Pigs and Dinosaurs!

Today we did some errands and some exploring in "Downtown" Lexington, which is really called "Historic Uptown" Lexington.  Saw some strange critters and a few pigs. " Pigs in the City" is a public art initiative coordinated by Uptown Lexington , Inc., created to revitalize the downtown ("Uptown") area of Lexington.  People pay commissions to artist  to decorate life sized sculptured pigs, which are installed throughout the city.  There are a total of twenty of these pigs throughout the city.  We saw a few today. Why pigs you say?  To celebrate the annual North Carolina BBQ Festival held each October. Lexington claims to be the BBQ capital of North Carolina. Of course, those of us from Texas, know better!  Who puts red slaw on good BBQ and does not offer the sides of pickles and onions!   Note"  Red Slaw is distinguished from coleslaw because red slaw contains no mayonnaise.  It is a combination of cabbage, vinegar, ketchup, and crushed ground black pepper! The BBQ meat is always pork shoulder cooked slowly over a hardwood fire and basted in a sauce "dip" made of vinegar, ketchup, water, salt, pepper and other spices.  YUCK!  Thus the explanation of the "Pigs in the City" and the BBQ. 

 Brief history of Lexington

First settled around 1750 as an unnamed, village.  In 1775, an express rider came through the village with news of the Battle of Lexington in Massachusetts.  To commemorate this event the village was so named.  In 1828  Lexington was incorporated.  In 1838. the first operating silver mine in the country was opened in Lexington and was named Silver Hill Mine.  The oldest surviving house is called The Homestead and was built by Dr. William Holt.  Dr. Holt was an ardent secessionist and lost three sons in the Civil War.  Additionally, his home was occupied by the Union Army. 

The Uptown Lexington Historic District is a five block area of commercial construction with almost no missing or destroyed structures.

In 1824 a courthouse ( Old Davidson County Courthouse) was built in the middle of the town square around 25 acres which became "Uptown".  This courthouse burned down and a new courthouse was built in 1858, which also was burned and rebuilt in 1867.  It is a lovely example of Classical Revival architecture.

Around 1885, the first brick structures appeared just south of the courthouse.  During the next few decades all the original wooden buildings were overbuilt with brick which still exist today.

Along the way we spotted a couple of oddities not usually spotted in town!

Legend has it, this one bites!

Just Chillin'..........Enjoying the process of spoiling grandkiddos!

Well, I've been busy with grandchildren, and my son's internet was down yesterday, so I am finally trying to catch up!

Our second day of traveling was fairly good weather-wise and traffic-wise. We had a little bit of rain along the way, but not like we did the day before. We have been watching the news regarding the floods that continue to rage back home, and we are still thankful we left a day early.

Day three we drove from Montgomery to Lexington, NC, where our son Jason and his family live with their five children!  It was so good to see them again.  It was another long day of driving (8 hours), and a lot of traffic!  A lot of traffic, especially trying to get around Atlanta, but worth the hugs and joy surrounding our arrival! We were especially excited to have the opportunity to meet our newest grandchild Drew, whom we had not yet met,  and is now 16 months old and walking!

After getting set up we ate dinner and called it an early night.  It had been a very long day

Yesterday we spent time at the swimming pool and just catching up and enjoying each others company.  Jason and his family live next to the Country Club and are eligible for pool privileges.  And those kiddos swim like fish!  Even Missy will go off the diving board.  We just walk through the back yard and we are at the pool.  Had a nice dinner at a local Mexican restaurant called Don Juan's (awesome) then went home and played with the kids before they went to bed and then called it a night.  It is just so much fun to be around family we don't get to see very often!

Today was a "down" day and I tell you what, Jason and Shannon's idea of a "down" day and my interpretation of a "down" day are two very different things!  Jason worked on the deck he is building, Jim worked on some RV repairs, Elijah, the oldest grandson did yard work and Shannon ran to the grocery store. I did laundry and played with the kiddos and Lizzie.  Jim later made his "special request" crab dip and after pool time and dinner clean up it was movie time with the kids and then everyone settled down for the night. 

Last night we had thunderstorms which were quite intense - reminded us of home! We continue to pray for all those in harms way due to the severe flooding back home.

Lexington is a lovely southern town located between Charlotte and Winston-Salem, NC..  Tomorrow I will blog more about its' history and some of the uniqueness of the what they call BBQ here......it ain't Texas, BBQ that is for sure!

Til next time.......

FLOATING DOWN THE HIGHWAY-DAY ONE

Left home early in an effort to get ahead of the storms that are to hit Houston today and through the next few days.  We did good until we hit Beaumont and the sky fell! We were finally able to reach our destination for the evening.  We are at Porches RV and Fish Camp in Breaux Bridge, LA.  One of our favorite places to stay and we have been here often.  For more information on this hidden treasure, go to www.pochesrvpark.com!  

Lizzie did not enjoy the ride at all.  Especially the windshield wipers!  She will sleep good tonight as she sat up the whole ride and never took a nap!

Breaux Bridge is an interesting town located just east of Lafayette, LA., and is know as the Crawfish Capital of the world!  A must visit place to add to your Bucket List.  Go to https://en.wikipedia.org/Breaux_Bridge,_Louisiana

Not a real interesting day today, and a long one at that! Took Lizzie for a long walk around the park and we are ready to call it a day! Thanking God for safe travel

Hope everyone back home is staying dry and out of the flooding.

Jim, Joan, Lizzie and Speedy