October's Spooky, Scary Events in Jefferson, Texas

So you wanna be scared do you? You want to see ghosts and goblins and have things go bump in the night. Well, I can't think of a better place to go then right here to Jefferson, Texas, the most haunted town in Texas.

The Historic Jefferson Railway has been closed for most of September so that they can retool the ride for Halloween. The steam train will reopen the first week of October for Terror on the Bayou. You'll get the willies walking through the spooktacular Creepy Screamin' Corn Maze, now more than an acre, which includes a walk through the Piney Woods, the Haunted Cemetery and culminates with the infamous 100 foot underground Tunnel of Doom. The Runaway Fright Train will feature the Midnight Stalker as he chases the children through the dark and spooky woods! The scenes and haunters along the railroad track will keep you at the edge of your seat and give you a laugh now and then, too.

The Grove, a real live haunted house, will be open for tour as well. Texas Monthly has named this house as the 8th most haunted place in Texas and people have been experiencing (hearing, smelling, feeling) strange things in this house for over 100 years. Tours of this spooky little house will be available by reservation only during the month of October. Call us and we would be more then happy to help you make those reservations for your visit to the Carriage House Bed and Breakfast.

There are only a few rooms left for the weekends of October and Halloween weekend. Please call us at 903-665-9511 to make your reservation or go to our website at http://www.carriagehousejefferson/ to take a look at our rooms and book online in real time.

Sunday Night Test Kitchen

For some reason, I have been suffering from a writers block recently. I have sat here and stared at the screen not knowing what to write. I have been blank. Stuck. Empty. I have not even been able to come up with a topic to write about. Blank. Stuck. Empty.

I just took another phone call inquiring about our Sunday Night Test Kitchen. Unfortunately, we have had to our suspend our Sunday Night Test Kitchen until first of October due to ...a puppy. I know. I know. How can a business operation be suspended for a puppy?

Sunday afternoon is the quietest part of the week. All of our weekend folks have already gone home and our weekday folks have not shown up. So Ladybug, the pup, and I head out for puppy school at 3:15 Sunday afternoon for an hour of learning. I consider this staff training. Every business needs to have a well trained staff that knows how to perform (behave) when duty calls. We are no different. Dixie, the old lady Golden Retriever, knows when to sit, stay, lay down, and roll over on command. Ladybug has to get to the same place.

Ladybug and I graduate the first week of October and we will resume the Sunday Night Test Kitchen again. Call (903) 665-9511 to reserve your spot today.

More Fun Events in Jefferson Texas

Are you still looking for something to do this Labor Day holiday? Jefferson will be alive with activity this weekend. Last week, I posted a list of things going on here in Jefferson and I am going to add to that list this week.

The 2nd Annual Classic Car Show benefiting the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Dept will be on Saturday, September 4th from 9am to 3pm at The Jefferson Transportation Center on Austin St. There will be 24 trophies in 12 classes. If you are interested in participating, please call 903-665-9900 or go to Roys Toys and Trains.

Our newest favorite business will be having their Grand Opening on Saturday as well. Jefferson Pedal Power offers bicycles, tricycles, tandems, a surrey and even a "bicycle built for two" for rent by the hour. Between the hours of 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., guests can munch on hot dogs, sip ice cold lemonade and enjoy some fresh watermelon. Free bicycle surrey rides will be offered that day for a leisurely tour along the historic brick streets of Jefferson. For more information call (903) 926-5167.

We still have a few rooms available this weekend. Don't forget that if you stay Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you get $50 off your total stay.

Have a great last weekend of Summer!

Fun Things to do In Jefferson, TX on Labor Day

Have you considered what you are going to do this Labor Day Weekend? Why don't you come out to Jefferson and get away from it all. Here is a quick list of things that I came up with to do Labor Day weekend.

• Ride a steam train down the banks of the Big Cypress Bayou or listen to ghost stories on the evening Ghost Train.


• Now that you have seen the bayou from it's banks. Now take a boat tour and see it from the water and learn all of the wonderful history of the old riverport, Jefferson.


• Shop in Jefferson's many antique stores and boutiques.


• Take a carriage ride through the historic district and see all of the beautiful antebellum homes and learn their storied history.


• Visit our many museums. Whether your interest lies in antique cars of Gone with the Wind, there is something for you.


• Enjoy an ice cream or a root beer float at the Jefferson General Store.


• Ride a steamboat out on the swamps of Caddo Lake and see some of the most beautiful and unusual scenery of Texas.


• Go hiking along the shores of Caddo Lake or rent a kayak and explore the many bayous and sloughs that comprise the Caddo Lake area.


• Go Fishing. Lake o the Pines has some of the best fishing in this part of Texas.


• Stay at a beautiful Bed and Breakfast. The Carriage House comes to mind and we still have some availability for the weekend. Please call us at 903-665-9511 to make a reservation

Fun with the Pulpwood Queens

This past Tuesday night, Tom and I attended the final Summer Book and Author Series put on by Kathy Patrick and the Pulpwood Queens book club. We had a blast and I couldn't wait to tell all of you about it. The featured novelist at this amazing event was David Marion Wilkinson. I can tell you that a good time was had by all!


David's discussed his book, "Not Between Brothers" while we slipped along the waters of the Big Cypress Bayou on Johnny Nance's Turning Basin Bayou Tour boats. Although the evening was hot, the topic was cool.

The book, Not Between Brother, details life in Texas between the 1820s and the 1860s.

Here is a recap of the novel from Publishers Weekly.

Spanning three decades in the early 19th century that saw the birth and early years of the Independent Republic of Texas, this well crafted, gripping first novel portrays three cultures-Mexican, white immigrant and Comanche-in bloody collision. In 1826, lured by the promise of land and freedom, ambitious young Louisianian Remy Fuqua joins the tide of white immigration to Texas, where the Mexicans and Comanches already have strong roots. Remy's marriage to Beatrice, daughter of a wealthy Mexican family, brings both joy and pain, for he must give up his Anglo life. During a Comanche raid, Beatrice and their three children are captured by Kills White Bear, a brutal war chief. Although Remy rescues his wife and daughter, he loses both sons; one is killed, the other is kept by Kills White Bear and raised as his own child. Remy's life is further shaken when Beatrice bears the Comanche chief's son. Through the years, Remy fights alongside Sam Houston for Texan independence, rides with the new Texas Rangers against the Comanche and struggles to keep his family together. Texas's secession from the Union in 1861 finally forces Remy to flee west, into a dramatic confrontation with Kills White Bear, the two sons they claim in common and Beatrice.

Oh by the way, David loves wedding cake and said the he will crash a wedding just for the cake. So we all had a special treat that night of wedding cake and home made ice cream. YUM!

We still have a couple of rooms left for Girlfriend Weekend, January 13th - 16th. Early Bird ticket sales have been brisk according to Kathy Patrick and all tickets go up to regular pricing on September 1. So purchase your tickets now.

Pardon Our Dust - More Remodeling.

Sometimes I feel like I am living an episode of "This Old House". In fact, I wish I had the budget and the contractors that they have on "This Old House". We are beginning another couple of phases of remodeling this week. The house may look a little unfinished for a while but the completed product will be fabulous.



Here is a short list of projects ahead of us for the remainder of 2010 and the first half of 2011.

• Repair and repaint the walls of the Diamond Bessie. We will be painting the walls a rich brown.


• Repair and repaint the walls of the Ruth Lester (f.k.a Jewel Room). Don't worry, we are staying the same color.


• Repair and repaint all exterior walls of all 3 buildings. We begin work on this tomorrow.


• Repair and repaint all porches.


• Replace all pedestal sinks with cabinet sinks for more counter top space.


• Install bathroom amoires in the Diamond Bessie, the Ruth Lester and the Ladybird Cottage


• Replace claw foot tubs in the Allen Urquhart and Ruth Lester with jacuzzi whirlpool claw foot tubs. This one is my personal favorite.


• Blow up and completely redo the kitchen. This is a big one!!!

Phew! This is a lot of work. I am not looking ofrward to all of the dust and tripping over the trades. However, the end product will be fabulous.

Riverport Ambassadors

This past July 4th weekend, the City of Jefferson introduced the Riverport Ambassadors program. What are the Riverport Ambassadors you ask? The Riverport Ambassadors are "persons in character."


The Riverport Ambassadors wander up and down the streets of the Historic Riverfront District and introduce our visitors to what life was like back in 19th century Jefferson. You can see Civil War heroes, scalawags, railroad tycoons, clerks, church ladies, steam boat captains or other wonderful characters.


The Riverport Ambassador Program were created to enhance the “Riverport Experience” of Jefferson, Texas. They do so by having fun and dressing in period costume. All Riverport Ambassadors try to interact one-on-one with our guests and visitors. The mission of the Riverport Ambassadors is to promote tourism, support businesses and interpret the history of Jefferson.


The Riverport Ambassadors were so successful July 4th that they will be out every weekend starting the first weekend of September and continuing on until May. There is no better way for you or your children to learn about the wonderful riverport history of Jefferson then through the recreation of that history by the Riverport Ambassadors.


For more information, please contact us here at the Carriage House at 903-665-9511

Historic Jefferson Railway

I have some great news! The Historic Jefferson Railway is back up and running!!! The boiler has been repaired and the train is as good as new. Here is more information directly from the good folks at the Historic Jefferson Railway.

The Historic Jefferson Railway recreates the Golden Era of Steam railroading with day trains each Saturday at 2:30 and 4:30 through Labor Day weekend. Steam hissing, whistle blowing and pistons chuggin, Old Engine #7 will take you on a scenic trip along the Big Cypress Bayou. As you roll through the history laden Piney Woods, you’ll view a Confederate Power Magazine and traverse the site of one of the oldest, historical towns in Texas.

Friday and Saturday evenings features the infamous Ghost Train at 9:00 which carries you deep into the dark woods along the Bayou, sharing tales that will make you reach for your loved ones!

Start the evening with free Jefferson Ghost Stories at the historic “haunted” train depot. Our story-teller will keep you at the edge of your seat as we tell stories about famous and not-so-famous Ghosts of Jefferson and Northeast Texas.

The Railway has become a part of the thriving community of Jefferson sponsoring major events throughout the year that bring over 20,000 visitors to Jefferson. Riders look forward all year to Terror on the Bayou Fright Train, Rail of Lights Christmas & New Year’s Train as well as Diamond Don’s Riverport National Vintage Motocross and the Trammel’s Trace Rendezvous.

The train was built in 1964 for Six Guns Territory in Florida and moved to Jefferson in 1986. It is a Crown Metals reproduction of the 1870’s American class 4-4-0 steam locomotive christened the Robert E. Lee. The open car coach seats still carry the custom medallions cast into them designed especially for the Six Guns amusement park.

Historic Jefferson Railway is located at 400 E. Austin in Downtown Jefferson, Texas. For information on pricing, schedule and events, please visit www.JeffersonRailway.com or call 866-398-2038.

Friday
8:00 p.m. FREE Jefferson Ghost Stories
9:00 p.m. Ghost Train

Saturday
Narrated Day Train 2:30, 4:30
8:00 p.m. FREE Jefferson Ghost Stories
9:00 p.m. Ghost Train

$12 plus tax, lap children free
(Senior and active military discounts)

Things to do the weekend of July 17th

It is going to be another action packed weekend this Saturday and Sunday. There is so much to do and something for everyone.

This Sunday is the the 22nd annual Jefferson Heritage Triathlon sponsored by the Krewe of Hebe. The race will be in and around beautiful Lake o' the Pines which is only about 12 mile to the east of Jefferson. The Race will be a 1/2 mile swim - out & back on a triangular course, then a 25K bike ride ("dam road" takes on a whole new meaning) which will be on a closed course on rolling rural roads and finally a 5K run on a flat & shady park road to the finish. On Saturday before the race, Race packet pickup/registration, carbo feed & pre-race entertainment will all be at the Russell Building on Austin St.

If you would rather be shopping then running, biking, swimming, then just go 12 miles south of Jefferson to Marshall. The Marshall Downtown Merchants Association will be celebrating Christmas in July this Saturday with sales, discounts, special restaurant menus. I am sure that this will be a great way to get an early start on all of that Christmas shopping.

My good friends at the THE blue frog GRILL on the square in Marshall will be hosting the Saturday Supper Club. A special menu on a special day with a special cause. $15.00 of every check will go directly to aid hospitality workers in the Gulf Region.

We still have a couple of rooms left for this weekend, so please call us at 903-665-9511 to book your stay or if you need any assistance.

Things to Do in Jefferson in July

We had a fantastic July 4th weekend here in Jefferson. There is no better place to experience Independence Day in small town America then here in Jefferson. We had a children's' bicycle parade, a pie and cake auction, a duck race, bands, and of course fireworks...lots of fireworks. If you would like to see some fantastic pictures of the celebration, then please go to our Facebook page.

Now that the holiday is behind us, we can look forward to some other fun stuff happening in July.

The Graceful Ghost Steamboat is back in the water after passing it's Coast Guard inspection. Now you can enjoy the ethereal beauty of Caddo Lake from the majesty of an old fashioned steamboat. Tours are Tuesday through Saturday at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.

The 22nd annual Jefferson Heritage Triathlon is Sunday, July 18th. Packet pick-up, carbo feed and the pre-race entertainment will be on Saturday July 17th in the Russell building on Austin Street. The race will be ran at the beautiful Lake O' the Pines, just 10 miles west of historic downtown Jefferson, Texas and the Carriage House. The Race is a 1/2 mile swim - out & back on a triangular course, then...25K bike ride -("dam road" takes on a whole new meaning) closed course on some rolling rural roads and a 5K run on a flat & shady park road to the finish.

If you are a talented performer then Auntie Skinners is the place to be in July. The Auntie Skinners Has Talent Amateur Singing Contest will be taking place July 8th and 15th with the semi-finals on July 23rd and the finals on July 30th. Even if you cannot sing this contest will be a ton of fun to watch. For more information call Auntie Skinners at 903-665-71721.

Another cool thing going on at Auntie Skinners is the Toga party on August 7th. The band 8-Track will be playing that night and I am certain that it will be a huge time. I will post more information on the Toga Party as I get it.

If you have any questions about any of the activities in Jefferson, please call me at 903-665-9511 or email me at info@carriagehousejefferson.com.

More July 4th Activities in Jefferson, Texas

Here are a few more fun activities that you can enjoy while visiting Jefferson this weekend.

• Riverport Ambassadors of Jefferson, Texas will introduce “persons in character” at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, 2010 in downtown Jefferson. The members in period costumes will recreate the atmosphere of Jefferson during the Civil War as guides interpret the mid-1800’s to bring history to life.
  
  The gathering will take place under the trees at the First National Bank located at 202 N. Polk. A band of merry characters will be on hand for this inaugural experience. You could see Civil War heroes, scalawags, railroad tycoons, clerks, church ladies or steam boat captains. This is a great opportunity to put history in your children’s eyes as the Riverport Ambassadors take you through a stroll of Jefferson history.
  
  Jefferson is a showcase of the Golden Era with many people still living in restored nineteenth-century homes. It is a town of warm hospitality with a rich past.

• July 1, 2010 - July 3, 2010: "The Boyfriend" Summer Musical -An East Texas version of an American Parody of an English Spoof on the 1920's!. July 1, 2 & 3 at the Russell Building, 121 W. Austin St. Tickets available at Blessings Gift Shop, 119 N. Polk St. Adults - $15 -- Child under 12 - $10. Limited Seating. Info: 903-665-3895. Any tickets left for purchase may be sold at door but there is limited seating--less than 70 this time, so hurry! Young people shine in this one! And it's ridiculously silly and lots of fun for the whole family!

Historical Jefferson

There was a wonderful quote in today's Jefferson Jimplecute that I just had to share. A contractor that the city of Jefferson is working with on a water project said that "archaeologists eyes light up when they hear the word Jefferson." I couldn't help myself from giggling a little. When you live in an old town like Jefferson, you get used to living in and around history. You are persistently reminded that many others have walked and lived here before you.

The Carriage House is considered to be new construction even though the house is 100 years old. As we have been restoring the gardens we have found many old foundations, boundary lines, rusted chains, large pieces of window glass, etc. Old pictures from the Civil War show either a church or a house on this lot. I have no idea what was here before this old house was built but I intend to find out. One of my projects for the winter is to begin to research the history of this house and this lot. There are many questions that I have and no answers yet.

Hopefully my research project will allow another page to be written in the history book that is Jefferson, Texas. Who knows what I will turn up.

Historic Jefferson Railway

I have some good news to report!!

A few days before the busy Memorial Day Weekend, the Ghost Train had an unfortunate incident. They boiler on the steam locomotive blew out. The Historic Jefferson Railway is one of the main draws to Jefferson. People come here from iles around to ride on ths amaxing train. Many folks have wonderful memories of the evening ghost ride and the daytime bayou tours.

Well, the summer is not lost. Although the train is not running, you will still be able to have a spooky time. How about a haunted hay ride for fun!!!

Take a ride on the tractor-drawn people-movers through the dark and spooky woods. This narrated ride will take you through a graveyard filled with eerie creatures and ghostly haunts! Keep a wary eye toward the cypress-filled woods and swamps. The backwoods atmosphere, combined with the haunted effects, blend seamlessly to fully submerse riders into a world of ghostly haunts.

You never know what lurks in the shadows on the Forest Ride. Something sinister is hiding there. You know something is going to reach out and touch you -- you just don't know where or when. You’ll be spooked by more than ghosts!

The Haunted Forest Ride will depart Firday and Saturday evening at 8:00 and 9:00 and is priced at $10.

Things to Do in Jefferson for the weekend of June 18th.

We have an action packed weekend coming up this. So if you are looking for a weekend getaway, look no further than Jefferson.

This weekend is the T-Bone Walker Blues Festival in Linden, Texas. The weekend long event in the birthplace of blues greats, Scott Joplin, T-Bone Walker, and Don Henley will bring music lovers in from all over the country. The festival starts Friday afternoon and rocks on until Saturday evening.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has several activities going on this weekend. Collins Academy will be hosting the "Growing Up Wild" program for children between the ages of 3 and 7 on June 15th. This three hour long program will allow the children to explore wildlife and the world around them. Daingerfield State Park will be teaching the basics of the fine art of historic camp cooking with cast iron in the Dutch Oven Cooking class on June 19th.

If you are looking for nightlife then we have just the ticket for you. The Voodudes will be playing at Auntie Skinners Saturday night. This classic rock band out of Shreveport, LA will start playing at 9pm.

In addition to all of this, we will have all of our usual fun things such as boat rides both out on Caddo Lake and the Big Cypress Bayou, carriage rides, mule drawn wagon rides, shopping, antiquing, musuems and tours.

So come on down. We are going to have some big fun on the bayou.

Tips to Beat the Summer Heat!

It is hot! There is no other way to describe it. Summer came early this year, and I feel like we have been cheated out of spring. Especially since we had to endure such a cold and wet winter. I promised myself back in January that I would not complain about the heat this summer but...

The Dallas Morning News printed a story recently titled "8 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat". Well here is my own version but with a Jefferson twist.

• Cool down with some Blue Bell Ice Cream or a Root Beer Float at the Jefferson General Store. Nothing will cool you off faster or make you feel like a kid quicker.


• Go swimming at the Lake O' the Pines. This lake is known for it's beauty and great fishing. There are also some great beaches around the dam. On these hot summer days, a quick dip in an old fashioned swimming hole will do just the thing in cooling you down.


• Take a boat ride down the Big Cypress Bayou or Caddo Lake. The amazing scenery and the comfortable breeze coming off of the water will cool you off in a hurry. Both the Bayou Tours and the Caddo Lake tours leave daily at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.


• Grab a frozen Margarita at Auntie Skinners. Once you cooled off with your frozen refreshment, you can go about your outdoor adventures again.


• Enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine in the patio at Glory Dayz. This retro 50's diner is cool and it is cool.


• Go hunting for ghosts...at night. The temperatures drop at night so the dark is the perfect time to go looking for some of Jefferson's friendly spirits.


• Take a train ride. Feel the breeze as it rustles through your hair and cools you down. The Historic Jefferson Railway has tours at 2.30pm, 4.30 pm and a the ghost train leaves at 9pm.


• Stay at the Carriage House. No need to wonder or worry about your A/C here. All of our units have recently been serviced so that they are operating at the peak of their performance. We also have guest fridge that is stocked with cold sodas and water.

So you see, there really is no reason to complain about the heat this summer and now you have eight good reasons to come to Jefferson.

Jefferson Fly In

Are you looking for something fun to do this weekend? Look no further than Jefferson this Saturday. This Memorial Day weekend is the Jefferson Fly-In, a vintage airplane and air show.

Not only will there be amazing planes from the past, but there will be free rides in a Stearman for all kids between the ages of 10 and 17. I have it on good authority that for a donation to the Fly In fund, adults can go up in the Stearman as well.

Diamond Don's will be sponsoring a BBQ lunch for all pilots and staff. For the rest of us, there is only small charge of $8 for adults and $5 for kids to partake in this fine food.

So come on down for a flying good time!

Pet Friendly Bed and Breakfast

Did you know that the Carriage House is a pet friendly bed and breakfast. It is! So if you can't leave your best friend behind when you take your summer vacation, come stay with Dixie at the Carriage House.

There is a $50 non-refundable pet deposit which is still cheaper than boarding your furry friend. All we ask while you are here is to have fun and clean up after your pet. Most types of pets are welcome but call if you are unsure.

You and your four legged friend can stay in any of the rooms located in the carriage house behind the main house. Dixie gets to keep the main house to herself. So when making your reservation, look for availability in the Ruth Lester Room, Allen Urquhart Room, Diamond Bessie Room, Ladybird Cottage, or the Jay Gould Room. In fact, most of our furry guests prefer the Jay Gould room since it has it's own yard.

If you have any questions about our pet policy or need any assistance please give us a call at 1-866-785-0192. We look forward to seeing you and your best friend this summer!

More Summer Fun

If you are still not convinced that Jefferson is a great place to spend your summer, then here is a some more exciting activities to do while you are here.

Jefferson is known for it's fantastic shopping. We have everything from prized antiques, to wonderful clothing boutiques, to vintage metal lawn furniture. Everyone that comes to Jefferson must make a stop at the Jefferson General Store. It is an event all in it's self.

Jefferson is also known for it's romantic side. Many people come to Jefferson for their weddings and honeymoons. Being amongst these old homes and brick lined streets makes you long for a simpler more romantic time. Take a carriage ride into the historic district and be transported to a sweeter and gentler time.

We have some fantastic summer specials on our website. Call us or check us out online.

Summer Fun

Summer is almost upon us. Have you made your family vacation plans yet? Consider a trip to Jefferson for your summer family fun. No matter what you enjoy, you can find it here.

Jefferson is surrounded by water. This beautiful and historic antebellum town is built on the banks of the Big Cypress Bayou. The Turning Basin Bayou Tours offers riverboat tours daily during the summer. There is no better way to learn about the history of Jefferson or the Big Cypress Bayou then one of these boat tours. The bayou drains into Caddo Lake which is really more of a spanish moss covered cypress swamp than a traditional lake. You can take your family out on the Graceful Ghost steamboat tour and see alligators, birds, beaver, nutria and other exotic wildlife. For the fisherman, some of the best bass fishing in the state is at Lake o' the Pines.

Maybe ghosts and the paranormal are more of your family's idea of fun. Jefferson is haunted with many friendly spirits. In fact, it is considered to be the most haunted small town in Texas! The Grove, a private residence available for tour, is a certified haunted house. Not a hokey Halloween haunted house but a real ghostly home. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can take a walking ghost tour of the historic district and hear about all of the documented hauntings. If you and your family love ghost stories then the Historic Jefferson Railway after dark is where you need to be. The steam locomotive takes you through a scary 5 mile tour of the woods all the while scary ghost stories are being told

We are running some great summer specials. Our Memorial Day special is very special. If you stay Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, we will give you $50 off your entire stay. If you can travel during the middle of the week and stay consecutive two nights, we will give you your 3rd night for free.

Stay Tuned. More about all of the fun things to do in my next posting. It is certainly "Jumpin in Jefferson".

Captain William Perry

Much of Jefferson's history comes from the Big Cypress Bayou and the people and boats that traversed it. As you know, we have been trying to capture this history by naming our rooms after historical figures of the area. The second room that we will look at is the Captain William Perry room.

Captain William Perry was the first steamboat captain into the Port of Jefferson. Not only was he one of the first settlers of Jefferson, but he played an important role in the growth of the newly incoporated town of Jefferson and the increasingly important Riverport and Turning Basin. He became quite rich from his real estate dealings and eventually built the hotel in Jefferson. That hotel became the Excelsior Hotel which is the second oldest hotel in Texas.

It's Jumpin' in Jefferson

Spring has finally sprung! Yeah! I for one am tired of snow and the cold. After the coldest winter in 33 years, I feel like we have earned the right of a spectacular spring.

Besides all of the beautiful flowers that are starting to bloom, there are other signs of renewal. One of them being all of the festivals going on here in Jefferson. I don't know if you have taken a peek at the Calendar of Events...wow! It is good to come out of hibernation.

Easter Weekend - Truly a weekend that has something for everyone. The citywide rummage sale will be going on. There is no better way to find that little something that you have been looking for. The Historic Jefferson Railway will be hosting the Easter Egg Express complete with an Easter Egg hunt and Easter Train. No weekend would be complete without live entertainment at Auntie Skinners. Wes Jeans will be playing a couple of sets on Saturday night.

4/9 - 4/10 - It is National Library Week and the Historic Jefferson Railway will be celebrating by giving a 10% discount to everyone who donates a book. The semi-annual paranormal conference, History, Haunts and Legends will be on Saturday. It is sure to be a spooky good time! If you are hungry after all of this, then the Marion County Chamber of Commerce will be putting on the 4th Annual Crawfish Boil on the Bayou. It will be good food, good music and good suds.

4/16 - 4/18 - The 10th Annual Outlaw Nationals Rod Run & Antique Car Show and the 8th Annual Diamond Don's Riverport National Vintage Motocross makes this one of the year's premier events here in Jefferson. There are only a few rooms left in the entire town so make reservations now.

4/23 - 4/24 - Do you love the Gone with the Wind movie and everything that goes with it. This weekend we will be celebrating the Tara in Texas festival. Bonnie Blue Butler will be the Guest of Honor at this year's event. There will even be a big rig with airbrushed mural of the movie on hand for you to look at.

So come out of hibernation and come on down. It is Jumpin in Jefferson

Rosa Bland

Last posting, I talked about the new names of our rooms. We made a business decision to change all of the names of our rooms to more historical names to better reflect the wonderful history of this old riverport town. I promised that I would talk about who or what some of these people are in my future postings. Promise kept! Here is the first of seven entries regarding the names of the room.

A good place to start is with the front room. The room used to be called the Polly Anna Room but is now called the Rosa Bland Room.

Jefferson began it's existence as a busy and bustling riverport town. Steamships from New Orleans and St. Louis off of the Mississippi would come to Jefferson through Caddo Lake and up the Big Cypress Bayou carrying agriculture products including cotton and Jefferson quickly became the riverport to the Southwest. Wares and goods would travel as far as Dallas and west Texas on Ox cart and back from Jefferson. Jefferson became the port of entry for what was the Republic of Texas at the time and then later the State of Texas. Jefferson became a boom town where many of the pioneers to Texas first set foot on Texas soil when they disembarked from the steamboats.

During Jefferson's Golden Era as a steamboat port from 1845 until 1875, it became a cosmopolitan town like most port cities with a confluence of cultures and businesses. The architectural styles, which developed in Jefferson during this period of prosperity, resembled those of New Orleans. The homes were primarily of Greek revival design.

When the log raft was removed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the year 1873, the water level in Big Cypress Bayou was reduced and navigation to Jefferson was threatened.

So who or what was the Rosa Bland? She was the last Steamship into the Port of Jefferson before the waters receded to the point that prevented navigation on the Big Cypress Bayou.

Interesting...huh?

New Names - New Attitude

It was love at first site when we walked through this old house. For some strange reason, I felt like I was home...finally. They say sometimes you just know and that is how it was for us. We were not even 100% certain that we wanted to make this change but after walking through this beautiful home, we just knew that this was the right decision at the right moment in our lives. We put in an offer and after a few agonizing months we finally went to closing.

When we moved in, we had a laundry list of things that needed to be fixed and things that we wanted to change. One of the things that we wanted to update was the names of the rooms. Although the names had meaning to the previous owner, they just didn't feel right to us. We have slowly been changing the names and changing the personality of all of the rooms. We are still in the middle of a major remodel but finally all of the rooms have their new names.

The Carriage House is one of the many beautiful, old and historic homes in Jefferson. We never really discussed it much. I think we both just always knew that we wanted to rename the rooms after historical figures of Jefferson. If you have ever been on any of our wonderful historical tours or been to any of our interesting historical museums, then you know that Jefferson has a colorful and lively history full of larger than life characters. It only felt right that a historical home have rooms named after the people who made the town what it is today.

So without any further ado, here are the new names.

Old Name/ New Name

Polly Anna Room/ Rosa Bland Room

Magnolia Room/ Capt. William Perry Room

Garden Cottage/ Ladybird Cottage

Jewel Room/ Ruth Lester Room

Key West Room/ Allen Urquhart Room

Scarlett Room/ Diamond Bessie Room

Darell's Room/ Jay Gould Room

The new name plates should be in this week and we will have them installed on the doors this weekend. I will write about each of these individuals in future posts and will be putting information in each of the rooms about their names sake. So now that we have made this change, I would love to hear every one's thoughts or observations. Please use the comment section below.

Yummy New Recipe

I am always looking for new and decadent recipes to serve my guest. We serve a multi-course gourmet breakfast and Tom and I split the cooking duties. He focuses on the main entree and I focus on the appetizer. I love serving fruit dishes for our first course. I think it really opens up the palate for Tom's main course.

Many of our guests ask for our recipes and so I decided that I will start to post some of our fan favorites for everyone to try. Here is the first one. Our guests just rave about this one. You can always tell if people really like it or if they are just being polite by the amount of food that comes back to the kitchen. We never have any leftovers with this one.

Grand Oranges and Strawberries

Prep Time 30 Min

Cook Time 5 Min

Chill Time 8 hrs

1/2 cup orange marmalade

1 1/2 cups sparkling white grape juice (chilled)

1/4 cup Grand Marnier

10 to 12 large navel oranges

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

Melt marmalade in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat, and let cool slightly.

Stir together marmalade, white grape juice, and grand marnier in a large serving dish or bowl until blended. Add orange sections, and gently stir. Cover and chill for 8 hours.

Add strawberries to the oranges in the bowl, and gently toss to coat. Serve in parfait bowls with a mint sprig for a garnish.

Are you ready for Spring?

Although it is the dead of winter, we are preparing for spring here at the Carriage House. Like most people, we are just plain tired of winter at this point. As of this writing, it is overcast and 39 degrees. We don't have it as bad here as they do in other parts of the country but this Texas girl can't deal with too much cold weather. Bring me some Bluebonnets!

Part of this planning process is putting together some room packages so our guests can have the best possible experience when they stay here at the Carriage House. So here is what we have come up with so far. If there is anything that you think we should add, please send us an email or call us at 903-665-9511.

Breakfast in Bed - One of the best parts of being on vacation is the ability to just be lazy. We never get to do that in real life. It is up and at 'em to go to work, take the kids to soccer practice, get breakfast started, and so on. Wouldn't it be the ultimate in relaxation if you didn't have to get out of bed in the morning at all? Well if you select the Breakfast in Bed package, we will bring breakfast to you in your room. This package is perfect for that romantic getaway.

Romance Package - Instead of a morning in, maybe you would like a quiet evening in? We can do that too. Our romance package, will give you everything you need to stay in and have a quiet evening just the two of you. This package includes a meat and cheese tray, homemade cookies, fresh fruit and a bouquet of flowers. All of this will be waiting for you in your room when you check in.

Caddo Lake by Boat - If you are coming to Jefferson for more of an adventure trip, we have something for you too. We have partnered with the Graceful Ghost on Caddo Lake for private boat tours on a pontoon boat. This personalized tour will take you into parts of the lake that the big boats can't go. Some of the best sites on Caddo are deep into the swamp. In fact, if you are gator watching, this will be the only way to possibly see one (no guarantees - they are shy). This package is perfect for the photographer, lake lover, bird watcher or anyone who really wants to get deep into the swamps and bayous.

Brown Bag Lunch - No matter what your plans are for your trip to Jefferson, you may just not be near a restaurant when lunch rolls around. No worries! We will make your lunch for you. Our Brown Bag Lunch will have a sandwich with deli sliced meat and cheese, a bag of chips, a piece of fruit and a bottle of water. This package is perfect combined with the Caddo Lake by Boat package, bike trips, hiking out at Caddo Lake State Park, a day at Lake o' the Pines or any other adventure you can find out here.

Carriage Ride - Even though it has been a full day of exploration and fun, there is still more to do. Let us schedule a horse drawn carriage ride for you through the beautiful historic district of Jefferson. The carriage will pick you up here at the Carriage House and take you on a personalized tour through the historic district.

If there is something that you would like to do that is not on this list, please feel free to call us at 903-665-9511 or send us an email at info@carriagehousejefferson.com. All of these packages can be booked when you make your room reservations online or by phone. Please give us a few days notice so that we have time to prepare or schedule your package.

Have A Heart!

You may not know that I have a strong passion for the American Red Cross. This is an amazing organization that does so much good for so many people. When things go bad, we all look to the American Red Cross to come and help us and to provide us some assistance. The Red Cross logo is universally recognizable and we all put our faith and complete trust in the Red Cross personnel.

You may not also know that I am a member of the American Red Cross. When we lived in Dallas, I was a Disaster Action Team (DAT) Team Leader and a Shelter Manager. I would be on call on weeknights and weekends ready to provide immediate assistance should it be needed. It was not unusual for the page to come in during the middle of the night, in the pouring rain. Much of our work was to provide immediate assistance to the first responders and victims of fires. Winters are an especially busy time of year for us.

A horrific tragedy occurred in Haiti this week. Most of us cannot even begin to understand the suffering the Haitian people are enduring in this incredibly poor country. I am certain that the images on the evening news does not do the suffering justice. The death toll seems to be going up by the minute. Water is the most important commodity to these people. So many people are injured and have lost their homes and even their family. The devastation is just unimaginable!

My heart breaks every time I turn on the TV and I want to do all that I can to support the American Red Cross at this time. Therefore, we are rolling out the "Have a Heart" campaign starting this weekend and continuing throughout the month of February. We will donate $10 of every room rental to the American Red Cross's Relief Efforts.

Please pass this on so that we can all make a difference in the lives of the Haitian people and provide the funding the American Red Cross needs to do their job. Please call us at 903-665-9511 or email us at info@carriagehousejefferson.com for more information.

Pulpwood Queen's Girlfriend Weekend

Did you know that the largest book club in the world is based out of this fine town of Jefferson, Texas? It is true! The Pulpwood Queen's Book Club is the brainchild of Kathy L. Patrick owner of the Beauty and the Book Salon located only two blocks from The Carriage House Bed and Breakfast.

When Kathy, a licensed cosmetologist turned publisher’s rep, lost her job due to industry cutbacks, she wasn’t deterred by this setback. Only a few months later, she opened Beauty and the Book, the world’s only combination beauty salon/bookstore. An instant hit with customers, who flocked to the store for her dual beauty/book tips, Kathy soon founded The Pulpwood Queens of East Texas. The group meets monthly in official Pulpwood Queens attire—anything that includes hot pink, leopard print, and the obligatory tiara—to eat, drink, and talk books.

The Pulpwood Queens motto is "where tiaras are mandatory and reading good books is the RULE"! This group's mission is to promote literacy and help undiscovered authors get discovered in a great big way. The Pulpwood Queens now have clubs in over eight countries with 200+ chapters globally.

These fine ladies will be having their annual conference here in Jefferson from January 13th through the 17th. The schedule for this conference can be found on the club's website by clicking here.

We still have a few rooms available for this conference. You may go to our website to make your reservation online or call us at (903) 665-9511.

Happy Reading!

Takk for Sist

Some of you may know that I grew up in Norway and many of my traditions and values came from this great Noridic land. One of these traditions that I have held on to over the years is the custom of saying "Takk for Sist" at the New Year. It has a simple and very profound meaning. ..Thank you for last year.

I have many fond memories of saying this simple greeting to complete strangers and dearest of friends on New Year's Eve. Instead of wishing someone a happy new year, it was much more polite to thank them for the year that was passing. To this day, I love the thought of thanking people for the year that was instead of wishing them a happy new year. The new year will be just fine without a greeting but we must always remember our friends and families at the changeover of a new year.

I want to say to all of my new friends and all of my old friends...thank you for last year. I have had an amazing 2009! It has been a year of incredible change. I am humbled by all of the people that have walked through the doors of The Carriage House. I am grateful for all of the wonderful people I have met and the memories that we have made together. I have no doubt in my mind that 2010 will be an equally amazing and equally challenging year.

Takk for Sist!