The Freezing Weather Made for a Difficult Two Months

When Tim and I decided to go to Texas to escape the cold Colorado winter, we knew that we might encounter a few chilly days. This part of Texas is not Arizona or Florida. What we never expected, however, were three extended cold spells with sub-freezing temperatures, ice storms, and snow.

While we will remember our time at LYJO for the interesting project, we will never be able to forget how cold we were for much of our stay.

After finally securing propane on New Year’s Day, Tim and I continued to experience challenges on the home front. We had several nights below freezing, which is never fun, and the park’s water pump for our area went out. That meant that we had virtually no water pressure. So much for using our nearby washing machine.

On one of the coldest nights, we even lost power. Luckily, power was restored in a few hours, but we began to wonder what would go wrong next. We went to headquarters on Sunday to take showers, and mine barely drained, leading to overflowing water. Trying to use the washer/dryer at the other volunteer campground was also frustrating since the washer took forever, and the dryer did not dry.

We thought that our fortune had turned around on the weekend of January 14-16. A new water pump was installed, and we now had plenty of water and could use the washing machine. We went into Fredericksburg to get propane in anticipation of more freezing weather.

We can handle a night or two of freezing temperatures in our RV as long as the daytime temperatures rise above freezing. It’s not that we will be too cold inside. Our propane furnace and electric heater are relatively efficient. Our systems, however, cannot handle days of extended periods that remain below 32°. Our water pipes would simply freeze and burst.

Over the next five weeks, we were “treated” to three periods of extended freezing temperatures. We debated our options and decided that we would check into a hotel. First, we would have to winterize the RV, but finding RV antifreeze was no easy task. Once more, Tractor Supply came to our rescue.

We ended up winterizing and de-winterizing the RV three different times. We also spent 13 nights at La Quinta in Fredericksburg. Our volunteer gig became quite costly.

The weather was so bad that schools and the park were closed for two days. Freezing rain, snow, and cold! Not what we were expecting!

In between the bouts of cold, the weather was lovely. We just wish there had been many more of those lovely days.

Brrrr!!!

AWW! How Cute!!!

Tim and I enjoyed our work at LYJO, but my absolute favorite experience came in mid-February, when the cows started giving birth. The calves were so cute, so adorable! And the mothers were so protective. I just loved driving around the Ranch, looking for the babies.

Living among all the cows was so much fun for me. It was cool when some of them would come to visit us. They would just stop and stare at us from the other side of the fence at our campsite.

I Loved the Cows and Calves

We also enjoyed the other critters that frequented the Ranch. There were always deer, and sometimes pronghorn. I even saw an armadillo.

Deer, Pronghorn, and an Armadillo

Texas State Capitol

I’ve been visiting quite a few state capitols lately, and I didn’t want to miss the Texas capitol while we were here. I had already made a few trips to Austin for service for the Subaru and for a few errands, but there never seemed to be time for playing tourist. Finally, I set aside a Sunday and made the drive.

I was surprised to find that the building was designed by Elijah E. Meyers, the same architect who designed Colorado’s capitol. Constructed from 1882 to 1888, it is the sixth tallest state capitol building.

As always, I enjoyed gazing upwards at the interior of the dome. I was also interested in the terrazzo floor that features the six seals of the countries whose flags have flown over Texas.

Texas State Capitol

Inside the Dome

The Six Seals of the Countries Whose Flags Have Flown over Texas

Lessons in Conservation

Jeanne, the conservator hired by LYJO, arrived for a two-week work session, and we began the job of cleaning and packing the multitude of items in the Texas White House. We started with the ceramics and learned the proper conservation techniques for handling these items.

Jack had arrived with Jeanne, and I was in awe of the secure way he packed some of the most fragile items. I learned how to wrap the plates and then moved on to wrapping Mrs. Johnson’s costume jewelry. In the meantime, Tim was cleaning and packing all the framed photographs that had hung throughout the house, as well as searching for answers to any questions about the catalog record.

Wrapping Plates and Jewelry with Jack

Cleaning and Wrapping Framed Items and Playing Computer Guru

It was very cool to have such an “up close and personal” look at the Johnson’s items. Tim’s brother had asked if we would be handling LBJs underwear. No, but I did deal with his toothbrush and other toiletry items.

I also spent much of my time photographing those items that had never been photographed for the catalog record. Then, in order to create a snapshot of how the house looked before being packed away, I photographed each room from all angles. 

Photographing Items from the Texas White House

Photographing Individual Rooms

I learned so much about conservation from Jeanne and Jack, and Tim and I loved working with them and with Niki. Niki was always there with a smile and a question, “What can I do for you?” What a treasure!

Tim, Niki, and Sarah (and Mrs. Johnson)

Touring the LBJ Ranch

Tim and I had previously visited the LBJ Ranch when we spent several months in nearby Kerrville while full-timing in our RV. Since we’ll be working here, we wanted to take the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with this historic property.

The LBJ Ranch is where LBJ was born, lived, died, and was buried. Mrs. Johnson continued to live here part-time after the President’s death in 1973.

Two of the major buildings at the Ranch include the Texas White House, where we will be spending much of our time, and the former hanger, which is now the visitor center. Other buildings are scattered throughout the property.

The Ranch is still a working ranch, and I believe it is still one of only two National Park units with that distinction. We loved having the cows among us.

The Texas White House

The Hanger

Air Force One-Half

Reconstructed Birthplace

Grandparents' Farmhouse

Who Are You Looking At! - We Have the Right-of-Way

Hats and More Hats

We started work at LYJO on January 3, after several orientations/ briefings at headquarters. Our first project was to photograph approximately 82 hats and their boxes. These were hats that LBJ gave away as gifts, and the boxes are on display in the visitor center at the ranch.

"The Giving President"

Examples of Our Work Product

We are working at the LBJ Ranch, where our campsite is located, and the Secret Service Command Post is our “office.” The staff has been great, especially Niki, the Museum Technician whom we will be working with most closely.

Secret Service Command Post - Our Office

Searching for Propane in Texas

After a great two days of settling into our site at LYJO, things began to fall apart. We knew that freezing overnight temperatures were predicted, but we were not prepared. Our propane supply was low, and it was forecast to be below freezing for two nights, so we had to conserve. Our little electric heater could not keep up, and it was so very, very cold in the RV overnight.

We knew we had to get propane the next morning, but it was Sunday, and most places were closed. I called and found a Tractor Supply about 45 minutes away, and we headed there. I almost cried when they told me that they had sold out 30 minutes before we arrived. We scrambled to find another place, even farther away. We were eventually successful but ended up driving 154 miles altogether. What was to have been a relaxing Sunday turned out to be anything but that.