October 22, 2014. Harper, Texas. The Texas White House.

For years, Ken and I have driven past the entrance to the Lyndon Johnson National Historic Park. Instead, we stopped to use the facilities at the LBJ Rest Stop on Highway 290, and we swore that the next visit to the Hill Country we would promise to visit the Johnson ranch. But we never did, until now that is. Joyce, Robbie, Ken and I visited the Texas White House today. It was a splendid trip. The setting is beautiful. The ranch owned by the Johnsons had 2800 acres, so the drive around the ranch and along the Pedernalas River is lovely, The visit includes the site of LBJ's birth, the graveyard of the family and a tour of the first level of the ranch house. We were able to get all our questions answered. One thing for sure is that neither the President or his wife were interested in fancy furniture. The setting is lovely but the rooms in the Texas White House are small and the furniture ordinary. The four of us enjoyed the visit. Then we followed up by having lunch in Johnson City, the town where Lyndon was brought up. The Hill Country still reveres Lyndon Johnson, because as a young congressman, he brought electricity to the whole Hill Country. His energy and expertise was just beginning.