Eating

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When we were newlyweds, Greg’s Grandma Rouble, in between serious laments for my failure to change my name to Cooper (Are they really married?), sent us photos of Texas Bluebells and other wildflowers in an attempt to convince us to visit while they were in blossom. Though we did visit in springtime, we sadly missed the blooms. So, every time we drove past a  field dappled with every color and hue, we thought of her bidding us good day from the sweet hereafter, the pair of us offering our most cheerful “Hello Rouble!” in reply.

Good coffee and even friendlier service in Post!

Greg’s Dad grew up in Ralls. Hi Alan!

While in the Panhandle, we stayed with our cousin and very fine host, Cynthia. Juniper was ready to romp with her dogs. This is Groot.

League adjacent bowler…

Sunrise at Cynthia’s

Juniper in wild wonder at the sight of bison at Caprock Canyons.

Adorable babies!

Hello!

Cousins AND fabulous music fans.

Jimmy Dean – most notably of breakfast sausage fame, hailed from Plainview. We went to his museum and learned he was a singer, an actor, and super dandy dresser, too.

When I was a little girl, my Grandma Frances LOVED Furr’s. She would always convince me to go by saying that I could get anything I wanted, which actually translated to most anything (Jell-O!) but not everything. I could never-ever have a pat of butter or a beverage, because, at the time, they cost extra. So, when I saw the sign for Furr’s, you bet I wanted to go, and so we did, TWICE. You bet I got extra pats of butter and iced tea, too!

Kress sunset

A wee slice of Oklahoma.

Two Buttes

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Our breakfast stop in San Marcos – a full twenty-five (for dramatic emphasis) degrees cooler than the beach! When we embarked on our journey, the hubster delighted in what he thought was the fact that he wouldn’t need to wear pants again until October. With a high of 43 one of the days we were there, he was mighty disappointed to put on jeans.

While in San Marcos, we visited the diminutive and sweet LBJ Museum off the town square – that’s one of his hats up there! They run audio of his speeches and commentary, and I do believe we stumbled upon the comedy section. The man made me chuckle!

Welcome to Austin! Sadly, I don’t believe they are Keeping it Weird (Portlanders, did you know the expression came from here??), but it IS rather fine.

melia azedarach

Smells so sweet!

swan song

The best Croque Madame I’ve had outside of France at June’s All Day.

My favorite turquoise on one of my favorite trucks for the wanderer win!

The company of our old friends Whitney and Michael – we’ve known each other since we were newlyweds – the absolute highlight of our time in Austin!

My favorite Cooper at Cooper’s BBQ – It’s All About THE MEAT! What fine meat, too. Good golly!

The Driskill

Thank you, Austin!

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Fredericksburg Public Library – isn’t it a peach? Coincidentally, they are rather famous for their peaches, but we were a bit early for harvest, sigh.

Main Street is lined with charming buildings, many of them erected with Austin stone, which I LOVE. The original settlement, as you might have guessed from the name, was German, and named after King Frederick of Prussia (where my Sohn ancestors hail from). In keeping with this heritage, we noshed on some uber-tasty German cuisine at the aptly named Old German Bakery and Restaurant. We were not disappointed!

I don’t know if it is actually true, but this look, to my eye, is quintessentially Southern.

And on to the namesake town of one of the best country songs, EVER, Luckenbach, Texas. Juniper made acquaintance with one of the very few actual residents.

Oh boy, if ever I decide to return to truly greener pastures, I am high tailing it to Texas Hill Country. I never expected to be so smitten with this rolling, rollicking landscape, but boy howdy is it something, with every manner of flower and tree growing with abandon. Beautiful!

The San Antonio River Walk – my first glimpse since I was a babe of four.

Star jasmine, which took a bit of coaxing to grow in pots on our Portland patio positively thrives here, winding wildly amongst trees to massive hedges, some fifty feet in length. The scent and memory was positively intoxicating.

Tower of Life

Fine adobe and Guadalupe niche at La Villita

The wind can be whipping wildly and the streets crowded and cacophonous, but descend the stairs to the River Walk and all is calm, lush, and contemplative.

Torch of Friendship

Remember the Alamo has NO basement.

Emily Morgan Hotel

Travis Park United Methodist Church

More River Walking

Bexar County Courthouse

San Fernando Cathedral

It’s a year-round fiesta inside Mi Tierra. So cheerful!

We enjoyed  muy delicioso hot chocolate and pastries and service as sweet and wondrous as the decor.

Photo-bomb!

He makes my heart SO happy.

We didn’t try the Miller Bar-B-Q, but the building sure was fine.

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Our Marfa digs: El Cosmico

Is it glamping if the toilet is 100 feet away?

Fab BBQ and beautiful art at Convenience West

E A S T

As they fly…

Must have: yellow rose of Texas

We enjoyed the best margaritas of our trip and super service at the Hotel Paisano. The eats weren’t too shabby, either.

Non-vacation related, but SUPER important – ask for your beverages without a straw, even though they might give you one anyway. The United States uses 500 million straws PER DAY, enough to fill Yankee Stadium nine times every year. Say whaaat? If you’re feeling even more bold, try giving up single-use plastics altogether, as they are the largest source of debris in the ocean. The hubster and I avoid as much plastic packaging as possible, and bring our own cups, carryout containers, and utensils to restaurants that use plastic or styrofoam (we keep them in the car with our shopping baskets). It’s so easy to do! It’s also a great way to be remembered by your server. You’re the people who bring a container for PIE! You want the coconut, right?

So long, Marfa!

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Got up and out before the sun to get a jump on this year’s road trip south to Texas! We stopped at my favorite Las Vegas and filled ourselves with happy at Charlie’s Spic and Span. The breakfast burrito for the hubster and stuffed sopapilla (Stuffy) for me. Egads, peeps, they know how to do breakfast RIGHT.

We spent our first night in Roswell and made ourselves comfortable with a little Fixer Upper and a tour of buildings past. Just in case you were wondering, there was no contact with extra-terrestrials. Sad face.

Side tracked in Carlsbad…

Cloud wave

Guadalupe Peak – the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet.

This used to be ocean…

Favorite Traveling Companions

Wind blown ear tips, so cute!

Van Horn

Marfa, our first destination in Texas. One old association, James Dean, on whom I had a very serious high school crush and bedroom walls plastered with his image. He filmed Giant, along with Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson, on a nearby ranch, waaay back in the day. One new association, about which I have read countless times, the Prada Marfa art installation by Elmgreen and Dragset.

I made my dress and like the crooked reflection of my legs in the plexiglass. If you look carefully, you can see the hubster patiently waiting for me to get the shot. The man is a gem of gems.

Drone, scanning the landscape for interlopers. Marfa is some sixty miles from the border, yet, according to the Patrolman we met on our travels, still sees a fairly steady number of migrants. I have mixed feelings about this. Of course, I would love for everyone to arrive via the proper channels, but one of my own kin arrived illegally via a barrel hidden on a steamship, desperate for a better life. It makes it harder to find fault.

More Marfa tomorrow!

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