Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day to all the Veterans out there!

Bastrop had their big celebration over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  They has the Art Walk, Old Car Parade, Antique cars on exhibit, shows, live music, breakfasts, and much more.   We went to the First Friday Art Walk in the 65 Thunderbird.  It was not cooperating in running well.  The T-Bird died as we parked.  Gene wasn't sure if it would get going again so we just went to eat and then came back with no more problems.

65 Thunderbird

Saturday, for us started off with the Veterans Day Ceremony in downtown historic Bastrop, Texas.  Gene is an Air Force vet.  He served on an Atlas-F  Missile crew in the Strategic Air Command.  He was stationed in Roswell, New Mexico.  The missiles were very interesting and an important part of the defence system at the time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM-65_Atlas

Gene marched with the vets to the ceremony.

During the ceremony the songs from the different branches of the service were played and they asked the veterans from each branch to stand.  Gene stood with the Air Force.  I was surprised there were no Marines seated with the older vets but they definitely got a big round of applause.  Maybe the Marines were just not in my view.  Our son, David, is a former Marine (not an ex-Marine).  He served 12 years.

The color guard.

Taking in the ceremony.

I liked this old car entry.

This black '57 Ford is like the car I had when I got my first job after high school. Gene was checking it out. This is in better shape than mine was in 1960, ha.  I used 5 gallons of gasoline and a quart of oil a day! 

Remembering the old drive in service at your car.  Good memories.

 There was a fly over with the missing man formation and then played taps.

Gene got in some more visiting on his trike.  He got as many comments as the antique cars!

 The gentleman on the left was 98 years old and had served many years.  He retired 50 years ago.  Wow!

 The veterans were preceded by the bag pipe player and then he led them out as well.

The Carper Family http://www.carperfamilyband.com/  performed.  They are a fantastic group, one of our favorites.  You may remember we went to Dallas to see them perform on the Prairie Home Companion.  They put on a great show for an hour.

The Hot Texas Swing Band http://www.hottexasswingband.com/  was next.  They played some old Texas swing and put on a good show, too.

Saturday night we left Bastrop and went to Lagrange to the Bugle Boy.  Oh, my.  The Chubby Knuckle Choir http://www.reverbnation.com/thechubbyknucklechoir  had the old place rockin'.  They play a strange but wonderful sound as they have four song writers and they play it all.  Besides their own music they play any other kind that strikes their fancy.  If you get a chance to see them, go for it.  They are pure entertainment!

Sunday we went to eat at the Hit the Spot Cafe.  It is in Garfield, Texas, between Bastrop and Austin on Highway 71.  It is a great breakfast place.  They make fresh flour tortillas and biscuits.  Good food!  They are located in the library.  You can use the wifi, check out a book, and work on a puzzle while you wait to be seated in the restaurant. 

The draw for Sunday was new cars and race cars from the Cottonbowl speedway.  Very few people showed up on Sunday afternoon.  It was a shame because Jenny Reynolds http://www.jennyreynolds.com/  performed at 4:00 p.m.  She has a beautiful voice and a singer, songwriter of balads that tell stories.  She plays a mean guitar and had André Moran play guitar as well .  Andre is part of The Belle Sounds from Austin.  http://www.thebellesounds.com  She sang "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry", an old Hank Williams tune.  It was a beautiful version that makes you almost cry. She is another of our favorites.  They had more music that we didn't have time to see.

I hope you had a great Veterans Day and thanked them for their service!  5 days of celebration for us, love it!