WHEN MUSES LOSE THEIR VOICES

Outdoor Woman has chickens. Ergo, lots of eggs. We all have lots of colorful markers. And, Easter is next Sunday. Therefore, it was no big surprise when someone suggested doing this at our weekly coffee klatsch.

No, the big surprise is that we got so absorbed in what we were doing, there was no "klatsching" going on -- not even a peep!

It's a miracle!

GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD TIMES

Checking Out The Action on the Patio Behind Cypress Creek Cafe

It happens every spring and fall, here in the Texas Hill Country. You only get two or three weekends each when the weather is just perfect for being outdoors, so they cram as much as they possibly can into the tiniest of windows, and there's just no way to do it all!  Between caring for their grandson every weekday, and attending their high-school-coach-son's baseball games and grandson's t-ball games on weekends, our adventure buddies have a hard time getting away these days. However, they had managed to eke out a 24-hour window this weekend, and we were determined to make the most of it. Only solution? Divide and Conquer!

The men met up with another compadre from our early days in Bahrain at Hays City Store, then went on to check out the crawfish boil and music fest going on out at Middleton Brewing. While they were doing that, Miss Paula and I opted for a lah-di-dah luncheon on the beautiful deck at Jobell's, then we headed into town for a piece of pie at Wimberley's annual Pie Social, and to browse the shops while enjoying the aromas from the many stations set up around town for the annual BBQ Cook-Off.

We met back up with the guys for a brief rest at the house (a.k.a. gab-fest on the porch for us gals, and on the patio for the guys) then headed over to AquaBrew in San Marcos -- where we had this fabulous brunch recently -- to try making a dinner from their Pub Snacks menu.

Success! We all shared the Crispy Tuna (YUM), Street Corn, Green Chile Beer Fondue, and the Pork & Date Flatbread, and it was all pret-ty darn good!

When we got back home Paula and I returned to our rockers on the balcony, but the boys decided to light up the fire pit one last time while it was still cool enough, and we weren't under a burn ban. If you've ever wondered how my introverted hubby and the extra-extraverted Toad Man became such tight buddies, well, this photo says it all.

The Story Teller and His Ever-Receptive Audience

As you can see in the background, even the deer came to listen! Before we knew it, we were there too.

The next morning we headed over to the little town of Buda, between here and Austin. No, not Booda. BEW-duh! Not long ago Hubby and I had gone to try out a Cajun restaurant there on the main street that someone had mentioned. Couldn't understand why this huge, newly remodeled place was totally empty right at noon, when the parking lot out front was packed with cars, and there was a steady stream of people passing the windows. After giving up on their less than stellar Muffaletta, we understood better why everyone was headed next door to a little place called Helen's Casa Alde. They are only open for breakfast and lunch, so that's where we decided to have brunch on Sunday -- along with a million other people. The good news is that, if you have to wait for a table, there are tables and chairs outside on the covered sidewalk, and a fun little shop to browse through down on the corner! I knew we were gonna love it as soon as they sat us right in front of this mirror, with what could be our personal motto hanging above it.

And then, of course, there was that sandwich board out front which said "We Roll Big Fatties!" 

Try one. You'll like it!