I've been lazy ...

Not written anything here lately because I've turned just plain LAZY!  LOL!  But we have been on the go; not as much as in years past during our winter jaunts, but we haven't just sat around and read.  (Although, granted, we have done a lot of reading!) 

One of the things we like most is going to our usual places (library, church, grocery, barber/hair dresser, antique shops, thrift stores, etc.) and seeing what's different about these places in this part of our great country. 

The house we're staying in needed more than 4 teaspoons and 2 juice glasses, so we went to a thrift store.  That was fun!  The store we visited was just spotless -- they obviously launder all of their clothing and wash all of the dishes before they put them out.  And Wendell likes to go through the books at a thrift store.  I find a new/used cookbook every place we stay, and found a good one here, too!  (Lots of Tex/Mex cookbooks in all of the used book stores here.)  The library has a large choice of used books, too. 

We've been enjoying some pretty good weather here but have had more overcast days than we'd like.  No snow and no freezing weather, but not what's they're used to here.  Everyone we talk to says "this is not normal weather for this time of year."  The average high is 65 about now, but today it's not likely to get over 50.  However, when the sky is blue I don't care if it's 50 or 70. 

Found a great church and today I joined their prayer shawl group.  They meet every Tuesday a.m.  What a wonderful group of women!  They have two tubs of shawls ready to go, and distributed two shawls today while I was there.  About 10 women there today.  One of the two ministers (Barbara Aziz) came up and blessed the shawls and we all touched them and prayed over them.  Lots of interesting stories as well as some real heart breaking stories of people who will be receiving them.

Here's some pictures of one of the places we stopped at lately.  We went through Luckenbach, a real "tourist" spot and just a dot on the map along a county road ...

Here's the entrance to the Luckenbach P.O. and general store.  Sandwich joint in the back.  The firewood on the side is for an outdoor fireplace.  The mesquite wood they burn around here smells heavenly!

This stage is right out back of the P.O. and there's music there every day at 5 p.m.  It's right along the bank of Grape Creek.

To the right of the stage is a dressing/warm-up room and these chickens are a regular fixture just outside the door.  The roosters crow all the time!  Argh! 

This is the interior of the dance hall.  It's open evenings with live music.  Some of the benches that are usually placed around the edge of the room are up in the rafters!

I just thought this was funny ...

Along a back road, on the way 'home' that day, we came across this big guy!  Wow!  For some reason I love longhorns.  Just saw a program on RFD-TV about how at one time they were almost extinct.  Now they're abundant. 

Have a blessed week! 

Spring Branch is cool ...

Well, we're here.  Spring Branch, Texas is cool (literally)!  Yes, I know; it's super cold back home, but still ... Our poor landlady has apologized over and over.  But, hey!  She can't control the weather!  I told her we've experienced this at other locations we've stayed for the winter and they all tell us the same story!  ("This is not normal weather for us!")  No, really.  It will eventually get back to normal.  It is cold here but sunny off and on.  Over the weekend it was in the mid-60's with bright sun.  We've been relaxing, exploring, reading and just getting ready for a warmer winter.  I'm enjoying my new Kindle a lot.  I brought my Featherweight so I've been doing a little sewing, too. 

On the negative side, this area is more heavily populated than I expected, so there are no leisurely drives.  There is always someone on your bumper.  And the speed limits on a state highway are usually 65, and in places 75.  So no "Sunday drives" for us this year.  I don't know how far into the country we'd have to go to not be run over by another driver ...  And I'm no slow driver myself ...

Yesterday we went to Gruene (pronounced green) which is a sort of suburb of New Braunfels.  It's a very old town with several interesting shops.  We visited Gruene Antiques, the mercantile (bought a jar of pecan butter - yum), a pottery, and last stop was for coffee and apple pie at the Gruen Coffee Haus.  (Yes, it's all German to me, too.)  Their chai latte was to die for!  We need to go back -- there are several other shops I want to visit as well as a couple wineries have outlet shops there.  The Guadalupe River snakes through Gruene and tubing on the river is very popular.  There are huge parking lots to accommodate the shoppers and tubers (i.e. -- this is a tourist town).  Lots of tube rental places.  We saw a good looking restaurant that we'll have to go back to some evening for dinner, right on the river.  When we left, we took a drive around the north side of Canyon Lake and then back home late in the afternoon.  It was a good day.  Here's a few pix I took ...

The front of Gruene Antiques.

This is what I liked about Gruene Antiques ... there was lots of stuff here you don't find in Indiana.  But things were much higher priced, too.

This safe was originally in this building which served as the general store, post office and "bank", as well as general meeting hall for the community.

The Gruene Hall is kitty-cornered from the antique store and is an historically designated building. Many well-known c&w performers have played here.  It's still in use daily.

Well, here's hoping you're safe and warm wherever you are.  The new year has gotten off to a good start for us.  I pray for your health and well-being in 2015 my friend!. 

I'll keep you updated on what we're up to.  More later from TX where we're taking it one day at a time.  GO COLTS!