TIME FOR A BIT OF MAGIC

Now that our Little Goobs has finally entered the magical world of make-believe, I decided it was time to add some inspiration out in the garden. We already have a few whimsical things scattered here and there...

but I think it's time to ratchet it up a notch. So, in the last few weeks I've been on the prowl! This is what I've found so far.

A Couple of Good Books About Magical Garden Sprites

A Giant Floor Puzzle Featuring Many Local Garden Critters (no bears here, just wild hogs)

His Very Own Mailbox To Mount Outside, In Which He Can Leave Notes and Surprises For the Fairies and Gnomes

And, while I was gathering all of these, Papa John has been gathering a few trinkets which the fairies and gnomes might leave for Calvin in return, as a thank you for his gifts!

It would be hard to say who's having more fun.

 

TINY DINNER CLUB DOES 6TH STREET

Our tiny dinner club had a double adventure this weekend. Well, actually, a triple. Dinner, usually the main feature, was the least of these three! 

We began our evening at a restaurant called Roaring Forks, which is attached to the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Austin. This time, however, we headed to the bar area where they do a daily happy hour featuring discounted menu items, including their infamous Big Ass Burger, and $2 off most beverages. It would probably have been perfect on any night but a Saturday - especially a Saturday when there was some kind of big event going on in the hotel next door, which was spilling into the bar, making it impossible to find a regular table for 6. We did manage to get two tall tables for three, right next to each other, but only the ladies got stools! Nonetheless, we do not regret the choice, for you'll never guess who we ran into as we were exiting through the lobby of the hotel. Willie Nelson as you've never seen him! He was dressed fit-to-kill in an elegant cashmere overcoat, with a lovely lady in a mink stole holding his elbow. Thank goodness he grew his braids back, or I might not have recognized him!

Heading Down 6th Street

The Famous Window At Esther's

The highlight of the evening was attending a performance at Esther's Follies, Austin's premier comedy club, where they make fun of all things Austin, and anyone currently in government, regardless of which side they're on. Obviously, they've had lots of material to work with of late.

The theater's name was inspired by Esther Williams, the famous swimming actress back in the 40's, hence the mermaid theme inside.

The famous window I mentioned above is the backdrop for the stage and looks out onto 6th street, where there's a constant stream of strollers, revelers, scooter-and segue-riders going by. Those that are in the know about Esther's often stop to peer in and participate in what's going on, becoming the very best part of the shenanigans!

Try it. You just might love it!

On the other hand, if you just can't abide naughty language or any criticism of our leaders, you just might get up and stomp out within 15 minutes, the way that one couple did...

MY BABY AIN'T NO BABY

I was staring at my cell phone the other day when it suddenly occurred to me that my background photo might be a tad out of date.

Our little Goober Bear has gone through soooo many different stages since then, it's been hard to keep up.

Wake up Papa!

The most recent shocker is that he seems to be losing interest in his beloved trains, and is now obsessed with cars and trucks.

And, in the blink of an eye, we had to go from holding him on while pushing his little "or-nage" scooter around...

to having to jump out of the way to keep from getting run over! He alternates between being the "speedy delivery" guy who brings us packages, and a wild and crazy race car stunt driver who likes to spin out just before he slams into a wall.

And the talking. OMG, the talking! Almost overnight we went from wondering if we were ever going to get him to say "Mimi" or "Papa", to having him make up imaginative stories for us using words that came from who-knows-where.

One thing is for certain, though. Our baby ain't no baby anymore!

IT'S A DATE

It's been a long time since Hubby and I had any kind of "date" other than our Friday lunch-and-a-movie, or a special anniversary or Valentines dinner. So I was a bit surprised when, Saturday evening, he suggested that we head into town to listen to some music. Unlike my Hubby, I've never been a huge fan of hanging out in bars, but this was something a little different at our new favorite place, Los Olivos.

My Baby Kale Salad With Burrata Cheese

Hubby's Panini Sandwich

Now, this? This is a date I can get down with! Plus, Hubby even bought a couple of little prezzies to take home with us.

Just so ya know? That amaretto pecan honey butter is to die for, if you're an anything-almond-addict like me.

A PERFECT WINTER WEEKEND

A fire in the fireplace...

a snuggly blanket...

and a book you just can't put down.  Does it get any better?
  

OUR LITTLE EXPLORER

I ordered something for Calvin months ago, and have been saving it for his third birthday in May, when he is "officially" the proper age for it.

Explorer Outfits For Calvin And His Wonder Crew Buddy Will

However, he's been mentioning "exploring" and "going on adventures" a lot lately, when we go on our long walks together. And, with all the morning-sickness-chaos going on in his life recently, I decided maybe the time for this gift was right now.

First we went out onto the balcony porch to look for "am-i-nals" with our binoculars.

Then we went out back to see if we could catch a butterfly in his net or find anything to put in his specimen jar with the built in magnifier.

Alas, no butterflies were to be found. Nevertheless, he was happy as a lark just filling his jar with leaves and rocks.

He got so into it, in fact, that I'm thinking it must be time to pull out my Sharon Lovejoy grandma book, which I bought back when my first child got married, and there was finally hope that I might someday be a grandma myself.

We've already got her Outdoor Tea Parties and Backyard Explorer Kit ideas in the bag! Perhaps it's time to try this...

or this...

or this!

What's something fun and magical that you remember doing with a grandparent or grandchild? Please share!
 

A PLATE TOO FULL

Well, it's been a rough couple of weeks, but I think we're finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Daughter Lex is expecting baby #2 and having some epic morning sickness -- the kind that lasts all day. The lay-perfectly-still-and-don't-even-speak kind of sickness. And, hard as it was to see her suffering like that, seeing the effect it was having on our little Goober Bear was harder still. One day he took his Dada on a walk, and insisted that they pick some flowers "to make Mama smile". I tear up each time I think about it.

After a few weeks she finally called her birthing center to see if they had anything to suggest, and they called in a prescription for her. Unfortunately, when Nate went to pick it up that evening, he was told their insurance wouldn't cover it, and that one little jar of pills would cost him seven hundred dollars! Now, that might lead you to think it was one of those rare orphan drugs that only a handful of people need, or maybe it's made from frankincense and gold, but no. It's the number one recommended prescription for morning sickness, so millions of women take it. In fact, they've been taking it in Canada for over 50 years. And what is it made of? It's a mixture of vitamin B6 and Unisom. Go figure.

Anyhoo, Nate spent the next couple of days on the phone, going back and forth between insurance people, doctors, HR at his company, and the Birthing Center, never losing his cool or screaming, until finally they came to their senses and agreed to cover it. And, thankfully, it seems to be doing some good. Fingers crossed, because as sad as I am for Lex and Little Goobs, and even with everyone pitching in as much as possible, it is Nate who has born the brunt, juggling pressure at work, nursing, childcare, grocery shopping, feeding, and insurance wrangling. Now he has the added burden of his annual job as a crew chief at SXSW, and the need to start recruiting all the volunteers for his team. I mean, seriously! Just how much can one plate hold?

Well, better go get dressed. Off to Austin to go grab Goobs and bring him back to Wimberley for a bit of fun and adventure!