it was great

After being on holiday for eleven days it was tough to return to the real world. We always host a fun and food-filled Christmas Eve party at our home for our children. We usually leave on Christmas Day headed west to San Antonio, and then turn south towards the Mexican border. It is there we love to play. We drive around in my husband's lease jeep, my hair blowing with little or no make-up on; looking at beautiful wildlife that can only be seen in this part of Texas. My husband and I are part of a 6,000 acre deer lease; where all we see is the wide open blue skies of Texas~known as South Texas. We see large whitetail deer, javalina, coyotes, bobcats, quail, rabbits, hogs, armadillos, roadrunners and birds of all kinds. There is one in particular I am always trying to capture~the Green Jay. I actually got a shot close enough to post. They are the most illusive birds!
The beginning of the week, we always take a day to play golf with my brother and sister-in-law. The golf course in nearby Carizzo Springs, is quite unique; as it winds around a very small airport. One of the signs on the course says, "Do not hit golf balls when planes are taking off or landing." We always get a huge laugh out of reading that sign, even after 12 years of reading it.
This is one of the huge palm trees on the course. I find it unusual standing among the mesquite trees that are so common in this part of Texas. And, it is huge!

Each morning, the guys take their turn cooking breakfast! We have an outside quad area that includes a free standing stove with oven, a prep area consisting of a butcher block (non-working) dishwasher; and a most recently added microwave. There is also a long table where we all sit down to eat together~which usually totals about 10 people or more on any given weekend. This quad area is covered by a large tin roof, which keeps our heads dry when it rains; and cool from the normally very hot sun. My husband usually cooks the most often, and on this particular morning his menu included eggs over-easy, bacon, sausage and sweet potato pancakes. I am not the biggest pancake fan, but these were~YUMMY! His brother had given him a new tilt griddle for Christmas, and he was trying it out this particular morning; in anticipation of our summer RV trips.

You must know, these were made from a mix called Bruce's Sweet Potato Pancake Mix. Very easy and delicious. Trust me~they are wonderful!

This year we returned home one day earlier than usual, coming home on Saturday instead of Sunday. We stopped in San Antonio to eat lunch with my daughter. My husband had heard of a resturant that Guy Fieri had visited on one of the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Shows. The resturant is called The Cove. One word describes it perfectly~FRESH.

I had the Veggie Burger with Organic Sweet Pototo Fries.

Melanie had the lunch special of Spicy Chicken Poblano Soup and her choice of sandwich~she chose the Grilled Cheese with Spinach.

Allen had the Seafood Sampler~look a salad with heart!

Oh, yes, I did work on some jewelry while away~

I was so excited to see Deryn's wrapped links in the Winter 2009 Belle Armoire Jewlery issue. So, while "resting" in South Texas, I decided to try making a few of my own. The article is called Wrap it Up, and is wonderfully illustrated (as always by BAJ).

I used vintage Italian ribbon, bought at the International Quilt Festival, for a couple; and vintage sheet music, for the others. Fun!

I made the pendant before Christmas for a friend~shhhhh.....I don't want her to know about it!

Deryn also so graciously has posted a tutorial on how to make these beautiful wire wrapped links on her blog, Something Sublime. Go here to see it!