Humphrey Pete's

Sunday night, not many offerings in the dinner line other than fast food chains. However, in the B&B's information book they recommended Humphrey Pete's and it's open Sunday nights. Guess where we headed?

Question....what the heck does "it's pig lickin' good" mean?  It's on that sign and was on the back of their tshirts. 

I got the 8 oz ribeye with a loaded baked potato and a Caesar salad. Poor Stacy had to listen to me moan in tastebud ecstasy for each bite. Truly one of the best meals I've had out in ages. Stacy had the salmon which he said was great as well. Smelled divine!  High recommendations on this one!

Star of Texas B&B

Love this place. The ambiance is right up my alley and exactly as portrayed by the website. 

Pretty cool welcome!  

Stacy at the door....

My kind of place!

Charming....

Our view from the porch. 

Front porch. Going to enjoy this tomorrow. 

And now, off to dinner...

A new adventure

Two years ago I met Stacy, sure never know what life holds. This morning we are setting out on a new adventure and I'm going to attemp to document along the way. 

We are headed to the little town of Brownwood, Texas. Just about three hours from out San Antonio home. Our first stop was at the Flagstop Cafe, a burger and way too many fries for me, breakfast for Stacy. Decent burger, surprisingly for a gas station restaurant. 

Back on the road to our destination, the Star of Texas B&B. 

Worth noting...when we filled up with gas today it was $1.76/gallon which is amazingly low. 

One last going to share that I don't think I have, my ring finger tattoo that I had done in September. Cute, huh?

Martin Luther King March San Antonio 2014

Stacy and I have made a sort of bucket list.  Suppose we actually should put the list on paper, but essentially what we have is a commitment to do "something" every weekend.  That something can be as simple as going to a new coffee shop and taking a break during a busy working-on-the-house weekend.  Or it could be going to another town, participating in an event, or going to the one place in SA he hasn't gone (and he's lived here over 30 years).....the Alamo.....gasp!!!

So, this weekend, our venture was the Martin Luther King March that is held in San Antonio Annually.  To me this walk was very important because of diversity.  In MLK's famous speech he says "Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."  That speech was made 51 years ago and it is still relevant today.  I want justice for not only all races, but all sexual orientations, women (STILL) ..... EVERYONE as the "all of" in THE speech indicates.  That is what today was about for me.  I happen to not see skin color.  Is a person with brown hair smarter than one with a different shade of brown or blonde?  Why is skin color different? It's not.  I want to research about prejudice and bigotry and see where the world is at today.  I know that sexual orientation is a hot topic for some people and there is a lot of inequality in that realm.  Health care, ability to marry and have a family, benefits, simply being treated fairly.  Sad.  People, all of us.  None of us deserve to be treated unjustly, period. I know, one voice, but it's mine and all I can do is make some noise in my little world. Hopefully someone will hear/be influenced/THINK.

Today was a march for diversity, tolerance, peace, ONE WORLD.  So what do we hit as we round one corner?  Signs reading "One Man + One Woman = Marriage".  Luckily this was a peaceful, love filled march.  People just went on by the signs, but I can tell you that within the ranks there were comments of surprise that they'd choose this venue, this time of love, to be so ugly.  I guess that's what demonstrating is all about but c'mon, we were marching for tolerance and ONE WORLD.  LOVE.  Be a hater....geez, sad world.  But you know what?  They won't tolerate love, but we have to tolerate their in-your-face signs at a peaceful, love filled march?  Guess that says something.....hmmmm, bet my kids will remember me saying "kill them with kindness" on a number of occasions.  Case in point.

There were MANY mixed race couples/families at the march.  Has it taken the beauty of love and creation of a family to make some people get past the ugly segregational thinking?  Possibly.  Think about your family.  Mine is all over the board. Once upon a time I suppose it was what is called "white bread".  But I have great nieces and nephews that have multiple races in their background.  Stacy's grand daughter has mixed heritage.  Mixed what?  Doesn't matter does it?  Yea, we have Caucasian, African American, Hispanic....and more in there, and you know what?  Doesn't matter.  We are all people and everyone is loved just as deeply in the family.  Is this what it takes for some people to get it?  Really?  Very possibly and if so, I'm glad it's happening.

Random thought....people always comment on our "first black President".  WHY???   He's just as white as he is African American.  Why don't we say Obama is our 44th white President???  And what the heck does it matter what his race is anyway?  Why is that cause for celebration?  Perhaps he was elected because at the time he was the most qualified?  Like him or not (I kind of have a thing for him as I used to watch him play basketball when we were in high school) he's our freaking President.  He's pretty brilliant.  Criticize all you want, but you aren't in line for the job.  The most thankless job in the world.  OK....off that soapbox.

So anyway.....pictures from our first MLK March in San Antonio....

Busses as far as you can see....they did a great job of planning and being prepared for this event.

Stacy under the bus stop sign where we hopped the bus to/from the event site.

Notice the cops in yellow vests on top of the bridge.  In center is a photographer.

Crowds up ahead....

And crowds behind.

This one was the start....as we went across the Freedom Bridge.

With a cutie holding a "free hugs" sign.  AWESOME!

At the finish was a huge festival and what do you know!  Yes, a squeal of delight and I probably WAS one of few adults having a pic taken with Mickey and Minnie.

Stacy with his hugger....good stuff.

Fredericksburg, Texas Auslander Restaurant and Biergarten

Friday August 30, Stacy needs to drop off his grand daughter in Fredericksburg, Texas, so we decided to meet up there for a dinner date!  Fredericksburg is a German settlement and the main street tends to roll up pretty early, most shops closed by 5 pm and many restaurants as well.  Luckily, it was recommended we go to the Auslander Restaurant and Biergarten, which was open.  AND YUMMMM!   I wasn't anticipating much and let me tell you.....I was wonderfully pleased!

I'm not into sausage and was worried initially because the menu was full of sausage.  But then my eye hit upon.....sauerbraten!!!   Sauerbraten with gingersnap gravy no less.....and in choosing sides I went with the red cabbage and the spatzle of course, being a noodle fiend.

The food came out but no picture cause we had retired our phones for the meal time.  No disappointment, that's for sure!  The Sauerbraten was rolled with pickles and onion and tasted PERFECT!   Just the way I remember mom making it.  Red cabbage with a hint of cinnamon and sweetness was excellent and the spatzle was the perfect compliment to the very tangy, flavorful plateful.  I was in heaven and had way too much food.  Stacy helped a bit but I still had plenty to take home for another meal.

Stacy had sausage and sauerkraut and green beans.  He loved it, said was the best restaurant he'd been to...and he decided red cabbage (which he hesitantly took a bite of) was better than sauerkraut.

So, two thumbs WAY up if you are looking for authentic German food in Fredericksburg, Texas....this was the best I've had here by far and this was the third German restaurant I've eaten at here.

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.  

Places to go......

GROUPONS....wow, can be awesome deals.  These are my favorite currents that are out that I wanted to share.  Kind of felt bad about putting them on FB so figured put them in my Vagabond blog and maybe I'll actually get to some of them or perhaps some of you want to guest blog them????  

Pioneer Farms Austin Groupon for half price admission.  Or two adults and four kids for $19.  Home schooling days in spring and fall as well as volunteer opportunities for home schooling families.  Pioneer farms website.

Austin Zoo Groupon 50% off.  Pay $9 instead of $18!!

Comal Tubes downtown New Braunfels Groupon at least a 50% discount.  Can get four tubes for $19 for two hours.

OK that is today's sharing....I'd love comments back with links and things with more "stuff to do".  Guess it's time to create a bucket list???

Hell's Half Acre in Fort Worth

This is right in front of the Fort Worth Water Gardens.  Glad they put this little plaque up or noone would have this great tidbit of Fort Worth History!  Fort Worth has three great walking tour maps, would love to do the Stockyard one some day.

Fort Worth Water Gardens

My hotel overlooked the Water Gardens in Fort Worth.

Took til Thursday before I realized what was outside my window and attached to the convention center.  So....Friday morning dawns, overcast but beautiful.  Grabbed my Starbucks and headed to find a meditation spot in the gardens.

Not many people here this morning, suppose it's the overcast....my benefit!  Aeration Garden below.

Final pics I got were of the Active Garden.  Yes....they are right there in the water basically!

West, Texas

On Wednesday, April 17 at approximately 8 pm, there was an explosion in the town of West, Texas.  Almost exactly a week later, I was on my way to the Texas Library Association state convention in Fort Worth.  When traveling to the Fort Worth/Dallas area, my habit is to stop in West at the Czech Stop and use the bathroom, get a drink and kolaches.  Despite the explosion, I was still able to do just that.  

Although the typically very long line for kolaches wasn't near the length I'm used to, I was thrilled to see people were there and the bakery was operating.  Wandering to the back, I was warned by an employee that there was no electricity in the back where the bathrooms were.  My response?  My handy dandy iPhone has a flashlight app!  So....I proceeded to use the facilities by flashlight and gave a few other women the comfort of light in the room.  Small price to pay for the yummiest kolaches besides those baked by family...

After grabbing kolaches I decided to do a little tour of the town, which I've never done before.  I didn't want to be in the way at all, nor to be a gawker, but thought, hey, I never do this, gonna check it out.  I think I need to do a kolache tour.....don't even want to guess how many kolache bakeries are in this tiny town of about 2800 residents.  BUT  I do know their awesome Czech ancestry shines!  

 As I drove around, I didn't want to wander and be an obvious "lookie-loo" so I simply circled the main area of town and the stores were very similar to the food mart pictured.....boards covering all or some of the windows and doors.  Sad but a very real result of what happened.

What honestly surprised me the most is that news crews were still all over the place.  This picture was taken outside the police department on the main town square and all along the side street you can see all the news vans parked.  Must have been 10 - 15 of them and this is one week after the event!  It wasn't like the World Series earthquake where they were unearthing remains for days/weeks.  So I was surprised.  

San Antonio...take two...

Tunes for the road, fired up and pounding.   Hitting the road on a Friday night heading to San Antonio.  This weekend is more about care taking and being there, but  adventures happen regardless.

Headed to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens on Monday, President's Day.  Absolutely gorgeous weather, although the day started out cloudy.  Parking the car, the very first think I spotted was a bluebonnet.  The first one this season!

 Did you know that a great way to plant bluebonnets is to make a slurry, creating mudballs with the seeds inside, let them dry and then fling them around the yard?  That way the birds don't eat the seeds.

 Entering the gardens, my eyes were dancing with all the colors.  Made me want to play in the dirt and dig.  Pictures of the beautiful flowers....