A Texas welcome with Lanny and Brenda

March 14-23-We arrived late Wednesday night at Mark’s long time friend and former colleague, Lanny Marshall’s farm in Kirbyville, Texas.  (Lanny had played trombone in the Falcs when Mark first joined and has been like a big brother to Mark).  He and his wife Brenda welcomed us with a big Texas welcome by serving us hickory smoked barbecued pork ribs and coleslaw.  An awesome meal!!  Miss Jim B became quite at home in the little nitch that Lanny cleared for her.  We all fell in love with the beautiful green, land and Janae and Stefan were immediately drawn to the baby chicks.  Lanny and Brenda are now both 4th grade teachers which was wonderful for us.  They supplied us with great books, projects and educational tips.  They have an absolutely beautiful home that they built and since they were still on spring break, we got to help them plant their huge vegetable garden on Thursday.  It was so relaxing sitting out under the big oak trees, planting the garden and walking their property with them.  A sigh in time for our travel wearied souls.  It made us all the more want to live on a farm and enjoy the rewards of this lifestyle.  Stefan was so cute in his cowboy boots and shorts exploring all kinds of bugs and creatures.  The orphaned baby opposums were so cute but helpless against nature.  They died after the rains one night. 

On Friday, Mark and Lanny went fishing in the afternoon and the rest of us went into town to paint pottery.  This was very relaxing and fun.  Janae was very proud of her bowl, Stefan his dragon and Brenda and I our salsa bowls.  Afterwards, we drove 20 miles to the next town to go grocery shopping and a Subway dinner. 

Saturday, St. Patrick’s Day was a huge highlight as we got to go on an Air Boat ride in the bayou near the Louisiana border.  This was nothing short of a blast especially when we zipped at 55 mph and drove on land.  Stefan said it was better than Disney.  Our colorful driver was a proud Cajun and he enjoyed sharing some of his background and history with us.  He likes to wrestle alligators and he shared how he put an alligator tooth around his baby’s neck to cure his colic.  In the afternoon, we visited Shangri La, a beautiful botonical garden.  I think azaleas might be my favorite flower. When walking around, Stefan said, "Mom, don't  you just love nature?" Besides being beautiful, this garden is Leed certified:  acronym for leader, energy, environmental, design.  It was fun to learn that in the visitor center, the carpet was made out of corn stalks and the deck out of sawdust and recycled milk jugs.  A very philanthropic man named Lutcher Stark stared Shangri La.  Some meaningful quotes we encountered were:
"Drink in the beauty and wonder at the meaning of what you see." Rachel Carson
"The little world about us has within it all the joy and happiness that we need." Jens Jengen.

Lanny and Mark are preparing to feed marshmellows to the gators

When Lanny and Brenda went back to school on Monday, we settled into a nice routine of practicing and school ourselves.  I would go first thing in the morning to their home and practice then come back to the camper and have a late breakfast.  Janae and Stefan would then go to the house to alternate piano practice on the grand piano and math.  In the afternoons we worked on their projects.  On Monday and Tuesday, they did their cereal box book reports and the rest of the week, they worked on their history diarama reports.  Janae did hers on Stephen Austin and recruiting the colonists to Texas and Stefan did his on the Alamo/Texas Revolution.  Two great ideas given by our 4th grade teacher hosts.  Janae and Stefan anxiously waited for Lanny and Brenda to come home.  Janae said, “I wish they were retired, I like being with them all the time.”
 

Brenda is quite a cook and though I made a few dinners during the week, hers were quite the hit.  A shrimp concoction she made up and gumbo that was out of this world.  We got introduced to Blue Bell ice cream and fell in love with the old fashioned vanilla with fresh strawberries on top.

Lanny made quite an impression with Stefan by making a sword with him in his workshop.