Our Weekend

I realize it is already the weekend again, and I'm just now getting around to sharing our wonderful long weekend with you.  I ended up with 4 days off in a row and Frank had three.  So we played, relaxed and enjoyed those three days to the fullest.

Saturday

We did waffles, coffee and PBS cooking shows, my favorite way to start a Satruday.

We did some flea market browsing but didn't find any treasures.

We shopped at a local Mexican market and discovered this treasure, a hidden Panaderia, one of the nicest I've seen around here.

Saturday night was capped off with that Flank Steak and Chimichuri recipe that I linked to in my last post, as well as some Rick Bayless recipes,  Garlicy Shrimp and Aguacate and Cacahuate Salsa.  By the way, the new season of Mexico One Plate at a time is great.  I love Rick Bayless!

Sunday

We picked up our three nieces and took them (and Lucy) to the dog park, Marshall Grain (my favorite feed store) a park and the Trinity Trail.  When we asked if they wanted to go to a park or the trail they all chimed in "park!".  They of course, enjoyed the trail just as much if not more than the park.  They all dug tossing rocks into the creek and were intrigued by the three boys fishing and "noodling" in the slimy water.  I grew up a country girl, playing in the woods behind our house, but these girls are full on city girls.  It felt good to get them out in nature and expose them to things that they may have never done before.  We need to find time to do that more often. 

We had the girls for about four hours and were totally worn out by the end of the day.  We also got to talk to Karlie on the phone, and though she was busy in a play kitchen, she told us "Gaga (Frank) I cooking",  and "Aya (me) I love you".  That melted my heart and made my day.

Monday

By Monday I felt lucky and indulgent to have so many days to do what I wanted.  The weather was perfect for us and we got outside again at the Fort Worth Nature Center.  It took me probably six years of living here to visit this place, and then another two to go again.  It is only twenty minutes away, but with so much to explore you really need a whole afternoon to devote.  It was a bit warm in the sun but we hiked for about an hour and a half and saw a frog, an armadillo and a deer.  

It was just what I needed.

This is a CCC relic, built during the great depression.  My Paw Paw was in the CCC, so I always feel connected to him and to history when I visit a place that the CCC constructed.

I spent Tuesday catching up on emails, jewelry and working on paperwork.  I was ready to go back to work by Wednesday, believe it or not.  And now the week is almost over again.  It sure went by fast.

I mentioned that I grew up a country girl.  I was actually born in Houston and lived there for 9 years.  We moved to the country after that and I have always felt best when I connect with nature.  I've been in Fort Worth for ten years now and love it.  I love being so close to all the things we need and not having to drive twenty minutes to the grocery store.  There are lots of conveniences here for sure.  However, with my parents moving away I have a dream of moving to the country outside San Marcos.  Reading Soule Mama's blog makes me yearn to be a country girl even more.

Only time will tell if I will return to my country girl roots, for now I will day dream about raising animals, keeping bees and preserving food for the winter.