Merry Christmas!

TN Thanksgiving

I am way behind on blogging, but didn't want to leave a trip out. Spent a good deal of time in TN for thanksgiving, mostly because I had Titans tickets on 2 December and didn't want to make two weekends in a row. Ultimately, you will see I was punished for this. Bernadette and I stayed at the Rocking K Ranch and hung out with Kash while his people were in TX. She had some livestock encounters with a calf we call Burnt Ends, and I do so love this picture.

Fred's Texas Cafe

In beautiful Ft Worth, TX, we visited Fred's. As we walked in, this guy, Greg Schroeder, was playing Whiskeytown's 16 Days, one of my favorites, and I was SOLD. 

Add in cold beer and some amazing 'street tacos' I was mentally relocating. The kicker (literally) for the tacos were that they were served with these fresh onions, soaked in lime juice and habaneros. So amazing.

Reckless Kelly at the Lyric

Small number of people meant I got to be closer to Willie, but I can't help but wish they had ended their tour in a rowdy way.

Seasonal confusion

Apple blossoms and camellias that usually don't show until March. It's been a weird year.

Remembering Max

On the Square in Oxford

Grady rocks the hipster look, complete with pacifier as we walk to dinner, the Bloody Mary at Ajax was life altering, and Grady learned to shovel rice and gravy in with a real fork! Exciting times.

Road Trip!

Grady is resting up for a wild weekend, and a routine restroom stop led my better judgement to buy rib tips from an Exxon. When you smell wood smoke as you step out of the car, it has to be done.

The Pope of Texas

Robert Earl Keen came to Jackson last week, and I had a week that needed a reason to sing along to all of my favorites. Luckily, he agreed to play them.

Jacktoberfest

Delta Brews showed up to their first Jacktoberfest last weekend. We collectively submitted 14 beers for competition, poured six of our beers in the craft beer garden and walked away smiling!

This was our neighbor in the craft beer garden, Fred the antiques dealer. He won peoples choice award, despite my glad-handing all night!

This is the up close, light shining through glass molded medal that I won for my schwarzbier, Darkness on the Edge of Town. It is supposed to be a stein with the lid open, but resembles pac man. 

Practice Camping

Grady and Bernadette needed some camping experience, yet we didn't want to be too far from home in case things went poorly. So we opted for the backyard at Wisteria Manor. Bernadette did well, once I convinced her to actually get in the tent. Grady was a trooper, even though he was sick. Time to plan the real deal!

Busy Weekend

Lots of social engagements, some at my house, and poor Bernadette could barely keep up. We brewed a hazelnut brown ale on Sunday, and she was asleep at the wheel. I was not in much better shape myself.

The Mighty River Rhine

This shot was taken in Koblenz, right around sunset. We were touring an old fort and it was COLD.

Long trip home

I made it. Had an exit row seat with lots of leg room, but sitting near the emergency door was COLD!

Out the window was Ireland as we flew west and then the edges of Canada as we arrived over North America.

Final German meal

Pizza and Belgian waffles. One can only eat so much schnitzel.

I miss home THIS much.

Huge piece of kelp on the Cape of Good Hope. Three more sleeps and I am HOMEWARD BOUND!

As Close as I Could Get

Shark diving was cancelled for today, due to large swells. Pretty bummed is an understatement. This video is from the Two Oceans Aquarium, hake feeding of ragged tooth sharks.

New Friends!

Joycelyn and Fariba from the Air Force. Heaps of laughs.

Fear Not

I hate heights, but this view was worth the anxiety. I had a dream that night that I broke my arm, so my subconscious downloaded on me, for the pain and suffering on Table Mountain.

Supper near the end of the African continent

 Butternut and narttije soup. Amazing. Naartjie is a citrus fruit from South Africa.

My entree was venison potjie, which is a method of cooking in a three legged cast iron pot. I endeavor to attempt this with my cast iron at home, because one of these pots (small version shown) won't fit in my suitcase. Side dish was putu (like cous cous made from corn) and chakalaka (spiced beans and vegetables).

 Liz had springbok shank! She says the meat fell right off the bone, but just to be sure, she gnawed on the bone. Springbok is the national animal of South Africa, the mascot for the rugby team, and resembles a small deer.

 We were sitting outside, and each chair had a small throw. I put mine to use!

First night in Cape Town was good times.

Harbeespoort Dam near Pretoria, South Africa

 Lots of time spent in conference rooms...not great for jet lag and adjusting to local time.

 But on Wednesday afternoon, we toured a local dam (their word for reservoir) that has severe water quality issues, resulting in algal blooms and poor air quality in later summer. There was a cable car to get to the top of the mountains. The smile on my face was a function of being out of the cable car. I am not a fan of heights, but I convince myself it is not as bad as I think, then I have a mini panic attack. Good times.

 Gulp.

Nice day for a tour.