead of myself.  Before we were accepted as ‘official’ wildflower chasers, we had to increase our knowledge.  We did this through a trip to Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center.  We marched along trails and besides numerous plantings of various native plants and species taking copious notes and pictures as we gained the knowledge necessary to be a part of the ‘official’ organization.  You not only have to have keen eyes and a keen mind, you must be up to the challenge physically.  The trail walking that day amounted to over four miles and we did not go down all of the trails.  Here are some pictures from the preparatory day at the wildflower center.  You will notice that not all pictures are of flowers.  There are many wildlife representations that one may encounter in the field and must be prepared to take the appropriate measures to get the picture of the wildflowers unimpeded by man or beast.

Making copious notes, observations and pictures as part of training

Physical Training required to become 'official' Wildflower Chaser

Some animals likely to be encountered, both large

and small

Flowers of all shapes and colors

some with their own butterflies

...in bunches

...flowering trees

...around the trees

...just trees, oops how did that get in here, this is serious business

Once we received the appropriate indoctrination we were prepared to take our field tests.  This came rather soon after the learning (which is good at our age) so our brains are still sharp enough to remember the scientific terms and the nuances of color associated with the various species.  It would be bad to fail because we did not properly identify the native species we were hunting, which is commonly called the Texas Bluebonnet by lay folks.  In the official circles it is properly known as Lupinus texensis.  Or even worse to get mixed up between Mealy Blue Sage, Perennial Lupine and Texas Bluebonnet.  Then don’t even get me going on the various yellows and reds you are likely to encounter.  Oh boy, the pressure is intense!

So off we jet to just south of Poteet, Texas.  We received accurate information from our sources where we will find the elusive wildflowers.  We are excited to test ourselves and are up to the challenge.  As we approach the area, we immediately know we have found the mother lode.  Fields of Texas Bluebonnets, Texas (Indian) Paintbrush, Missouri Primrose, Moss Verbana, Blanketflower and many more species present themselves to us.  Now mind you, these are not easily seen from the main highways but are much more abundant from side roads and back road trails.  So off we go to prove ourselves worthy of designation as ‘official’ Wildflower Chasers.  Here are but a few of the items spotted this day as proof of our successful test results.

Having passed the testing and obtaining our certificates, we set out on our own to fully test our capabilities.  Our first objective is the area known as Willow Loop north of Fredericksburg.  Two years ago we examined this area but without impressive results.  In fact, two weeks ago we surveyed the area and were rewarded with only one flower.  But now armed with the proper intelligence and knowledge, we discover the hidden beauty so often overlooked by the casual looker.  Here are but a few of the impossible to describe with words and hard to depict with pictures beautiful scenes discovered this day.

'Official' Wildflower Chasers

Another sighting was purported somewhat south of Kerrville and west of San Antonio.  Alas, much like our Storm Chaser brethren not every encounter with a storm produces a tornado.  So was our trip between Medina, Vanderpool and Leakey as it did not produce wildflowers.  What it did produce was awareness that Texas is a whole other country.  We saw terrain that we did not know existed in Texas and is very similar to that in Northern Arkansas close to Branson, Missouri.  There are lots of switchback roads climbing some very steep and tall hills in this area.  So different than the rolling hills commonly associated with the Hill Country and much different than the plains found in the Dallas area, it was not a wasted trip since we got to see a lot of amazing sights.

We are still on the lookout for the wildflower of all wildflowers.  Compliments of Texas Highways Magazine:  It's one of a kind, and a busload of Hill Country tourists were lucky enough to spot the Lupinus Giganticus, the largest bluebonnet ever to be recorded!  At 52 feet, this flower towers over neighboring oaks.  If you get any leads on its whereabouts, please call us.  We'll be on it in a moments notice.

After a hard days' work in the wildflower fields, we get to return to our home and witness sunsets like this. These trips and scenes make a very interesting and satisfying lifestyle.