CAMP STREET CAFE

Have you ever heard anyone in Crockett say, "There's just nothing to do here?"  Well, hold on there Pardner!  Maybe you just haven't looked hard enough!  Camp Street Cafe is a prime example. 

Last Saturday evening, the Gibson Brothers were in town with their five piece bluegrass band.  And what a show it was!  These guys just received Entertainer of the Year from the International Bluegrass Music Awards.  And they played right here in Crockett, Texas! 

A great big kudos goes out to Guy and Pipp Gillette at Camp Street Cafe for bringing to Crockett some amazingly talented musicians.  I have to admit that I'm not a huge bluegrass music fan but The Gibson Brothers made a believer out of me.  There is something awesome about catching a show at Camp Street.  It's a great venue with wonderful acoustics and there's not a bad seat in the house. 

So take my advice and go see a show at the Camp Street Cafe.   Another reason why I Love Crockett, Texas!  There's plenty to do here, you just have to look! 

Fresh Tomatoes for Christmas?

I know it's crazy but let me explain. Last September we were at a home improvement store nearby and I noticed they had heirloom tomato plants for sale. I bought a handful, along with the usual winter plants like broccoli, greens and such. I planted them all, not really knowing what to expect, especially with the tomatoes.

Well, it wasn't long before I had blooms and lots of little green, baby tomatoes all over my plants. But, along with the prospect of fresh tomatoes was another problem. We were about to get our first frost and if it's one thing tomatoes hate, it's cold weather. So I began covering them every night with old sheets and removing them each morning when it warmed up enough that it would not damage my precious tomato plants. If you've ever tried to keep this vigil up for very long, you know what a pain it is. So I devised a plan. I would build a hot house over my tomatoes!

I recycled some old concrete rebar, a busted up wooden frame cover from a duck blind and some roll plastic from Tractor Supply and wallah! We have ourselves a hot house, complete with fluorescent lights and a heater (don't ask how much these tomatoes are per pound when I figure in the cost of electricity). I placed a thermometer in the hot house and the temperature, even when it has dipped below freezing, has stayed between 70-90 degrees. I water them once a week with Miracle Gro, and used some of the shavings from my daughter's show goat as mulch around them. They seem pretty happy!

So, on Christmas day, we had fresh grown tomatoes from the garden to complement our salad and I've had sliced heirloom tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and feta cheese. I wish I had enough to share with all of you because I think these are some of the best tomatoes I've ever grown.