WHEN REALITY COLLIDES WITH EXPECTATION

We are coming up on our 39th wedding anniversary and, since I can't think of a single gift my hubby might want or need and, since I am much more into experiences than "stuff" these days, I decided to whisk him away for a mini-vacay instead. We had such a great time on our two urban get-aways last fall. We love exploring downtown areas in search of the hidden gems, be it local food specialties, art, architecture, gee-gaws, or just general quirkiness. Oh, and people! Always the people! However, when I asked my hubby whether he'd rather go back to stay in downtown Austin, San Antonio, or somewhere different his time, he said "What about the Hill Country Hyatt? We haven't been there in years."

Suddenly I was remembering the wonderful adventures we had there with our kids when they were in elementary school, when the place first opened -- floating on the lazy river, making s'mores 'round the fire pit each evening, checking out bicycles to ride around the humongous property, eating lunch wearing swimsuits at the poolside cafe, choosing from the hundred or so options on the ginormous breakfast buffet, fun activities scheduled throughout the day for the kids, poolside waiters bearing icy beverages for dad, and gardens filled with native plants for mom to explore. We'd never experienced anything quite like it before! So, of course, I told my hubby "Yes! Let's do it!"

My only concern was that, last time we went, the place had become so popular one could hardly squeeze into the lazy river for all the rambunctious kiddos. So, genius that I am, I came up with the brilliant plan of arriving on a Sunday, rather than Friday. I figured since school hadn't let out yet, we'd probably have the place to ourselves, right? Well, not exactly.

Luau Night

You see, one of the biggest problems with being retired is that you tend to lose track of the days, and sometimes forget about things like Memorial Day Weekend! So, that first afternoon we mostly just explored the grounds to see what was new, and did our best to avoid the mobs in all the water features.

A Tempting Hammock in a Secluded Alcove

The New Flow Rider Feature

The Flow Rider and the water slide are both new since we were last here...

but I was ever so happy to see that some things are still the same!

Samoan Fire-Eater

Samoan Fire-Dancers

Anywho, we still had most of Monday, after everyone else checked out, and half of Tuesday to do the water stuff, right? Again, not exactly. You see, it started raining that night. Thunder and lightening all night long. And it kept raining right through lunchtime. So what happens when a thousand disgruntled kids and their frantic parents are forced to stay indoors?

You get creative, that's what!

The rain eventually stopped -- though it was still chilly enough to light the huge fireplaces in the lobby -- and the hordes cleared out not long after. We started to feel a bit smug again. At least for a few moments. Then we tried to make dinner reservations at their luxurious Antlers Lodge restaurant, only to discover that it's closed on Mondays! So we thought "Ah well, we still haven't had one of those char-grilled burgers out by the pool yet. We'll just do that tonight." We finally donned our swimsuits, and I did a couple of laps around the lazy river while hubby sat reading, wrapped up in a warm beach towel. (It was actually warmer in the water than out!) A few minutes later the waiter comes up to us and says "Last call! The cafe closes at 5:00 today, I'm afraid." Noooooo!!! We were left with no choice but to eat dinner in the Springhouse Cafe. Though it does a lovely breakfast buffet, I'm sad to say that ordering dinner from its menu is on a par with dining at Applebees or Denny's. Soooo, not high on our list. Fortunately, a craft beer and peanuts in the Long Bar helped to cheer hubby right up afterwards, though it didn't do much for me.

On our last morning there, I spent the lengthy hike from our room down to the restaurant plotting out just which items from the huge buffet were my best options, and which were just "fillers". When the hostess tried to hand us menus, I cut her off, saying "No thanks, we're having the...", only to discover I am pointing to empty space where the buffet should have been -- yet another thing that seems to disappear on low-occupancy days.

So, yeah, it was that kind of get-away. But you know what? Even if everything had gone exactly according to plan, and the sun had shone down on us throughout? Well, there still would have been a vital ingredient missing. You see, I finally realized that it wasn't the place itself that made us so happy. The magical part had ever been seeing it all through the eyes of our giddy little kiddos! I guess it's true -- you can never go back.

A FAMILY FIRST

Never thought I'd see the day...

when a (soon-to-be) family member would come roaring up our driveway on a Harley. And I do mean roaring. He actually switched the pipes out so they would make more noise. He says this way he doesn't need a horn. He can just rev his engine to let people know he's coming.

Notice Alexis followed him over in her little red jelly bean. She takes after her mama in more than just looks. At least she made it home nice and dry, unlike some people we know. Just glad he made it home safe and sound!

Meanwhile, Hubby and I are headed off to our favorite resort in San Antonio for a little anniversary get-away. The plan was to spend our time floating on their Lazy River in peace and quiet, before the schools let out and it fills up with rambunctious kiddos. Unfortunately, it's looking as if those same thunderclouds that caught Nate on his ride home yesterday are planning to stick around the whole time we are there. Better pack some good books, just in case.
  

DIGGING MYSELF INTO A HOLE

I may have got a bit carried away at the garden shops this week.

Seriously, who could resist a little tree with a name like this?

Well, guess I'd best quit lolly-gagging and get crackin'. Apparently I've got thirty-two holes to dig today!

IT'LL ALL WORK OUT IN THE END

Yesterday was just a tad stressful. To start with, I was coming off of my first night wearing my new bite appliance, so I was short on sleep (last night was better).  Then they came to install my new counter top. It looks like old world candy-maker-marble, but it's actually Silstone.

It's gorgeous -- I love it. It makes the room seem so much lighter and brighter! Or at least, it did, until they had to cut away 75% of it to make room for the new cook top and pop up vent.

That's when things started going downhill. Turns out the machinery for each of these items -- the stuff that no one sees because it's hidden under the counter -- was a good bit bulkier than anticipated, and one thing was getting in the way of the other. I should have known better than to stick around when the cussing and moaning started, trusting that they'd get it to work eventually, one way or another. After all, I spent several years working for a caterer. I know for a fact that, though there are a whole lotta things going on behind the scenes that the client is just better off not knowing, things always work out in the end.
 
They finally got the vent in place, but still haven't managed to get the duct work hooked up. At one point they started wondering if they could use duct tape to make it work, and my stomach started clenching. I mentioned it to my hubby and he just started laughing. "What do you think they invented it for?" Oh yeah. "Duct" tape. Again, I should have known better. I am, after all, the daughter of a home builder. Everything in my childhood home was jimmy-rigged!

Anywho, those two big drawers that were supposed to be going in under the cook top? The ones that were going to make up for all the drawers and cabinets that I had to give up over there where the new little oven is going in? Uh, not gonna happen. One will need to be a false front, and the other's going to be about six inches deep.

But, I'm not gonna worry. It will all work out in the end.

Right?

SHOULDA' KNOWN BETTER

I miss my stove.

Having a legitimate excuse not to cook for a while sounds great in theory, but gets old really fast. Especially when you live in a small town with only a handful of restaurants!

Things were going lickety split at first -- old cabinets ripped out one day, new ones installed the next. I figured they had the new countertop ready to go in on the following day. I should've known better. Apparently they couldn't even order the counter until after the cabinets went in. So now we wait.

Meanwhile, I'm off to the apnea dentist in Austin to get my new gizmo. Fingers crossed that it neither sets off my hair-trigger gag reflex, nor causes me to break out in hives the way that night guard did. Dentists love me.

THE VERY BEST SURPRISE

Is there anything better than having your kiddos call out of the blue, for no particular reason, just to say "Wanna meet for lunch?"

 
Well, there is perhaps one thing -- finding out that lunch is to be eaten in a big cozy booth (I love booths!) at one of your favorite color-mad restaurants!

THE GRAND FINALE: COOKIN' WITH SIBBY

The purpose for, and culmination of, this week-long visit with the sisters was to attend another cooking class over at Onion Creek Kitchens, near Blanco.  We have taken quite a few classes there since moving here -- originally taught in the kitchen of Sibby's own lovely home, which resembles a Tuscan villa. Last time we were there, however, they were putting the finishing touches on a new teaching kitchen that was separate from their house, though on the same property. I was a bit flabbergasted when she mentioned that the new kitchen was no longer new, and had now been open for 3 1/2 years! Where does the time go?

Each of her classes has a different theme, and this one happened to be An Afternoon in Italy.

Sibby doesn't instruct so much as "aid and abet".

Love Those Color-Mad Mixers!

First step is to gather us all around, divide us into teams, explain how things work, and show us where to find our equipment and ingredients. At first it always seems like utter chaos, but Sibby just floats from table to table, answering questions and helping with the timing, and somehow it always comes together in the end. Well, almost always. There was this one time...with some deviled eggs...but we won't go there right now.

Kathy and I volunteered to make the Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca, which was served with a Lemon-Black Pepper Polenta. Mmmmmmm!

Kathy Stirs the Sauce for the Saltimbocca

It was really hard not to fill up on these grilled pizza appetizers topped with stuffed mushrooms, before we ever sat down for our meal!

Grilling the Pizza and Lamb Chops

And, whether you think you like lamb or not, it was generally agreed that these Grilled Lamb Chops with Peperonata were pretty dang awesome!

Dessert was this light and tasty apple cake, with a Cappuccino glaze.

All in all, if you like to cook at all, or even if you just like to eat, I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon or evening, than cookin' with Sibby!