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I spent the last 5 days 'house-sitting' in the Texas Hill country while my daughter and her family took a short vacation. My friend and I stayed at their house and fed their horses, chickens, etc. and used their place as a base while day-tripping to the cute little towns of Marble Falls, Gruene, Fredericksburg, and Wimberly.
We started off stopping in Marble Falls at the Bluebonnet Cafe... a well known local favorite that also has a "pie happy hour". However... as usual the place had a line to get in around the parking lot, so we didn't stay. Hopped over to a little coffee shop across the way called, "Choccolatte's" and got some coffee for ourselves and some dark chocolate English Toffee for DH.
Next stop was my daughter's place in Bulverde where we visited and spent the night. The next morning, after they left for the area around Austin, we headed out to Gruene, a little German town on the Guadalupe River. Shopped a few places and ended up eating at the Grist Mill - a great hulking restaurant that winds around the river and is open to viewing it all. It also has beautiful fireplaces (hence, the following pic of my grand daughter who decided to go to Gruene with us). They have the 'best ribs' that I've ever eaten (and I 'm not even a meat person).
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| grand daughter at the Grist Mill in Gruene |
The following day we drove to Fredericksburg... another little German town where we visited our favorite places (yes, we've been before); der kuchen laden (think that's right - a very well-equipped kitchen store), Chocolat (a chocolate shop that specializes in chocolate with whiskeys, bourbons, Irish cream, etc. inside), and The Pie Shop (where they make on site dozens of fresh delicious pies each day and simply close when they run out).
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| the Pie Shop in Fredericksburg |
Of course we visited other stores, but these are our favorites! We did stop at Der Peach Haus on the way home. The Wisteria outside was gorgeous.
The next day was to be a "rest" day - sitting on the front porch enjoying the scenery, collecting eggs, picking veggies from their vegetable garden, feeding horses, chickens, dogs, and cats, etc. We had brought our quilting, so we did a little of that...
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| daughter's house |
The town of Wimberly, TX was our next stop. Had lunch at the Wimberly Cafe's open seating area (captured 3 honeybees in Styrofoam cups that kept circling our table), visited the shops, and then picked up some coffee to go for our trip back to Bulverde. Turned out to be Anderson's coffee (had never heard of it, but it was very good!)
That evening we finished off the Chocolate Cream pie we had bought at the Pie Shop in Fredericksburg. And headed back home yesterday. Fun trip! Daughter and hubby had returned home and had had a wonderful (albeit short) get away for themselves. Worked out well for all!
Oh... and by the way... Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
Funny that they close when they run out. My mom used to be a sample lady. She said she could go home early if what she was selling had sold out
ReplyDeleteYes, they told us that they made about 20 different variety of pies and when the supply for the day ran out, they simply closed the shop. We were there about 4pm and they were 'almost' out of pie... still had a few pieces and several whole pies.
DeleteThat's a lovely home your daughter has. There's nothing more fun than day-tripping into towns that are new to you. And a pie shop....good grief...heaven.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deb. They have a few acres and are close to so many little towns that it is fun to visit.
DeleteI enjoyed this vicarious spring break in beautiful hill country!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Olga. It was fun for us too.
DeleteA pie store that closes when they run out! We had one like that. They made peach praline to die for. It always sold out early.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites at this shop are the chocolate cream and the buttermilk... but then I haven't tasted the rest.
DeleteTexas hill country is gorgeous! Looks like a fun time!
ReplyDeleteIt was, Linda. We had rain the first day we arrived and it was a bit chilly, but thankfully my daughter has one of those old fashion wood stoves in the kitchen that kept the us quite comfy. And from that day on, it was sunny and beautiful!
DeleteHow wonderful that you get to visit all those places with free accommodations to boot. The Hill country and surrounding area is one that I have always wanted to visit. Sounds like there are lots of interesting places and things close together for easy and quick exploring.
ReplyDeleteIt is perfect for day-tripping, Vic. When my daughter came up with the idea of us house-sitting for them and day-tripping, I wasn't sure how that would work - but it worked beautifully. Nothing was further than an hour away and we didn't have to get up early... usually left around noon.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful working vacation - with lots of time to visit familiar places, enjoy the warm weather and help out your daughter at the same time.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
Eileen
Yes, it worked out well for all of us.
DeleteWhat a wonderful trip! I'd house-sit for that. LOL. Mmmm, the pie shop! Yum! Actually, all your cafés and shops sounded fabulous. Your granddaughter is a lovely young woman, btw. The very best part for me, though, would have been spending time with the horses! :-)
ReplyDeleteOutside of bringing the horses some oats and hay in the morning and evening, we didn't spend a lot of time with the horses. My grand daughter did work her horse in the evenings while we sat around and watched.
DeleteThat sounds like a fun house-sitting job. Your daughter could get away and you and your friend enjoyed the time too. You have a beautiful granddaughter. Looks like a beautiful farm.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was fun. It's not a large place... about 7 or 8 acres, but enough for a stable, hen house, vegetable garden, etc. And it is close to several cute little towns.
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