Wordless Wednesday: reflections

Eating fancy

We don't usually go to high-end restaurants, being basically pretty frugal folks. But sometimes we splurge, especially when given a generous gift card by sweet children to spur us on. And when it's a wedding anniversary, even frugal diners have something of an excuse to go fancy.

Fortunately, San Antonio has been acquiring more and more of these high-end eateries in the past few years, and several of them are highly regarded. So, given all this encouragement, we headed downtown last Wednesday and had a delightful evening at Restaurant Gwendolyn on the River.

The restaurant provided us with an especially novel treat, having a prix fixe menu, which was a first for us. Everything on the menu sounded so good, we opted for five-course dinners, with wine pairing (just for Henry, not me...I would have rolled off the balcony with that much alcohol!). 

The food was delicious, the service was attentive and friendly without hovering, and we felt totally pampered by the experience of taking time with each course.

Most of the pictures I tried to take of the food didn't come out so well, but I was charmed by the way they served their butter, with a peppery crust and sprig of rosemary...

...and the desserts were really scrumptious...

It was such fun—especially given our recent unusually long spells of cold weather—being able to eat outside. Our city's River Walk is always a treat to take in:

We won't be plunking down such serious dinero on dinner again anytime soon, but we think we might try to eat fancy perhaps a little more often. 

Wordless Wednesday: birthday roses

Yee-ha!

Although there's a lot that's unique about San Antonio as a Texas city (I'm particularly thinking of our ever-expanding spring party that's Fiesta), we are still in Texas. And that means that, yes, we do have a rodeo, too.

Here's the event's clever logo, with its hat-shaped "S":

We haven't been to the rodeo in years but it really is a fun event. So we were happy to accept a gracious invitation from one of Henry's work colleagues to share his firm's luxury box for the show on Friday.

What a great view you get from these posh seats! Not only of the real action, but with TWO replay screens available, should you want to see the action even closer up. If you want a taste of this visual overload...

The hallway outside our box looks down onto what is usually the Spurs store. But while the team is on their annual "Rodeo Roadtrip," their home venue is given over for the cowboys. And that includes their gift shop, where, along with the #21 jerseys, they put out a great selection of boots and hats for your shopping pleasure...

But of course the main action is on the court—er, rather, the dirt. I was pleased to see that our fine seats for the show allowed at least half-way decent pictures to be taken. Here's a sample:

a bareback riding contestant

barrel racing is one of my favorite competitions

the calf scramble is also always fun to watch

the scariest event is the bull-riding; the white blob at the end
of the red line is a cowboy about to be flung off the bull.
The clown is waiting to draw the animal off if needed

What a fun way to reaffirm one's Texas heritage!

Brrrr!

No, I can't tell you why we still have our Christmas banners up

I know that for a great many of my readers icicles aren't terribly exotic or even much worth mentioning. But for us here in South Texas, they're a big deal!

We experienced much colder than normal temperatures during the recent polar vortex, but then it was dry and we were just cold. 

This last cold snap came with moisture, and so we were treated to the very rare icicle sightings, plus a half day (whole day for some of us) off of work. Since nobody around here knows how to drive on ice. Our neighbors slightly to the north even had some snow, but we just had the ice.

I enjoyed my extra morning at home, and was hoping for some nice photo opps of frost sculptures in our yard. But as it turned out, the ice was just clear and didn't make any nice decorations. The grass was crunchy, though, and I found out after getting the paper that while the ice was almost invisible before being disturbed, where I walked I left snow-like footprints!

ice prints

close-up of ice print

Pretty cool! I wonder which of the Norwegians' (or others') 100 words for ice would fit this particular phenomenon?

 After my pleasant bonus at-home time, I proceeded to strike off across the frozen wastes to the office. 

I was really glad they hadn't given us the whole day off (and also glad I had wimped out and not ridden the bus to work as usual) when I came to Woodlawn Lake. Either they got more rain here than we did at the house, or the air is just naturally more moist here because of the wetlands. But at any rate the ice encasing the trees here was much thicker—and more photogenic—than at home. 

The cold didn't seem to be bothering the lake's usual inhabitants...

....but I was cold enough that I couldn't really stay as long as I would have liked, to enjoy this winter wonderland...

As we're expecting a high in the mid-70's today, we're recovering from the cold pretty nicely, thanks. But I'm glad that at least occasionally we get to sample the joys of winter that are rather ordinary occurrences for many of our friends.

Wordless Wednesday: I'm now officially old

or I will be soon

Majestic touches

Last time I blogged about my symphony outing, I promised to show you more of the wonderful Majestic Theatre where the performances happen (until next season).

I didn't take too many pictures on Saturday (when I heard some great Dvořák), but I thought they demonstrate that even small, pragmatic touches in this place are magical.

This the overhang lighting out on the sidewalk in front of the theatre. Very functional, in that it lights up the area wonderfully. Plus, it's very handsome, I think.

The rest of the pictures I took right from my balcony seat during intermission...

I wouldn't want to have to carry my bass fiddle into the loo...would you?

Talk about a functional sign, you have to have the exits marked, right?

...but have you ever seen a lovelier one?

Other light fixtures are just as exquisite...

As is this niche in the wall (which I think leads to some luxury suites?)...

I'll try to snap some more details next time. I've got 3 more concerts to go on this season's program...three more visits to this wonderful theatre, at least.