WHAT'S UP WIMBERLEY?

I guess we must admit it. Wimberley most certainly is not the sleepy little, off-the-beaten-track town it once was. We now have multiple traffic lights, and hoards of visitors come in from out of town on the weekends, causing the locals to stay at home and gripe about the traffic. We still love it, nonetheless. The hardest part for me is just keeping track of who owns what business, as they all seem to flip from one thing to another on a regular basis.  For instance, the coffee shop where the Muses and I try to meet each week had one owner the first eight years or so that we lived here, but has had at least another three or four just in the last two years!

Painting Muse Julie, After Returning From A Reunion Of Her Norwegian Relatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm most excited about it's newest iteration, Blanco Brew, since they have switched from the perfume-tasting-chai-lattes that I hate to a vanilla chai that I love! Plus, the new owner -- a personal chef in her previous life -- plans to add breakfast and lunch items to the menu at some point.

The other coffee place we frequented, Cactus Coffee, let go of the lease on her original shop in order to go into business with a local bakery, building a coffee shop on their lovely back terrace. Next thing we knew, that idea had been tabled and she had purchased a food truck instead! Like I said, sometimes it hard to keep up.

Closer to home, rumor has it that Agave, the Mexican place that never opened, is actually getting close to doing just that! Fingers crossed. Also, there's something going on at that little Chapel Home B&B, which we can see from our dining room window.

Where her little potager used to be, another structure was being built. At first we thought they were just adding more accommodations, and that they would be made to match the original old church that was hauled in and renovated. However, when the striped siding of reclaimed wood went up, we decided we'd better go take a closer look.

Now we're thinkin' Party Barn! 

WHO'S GONE GAGA?

You'd think it would be the women in the family who'd be going gaga over the news that our next grandchild will be female. You'd be wrong.

Last Friday Hubby and I had some time to kill before a movie, so I suggested going into Marshall's for a quick scan of the toy department, where I occasionally find good deals on Melissa & Doug or Green Toy products.  It didn't take but five minutes for me to see there was nothing I needed there. However, by the time I made it back to the front door, Papa John had already purchased these!

I have a feeling we're gonna need to keep a close eye on that boy!

WHERE AM I?

 Is it Paris?

Nooooo....It's San Antonio!

We had a meet-up with our CPA there on Wednesday. Afterwards, we headed straight to Bakery Lorraine, at the Pearl Brewery Complex, to celebrate the fact that we didn't owe an arm and a leg in taxes this year! As if that weren't enough, they even threw in a free macaron, because one was a little smushed. Guess what? A smushed almond joy macaron tastes every bit as good as an unsmushed one! The dark chocolate-cassis one was pretty darn good too.

Hubby, of course, just couldn't resist the lemon-blueberry muffin. "All my favorite things in one bite!", he said.

A LONG TIME COMING

Whenever one meets someone new here in our little town, the first thing out of their mouth is usually "So, where do you live?" When I tell them we are just across the road from that restaurant that never opened, they know exactly where I'm talking about. If you've been following this blog for very long, you probably do too.

When we bought this house in 2004, there were a couple of little adobe buildings just across the highway from us -- a house on the left and some kind of glasswork place that had shut down on the right, if I remember correctly. But then a few years later a rather interesting couple from California bought both of them. He had a background in the movie industry, maybe set design? They moved into the little house temporarily and he put those design skills to work, transforming the other building into something right out of an old western film, where his wife opened her long-dreamed-of antique shop. Then he set about building their dream home just down the road from us -- the most amazing house I'd ever seen. I chatted with her once or twice in the shop, and she told me of plans to open a cafe on one side of her antique shop, and maybe a garden center on the other, making it more of a "destination" spot. Alas, problems with their water and septic systems kept that dream from coming to life. The antique shop floundered and before long, both the shop and their home were up for sale.

A while later someone finally bought the property, then proceeded to cover up it's western facade and turn it right back into an adobe building! The rumor mill took flight. It was finally agreed upon that it was being turned into a Mexican restaurant, and we were ecstatic. However, a couple of years later, when it still hadn't opened, our enthusiasm had waned. Then, finally, a sign went up, and the restaurant was christened Agave. We thought surely, if they've given it a name, they must be about ready to open, right? Well, another several years and a plethora of rumors went by, mostly about problems with the septic system keeping it from being up to code. And, once again, there was a "for sale" sign out front.

That was a couple of years ago now, and I think everyone had pretty much given up on the place. But then, we spotted this out front!

And, once again, the rumor mill was a-flyin'! We now have the facts, since Hubby went over and talked to the young man in person. Apparently he bought the restaurant property, and a bit more next to it, and plans to open it as a Mexican restaurant just as soon as he addresses the septic issues. And, in the mean time, he has a food truck! Hubby brought a few of his tacos home for a taste test.

My Chicken Fajita Taco

Hubby's Borracho Taco - Steak Fajita Meat Smothered in Queso Flameado

Potato, Egg, Sausage & Cheese Breakfast Taco

Now open daily, 7-2, and they even have some waffles and croissants, if breakfast tacos aren't your thing.

Fingers crossed that this young man is the one who finally manages to conquer the evil septic monster, else this place may well become known as The House of Shattered Dreams.

TOO BUSY TO BLOG!

Spring in the Hill Country is always this way. No matter how many vows I make to myself, not to let this precious time go by in a blur of activity, it happens every year. It just can't be avoided, I suppose, when you only have a few weeks out of the year, in spring and in fall,  that are really pleasant, and organizers try to fit a year's worth of activities into those two tiny windows. This past week has been a prime example. First there was our wildflower adventure to Willow City Loop, with stops in Lukenbach and Fredericksburg.

Then there was a dinner party at the home of our foodie friends, only this time it was their 14 year old daughter who was in charge!

The seafood theme was chosen because Miss Bella is working to raise funds for a fabulous marine biology camp she attends each year on Catalina Island, and a couple of these dishes were ones she learned to cook in one of her classes there last year.

The very next morning we were up early, headed to College Station to spend a couple of days with our besties, the Sanfords. Normally they would be heading here this time of year, but they have a beloved elderly pet who is not doing too well right now, so we decided to go to them. We can only go so long without a Lanford Adventure!

In case you can't tell, he's doing that rude gag-me motion, having gone to UT.

Then yesterday it was time for the annual Wimberley Wine Walk. This year they moved it from downtown Wimberley to the Blue Hole Park. After just a few tastes, I'm done, but I never get tired of the excellent people watching opportunities. I especially love the groups of friends who come dressed to match!

Huh? Now that I'm seeing this close up, I believe two of these people are new friends we just met at the seafood dinner!

And, in between all these festivities, there were trips to the dentist and hairdresser, time spent with my Muses and Little Goobs, and even a couple of baseball games!

Is it any wonder that we are hoping for a nice, dull week ahead?

PIGS ON A TRAIN

Know what I think I love most about being a grandmother? It's the funny little surprises you sometimes find around the house, after the grandkids have been for a visit. On his last visit, our little Goober did tell me that his commuter train needed passengers, but all I remember is thinking "How does a 2 year old even know what passengers are?"

It wasn't until after he'd gone home, and I was trying to get the house back in order, that I discovered this.

Now, every time I walk through our living room, I find myself with a big ol' goofy grin on my face, remembering those pigs on a train.

A MYSTERY ADVENTURE

Adventure Boy has really been keeping me busy this past week. Yesterday he had me out chasing wildflowers (photos later), but last Friday, when there were no movies left that we wanted to see on "Date Day", he decided to take me on one of his mystery adventures -- the kind where I don't know where I'm going 'til I'm there! This time we ended up on the shores of Lake Austin.

Welcome to Hula Hut, doing their best to "Keep Austin Weird" for over 25 years!

Hula Hut is kinda like one of those "choose your own story" books, where you get to decide what happens next along the way. Why? Because you get a totally different experience, depending on where you decide to sit or hang out.

And talk about color-mad!

It may not have been the best seafood I ever had, but I gotta give it 5 Stars for atmosphere!