Gruene, Texas

Went to see Chubby Knuckle Choir in Gruene, Texas tonight.  During intermissions, Stacy and I would walk around Gruene and sight-see as this was my first time visiting.  (For those of you non-Texans, it's pronounced green).  Had a great time seeing what we could and definitely need a trip back to try some of the food that was recommended and to see more.  The picture above is very typical of what you see on postcards everywhere but of course, being there I had to take my own.  This one was daylight and below is the night version.
 

 The Famous Gruene Hall remains the oldest (and best) dance hall in Texas per the Austin Business Journal.

 Gruene Antique Store....we didn't make it in here tonight as we got sidetracked with an incredible artist, but that is another blog.  This is another visit to Gruene.  

 Stacy had just gotten his iPhone and was having a bit too much fun with it....here he is making a video of me taking a picture of him.  Dorks.  

We walked around downtown and had to pop into the General Store to get some of the incredible fudge.  My choice was Chewy Praline Fudge....chocolate fudge with a center full of gooey praline.  Of the others we tried, I have to admit that the mint fudge was probably the least adventuresome but my favorite.  There was also a creamsicle fudge, vanilla caramel chocolate, and way too many more insulin inducing delights than I can remember.  But all were worth taking a bite of.  Just think of the General Store as Sugar Central.  I also walked out with Neccos and an Icee, courtesy of my super sweet boyfriend.

 Some Gruene history.  Near this plaque we found a wonderful store that had outdoor wooden swings set into an A Frame.  We sat on them looking at the moon and Stacy said that something like this would be easy to make....he has the wood to do so.  I'm going to hold him to that and this is an open invitation to people to come visit us and sit on the beautiful wooden swing Stacy is going to make me.  (I haven't formally informed him of this yet, suppose he'll see it when he reads the blog....).

Next door to the Gruene Dance Hall is The Gristmill Restaurant.  We heard repeatedly how this was the home of great food, steaks particularly seemed to be mentioned.  Love the sign with the light and star and all set among a beautiful flowery landscape.  The picture below features the flowers alone.  The white at the bottom center I'm not familiar with.  There were Dusty Millers in the bunch but these weren't as feathered of a leaf and also have green.  Just a beautiful overall planting.  

Canyon Lake....The Tye Preston Memorial Library

Friday I was able to visit the Tye Preston Memorial Library in Canyon Lake for a meeting.  I had numerous questions for the director of this beautiful facility and as a result I had a private tour and snapped away.  Above is the entry.  The bricks, sporting the names of residents and people they wish to memorialize, are partially from the former library, some from this new library.  All were moved to this new location three years ago and incorporated into this lovely entry.

This mural was done by a local artist.  The lady in the stacks, standing is Tye Preston, the namesake of the library.  The little girl in the brown chair turns out to be someone the artist knows and she also happens to be a loyal patron of the library, unbeknownst to the artist.  Cool coincidence.

The walls throughout the library are designed with a runner at the top that clips slip into to support art work.  The local artists guild keeps the library supplied with a rotating source of artwork.

The library sits on 6.5 acres that was donated to them.  Off the back is a large patio with iron tables and chairs and wonderful wooden rockers from Cracker Barrel.  This is where I ate my lunch.  The perimeter of the land sports a trail, not quite one mile long.  It wraps down the hillside around the property and up to the observatory.  The far line of trees in the picture above is the river.

Looking down over the landscaping that runs down toward the trail.

And now onto the BUTTERFLY GARDEN!!!

Gate ahead to the garden.  The body of the butterfly on the gate is made from an old corvette engine.

The garden is full of butterfly friendly plants, all well labelled.  The entire landscape is maintained by volunteer "reader weeders" that adopt sections and keep it weeded and cleaned.

This bench for sitting is actually a butterfly made of mosaics.  The back is decorated as well with beautiful inset tiles and stones.

Peter Frampton at the Majestic Theater

July 24 brought Peter Frampton to the Majestic Theater in San Antonio.  Back in Marcxh or April or so, my favorite man asked me to the concert.  Of course, back then things were still pretty new and I thought he was brave asking me for a date a couple months or more away.  So I felt obligated to date him, til the concert at least......ok that was a JOKE.  I had already fallen in love with the guy and wasn't going to tell him that any time soon, and took comfort in the fact that he felt secure enough to commit to a date that far out.

Back in my senior year in high school, the FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE tour made its way through Honolulu and my bff Sharon and I went.  Who else went, not sure.  Age remember, 52 here and that was waaaay back in 1978 or 1979.  Frampton used to play on my little stereo, on an ALBUM....you know those grooved vinyl things that a needle had to run over.  Double album set.  Sharon and I draped over my bed.  Topic:  boys.  What else?  Specially with Sharon as a bestie!!  :)  

Second time around with Frampton....this time I'm with my new bestie, Stacy, and starting a beautiful new chapter in my life.  I'd never been into the Majestic and yes, it is Majestic.

Glare from the lights is bad, but at least got a bit of the look of the theater, although the website does it justice, not this.  These are just my satisfaction that I really was here.

 Little less glary and looking to side boxes.  What a great setting to watch a show in.  I'd love to come back for more concerts and stage shows.  Think I can pull the man along.

Kenny Wayne Sheppard opened the show for Frampton, a country rock guitar player and his band.  Best song was Black on Blue.  Rest.....ok, not my style and nothing stand out.

But then there was Frampton.  Boy have we all aged.  Bald on top, fringe of white hair.....hated when he looked like a little old man to me cause it reinforced how old I have gotten.  BUT MAN can he plan and perform.  Still sounds like the same young guy that rolled through town 25 years ago.  I'm sure in his head he is am I'm still no older than 29 and Stacy is 31.

Yes, he played the Comes Alive songs.  Tears rolled down my cheeks and I fought to steady my lip.  Memories slammed into me and thoughts of Sharon ran through my head.  Wonder that she is still my friend all these 35 years later.  And yes, now as I sit here typing this....weeks later, tears again.  Ok, ok, it's an old person thing.  Sheesh.  It's valuing people and the precious memories and realizing that is all that counts.

Frampton brought Steve Lukather out on stage, a friend for many many years, the 80s I believe he said. Lukather is formerly of Toto and played some incredible guitar with Peter.

Peter Frampton, of all people, guitar player that he is.....could get away with playing some covers.  He did Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun which he covered on his 2006 instrumental album FINGERPRINTS.  He also slipped a very appropriate While My Guitar Gently Weeps into his ovation songs.  Peter recorded this Beatles song on his 2009 album NOW.

During the ovations, Stacy made the comment that everyone was really dancing.  Then he laughed and said...."they are stretching!!!".  Well yea we were swaying and dancing and stretching or attempting to camouflage the stretches into something else, but yes, he was right on with this crowd!

The Majestic Theater was magical to me.  I'll be back for more.