Winter Getaway - WACO, TX TOUR

I'm sure that ten years ago, most Americans might have immediately thought of the Baylor Bears when the name WACO was mentioned...but nowadays it is all about MAGNOLIA.  Bill and I prepped up for this town- we both read the Gaines' book, Magnolia Story, but mostly we watched EVERY episode (sometimes several times) of their HGTV hit, Fixer Upper.  You must understand that Chip and Jo are household names in our home!!  The book was readable and seemed authentic, quite truly a "rags to riches story" with lots of hard work and faith involved.

So, rather than waste any more time in College Station, we kind of hightailed it to Waco on a sunny Monday, just to get a headstart!
The original Magnolia store that Jo opened before their success, had been sold some years back, but then re-purchased by the Gaines so is now used to sell the most recent seasonal stock at 50-75% off.  So glad we started here- I found a $5 Christmas ornament and a $9 Magnolia wreath vine. Unfortunately, we somehow locked the keys in the van in that parking lot...but, no worries, that small detail did not de-rail our fun!






We next headed to Harp Design and the home that Chip & Jo renovated for Clint's family.  Because of the tourists, the Harps eventually turned this home into a rental for the very tourists that kind of drove them away!!  Below are some of the other spots that we drove past: the recently purchased Cotton Land castle, not yet renovated; Hillcrest Estate, now an Airbnb named Magnolia Stay; the McGregor Airbnb, Magnolia Bed & Breakfast, which included a refurbished ranch for the caretakers shown on an early season episode.  Apparently the caretakers did not have enough to keep them busy so the B & B is on its own... except for the gardeners and housekeepers who keep it in tip top shape!! It was so charming.  Adding to its charm is the fact that Jo's mom prayer-walks the property several times a week (that fact was shared by the local antiques dealer!)



 

Our final "find" was to drive past what we thought was the Gaines home as shown on the show...but later found out that they now live at a different farm/home (which appears to be a pretty well kept secret from the tourists).  The original no longer had the "Magnolia" over the entrance to the driveway, but did have security cameras and was well fenced.

 

Winter Getaway --- A PEEK AT OUR PAST PRESIDENTS

As we zipped west out of San Antonio, I busily looked for a state park in the Johnson City area, so we could get up early for the LBJ Ranch (another highly recommended spot!).  We found a lovely campground in Blanco, the cleanest state park bathrooms EVER!!  And several other "finds" along the way!!

 

We found this delightful donut shop...it happened to be the 2 year anniversary of Mom's death, so I ordered a chocolate covered long john, which was her favorite. The young gal asked what type of filling and she "custom made" my order by adding the white creme ...the best EVER because she added so much creme that it felt like it weighed 3 pounds...Whipped creme and frosting make every dessert better!!!!!!!

 

The LBJ ranch was a great look into a president that I had considered a bit blustery and harsh.  The Vietnam War exacted a toll on him, and the many other programs that he worked on became secondary in the minds of most Americans.  As with most presidents, his re-charging came from the time spent at this Texas White House (HOME) in the Hill Country of Texas.  He conducted cabinet meetings here, and added an airstrip....because he needed to be on THIS LAND in order to ponder, rest and make difficult decisions.  I knew his huge contribution was initiating and signing the Civil Rights bill into law, but what I didn't realize was he also passed the Clean Air Act, Headstart, Indian Vocational training, Medicare & Medicaid and many others.  He cared deeply about education reform, perhaps due to his schoolteacher mother's great influence on him.

 




 


 This is still a working ranch, with Hereford cattle throughout the 1500 acres.  This steer is a descendant of LBJ's original herd!! The Johnsons donated the ranch to the National Park Service in 1968, several years before he died.  Because Lady Bird was fully involved in the preservation and beautification of America's National Parks, it seemed a fitting tribute from them to the country they loved.

I mostly loved seeing a different side-- a personal side to this crusty ole Texan and his soft-spoken, but strong, wife.









We then charged on to College Station, with a brief Sunday off at a not-so-great private park.  College Station, the home of Texas A & M, houses the GEORGE H. W. BUSH presidential library.
Again, what a well-kept and impressive look at this gentle man and his feisty wife!  Although their party loyalties were different, the Johnsons and Bushes had a lot in common:  loving America, loving Texas, working extremely hard, giving back to their communities, down to earth.

Throughout the library, I was struck with the many profound quotes by both George and Barbara.  He was known for his many letters to his wife, his kids and his grandkids...but she also loved to write.  My strongest take-aways from this excursion:  their 72 year love story, their affirmation of one another, their ability to laugh at themselves and at the weaknesses so often pointed out in the media (there is a comical video clip of conversations with Dana Carvey and others with George explaining why his characterization of him isn't correct), the many charities that Barbara worked on behind the scenes.  I was struck by the vast differences in almost every way when compared to the current occupants in the White House.  This was a great tour.

 

 

 

This quote so struck me, kindness and gentleness is also much needed in our world today.

Winter Getaway: SAN ANTONIO, TX

After pulling into Travelers World RV resort, we immediately hopped on our bikes to get a feel for the area--the 5 mile long downtown riverwalk actually extends five extra miles in each direction, so it was accessible right at our campground!  Who knew?  I love when God gives us little perks like that!
The recently renovated lounge area at the campground was lovely, so we spent a little time in the coffee bar area, just to get out of the rain on the second day.  We actually took the metro downtown, purchased riverwalk boat tour tickets...and it started to rain; so we hopped back on the metro, shivering and shaking in the 48 degree temps and arrived back before noon.

Day 2 brought sunshine for the metro ride!

The refurbished coffee bar with famous Cowboy photos & decor.

In every city we visit, we try to listen well to the locals and "grab the gusto" for the best things to see and places to eat.  The Riverwalk and the 5 local Missions were our hotspots.  Because the rain dampened our enthusiasm (Haha!) the first day, we only got to 2 of the 5-- but enough to gather the overall idea of the importance that they played in this early culture.

Mission San Jose:

 

 


I wonder if the nomadic Indians, who had been fending for themselves for many years, living on their own terms & with their own cultures....appreciated this intervention by the Franciscans or if they resented it?  As in all things, there were positives and negatives... they learned new skills, but their lives were governed by the ringing of the bell and the dictates of the priests.  The day we visited, there was a funeral happening in the chapel area--each of the missions in San Antonio still function as places of worship, wedding celebrations and funeral memorials.

Mission Alamo:

Original cannon from 1836 Battle of the Alamo

 



The Texas 'Live Oaks' (pictured above) are like no oak tree in Michigan- their branches fan out & a kid could spend hours climbing, daydreaming and reading! 

This famous spot is most known as the place where Santa Anna slaughtered almost 200 Texians with his army of 1800 Mexicans.  However, before it became a Texas military outpost, it had been a mission similar to the others surrounding San Antonio.


 

The Riverwalk is pretty amazing...the planning and execution of a 15 mile stretch, with 5 miles of hotels, restaurants, boutiques, sidewalk vendors, museums, and attractions in the downtown area is pretty mind boggling.. and it began in 1938 with the passage of the Mayor's bond issue that raised funds to empower the "San Antonio River Beautification Project".  I love the creativity that began a project like this...hurray for Main Street Otsego's desire for our riverwalk area!

Loved the Mexican flair!

 

 
This recommended Steak House (from our Boat Tour guide!) provided Bill with a delicious steak and me with a Grilled Pineapple Margarita!!

San Antonio was prepping for a Mardi Gras Parade, so we were happy to scoot right out of that area to make way for the revelers!

Winter Getaway --Thoughts about Family

Growing up in a lower middle income family didn't seem like a hardship because almost everyone in our small community was in the same boat.  We carried our lunches to school.  We rode the bus.  If we got in trouble at school, we were immediately in trouble at home. My sister and I sewed a lot of our own clothes and  shared a bike.  Frugality was a part of our lives, but my parents instilled so many values and happy memories in us that we mostly did not mind that we didn't have much.  From Dad we received:  work hard, persevere, enjoy family, be a good neighbor, "listen to the news and think through the issues".  From Mom:  work hard, be kind, honesty is the best policy, honor our Flag, "my job is to do the work in the house..your job is to work at school in order to go to college".

And these are only the tip of the iceberg.  As I look back I so value the larger issues: their full acceptance of each person that was added to our family (via marriage and parenting), their sacrificial support and investment in all of  our activities (how many band instruments did they purchase? how did they do that?), their modeling of family priorities--consistent card-playing nights with their sibs, Mom's weekly Thursdays with her sisters, and especially purchasing the tiniest little place at Sandy Pines to enjoy the extended Knight family and to make memories for all of us.

I am me...by God's design and by my parents love and input.  I miss them.