Archive | Texas

First Fridays

November 9, 2011 at 6:07 pm

There’s a tradition in our neighborhood called First Fridays. (Remind anyone of Fridays After Five in C’ville? Sigh!) It’s a collaboration between local restaurants and artisans, a celebration of food and craft. Sections of our neighborhood were transformed into miniature markets filled with artwork, and a huge artists’ studio (once an old warehouse) opened all its doors to welcome passersby. As the sun set, restaurants seated patrons who had just finished tours of little neighborhood museums and crafters’ studios.

Later we walked home down our beloved River Walk. The leaves change colors and there’s a hint of autumn in the air… even in Texas!

My mom is here for the next couple days and we’re having so much fun with her. This morning we went out for an early breakfast to the Guenther House, a beautiful little mansion that’s been transformed into a restaurant and museum. Wish I could start every day with pumpkin pancakes and strawberry waffles!

5 :: in family, Texas

First Fridays

November 9, 2011 at 5:07 pm

Later we walked home down our beloved River Walk. The leaves change colors and there’s a hint of autumn in the air… even in Texas!

5 :: in family, Texas

afternoon at the Alamo

November 7, 2011 at 5:50 pm

I’ve been operating for months (no, years) under the false impression that admission to the Alamo is extremely expensive. Therefore I never went, although I walk by it to go to the post office or on jaunts around downtown San Antonio all the time.

“But it’s free,” Elliott told me the other day, a confused expression on his face. “You didn’t know that?” He’d been there on some Army field trip awhile back.

Nope! So one fine afternoon we decided to go explore the Alamo.

We discovered that apparently the story of the Alamo is bigger than Texas. Who knew?! We also got a great refresher on Texas history as related to the Alamo, which reminded me of many things I learned in that old John Wayne film years ago. Remember that one, my siblings?

Lena was more interested in the pigeons in the courtyard outside, though.

Someone saw us taking lots of pictures and offered to take a family portrait. I’m learning to never say no when someone offers, for we have precious few photos of us all together as it is. Even if we’re very awkward family photo takers…

P.S. I would just like to draw your attention to Lena’s darling new overalls Doesn’t she look so squeezable in them?! My cousin Katie bought them for Lena and now my baby girl wears them all the time (in case you haven’t noticed her outfit in this post and the last one). They’ll be a staple in her wardrobe this winter. I only wish it were so easy for mamas to pull off the overalls look and I’d be wearing a cute pair myself!

4 :: in family, Lena, Texas

afternoon at the Alamo

November 7, 2011 at 4:50 pm

“But it’s free,” Elliott told me the other day, a confused expression on his face. “You didn’t know that?” He’d been there on some Army field trip awhile back.

Nope! So one fine afternoon we decided to go explore the Alamo.

Lena was more interested in the pigeons in the courtyard outside, though.

4 :: in family, Lena, Texas

the mission to drink from a Starbucks red cup

November 4, 2011 at 10:10 pm

The Starbucks red cups have been in stores since November 1 and have always heralded the start of the winter holidays for me. This year the red cups seemed especially seasonally celebratory thanks to an email series my former roomie Sarah started to chronicle every day between Nov 1 and Dec 25 to celebrate the coming of Christmas. She has extolled the Christmas-y joy of the red cups, and her excitement is usually infectious. Starbucks is a treat in this house, and an extra-special treat with all this build-up!

For our journey to drink from a red cup, Elliott packed some old-fashioned soft pumpkin cookies, which I made a couple of days ago with my fourth can of pumpkin so far this fall. Here’s a photo that will hopefully make you want to come over and sip coffee with me while we discuss knitting projects and eat cookies…

(recipe included at the end of this post)

Anyway, back to our journey to Starbucks. We decided we had to work for our rewards, so we were going to take a long walk to a large downtown Starbucks. We set off on that chilly Thursday with Lena’s Peter Rabbit blanket tucked around her legs in the stroller.

First stop was at the San Antonio Art League Museum, which is down the street from our house. Elliott snapped this gorgeous photo of Lena in their permanent collection upstairs.

Next we slipped into the steamy warmth of The Filling Station Café, a former car repair shop that has been transformed into a popular lunch spot. We all read the paper while we waited for our pizza. Reading the paper was easier for some than others.

And finally, on to Starbucks! After a long walk, we pushed the stroller into the cozy store, interlaced our fingers behind our backs, and studied the menu. It didn’t take long to decide. Peppermint mochas for both of us. Ahhh. Christmas is coming!

Near the Starbucks is Hemisfair Park, which has a fabulous playground that reminds me of my favorite childhood playground in Australia. We introduced Lena to slides for the first time, and she loved them! (This was her last ride down the slid out of many, during which Elliott sent her down and I caught her, and photos were impossible to take. That baby traveled fast.)

Here’s the recipe for the old-fashioned pumpkin cookies, which I found on this creative blog:

Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened
1 cup 100% pumpkin (Libby’s)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Glaze (see below)
Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking sheets.
Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and set aside.
Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm.
Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle glaze over cookies.

For Glaze

Combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla in small bowl until smooth.