Vacation: Part Two

During the second half of our vacation, we mostly just ate things because that my favorite thing to do on vacation. Or any day of the week really. I told Derek that some year when I am an old woman, I would like to receive a scrapbook of all the pictures he has ever taken of me and food. The ones from this trip are sure to bring back some happy memories.

On Wednesday, we went to Gruene for dinner at the Gristmill and dancing at Gruene Hall.

That is half of an entree at the Gristmill because Texas is crazy. I learned that if a man has chicken fried steak for dinner, it makes him very happy and his odds of dancing with you later triple.

 

It was rockabilly night and the band was fantastic. If you have never been to Gruene Hall, I highly recommend. Even on a Wednesday night it was the place to be. There were the two little old ladies who did not stop dancing the entire time. I kind of wanted to join them, but they were definitely too cool for me.

On Thursday, we went on an epic barbeque road trip. After reading up on places in the barbeque edition of Texas Monthly, we discovered that 3 of the top 5 were within an hour of Wimberley. 

First stop, City Market in Luling.

I'm just going to come right out and say it. This place was the best one of the three. Sorry if that kills some of the suspense.

You walk in and you want to chew the air. It smells so good. In the back there is a separate room, a holy of holies of sorts, and the windows and door are brown from smoke. Inside there are pitmasters who look exactly like you think they should: burly, bearded, oldtimers. 

We got ribs, brisket, links and bread. The pickle and onions were just for me. No plates. But there was sauce, which isn't true of the other places.

There were also no forks, so that is Derek cutting sausage with double knives.

 

Words cannot express how much we liked it, so that picture will have to do. And then I ate a praline that was made by someone's grandma.

 

 

This is a movie theater in a little town near Luling. We drove past it because it seriously looks like a tractor dealership. A matinee movie was the only activity we could handle on such full tummies.

Second stop, Smitty's in Lockhart.

That barbeque has been happening in that building for over a hundred years.

 

 

 The business side happens here. Obviously.

 The food was very very good, but our least favorite of the three.

 But the building was the cutest.

Last stop, Kreuz Market also in Lockhart.

This is the only picture we have. It's my barbeque smirk.

 

The building was new and large which was kind of weird for it's location. The brisket had a great char, but they were out of ribs so it's hard to judge. Kreuz earned points for having German potatoes and ice cream sandwiches. 

We got a little lost on the way home and ended up on the prettiest dirt road drive.

 

 

 

On Friday we had a lot of hammock time and I finished reading Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. I like to jump on a trend about two years late.

 

We went out for a fancy dinner at a winery and planned all of our future vacations. We may go on more extravagant trips to more exotic locations, but I think this one will have a soft spot in my heart.

 

 

Vacation: Part One

Derek and I are currently on vacation for a whole week down in Wimberley, TX. The timing for a trip worked out well. Derek just completed his second summer term (he got an A!) and I just passed one year of employment in my current job. I think we both deserved a little break and we are grateful for the opportunity to getaway together. Even though its about a month early, we are celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary and 10 years of togetherness. Special shout out to my parents who are letting us stay at their awesome place for free. We couldn't have pulled it off otherwise!

We left Dallas on Saturday and compromised by driving part of the way on 35 and then switching over to the backroads north of Austin. I'm glad we did because otherwise we would have missed this billboard in Liberty Hill.

 

Cracked me up. Did they put one up in 2005 just to honor the spelling champs and then add the football achievements later? Or was there a protest by the spellers when they put a sign up for football in 2007? Either way, we both had a good laugh. Good for you, Panther Spellers and good for you, city of Liberty Hill. Way to r-e-c-o-g-n-i-z-e.

Good friends joined us that evening when we got in and we had dinner at Leaning Pear. If you are ever in Wimberly you must try it, but you have to call ahead and reserve one of the specials because they run out. We were lucky not miss out on the barramundi with hatch chile posole and roasted corn-tomato salsa. Yum.

Jen made homemade cinnamon rolls for us on Sunday and they were heavenly! I am not a baker, but this girl makes me want to try. Everything she bakes tastes like love. Don't believe Nowlin when he says he made them. He lies.

We packed up a picnic lunch and went to Blue Hole park. In all my visits to the hill country, I had never been. I can see now that I was missing out.

The water is spring fed and limestone filtered so it is cool and clear.

 Jen and I went off the swings, too. Promise.

We also played a little paddle ball. Team Nowlin and Kass hold the record at a not-so-impressive 36. But we'll take it.

After Jen and Nowlin left, we spent the rest of the day hanging around the ranch reading books (K), golfing (D), and chasing deer (M).

On Monday, we went in to Austin so Derek could drop me off for my practice LMSW exam. But first we had to go to Foodheads for lunch. Duh.

I'm smiling because delicious sandwiches are imminent.

I passed my practice exam with enough wiggle room to where I won't have to study very much. Being back on campus was fun, especially because I got to hang out with my cousin Kim and vicariously be a student again.

On Tuesday, we went to the river park near the ranch. It was here that we learned our dog Maddie is a lot more adventurous than her size or prissy appearance would suggest. She climbs like a little mountain goat! She drinks from streams! She chooses to walk directly through the bramble! We are still dealing with the burs.

The park is beautiful and stays cool all afternoon so it is a great place to just hang out.

Maddie was more exhausted than I've ever seen her after all of the hiking. As I write this, she is comatose on the couch from which she hasn't moved since finally rousing from her bed in our suitcase at 10 this morning. Poor sleepy pup.

Today we are recuperating. Derek is golfing and Maddie and I are spending lots of time in the hammock reading some Mary Oliver. Maddie really likes Mary Oliver because sometimes she writes about doggies. Then, it's off to Rockabilly night at Gruene Hall!

Catching Up

Some things happened since the last time I posted. Here they are in no particular order.

Derek grew a beard. Now everyone in my family thinks he looks like Errol Flynn. I think he looks like handsome.

Derek decided where to go to school and then he decided where to go to school again. He is now two weeks closer to an MBA from the University of North Texas.

 

Maddie had a birthday party. It included cake and corsages.

Maddie got her teeth cleaned and we realized that she is probably 2 years older than we thought. So we threw her two more parties. Not really.

Derek and I both turned 24. I told someone I was 22 the other day. So apparently Maddie and I have the same problem.

We planted a lot of things. We share a garden with Kolby and Emily and are enjoying our first fruits and veggies. We also made over our little front yard.

We joined a church. It was a big step for us, but we feel good about being a part of a church that invites us to take big steps. If you live in the Dallas area or know someone who is interested in visiting or finding a church home, more info can be found at www.mungerplace.org/.

We go to celebrate Easter with family including our darling niece...

...and we found out that we are going to have another niece or nephew in December! Every time I tell someone about it I cry, so when you click below I will probably cry too.

http://emilyandkolby.blogspot.com/2012/05/december-2012.html

I have been pretty busy at work lately and that is the main reason I haven't been blogging as much. I'm still really enjoying it. Partially because I get to draw cartoons for kids to as a part of my social skills lessons. Like this one from when we were talking about role models. 

 That's what we have been up to. Oh and also I got Instagram.

Treats and snoozin'. Snoozin' and treats.

 

 

Friday Night Lights

Last night, Derek and I finished the entire series of Friday Night Lights. It's one of the greatest television shows of all time and watching it together over bowls of ice cream has meant a lot of cheap date nights. Here are our lists of "top fives" of the series.

Major Characters

 (I know this image is ridiculous, but so is my love for Tami.)

1. Tami.  

Some days all I want to be is half the woman Tami Taylor is.

2. Riggins. 

At first, I thought he was probably a vampire. But bit by bit he won me over. I feel in love when there was a tornado at the grocery store.

3. Matt. 

He is a gem.

4. Tyra. 

Because she surprises me and I love a woman with a strong jaw.

5. Smash.

This show loves redemption and so do I.

Minor Characters

 

1. Lorraine.

I love any scene with Grandma. Her road trip with the Collettes and Landry. When she accosts Coach in the grocery store about starting JD. When she says she will wash her wedding dress in the sink. I just want to hug her.

2. Landry.

 Murder, shmurder. He is a good one.

3. Mindy. 

Stripper with a heart of gold and I love it.

4. Billy. 

Because he evolves so beautifully in Seasons 4 and 5.

5. Buddy. 

Fact: Buddy is Derek’s overall favorite character.

Cutest Couples

1. Matt and Landry.

Give those boys a spin off!

2. Tami and Coach.

Duh.

3. Tim and Lyla.

I think he will love her 'til the day he dies.

4. Luke and Becky.

They break my heart.

5. Jess and Vince.

 So many dimples.

Mysteries

1. Why does Vince’s mom talk like she is from Connecticut? 

Her accent sticks out like a sore thumb and was one of the biggest distractions of Seasons 4 and 5.

2. Why does no one use a cell phone in Dillon?

Everyone think it’s completely normal to drive to someone’s house and knock on the door to discuss something a text message totally could have handled.

3. Where do so many characters disappear to?

Santiago, The McCoys, Waverley, and Skeeter were all sucked into the same black hole.

4. Why doesn’t Tami have any friends?

 I’d totally hang out with her.

5. Where is Dillon?

Based on the true story, it is West Texas. Based on its ethnic make-up, it is East Texas. Based on landscape, it is Central Texas. Sometimes Dallas is a whole road trip away but sometimes the Taylors can drive there and pick up Tyra.

Tear Jearkers

1. Street’s accident

Especially the montage of Coach’s speech about how “we all fall” over shots of the Streets in the hospital.

2. Matt and Grandma. 

Especially when Matt gets drunk after she falls and talks about how everyone leaves him.

3. The death of Matt’s father

And his grief-stricken meltdown about the carrots touching the meat.

4. Tyra's college aspirations

The speech Tyra’s mom gives about seeing her daughters differently, Tyra’s essay, and acceptance to UT.

5. Anything that happens when the song “Devil Town” is playing.

Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose.