Stitching Up a Storm in Alamo City

Bluebonnets are out in full force

 
Last Friday, Mark and I took a day trip up to Willow City (which is out in the middle of nowhere) to see bluebonnets.  Because of our rain and fairly hard freeze this winter, they were predicted to be the best show in a long time.

They grow wild and absolutely cover the ground.  They are gorgeous.  The tradition is to take children, pets - anything you have on hand - out and take their picture in the bluebonnets. 

Anticipating our trip last week, I thought for 30 seconds about taking Maddie with us, but she had just gone to Houston the prior weekend (3 hour car trip) and had gotten sick on the way there and on the way home.  So I decided against it.

Good thing.  We saw almost NO bluebonnets the entire day.  As Mark was driving out to the club for golf on Saturday morning, he called and said, "You know that saying about you don't have to go far from home to find what you're looking for?"  Uhhhhh.   The frontage road 1 mile from our house was covered in bluebonnets.  

The bad news is that what I've seen so far is close to busy highways and streets, so you really don't want to take a toddler out in the middle of it.  Child Protective Services is surely watching for that right now.  Very dangerous.   So, maybe this weekend, we can drive away from town a little bit and find a good spot.  They are beautiful.

There's a front yard of house about 3 miles from ours which is absolutely covered in bluebonnets, but it's fenced in.  I didn't see a sign letting you know how much you could pay to come onto their property for pictures, but if I get desperate, I just might do it.

Have a great weekend.
I'm not doing much stitching these days - but having fun anyway.
Jane

I live in a beautiful city

Every now and then, I sign up for private tours of artists' studios or galleries with limited time exhibitions.  A wonderful lady in town, who used to be a high school art teacher, and who has contributed tremendously to the art scene here conducts the tours. 

As an aside, this lady was very instrumental in the founding of an organization called Say Si, http://saysi.org/ which is an arts center made available to underserved children who have a desire to learn an artform (or more than one).  The organization provides supplies, instruction, a safe place and lots of positive support for these kids who might otherwise be on the streets or at a minimum not pursuing and growing their talents.  Many of them go on to college on scholarship - at least one went to the Art Institute in Chicago - they do amazing work.

Today we saw much of the private collection of Linda Pace (now deceased, but who was a very wealthy woman after selling her family's company, Pace Foods - of Pace Picante fame - to Campbell's - as in tomato soup company).  She bought and refurbished a beautiful industrial building south of downtown and claimed the top two floors for her own living quarters and art gallery.  Her contemporary art collection was amazing, as I would have expected, and the views from the roof of her building were unbelievable.

She bought the property across the street from her building and turned it into a wonderful park, dedicated to the memory of her son.   The bamboo growing there was at least 20 feet tall and so dense and lush - just unbelievable. 

I'm still working on the BK Magi, and I'm making some progress, but wanted to share this fabulous view I was lucky to see today.

Happy stitching,
Jane

I'm still alive, I promise.

My sweet friend, Kelly of Ortville, emailed me this morning to make sure I was ok.   No posts, no comments, no emails.   She was worried.  I'm fine.  I'm just busy.   My dad is here for a long Father's Day weekend and we've had people swarming the house for several days now.  Tonight is the last hurrah, and then I'm back to a

somewhat normal schedule.  

We're having Rudy's BBQ for dinner - I picked up 3 lbs of moist (think not lean) brisket, 2 lbs of turkey, 6 sausages, 2 qts creamed corn, a boatload of baked beans - maybe a spinach salad a la Jane - and something for dessert yet to be determined.  Rudy's claims to be the Worst BBQ in Texas, but it's really very good.   We've lived here 8 years and at first, it was a place to take out of town visitors - now it's just a great standby.   Good food if you're not counting calories.  

Trust me.   It really looks like this.   You stand in line for your food - they cut the meat right on the spot and give you a loaf of white bread (only time I ever eat white bread) and a piece of butcher paper, which you use as your plate.   If you've ordered creamed corn, you get a red and white checkered tray like you'd get french fries in -- and there you go.   Plastic silverware and a paper towel for a napkin, and you're all set.  Fabulous Texas BBQ.   Down here it's wood smoked with a rub - no sauce - you add that if you want when you decide it's ready to eat.  

See you later - after I've consumed enough calories to last a couple of days.

Love, Jane

For the cowgirl in you...

We went to the rodeo last night.   What a hoot.   The horses were absolutely beautiful.  Sorry they're blurry.

There were a few cowboys who were pretty good looking, too.

High concentration of trucks and cowboy hats at the at&t center these days.

Today we're going to see 4 of the 5 missions and Trinity University.

Happy stitching.
Jane

City of lights, Texas style

We rented a van so we could fit the whole crew in one vehicle and set out for Johnson City, Texas (named for LBJ's family) on Saturday night.   If you have in mind that people just dress up to look like cowboys or would never, ever think of killing a deer or pheasant or rabbit for sport, you should avoid this town (and probably the rest of this post.)

We went because I saw a spot on CNN that the Christmas lights there are amazing, and they really are. (CNN said, "Paris, France has nothing on Johnson City, Texas at Christmas time.") The Electric Company was lit up beautifully.  We were most impressed with one family, though, who lives in a double-wide trailer off 281 North, who apparently single-handedly lit up an entire front yard - must have been 2-3 acres with all kinds of displays and music.  The work (and expense) involved was staggering.   Quite impressive. 

Now for the cowboys and hunters.   We ate at the Hill Country Cupboard, which was rated by Texas Monthly magazine as one of the top 40 diners in the state.  I can't tell you how long it's been since I ate a breaded pork chop, but this one was not just breaded.   It was "chicken fried."   For food that's really bad for you, this was good, and mostly worth it.   I was hoping they'd have slaw.   I love how many different tastes and textures you can get out of cabbage and vinegar.  No slaw.   Actually, they didn't even have anything that was crunchy.  Iceberg lettuce was the closest they got.   For dessert, they have fabulous pies and cobblers.   Mark got blackberry cobbler with ice cream on top.   My bite was excellent.    Several others tried a bite, too.  All rave reviews.

The place was full.   Never saw so much camouflage being worn in one place.  These were not people who were wearing trendy camo cargo pants.   These people were for real.   Lots of cowboy hats, too.   Ranchers, no doubt.  

I love the personality of Texas.  Soon after I moved here from Indiana, I realized that any state where you can get pasta in the shape of the state, really does have an attitude.   Can't remember ever seeing crackers shaped like the state of Indiana when I lived there.  I'm smart enough to refrain from saying I'm a Texan. That wouldn't be appropriate.  Those who have lived here forever are quite proud of their heritage.   On the flipside, I don't remember hearing anyone in Indiana brag that they were a 5th generation Hoosier.  I think you'd question their intelligence if they did.  You'd say, "Now what does that REALLY mean?"   Even though I can't claim Texas as my own, I'm a proud transplant. 

Now Maddie - that's a different story.   She moved here when she was 6 months old.  I think she might just be able say she's a Texan after a few years.

Back to stitching.
Love, Mimi