SPLORIN': DRIPPING SPRINGS

When I first moved up here my very favorite thing to do was to go exploring in all the little towns hereabouts. Over time, however, I fell out of the habit. I had loved how each one was so unique, with a character all its own. The only one I didn't spend much time in was Dripping Springs, for it had persisted in remaining a bedroom town full of people who commuted to Austin, with almost no businesses other than fast food restaurants and big box stores. Lately, however, I've been hearing rumors of change. So, while our hubbies were off tail-gating with the engineering department over at UT, my BFF and I decided to go check it out. First stop, Mercer Street, where we found a great little children's consignment store called Itsy Bitsy Spider. I will be checking back there on a regular basis for grandkid stuff! Further on we turned down a little side alley to get to a shop called Vintage Soul...

where Paula found a fantastic necklace...

and I found some color-mad earrings so beautiful they made me swoon!

There were several other new-to-me shops such as Starr's Boutique, a way-above-average-for-a-small-town coffee shop called Mazama Coffee Co., and a couple of bars (including one disguised as a barber shop). Then there was the ever popular Mercer Street Dance Hall. Come to think of it, the two-step is something else we haven't done in ages!

About the only thing missing on Mercer Street was a good spot for a couple of gals to have lunch. Luckily, however, we didn't have far to go to reach Epicure, at 1025 Cannon Drive, in an itty bitty  strip mall.

Bacon and Corn Beignets Drizzled With Cilantro Honey

Not only did they have delicious, albeit a tad pricey, food, they also had a couple of muse Edgy Art Woman's magnificent poured paintings on their walls!

Our final stop of the day was at Solstice, the wonderful indoor/outdoor art shop where we got our beloved orange whirligig many moons ago.

 

It was a wonderful day that got me to thinkin', maybe I need to get out and about more?