IN TEXAS

WHEN WE LEFT LOUISIANA WE WENT TO SPEND A COUPLE OF DAYS IN DALLAS TEXAS. WE VISITED MY COUSIN BETTY AND HER HUSBAND GEORGE. THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.  WE HAD DINNER WITH BETTY;S DAUGHTER( MY SECOND COUSIN OF COURSE) WENDY. HER DAUGHTERS JAMIE AND MEG WERE THERE ALSO. WHAT A NICE FAMILY. I AM BLESSED WITH GREAT RELATIVES. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD A TOUR OF DALLAS. WENT TO THE TEXAS SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY,TOOK LOTS OF PICTURES AND TOURED THE MUSEUM. WE SAW SOUTHFORK AND THEN WENT TO DINNER. THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW IN FRISCO CENTER WAS FANTASTIC.
   WE HAD TO LEAVE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING TO GO TO ARLINGTON TO PICK UP A NEW TOW BAR FOR THE CAR. THEN WE DROVE 500 MILES TO EDINBURG TEXAS.  WE STAYED AT THE LAZY PALMS RANCH. IT WAS JUST A PLAIN OL CAMPGROUND.  WE FOUND THAT EVERYTHING DOWN HERE IS A RANCH.  IF YOU OWN A HOUSE LOT OR 10,000 ACRES IT IS A RANCH.  THE WEATHER WAS GREAT. COOL NIGHTS AND WARM DAYS. LOTS OF FIRE ANTS,SNAKES AND DUST.  WHILE DOWN HERE WE SAW A COUPLE OF WILDLIFE PRESERVES AND WENT TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND.
   TEXAS IS VAST AND DRY. WE BOONDOCKED IN SANANTONIO AND THEN WENT TO TERLINQUE. THIS IS A SMALL ONE HORSE TOWN. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK IS HERE. THE PARK IS IMPRESSIVE. SHADES OF BROWNS AND REDS AND YELLOWS. HIGH MOUNTAIN CLIFFS. WE SAW ONLY 2 ROADRUNNERS WHILE WE WERE HERE. WE WILL SPEND CHRISTMAS HERE AND MOVE ONTO TUCSON.  THERE IS A DROUGHT HERE AND THERE IS NO WATER IN ANY RIVER EXCEPT THE RIO GRANDE.  WENT ON A BACK ROAD WITH THE CAR. WAS PRAYING THE WHOLE TIME THAT WE WOULD MAKE IT.  I WILL GO TO CHURCH , AND I WANT TO GO TO CHRISTMAS MASS. THE CLOSEST CATHOLIC CHURCH IS 67 MILES AWAY. BETTER BRING A LUNCH. 
TEXAS IS NOT ALL FLAT, BUT YOU CAN DRIVE FOR MILES AND MILES WITHOUT SEEING A HOUSE OR EVEN ANOTHER CAR.  IF SOMTHING HAPPENED IT WOULD BE HOURS OR EVEN DAYS BEFORE YOU WERE HELPED. NOT A PRETTY STATE BUT VERY IMPRESSIVE.

MORE PICTURES OF DALLAS. SCULPTURS IN BUSINESS DISTRICT OF CATTLE HERDING. ALL LIFE SIZE.

MORE PICTURES OF LOUISANA AND TEXAS

THESE ARE SOME PICTURES OF LOUISANA AND TEXAS.

LOUISIANNA

WELL WHEN WE WERE IN MISSISSIPPI WE DROVE EVERYWHERE. WE WENT TO THE JOHNSON SPACE STATION WHERE A REPLICA OF APOLLO 13 WAS. THE SPACE STATION WAS AN EDUCATION CENTER. THEY SHOWED WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BE FOR THE SPACE PROGRAM. THE STATION WAS NEW AND WAS DEDICATED BY FRED HAIZE FROM APOLLO 13.
   WE ALSO DROVE ALONG THE BEACH. THERE WERE SCULPTURES FROM A LOT OF DEAD TREES THAT WERE KILLED BY KATRINA. A LOCAL ARTIST CARVES LOCAL WILDLIFE FROM THE BRANCHES.
   AFTER 2 WEEKS IN MISSISSIPPI WE WENT TO LOUISANNA.  WE STAYED AT OPELUSASIS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEN WE MOVED TO POUCHES FISH CAMP. OREANA LOVED THIS PLACE. THERE WERE FOUR MAN MADE LARGE PONDS THAT WERE STACKED WITH LOTS OF FISH. THE BIRDS WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. EGRETS, BLUE HERONS, GREAT WHITE HERONS, IBSIS DUCKS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.  WE SAW LOTS OF SUGAR CANE, WE WENT ON SWAMP TOURS. LEARNED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN  A BAYOU AND A SWAMP. SAW ALLIGATORS AND THERE WERE A LOT OF DUCK BLINDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE.  WENT TO SEE EVANGELINE,S TREE. LOTS OF FRENCH DOWN HERE. STREETS WERE NAMES RUE,S ETC.
  WENT TO MELROSE PLANTATION ON THE CANE RIVER. LOTS OF HISTORY. 300 YEAR OLD TREES WERE EVERYWHERE. THE PLANTATION WAS A SMALL CITY IN ITSELF. EACH HOUSE HAD STORAGE( THE AFRICAN HOUSE) THE WEAVING HOUSE, THE SMOKE HOUSE. THE SCHOOL HOUSE THE SLAVE QUARTERS, STABLES, REPAIR HOUSE FOR BIGHOUSE AND FARM REPAIRS. IT WAS A REAL EDUCATION HOW PEOPLE LIVED YEARS AGO.
  WE WENT TO ST AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH WHERE THE WEDDING SCENE FOR THE MOVIS STEEL MAGNOLIA;S WAS SHOT.

  WE THEN WENT TO NATCHITASIS LA.  THERE WAS A SMALL POND AT THE COUNTRY LIVING CAMPGROUND. SNAKES ALL AROUND AND THE POND HAD 2 ALLIGATORS. NATCHITASIS HAD A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS. THE DOWNTOWN WAS LIKE A SOUTHERN NEWBURYPORT.

MISSIPPI

WELL WE RODE FROM FLORIDA TO MISSISSIPPI,WE SAW LOTS OF LARGE OAKS AND SOME PECAN TREES ALONG THE WAY. THE OAKS WERE SPRED OUT LIKE ARMS,DECORATED WITH SPANISH MOSS, WELCOMING US ON THE JOURNEY. WE DROVE OVER BRIDGES THAT SPANNED LARGE RIVERS,TRIBUTARIES AND BAYOUS.
WE PASSED BY BILLBOARDS AS POPULATED AS ALABAMA OR MISSISSIPPI ITSELF. THEY TOLD US OF CASINOS AND PLACES TO EAT OR REST OUR HEADS.
   WE ARRIVED AT THE WOODLAND FARMS CAMP IN THE AFTERNOON. CHARLIE WAS THE OWNER ,HE TOLD US ABOUT THE AREA, AND THE CAMPGROUND. IT WAS SET ON 5 ACRES OF LAND THAT SHOWED THE PRODUCTS OF CHARLIE"S LIFE.  THERE WERE LOTS OF CHRISTMAS TREES, BLUEBERRY BUSHES AND HOLLY SHRUBS. A LARGE HAY FIELD AND A SMALL MUDDY POND.  HE TOLD US TO WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES,WILD HOGS AND MAYBE A BEAR. WE DID NOT SEE ANY OF THOSE WHILE WE WERE THERE. EVERYDAY WE WOULD WALK AROUND THE FARM, OREANA WAS VERY ALERT TO DANGER, OR WE WOULD LET OREANA RUN LOOSE. WE WOULD FIND EVIDENCE OF DEER AND THE SCAT OF A LARGE ANIMAL, BUT NEVER SAW ANYTHING.
   I WENT TO SEE BEAUVOIR, THE HOME OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. THIS AND MANY OTHER HOMES WERE DESTROYED OR DAMAGED BY HURRICANE KATRINA. THE DAVIS HOME WAS RESTORED NICELY. IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE IS A SMALL CEMETERY WHERE ARE THE REMAINS OF THE CONFEDERATE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, JEFFERSON DAVIS AND SEVERAL CONFERATE SOLDIERS,WHO SPEND THEIR LAST DAYS AT BEAUVOIR HOUSE. WHEN MR. DIED THE HOUSE BECAME A RESTHOME FOR CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS. THEY ARE ALSO BUILDING A PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOR MR DAVIS, IT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN FEBRUARY OF 2013.
   WE OFTEN WALKED BEACHES OR NATURE TRAILS. THE BEACHES OF LONG BEACH WERE DOG FRIENDLY. OREANA HAD A GREAT TIME IN THE GULF WATERS AND CHASING THE BIRDS. WE WENT ON THE TUXACHANIE TRAIL, IT RUNS THROUGH FOREST AND BAYOUS FOR 21 MILES. WE ONLY DID ABOUT 4 MILES,BUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

   THE TREES ON THE BEACHES THAT WERE KILLED BY THE SALT WATER OF KATRINA LIVE ON AS BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURES DONE BY DAYTON MILLER.

BOY OH BOY HAVE WE BEEN BUSY! WE BOONDOCKED IN GLADYS GEORGIA AT A WALMART. IT WAS GREAT. LOTS OF WALKS, WE SAW A CAT AND A KITTY THAT WAS ALL BY THEMSELVES. MOM WENT IN THE STORE AND BOUGHT FOOD AND MILK AND FED THEM. THEN THIS LADY CAME AND PICKED THEM UP, AND TOOK THEM TO A SHELTER. I WANTED TO CHASE THEM BUT MOM SAID I WAS TO LEAVE THEM ALONE,THEY WERE SICK.
THEN WE WENT TO PERRY,WE STAYED A WHOLE WEEK. MOM WENT TO A PLACE CALLED ANDERSONVILLE. IT WAS A PRISON DURING THE CIVIL WAR. SHE LIKED THE PRISONER OF WAR MUSEUM A LOT. SHE SAID THERE WERE MILES AND MILES OF COTTON FIELDS AND TONS OF PECAN TREES. WHY WOULD SHE BE SO EXCITED ABOUT LITTLE WHITE BALLS AND NUTS?  WELL WE TOOK LOTS OF WALKS, MET LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS TOO.  SOME PEOPLE JUST DO NOT LIKE BIG DOGS. I HAVE NEVER HURT ANYTHING. SOME HUMANS GRAP THEIR DOG AND RUN THE OTHER WAY. WHY?  LOTS OF WALKS IN THE WOODS. I SAW A FUNNY THING IN THE GRASS. MOM LOOKED AND SAID IT WAS A SNAKE SKIN THAT A 4 FOOT SNAKE SHED. IT LOOKED FUNNY-EYES AND ALL.

THEN WE WENT TO LAKE CITY FLORIDA, THEN TO FORT MYERS FOR 2 WEEKS. I HAD A GREAT TIME. THERE IS A DOG BEACH!  I HAD A GREAT TIME IN THE WATER, RUNNING AND PLAYING WITH THE OTHER DOGS. I RAN AND JUMPED. ONCE I JUST JUMPED IN THE WATER, BOY WAS IT DEEP. I WAS SO SCARED, MOM HAD TO COME AND GET ME, I JUST COULD NOT MOVE.  WE WENT TO THE BEACH A LOT. I HOPE WE CAN DO IT AGAIN SOON.  MOM AND DAD HAD A GOOD TIME TOO. DAD WENT TO THE CORKSCREW WILDLIFE SANTUARY. MOM WENT TO THE EDISON/FORD ESTATE.  WE ALL WENT TO THE DING DARLING WILD LIFE SANTUARY. THAT WAS FUN.

PLATING CATCHUP

WELL A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I LAST BLOGGED. WE SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS AT AUNT MARY LOU AND UNCLE JOHNS. I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THEIR NEW DOG LADY. WE RAN AND RAN. I LIKE EVERYONE THERE, UNCLE JOHN CAN BE REAL FUNNY,BUT HE WOULD LET US DO A LOT OF THINGS. I HATED TO GO BUT WE HAD TO GO TO AUNT CAROL'S AND UNCLE ROLLIE'S. I MET A LOT OF DOGS AT AUNT LOU'S BUT THERE ARE NO DOGS AT ANUTIE CAROL'S. THE BIG CARTIER GOLF GAME TOOK PLACE BUT I STAYED HOME WITH DAD. HE BROUGHT ME TO THE COOKOUT LATER TO MEET EVERYONE,THEN WE ALL WENT TO UNCLE DICK AND AUNT MILLIE'S TO TALK TO CINDY AND JASON. WE WENT HOME LATE BUT LEFT EARLY FOR PENNSYLVANIA.  WE SLEPT AT WALMART THAT NIGHT AND CRACKERBARREL THE NEXT.  BOY I HAD A FIELD DAY WITH THOSE PARKING LOT SNIFFS. THE NEXT DAY WE STOPPED BY TO VISIT A FRIEND OF MY MOM. SHE IS VERY SICK.  THEY LET ME STAY WITH THEM WHILE THEY TALKED, LAUGHED AND CRIED.  THEY HUGGED AND SAID GOODBYE. FROM THERE WE SPENT TWO DAYS AT AUNT DOT AND UNCLE BILLIE'S . I HAD A BATH AND MY TOENAILS CLIPPED. TOOK SOME NICE WALKS. AUNT DOT GAVE ME A NICE YELLOW STUFFED FRIEND THAT I CALL SHORTY. I LIKE SHORTY. HE IS SOFT AND NICE TO CHEW,I SLEEP WITH HIM EVERY NIGHT NOW.  THEN WE STAYED WITH UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT STORMY.  THEY ARE REAL NICE AND LET ME ON THE SOFA, THEY HAVE A REAL BUSY DOG BY THE NAME OF IZZY. SHE WAS VERY SMALL, SHE WANTED TO PLAY BUT I WAS AFRAID I WOULD HURT HER. WE DID RUN AND PLAY IN THE YARD. WHEN WE LEFT THERE WE ROAD AND ROADUNTIL WE GOT TO CHEROKEE VIRGINIA.  WE STAYED ON A CHEROKEE RESERVATION. THEN WE LEFT FOR PERRY GEORGIA.

MAINE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE

WELL FROM BETHEL MAINE WE WENT TO HARRINGTON,TO THE SUNSET HILL CAMPGROUND. I LIKE THAT PLACE RIGHT AWAY. THE CAMP WAS RIGHT ON THE BAY. MOM AND I WALKED ON THE TRAIL THAT WAS ON THE ROCKS. THAT WAS GREAT BUT SEEING THE BALD EAGLE HAVING LUNCH ON THE ROCK NEXT TO US WAS AWESOME.  WE DID A LOT OF HIKES. I LIKED CADILLAC MOUNTAIN THE BEST. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY SNIFFS. MOM WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE VIEW.  IT WAS BLUEBERRY TIME, LOTS OF WORKERS IN THE BLUEBERRY FIELDS PICKING THE LITTLE BLUE PEARLS.  MOM AND DAD STOPPED AT THIS BUILDING THAT LOOKED LIKE A BIG BLUEBERRY AND GOT PIE-TWICE. I HAD A GOOD TIME BECAUSE I MET AN ITALIAN GREYHOUND-HE WAS A DOLL.  MOM HAD LOBSTER THAT THE OWNER OF THE CAMPGROUND COOKED.  SHE SAID IT WAS THE BEST. THEN WE HAD TO GO.
WE WENT TO POLAND SPRINGS. IT WAS OK. I HAD FUN IN THE WATER BUT THAT WAS IT.

THEN WE WENT TO A PLACE CALLED SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN.  IT WAS A SMALL CAMPGROUND BUT IT WAS NICE.  WE HAD A PLACE RIGHT ON THE LAKE.  THERE WERE A LOT OF FROGS.  THEY WERE VERY BIG- AND LOTS OF THEM. ONE JUMPED OUT OF THE WATER AND I THINK HE WAS CHASING ME.  WE ARE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WEEK THEN GO HOME TO HAVERHILL TO AUNT MARYLOU AND UNCLE JOHNS.  THEN WE ARE GOING OVER TO AUNTIE CAROL'S AND UNCLE ROLLIE'S-YEA AND YIPPEE!

TRAVEL-TRAVEL-TRAVEL

WELL A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I LAST WROTE. I AM GOING TO TRY TO CATCH UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WRITE BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD NO WIFI STUFF. MOM AND DAD GET ANGRY BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CAMPGROUNDS SAY THEY HAVE WIFI BUT YOU HAVE TO BE BY THE OFFICE OR IT IS ONLY GOOD AT 3AM. THEY DO NOT TELL YOU THIS UNTIL YOU ARE THERE. BOY HAVE THEY LEARNED A LOT SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD.
WHEN WE LEFT BOWLING GREEN WE DROVE ALL DAY AND ENDED UP AT WHISPERING WINDS IN SHEFFIELD PA. THE PLACE STUCK US IN A DARK ,CROWDED HOLE WITH NO WIFI,OR TV. THE BUGS WERE SO BAD YOU COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE HOUSE ON WHEELS. WE DID GO FOR A WALK THAT NIGHT.  LOTS OF DOGS AND PEOPLE WITH NO TEETH.  MOM SAID TO DAD,"IF YOU START TO HEAR BANJOS RUN!".

THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE THE NEXT MORNING. THEN WE DROVE ALL THE WAY TO SNED ACRES IN ITHECA NEW YORK. THAT PLACE WAS GREAT. WE MET A MAN WITH LOTS OF GREYHOUNDS. THEY GAVE DAD A PAPER WITH ALL OF THESE GREYHOUND CONVENTIONS. I REALLY LIKED MEETING OTHER DOGS JUST LIKE ME. WE WENT ON LOTS OF TRAILS, SAW LOTS OF WATER FALLS. GOT SMART WHEN WE WENT TO A PLACE CALLED CORNELL UNIVERSITY AND WALKED IN THE GARDENS. HAD A CONFUSING ENCOUNTER WITH A CHIPMUNK. HE WON.  MOM WAS HAPPY GOING TO ALL THE WINERIES. SHE STARTED TO HAVE A GLASS OF RED WINE EVERY NIGHT. SHE SAID IT WAS GOOD FOR HER HEART. I THINK HER HEART IS AS GOOD AS IT IS GOING TO GET.AFTER A WEEK WE WENT TO VERMONT. ABEL MOUNTAIN. WE HAD A GREAT TIME PLAYING IN WATER AND CLIMBING MOUNTAINS. THE THINGS YOU CAN SNIFF THERE. WENT TO FALLS LIKE TEXAS AND MOSS GLEN.