Weekend re-cap: Highlands, RWD, projects, 7 Creeks

We started our weekend early on Friday night, as we plan to do from now on, I guess - packing up our Friday dinner and heading to Highlands.  We miss the sunset, but we get there in time to enjoy an adult beverage as we eat dinner and look at the stars.  

Its pretty sweet.

The next day we headed to Hamilton (about an hour and a half away) to attend the 6th anniversary party at Red Wing Dove.  We ate yummy tacos..

...worked on their jigsaw puzzle...

 ...relaxed on their patio listening to music...

 ...and just generally relaxed.  Then we headed to Highlands to make Porcini mushroom ravioli alfredo with some acorn squash!  YUM.

 And that evening we got to enjoy the sunset. (and a tiny sliver of moon)
Goodbye, August.

 The next morning, we had a few projects planned, including painting the patio set we scored for $30:

 

and grilling the marinated chicken for future Camp Rustown dinners and lunches.  We finished up just as it started pouring, so we sat on the barn's patio a bit, plotting our next move, and decided to head to a new-to-us winery in Burnet, 7 Creeks Vineyard.  We really enjoyed talking to one of the owners (its a family affair) while enjoying a tasting inside. 

Then we ordered a charcuterie board and a bottle of their Alicante Bouschet and headed outside to sit under a group of giant oaks just across from the vines. A nice breeze was blowing and we watched a storm slide past us.

This vineyard is very new but they have big plans to expand and the vines looked great.  Plus, all four of the owners - dad and mom, son and wife - came out to deliver our snacks and chat.  Such a nice group of folks!

 

This varietal was a first for us - usually a blending grape, French, that was popular during Prohibition. It tasted to me like berries and vanilla bean with a touch of spice.  These grapes were from the Texas High Plains and the wine was crafted by established winemakers who are assisting this new winery and really know their stuff.  We are looking forward to visiting this one again.

And with that - poof!  Weekend over.

Gina

Empty Nest Menu Monday #3

This is a new-to-us brewery out by the airport. We sat under the oaks, watched a plane or two fly in, and enjoyed some delicious beer on a very hot day!

Monday - Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (bun-less), smashed reds, green beans (I have to work, but I will earn 8 hours PTO and will spend my Old Navy Super Cash!)
Tuesday - Pork rub rib chops, peas and carrots, Jell-o with fruit
Wednesday - Beef Fajita Salads with corn, black beans, cotija cheese
Thursday - Grilled Chicken* with onions and peppers, mushroom risotto
Friday - Pulled Pork Nachos, homemade pico de gallo
Saturday - Eating a picnic at the Westcave Cellars pick-up
Sunday - Tilapia tacos with pico, sour cream, monterrey jack, cabbage slaw (pick-up at Wedding Oak in Burnet)

 Hefewizen was the bomb!

Gina

*this batch of grilled-at-Highlands chicken breasts included Spicy BBQ, Sriracha, and Soyaki flavors

Harvest Day at Perissos 2019

Harvest day at Perissos for the Tempranillo and Touriga dawned very early...we had almost a carbon copy repeat of the night before:  Shower and change clothes, eat dinner, hit the road for Highlands, and sit out in the yard there admiring the stars until bedtime.

 Walking to the pump house in the morning I hear this guy hooting.

Sign the waiver, grab your clippers, and head out!  No speeches from Seth and Laura - everyone pretty much knew the drill.  She rode an ATV with a little trailer attached giving us water , Gatorade, granola bars, and bananas - so appreciated.  No one looked ready to pass out though the heat and humidity were intense!

 

 

 .

And with that, our harvest volunteering comes to an end for the summer...but we are always up for helping in other ways!

Gina

Moving Day for Bubbie

Moving day for Bubbie to Texas State has come and gone.  Really, I thought the day would never get here - longest summer ever.  Probably for him, too.

 

But, we were organized and he was ready!  We used a basic dorm checklist to create a list of things he needed.  He will be sharing a 4 BR/4 BA apartment with separate kitchen and living area with three other guys, so mostly we just focused on things for his bedroom and bathroom.  And since Firstborn left most of his apartment supply at home, Bubbie had everything he needed for the kitchen, too.

Along with accumulating the stuff he needed, we also had necessary repairs done to the Baja - tires, axle work, air conditioning repaired.  Pricey, but now he has a safe vehicle to get around San Marcos.

 We hit the road early, and it was a good thing, as Austin traffic had already cranked up.

I wish I had taken more photos - the university is actually really pretty, and growing.  Its about an hour from our house, so it will be fairly easy for him to visit home. We signed a one year lease, so he will basically live here for a year:

It was a church in its former life and is now student housing, located on the west side of campus and within walking distance of the grocery store, places to eat, and the engineering building.  Plus, it has garage parking.

His room isn't gigantic, and the walls are mostly bare, but we got his bed and desk all set up, and after a quick trip to Wal-Mart, we also got blackout curtains hung and a side table and rug for next to the bed.  My mother sent him a quilt for college - he loves it.

 He and Hubby got the computer all set up and ready to roll,

 while I put together the bathroom, which connects to his closet:

 

 We took a break for lunch and on the advice of the parking garage guy, went to Gumby's for a pizza. 

Leftovers were packed up and placed in his fridge for dinner.  I had wanted to take him grocery shopping, but to his credit, he really wanted to take care of that himself.  And we were all started to feel the heat.  Having your parent around while you move gets old after 5 hours, so we said our goodbyes with big hugs.  Time for Bubbie to start college life.

After we left, Hubby and I headed over to a craft brewery near campus and had a couple of cold beers while we played cards and listened to music.

It was a really nice way to cool off, but it was time to head home - the summer of waiting is over.

So back to Austin we headed.

And now its time to dream of Fall.

Gina

Empty Nest Menu Monday #2

Monday - Chicken thigh skillet with carrots and potatoes, kale salad {errands and grocery shop}
Tuesday - Link sausage with BBQ beans {touch up paint in Bubbie's room}
Wednesday - Stir Fry Beef and Broccoli {do a once over with the carpet cleaner in the hall and Bubbie's room}
Thursday - Rosemary Chicken Caesar Salads {catch up on chores day}
Friday - Out to eat.  
Saturday - Ravioli alfredo with butternut squash at Highlands {trip to Red Wing Dove in Hamilton to celebrate their 6th anniversary}
Sunday - Salmon, twice baked potatoes, mustard greens {spray paint a patio set we bought for Highlands}

Gina

5 thing Friday - eating out, eating in, phone woe, fiddle leaf, Arnold

One recent Sunday Hubby and I found a fun place very close to his new office - Westwood Gastropub.  (I'm happy that Hubby's office is moving - I'm pretty sure the old building is full of mold)

 We split a basket of fish and chips that featured duck fat fries - it was very delightful!

 I might have also had a mango avocado margarita.

Cooking for two is going to be a challenge for me - I'm just not used to it.  I made my own version of shrimp and grits for dinner one night and we enjoyed it for for lunch the next day, too.  So if I cook too much, at least we can pack up the leftovers.

I'm still reading, as per my bucket list.  How ironic is this book since Bubbie lost his phone on his second day up at Texas State?  Maybe I should send him the book when I'm done.

 

 I had been eyeballing this fiddle leaf fig from Pottery Barn for a while and they put it on sale and gave me free shipping.  I love the look of it in our bedroom and its high quality PLUS I can't kill it.  Winning.

THE VAN IS GONE.  All that's left is built up silt underneath it from when it rained in the spring.  Goodbye, Arnold.  You were a trusty (if not crusty) and faithful way to get four kids and their mom everywhere we needed to go.  I hope the junk dealer who picked you up will restore you and you get a few more years on the road.

Gina