MANSION

today we headed off to the melrose mansion...the early ones who owned it made their money on cotton and also had several other "HOMES" in the area...most interesting to see and the furnishings were 90% of the owners..we also found out what antibellium means regarding houses it means built before the civil war...so when you heard about an antibellium hose it just means that it was built before the civil war..and i thought it ment more than that ..

we toured the gardens and you can see spring is on it's way..beautiful flowers and grounds..alotf of southern homes have wonderful looking lawns and gardens..

we then walked around town and there isn't much to town just like alot of old towns most of the stores are in malls and on the outskirts of the city limits...

tomorrow heading out...

PICTURES

OK THE PICTURES DIDN'T GO WITH THE MESSAGE SO I AM TRYING AGAIN

TRACE NATCHEZ TRAIL

we are now in lousianna and right across from the mississippi is the trace natchez trail...we are camped along the mississippi river and in a couple of mintes we can be into mississippi...we spent yesterday doing part of the trace and going to indians mounds...today we are going to go to at least one of the antebellum houses that are all over the area...there are lots to go thru but we just figure if we do one that we have done about all of them...how much different can they be...

the weather sure has taken a turn..the night before last a strong t/storm came thru and dumped lots of rain in the area (texas needs it) and the temps hardly reached 60 not what we've been used to the last few weeks..today it is suppose to maybe hit 65...

friday we plan on traveling along the trace natchez trail and it goes all the way to nashville..we have a map that tells us all there is to stop and see along the trail and if we do it all it will take us a month or more..lots of things to do alongthe way...it is also arre understanding there is camping along the trail but it is primitive so guess what NO wi-fi-electric-etc but that wil not be a problem

RELAXING SUNDAY

we decided to sleep in this morning so we were up by 7 am...just because we culdn't sleep any morre...but we had a long breakfast then decided to go take a ride around town and to find a ghost town that i found to visit in the area...it sure was a ghost town alright..the only stuff there was an old cementry...so we walked around and i found some relatives...anyway they had the last name of my grandmother tracy...MITCHELL yep i also know we had a dog by that name...

then we looked more at texas a & m stopped at lar's favorite store a $store and he bought all kinds of treasures...

then lunch at sonic it was ok..

on to another $ store and back to the rig by 3pm...so it has been a relaxing sunday

SATURDAY

so her we are in byran, tx near college station where texas a& m is and also the george h w bush library and museum is...so off we went to the museum and to take a tour of the college...big football stadium now when we watch a game on tv we can say we've been there...there was a soft ball game gooing on but we did not attend..

spent 5 hrs or more at the museum and NO we did not see it all nor did lar have a chance to read it all...not enough time and way too much to read..interesting to read about the history and the happenings in our life time..some we remembered but other we did not...after reading we each said oh i didn't remember that...also in the museum there is a traveling exhibit of red dress...why red dresses you might ask well it is to make us aware of women's heart disease...the red dress is one of michelle obama...lots of red dresses of celebrities and first ladies...most interesting....

we toured around the campus and it is kinda like most college campuses...a clock tower--foot ball stadium--base ball--

not sure what we are doing tomorrow but checking out more of the area...weather is still over 80 and we are enjoying more of texas..we had thought of going to the blue bell ice cream factory but it is not opened up on the weekend so i guess that will have to wait for a return...don't have time to do it all

THURSDAY THE 24TH

OK SO SHERE WE ARE AT THE ROUND ROCK AGAIN BUT THIS TIMEWITH CATHY AND FRANK...READ MORE INFO oops about the trail that went thru here many moons ago...again a very interesting...

started off the day by cutting lar's hair...we got all set up and away i started after the first couple of cuts i looked at the hair clipper and guess what it was just on the blades...NO guard on it...i laughed and said i've got to keep going and lar said doing what...i told him i goofed but it will grow back...so lar how has a real buzz cut....and he says he likes it...but it is 80 most days here that might change by the time we get back ti ithaca and it is colder...

then last night over to matt and lindsey to help celebrate linds birthday...matt made a delicious meal of chicked marsala--roasted potatoes--and a spinach-squash-onion salad mmm good then the dessert was a ice cream cake that matt had made...out of mint cookies that were bought from a girl scout...great meal and then it was time to return to the rig and crash...

TWO DAYS

WE HAVE MET UP WITH FRIENDS BSACK HOME FRANK AND CATHY...WE SPENT 2 AND 1/2 DAYS WITH THEM AND OF COURSE WE HAD FUN...ON MONDAYEVENING AT DUSK WE WENT TO SEE THE BATE FLY OUT FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE AND THEY PUT ON A SPECTULAR SHOW...MILLIONS OF THEM AND I MEANT MILLIONS OF THEM....

THEN WE WENT OVER TO VISIT MATT AND LINDS FOR A WEE BIT oops...tues we got up and it was sightseeing day...went to the see the round drock and where the shisom trail coame thru r/rock...after that we had some oh of course we had to stop at the round rock donuts...cathy just had to have one..or she might have gotten depressed and lar sure didn't want that ...after we each hadsome errands to get done...

back to the campground wher e frank was going to cook dinner but first we all went geo-cacheing and matt joined us...we found 5 hidden treasure so it was asuccessful hunt...frank went on line to fdind out the park has around 30 or more hidden...dinner was delicious..

today we are in the laundry mat frqnk and cathy are heading east and tonight we will hel;p celebrate kinds birthday...more pictures to follow when we have good wi-fi

WEEKEND

well we finally met up with roy and carol along with aaron...on sat we had a sightseeing day..we went to aaron apartment where they all were then off to the alamo and the river walk after that we had dinner at a german restaurant mmm good...then it was time to go to a rodeo...after which there was a band and dancing...NO we did not dance not what we are used to do...mush quicker and not quick quick slow slow that we know...just quicker quicker and even quicker...but lots of texan dancing young and old...

on sunday we headed off to fredericksburg and a walking tour around the streets...a wee bit of wine tasting ...then on to LUCKENBACH for some music and a beer and the chickens running around..

now it is time to move on to the ariginal salt lick...a long wait but some good food...we have eaten at the salt lick in round rock but this one is different...the food cooked the same and the wait staff serve the same but the feel of the place was different...we waited for an hr or so but it was worth it...then back in the car and headed back to home and the rig...a long day but lots of fun and being with good friends...o forgot to mention that aaron brought along a HUGE cinnamon bun for coffee and buns before we started this adventure....

today on to round rock and meeting up with cathy and frank for a couple of days and the truck hopefully gets fixed...from ther ae aren't sure...thinking of heading to college station and the george bush library....the wild flowers are beging to pop up all over but no BLUE BONNETS yet...

LAST DAY OF THE BUILD

the last day again was a hot day but we all wanted t see the house sided or at least one side we almost did that...but due to cuts around the window we didn't get it done...the back is done to the peak and the one side is done to the last 3 boards...oh i know whjy didn'yt we finish the last 3 boards---it was hot 95 windy and we needed to all get back to our rigs to clean uo for the farewell dinner...we feel good that we got as much done as we did... and feel that the next 3 week build the house will be ready to be moved in...

today we are on the move --down to san antonio to meet up with roy-carol-aaron...for a couple of days --then back to round rock where the truck has an appointment to get the part that was ordered 3 weeksa go when we were there and the part wasn't sent...

LAST DAY IN MASON

today is the last building day for us here in mason....it has been a good build and we are exhausted 3 weeks of this kinda of building might be a tad too much for us as we are getting older...but we have seen alot done and the happy faces of the family make it all worth while...

yesteray i was again on th siding crew and we almost have a side done...we seem to have a system and it goes on..we all have a part of the job and the women seem to all work together NO cat fights yet ahahahhaahha...

tonight we have are farwell dinner and not sure where that might take place but it will be a good time i'm sure....everyone is i think ready for some R&R as i know we are...just a day or 2 of not hving to be any where etc...maybe even sleep till 8 or ahahha now that is daylight saving time the sun dosen't really come up till after 7:30 here...then just to have a leisure cup of coffee will be good...i have missed watching the news in the evening but for watching it at night not really...we have watched a few dvd but for the most part it has stayed off...it is now time to go start the last day here in mason..will we come back for another build right now i'd have to say "YES" but that weill only depend if we can get scheduled into it...enjoy your day...

HUMP DAY

yesterday at the work site we were split up into 2 groups as there was more painting to be done and he cabinets had arrived and needed to be put together and siding-roof azt the site...lar and i stayed at the work site...the morning was kinda misty just a light drizzle most of the morning and the sand just sticks to your feet ugh...lar finished up the soffets work and i helped start the siding...then off to lunch and after lunch the roof started being put on as it the sun had come out and dried up all the rain ahhaha...

then we had been invited to go off to another ranch to see some long horn cattle and meat goats and we wer alson on a mission to get some mesquite wood for my brother dan...

as you can see we did see long horns and they came right up to us surprising they are very gentle but i sure wouldn't want to have them at my back...the ranchers name is curtis and born texan and this was the family ranch..he dones not live on it now just goes to check his live stock daily.....then off to find the goats...w3hich we did..he has 2 dogs that guard the goats from turkey...they don't even have to be trained to do it they are just bred to guard again very gentle anilmals which curtis comes to feed them daily after they eat and get petted behind the ears they are off to do their work...

a very interesting day but long as we didn't get back to the rig till 7 and it was time for a shower-sandwich and bed...

time to start another day...

TORTILLA NIGHT

last night was tortilla or soft taco night...there is a lady who makes the tortillas and everyone brings somethng to go in them anything you might like in yur taco...we even had goat..and one of the pictures is that of some goat with the old goat...i also took tortilla making lessons...reminded me of making crepes-pancakes-or something you roll out then pout in a hot fry pan..no oil in the pan...we used a mix as BEA says it is as good and easier and beside less calories...

anyway a fun night lots of laughs and good food again...

the house is sure coming along the siding has started to being put on and the tin for the roof came yesterday so today will be a busy working day...the house is really coming topgether and we would very much like to be here for the finished product but our plans do not have us here...what plans you say...

on sat we are heading tp the san antonio area to meet up with roy-carol-aaron for w few days..aaron has lots of stuff planned for us to do and see so we are going to be busy tourists instead of workers....then after on to round rock wher we may meet up with frank and cathy--take to truck to the dealer to have a new on star put in to maybe correct the cruise control problem..see matt and lindsey and who knows what else...from there we aren't 100% sure what direction we are heading...we have tossed around a couple of ideas and which way to wind willtake us ---so when the time comes we will know...soon it will be time to start heading nor'east...on my then that means that spring is on it's eay and we need to be home....cause is woon will be time to hunt turkeys....

WEEKEND OFF

we sure have needed a weekend to recoup from all last weeks building..even talked to a couple of others and they feel the same way exhausted...yesterday we atarted to go to our laundry in mason on,y to find the laundromatt closed sooo---we had already decided to go to fredericksburg for the say and decided why not take the laundry with us as they must have some place we can do it...yep they do...and it was next to a donut shop..now who likes donuts...so it was agood place to do laundry..

after whcih we walked the streets of town..came to a shop that had free samples of all kinds of stuff...and so we decided to try as much as we wanted --peanut butter-jellies-sauces-pickles of all kinds-more dips-and hot stuff...now i like hot sutff but lar took a taste of the really hot stuff and has sufferd ever since...he broke out in a sweat and caughed and carried on for awhile...me i was ok

sunday we started off by going to church then after lunch and some socializing we took off on a ride to the bat cave in town..where millions of bats breed and come out at sunset..(it is not the time for them now not for another month)..we found the country road that takes you to the cave but it was nothing but a washboard road and i mean washboard road..after about 5 miles on it and we came to a sign that said bat cave 5.8 miles we decided to turn around as our teeth had already been chattered to death by now...interesting country side..we crossed the llano rive which the james river runs into it..a very pretty river...

back to the campground for a hike around some visiting dinner and almost time to go to bed...

tomorrow starts week number 3 and to tell you the truth we could be on our way as it has been a very busy week and some long hrs of building..good feeling that we have done as much as we have but still it has been very exhausting and the older we get i do think we are slowing done a tad...

pictures oriole nest above our rig

man cooking b-b-q mmmmm good

along the river

WWEDNESDAY

on wednesday i was o n the house wrap crew...and it was windy so we sure had a time of it trying to make sure there were NO wrinkles and i don't mean on our faces but the house...it took 6 of us to get a system to help put it on without the wrinkles but we did it...lar was on the rafter crew as there are still finishing things to be done with them before the soffets get put up...it is time for the windows and that might be today not sure...then the siding will go on..the house okught to have the windows-doors-siding before we leave..then the contractors come in to do the insulation and sheet rocking-mudding...the houses get spray insulation put in and i must say by the time that is done the house will be pretty draft free...the use of electric will sure be low....

the last night we were invited to the site supervisior...a great place in the woods and near a stream where we coud have gone to look for arrowheads and one of the girls found 2 but lar and i just watched...last night at the nightky boing presenation there was an extra award given...there are a couple of women who do the plumbing and the other day she was drilling a hole to pass the pipes and guess what she knicked one of the strung electric wires...she said oh ___________ so that of course got some of us thinking that she needed an extra award...good thing it was done at a place that the wire could be replaced without much trouble...

not sure what today will be for work but the house is resally getting exciting as a house and the family are ready to move in ...soon

FAT TUESDAY CELEBRATION

last night some of us went to the methodust church for dinner...it was a traditional meal...red beans with rice and sausage...ND OF CKOURSE DESERTS...it was a fun evening lots of laughs and good food..after which we came back to the rig and went to bed...this hot windy weather sure takes a toll on us northerns...we just aren't use to it...but we will by the time we leave here...

PICTURES FROM MONDAY

i hoe they go this morning...but only time will tell...del and margaret celebration
us being in jail... and the noose that was used to hang some bad person
nailing hurricane clips...working on the rafters