Easter Bluebonnet Adventure

This spring is already an abundantly blessed one for central Texans.  We've had beautiful weather, just the right amount of rain and sunshine, which has brought on the best bluebonnet season in at least three years.  This weekend, Randy and I ventured out to Llano, for Cooper's BBQ and to get pictures of the blankets of blue (we also ended up at the Texas Hills Vineyard and Winery, and scored an Orange Moscato and '07 Syrah from the friendly KU fan working this weekend). We weren't able to stop at the best bluebonnet places, along winding backroads between Llano and Johnson City, but we were able to stop for these not far from the Pedernales River.

I love the bluebonnets among the cacti.  Beautiful.

Some Indian paintbrushes fight for attention.

Yours truly, clearly trying to camouflage myself - and again, the Indian paintbrushes fight for attention.

The real goal of the trip, of course. 

And, the Pedernales, one of the treasures of the Hill Country.  We're looking down river here.


Hope everyone had a blessed and happy Easter.  Celebrate, for He is risen!

Our weekend at Lake LBJ

We flashed back to the past a little this weekend, joining YCT for their annual retreat, held this year at Log Country Cove at Lake LBJ in Kingsland, Texas. A flashback because, for those who don't know the tale, this is where Randy proposed to me in July 2007 (so, almost two years ago to the day!).

Gone are the days when Randy and I held positions of note in this organization, so we were able to pay our fees and then just enjoy the weekend as we saw fit. Saturday we drove into Llano to get new pics of the courthouse and to get Cooper's for lunch (seriously, if you haven't been to Cooper's, you are really missing out). Then we decided to meander over to Tow for a tour of the Fall Creek Vineyards, and scored a couple of bottles of wine while there. We went back to Kingsland and the cabins for swimming, a good nap out on the porch, and for the traditional hamburgers and beer dinner.

We met friends in Granite Shoals today and from there went to Marble Falls for lunch on Lake Marble Falls (we didn't go somewhere too special - just Chili's, to make it easier to find food that would suit twelve individuals!).

I absolutely love driving up into the Hill Country and spending time, with eyes wide open, enjoying the scenery. It doesn't seem to matter what time of year you go, either. There is always something to do and see.

How we celebrated the 4th of July

Planning this year's 4th of July was kind of difficult for us. We knew in May that there was going to be a special legislative session, and the rumors flew for weeks that it would be before July 4 to pressure legislators into doing quick work so they could enjoy the holiday. And sure enough, that was what happened. There was no way to know what would happen, so we opted not to travel to Missouri for my family's annual reunion, and planned to go to Randy's family's annual bbq out at the farm in Manor. At the very last minute, that got cancelled, and we were left last Friday going "huh. what now?"

While many of our friends headed down to the Capitol for the Tea Party that was being held there, Randy and I decided we needed a break from politics and government. A bit of independence, if you will. We live and breathe this stuff, after all.

Central Texas is full of patriotic attractions this time of year, like any population center blessed with easy distance to small towns. We decided fairly quickly on the Hill Country, and ended up in Stonewall, Texas. I've got a bunch of pictures from this day on our Flickr account, which you can check out here.

We left home around 10:00, stopping first at the Merrilltown Cemetery which is right on 1325 near our house. I have an odd fascination with old cemeteries, and this one has often caught my eye, but it didn't become an absolute must-see until April, when the Confederate flags appeared near some of the headstones. My guess is that someone from the Sons of Confederate Veterans or similar does this, because otherwise the cemetery is neglected and in need of attention in several places. From there we drove out to Dripping Springs just in time for lunch at Riley's BBQ. Great place to stop - Dripping Springs has become an obvious suburban victim, but it retains some Hill Country charm, especially at places like Riley's. The locals were gathered to jaw and grab early lunches, but it was otherwise surprisingly quiet, and the food was really good.

We then headed out to Blanco County, stopping for pictures of the courthouse (of course). Did a little daydreaming about owning a shop on the courthouse square. Wondered about the sign in one window for the "Pecan Street Brewery." Intriguing!

The bulk of the day was spent out in Stonewall, Texas at the LBJ Ranch and Texas White House - so very cool! It totally made up for the lack of awesome that was the LBJ Presidential Library. The ranch is a national park and has a lot of sites in addition to the Texas White House, like the cemetery, the school where LBJ went as a child, that kind of thing. Plus, herefords!! The experience was amazing, a great way to spend the 4th, learning about one of our presidents. The house was the most affecting, of course - the Texas White House was just opened to the public about a year and a half ago, after Lady Bird passed away, and parts of the house are not yet open as they await restoration (and Luci Baines Johnson still uses part of the house when she comes into town). There are good interior shots of the Texas White House here - we were told not to take pictures when we were indoors.

Afterwards, we wandered around the Sauer-Beckmann living history farm and exhibit, and then we hit the Pedernales Cellars Winery and split a bottle of Stonewall Viognier on the porch, stopped at the Vogel Orchards store for some famed Stonewall peaches, got dinner at the Hill Country Cupboard in Johnson City, and headed home.

It was a pretty amazing way to spend the 4th, I have to say. We wrapped up the day with going to see fireworks at our local park, and came home to watch the "Independence" episode of John Adams. I'll wrap this up with a YouTube clip of one of the best scenes from that episode - if you don't get chills, well, sirs and ladies, you have no soul.

Central Texas Spring Getaway

Bluebonnet season begins in late March and runs through late April in Central Texas.  There are a number of great weekend getaways that are cheap and will really give you the ambiance of rural Texas.  

The Texas Hill Country, west of Austin, is a beautiful place to see the state flower, the bluebonnet.   The area near the Highland Lakes is ideal for great family pictures, unique scenery, and a relaxing drive through the country.  From Austin, the ideal route is to go west from Austin to Marble Falls.  Marble Falls, incidentally, has a great restaraunt called the "Bluebonnet Cafe" located on US 281 just north of Lake Marble Falls.  

From Marble Falls, continue to meander up State Highway 71 to Llano.  This highway cuts through some of the most beautiful country in Texas.  The landscape changes from rolling hills to granite mesas and mountains.  The sandy streams that pass under the highway give you an idea of the dynamic geology of the Texas Hill Country.  The closer you get to Llano, the closer you get to Enchanted Rock, a granite dome that towers above the surrounding landscape located between Llano and Fredericksburg.  

All the while the countryside is covered with seas of blue and red wildflowers.  Pull over and take pictures as often as traffic will allow, which is fairly frequently.  

In Llano, stop at Cooper's barbeque.  You will not be disappointed.  

From Llano, take State Highway 16 south to Fredericksburg.  This is an absolutely beautiful highway.  You wind around going south through large granite outcropping and have the feeling that you are in the middle of nowhere.  Fear not, though.  Fredericksburg is worth the drive.

Fredericksburg is a destination in itself.  The locals are not real fond of tourists, but they are fond of making money off of tourists.  Fredericksburg is a German town and home of the Admiral Nimitz War of the Pacific Museum.  This is the only museum in America that is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of World War II in the Pacific Theater against Japan.  This museum is well worth the time to go through.  

Directly across the street from the museum is the home that Admiral Nimitz grew up in and the Fredericksburg Brewing Company microbrewery.  Authentic German food and authentic beer is a great combination!

Fredericksburg is also home to many great souveneir shops, antique stores, annual festivals of all kinds, and the is the center of the Texas Hill Country wine country.  Many local wineries have tasting rooms on site.  

I could go on for hours about what to do in Fredericksburg, but I would rather just go back and enjoy the town again.  

As you drive US 290 back to Austin, you will pass by the LBJ Ranch and National Historical Park and go through the town of Johnson City.   

The trip concludes with one last photo op in Dripping Springs, as you watch the sun set over the Texas Hill Country on your way home to Austin.  Bluebonnets at dusk after a great day in the Texas Hill Country is a priceless, yet cheap getaway for a weekend.