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Texas!!!

Well, it has been 30 years since I lived in Dallas, and already I realize how much I really miss it! The people are so friendly! It is so big! Downtown! There is so much to see, and there is so much going on all the time! The roads are amazing! And there is always new construction going on everywhere!

The Lone Star State
 
 

You know you are in Texas when you see…

Catfish King in Tyler
Fried Catfish, just like Mary Jean remembered!
Awesome Whataburger!
Classic Grandy’s!
Grandy’s Chicken Dinner
Grandy’s Fried Chicken

First stop: Tyler, Texas

So 31+ years ago at this venue…
…Here Comes the Bride!
At our wedding there was a water fountain where this brick wall is now.
  
Tyler Rose Garden
Tyler Rose Garden
  
Monument to Tyler native Earl Campbell, who played high school football in Tyler, college football at the University of Texas, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1977, then a hall of fame career in the NFL for the Houston Oilers. I met him at a club in Houston in 1984, and saw him play near the end of his career, for the New Orleans Saints vs. the Cowboys.

Downtown Dallas

Dallas skyline from the southeast.
Dallas skyline from the west.

Globe Life Park at Arlington, Home of the Texas Rangers

  
  
  
   
  
  

AT&T Stadium, Home of the Dallas Cowboys

  
  
  
  
  

Texas favorites at Campfire Grill Texas Country Kitchen

Texas Country Fried Steak!
Pulled Pork

Happy Birthday to me!

I have a milestone birthday, so I thought it would be cool to take a road trip to Charlottesville, and review a little history and have some fun. So the plan was to take a tour of Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello, eat lunch at Michie Tavern, then take a tour of James Monroe’s Highland, then finish the day with a wine tasting and birthday cake at nearby Trump Winery.

Here we go…

Monticello

Monticello was the home of Thomas Jefferson, author of The Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States. We had a guided tour of the house, and we were able to walk the grounds to see the outbuildings and take in some beautiful views.

Monticello
Monticello
Monticello
Monticello
Monticello
Monticello
The garden
The view from Monticello
The view from Monticello
Jefferson’s Phaeton
Kitchen
Smokehouse
Spinning room.
Slave quarters
Grave of Thomas Jefferson

Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the
Declaration
of 
American Independence
of the
Statute of Virginia
for
Religious Freedom
and Father of the
University of Virginia

Jefferson wrote the text for his monument. Interesting that he chose to not mention that he was the third president of the United States!

Lunch at Michie Tavern

Michie Tavern dates back to 1784, and they have a colonial/country style lunch buffet. So we feasted on fried chicken, baked chicken, pork barbecue, mashed potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, beets, blackeyed peas, cornbread  and biscuits.

Lunch
At Michie Tavern
Michie Tavern
Room in  Michie Tavern museum
Room in  Michie Tavern museum
Revolutionary War era flintlock musket on display

James Monroe’s Highland

James Monroe, our fifth president, lived here, near his good friend Thomas Jefferson. The house Monroe lived in no longer stands, but there is an outline of the foundation of that house. Monroe practiced law in Fredericksburg, and I have toured his Law Office and Museum many times over the years.

Outline of the house Monroe lived in.
This house was built in the 19th century, partially on top of the location of Monroe’s house.
We had a guided tour of the guest house, which contains many items owned by the Monroes. Photography was not allowed in the house.
300-year=old tree in the front yard.
Bust of James Monroe. There is also a bust of Monroe in the garden to the rear of the James Monroe Law Office and Museum in Fredericksburg.
James Monroe Statue

Tasting at Trump Winery

To close out our day, we went to the Trump Winery for a private wine tasting. And to celebrate the day with some Wesley-made birthday cake.

Thanks to Wesley for the cake, and thanks to all my family who came to make this is special day for me!

MAGA + Trump Winery
The countryside is spectacular.
View from the winery
View from the winery
Vineyard themed cake
The Cru is the only wine I liked.
Goodbye, 50s!
A topical gift!
Waiting for our tasting room.

32 – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, a fifth cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt, was our 32nd president. He was the only president to serve more than two terms. He was elected four times, but he died early in the first year of his fourth term, April 12, 1945. He served from 1933-1945.
FDR’s Hyde Park home
Front view
The view from his front yard.
FDR Presidential Library and Museum.
FDR’s Oval Office desk.
The Bible FDR used all four times he took the presidential oath of office.
Freedom sculpture on the grounds. At the base, the freedoms named are Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Want, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom from Fear.
Displays in the FDR Museum
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Typical 1930s kitchen where families listened to the radio, which FDR used skillfully with his “Fireside Chats”.
FDR’s private study
The memorandum President Roosevelt received on December 7, 1941, informing him of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
 
Fragment from the USS Arizona which was sunk in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
  
  
  
  
  
  
Fala, FDR’s dog
FDR’s death
FDR’s funeral
FDR’s 1936 Ford Phaeton.
One of the many model ships and boats from FDR’s collection.
Bust of FDR outside of the Library and Museum.
Posing with President Franklin and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
The graves of President Franklin and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Zoom in to see the etching.
The museum had a special exhibit, The Art of War. This exhibit contains many posters that were used during World War II.
This is the iconic Uncle Sam “I Want You” poster.
Recruiting for nurses.
(Another one for you, Kayla.)
We could also identify our other primary enemy in World War II.
We used to be able to identify our enemy clearly.
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

8 – Martin Van Buren

This is the site where Martin Van Buren, our 8th president, was born in 1782. This is located in Kinderhook, New York.
President Martin Van Buren’s home, Lindenwald in Kinderhook. He was our 8th president, who was President Andrew Jackson’s hand-picked successor in 1837. He presided over the financial Panic of 1837 which was devastating to the economy.  He was a failed president,  and served only one term, 1837-1841, very similar to George H. W. Bush. Both presidents succeeded wildly popular presidents (Jackson, Reagan), then failed to win re-election after their first term. President Bush retired to private life. President Van Buren continued to run for president in several other election cycles, losing every time.
  
Lindenwald, home of President Martin Van Buren.
The architectural style is a combination of Georgian, Victorian and Italianate.
Lindenwald
Rear of Lindenwald
  
  
Grave of President Martin Van Buren, Kinderhook, New York

Albany, New York

Quite a building! It was Sunday, so we could not go in, but the outside looks like a castle!
This is the front, which faces the street.
This is the rear.
Corner view.
    
  
Statue of George Washington on the grounds of the New York state capitol.