A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

EMPTYING MY BUCKET-LIST AT CYPRESS FALLS

 
Last Tuesday evening the hubby and I finally got to do something that has been on my bucket list for years now -- probably the very first thing I thought of upon learning what a bucket list was. We got to participate in a genuine farm-to-table dinner, hosted by the same amazing family that made my daughter's wedding a dream-come-true for her, just two years ago this week.

Apparently the family who owns Cypress Falls Event Center, right here in Wimberley, has a new protege -- a young chef named Ryan Austin Nickerson who, if I'm not mistaken, went to school at Texas State with one of their kids, then went off to study in Italy and to work at several restaurants, before coming back to do an internship with them and cater some of their events. Since he happens to be passionate about the farm-to-table movement, they decided to co-host this event. Lucky us!

I owe many thanks to two wonderful couples, whom we love hanging out at vineyards with (hence our self-given moniker The Winos), and without whom I might not have heard about this event until it was too late!

The first thing delivered to our table were these adorable little milk bottles filled with fresh raw milk, straight from the cow with a dash of cream, from MooJesus Dairy in Seguin. (The place to go if you want to experience being a farmer-for-a-day!) We were instructed to take a swig between each of the eight courses (yes, eight), as a palate cleanser.

Next came this amazing tomato-basil bruschetta topped with a dab of intensely flavored Balsamic Caviar. Not real caviar, but a molecular gastronomy concoction made from balsamic vinegar and agar, I believe.

After that, well, I guess I was just too busy eatin' and having a good time to remember to take any photos! (check out the "this event" link above to see some of their own lovely photos of the dinner) Suffice it to say, by the time the meal ended about three hours later? Well, we pretty much had to roll ourselves out to the car.

Here's hoping they do it again. Soon!

FIRST HALLOWEEN DILEMMA

What to be? What to be?

Toothless the Dragon?

Or a cuddly little panda bear?

Many thanks to Lexi's wonderful friend Stephanie, of Angry Baby: Badass Baby Wear, for giving us so many great options!
  

WELCOME TO HAVANA

Hubby and I just got back from our latest adventure -- a trip to Havana! Hotel Havana, that is, in San Antonio, Texas. And, from what I've heard about hotel prices in Havana, Cuba, from a friend who just booked a trip there, I'd say we got quite the bargain!

That's Hotel Havana, peeking through the trees.

It's located on one of the more secluded bends of the river walk, near the Tobin Center for Performing Arts and Southwest School of Art, and, after seeing the amazing classes SSA has open to the public, I'm wondering if Hotel Havana might offer me a deal on an extended stay!

We like to stay in places with character and history, which is why we tend to choose small boutique hotels over homogeneous chains. This one was just oozing with personality!

The resident ghost, leading us up the stairs?

Yes, there is an elevator.

We splurged and booked one of their suites, still less than $200, which is always nice when one of you is an early riser and the other is not.

Favorite thing about the room? The vintage fridge they use for a mini bar!

On the down side, there were no shutters or shades on the windows between the bedroom and sitting area, which meant no flipping on the lights in the wee hours of the morn.  Also, the food was a bit disappointing.  Loved the atmosphere in Ocho...

where the weather was perfect for dining with the "garage doors" up, overlooking the river. And you gotta love this fun little patio, which leads to the atmospheric basement bar, and where they were showing films on the wall...

but breakfast cost fifty bucks for the two of us, and was just so-so. The biggest disappointment, however, was the churros -- the ones with cajeta and mocha café con leche dipping sauces that I've been dreaming about for almost a year now, and which were the main reason we wanted to check out this hotel. This time they served them with a blob of whipped cream and some lemon curd to dip them in. Lemon Curd! Not only that, although they were hot and crispy on the outside, they were kinda cold and doughy on the inside. I was crushed, I tell you. Crushed. Gotta wonder if they changed chefs or something.

Still, I'd come back to this hotel in a heartbeat. Just wouldn't plan on eating much there.

JUST A TOUCH

When we first bought this place in the Hill Country, sold our last house in the 'burbs, and rented a townhouse to work from in Houston until we were both ready to retire, I got rid of a ton of holiday decorations. I was no longer that person who thought you needed a tree in every room and a wreath on every door, for every season! I ended up quitting my job a couple of years before Hubby, and moved up here full time to start turning this weekend place into a full-time home. In the process, I went through even more of a metamorphosis, and even more detritus got carried away. When we finally merged those two houses into this one -- one of the most difficult tasks we've ever undertaken -- most all of the remaining decorations went by the wayside. Just about the only things left are the tiny bits that can be tucked below in the cabinet where I display them, such as this...

and this...

No more hauling crates full of stuff down from the attic for every season!  Well, except for these guys, which we discovered in the mystery space above the garage when we hauled the cradle down for Little Goober.

I was planning to haul that whole crate of stuff off to the thrift store when it got closer to Halloween, but then Little Goober actually arrived, and I decided I'd better give that crate one more looksee before I dropped it off and, well, these two pieces decided they really needed to stay here with him.

Can you guess what my very favorite piece of fall decor in my whole house is? One I love so much it stays out year-round?

Bakelite! Still making my heart go pitter-patter, every time I walk through that kitchen.

And now we're off for a belated celebration (5 months belated) of our 41st anniversary. Hotel Havana, here we come!

SHOP-IN-A-BOX: PROGRESS!

Well, I decided to let Stitch Fix take another stab at becoming my fashion soul mate last week. The first time I gave them free reign, but this time I got a little more specific. I told them I could really use a lightweight, waterproof jacket for travel -- one which wouldn't take up too much space in my suitcase -- and that I'd love a Frenchy top and scarf combo.

When I opened the box, I was simply delighted with what I found.

Still, there were some issues. First of all, skinny jeans again? Seriously?? Well, at least I could get these on and zipped, but that did not prevent them from making my legs look like chicken drumsticks. So, no. Just. NO!

The cargo jacket was pretty cute, and would look great over either top, but, as with the little sundress they sent me last time, the waistline sat more at "empire" level instead of my natural waistline.  Don't know if these are "Junior" sizes, or if it's just my long torso and larger-than-average chest, but that was another "NO!" (Plus I'm fairly certain it wasn't water resistant either, which would kinda defeat the use I had in mind for it.)

The third problem was that, cute as it was, the little French sailor top was kind of spandexy, and really hugged all of my curves and bulges. I look so much better in tops that are, not big and flowy, but which just sorta skim my curves.

You'll be happy to know, however, that I did actually keep two things this time -- the slouchy grey-green sweater, and the beautifully soft-but-not-itchy scarf, so we're makin' progress!

And, now that they are helping me define just what I want and don't want, I'm thinking I might be able to go out and find the perfect jacket all on my own. 

Now, if only I had bought one of those cute French sailor tops when we were actually in Marseilles!

 

THROUGH HIS EYES

Many moons ago, when I first moved up here full-time and started blogging about our adventures here, a local chef and cooking instructor left a comment on one of my posts. She said she enjoyed reading my blog because it reminded her of what it felt like when she first moved to the Texas Hill Country -- when everything was new and exciting, and she could not wait to explore it all. I remember feeling sad that she had somehow lost that fervor, but couldn't imagine it ever happening to me!

One of My Early "To-Do" Lists

Back then, I was all about learning to live "The Good Life" -- making my own cleaning products, hanging my laundry on a clothesline, cooking with real food and getting to know the people who raised it and grew it, maybe even growing a bit myself, and, in the process, finally finding a tribe who cared about the same things I did. Most of all, I was obsessed with exploring my new environment and having adventures as often as possible!

So, I got a bit melancholy a while back, when I realized how long it had been since we'd taken a day-trip just to go splorin', and how set in our routines we had become. Whatever happened to that girl in my early blog posts? Well, she's ten years older, for one thing, and came close to losing her hubby several times. Our kids turned into adults who married and started families of their own. Change is inevitable, no? But, often, change is just what you need.

Remember this grandma journal I made at Lucky Star Art Camp last fall? Well, ever since Lex announced that we were to be grandparents, I've been jotting down notes about fun things that my friends do with their grandkids -- things like High School Debbie's Grandma Camp, and my BFF's list of rainy-day activities.

Which led to thinking about other things I want to do with Little Goober some day, like taking him to the Blue Hole, or going over to Outdoor Woman's house to gather some eggs, so we can cook together.

And, it was as I was transferring all these notes over to Mima's Journal that I suddenly realized something. I was once again feeling that same sense of exhilaration and anticipation that I used to feel in those early days! Why? Because I knew I would be seeing it all again as if for the very first time, through HIS eyes.