Gruene, Texas: "Gently resisting change since 1872."

Have you ever seen the movie Four Christmases?  The one where Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn spend a "fun filled" day racing from Christmas celebration to Christmas celebration?  Well that's pretty much how Jason and I spend our Christmas vacation.  A couple of years ago though, his mom decided it was time to change that.

So instead of seeing her for a brief afternoon at Christmas time, we now spend an entire weekend together at various trips we take around Texas.  This year, we decided on Gruene, Texas and to attend Jerry Jeff Walker's Annual Birthday Bash.  So I spent last weekend in an adorable 100 year old farmhouse bed and breakfast and spent the weekend wining, dining, listening to good music, and enjoying a healthy dose of washers.  And in the event you are unfortunate enough to have never played washers, I recommend looking it up and giving it a try.  

For a family with a definite lack of children, spending a weekend together has been such a welcome change from the hectic Christmas schedule.  And, if you're looking for a weekend to get away from it all, I highly recommend you check out Gruene.  I hadn't been there since I was in high school...think floating the river and honky tonks, and I definitely enjoyed it more as an adult.

                                              

The old man with the ice cream cone makes my heart happy.

Texas' Oldest Dancehall.  Built in 1878.

Yep, we stayed here.

Yeah, I love that Sangria wine, when I'm drinking with old friend of mine.--JJW

Hope I'm still that much alive in my 60's

And that's the truth.

A couple of weeks ago, I took a friend of mine from Ohio back home to the lake  for the weekend.  We took the usual backroads to get there, and after exiting one of the many small towns on our way, she told us she felt like she was in a foreign county or an old Western.  I didn't understand it then, but looking through these pictures, I do.  And that's why I love the Texas Hill Country.