Bopping around in Burnet

Hubby and I had a mini getaway last Saturday after a fairly full Thursday and Friday.

He wanted me to see the new sign for Highlands up close and personal!  We couldn't talk the two older kids into going, so we jumped in the truck and headed out alone.  We stopped at Whataburger and got lunch, then took it to Highlands to eat al fresco.

 Then we stopped off at our (new) favorite place to watch a sunset - Torr Na Lochs.

It was warm on the patio in full sun, but not terrible.  We watched the owner's Longhorns amble around the stone patio, looking for their evening meal. 

We sat until the sun went down.  Then I was the only one who applauded - such an Austin thing to do!

 Next week is the wine pick-up party there, so we will enjoy yet another sunset together, God willing.

On the way home, we stopped at the Christmas Trail of Lights in downtown Burnet.  We were the only ones there - what a change from Austin, where you get to enjoy the trail with 5000 of your closest friends!

They even had something like the Zilker Tree.  Only it was just the two of us and fairly peaceful, even with slight traffic along 29.

Blurry pics notwithstanding, it was a sweet little trail.

Hubby waited patiently for me to come take his hand so we could walk.  It was a sweet end to our little getaway. 

Gina

Mealplan Monday #170

Monday - Buttermilk Baked Chicken, rice,veggie
Tuesday - BBQ Pork Roast, potato salad
Wednesday - Pot of beans, corn muffins
Thursday - Johnny Marzetti Casserole (freezer), salad
Friday - Apple Pecan Chicken Salad on Texas Toast, chips
Saturday is YOYO, Sunday is One Pot Tortellini with Sausage, salad

Thanksgiving table, 2017

On Sunday, we had plans for a fun afternoon and evening.  So since I knew the week would be busy, I went ahead and set the table up for Thursday.  I added a leaf to the table, put the table pad on, ran the dampened tablecloth in the dryer to smooth it out, then set about putting it all together.

 I pinned an idea from someone's blog a while back, where they had laid doilies down the middle of the table to make a sort of runner.  I have many doilies!

Some of them are thrifted, but quite a few were made by my mother.  They are vintage and fussy looking. I added the plates and stemware form Dollar Tree, napkins from Hob Lob (80% off!), the silver, some gold chargers I have had forever, and a couple of battery operated candles in some Dollar Tree candle holders. Then I added some burlap ribbon out of my stash.

It was all of $14 to make a pretty table. and we will have the plates and goblets for our Christmas table, too.  I've gotten an amazing amount done this morning:  made two pies, three side dishes, cleaned my kitchen.  All that's left is actual cooking and enjoying our day tomorrow. But for now, I'm off to work!

Gina

Mealplan Monday #169

Monday - Crunchy Beef Tacos with all the fixings
Tuesday - Garlicky Onion Pork Chops crockpot, mashed potatoes, chopped salad

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Wednesday - Pizza, salad (Thanksgiving dinner prep tonight)

Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving! 
Friday - Lunch will be BBQ in Elgin, dinner will be turkey soup while we watch a movie
Saturday - grill at Highlands
Sunday - Leftovers!
 

5 thing Friday - Fall colors, stew, goblets, front door, wreath

From one weekend to the next I noticed the changing colors up at Highlands.

It might not feel like cooler weather, but it sure looks it.  Central Texas can't decide between Summer and Fall, but the trees have made their vote!

We haven't been up there in two weeks, so I'm sure its even lovelier by now!

I didn't take a picture of my finished crock pot stew, but it was almost all gone by the time I got home from work.  Recycled dinner at its best - a tomato almost too ripe, a couple of carrots, some small potatoes about to sprout - all went into the crockpot with a seasoning packet, some extra chopped garlic, water, and some stew meat.  It was definitely a win.

On the advice of a sweet blogger I follow, I went back to Dollar Tree and nabbed another of those plates - the last one!  And while I was at it, I grabbed some of the wine goblets, too.  You cannot beat $1 apiece for wine goblets!  These are study and dishwasher safe.  And if one gets broken I will not care as much as if one of the crystal ones met a similar fate.  I'm glad I didn't order some like I had originally planned.

Eventually the front door will get painted, but that doesn't seem like it will happen soon.  And anyway, its almost time to say goodbye to pumpkins and such.  And in anticipation I bought a few items at Dollar Tree to spruce up a wreath for the front door.  Including this giant reindeer for $1.

Next weekend the house will be Christmas-festive by Sunday.

Gina

Mealplan Monday #168

Monday - Dr. Martin's Mix, corn
Tuesday - Beef Stew Crockpot, garlic toast
Wednesday - Omelette, hash browns, fruit
Thursday - Pinto beans in crockpot, corn muffins
Friday - Garlic Roasted Chicken crockpot, mashed potatoes, veggie (we never had this a couple weeks ago)
Saturday we grill and and Sunday we'll press the Easy Button and do Chinese!

Gina

Guess what's in two weeks?!

The Girl visited us last weekend - she was on her way to Waco for a girl's weekend, so Teddy stayed overnight on Saturday.  Then she was back Sunday and it was nice to have her at our Sunday night dinner!  It felt like I got nothing at my house done all weekend (as per the usual lately) and by Sunday night I was dreading the week...then it hit me...

Thanksgiving is in two weeks!!

With my new work schedule I have gotten far less done in the mornings than I had hoped I would, including getting any plans made for the holidays!  So while The Girl and I chatted about Thanksgiving, I made a quick menu out, and a plan.  And not surprisingly, it's very simple, with all the "tried and trues" we've come to love about the meal.  Nothing Pinterest-inspired, nothing fussy.  But if we do a little advance prep, we can eat as a family around noon, and visit together all morning with a minimum amount of fuss.  Then I go into work at 2:30, which is kind of a bummer, but I will have the following FOUR days off to spend with my peeps!  And for all of that, I feel a little less stressed about it, a little more thankful!  So that's my Wednesday today - step one is getting to the grocery store before work so I can start my shopping and prepping!

How about you?  Do you have a plan to start the holidays off right?  Give me your tips!

 

Mealplan Monday #167

Monday - Shredded Pork for tacos
Tuesday - BBQ Meatballs, mashed potatoes, veggie
Wednesday - Buttermilk Fried Chicken Salads (last week for salad meal!)
Thursday - Leftover Chili, Fritos, grated cheddar
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday is TBD
and Sunday is Chicken Enchiladas, salad

5 thing Friday - firepit, breakfast, doe, Halloween, cookie jar

Last weekend Hubby and I crossed another "to do" off our list for Highlands - ordering the sign.  We inherited a really beautiful cast iron sign from my mother.  All it needed was a new plate underneath that says "Highlands".  It will also feature a triquetra on either side of the name.  I will post a pic of it when we get it installed!  We will take the bit that says "Parry's Pond" back to my mother and maybe hang it on her garage - it has great sentimental value.

Meanwhile, we are eyeballing the giant firepit you see in the middle of the above photo at the same place we are getting the sign done.  Large enough for the whole Cannary clan to sit around - and then some.

 

 Weekend breakfasts don't have to be fancy - sometimes they are leftovers, topped with a fried egg, a fritter from a favorite donut place in Bertram, and eaten off a paper plate, in the barn.

 I spy with my little eye, a very inquisitive doe as I was finishing up my coffee outside.

Sunday dinners in the dining room are still a thing, to my surprise.  This last one was a celebration for Scout's birthday.  We had turkey chili, cornbread muffins, and an Oreo ice cream cake.  

His birthday is Halloween - it isn't the same at my house without four kids dressed up and pouring their candy in piles on the floor for trades.  These days it's usually just me and Hubby, sitting outside with his guitar entertaining the trick-or-treaters, having a glass of wine and eating pizza. 

This cookie jar has been in my possession since my MIL passed.  I accidentally broke the lid years ago and did a poor job re-gluing it.  Then two weeks ago, Hubby and I stopped at an antiques store in Llano and what did I find at theveryback of the store?  A lid that matches perfectly sitting by itself on a shelf with a $4 price tag, calling my name.  What are the odds?!  Marie is smiling from heaven.

Gina

My "of-the-sea" birthday boy

Happy Birthday to my sweet Scout! 22 years young yesterday - will I sound like an old lady if I ask where did all of those years go?

Galveston, 1996

They went into this sweet baby who grew up to become a sweet man!  The name Dylan means "of the sea", though he wasn't born in Galveston, where this photo was taken.  But it also means tide or flow, and if you knew him,  you would say that it fits!  An easy-going kind of guy, kind and good humored, loving and sensitive, who goes with the flow.

Happy Birthday, Scout!  We wish all good things for you and love you so much!

Gina