This was the home of Ruth Paine in 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald stayed here the night before he assassinated President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. He had stored his rifle in this garage for months prior to that day. This house is now a museum owned by the city of Irving, and has been restored to its 1963 decor. It is an interesting time capsule.Living roomKitchenDining roomBathroom (original), 1963 style.Lee Harvey Oswald’s bedroom. When he left for Dallas on that morning, he left over $170 and his wedding ring on the dresser. In the garage, Oswald kept his rifle wrapped in a blue and brown blanket on the floor like this one.
Irving City Building
This fossil is displayed at the Irving city government building, This is an Xiphactinus, which was a 9-foot long fish which was found during construction digging in Irving. It is thought to be approximately 90 million years old.
JFK Memorial Tribute, Fort Worth
Earlier in the day of his assassination, President Kennedy was in Fort Worth giving a speech, and riding through downtown similar to the ride in downtown Dallas.JFK Memorial TributePresident Kennedy Statue
Texas Christian University
Us at TCU, Kayla’s alma materUniversity Drive – lots of purple.Horned frog in the sidewalk at TCU
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
The Medicine Man, Charles Russell, 1908. Russell is known for his extremely detailed depiction of Indians, to the extent that the viewer can determine which nation, and even sub-nation of Indian, a particular Indian subject belonged to. This medicine man is a Blackfoot Indian. The “ruts” are buffalo tracks.A Dash for the Timber, Frederic Remington, 1889Thunderstorm on Narragansett Bay, Martin Johnson Heade, 1868 This is interesting because we just sailed on Narraganset Bay a month ago!The Puritan, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, 1886 This is interesting because we saw the original large statue of the Puritan (Deacon Samuel Chapin) in Springfield, Massachusetts a month ago! After the Springfield statue/monument proved successful, Saint-Garens made many smaller versions, like this one, to sell.
Fort Worth Skyline
Fort Worth Stock Yards
The Fort Worth Stock Yards area is a very busy tourist area.Waiting for the Longhorn “Cattle Drive”.Longhorn “Cattle Drive” Longhorn “Cattle Drive” Longhorn “Cattle Drive” Can you see why this breed is named “Longhorn”?Ask Grandma about this Cadillac.Wild West shoutout dramatizationCovered wagon rides.Stage Coach rides.Quanah ParkerChisolm Trail marker
Freeways!
The traffic in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex moves very well! The freeways are very large and wide, and they have been designed to move traffic. The freeways make for some dramatic photos. Mixmasters and “flyovers” are everywhere! Texas infrastructure really stays ahead of the growth. New construction is everywhere – roads, houses, apartments, and big buildings. This is the atmosphere I remember from the 1980s – Texas attitude!
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 TylerFried Catfish, just like Mary Jean remembered!Awesome Whataburger!Classic Grandy’s!Grandy’s Chicken DinnerGrandy’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 GardenTyler Rose GardenMonument 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
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 gardenThe view from MonticelloThe view from Monticello Jefferson’s PhaetonKitchenSmokehouseSpinning room.Slave quartersGrave 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.
LunchAt Michie TavernMichie Tavern Room in Michie Tavern museumRoom 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 wineryView from the winery Vineyard themed cakeThe Cru is the only wine I liked.Goodbye, 50s!A topical gift!Waiting for our tasting room.
Our trip to New England was an incredible vacation for us! Sailing on Narragansett Bay was incredible! The presidents’ houses, etc. Revolutionary War history. State capitols. An actual Pilgrim’s house. Acadia National Park in Maine. The White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Green Mountains in Vermont. A submarine. Baseball and Basketball Halls of Fame. Fine dining. Lobstahs! Even the Miami Dolphins linebackers! And the Statue of Liberty to finish it off! We were told to expect rudeness in the northeast, but everyone we encountered was very nice everywhere we went, except in Vermont, where we ran into rude. We packed a lot into 11 days, but it was all so enjoyable, except the Boston roads and traffic. And we enjoyed sharing our trip with everyone!
This is the actual route we took on our vacation in New England, up the east coast first, then returning down the Hudson River Valley in New York..
This is the last day of a full 11-day vacation. We have had a ball, but we are ready for our own bed, and to eat Mary Jean’s home cooking!
Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, Jersey City, New Jersey
Empty Sky September 11th Memorial The names of everyone from New Jersey who perished in the World Trade Center on 9/11 are etched into these two walls. Each wall length is equal to the Trade Center height. The path points to where the World Trade Center stood. Manhattan is completely covered in fog in the background.Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal We boarded our ferry to the Statue of Liberty here. This was once a bustling hub in the golden years of train travel, the early to mid 1900s. Quite a grand place in its day. Interior of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal.Antique baggage cart and luggage.
Ellis Island
Ellis IslandEllis Island. This is where immigrants coming to America were processed from 1892 to 1954. For the grandkids, this building may be the place your great-great grandmother Eugenia Vande Voorde (Gramy) took her first steps in America in the 1890s when she arrived in the United States with her family, as a small child from Belgium. Imagine her awe as she saw the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty! There is an interesting story about her arrival you should ask your grandma about.Another building at Ellis Island.Ellis Island from the Statue of Liberty, with Jersey City, New Jersey in the background.
The Statue of Liberty
View from the front of our ferry.First view of the Statue of Liberty.Rear view. You enter the museum below the pedestal from this direction.The original torchActual size of Liberty’s face.Actual size of Liberty’s feet.The New Colossus plaque. Written by Emma Lazarus, the more recognized words are: “Give me your tired. Your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” This poem is often mistakenly referred to as being in the Bible, but it is not.I have an old picture like one of these!The stairs up to the statue’s crown. I wasn’t able to get a ticket to climb to the top.View from the top of the pedestal.Cornerstone plaque.Us, on the top of the pedestal, with Manhattan in the background.ManhattanShipsOur ferryMy last picture of the Statue of Liberty.The last picture of me taking a picture of the Statue of Liberty.Manhattan north. The clouds lifted a little bit, but still no clear view of the tops of the buildings.Manhattan southFreedom Tower is just to the right of the building with the small dome at the top. The clouds cover more than half of it!
Passing through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia skyline covered in clouds. This is the third major city in eleven days that the skyline is in the clouds.Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies.Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles.Wells Fargo Center, home of the 76ers and Flyers.
