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Posts Tagged ‘Vacation’

New Porch at the Carriage House Bed & Breakfast

August 25th, 2011 by carriagehouse

New Porch

It has been  a little while since I have posted pics of the renovation and you can view the page for more information.  The new porch is nearly complete and will be so awesome to sit on when we finally get some cooler weather.  When things get really crazy and stressful with the contractors, I sit back, close my eyes and imagine sitting in a rocking chair, which looked like the best executive chair you’ve come across, on the new porch with a cool breeze  gently fluttering the air.  Oh wait, I just went to my happy place.

One of the things I am most excited about is the new french doors leading in to the dining room.  These doors are really special.  They came out of a turn of the century house in Marshall that is being renovated.  They are beautiful beveled glass.  I think they will become a signature of the Carriage House B&B once they are in installed.  A company up in Texarkana picked them up earlier this week to build casements around them.  When they come back, I will post some before and after pics of them including a picture of the storage shed where they have been for no telling how many decades.

The kitchen cabinets are being installed this week.  I will try and get some pictures and post them tomorrow.

Jefferson Texas Weekend Entertainment for August 11-15

August 10th, 2011 by carriagehouse

 Gator (3)

 

JEFFERSON, TEXAS

WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT

AUGUST 11-15, 2011

 

*    “NORTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL FILM COMMISSION 5TH ANNIVERSARY

BASH”

Saturday, August 13 @ 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Location:  Jeffersonian Institute, 120 E. Austin

Information:  (903) 315-0793

 

*    “THE GREAT RECOVERY” DAVE RAMSEY’S FINANCIAL PEACE

UNIVERSITY CLASSES

Monday, August 15 @ 6:30 p.m.

Location:  Jefferson Central Adventist Church, 604 N. Walnut

Information:  (903) 240-0469

 

*       AUNTIE SKINNER’S RIVERBOAT CLUB & RESTAURANT

Thursday,  August 11:  “Karaoke”  @ 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Friday,  August 12:  “Auntie Skinner’s has Talent” Semi-Finals @ 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 13:  “The Pack”  (Classic Rock)  9:00pm-1:00 a.m.

(903) 665-7121

Auntie Skinner’s on Facebook

 

*        KARAOKE

Saturday, August 13 @ 8:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight

Location:  The Sandwich Shop, 123 W. Austin

(903) 601-2211

 

*      BINGO!

Location:  Pine Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation, 1307 MLK

Each Monday in August @ 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Prizes & refreshments  -Free-

(903) 472-841

 

*      TURNING BASIN RIVERBOAT TOURS

200 Bayou St.

Tuesday-Friday @ 12:00 noon & 2:00 p.m.

Saturdays @ 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

(Weather permitting)

Closed:  Sunday & Monday

(903) 665-2222

www.jeffersonbayoutours.com

*      LONE STAR CARRIAGE COMPANY OF JEFFERSON

Historical tours of Jefferson by horse & carriage and Mule Drawn Wagon

Specializing in weddings

Friday-Sunday, August 12-14

(Weather permitting)

Groups and special events available by appointment

Departs from corner of Austin & Market (across from the Jefferson Historical Museum)

(903) 926-8216

www.jeffersontexascarriage.com

Call for reservations

 

*      JEFFERSON PEDAL POWER

122 E. Austin

Bicycles, Trikes, Tandems, Surreys & more

By reservation

(903) 926-5167

*      HISTORIC JEFFERSON RAILWAY

Saturday, August 13 @ 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. (Day Excursions)

8:00 p.m. –  Free Ghost Stories & 9:00 p.m. – Ghost Train

(903) 665-6400 or (866) 398-2038

www.JeffersonRailway.com

 

*       LAFAYETTE STREET VINTAGE VEHICLES CAR MUSEUM

112 W. Lafayette

Friday & Saturday, August 12-13 @ 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

(903) 240-6180

Call for additional tours

 

*      CULBERSON HOUSE HISTORIC HOME TOUR

403 N. Walnut

(903) 665-7888

www.culbersonhousebandb.com

*  By reservation.  Call for tour times

 

*    HOUSE OF THE SEASONS HISTORIC HOME TOUR

409 S. Alley

Daily @ 11:00 a.m.

(903) 665-8000

      Reservations required

www.houseoftheseasons.com

*    SINGLETON’S VIRGINIA CROSS HISTORIC HOME TOUR

401 Soda St.

Saturday, August 13 @ 1:00 p.m.

(903) 665-3938  (903) 665-8518 or (214) 725-6232

Call for reservations & additional tour dates and times

 

*   THE GROVE HAUNTED HISTORIC HOME TOUR

405 Moseley

Saturday, August 13 @ 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 14 @ 11:00 a.m.

(903) 665-8018

www.thegrove-jefferson.com

Call to confirm tour

*   EXCELSIOR HOUSE HOTEL & JAY GOULD RAILCAR TOUR

211 W. Austin

Tours:  Monday-Friday @ 2:00 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday @ 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.

(903) 665-2513

Call to confirm tour times

www.theexcelsiorhouse.com

 

*   JEFFERSON HISTORICAL MUSEUM

223 W. Austin

Open daily:  9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

(903) 665-2775

www.jeffersonmuseum.com

 

*    H & D EXOTIC DEER FARM AND OTHER EXOTIC ANIMALS

359 P.R. 5730 & Hwy 729

Open:  Sunday-Friday (Closed:  Saturday)

(903) 665-2238

Reservations required

 

*   THE GRACEFUL GHOST PADDLEWHEEL STEAMBOAT ON CADDO LAKE

Tuesday-Friday @ 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.

Saturday @ 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.

Sunday & Monday:  Closed

Pontoon Boat tours at any time with prior  reservation

Location:  Shady Glade Marina, 510 Cypress Drive, Uncertain, TX

(903) 789-2238

www.gracefulghost.com

Call for reservations & additional tours

 

*  BILLY CARTER’S GO-DEVIL TOURS ON CADDO LAKE

Location:  Johnson’s Ranch in Uncertain, TX

(903) 789-3213

Call for reservations

www.caddoguideservice.com

 

*   CADDO OUTBACK BACKWATER TOURS

Personalized Tours of Caddo Lake

Uncertain, TX

(903) 789-3384 or (903) 679-9138

Call for reservations

www.caddooutback.com

 

*   CADDO LAKE PADDLEWHEEL TOURS “THE SWAMP THING”

Uncertain, TX

(888) 325-5459 or (903) 789-2101

Open:  Tuesday-Saturday @ 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

Closed:  Sunday & Monday

Additional tours by appointment

Call for reservations

 

*   JEFFERSON CARNEGIE LIBRARY

301 W. Lafayette

Monday-Thursday @ 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Friday @ 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Saturday @ 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Closed:  Sunday

(903) 665-8911

www.jeffersoncarnegielibrary.com

Free internet access

New Gator Park in Uncertain Texas

August 8th, 2011 by carriagehouse

Gator (1)

 

Gator (2)

 

This past weekend, we had the honor of hosting my mom and niece here at the Carriage House B&B.  It is always nice to have family come visit us.  We love getting the chance to catch up with them and the chance to play tourist here in Jefferson.

I think the biggest thrill for us all this weekend was going to Captain Ron’s Gator Park in Uncertain, Texas.  Captain Ron is a dear friend of ours and he gave us a grand tour of his new gator park and petting zoo Friday afternoon.  If you are thinking that you don’t remember this place last time you were here, it is because it just  opened a few weeks ago.  We will be recommending this place from this point on.  This is one of those experiences that you can only get here in the swamps.

The petting zoo is full of unusual and unique varieties of chickens, goats, turtles, pigs, and birds.  But the biggest thrill of all is the gigantic pond teaming with alligators.

Captain Ron held off on feeding them until we got there.  As soon as these primitive beasts saw the chicken on the bamboo pole, the water came alive.  It was obvious that the large gator was the alpha male of the pond.  He tried his best to keep the others away from the feeding area and only a few of the brave and nearly as large gators even dared to come close.  We all stood in awe as these large beasts jumped straight up and out of the water to snatch the chicken right off of the pole.

Since the show, Swamp People, started airing on TV, we have had several people come out to Jefferson and want the “Swamp People” experience.    You do not have to run all the way down to Louisiana’s bayou country to have a Swamp People vacation.  Caddo Lake is a one tank getaway from most of Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.  

I will get everything set up for you.  We will send you deep into the dark and mystical swamps in a go devil in search of gators in the wild and get you up close, and personal to a gator feeding on chickens.  At the end of the day, we will send you to a restaurant where you can sit under Bald Cypress trees draped in Spanish Moss and eat some fried gator.  By the end of the weekend, you will be able to say “Choot ’em,Liz”, and smile at the memories.

Give me a call at 903-665-9511 to book your Swamp People vacation.

 

Where’s Waldo…I mean Gator?

August 6th, 2011 by carriagehouse

 

Here is a fun puzzle for a hot Saturday.  Find the Gator in this picture.  Somewhere in the lily pads is Alley Gator floating by.  Can you find him?  “Don’t Choot em Liz”

Austin Street Bistro Vacation

August 3rd, 2011 by carriagehouse

The Austin Street Bistro will be closed during the dates of August 10-23 for Summer Vacation.
They will re-open Wednesday, August 24.

August 3rd, 2011 by carriagehouse

Water Lily

JEFFERSON, TEXAS

WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT

AUGUST 4-7, 2011

*     “INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF DIFFERING CULTURES OF CHRISTIANITY”

Performed by:  Dan & Charlotte Smelser on period and ethnic instruments

Sunday, August 7 @ 11:00 a.m.

Location:  1st Methodist Church, 305 W. Henderson

(903) 665-3268

 

*       AUNTIE SKINNER’S RIVERBOAT CLUB & RESTAURANT

Thursday,  August 4:  “Karaoke”  @ 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Friday,  August 5:  “Auntie Skinner’s has Talent” Preliminary Round III @ 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 6:  “8-Track”  (Classic Rock N’Roll)  9:00pm-1:00 a.m.

(903) 665-7121

 

*        KARAOKE

Saturday, August 6 @ 8:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight

Location:  The Sandwich Shop, 123 W. Austin

(903) 601-2211

 

*      BINGO!

Location:  Pine Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation, 1307 MLK

Each Monday in August @ 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Prizes & refreshments  -Free-

(903) 472-841

 

*      TURNING BASIN RIVERBOAT TOURS

200 Bayou St.

Tuesday-Friday @ 12:00 noon & 2:00 p.m.

Saturdays @ 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

(Weather permitting)

Closed:  Sunday & Monday

(903) 665-2222

www.jeffersonbayoutours.com

*      LONE STAR CARRIAGE COMPANY OF JEFFERSON

Historical tours of Jefferson by horse & carriage and Mule Drawn Wagon

Specializing in weddings

Friday-Sunday, August 5-7

(Weather permitting)

Groups and special events available by appointment

Departs from corner of Austin & Market (across from the Jefferson Historical Museum)

(903) 926-8216

www.jeffersontexascarriage.com

Call for reservations

 

*     JEFFERSON PEDAL POWER

122 E. Austin

Bicycles, Trikes, Tandems, Surreys & more

By reservation

(903) 926-5167

www.JeffersonPedalPower.com

*        HISTORIC JEFFERSON RAILWAY

* Friday, August 5 @ 8:00 p.m. –  Free Ghost Stories & 9:00 p.m. – Ghost Train

(Note:  due to heat conditions, the train may not run on Friday evening.  Final

determination will be made each Friday @ 5:00 p.m.  Please call to confirm.

Saturday, August 6 @ 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. (Day Excursions)

7:00 p.m. – Free Crafts & Carnival

8:00 p.m. –  Free Ghost Stories & 9:00 p.m. – Ghost Train

(903) 665-6400 or (866) 398-2038

www.JeffersonRailway.com

 

*       LAFAYETTE STREET VINTAGE VEHICLES CAR MUSEUM

112 W. Lafayette

Friday & Saturday, August 5-6 @ 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

(903) 240-6180

Call for additional tours

 

*      CULBERSON HOUSE HISTORIC HOME TOUR

403 N. Walnut

(903) 665-7888

www.culbersonhousebandb.com

*  By reservation.  Call for tour times

*    HOUSE OF THE SEASONS HISTORIC HOME TOUR

409 S. Alley

Daily @ 11:00 a.m.

(903) 665-8000

      Reservations required

www.houseoftheseasons.com

 

*    SINGLETON’S VIRGINIA CROSS HISTORIC HOME TOUR

401 Soda St.

Saturday, August 6 @ 1:00 p.m.

(903) 665-3938  (903) 665-8518 or (214) 725-6232

Call for reservations & additional tour dates and times

 

*   THE GROVE HAUNTED HISTORIC HOME TOUR

405 Moseley

Saturday, August 6 @ 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 7 @ 11:00 a.m.

(903) 665-8018

www.thegrove-jefferson.com

Call to confirm tour

*   EXCELSIOR HOUSE HOTEL & JAY GOULD RAILCAR TOUR

211 W. Austin

Tours:  Monday-Friday @ 2:00 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday @ 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.

(903) 665-2513

Call to confirm tour times

www.theexcelsiorhouse.com

 

*   JEFFERSON HISTORICAL MUSEUM

223 W. Austin

Open daily:  9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

(903) 665-2775

www.jeffersonmuseum.com

 

*    H & D EXOTIC DEER FARM AND OTHER EXOTIC ANIMALS

359 P.R. 5730 & Hwy 729

Open:  Sunday-Friday (Closed:  Saturday)

(903) 665-2238

Reservations required

www.hddeerfarmtours.homestead.com

*   THE GRACEFUL GHOST PADDLEWHEEL STEAMBOAT ON CADDO LAKE

Tuesday-Friday @ 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.

Saturday @ 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.

Sunday & Monday:  Closed

Pontoon Boat tours at any time with prior  reservation

Location:  Shady Glade Marina, 510 Cypress Drive, Uncertain, TX

(903) 789-2238

www.gracefulghost.com

Call for reservations & additional tours

 

*  BILLY CARTER’S GO-DEVIL TOURS ON CADDO LAKE

Location:  Johnson’s Ranch in Uncertain, TX

(903) 789-3213

Call for reservations

www.caddoguideservice.com

 

*   CADDO OUTBACK BACKWATER TOURS

Personalized Tours of Caddo Lake

Uncertain, TX

(903) 789-3384 or (903) 679-9138

Call for reservations

www.caddooutback.com

 

*   CADDO LAKE PADDLEWHEEL TOURS “THE SWAMP THING”

Uncertain, TX

(888) 325-5459 or (903) 789-2101

Open:  Tuesday-Saturday

Closed:  Sunday & Monday

Call for reservations

www.caddolakepaddlewheeltours.com

 

*   JEFFERSON CARNEGIE LIBRARY

301 W. Lafayette

Monday-Thursday @ 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Friday @ 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Saturday @ 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Closed:  Sunday

(903) 665-8911

www.jeffersoncarnegielibrary.com

Free internet access

What me…Relax? 3 steps to a summer relaxcation

July 29th, 2011 by carriagehouse

Winery

So it is almost August and you still haven’t taken your summer vacation.  The stress of the heat and the chaos of the big city has got you down.  Why don’t you plan your escape to the quiet green forests and slower pace of natural looking home notes – Houston?  Take a hard look around.  It is time for you to take a relax-cation!

I’ll even make it easy for you to plan it.  Here are three simple steps to help you plan your trip to Jefferson and to the beauty of East Texas

STEP 1 – Reserve your room at the Carriage House B&B for your getaway .  Now is a perfect time to get away and leave the big city heat islands for shade under our tall trees.  If you can’t break away right now then start planning a Fall escape.  In a few months, our forests will rival New England’s when the Autumn colors arrive in October and November.

STEP 2 – Let us know what type of activities you enjoy and we will help you plan your trip.  In fact, we will call and make all of your tour and dinner arrangements for you if you would like.  Like I said, this is about taking ALL of the stress out of your life.

STEP 3 – Slow Down (your pulse not your car)!  As you leave the concrete jungles and all of that stress behind, begin enjoying the natural beauty of the forests and rolling hills of East Texas.  Don’t forget to take a deep relaxing breath and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Rat Poison and Dogs Don’t Mix!

July 26th, 2011 by carriagehouse

Yesterday was just pure chaos here at the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast.  I felt like a ringmaster in a three ring circus.  We had the painters on one side of the house, scrapping and prepping the wood for new paint.  We had the builder and his subs out in the breezeway.  They were demoing and roughing in my new pantry.  I was trying to do all of the final packing of the kitchen and Tom, bless his heart, was trying very hard to find a quiet place to work.

In the middle of the chaos,  the pest control  lady from pest control barrie shows up for our monthly service.To avail pest control services you can also contact experts from #1 Bed Bug Exterminator in Toronto Canada! Control-Removal-Treatments as they can help you out in controlling pests and bugs.Now I know I am always pointing at The Bug and saying we need to get the pest control company out to deal with our Bug problem, but seriously, I was just kidding. I adore the little puppy even if she does go out of her way to bug me and drive me crazy. And drive me crazy she does.  As I am writing she is trying to pull the sheets off of the bed.

Now a dear friend of ours who is a Master Gardener diagnosed my yard yesterday morning as having grubs and ants.  This makes sense since we are the only ones on our block watering.  Everyone else has decided to let their yards die and everything (critters and bugs) is looking for water right now in this drought.  So when the pest control lady who came from the well known firm of pest control san diego, I asked her if she could treat the grass for bugs.

She had her hands full of rat poison blocks to refill our stations and so she had to put them down to look at her schedule.  Dixie gingerly grabbed one of the rat poison blocks off of the table and ran into the yard where she started eating it.  Bug went nuts trying to scoop up all of the crumbs and pick up the pieces that Dixie dropped.  Both the Pest Control lady and I dove to grab all of the poison from the dogs and keep them from eating any more then they already had. So, if you’re having pest problems, you may look for a company that utilizes a software like https://www.fieldroutes.com/industries/pest-control-software to effectively rid your home of pests without compromising the safety of your pets or kids.

The Pest Control Lady called her boss to see if the girls needed to go to the vet but I wasn’t waiting around for an answer.  I put them both on their leashes and rushed them to the Dr.

The good news is that we got them both to the vet in time.  Doc gave them both some medicine to make them throw up and started them on Vitamin K, which I keep calling Special K for some reason.  He is hopeful that none of the poison even made it into their system.  Certainly they are acting like themselves.  Dixie, being an older lady, is just laying around and supervising the work and The Bug is looking for mischief and trouble (which she undoubtedly will find).

White Grape Stomp at Enoch’s Stomp Winery

July 21st, 2011 by carriagehouse

Winery

Enoch’s White Grape Stomp

Harvest and Stomp Grapes

Footprint an Enoch T-shirt

Tour the Facility

Enjoy a Gourmet Picnic Lunch

Saturday, July 23

10:00am-4:00pm

Enoch’s Harvest Day Package – Adult:  $55*

Gourmet picnic lunch & fresh strawberry shortcake

Wine tasting bracelet

Tour with the winemaker

Grape picking (optional) & stomping experience

Custom designed Enoch t-shirt

Adult Harvest Package without T-shirt:  $35*

Same as above but without the t-shirt

Enoch’s Harvest Day Package – Child:  $30*

Kids meal (pbj sandwich, chips, cheese) & dessert

Grape picking (optional) & stomping experience

Custom designed Enoch t-shirt

*These packages are prepaid only and do not include sales tax.  *Package purchase not required for entry to event.

Gourmet Picnic Lunch:

Turkey and roasted vegetable wraps with pesto lime dipping sauce

Orzo and feta pasta salad in lime/olive oil vinaigrette

French bread

Melon medley in a mint vinaigrette

Assorted Cheeses and bottled water

Dessert will be fresh baked strawberry shortcake

Lunch will be served from the lodge

WINE TASTING WRIST BRACELET:  The wrist bracelet allows you to taste up to five wines.  Enoch’s staff with be stationed in wine tasting booths around the property.  Let us assist your quest to find your favorite Enoch’s Stomp wine.  If you already know your favorite you may exchange your wristband for a full glass of wine.  Enoch has released a few new wines:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Susan’s Secret, and Cweet Cynthiana.   WINERY TOUR: We will be crushing 4 tons of white grapes and we would love to have you assist us in the process.  Enoch’s winemakers will take you on a short tour of the vineyard and winery.  Listen to explanations of the grape varieties.  See the crush equipment in action.  Experience the transformation from plant to grape to juice to must and eventually into wine. Tours will be conducted every half hour.   T-SHIRTS & GRAPE STOMPING: Commemorate the 2010 grape crush experience by placing your footprints on our customized “Enoch’s Crush” t-shirts.   Pick grapes in the vineyard, or borrow a bin of our pre-picked grapes, stomp them with your own bare feet then step on your t-shirt and leave your mark.   EVENT REGISTRATION:Register online or by phone.  Stop by the registration booth on the day of event to pick up your event package.

Please purchase your packages online (www.enochsstomp.com)

or by contacting Jenny at (903) 238-7365.

Texas Monthly About the Port Of Jefferson Civil War Re-Enactment

July 21st, 2011 by carriagehouse

Little Girls with Chickens

If you have a few minutes today, you should definitely take time to read the wonderful article in this month’s Texas Monthly about my town of Jefferson Texas.  The photographer and writer were here for our annual Battle Of Port Jefferson Civil War Re-Enactment that takes place the first weekend in May every year.  They did a wonderful job of portraying our annual event.

The Skirmish Will Be Followed by a Ladies’ Tea

Our Pilgrimage Weekend and Battle Of Port Jefferson Civil War Re-Enactment are splendid affairs that have people showing up in period dress, fighting skirmishes and battles on our brick lined streets, touring our amazing antebellum homes and attending our grand balls.  If you have not been here for this weekend, then you should put it on your bucket list.  It is a must do and must see.  I will even serve breakfast for you in my Civil War gown.

 

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