Texas Thanksgiving
Since Susannah’s Dad Shack passed away in the summer of 2010
we started a tradition of spending Thanksgiving in Austin with Susannah’s mom
Brenda and her brother Michaux. Shack
and Brenda’s anniversary is around that time of year, and the first year at
least we wanted to stay close while emotions were still raw.
Turns out that Austin is a pretty cool place to spend the
holidays, and after Michaux put in a pool this year, we extended our visit to
almost a week. Our kids only see their
cousin a few times a year, and they get giddy the week before.
We arrived late morning on Monday after an early 4:30 am
wake up call in RVA. But it was worth it
as we sucked down our first few margaritas before even arriving home. One of my favorite tastes of Texas. More on
that later. Spent the afternoon lounging poolside with beer in hand, except
for quick trip to “STUFFED” an artisanal
sausage shop where we provisioned for dinner.
After such an early day none of us made it much past 10.
On Tuesday morning
Michaus and I went to the local gas station Rudy’s to buy breakfast tacos for
everyone. Then we spent a few hours
working at a local service center in Round Hill; I stocked the shelves of a
food pantry while Susannah helped folks shop and the kids sorted clothing. It was a nice way to do some volunteering
together and get a view into a different slice of Texas life.
We drove out west for dinner past Dripping Springs to
Driftwood for some of Texas’ most famous BBQ.
An institution for years, The
Salt Lick draws crowds from near and
far to their BBQ pit where piles of ribs, sausages and brisket play games with
your senses.
The weather was stellar all week and while the girls
shopped, Michaux and I took the kids out into the back country to Pedernales Falls State Park- a scrubby
rocky landscape that looks almost lunar at times. Did some hiking and rock
hopping for a while on a beautiful day.
Drove
back into town and spent some time in the SOCA neighborhood- kids in a candy
store ( yes I did buy them $50 worth of candy)
and dad at Torchy’s Taco Truck for a green chili pork bundle of joy.
Dinner brought us back downtown for a delicious Italian meal
at Vespaio- lamb tarttare and
saltimbocca satisfied my carnivorous cravings. The girl;s called it an early
night while Michaux and I went to Antone’s
for Austin’s annual Last Waltz show- 36 years after the original concert,
some of Austin’s best local talent
gathered for a fun night of re-enactment, song for song, of the seminal
concert. From Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson to Neil Young, Joni Mitchell. and
Neil Diamond, they didn’t miss a beat.
Lamb Tartare
Saltimbocca
Thanksgiving was a relaxing do nothing day- pool, walk,
lunch at the UT Golf Club, more relaxing, a little football. While it was a
perfectly fine Thanksgiving meal, part of me missed the comraderie of a kitchen
filled with bubbling pots and smells wafting all day long. Did not miss the dishes though.
Spent our last day in Austin just hanging about the pool
reading, We left for the airport a few hours
early to do some last minute shopping ( not Black Friday focused…. More thrift
store). Had a fantastic lunch at Polvos
in South Austin. It was the most authentic Mexican I have had in a while with
tasty smoky salsa. Spicy pickled vegetables and fajitas studded with pecans,
pumpkin seeds, and raisins.
Fajitas