Needlework Club continued throughout the summer - I continued to knit fancy scarves - some are donated to sell at the Christmas boutique (Woman's Club of Fort Worth). I worked hard on the yearbook for the Shakespeare Club. I worked on a draft of a yearbook for another organization but it wasn't used -- I created in MSWord after first speaking with the printer about how to set it up but there was some kind of misunderstanding on the other end because it was wanted in a different software. So, that one was taken over by someone else. I also managed to complete eight (8) patriotic table runners which were going to be used for a certain organization, but after completion of all of them I received a call letting me know someone else was being given the job of decorating/refreshments so now I have eight lovely table runners. They all look like the ones in the following picture - some with red tassels, some with white, some with navy. I'll do something with them - not sure what.
The General Edward H. Tarrant USD1812 had a tea celebrating the anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner on September 13, 2014. As a current officer I was part of the committee - which means I was a part of the committee that worked themselves just about to death to make it happen! My goodness, that was hard. We didn't have it catered and didn't have it at a place that set up the room for us so we had to set up tables, furnish and fix all the food, drinks, etc., do the decorating, handle every aspect of it. I was also in charge of the Voice table - (sell tickets, people put ticket in bag next to item wanted, drawing is held) We were all totally washed out after that event!
The following weekend, September 20, the Six Flags Chapter of the DAR hosted the Constitution Celebration luncheon at a local country club. I was on that committee, too, but was just a peon in the grand scheme of things, thank goodness! Although the tables were decorated by the chapter, at least there was no set up and tear down of tables, no preparation and serving of food, etc. It didn't take long to pick up the decorations afterward.
September started club/organization year, so I've been going to meetings and doing that kind of work. As the Historian for a couple of groups I try to stay up with what's happening and collect whatever is possible. I'm not a scrapbook person so they will be lucky I'm doing anything at all. I'm also the Recording Secretary for one organization and the Correspondence Secretary for another -- that keeps me busy as well.
K and I went to Beaumont for a state convention the first week in October. We purchased pics taken by the professional photographer but those haven't come in yet. It was a good time. We were there with many friends and acquaintances. I am on a state committee (having to do with software and creation of on-line fillable forms), and I received an award...our team is bringing this organization into the 21st century! We had two formal nights at convention and because K wasn't supposed to be escorting either evening, we saved his beautiful new black western dressy outfit for the big Saturday night President's event. He got to wear it to the banquet but as we were seated in the big hall awaiting the program to begin he was suddenly sent to the hotel room to change into his uniform because the camp in charge of the escorting hadn't planned for all the number of ladies who would need to be escorted! So, western rancher one minute and soldier the next.
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| At the President's Banquet on Saturday evening - with fellow chapter members and spouses. |
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| Bringing in the "important" ladies -- no, I'm not one of them... |
On Monday prior to leaving for convention on Thursday morning, after looking for about 15 months, we got a "new" car (new to us). The Saturn I drive was totaled in the tornado that hit Amarillo the end of May 2013 (early June? Can't remember). That was when we were on the way home from Colorado. The car still ran fine, and has been a great vehicle but had over 50K miles on it. Insurance paid off the Saturn and we bought it back for very little. Likewise, we managed to sell it for very little!
My first intent was to purchase a very large vehicle like a Ford Expedition - that way we could pull a travel trailer as well. We finally settled on something not so large but larger than the Saturn Vue (originally the tow car for our motorhome). We found a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse LT with 21K miles on it and had it transferred to Fort Worth so we could see it. After a test drive we made the decision to forego getting something that will pull a travel trailer and instead get the Traverse because it has plenty of space for the mobility scooters in the back plus passengers. It has a 3rd row of seats which fold down but even with the scooters in the back the 2nd row of seats can remain up.
After the last meeting on Sunday morning we got gas in the car and headed for Baton Rouge, LA. We stopped at some little place and had lunch at Shoney's but then drove on to Baton Rouge. We stayed at the Siegen Inn - after wondering around, fighting, getting lost, and finally finding the place. We had Whatburgers for dinner because it was next to the hotel. The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel, packed up again, and headed for New Orleans.
I drove to New Orleans, and for the most part the entire trip. Because K freaks out in strange places. But, I missed the turn in New Orleans and we ended up down by the sports dome - which, thankfully, wasn't too far from where we needed to turn to get to the French Quarters. We finally found our way to the Le Richeliu Hotel, checked in, found our way around to the parking lot, got help to get all our luggage into the hotel, and then got a taxi to take us to the Natchez River Boat!
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| These guys and gals develop great muscles pedaling these things! |
The carriages are pulled by mules, not by horses. So this is a bit different from Savannah. We had a great tour - the guide was knowledgeable and made it a pleasant trip.
After the carriage tour, K and I walked through the park at Jackson Square and then hired a bike taxi to take us back to the hotel. There was no way I could walk it. At convention, with the wearing of the dress shoes and all the walking I did some kind of twisting of my knees and could barely walk - in fact was limping. Back at the hotel K and I put the batteries on the scooters and then headed toward Dawson Street and the French Market cafe for supper. The hotel had recommended a couple of places but they were inside a bar and there was no way K was going in there. I can't remember what either of us ordered, but it was nasty/awful and neither of us were able to eat it. In fact, both of us felt a bit ill afterward. Fortunately we take our own snacks/food with us when we travel so we had some things back at the room. Unlike most of the tourists who visit NO, we did not stay up late and wander the streets or do a lot of partying/drinking. We went to bed early because we had a bus tour of NO scheduled for the next morning.
The bus picked us up at the hotel about 9 a.m. It took us all over the city, including a cemetery tour (New Orleans is below sea level...burials are above ground. A few pics are included here.
The bus also took us to see the levees that broke during Katrina, took us to see various housing areas of NO, but could not take us down to the 9th ward because of so much reconstruction. NO is full of history, and it was interesting to hear all the information. We learned that a Creole is the offspring of a black woman and a Spanish or French male, or the other way as well. Apparently Beauregard was a Creole.
We also made a stop at City Park - a very nice place where we had a short break, were able to get something to drink, stretch our legs. Ken managed to snap a picture of the gazebo at the park before we hopped on the bus to continue.
The bus also took us around Robert E. Lee Circle and the driver quickly pointed out the monument as well as the location of the Confederate Museum and the World War II Museum.
The bus tour was a great way to lean about NO. We enjoyed it for the most part.
In lieu of finding a place for lunch, after the bus tour we grabbed a bite at the hotel restaurant/bar and then hailed a taxi to take us to the Confederate Museum.
We were not allowed to take pictures inside the museum, but that is me standing in front of it. Fortunately they had a wheel chair I was able to use inside because by this time my knees were screaming.
The World War II Museum is located across from the Confederate Museum. At first I wasn't too interested in going but decided since my father-in-law had spent his life in the service and been involved in WW II the least I could do was go while we were so close. I am so glad we didn't miss it. This was one of the highlights of the trip. As one who worked in the aircraft business most of my life, I found the museum with the actual planes and equipment to be well worth the tour. I'll not post pictures because it was difficult to get shots of the planes and these need to be experienced not just seen in pictures.
By the end of our museum tours, I was pretty far gone, although K had pushed me all over the place in a wheel chair (I really, really need to get mine back home - it's been missing for a very long time - I loaned it out and it has not been returned.). We made our way back to the hotel via taxi, stopped at the desk to inquire about a place for dinner, got our scooters and headed out to eat before it got too late. We ended up at the Praline Connection which is on Frenchman and Chartres (I think). Small hole-in-the wall place but they helped us with the scooters. I had some sort of crab stuffed something or other and some "normal" vegetables; K had who knows what but experienced greens - which he had not eaten before. We had bread pudding which was not very good. Afterward we went to a little store to get bottled zero coke and then headed back to our hotel room. We always try to be back just about dark because we are two old people on mobility scooters and after dark we are just sitting ducks for someone wanting to do harm. And we are not partiers. So back to the room, separated and packed our stuff, prepared for the next day.
The following morning we rose early, and via our scooters made our way back toward Jackson Square and Cafe DuMond. K needed to experience the bad coffee and square donuts with powdered sugar which are part of NO tradition. I don't care for either - would much rather have real donuts! Then we did a little souvenir shopping on Dawson Street - I finally found a miniature tea set for myself and we picked up some t-shirts and whatever K decided on. After that it was time to head back to the hotel, move our luggage to the car, check out of the hotel, and hit the road toward Mississippi. I'll talk about Mississippi in a next blog.
