Music, Drinks, Food, and Dancing!



Texas hill country is special for a lot of reasons, with one being the live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in restaurants, bars, and dance halls!

We got quite a treat at the Mercer Street Dance Hall in the community of Dripping Springs.  Jimmie Vaughn, older brother to Stevie Ray Vaughn, and famous for his own contributions in the music industry was performing!  Rumor has it that the owner of the dance hall and Jimmie are friends.  Jimmie lives in the Austin area. 

 

 

Here is a sampling of a Jimmie Vaughn performance!

 

Here are Roy and I rocking out at the concert like the middle aged folks we are!

This is the Albert, Texas dance hall!  We were on a day tour, so no activity at the time.  It looks like a fun weekend place to be! 

This is a bar next to the Albert dance hall.  Don't you just love the wide spreading branches of the Live Oak!  A warm Summer evening here with friends, drinks, and music floating through the air would be wonderful.  We'll be back!

Miller Creek RV Resort brings some great entertainment to the park! 

They did a Louisiana crawfish and shrimp boil dinner with a local Cajun band call Zydeco Blanco!

 

Here is a sample of the group Zydeco Blanco.  Check out the guy playing a washboard on his chest with a couple of beer openers!  It's always a treat to catch this group performing! 

Miller Creek RV Resort also brought in the Tex-Mex performer Mike Blakely.  He is one of my favorites!  Check out some samples of his music on his website  

http://mikeblakely.com/listen



Hill Country Christmas

When in Texas hill country we always look forward to the fantastic Christmas light displays.  One of our favorites is the lighted trees in Johnson City.  This year they had some done in blue!

This is the lighted forest display on the grounds of the Pedernales Electric Company.  It is a sight to behold!

We wondered how they wrap the trees, and got a chance to see one being redone.  Check out the tightly wound strings of lights on the ground.  There was a guy climbing around in the tree branches.  We're told that when it comes time to remove the lights that they are cut away.

A small park in Johnson City always puts on a super display! 

The Christmas displays are so prevalent and beautiful that real snow couldn't add anything more.  This was enough snow for us!

Decorating the community courthouses with lights is a Texas hill country tradition.  The Johnson City courthouse was playing Christmas music outdoors and had a craft show on the weekends indoors.

The Johnson City courthouse square businesses were lighted beautifully, too!

The community of Blanco decorates their courthouse with lights and a small park near the courthouse square has a nice display.  I always enjoy the Blanco County Cat Coalition display!

Displays with a Texas flair are always fun to see!

This year we attended Marble Fall's "Walkway of Lights" along the Colorado River.

Santa's team of reindeer in lights!

 

A pretty Christmas tree with lights shining on the river behind it!

Santa on a wave runner with a skiing reindeer seemed very appropriate near the river!

I loved the old time feel of a horse pulling a Christmas tree home on a sled!

Miller Creek RV Park puts on a superb Christmas!  This is the Christmas caroling ride around the park prior to the gift exchange!

 

Here is a glimpse of the fun gift exchange in the rec. hall!  That's Roy up front opening his gift.

There are always great hors d'oeuvres at events!

 

Desserts are always in abundance, too!  Aren't these special!  Plan a trip to Miller RV Resort in Johnson City, Texas for Christmas.  Better yet, come for their wonderful Thanksgiving and stay through Christmas!  You'll be glad you did!

 

Blanco Market Days

We had nice weather for checking out the crafts at the November Blanco Market Days.  Every third weekend local crafters set-up tents on the courthouse square to sell their goods.  It's a fun event held by many communities on various weekends.  One more will be held in December and then not again until March. 

These bowls and baskets are carved from the roots of Chinese Fir Trees!  I think they are quite interesting and beautiful!  The lady selling them orders them online.  I never thought of that, as a way of making money at craft fairs!   

Here is some intricate scroll work!  There were several woodworking booths at this month's Market Days. 

John Hobson of Spring Branch, Texas does amazing cutting boards, as well as, other wood pieces.  When asked about the technique to create these beauties, he graciously shared his time to explain how they are done.  The colors are not produced with stains, but are the natural woods! 

Here are some more examples of his work.  His card didn't show a web address, but his phone number is 830-228-5054.

These rolling horses exude superior quality!  They are produced by Ray and Carol Bates of Decatur, Texas.  Each toy horse is individually registered!

Here is a closer look.  The horses without wheels are boxes to store things in.  Check out their website:  www.soyawannabeacowboy.com.  There is always something new and interesting to enjoy at Blanco Market Days!