As promised, I will drop a note each week to share the progress on the “launch” of my book about the Blue Family. The story is on paper and now the book is taking shape! Writing is a big part of creating a book, but not the end. The next phase is pulling it all together into a seamless book. Mama Blue Loves Cassie Sue is about a family of Blue Pandas and the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. The book is a picture book/early reader. Illustrations are complete and the book is currently being formatted for publishing.
I Just want to be sure I have your info correct. You are helping me, so I need to know if you prefer receiving a text or email or Facebook message.
Thanks for being willing to be on my launch team. I have divided the launch into 3 groups. Group 1 is going to read the book, write a review, and share the book with others. Group 2 is going to read and write a review. On the day the book comes out, Group 3 will just buy a copy. Which group are you interested in committing to?
Depending on the group you prefer, I will update the info for the book link to review and any other relevant information. Please contact me if you have questions@ apdgt@nanasapronstrings.com.
Category: News and Reviews
Mama Blue Loves Cassie Sue
I trust you are all doing well. Covid is no longer rampant. Although it is still lingering in the shadows, it isn’t in the daily news and for the most part everyone is starting to breathe a sigh of relief. But this post is about celebrating wins, both big and small. You may not know, I have finished a children’s book: “Mama Blue Loves Cassie Sue” and it will be published this summer. This is exciting and I would love for everyone to join me in a huge celebration. I would be thrilled if you could take a minute to review the book, honestly on Amazon and Goodreads. Stay tuned here for an update very soon.
If you are interested in receiving updates, please send an email to apdgt@nanasapronstrings.com or just subscribe to the blog and you will be added to the notification list as we get closer to publishing. I will notify you when the book is available on Amazon, and other fun facts regarding future projects currently in the works! Also, when you can begin your reading and reviewing journey! This book is an early reader/picture book, so it should be a quick read for adults. If you have friends you think might be interested, please pass on the information. Let me know if you want more info as the launch date is available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
A Saturday of Surprises
I was scheduled to work Saturday a few weeks ago. Well I scheduled myself, but there were a lot of things I needed to get done. I planned to sleep in a bit, maybe even until 7:30 AM. Weekdays, the alarm goes off at 5:00 AM. I also planned to drop by the Farmer’s Market on my way out of town. From our suburb outside Austin, TX to my office is normally a 60-90 minute commute. On Saturdays, if we leave early enough we can make it 45 minutes. A stop by the market would still get me to work relatively early.
I did sleep until 7:30 AM and was in the kitchen by 8:00 AM, trying to decide what I wanted for breakfast. My phone beeped to alert me, I had a text. One of my co-workers, already at the office informed me the water was off and everyone was going home. I resisted the temptation to text “Woo hoo!” and simply replied “Thanks!”
With unexpected free time, I stirred up a vegetable frittata, steamed new potatoes from my garden and had a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, I managed to talk both my husband and son into going with me to the Farmer’s Market downtown.
It’s not a large venue. There were about 15 vendor stalls, live local musicians, and a decent number of people milling about. Saturday morning, the crowd, smaller than normal due in part to an early morning rain shower, still provided quite a few shoppers. We arrived around 10:45 AM, just in time for a drawing. A vendor approached us and insisted we drop our names in the bucket. I appointed my husband our representative. He often wins these things but I rarely do.
I continued to shop while he signed up for the raffle. He surprised me by entering all three of our names. A little late, but not too long after 11:00 AM someone announced the drawing was about to begin. No matter what the prize, the anticipation of waiting for your name to be called is exhilarating. The “grand prize” was a gift certificate for handmade goat milk soaps and lotions from Sweet Life. Everyone had an eye on that one. First name called? My son. Several people nearby whispered, “Maybe he isn’t here,” but he hurried to the grandstand, calling “Here I am!” 
Now everyone was interested in the drawing. We all moved closer and circled the grandstand. Several more prizes were awarded, before they announced the next prize was an olive tree. “That’s what I want,” I told my husband. I don’t know why, but it seemed really cool. Winner? My husband; still exciting because I suspected I would be the actual recipient.
More names were drawn and prizes awarded. The next prize? Two glitter tattoos. Immediately, I whispered, “that’s what I’m going to win.” Yes, absolutely they called my name. I looked around for a little girl I could donate to, but alas they all already sported a glittery tattoo.
I only claimed one of my tattoos, I didn’t want to be greedy after all. I left with a pretty Celtic knot plastered on my calf. I thanked my benefactor and had to smile as I walked away. She shouted to me, “Sometimes, they will last up to two weeks.”
Two weeks later, I can still see the outline. Wonderful day of surprises!
A Calm Mind is a Precious Gift
The Bastrop State Park is a quick 20-minute drive from my home. I love to visit the park, picnicking, cooking on the grill or hiking and running the trails. My memories are peppered with hours spent in the park.
In September 2011 a roaring fire swept through Bastrop County in Central Texas. The fiery inferno didn’t spare the state park. The resulting devastation affected ninety-six percent of the park as firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze. Ultimately, it charred 32,000 acres.
The recovery has been amazing and the many volunteers who work tirelessly to revitalize it are inspiring.
Last Sunday, we arrived at the park for our first visit of the new year. As I tightened my laces, my spirit stirred. The sandy trail, flowed beneath my sneakers, grabbing for traction, keeping me sure-footed as I navigated the rocky trail.
The rustle of the dry leaves falling from the trees whispered, reminiscent of a Texas rattlesnake.
Fallen trees lay tangled, a jigsaw of trunks etched on the ground by spring flooding. We passed a young hiker garbed in a pink dress and knee high cowboy boots. She grasped her father’s hand wide eyed as her brother warned us “to watch out for those ants up ahead”. He punctuated his words with his walking stick, the stick twice his size.
Regal pine trees crooned a melody, their branches, the wind’s violin. Small white flowers sprinkled across our path an embryo that would soon be plump juicy berries, ripe and tart.
Trudging up slopes I flew down the other side, shedding inhibitions. I felt free to stumble, laugh, fall and get back up to do it again. Leaping mud puddles in a single bound, I conquered makeshift bridges and eluded poisonous tendrils of vines alongside the trail.
Fire damage and destruction faded. Sparks of green climbed over and under fallen and damaged trees.
Seven miles of fun later, wonderfully spent but also energized, I sat. Warmed by the sun, I enjoyed the song of a bird, the notes carried on the breeze. Marveling at the unexpected joy of a soul unburdened, my soul and body were restored. What a precious gift!
Winding down the Old and Quietly Ushering in the New
My anniversary is the first week in January and instead of exchanging gifts, my husband and I often take a weekend trip. We are usually in need of a bit of recuperation. Although fun, holiday travel can take a toll. Our hectic schedule begins with Thanksgiving and culminates with our anniversary weekend.
I love to travel but am always grateful to return home. This year our holiday plans included multiple trips, and I wanted to avoid piling on more miles when planning our anniversary.
I debated planning a special meal instead of a weekend trip, but decided to search online for day trips. A few familiar options popped up, but, there was one I had not heard of , the 9E Ranch. Intrigued, I read the following blurb:
“On a 320-acre ranch, this rustic cabin resort lies 13.4 miles from both downtown Bastrop and Smithville.
The 4 antiques-filled cabins are individually decorated and come with full kitchens and country views. Some add sleeper lofts, claw-foot tubs, air-conditioning, decks or wood-burning stoves.
Paths and hiking trails crisscross the property. Breakfast muffins and coffee are complimentary.”
The description sounded perfect for a quiet restful weekend! I checked the website for a vacancy and found The Eagles’ Nest Log Cabin was available. I booked the cabin and on Friday afternoon, we headed for the 9E Ranch.
We arrived at the ranch half an hour after we left home. The entrance was easy enough to find but I recommend using GPS. It is well marked but in the dusk it wasn’t as obvious as I expected. As we drove through the gate, we shook, rattled and rolled down the hard-packed dirt road.
It was a typical ranch road as expected on a working ranch. When we pulled up to the cabin, a smile spread across my face. The scene was idyllic. Thankfully, we had packed light, bringing few bags. The air was chilly and damp, so minimal luggage made unloading easy. 
Inside, I was instantly charmed. The view was lovely. The stately pine trees meandered across the grassy slope tossing pine needles in their wake. Huddled at the bottom of the hill a small herd of longhorn cattle strolled.
We stowed our bags and settled on the sofa as the evening dusk faded to cast delightful light show across the horizon. Later, we sat at the little wooden table and ate a light meal. Tuna and fruit on a bed of greens and a tray of cheese with crackers on the side made a light and tasty meal! The rest of the evening we sat quietly reading, talking and just looking at the skyline.
On Saturday we drove to Smithville to visit a few antique stores and enjoy a fun lunch at Pocket’s Grille. At Pockets, the burger bar is the trunk of a 1961 Ford Galaxy. I ordered fish tacos and it was a delicious choice. Ron opted for a burger. We both cleaned our plates. After lunch, we headed back to our cabin. With the drizzle now a rain, we stayed inside the rest of the day. We had planned to take long walks on the trails and view the animals that roam the ranch.
Instead we stayed indoors, wrapped in a quilt while we played Trivial Pursuit and watched the night sky come to life. We left the Eagles’ Nest cabin around noon on Sunday, refreshed and rested. It was the perfect getaway and I can hardly wait to return.
A Bit of Whimsy on North Lamar
Driving to work during early morning traffic in Austin, TX is seldom boring. You never know which route to take until you actually approach the outskirts of town. As many people who live in the surrounding area, we have a fairly substantial commute, depending upon the traffic.
Our normal commute is about an hour, but it can range more or less depending upon the circumstances. I’m often a passenger rather than driver and find myself peering at any changes happening outside my window.
If the interstate is backed up, which is the norm; we drive to North Lamar and head into downtown. Recently we noticed that someone had put skirts on several of the light poles along Lamar. That’s really not terribly unusual for Austin. Austin is filled with a lot of incredibly talented and bright people but for some reason I was intrigued by those whimsical skirts wrapped around the light poles. At first there were only a couple of the skirts near Shoal Creek along Lamar. I began to watch with interest each day as we drove down Lamar, looking for a new skirt blowing in the breeze. 
I couldn’t help myself; I started to imagine the shoemaker and the elves. I wondered what sort of elves were showing up overnight to drape fabric around the naked light poles parading down the sidewalk.
It was a couple of months ago the skirts started appearing. I thought about taking pictures, but I always spotted them while we were driving past. It was never an opportune photo op.
This morning as we were driving by I noticed a new skirt had appeared on North Lamar. I determined to take a few pictures on my way to work today, but as we drove along I found that the original skirts were all missing!
Regretting that I hadn’t stopped to count the skirts previously, I was only able to find two of the skirted poles remaining.
As we left work, I went in search of more skirts to see if I could find anymore. The two were all that remained. Circling around I finally managed to take a picture. It was a lot of fun watching for new skirts to appear and I will miss the adventure.
I don’t know who is responsible for the entertainment I enjoyed, but I do thank them. Tomorrow I will be in search of the next entertaining project, but whatever it is, it will have big skirts to fill.
Colorado River, Good Food and Laundromats
I find myself becoming more conservative as I age. That’s a fact. I’m not frugal in all things, but if I can save a few dollars without much effort I usually take advantage.
So when we went to our local dry cleaners to drop off a couple of comforters, I balked at the 100 dollar price quote. One comforter was labeled as dry clean only but the other was marked machine washable. Knowing there was no way the bulky comforter would fit in my home washing machine, I left the dry clean comforter with the experts and set off to find a commercial laundromat to wash the other one.
The closest laundromat with machines large enough to handle a comforter was in Bastrop, TX about 20 miles from my home. Bastrop is a small town in Central Texas with a downtown that has maintained many of its historic buildings. The Colorado River flowing through town, just off Main Street makes it a lovely place to visit, even if you are looking for a laundromat.
We decided to eat lunch before we tackled our laundry project and found ourselves at Neighbors, a local restaurant overlooking the banks of the Colorado River. It had been awhile since we visited this restaurant and I’d forgotten the pleasant atmosphere. The Colorado River peeked through the trees as we enjoyed the cool air inside. 
We started off with Garlic Knots which are exactly like they sound, yummy yeast rolls twisted into knots with just the right amount of butter and garlic. I would have taken a picture, but they disappeared too fast!
Neighbors is famous for its pizza, but we chose to forgo the usual and try something different. We opted for The City Slicker Salad, a meatball sandwich and a meat calzone. The salad came topped with apples, walnuts and goat cheese and was served with a lemon poppy seed dressing. Delicious! Ron tackled the calzone, stuffed with pepperoni, sausage and cheese.Rich had the meatball sandwich which speaks for itself. It’s meatballs after all! It was a wonderfully relaxing and delicious meal.
After such a wonderful meal I wasn’t nearly so excited about the laundromat! Putting it off a while longer, we ducked into Best Buy for a quick errand and then found ourselves at Baskin Robbins. I mean there is always room for ice cream, right! Honestly, I don’t often eat dessert, but Baskin Robbins can almost always tempt me.
Finally out of excuses, we pulled up in front of the laundromat. It’s been years since I lived without a washer and dryer. The few times I find myself at the laundromat I am always grateful that I don’t have to be there very often. Digging for quarters, we shoved the comforter into the oversized machine and settled in for a half hour watching laundromat activity. This laundromat has a television, arcade games and booths. It’s quite interesting watching people come and go and feed the machines. Finally the washer cycle completed and we moved the comforter to the dryer. Thirty minutes later, the dryer was done, the comforter was folded and we were headed back home.
3.00 for the washer, 1.50 for the dryer saved me 45.00 dollars. Happy and contented, I dozed comfortably all the way home.
Taste of Ethiopia – take #2
When we have family gatherings, it almost always centers around food. Whether it’s cooking, potluck or trying a new restaurant, we love food.
Months ago, when my daughter, Kat was visiting we tried a new restaurant in Pflugerville, TX, the Taste of Ethiopia. It was wonderful! The food was delicious and the atmosphere inviting, providing a full dining experience. It’s not a large venue, managing to feel intimate but not crowded.
When Kat returned to Austin for a visit this weekend, she mentioned how delicious the meal had been and we decided it was time for a return visit. This time my son, Rich accompanied us.
As before, once we reached our seats, our server informed us with a huge smile that we were to eat with our hands. If you aren’t up to the full experience, utensils are available. The meals are served on a special bread called injera which is used to scoop up the food. 
Meals are served family style in a woven basket called a mesob. A large metal tray covered with the injera is placed into the basket and topped with the food.
We over ordered but wanted to try everything. We started with Sambusa, Minchet Abish and Tomato salad for appetizers. The Sambusa is a light pastry dough filled with your choice of beef, lentils or spinach. On our first visit we had the spinach filling but today we chose the lentil. Both were delicious. Rich said the minchet abish reminded him of sloppy joe texturally but a much nicer flavor.
We ordered the Ultimate Combo of vegetarian dishes. We had gomen (seasoned collard greens), fesolia (mixed vegetable stew with ginger and turmeric), yemisisr wot (lentils with traditional spices), tikil gomen (spiced cabbage, carrots, onions and tomatoes, ater kik (split peas in herbs and turmeric) and eggplant wot (eggplant with traditional spices). If you’re thinking that’s a lot of food and Yum, you are correct on both counts. Even with three of us eating we left with several cartons of food.
The mesob(basket) arrived at our table first, followed soon after with a basket of injera. My mouth was watering from the smell of the buffet simmering in the back of the room. When our food arrived, our server sat a large pan of injera inside the mesob. He then spooned each of the entrees around the circle putting half on each side.
I think my favorites were eggplant, sambusa, and yemisisr, but truthfully, we loved everything we ate.
Kat and I ended our meal with a cup of traditional Ethiopian coffee. The coffee was prepared in the back and then delivered to our table in a special clay pot called a jebena. I’m not sure how they make it, but it was the perfect treat to end our meal.
It was a lovely experience which I hope to repeat soon!
Zooma Half Marathon 2015
Saturday morning Mar 29, 2015, the much awaited/dreaded race day. Up at 4:20 AM, we needed to arrive at the Cedar Creek high school parking lot before 6:00 AM. The shuttle buses would start running at that time to transport runners and spectators to the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa for the Zooma Texas 2015. We were out the door by 5:10 AM and on our way. We arrived at the parking lot by 5:55 AM and scrambled to make sure we had our watches, gels and sunscreen before boarding the bus.
The temperature was mild at 55 degrees with a light breeze. By the time we arrived at the Resort, I was grateful to be wearing my jacket as the temperature dipped to 47 degrees. The resort is beautifully nestled in a wilderness setting. The run is not ‘a walk in the park’. It is peppered with multiple hills from slight rises to steep grades. If you plan to run this race, you should train on hills.
We arrived at the resort and moved inside where staff opened the door and welcomed us. Inside additional staff were stationed throughout the building offering smiles, greetings and directions as needed.
For runners who are used to port-a-potties at the start of a race, it was quite a treat to have indoor, clean and warm restroom facilities. It was wonderfully relaxing to sip a cup of complimentary coffee seated on a comfortable chair and visit with fellow runners. In the lobby, I met Shonda and Lisa from Houston, TX where we joked, laughed and discussed race strategy.
As we lined up at the starting line there were a couple of llama’s on the sidelines to send us on the way.
Once on the course, runners were full of smiles and waves. As I turned onto Highway 71, a school bus full of kids passed by. With the windows down, they were all shouting ‘Run Forrest Run’! I smiled for several miles remembering their enthusiasm.
The last couple of miles were on the resort property, along a relatively flat only slightly rolling path on the golf course. Mile 13 was marked by the resident longhorns lounging in the grass.
This is the third time I have run Zooma at the Lost Pines Resort. It has not disappointed yet. If you can forget about those hills for a minute, the scenery is lovely. The run starts in the parking lot and continues to Pope Bend which is a county road. The road is lined with wildflowers including Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and natural grasses. There is a short leg of the course that takes you down the shoulder of Highway 71, but it’s relatively short and downhill.
The temperature and winds both rose as I neared the finish line. The wind, although gusting at times, was a relief from the 70+ degree temperatures.
The Zooma race mission is to inspire women to live healthy, happy, & active lives. The post-race celebrations included vendors, live music, food, and massages. Sponsor Barefoot wines provided post-race samples and complimentary coffee was also available.
The race field the inaugural year 2009 was over 1200 women. This year the event included a 5K and a 10K in addition to the half marathon. There were only 362 runners in the half marathon, 162 in the 5K and 173 in the 10K but the celebration was just as entertaining.
Texas Traveling – Blanco
Traveling the back roads of Central Texas to enjoy the scenery and possibly avoid some major traffic is seldom boring and often entertaining. I like to think of myself as a healthy eater, but I try not to be a fanatic. I don’t eat most meat, so I’ve been called vegetarian. However, I don’t really fit into any typical classification. The carnivores (meat eaters) don’t claim those of us who don’t eat beef in a state where raising beef for food and income is a primary means of survival. The “vegetarian” crowd disavow any connection to me because I do eat fish, and while the term Pescetarian (people who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish) is probably the closest, no one wants to be labeled anything that has ‘pesky’ in the name.
On a recent trip from Austin to San Antonio for a haircut, my husband and I stopped in the little town of Blanco for lunch. Avoiding Dairy Queen and Subway led us to the local café. The place was packed, which seemed promising. We were seated quickly and waited patiently to order. About 15 minutes later, we were still waiting to be acknowledged and I already had one foot out of the booth when our waitress finally arrived to ask for our drink choices.
Glancing at the menu, it looked like there were at least a few meatless choices, so when the waitress returned, I asked a few questions.
First I asked, “I think I might like to try the vegetable soup. That doesn’t have meat broth does it?”
“No, ma’am, I don’t think so, but I’d be glad to check on it for you. I know it has carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and ground beef.” She responded.
Frowning just a bit, I asked, “Can you tell me what the choices are for the vegetable plate?”
“Sure,” she said, “There are green beans, pinto beans, salad, or a baked potato.”
Not too bad, I’m thinking. “What about the pinto beans? Do they have ham in them?”
“Oh, yes! They’re really good!” She beamed. Not nearly as excited as she was, I tried again. “What about the green beans? “
“The greens beans don’t have ham ….. Just bacon.” She is starting to glance around, like maybe I have way too many questions.
Thinking she was about to make a break for it to let me think things over, I plunged ahead. “Okay, then forget the vegetable plate and bring me the baked potato.”
Smiling widely, she said, “Would you like bacon with that?”
Nana's Apron Strings 