SXSW: March 9-18, 2012

Papa Tom continued his enchilada salad revolution.  So far, he's requested enchiladas on top of his salad at Chuy's, Hyde Park Bar and Grill, and Guero's.  Someday, this will be as popular as the fajita.  And Papa Tom is the one who thought it up!  This was the Guero's creation.  We were there for lunch with Martin, Ramzi, and Evy.

SXSW entrepreneur Elliot home brews and sells sarsaparilla.  Has his own label too.  He and his siblings and friends  hung out at a corner passed by thousands of people.  The sarsparilla was very good, a lot like root beer.

A SXSW take on bicycle horns

Papa Tom carried his sarsaparilla around cowboy style

With 2,000 bands in town, and hundreds of band playing at side parties that did not require SXSW badges for entry, Evy and Ramzi spent several hours daily on their four electronic gadgets--iPhones, Mac notebook, and iPad--figuring out which shows to catch.  

Sharing Texas culture with Evy, our Norwegian visitor

Evy Andersen wanted a true Texas experience while she was in town.  We took her to the Broken Spoke, where  everyone from kids to great-grandparents do the Cotton-Eyed Joe and two-step to country music.

Papa Tom and Evy

OK, there's a lot to measure up to!  Luckily, about an hour before the band starts, newcomers  get two-steppin' lessons from a no nonsense country gal who lets you know what you're doing right and what you need to improve.

This guy's been at the Broken Spoke for a very long time.  Looks like he made it to the Broken Spoke by way of Mardi Gras.

Someone parked his/her horse out front, hitched to the grasshopper.

Dinner with Sharon Reed

Papa Tom and I had dinner with our friend Sharon Reed on Tuesday, March  13.  After dinner, Papa Tom picked spinach from our garden to send home with her.

Sharon's got spinach and carrots from Papa Tom's garden.

Big Boy River

River's graduated from climbing on Mya's child-size chair to climbing up and off the grown-up chair.  Such a big boy!

Mya's ready for the Oscars!

I have no doubt we'll see this girl on the red carpet someday!

Birthday Boy!

So hard to believe River is going to be a year old on  March 15th!  Papa Tom and me were so lucky to be in Asheville the day he arrived.  We wish we could be there for your first birthday, River.  We love you and miss you!

Silly Millie

Whenever Millie doesn't want to go out, she "hides" under Great-great-Grandma Hogan's buffet, where we can't see her, but she can watch our every move.  She'll zip outside if she hears us pouring food in her bowl, though.

Spring is here

Rain! A bush full of azalea blossoms! Peach trees budding out!  Oh yes, it's Spring!

Leprechaun feet!

Mya traced leprechaun feet for us and wished us a happy holiday as well.  Mya, we have no idea how you got that leprechaun to stand still long enough for you to trace his feet!  Papa Tom and I decided to go outside and look for a leprechaun in the wild onion patch.  Remember eating wild onions from our backyard?  We didn't find him though.

I looked for the leprechaun among the fragrant freesia.  He must have blended in with all that green!

Otis bowling

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Niece Sarah's birthday is March 6.  We celebrated Sunday, March 4 at Chuy's.  Couldn't have been a more beautiful day!  Left to right are Jen, Evelyn, Sarah, and Cynthia.  Back row: Rhonda and Sarah's step-dad David.  In the background are Sarah's husband Kirk (Longhorn orange shirt) and Sarah's nephew Joe in Kirk's brother's Dustin's arms.

Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1836 to March 2, 2102: 176 years

For years, Tom and Roy and Greg have celebrated Texas Independence Day with chicken fried steak lunches at Threadgill's.  This year, the celebration was at B B Rover's.  I'm not sure what Roy is showing Tom on his cell phone.  Tom opted for a chipotle chicken salad instead this year, prompting taunts from Roy and Greg.  Greg NEVER allows himself to be photographed.  Someday. . . .

Mmm!  Chicken-fried steak, white gravy, mashed potatoes, lima beans.  Not sure what the other item is on the plate, because I too had a chipotle chicken salad.  And very good local beer: 512 Pecan Porter.