Texas wildflowers

San Antonio Riverwalk

What a nice town! We stayed right in the middle of San Antonio on the Riverwalk . One level below streets are a series in Venice type canals with many fine outdoor restaurants. Lots of joggers and walkers on the nicely done Riverwalk that goes for blocks. Around Christmas time they decorate the trees with millions of colored lights.

Austin, Texas

Southern food....okra and tomatoes, black eyed peas, meat loaf, fried cat fish, creamed spinach, sweet potato bisquits..too full. Austin is the state Capitol . They are proud of their history including fighting on the Confederate side. Spent 2 hours learning state history in a wonderful museum. I have learned so much about this part of the south and perhaps a little why they are who they are.

LBJ Library..Austin, Texas

Bluebonnets....Ladybird loved wildflowers! The library is right next to u of Texas Longhorn football stadium in Austin. Lyndon was born poor and began his career working as a teacher to Mexican kids in segregated school. He started lots of good...Medicare, head start , and was stuck with the Vietnam war. The more I found out about him the more I liked him....and understand why we are both Democrat. I am preparing for a week at Chautauqua looking at the President's Club. Trip is winding down....going home soon.

I feel hollow inside...& tacky

There are more waffle houses in the South than Baptist churches so we just had to go to one. Our waitress asked our names and shouted out to everyone in the place that this was our first visit. They all smiled and clapped. I got biscuit with gravy, grits, etc.

Then we visited the local Walmart then looked at BMW's. Guess where I got my new Easter bunny shirt?

Creole vs Cajun

Creole were American born to European parents.... French creole in southern Louisana. They were educated, plantation owners.
Cajun were French Acadian from Nova Scotia who were relocated refugees by British when they were fighting the French. Many Acadians settled in St. Martinsville... And Longfellownwrote a famous poem about them...Evangeline.

We returned to Texas a day early since the weather was bad in Mississippi...heavy rain. Stopped halfway to have crawfish étouffée and gumbo in Cajun territory.

Southern food

In Mississippi, we tried fried green tomatoes, shrimp creole, shrimp étouffée , fried alligator. Yummy!

As we stayed in the condo with a tornado watch, I made a chocolate, bourbon pecan pie and a key lime pie. Fattening is the name for southern food.....and tasty.

Jefferson Davis Biloxi house

Lots of wind along the gulf coast today when we went to Beauvoir.... Last home of Confederate president Jefferson Davis. He was NOT convicted of treason since he was president of another country.... That allowed him to live but as a man without a country.

There is much evidence of hurricane damage in Biloxi.

Best bar-be- que in Mississippi

We explored southern Mississippi today with rolling hills full of slash pines.... Tall and thin. In Hattiesburg we found Leatha's Bar B Que . Since 1974, Leatha and her daughters slow fired old fashioned chicken, beef and pork ribs for 4 to 7 hours leaving it so tender the meat falls off the bone. Her sauce won the best in Mississippi award!
Tonight we watched the NCAA women's basketball with a take home BBQ chicken from Leatha's!

Cal lost....

Alabama

Mobile, Alabama needs to make a comeback... New Orleans metal grates... Downtown empty except for trees full of beads from Mardi Gras. Hal got them out of trees with his cane. Sat at a lunch counter getting chocolate. Later to a barrier island for white sand beach and bird watching. Ended day with most fabulous crab and corn bisque. Up to 86 degrees.

Along the Mississippi River

Oak Alley Plantation on Mississippi River in Louisiana.