Weekend re-cap: Brewtorium, Celis, Highlands, STW, Wedding Oak, Stoneledge

Last Friday I took the day off to see my mother in Brenham and help her around the house.  After a day of cleaning and three hours on the road I was ready to RELAX.

 

Hubby and I ended up at Brewtorium for apps and a brew.

 A few card games may have been played, and he may have won all of them.  And then we stopped by Celis on the way home to eat roasted spinach queso dip and enjoy some oatmeal stout.  

We left Austin around 10 a.m. Saturday, enjoyed breakfast at Storm's, and headed to Highlands to cut down another thicket and get the previous wood ready to burn.  The skies were super dark and cloudy.  We worked on it for about three hours, then picked up lunch to enjoy out on a picnic table at STW.

Back at Highlands we spent the rest of the afternoon burning brush from the previous weekend.  Side note: where these bluebonnets are thriving was once a giant burn area!  Wildflowers are amazing.

Kept threatening to rain, but never did.

 We ended the day with a campfire, and made fondue.  

The weather the next day was fabulous - a high near 84 in San Saba where we were headed to pick up wine at Wedding Oak.  We stopped at Young's for some BBQ, and intended to stay awhile and listen to live music, as well as visit Old Man Scary Cellars next door.

But it was so dang hot on that patio!  So Hubby did some google-ing and found a new winery in Lometa just about 30 minutes away, and we decided to do some exploring

 

 Shady trees, friendly people, delightful wine

 

and amazing views.  We sat on a bluff for at least an hour and a half, watching cows at a nearby farm, listening to birds, feeling the breezes, and just generally relaxing.  And before we knew it, it was time to head home and get started on Sunday dinner.  And laundry.  Always laundry.

Gina

Mealplan Monday #238

Monday - Italian Chicken Thighs, eggplant ragout, steamed and smashed red potatoes with olive oil and garlic
Tuesday - (freezer) Sloppy Joes over whole wheat buns, papaya chunks
Wednesday - Lemon Garlic Scallops with angel hair pasta, zucchini
Thursday - Lean Beef Patty with onions and peppers, collards
Friday - Grilled Chicken Breast on romaine with pears, fennel, walnuts, fruit vinaigrette
Saturday - Cast Iron Salmon, roasted radishes with Green Goddess dip
Sunday - Ham, Easy 123 Mac and Cheese, sweet potatoes

Gina

5 thing Friday - fruit, oatmeal, lunch, bluebonnets, rebate

Hubby and I have been enjoying fruit lately as our sweet snack.  My favorite are the dates and the blood oranges from Imperfect Produce.  But really, I have been enjoying all kinds of fruit, including those seedless mandarins (Cuties) and juicy grapes.  So good!

 I am finding that my sugar cravings are getting weaker and I have managed to stay our of the gift shop at work.  No popcorn, no candy bars.  Winning.

I was buying the high protein instant oatmeal until I realized I could control the sugar even more so if I just made my own.  I mix whole oats, some nuts, maybe a little coconut or raisins or craisins, a dab of almond butter, maybe some All Bran buds, a teaspoon of honey...add water, nuke for 2.5 minutes while I get dressed for work.  As it sits, it thickens, and I add a splash of half and half.  I can manage oatmeal at least three days a week this way.

Lunch al fresco at Highlands on Sunday:  Trader Joe's chili lime chicken burger over romaine, with a sprinkling of mozzarella and a drizzle of Caesar dressing that I squeezed a lemon into...delightful.  Have you tried those San Pellegrino fruit sparkling waters?  We keep them in the fridge at Highlands instead of tea or soda.  They are really refreshing and so good with lunch!

The bluebonnets are taking their good sweet time making their appearance on our hill, though the highways are FULL of them.  By this weekend I expect they will have exploded - we've gotten so much rain and the sunshine and weather has been amazing.

My first "big fat rebate check" from Ebates...eh.  I'll take it.

Gina

Finding the Deal of the Century, Mom version

Firstborn doesn't own a lot of furniture - he has an antique table and two chairs ("old stuff" to him), and he has a desk, new office chair, nightstand, and his bed.  That's pretty much it.  So when his sister bought herself a new sofa, she said she would sell him her old one for $75.  Now, granted, it was a couple years old, but she paid $500 for it, and they agreed that $75 was fair.  The only catch was: he would have to go to Houston to get it and I'm not certain it would have fit in Hubby's pick-up bed.  Way too much cost and hassle.  I was on a mission to find him one closer to home.

So I stopped by my favorite Salvation Army Family Store on my way to work Monday and I spied the above loveseat.  Clean, in good shape, pretty comfy.

 Hang on - how much is this loveseat?  I had to do a double take

Originally $99.99, now marked $7.49. I flagged down an associate to ask her if this was correct.  YES, it was.  SOLD!  I took the ticket up to the front, rounded up my sale to the nearest dollar, and with tax it was $9 even. I texted the pic to Firstborn thinking he would snub it, and we could put it in the Lounge, but no, he wanted it.  So he and Hubby picked it up last night and took it to his apartment.  

I was fairly pleased with myself!

I also spied this oak cabinet which I thought would work as a TV stand, but sadly it was not long enough for the TV screen.  And now I am on another mission:  can I find a TV stand that we can stain to match his bookcase?  And a coffee table, too?  

Gina

Mealplan Monday #237

Monday - Sliced Grilled Chicken Breast over romaine with sliced apple and Spicy Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Tuesday - Pintos and Ham, fresh onion, cilantro, and red bell pepper
Wednesday - Seared Tuna Steak, collard greens, baked sweet potatoes
Thursday - Healthier Stuffed Peppers, carrots
Friday - Pork and Broccoli Stir Fry with shitake mushrooms
Saturday - YOYO
Sunday - Easy Chicken Enchiladas, salad with romaine, grapefruit, and avocado

Gina

Photo gifts

Shutterfly sends me free offers from time to time.  Recently I ordered a shopping bag for my mother's birthday that came out really nice - it had photos of Gus and her garden with a garden quote.  And I ordered a personalized bottle opener for some friends of ours - it will go with some beer or wine at Christmastime.  Last night I created coasters for Firstborn's apartment after perusing his FB page for pics of his beloved car:

 

And a notepad for me featuring a spunky three old from long ago:

Last Fall I ordered an inspirational notebook for Dutch that came out really nice, and some coasters for Scout that featured some of his nicest nature shots.  Both were paired with a purchased item making a fun set - coffee for Scout, printed pencils for Dutch.  The "free" coasters and notepad I ordered last night cost $19 to ship which seemed a little steep, but I guess it all averages out.  And I do love the idea of using photos to make gifts!

Gina

Mealplan Monday #236

Weekend goals:  drink water, water, water, and more water

Monday - Greek Spiced Chicken Breast Bites, garlic and olive oil smashed potatoes
Tuesday - 15 Bean Soup with turkey leg (I will serve with chopped onion)
Wednesday - Pesto Salmon, yellow squash, maybe some quinoa or barley
Thursday - Beef and Bok Choy Stir Fry with veggie pot stickers
Friday - Crockpot Chicken Stew (with carrot, potato, and turnip)
Saturday - YOYO, but Mom and Dad will have fish of some kind
Sunday - Smothered BBQ Pork Chop, Mac and Cheese for my peeps!, green beans

Gina

Weekend re-cap: Teddy, Mother, STW, Westcave, pizzas, and an emptier nest.

The days leading up to The Girl's arrival seemed to crawl by. Teddy was enjoying life but I knew he would be so much happier when she came to get him!  Its been a long two months and even though he is a good house guest, I was ready to be done with temporary dog ownership.

I even gave him a bath so he would smell pretty for his mama! 

Talking to my mother on the phone last week, I felt alarmed to hear something in her voice - a trembling or frailty. It made me panic a little.  When was the last time I saw her?  I decided to take Friday off and run up there and check on her.

As it happens, it was also her birthday.  She had a list of things for us (me) to do.  I fed her lunch and took her to the bank and grocery store.  We cleaned out the hen house and moved some berry vines.  

On Saturday we had a pick-up to attend!  First we had to go check on Highlands and make sure the window to the pumphouse was closed as Burnet was expecting a hard freeze. We ate a small turkey sammie/no chips from Schlotzsky's, then we swung by STW for the Priceps Pacis release.  And finally, we jetted off to Westcave Cellars!

Kentucky Divide was playing, a firepit was going, and we enjoyed some small bites along with a great tannat.  I could have sat out there under the oaks for hours.

We ended up at home around 6 and made Uuni pizzas for everyone, then enjoyed the firepit and some downtime with The Girl.  I couldn't get anyone to stay up past ten at the firepit with me, so I was the last to go to bed.

 

The next day, we helped Firstborn get some more things moved, then ate at a favorite seafood place for lunch.  When we got home I spent an hour or so dusting in here and cleaning the carpets and what you see above is how I left it.  I'm not sure how will we use this space.  We ate some crockpot turkey veggie soup, played some cards, and called it a day.  Hopefully this weekend coming up will not be as busy.

Gina

Mealplan Monday #235

Monday - Taco Chicken Bites, sauteed collards and onion
Tuesday - Crockpot white beans (last week's beans were so good!  Pintos, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and ham hocks.  I sorted and rinsed them, added all to crockpot on high 2 hours, then on low for about 6.  Perfect creamy beans.)
Wednesday - Baked Shrimp in lemon butter, veggie quinoa
Thursday - Beef Pozole Soup
Friday - Orange Chicken, spinach salad with red onion and tomato
Saturday - Rain date wine club pick-up so we will play it by ear
Saturday - Turkey Sloppy Joes on whole wheat buns, celery and carrot sticks

Gina

89 years young

Today my mother will be 89 years old.  Here is a picture of her at 16 - her senior year of high school in Houston, about to be married:

 

She is a gardener and quilt-maker, and a creative cook.  She loves to hand write letters, read books, and play dominoes.  She wears a lot of gold jewelry but no makeup.  And she still drives her truck and does her own shopping.  She has a dog, Gus, who is her constant companion.   She has gone through two rounds of corneal transplants and several broken bones but she's still kicking. Her health seems to be good.  I always think to myself  "however long my mother lives is probably how long I will, too", God willing.

 She has chickens...

 

 ...and she eats well from her garden. 

 

 She is financially secure.

And I hope I can see her very soon to check in on her, maybe take her a birthday pie and a nice lunch, and spend some time with her.  Lately I have felt like our time together is growing short and is makes me cry to think I will lose her someday. She wasn't an overly affectionate mom, but she cared for us, sewed our clothes, managed a household and its finances, kept us alive, and sent me to college.  And I know that she loves me not because of all of that, but because she always tells me so.  So I want to be sure I let her know that I appreciate her and wish for her many more happy days in her garden.