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For New Years Eve we partied with Keith and Angie and friends at their house. Now days I'd rather a fun house party than a smokey bar so we had a great time.
Friday we flew into Austin to visit with my family. My step brother and his wife came with us to the Salt Lick for BBQ. Definitely the best BBQ I've ever had, well maybe Rendezvous Ribs are better, just for ribs though. The weekend continued with eating red meat everyday including market wienies, homemade tamales and finishing off with Akaushi beef. There was an article in Texas Monthly about this HeartBrand beef started by Japanese cows brought to a ranch near Yoakum, Tx. The going rate is about $95 for one steak in a restaurant. Dad took us to a place in Moulton, Tx where it was only $35. He got a ribeye and Jeff got a sirloin. Both said it was good but not worth $95, but they were still glad they could say they've tried it.
In the morning we had to have calaches for breakfast, later We had cake for Alan's 12th birthday and ofcourse had Blue Bell ice cream with it. Elise got a really cool handmade firepit for Christmas, so we made smores one night. Looking back now I think we just ate meat and sweets :) We had great weather and did spend some more time going through my Grandma's stuff. I came home with lots of buttons, some costume jewelry and more photos from my childhood.
Saturday night my aunt called to say my mom passed away. I'm glad my brother and I were together to get the news. A couple hours later Courtnay got a call about her dad in the hospital, but word today was he was doing much better, so hopefully that scare is over. Overall it was a good trip interrupted by that bad news.
We flew Northwest airlines who started enforcing a 1 carry on bag rule. And one small bag, not an over stuffed backpack as we had. So that resulted in one of my Christmas presents breaking. Luckily that one is replaceable and it wasn't the fostoria glass platter I brought back from my grandma's stuff.
4 days seemed longer than it was. Back to the routine...
Friday we flew into Austin to visit with my family. My step brother and his wife came with us to the Salt Lick for BBQ. Definitely the best BBQ I've ever had, well maybe Rendezvous Ribs are better, just for ribs though. The weekend continued with eating red meat everyday including market wienies, homemade tamales and finishing off with Akaushi beef. There was an article in Texas Monthly about this HeartBrand beef started by Japanese cows brought to a ranch near Yoakum, Tx. The going rate is about $95 for one steak in a restaurant. Dad took us to a place in Moulton, Tx where it was only $35. He got a ribeye and Jeff got a sirloin. Both said it was good but not worth $95, but they were still glad they could say they've tried it.
In the morning we had to have calaches for breakfast, later We had cake for Alan's 12th birthday and ofcourse had Blue Bell ice cream with it. Elise got a really cool handmade firepit for Christmas, so we made smores one night. Looking back now I think we just ate meat and sweets :) We had great weather and did spend some more time going through my Grandma's stuff. I came home with lots of buttons, some costume jewelry and more photos from my childhood.
Saturday night my aunt called to say my mom passed away. I'm glad my brother and I were together to get the news. A couple hours later Courtnay got a call about her dad in the hospital, but word today was he was doing much better, so hopefully that scare is over. Overall it was a good trip interrupted by that bad news.
We flew Northwest airlines who started enforcing a 1 carry on bag rule. And one small bag, not an over stuffed backpack as we had. So that resulted in one of my Christmas presents breaking. Luckily that one is replaceable and it wasn't the fostoria glass platter I brought back from my grandma's stuff.
4 days seemed longer than it was. Back to the routine...
