Monthly Archives: July 2016

Hubby’s Hobby

Fredericksburg, I, Me, and Myself

The hubby has taken up a hobby. He has taken up interest in photography. Three years ago, I bought a fancy DLSR camera for our trip to Europe. But between frantically preparing for the trip and making sure everything at home is taken cared of, I never got the chance to explore the camera’s bells and whistles. Needless to say, I have devolved the Sony Alpha into a very bulky point-and-shoot.

Now that the hubby is into photography and mastered the camera’s many talents, all he needs is a subject. He toyed with the idea of pet portraits but Cookie and Mochi do not believe in animal labor wanted none of it. Here’s exhibit A of their uncooperativeness.

This is Cookie playing with his duck, as captured by continuous shots, because he is too good to sit still...
This is Cookie playing with his duck, as captured by continuous shots, because he is too good to sit still… 

So he turned to the more cooperative and less treats-motivated subject, Mother Nature.

It was a good day for a drive—a statement that is rarely true in Texas summer. But today was not nearly as scorching and sky was very clear and blue, so I would say it’s good enough. Unlike our dogs, I believe in supporting family members’ hobbies. So i agreed to have the top down on Turbey and took one the Hill Country’s loveliest trails, Willow City Loop.

This is just from our driveway. The day is promising!
This is just from our driveway. The day is promising!

FYI, all photos I use in my blog, unless water stamped with D’Napoli Studios, are taken by me and my trusty iPhone. D’Napoli Studios is his website where he posts all his fancy pics.

In exchange for the sacrifice of the hours basking in the sun, D agreed to drive up to a highly acclaimed restaurant in the middle of nowhere called Hilltop Cafe. It is Greek and Cajun Fusion cuisine (whaaaaat?) and is also very popular for it’s musical performers. This would be a good place to fuel up our energy for the day.

The building used to be a gas station in the 1950's. Don't be fooled by the exterior because they have pretty serious eats inside.
The building used to be a gas station in the 1950’s. Don’t be fooled by the exterior because they have pretty serious eats inside.
For appetizers, we had mushrooms stuffed with blue crab and blue cheese
For appetizers, we had mushrooms stuffed with blue crab and blue cheese
I had shrimp mytilini ---- it is sautéed shrimp in abed of wild Greek rice. Mytilini is a place in Greece where they grow amazing olives. This dish is sautéed with those olives.
I had shrimp mytilini —- it is sautéed shrimp in abed of wild Greek rice. Mytilini is a place in Greece where they grow amazing olives. This dish is sautéed with those olives.
D had open-faced grilled chicken with the most amazing sweet potato fries
D had open-faced grilled chicken with the most amazing sweet potato fries
After that sumptuous lunch, we are off!!!
After that sumptuous lunch, we are off!!!
The trail was filled with little creeks like these.
The trail was filled with little creeks like these…
…and semi dried up riverbanks
…and semi dried up riverbanks.
From my "artistic" perspective….
From my “artistic” perspective….

Nobody really asks me for advise on lasting relationships. But if someone would, I would say “respect, support and (lots of) compromise”. Those three are love in itself. Hobbies are ways to express creativity in world where monotony abounds. And there is nothing better than to have loved ones beside you in your creative adventure. That’s what make people want to stay together. Of course, having to pay off two mortgages doesn’t hurt either…haha. But I would rather file that under “shared dreams”….

Have a great, artistic weekend everyone!!!

 

 

 

Airport Diner

Fredericksburg

A few miles down the hill from our house is the Fredericksburg Airport. It does not have commercial flights. It accommodates private planes only. I soon learned that private plane owners take delight in flying into tiny cities such as this, touch down, grab a bite then take off to wherever next city they fancy. Hence, these kind of airports have interesting bars/restaurants. In this case, there’s the aptly (and frankly, quite unimaginatively named), Airport Diner.

Entrance to the diner. note private planes parked on the side.
Entrance to the diner. Note private planes parked on the side.
Typical American diner, complete with jazzy 60's music.
Typical American diner, complete with jazzy 60’s music.

The diner itself is interestingly decorated. Tiny model planes are hanging everywhere. I remember when Beans was 3 and he loved his model planes. But then he discovered dinosaurs….Decor is superb, lots of stainless, terrazzo floors, black granite counters and booth tops, all provide comfortable relaxing dining on old time diner favorites.

Beans had 2 huge pancakes called Flying Flapjacks
Beans had 2 huge pancakes called Flying Flapjacks
I had the Preflight, which was their version of Philly cheese steak
I had the Preflight, which was their version of Philly cheese steak
D had Flying Tiger, which is grilled chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, avocados, provolone cheese wrapped in tortilla
D had Flying Tiger, which is grilled chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, avocados, provolone cheese wrapped in tortilla
I had the Preflight, which was their version of Philly cheese steak. D had Flying Tiger, which is grilled chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, avocados, provolone cheese wrapped in tortilla
The photo looks really over exposed. We were trying so hard to focus both on the food and the planes outside the window. The poor waiter had to take it several times.

Overall, we ended up finding another gem of a restaurant that is so close to where we live. It was exciting to see the planes land and fly out as we ate. Of course, we had to wonder what it would be like to own one…haha! Well, we never thought we’d be owning a vacation home in a place like this either, yet here we are…Never say never!

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