Thanksgiving Holiday Part 1 - Luling,Enchanted Rock, Fredericksburg,

Luling

For Thanksgiving holiday we planned a holiday camping in Enchanted Rock Park, but couldn't get a site booking so we stayed instead in San Antonio.  But first we had to get to the Hill Country west of Houston.

We stopped for the inevitable coffee break, in Luling.... which we thought would be a nowhere place but turned out to be very interesting.

John thought that a taking a break in Blake's would be super, I had my doubts - which just goes to show I shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

This place has oil engrained into its very being... that's black gold, and is still pumping.
A train line running right through this town has kept this town alive... that's Union Pacific

But also doesn't take itself too seriously
This on is for you Angela

Watermelons being very close to the local's cultural identity

As this shop window decoration declares.
And below the store front.

In Blake's we had a cuppa and enjoyed the surroundings.  The cafe was filling up with local folks who clearly appreciate the ambiance and excellent fayre.
I spotted this Alberta number plate (in Texas remember)

And the Humble sign - indicative of an oily past... see any similarities in design between this and the modern Esso shield/logo?  For the Humble oil discovery was the starting point for Exon Mobil

Another use for an old safe... we could imagine this being dressed with sticks of dynamite by Butch Cassidy and being blown apart

Come with us for a walk along the High Street

A who'sie in the saddlery 

We are intrigued by these floor tiles outside the Museum, but haven't heard back from them with their provenance/history (see later in San Antonio blog entry)

The Museum (unfortunately, but understandably closed for Thanksgiving)

Wall ornament #1

Wall Ornament #2

On the way to Enchanted Rock we saw this beautifully constructed cabin with an Austin Chalk central wall, logs and chalk chinking.

Visit to Enchanted Rock 

Mistletoe in symbiosis with the trees = Time for a 31st wedding anniversary embrace

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Going up

Enchanted Rock quiet and slippery

Ancient Monadrock, granite batholith, intruded into Cambrian carbonates.  Part of the Llanos uplift.  An important part of Hill Country topography 1825 feet above sea level.  Very pretty.

John on the edge

Study #1

Study #2

A delicate ecosystem is in place on the rounded summit of the granite dome.  However people do not seem to realise the importance of every space on our planet.  Even these hollows need to be cherished.

The Water Cycle

Fredericksburg

Is this really Fredericksburg?  It isn't normally this quiet - lucky us

Very prettily decorated high street

The town is famous for its German connections and the Pacific War Museum which was closed but I found this, in a window display, quite interesting, having never considered how dog tags are made.

We walked to the bottom end of the high street and then back up again... passing interesting store fronts everywhere

This one of interest to fibre friendly folks

This one too - an intriguing collection of collectables and 'paraphernalia' John says

A message close to many a Texan heart

An authentic German Christmas pyramid in the central park - this structure was the predecessor of the Xmas tree we are told
And a more recent artistic creation by Nic Noblique

Many of the buildings are historical monuments - recording the history of the German settlers from the 1800s.  This the Old Kammlah House, below, uses old world techniques of wall plaster over woven twigs - ?wattle and daub - was a general store and is now a museum, in the National Register of Historic Places (like our Blue Plaques in the UK)

Week Between : Channukah Lights, Bayou Bend - Good wishes to all.

If you remember in the previous post I was wishing happy palm trees and Xmas decorations to those who do that.
Now here's to those who light lights.

And whilst we are on the subject...
John took me over to The Three Brothers bakery thinking I had not heard of it.  But your wife doesn't stand still - I had already Googled ( is that word in the Oxford yet?) 'Kosher bakery houston" and discovered them...

And below... Challah for giants from Leibeman's a supermarket run by immigrants from South Africa.  We had a lovely chat with Mrs L. and she told us about their life and leaving South Africain the 50s I think it was.  They make good bread, and the sort of gateaux I remember from bar mitzvah in the 70s Manchester.

This discovery was on a day when John was party to a round Houston scavenger hunt of our own devising... I was following a recipe from Ottolenghi's book Plenty.  In it he suggests that if you have cast iron pans you should finish cooking, and serve the meal directly to table in them.
We had no such pans but I thought that in a place where so much Mexican cooking goes on - cheap cast iron skillets ought to be out there.
A morning of searching and four Fiesta stores later, we had found 4x7" comales.  They were only 6$ each.... Yeh!

The meal, I was told, was truly a spectacle,  vegetarian and I am sure I will cook it again.  Thank you Ottolenghi.
The next night we squeezed in a tour of our area - Winchester - to look at the displays of Xmas and Channuka lights..
Below - A very traditional one.

and below - less so...

We went to visit Bayou Bend.  A park that John discovered early last year truly in the centre of town. It is has an ornamental garden with water channels and a home.  And right now an accident involving a red-nosed reindeer.

To access the area you have to cross a dangerous bridge - I know no fear.

But if you survive you find there is much to see including this knot garden.
And of course it is different in the winter.  The miniature hedges have sprouted lights.

Some contemplative stuff....

There are reindeer everywhere

It is autumn now.
I look forward to seeing the gardens in different seasons.
Much of the garden is planted with Azalea, Magnolia, Cypress and Aspidestra
The trees are absolutely massive.

I spotted a heart in one tree but with barbed wired, what is the message here I wonder.

Reindeer are everywhere right now - Did I say ?

It is very seasonal

Karin on location

Here is what I was doing - framing it up... getting my eye in...

Who'sie below...  apart from the Lamborghini