Mike and Cathy arrived and we were excited to see them. They drove up from Roanoke, Texas where they are currently living until their new home in King Trophy is completed some time this summer. We caught up over a few cocktails on our outside porch before walking into town for dinner.

The brick streets are lined with charming homes one after the other that are well cared for, landscaping impeccable. We arrived downtown, it is Friday night and the streets are filled with antique cars, motorcycles and people. The bars are filled and the music is pouring out to the street. We meander, responding always to the frequent “Hi, how y’all doing”, we are obviously new to the area!

We headed to the local karaoke bar (Auntie Skinner’s Riverboat Club) where we thought it would be fun to people watch and appreciate some more local activity. The place is packed, one table remains, we were in! Well, the smoke hung in the air like a velvet curtain, heavy and thick. The centrepiece on the table was an ashtray filled with butts tumbling out on to the table.....the four of us did a u-turn and with a “We’ll be back” headed out the door for some fresh air. Cathy was asked “Where you going, you just got here?” from a very inebriated fine looking Biker, laden with chains. She said, “Oh we will sing with you later!” Off we went down the street to the Austin Street Bistro.

The Austin Street Bistro was like dining at a friends; tablecloths and flowers, no smoking allowed. Our waitress, so cute and only sixteen could not serve us our wine but took great care of us when it came to everything else. The boys enjoyed their Southern Smothered Smoked Pork Chop served on Gouda creamed grits. Cathy at Mikes suggestion ordered “Rooster Skin”, a potato skin topped with marinated chicken, sausage, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, roasted red pepper tossed in marinara and smothered in mozzarella, Mike LOVED it, as you can see it had to be shared! I had the pecan crusted salmon. The special bread served to all is molasses oatmeal covered in maple syrup. It was like eating a melt in your mouth French toast bun. We felt like we had our dessert first. It is true, everything is bigger in Texas!

It was getting late, people of all ages were still mingling around, many enjoying ice cream cones from the General Store, a place we knew we would return to at some point tomorrow. The music is in full swing at Auntie Skinners, locals belting out their favourite tunes at the top of their lungs. We walk past. Downtown was alive. The population of Jefferson is just over 2000, all ages out tonight embracing the night.

In the south and we noticed this starting in Memphis, I have been called Miss Jane and Tony, Mr. Limina. This is continuing wherever we go. We rehashed the day under the stars on our balcony over a nightcap. Tomorrow we will discover all that Jefferson has to offer, and for a small town the list is very long. Miss Jane, Miss Cathy and the Mr. Limina’s are tired.

The food photo is Cathy’s “Rooster Skin”, a couple of auto shots from downtown and returning to our front porch. The porch is so welcoming and like many homes getting decorated for Easter, wreaths, eggs and bunnies galore. Ghosts apparently inhabit many homes here, wonder if we will have one. Boo!