AN ANNIVERSARY ADVENTURE

So, has anybody guessed where Hubby might have whisked me away to for his secret anniversary adventure? Well, here's a hint: it took me longer to pack than it took to for us to reach our destination -- and I'm a fast packer! Yep, we turned right out of our neighborhood, and hadn't driven more than ten or twelve minutes when Hubby suddenly made a sharp left turn. I nearly wet my pants when I realized what was going on.

You see, people are always asking us for recommendations on where to stay in this area. But, the thing is, if you actually live here in the Hill Country, you don't ever stay at any of these places yourself, so how can you compare or recommend them? This one though -- the one formerly known as the Inn Above Onion Creek, but which became Sage Hill Inn when the original owners retired -- well, this one has quite a reputation. In fact, I think I first read about it in Southern Living or one of those magazines, way back before we'd even moved here, and it's been on my bucket list ever since. We pass that sign at least a half-dozen times per week, and each time we do, one or the other will say "One of these days we really need to drive down there and snoop around." Well, I guess Adventure Boy finally got the guts to do it, and was so impressed with what he saw that he booked a reservation on the spot -- and managed to keep it to himself for a couple of weeks or more!

Upon arrival we were greeted by one of the managers, who gave us a guided tour of the place, including the library, the dining room and kitchen -- where we were to help ourselves to fresh-baked cookies, house-made protein bars, popcorn, coffee, iced-tea, assorted hot teas, or a mini-fridge packed with all my favorite Dublin-based sodas, at any time, day or night...

the pool and hot tub...

the gardens, where many of the herbs and vegetables used in our meals came from...

and finally to our room, which may have looked rustic from the outside...

but which turned out to be anything but.

Then, as if all this weren't more than enough, our hostess glanced at her watch and said "Well, Mrs. Lane, I guess it's time for you to head off to your appointment at the spa." "Huh?" Then I noticed my hubby, grinning his fool head off! It seems he had booked me for one of their "Pick 3" specials, which includes a mini facial, back, or neck/scalp massage, and Reflexology or AromaTouch. And now I'm kind of mad at him for doing that.

You see, the only time I've ever had a massage was as a newlywed in Singapore, and I did not enjoy it. In fact, it was downright painful. Since then, I have never even been tempted to waste money going to a spa. This experience changed all that, and it's all his fault!

After enjoying a fabulous three course dinner (all except wine and beer was included in the room fee) we adjourned to the firepit to watch the sun go down. It was not the least bit chilly, but when Hubby discovered that the logs were propane powered, and could be turned on and off at will, he couldn't resist playing with the switch on a nearby tree.

The next morning I was perfectly situated for watching the sunrise from the little balcony off of our room, and then had plenty of time to hike down to the Onion Creek overlook, before enjoying a sumptuous breakfast of fruit, fresh-squeezed juice, eggs, bacon, and Belgian waffles with strawberry-rhubarb compote.

Later, when Hubby asked me if I'd had fun, I told him "Sweetie, that wasn't "fun." That was EPIC."

I caught him grinning again, for no apparent reason, several times throughout the day. "You're really proud of yourself, aren't you?" "Yep, sometimes I amaze even myself."