Texas Tuesday- Bluebonnets in the Spring

             

This is the best time of the year.  Easter has passed so that means spring is officially here.  The color blue is beginning to line our little country roads and big state highways.  I love it.  After feeling inspired by the beautiful drive this morning, I decided to dedicate today's post to bluebonnets!  Don't worry...I fought the urge to pull over and take selfie in a field of them this morning.

There are several family friendly festivals going on in the coming weeks.  I also found a map that combines bluebonnet sightings and wine tours!!!  Just click the links below for more info.

1.  Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival: April 11&12, 2015

2.  Ennis Bluebonnet Trail: April 1-30, 2015

3.   Ennis Bluebonnet Trail Festival: April 18&19, 2015

4.  Burnet Bluebonnet Festival: April 10-12, 2015

I also found a great website that reports bluebonnet sightings.  Go check out www.bluebonnetlove.com to report sightings near you or to find that great spot for pictures.  

Last but not least...  Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail

Wishing you all luck as you head out to find the perfect spot for bluebonnet pictures!

Hugs y'all!

Melissa

Texas Tuesday in a Small Town

This Texas Tuesday is brought to you by the small, quaint little town of Grand Saline, Texas.  As with most small towns in Texas, there is not much to it but it makes for a fun and low maintenance day trip.  We took the kids there during spring break this past March.  I wanted to go to the Pink Pistol in Lindale, the hubs wanted to check out a food joint (in the middle of nowhere) so we needed something fun for the kids.  We found it in Grand Saline!  Our first stop of the morning was East Texas Gator Farm.  The kids loved it!!  It is on a small farm off of FM 1255 so don't expect a "big hooplah" in the middle of town.  The best part is you won't go broke getting in!  I think it was around $20 for all 4 of us.  You enter in the gift shop which turns into a hands on exhibit.  There were several handlers allowing the visitors to touch and hold the animals.

(Check out Chief with some sort of horned toad looking creature)

Ok, so you've seen a cute kid and a creepy lizard; let's get to the real reason we went!  GATORS!!!

Yeah, they had big ones.  Since we went during spring break, it was still a little chilly that morning.  All the gators were out sunbathing.  Very cool!  There were also several other animals to look at like tortoises, lemurs and (yuck!) a llama or two.  We had pictures of the kids with those animals too but I did not feel like bogging the blog down with photos of my adorable kids!

A small thing you may or may not know about me...I enjoy the history of small towns...no matter how lame it might be.  Did you know Grand Saline sits on a huge lode of natural salt? So much salt that Morton Salt sits up shop there!  They even have a salt palace in town!   No it's not an actual palace but it is a neat little museum (free of charge but they accept donations) with sweet little elderly women eager to tell you the history of the salt mines.  The building is made of actual salt (with a sign that says do not lick the walls).  And yes, these two clowns licked the wall!  Apparently, there is Facebook page for the salt wall lickers but I have not gone looking for it!

Kiddos sitting with a GIANT chunk of salt!

While you are in town, you cannot miss out on a trip to Nutty's.  It sits right now from the salt palace in downtown.  If you want awesome (not just good) peanut butter, check this place out!!  I will drive 45 minutes and pay $8 a jar for their peanut butter.  It comes in many different flavors but my favorite is the chocolate marble.  We first visited this place back in November during a basketball tournament weekend.  The hubs and I knew we had to make a stop when we went back through in March.

Now that I have given you a little rundown of what fun there is to have, get off the computer, pack up the kids and go!!

Hugs y'all!

LSG

Texas Tuesday- Stonehenge, the Texas edition

It's been a while since I have written a Texas Tuesday blog.  But I thought now would be a great time with summer coming up and families going on trips.  Our family likes to take weekend road trips in the summer, usually centered around food.  We leave out early Friday with a loose adgenda for the weekend.  While on the road, we google things to see in small towns, stop and check them out. Last summer, we headed to Frederickburg with places we wanted to see along the way.  A few nights before we were set to leave, the hubs found this little gem outside of Kerrville.  I am afraid to fly so there is little chance of me going to visit the real Stonehenge.  But Stonehenge II...that's a easy drive. (especially if you are in the passenger seat!)

This little roadside treat was started by 2 men and a leftover piece of stone from a patio makeover!! The actual site the monument was built on was one of the men's land near Hunt, Texas.  It was moved to Ingram, Texas about 20 years ago.  It is complete with the head statues that are so famous!

And yes, if you were wondering...my 7 year old son did find it hilarious to pick the statue's nose. I mean HILARIOUS!

When you finish up checking Stonehenge II out, drive back into Kerrville and eat at Billie Jean's.  It sits along the river providing beautiful scenery while you eat.

Hugs ya'll, 

LSG