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12SmokeSignalsSHOWDEALERSPOTLIGHTThecornerstoneofMissionSinCajasayssomuchaboutthetwoextraordinaryindividualsbehindthis21stcenturyreconstructedmissionthatsitson300beautifulacresinMcMullenCountyTexas.ItreadssimplyEstablished1755plusorminus250yearsinmemoryofH.D.andMildredHouse.Whileperhapsphysicallythebeautifulcompoundtheyvecreatedwasntbuiltin1755buteverypieceofitsspiritandinspirationcomesfromthattimeandtheoriginalmissionstheSpanishpadresbuilt.IstartedcollectingSpanishColonialarchitectureabout30yearsagowithoutreallyknowingwhyremarksKurt.Butsometimesthathappensonlytofindoutwhymuchlaterandnowweallknow.MissionSinCajasitsonahilloverlookingtheNuecesRiverValleybetweentheNuecesandRioGrandeRivers.ThismesawasusedhundredsofyearsagoasalandmarkforexplorersandtravelersandtodayKurtregardsthemissionasacontemporarylandmarkonethatwilldrawpeopletolearnandembracetherichhistoryuponwhichitwasinspired.HisgoalistoinfectpeoplewithenthusiasmandthedesiretolearnabouttheareashistorywhilegivingthemtheaddedbonusofbeingabeautifulbedandbreakfastcompletewithcasitasswimmingpoolandawinecellarSpeakingofwinethegrapevinesarecomingalongnicelyandsoonnewvintnersKurtandSusieHousewillbepouringMissionSinCajawineattheireveningsoirees.FornowtheysettleforthefinestSpanishwines.KurtandSusiebeganbuildingtheirdreamin2005notonlytopreserveTexasandSpanishhistorybutasalastingtributetoKurtsparentsH.D.andMildredHouse.KurtdesignedtheentireprojectconstructingitfromlocalmaterialssuchasrockmesquitecanteraandSpanishandMexicantilestomakeitasauthenticaspossible.Allofthemodernconveniencessuchaselectricalcomponentshavebeencarefullyhiddenfromview.Todaythemissionisnotonlyatestamenttotheirvisionbutamostcaptivatingplacetoenjoyfriendsfamilymusicmargaritassangriaandfabulouscuisineallsetinthespiritofthepast.HowitcametobecalledMissionSinCajaisanotherlookintothepassionofKurtHouseashistorianandauthor.Hetoutshimselfasasimplemanwholovesandcollectsallkindsofwesternmemorabiliaandguns.Buttheressomuchmore.JustadissertationawayfromhisPhDKurthaspublishedsixbooksontopicsfromantiquearmsandnaturalhistorytoaExtraordinaryvisionresultsinMissionSinCajaKurtandSusieHousebringhistorybacktolifeByJayneSkeffHIGHNOON