The reason we are in Texas is for Polly’s 90th birthday and this is today!
Winter months and a balmy humid 22 degrees Celsius! The rain is coming they tell us!
We headed off this morning to visit the state park that houses the oldest plantation in Texas!
First stop coffee, first coffee shop we found….telling us to have a relaxing morning!
Inside the cafe, sporting an old Texas fuel pump aptly named ‘Texaco’.
And a garden full of teapot flowers!
Then off to the Varner-Hogg Plantation.
This is the historic of the home of :
‘Austin colonist Martin Varner, sugarcane mogul Columbus Patton, and Texas Gov. James S. Hogg. This property hosted sugarcane production, rum distilling, and oil drilling as it transitioned through families.‘ (Copied from website to save iPhone typing!)
The homestead – rebuilt after the 1900s hurricanes.
Front of home getting its Christmas decorations by its volunteers.
Three photos from inside the homestead – redecorated to the time of Govenor James Hogg and his family.
The river that divides the owners residences from the slaves quarters and sugarcane fields.
The first oil rig named Ima – after James Hoggs daughter, which was the start of the oil strike on the property which made this family (Hoggs) one of the richest in Texas.
Site of the slaves quarters in the 1800s sugar cane era – during the time when it was home to the Patton family.
James Hoggs bathing tub, fed by a spring that still runs today, now actually home to a number of frogs.
The run off from the spring and Tub produced this swimming hole.
We then went into what was the barn housing some old modes of transport!
Wagon wheels (this reminds me of a song)
Carriages and Russell – both magnificent specimens.
Carts for the big boys and little boys. All these were pulled by horses.
This state park is a valuable piece of southern history, run completely by volunteers and very well maintained. Well worth a visit, although we were the only ones visiting today! Wide open spaces all to ourselves.
We headed back before the predicted rain (which hasn’t arrived yet and it is still very humid).
I have made a macaroni cheese pie for dinner and baked a chocolate cake while Tona is home early having a tidy up before the party weekend (lots of house guests due).
We are in for a big weekend, our last weekend of our big adventure!
All who wander are not Lost girls 