One of our local wineries has brought Rudolph into play…
Buck Creek Winery is near us and is offering a delicious “Christmas Cherry” wine this season. They were out of one of our favorites, so we gladly filled out our case with this new wine.
photography
A shade of red in that squirrel’s tail
The gray squirrels we always see
We see lots of gray squirrels in our area of Indiana. Within the past week we have seen several squirrels that have a noticeable reddish color to their tails and along the center of their backs. Their coats are not red like the red squirrels we saw at our son’s house in Austin when we visited a couple of weeks ago.
Note the red color of the tail
These are not red squirrels. Reds and grays are two different species, and are incompatible for cross breeding. Reds have much more red coloring all over their bodies. These grays have gotten some reddish tints in their tails and their backs. Anybody seen these kinds of colorations in your area’s populations?
Some folks like squirrels. Others think they are just “tree rats”. I’ve heard it said that squirrels are nothing more than rats with a good Public Relations Department…
A frosty gallery
This morning we woke to a very heavy frost. These pictures were captured at 10 o’clock, with the ambient temperature still at 28 F.
Frost covered sage
Rose leaf edges attracted the frost
Another leaf edge with heavy frost
A heavy frost should not be a surprise: Winter Solstice is three days away!
Christmas season is upon us
Everybody likes a candy cane
Christmas season is here, with the big day but a little over a week away. Whether or not you and yours celebrate Christmas, we want to wish all of our online blogging family a very Happy Holiday season . We all look forward to a safe, healthy and prosperous 2022.
Another shadow image
Sun’s rays on this window produced layers of shadows
Three Christmas wreaths and icicle light strands enabled the sun to throw unique shadows onto the door window and blinds. The most mundane circumstances can occasionally provide a novel photo opportunity. This new capture is similar to this previously posted image.
Impressive Christmas lights
A remarkable display of seasonal spirit
The photo does not do justice to the displays seen here
This same house had impressive Halloween decorations. See those photos here.
Going to see Beef and Boards “Shear Madness” to start the 2022 season
Tony (Daniel Klingler) plops shaving cream on Nick (Jeff Stockberger) as he prepares to give the undercover cop a shave in Shear Madness
From a Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre press release dated December, 2021: “Shear Madness is back by popular demand to kick off Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre’s 2022 Season! Opening just a bit early, on Dec. 28, this play will have the audiences rolling in the aisles as they help detangle the clues of a murder mystery in a not-so-typical hair salon.”
This hilarious production features madcap improvisation blended with the clues that reveal the person responsible for the murder of the old lady upstairs in the salon. The audience gets to spot clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mystery. No two shows end the same, leading to repeat customers who enjoy the madcap mayhem. Set in Indianapolis, the play features many funny references to the local area.
Shear Madness has won tons of awards, including “Best Comedy of the Year” multiple times, and has been inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame, the first stage play to be so honored. It will run through February 5. Tickets range from $58 to $70 and include Chef Odell Ward’s famous dinner buffet. For tickets visit Beef and Boards or call the box office at 317-872-9664.
Sher and I have not been to B&B since October 2019. We can’t wait to get back to our favorite theater!
A little wine and cheese before our flight back to Indiana
The wine shop at Austin Bergstrom airport just happened to be next to our gate for our flight back to Indiana today. We had some more Texas grape to glass wine! (The cheese and bread plate was also very good)
Special event to support Texas craft breweries
Yesterday Sher and I went with our son to the Austin Beerworks to enjoy local beers, some great food, and at the same time we supported Small Business Saturday. Sponsored by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, this event featured 80 small Texas breweries and retailers all over the state celebrating this year’s theme: “Here’s to Gettin’ Back Out There”.
The running can is the ABW logo, on the back of the jacket.
All over the state Texas Craft Brewers Guild encouraged patronizing these small businesses. Each location had really nice beer glasses for purchase. According to the Guild website “$1+ of every glass supports the association of craft brewers advancing the industry through advocacy and education.” We had a fun afternoon at the ABW taproom. And as the picture shows we supported the event by adding glasses to our collection, Maj got a nice jacket, and of course some beers to go. We always enjoy a win-win.
The Hula Hut on the water in Austin
They serve good Margaritas
The Hula Hut is a Tex-Mex restaurant with, as their website states, a Hawaiian twist. For 25 years it has served delicious meals offering an “island feel” with thatched roofs, bamboo walls and outdoor decks overlooking Lake Austin.
Sher and I went to this establishment with our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter for a Friday night outing. The weather proved to be too cool and windy for an outside table, so we opted for a table inside.
The Hut has a festive atmosphere
Tortillas made fresh daily
Even the menu items have a flavor of Hawaii. Sher had the “Tubular” taco, vegetarian style. This thing was huge, flanked by black beans and rice. Our daughter-in-law and granddaughter had grilled Hawaiian chicken and grilled salmon, respectively. Our son and I both ordered Five-O Fajitas (get it?). He had the BBQ Tai and I had the Hawaiian beef and shrimp.
Veggie “Tubular” taco
Grilled salmon
Hawaiian beef and shrimp fajitas
Grilled Hawaiian chicken
The service was excellent, our waiter George really took good care of us. This is a very good restaurant, great atmosphere, service, and marvelous food. We all thoroughly enjoyed our choices and this most enjoyable evening out with family.
Roadtirement 