About Fannin County, TX

How's this for "Green":

This is a 2'x2' piece of old barn roofing tin that has been flattened out and stamped with this design and then white-washed. It can be used for ceilings, wainscots, door or cabinet inserts.

This is the ultimate in green: recycling. Taking an old piece of building material that has come off of a structure that is being taken down and then repurposed and reused in new construction and other applications.

If you would like to order these in quantity for your project, you can drop me an email.

This is through my reclaimation company: Texas Heritage Timber and Wood.

If you're from Fannin County or the Red River counties north of DFW, you know what I'm talking about. If not, your in for a treat.

In the late 1800's the French wine producing areas were suffering from blight and disesase which were killing the vines. The French government looked far a wide for a solution and came upon Dr. Thomas Munson who was living in Denison, Texas at the time. He was well known for his expertise in grapes. He had moved to North Texas along the Red River due in part to the climate and the native grapes that grew here.

The native species of grape vines that were found along the Red River and were the salvation of the French wine industry. They were resistant to the scourges that were killing French vineyards. Funny thing about this is that wine production in Texas never really caught on. Not since the Spanish grew grapes in their settlements since the 1600's and the Germans grew grapes in their settlements from the 1830's.

Fast forward to today. Texas is now recognized as a wine producing region of world-class wines, although there is very little production taking place when compared to France, California and Italy.

Right here in Fannin County, we have the Homestead Winery, run by Gabe Parker. It is the oldest continuously operated vineyard in the area.

They produce wines from both locally grown and imported grapes. They produce their wines right here in Ivanhoe, located in Fannin County and they have their tasting rooms in Denison and Grapevine (go figure).

For more information on the Homestead Winery, check them out here:

Why not order some great Texas wine from Homestead Winery for your Christmas list?

We've been having a problem with bees at my house.  Living out in the wilds of nature, you'd think they would prefer a more natural setting, but NO.  They have to set up home in the eaves of our house!  I've been battling these little buggers for the past 10 years.  No sooner do I eliminate a hive then a new swarm comes in the next spring and sets up in a new location. 

I've called out our local bee keeper on the first infestation.  He supposedly cleaned them out but they came right back within a couple of weeks.  So I've been doing it myself ever since.

I just finished wiping out another hive today.  Now I have to get back up tomorrow and remove the honey combs and all the dead bees, fill the cavity with expanding foam so they can't set up home again, seal the soffet and facia with caulk and then nail it all back up. 

Then wait for next spring for them to do it all again! I would really prefer to have them moved, but no one will come out to do that.

This wouldn't be so bad except that they choose the highest part of the soffet to get into, about 20' up in the air. 

As I was searching for information on preventing re-infestation, I came across a couple of interesting videos on youtube about bee removal.

The serious videos are mildly informative.  Here's the "don't try this at home" do it yourself bee removal vid:

 

Everybody hates holding open "houses" right?

I think I've found the exception to the rule.

I took a couple of professional RE colleagues out hog hunting today. I scared up a couple (hogs) but they didn't go where we needed them to. Oh well, a bad day hunting sure beats a good day at the office.

The weather was perfect, low 70's, clear sky, slight breeze.

I have another property that I can take folks out to preview, about 256 acres on the Red River. Any takers?

In honor of Veterans Day, I am posting a poem my daughter wrote back in 2003 concerning our active duty military that had just deployed to Iraq.

She was 15 at the time and very insightful.

And I'm proud to say not only is she my daughter, she takes after her grandfather, my dad, a vet and another poet. I wrote this post in regard to his salute to Veterans. You can read it here:

Final Roll Call, a salute to our Veterans who've once again led the way.

For The Soldiers

By: Erin Michaud

Dedicated to all the brave men and women serving the USA. Thank-you!

Fly the flag so proud,

In remembrance of me.

Your brothers, your sisters,

The wounded you see.

They gave up their lives,

Futures, and dreams,

A perfect stranger to you,

Yet not so, I deem.

How much they gave up,

That you might be free.

The greatest sacrifice possible,

Given so lovingly.

And all they ever wanted

Was to serve, give, protect,

Yet there are those among us

Who show them no respect.

Then there are those

Who are safe and at home.

Complaining and griping,

And only bemoan

The fact that there are people,

Proud and strong

Willing to face evil,

Fight, and overcome wrong.

So for those who are giving

The ultimate sacrifice,

A little more caring

Just might suffice.

Why, then, do you complain,

If you’re not the ones dying?

They chose to protect you,

So stop your crying!

Yes, you have the

Freedom of speech.

But can’t you use it

For good, and to teach,

The youth of our nation

To strive, to serve,

To follow their footsteps

And to preserve,

The legacy that the soldiers,

Have thus so far nobly achieved.

They will not be forgotten!

Nor will their deeds.

So fly the flag proud,

In honor of those,

Fighting, protecting, and serving,

They are my heroes!

(copyright 2003, all rights reserved, Erin Michaud, used by permission)

When she wrote this, she was serving in the Texoma Composite Civil Air Patrol Squadron at the old Perrin AFB (now the Grayson County airport) in Sherman, Texas. She went on to become the Squadron Cadet Commander. Her unit was called out to search for wreckage of the Columbia space shuttle. She follows in a long family tradition of military service to our nation and before.

Stay tuned, there's more. Her younger sister has also taken after her grandfather.