2022-09-26 Tyler Rose Garden

Tyler is famous as the Rose Capitol of the country. We were planning to visit on Friday but when we arrived near the park, we found out that the East Texas State Fair opened that day. Traffic and parking was a mess in that whole area. We went back Sunday about noon when it said online that the garden opened and they had improved the traffic flow so we were able to get in.

There was a wedding planned for later than day which was set up outside. Inside we saw a bunch of young women in fancy formals. They must have been there for pictures as the gowns did not look like bridesmaid gowns and a woman was recording some kind of a program in one corner. We headed outside and boy was it hot. The railings on the stairs leading down to the gardens were metal and would burn your fingers.

There were some lovely ponds which were nice and had shade.

On the other hand, the rose gardens were extremely disappointing. There was an unusual lack of rain in this area as well as most of Texas this year and the weather has also been much hotter. The bushes were in terrible shape. I know they are hoping that cutting them back earlier will let them come back in time for the huge rose festivities in October but unless they get a lot of rain between now and then, I'm afraid everyone will be disappointed.

The older types of roses faired a little better.

And there was a pretty one here and there.

 I hope I get another chance to visit in a better year because I was really looking forward to seeing these famous gardens. We didn't stay long. 

It was fortunate that we didn't plan to leave early Monday morning because my tire light came on Sunday. Monday morning I drove around to the other side of town to the Discount Tire shop to have it checked out. My tires were less than a month old and I had them checked before I left home. It turns out that they were all at 33 to 36 pounds of pressure instead of the 30 pounds they were set for. I guess the tire minder shows overinflation as well as under. They let some air out and I headed back to hook up so Elaine and I could head out for Salmon Lake RV Park in Grapeland TX.

2022-09-24 Goodman-Legrand House and Historic Site

After a delicious breakfast of blueberry pancakes and sausage at the pavilion Saturday morning, a number of us set out to do some siteseeing. We met up at the Goodman-Legrand House. Renae, a guest at the rally rode with Elaine and I. One the way there, she mentioned that she wasn't sure where the GPS was taking us but this definitely wasn't the best part of town. We made a few road corrections based on her knowledge of the area and made it just fine to meet up with the others.

We entered from the parking area at the back of the house but this is the front. It is a beautiful home. It started as a one story 4 room house build on 9 acres by Samuel Gallatin Smith. Purchased by Franklin Gary in 1861, it was sold to Dr Samuel Goodman after the war in 1861. Dr William Goodman purchased the home from his father for his new bride Mary Gastin upon their marriage in 1867. 

The Goodman's raised three children here, Sallie, Will and Etta. The second story was added around 1880 in the "Texas Colonial" style. Sallie married James LeGrand in 1893 and continued to live in the house which she inherited when her father died in 1921. It was remodeled in 1926 to add the two-story columns and rounded porticos in the Greek revival style resulting in the way it looks today.

We had a personal tour of the house with a guide who knew all the history of everything we saw. We also got a group photo on the grand staircase.

                                               

All the downstairs rooms opened off the large central hallway area and were used for different purposes by the different families but they were all good sized rooms.

Sallie Goodman LeGrand donated the 9 acres and the home with all the original family furnishings to the city of Tyler with the intent that her home be used as a museum for future generations to enjoy.

Two of the downstairs rooms were set up as parlours as two of the different families would have had them.

The dining room was all set up with the family china. There were actually several sets. One of the sets in a china cabinet was painted by Sallie and was beautiful.

The bedrooms were all upstairs once the second story was added.

Sallie and her husband did not have any children and the baby bed was lowered to the ground for her little dog.

The beds were very unique in design.

There were also a number of women's dresses from earlier times on display.

Every room had a fireplace but they were gas in later years not wood.

We got one more picture outside. It was a beautiful day and we all enjoyed the tour. 

We had lunch at ETX Brewery in downtown Tyler. It was interesting. They had various kinds of food. Some ladies had lunch while others had their big soft pretzels. I had their fantastic apple bread pudding.

 

2022-09-22 Tyler State Park Texas Ramblin' Roses Rally

I left Elkhart late morning as it was only about an hour and a half drive to Tyler. My sister-in-law Elaine and I along with 5 other women were staying at the Trails of Lavendar Road RV Park about 5 miles from Tyler State Park where the rally was being held. The state park was full. Elaine arrived about an hour and a half after me. The RV park was basic but nice and the residents many of whom were longer term were friendly. They had two family bathrooms, and a laundry as well as about 5 cabins. Our only complaint was that someone let their dogs out several times a day and we cleaned up a lot of dog poo....not a good thing for an RV park. There was a very large dog park there too. We were too busy to remember to take photos at the RV park.

We drove over to the state park later that day.

This was the swimming area. Didn't have a chance to use it but it looked nice.

Just a man and his dog paddle boarding......

It was nice seeing everyone. We all gathered at the two of the Texas Ramblin' Roses RV sites. It was a huge site with a lake view, very nice.

Friday was mostly spent catching up with everyone and what they had been doing. It was very relaxing. We headed back over to the RV park in the afternoon to make our side dishes for dinner and some took advantage of the time to get in a nap while others read and just relaxed. Friday night we had ribs plus sides that everyone brought.

It's a large state park and our group members were scattered around.

We had a guest named Rachel that came in a tent and set up on Judy and Lois's site where we gathered. I think she really enjoyed the rally but not so much tent camping so she wants to look for a very small trailer her car could tow.

Before we arrived, I had heard on numerous posts that the raccoons at the state park would carry off anything you left out. Nobody had a big problem with them but Jimmie caught this photo of them.

Tricia and Paula camp in all sorts of hot weather in their popup with their cat. They have A/C and they insulated their screens with reflectix which made a big difference.

Saturday we had a pavilion all day. Of course, I forgot pictures. Judy and Lois made blueberry pancakes and there was also sausage and coffee a plenty. We did some site seeing Saturday afternoon which I will cover in a separate post. We gathered back at the pavilion later in the afternoon in time for dinner. We all made foil dinners which were cooked on a big charcoal grill. 

                               

Olivia was surprised with a birthday cookie.

Sunday we were back over at the main gathering area but others headed home. Some of us played games and others went for walks or just visited.

All in all, it was a great rally.