Cactus removal...

One of the first things that people used to notice when they came up our driveway to take a look at the house and wedding ceremony sites, or visit the B & B, was the acres of prickly pear cactus.  It almost looked like we were growing it as a crop!  Well, those days are almost over, or at least the cactus is being significantly reduced.  Just in time for two June weddings, Lee has been out in the pasture working to clear it of our unwanted crop.  Now, if we only had a way to make the piles of cactus magically disappear...



On the bright side, the first wildflowers of the season are poking their brave little heads up.  We can hardly wait to see what blooms we have this year.  We seeded some additional flowers to hopefully increase out display.  With a little rain, things should be coming up any day now.


These are some ox eye daisies--I think from the seeds I planted last year.  I will be posting more as soon as the show starts.  :)

Our favorites from the Killeen Bridal Extravaganza...

Today we attended our first Bridal show in Killeen, sponsored by the Killeen Daily Herald.  We had a wonderful time and met some very nice folks.  Several brides from Lampasas and Copperas Cove were there, and it was great to meet them and their entourages.  As usual, we tasted some yummy food and cake and saw some beautiful work in the booths, so here are some recommendations based on what we tasted and observed.

Cakes:

Sweet Eats Bakery in Killeen
We tasted the orange, lemon, strawberry, and red velvet.  They were all delicious and the frosting was light and creamy, not heavy.  Yum!

Works of Art Cakes in Killeen
They take their cakes pretty seriously, and they are definitely artsy.  We tasted a white cake, very light and fluffy, with a nice buttercream frosting.  Fortunately, we shared, so we did not go into a sugar coma after trying so much cake.  :)

Wedding Planners and Designers:

R&M Smith Designs--Her decorations were tasteful and on trend.  Very well done.  You can see more of her work on her Facebook page.  She also handles rentals and catering.  Score!

Geri M. Schwartzman at Milestone Memories and Events.  Take a look at her website for some of her designs.

Hair:

Crave Hair Lounge--they will come out to the Manor to make sure you and all your bridesmaids look great!

Catering:

Sticky Bones BBQ & Catering--delicious.  Everything we tried, brisket, chicken, beans, even the broccoli salad was wonderful.

CJ's Catering in Georgetown--Wonderful food and the people are fantastic.  With over 30 years in the business, you won't be disappointed.

New photos...

Saturday, we were the played host to some local teens on their way to a dance.  They were a charming bunch, for sure!

A Beautiful Winter Wedding with Fairy Lights...

Just before Christmas, we celebrated our first wedding at the Manor.  The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, and everyone was wearing a smile.  The weather cooperated, too, by remaining temperate and comfortable well after sundown.  The reception on the patio under the fairy lights was just right and guests enjoyed dinner al fresco.  A grand time was had by all;  we were so happy to be a part of the joining of two families in joy!

Can't make it to Paris? No problem...

The Lampasas Love Locks corner is finished!
Maybe you can't leave your love locks in Paris any more, but here at the Manor, we have just the place for couples to leave a sign of their enduring love.  Sit a spell on our bench and add your lock to the old fence under the shade of a grand-daddy oak tree.  You can even take the perfect selfie with your lock and your loved one.  Lee and I have added the first lock and we hope that many happy couples will join us in this fun tradition, whether they celebrate their wedding here, or come back to the B&B for an anniversary sometime.