Fun Friday

My mom, my daughter Kelly, Reece and I went to Gruene (pronounced "green" around these parts) today. We had lunch at the Grist Mill, then enjoyed looking in some of the shops. It's fun just being in Gruene. It has a totally Texas atmosphere. The shops and houses are rustic and charming, the landscaping is always beautiful, and there is a sense of history.

Kelly has been making beaded earrings, and wanted to see how much they were selling for in the shops there. She is thinking of turning her fun hobby into a business. She has an eye for color combinations, and I love wearing her earrings. She also makes her own little display cards for each set of earrings, and they are so pretty.

Reece liked eating at the Grist Mill. A lot of the tables are out on the multi-level deck, overlooking the Guadalupe River (you can see people tubing down the river), with trees all around. That's where we sat. Reece and I shared bronzed catfish, "gruene" beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. He loves veggies, and green beans and broccoli are his favorites. The "gruene" beans are really yummy, cooked with garlic, butter, bacon, tomato and parmesan cheese.

The restaurant is in an old grist mill that burned down years ago. The stone walls left standing are still there, and the rest of the restaurant is built around them. The town's founder built a gorgeous house there, that is now a bed and breakfast (Gruene Mansion Inn, in the picture above), with adorable little cabins added in the back. At the oldest dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall, you can often see talented singers and bands during the afternoon for no cover charge.

We like to buy ice cream cones (Blue Bell, of course) in the general store. It's packed with all kinds of Texas-type items. Across the street is an old mercantile store that is now an antique store. Next door is a winery where you can taste the wine before you buy, then sit outside at a picnic table to have a glass of the vintage you like best. The shops are in little houses or old buildings, and you can find all kinds of interesting items.

Here's a link to the Gruene website. Take a look, and if you come to Texas, be sure to visit Gruene; you'll love it!