Day 1

   

   While my son and new daughter-in-law are on their honeymoon in Italy, I will be house sitting for them in Blanco, Texas, taking care of the two dogs, Sadie and Phoenix and the ducks and chickens.  It is a beautiful location, albeit a little noisy during the day as it is situated close to a highway, but nights after 10 are quiet, and the stars are so bright.  I am excited about this, I have brought 6 books, 6 bottles of wine, (coincidence?  I think not!) and am looking forward to being in the country again.  I do miss the quietness of country living, the beautiful landscape, the different sounds made by nature, rather than man made sounds of the city. I do have local TV, and thank goodness at the last minute my son got internet.  I was really going to be roughing it then!  I got in last night, and watched the Astros/Dodgers game, well that is until they went in to the 10^th inning, and I was like, nope, not staying up.  I was happy to hear that the Astros won by 1 point.  It will be good for the city of Houston to have a World Series win, after all they have been through with Hurricane Harvey. 

     After taking the dogs outside and feeding the chickens and ducks, I looked in the cabinet for a cup to use for coffee, and there was one of my old ones that I had left behind for my son when I moved.  It made me smile.  I honestly think it was one that the previous owners of the house we sold had left.  It is so cute.  Anyhow, the dogs and I enjoyed the cool morning outside, watching the chickens and ducks scratch around for bugs and such. 

     Blanco (/ˈblænkoʊ/ BLAN-koh) is a city in Blanco County, Texas, United States. It is approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of downtown San Antonio and almost the same distance west of Austin. The population was 1,946 at the 2016 census estimate.  Folks from Alabama and Tennessee started living in Blanco in the late 1850’s.  Agricultural was and still is its main commodity; cotton, peanuts, peaches, pecans, pears, grapes and figs.  As of lately, tourism has played a big part in the small town, as Hwy 281 goes directly through Blanco and takes tourists to Johnson City and onto Fredericksburg towards the Hill Country wineries.  There are two lavender farms, several restaurants, an awesome antique shop, Real Ale Brewery, and recently added were two distilleries- Ben Milam Whiskey and Andalusia Whiskey.  They also have a great state park that is always packed with overnight campers during the summer and holiday weekends.  My favorite place to eat in Blanco is the Red Bud Café, sandwich style dining with local beers and wines, plus attached to the restaurant is a great gift shop full of lavender products, jewelry, eclectic clothing and other fun things.  There is also Blanco Donuts, whose Kolaches are fabulous.  I haven’t tried the donuts yet, but plan to this week.  My son also has raved about the Chess Club Café for a great brunch place.  I will let you know.  And so begins my 10 days in Blanco.  I now have the task of deciding which book to start reading and which wine to pair it with.  Such decisions.