On a trip to the Waco area, Suzanne and I visited Homestead Heritage, a
community that embraces the pioneer way of doing things. Their handcrafted
Texas items are sold on the premise and through their catalog. With a walking
tour of the farm, one can view craftsmen and craftswomen creating pottery
vases, bowls and dinnerware sets; building wood furniture, wood carvings and
other wood projects; grinding corn, wheat and oats; making yarn and creating
quilts, rugs, blankets and clothes; and a forging wrought iron items such as
bed frames, tables and ornate gates.
We found that the best part of the experience was watching the craftsmen
at work. Suzanne was fascinated with the fiber crafts shop. Here, we watched
one lady create yarn, while another worked the yarn into cloth on a loom. The
ladies were friendly and willing to answer any question. I enjoyed the
Gristmill. Water is channeled from a nearby well to turn a wooden waterwheel
connected by gears and pulleys to a grinding wheel. Inside an adjacent room,
you can purchase their products and ask questions of the workers. In the
woodshop, samples of their furniture, guitars and carvings lined the walls of
the building. We also toured the herb farm and pottery shop.
After finishing our tour of the craft buildings, we ventured into the
General store where you can see more of their products and purchase your
favorites. The two story building was stocked full of things of interest to
both Suzanne and I. My favorites were the carved wildlife. These life-like
carvings of wood were phenomenal! Suzanne admired the beautiful quilts.
All this walking and shopping made us thirsty and hungry. Lucky for us,
on the premise is a highly regarded café. We had read about this café and its
wonderful home-style foods and desserts. Having already made reservations, we
couldn’t wait to eat. The food was fresh and seasonal and tasty. What more
could you ask for? The staff was courteous and attentitive to our every need.
This is a must do if you visit Homestead Heritage. Just remember to call for
reservations beforehand as the place is packed on weekends.
Spending an afternoon at the Homestead Heritage community is a great way
to spend time in Texas Thru My Back Door!
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