Bat Shit Crazy! Austin goes batshit crazy at dusk on the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge! Have you been to Austin to see the crazy bat show? You should check it out at BatCon! [Read more…] about Have you ever gone Bat Shit Crazy in Austin? I Have!
Join us at Clean the Crow on September 16, 2017 for a cleanup event from 8am-10am! Keep Dallas Beautiful has partnered with the City of Dallas and we’re asking for your help.
Come catch the litter flying in the breeze so Dallas can enjoy a clean park. Spend two hours to Keep Dallas Beautiful, then reward yourself for doing a good deed by enjoying the rest of the day at the Trinity Wind Festival.
You can register at voly.org to volunteer at this event. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!
Enjoy Amazing Views from Texas Hill Country! Texas Hill Country is beautiful. I have made it my duty to explore all of it and report back to you! Enjoy these views from Texas Hill Country.
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No visit to the Texas Hill Country is complete without visiting the LBJ State Park and Historical Site. Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963 through 1969. He was the Vice President of John F Kennedy, and took over the presidency upon Kennedy’s death. Many, even most, baby boomers remember his presidency well since it happened during the tumultuous 1960s, and his part in escalating the VietNam War was extremely controversial. Johnson was a Democrat, a United States Congressman who became a Senator and the Senate Majority Leader. He was chosen as JFK’s running mate, and became President in 1963. Johnson’s “Great Society” and War on Poverty was his passion, sadly the war derailed his domestic policy. Johnson’s accomplishments tend to be forgotten now, but this is the President who passed Medicare and Medicaid, and created public television. He signed civil rights bills into law that banned racial discrimination in public facilities, at work and in housing. The Voting Rights Act prohibited certain practices in southern states used since Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise African American voters (now many of those same states have voter ID laws, which also tends to disenfranchise the African American Vote). The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 he signed changed the country’s immigration system by encouraging greater immigration from regions other than Europe, which is so much in the news in the 21st Century. Johnson’s presidency marked the peak of modern liberalism, and had he not been ruined by the war, it is hard to know what other programs and legislation would have been passed for the betterment of the citizenry. His wife, Lady Bird Johnson (also LBJ) is responsible for the Texas wildflower bloom every spring. [Read more…] about What to Do and See in the Texas Hill Country…Don’t forget LBJ!
The last Grape Stomp Event at Fall Creek Vineyards is on Saturday, August 26! Make plans and go!
I grew up with one image in my mind when it came to Grape Stomps at Winery Harvests: I Love Lucy, going deeper and deeper into her barrel of grapes! Also, there is a video out there of a woman in a super small barrel/bowl who fell off of a platform while stomping, and you don’t want to do that, do you? Don’t worry, there is a perfectly safe way to do a grape stomp…go to the Hill Country of Texas and enjoy the Grape Stomp at Fall Creek Vineyards in Tow, Texas, west of Austin! I was thrilled to be invited to the Grape Stomp Events at Fall Creek Vineyards. First, luncheon with celebrity chef, Jay Hunter, from the Horseshoe Bay Resort, then stomping grapes, followed by a fabulous wine tasting with Sergio Cuadra, the Director of Winemaking!
Driving to Fall Creek Vineyards from Dallas, I decided to take the scenic route instead of the horrible rush of I-35. From Dallas I took 67 to 281, and drove down to Johnson City (hometown of President Lyndon Baines Johnson), then to Driftwood, Texas, where Fall Creek Vineyards has a lovely, small vineyard of young grapes with a beautiful tasting room and a bed and breakfast. The vineyard is directly across from the entrance to the famous Salt Lick BBQ! I enjoyed exploring the vineyard, and spending a comfortable and quiet night. The next morning I drove to Tow, Texas, to the main Vineyard of Fall Creek. Tow is northwest of Marble Falls, and is in the real Texas Hill Country! I loved the drive, it was so beautiful.
At the luncheon, I met Susan Auler, one of the owners of Fall Creek, and she was absolutely delightful. Her warmth toward every visitor is a perfect example of Texas Hill Country hospitality! I was seated with fellow journalists, Ed and Glynnis, and we spent a lovely hour being treated to a two course luncheon. First, a beautiful salad, followed by the tastiest salmon dish I have ever had. Both dishes were beautifully plated. We enjoyed a lovely Fall Creek Vineyards Rose and a Merlot with lunch.
As wonderful as lunch was, I couldn’t wait to go and stomp on some grapes! Now, don’t worry, the grapes you stomp on do not go into the wine making. Two barrels were on a platform, full of grapes, and children and adults were thoroughly enjoying stomping! You can even buy a t-shirt to make your purple footprints on, showing that you stomped grapes at Fall Creek Vineyards.
Everyone was enjoying the events!
As fun as stomping was, I did have to hose off and head for the wine tasting with the Director of Winemaking, Sergio Cuadra. He showed us the vats where they “make” the wine, and we tasted out of the vats. The unfinished wines were almost creamy in color and consistency. The bouquet wasn’t yet strong, and the taste was a bit weak, but I actually enjoyed the unfinished product.
Next, we saw grapes that needed to be “pressed”. They are pressed three times a day, and I tried it, it is a little difficult!
What a day! I had so much fun, and met many people from all over Texas at the different events I attended. The luncheon and wine tasting require tickets, so be sure and get them here. I had no idea how much fun events at Fall Creek Vineyards could be! A band played, people had food, sodas, and seating available and brought their children, grandparents and dogs to the event. There are goodies for sale, especially fabulous Texas wine. I had a wonderful adventure and I urge you to head down to Tow on August 26! Enjoy!
My thanks to Fall Creek Vineyards for hosting me, you can be sure I will be back!
My lovely daughter, Alexandra, is a sweetheart. Last week she called me and told me to be ready at 745a on Saturday for a surprise excursion!
I tend to be overly enthusiastic…well, I get very excited at certain things, events, animals, etc. My family loves to surprise me, or be with me on these occasions. Apparently I make sounds they find hilarious. The best examples I can think of are roasted corn, ostriches and giraffes. And deer. And Elk. If I saw a moose I would have trouble containing myself! Something else I get excited about and love? Peaches. Fresh, juicy, lovely peaches.
My daughter surprised me with a visit to Ham Orchard‘s in Terrell, Texas on their last day of the season. Yes, I squealed! Anything peach you can possibly imagine was at this peach farm! Peach salsa, peaches, preserved peaches, bottled peaches, peach jam, peach spread, peach pulled pork, peach cobbler, peach pie….I sound like Bubba in Forrest Gump about shrimp, don’t I? But they had as much available in peaches as Bubba could name about shrimp. By the way, the blackberries were huge and they are delicious!
The building is very small, and people were lined up to get in before opening! The cute little white building reminded me of a fruit farm we visited when I was growing up…Mumma’s Fruit Farm in Dayton, Ohio. The smell of fresh fruits and vegetables took me back! My daughter and I had to have peach ice cream. What is better than ice cream with peaches? Or peach soft serve? Not much. So we bought a cone and a cup, and Alexandra photographed the sweets, peaches, bottles and buildings. I am very proud of my little girl, she is a professional photographer at Alexandra Minton Photography. She shoots weddings, engagements, portraits, families, newborns, and food. She just started an Instagram account called Sweet, Sweet Dallas, and has been chosen for one of D Magazines food photos of the week! Sweet, Sweet Dallas is purely an account for desserts around and in Dallas, Tx. If you like food, you need to like Sweet Sweet Dallas on Instagram! All foodies, click that link! 
Ham’s Orchard will reopen on May 12, 2018! I know I will be there!
