Today I attended a class on RV tank cleaning followed by a roundtable discussion on everything RV. Much of the discussion was focused on solar which we do not have. Many folks have invested in solar so they can "boondock", i.e. camping with out utility hookups. Bravo for those that do, but Doreen and I have discussed this many times and we just don't camp that way nor do we want to, so it would not be a good investment for us. Doreen stayed back and decorated the cookies she is going to take to the event Saturday evening.
Sugar cookies with frosting and small seashell mints
Later in the morning we drove to Lindale TX south of Mineola, to visit the Lindale Candy Company. Today they were making peppermint candy such as red and white striped candy canes. The Rally folks arranged a tour so that we could see how they make this candy. The streets were lined with dually pickups!!
There were over 40 of us from the Rally that gathered there for the tour. We had a little time before they started making the candy so we walked around their store and were amazed at all of the different type of candy they sell. Not all of what they sell is made here.
Soon the peppermint candy making process started so we all gathered outside by the large windows.
The four horizontal windows is where we watch them making the candy
There were over 40 of us from the Rally that gathered there for the tour. We had a little time before they started making the candy so we walked around their store and were amazed at all of the different type of candy they sell. Not all of what they sell is made here.
A peppermint candy cane bowl made here.
Chocolate candies of all types made here
More candies made here
We packed the store before the tour.
Disclaimer: Many of these pictures are distorted by the glare from the windows.
After watching them make the candy through the windows were were invited to walk through the shop and see the finished product up close. As we passed through we were each given a peppermint drop that they had just made, and it was still warm! It was delicious but could easily pull a filling right out of your teeth!!
We ended up back in the store where many were purchasing candy to take with them. On the way back to Mineola we drove past a restaurant owned by Miranda Lambert who grew up in this town. Miranda Leigh Lambert is an American country singer, songwriter and guitarist. Lambert's family also runs the Pink Pistol boutique and a winery in Lindale
The candy melting in the large open pot
The melted candy spread onto a large metal table
The candy makers work the candy sort of like a bread maker works their dough.
Color and flavoring are added to the melted candy
This is the red peppermint candy being prepared. There was a machine that stretches and works the white portion but I did not get a picture of it
Candy with the red and white layers
All of this forming is done by hand here at this shop
The candy is rolled and stretched
Here you can really see the peppermint candy being formed
Some of the final candy cane material
The very old machine that forms the peppermint drops
The peppermint drops are broken apart
Then we walked through the room where the chocolate candies are made. Everything looked delicious!!
Dinner in the Civic Center hall.
Our taco bar servers!
A Texas-decorated cookie and another cute decoration
I stayed in the large hall to play Texas Hold'em poker - very fitting for the Texas Alliance Rally LOL. It has been years since I played but it was a very low-threat game. The chips were $0.10 ea with $3.00 buy-in, two chip min bets, no all-in bets. I think we had three or four tables going with six or seven at each table. No pictures but a lot of fun!
I played Texas Hold'em for two hours before I got a text from Doreen that Liberty had puked and there was some blood in it. So I bailed on the game and headed back to the coach. Liberty only got sick once and then was resting. We gave her some of the medication her vet prescribed that we carry with us for blood in the stool or phlegm. Let's hope this does not continue....
Tomorrow is the last day of the Rally and we have a full day of events on the schedule.
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