Going Gruene!

Let me start by saying that at some point we decided to draw up a list of creative ideas we wanted to execute over the summer as a family. We found a huge piece of butcher paper, wrote "The Summer of Fun" at the top and started listing out anything and everything our heart's desired. It included hikes, picnics, helicopter rides, seeing a play, a concert, etc. One of items was "Visit local towns" and under it we listed about 10 possible places as suggested by "Day Trips from Austin", published by Insiders' Guide. (Great book by the way!)

The first town we decided to visit was Gruene (pronounced Green). It's about 20 minutes from the ranch and so Lisa, Piper and I made a girls day out of it.

I immediately learned that Gruene is very special. Not only does it have the OLDEST dance hall in ALL of Texas to claim as it's own - it is just beautiful, quaint, colorful and has tons of great shopping, history, photographic opportunities and well, it's just an overall joy.

First thing we did was EAT! The recommendation for the Gristmill came highly from my mother-in-law (to be) and so we immediately headed there. First of all, it's like a 4 story tree house inside, was established in the 70's and has so much charm and character - I felt like I had stepped into a Peter Pan's playhouse. I highly recommend it for the ambiance...and the potato skins are pretty darn delicious to boot!

Then we stepped into the Gruene Antique Company. This place had anything and EVERYTHING. I was in heaven and immediately was glad that my boyfriend hadn't come along - as I took my sweet time and looked, looked, looked! Vintage toys, jewelry, quilts, cabinets, chandeliers, paintings, tea sets, etc, etc - you name it. I made it a point to take a card with me as I most definitely will be back to pick some pieces up for my boutique, such as the vintage men's shaving bar/mirror - what a great perfume/lotion display case!

And that was just the beginning, shop after shop - great photo op after another. Not to mention to the The Guadalupe River, just a few minutes walk - where Piper got to dip her toes and splash around for the first time. What a great place, a family hang out, an antique junkies haven. You name it - Gruene is definitely on the top of my list. And for those of you coming to visit...I can't wait to show it to you!

Love, Kristina 

Boots MADE for walkin'!

In the small and charming village right outside of my mother-in-laws ranch is a gem that any boot lover would definitely get a kick out of, it's called the Wild West Store. If you are obsessed with boots, as I most definitely am...then ladies and gentlemen - this is the place for you. 

I cannot tell you how many times I have passed up fine jewelry from my man, for a pair of boots - Fiorentini & Baker, Frye, Prada and just recently a pair of knee high custom riding boots for Mother's Day. There is something magical about a pair of boots that fit and fit well. Doesn't really matter what you are wearing, boots always look good - heck boots with a wedding dress, I would even be tempted to try it, such is my passion. 

Well, this afternoon I discovered that this is my new favorite western vintage boot store.

The Wild West Store is owned by a lovely German lady, Ulli Johnston...a lady who is locally known as the "Boot Whisperer". It all started with 2 pairs of boots over 20 years ago she 

explained...a sort of personal collection at first, but now 17 years after owning her store - it's grown to over 500 pairs.

And this is a spectacular collection no doubt! 

All of her boots are authentic vintage boots, dating as far back as the 40's and no earlier than the 80's. She explains that even top of the line boot makers started going to China and India during the 90's and she won't have anything to do with that.

I asked her why she is known as the "Boot Whisperer" and she enthusiastically asked me to take my shoes off. I said sure, after having a look at my feet, my ankles, my calves...she disappeared into the back and pulled out a size 9 pair of boots that were from an exclusive Ralph Lauren collection during the 1970's. The client who had sold them to her, had hardly ever worn them and so they were in mint

condition. I didn't tell her I wear a size 10 and instead tried them on...and to my complete and utter surprise, they fit like a glove and I absolutely loved them. Boot Whisperer indeed!! I would not have chosen these boots, but the second I slipped them on, I knew we were fated to be. And at $295, the price was a definite steal.

She has customers from all over the world that have vacationed in Hill Country who even order via telephone, trusting her taste and suggestion of what would suit them. Just yesterday she explained a lady walked in and she said immediately: "red boots!!", with her strong German accent. The lady said: "Oh, no...I couldn't do red boots". Ulli disappeared once again, came out with red boots, the lady tried them on...and it was destined to be - she walked out in them.

Her prices range from $150 to over $2,000 a pair. But, I say, such is the price for boots that are MADE for walkin'.

Love, Kristina 

Wild West Store is located at 13709 Ranch Road 12 in 

Olde Town Plaza in Wimberely, Texas. Hours of operation 

are 10am to 5pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays by appointment 

only. For more information, call 512.847.1219 or 

visit the website at www.KoolBoots.com

Soco a.k.a South Congress

Back in February my boyfriend, the father of my beautiful baby daughter, RC - asked me if I wanted to go out to Texas to visit his mother. He asked me this question around 11am, by mid after noon - we were packing, by 5am the next day we were on the road. That's just the nature of how we do things...spontaneously.

Well, in retrospect - that one spontaneous, "yeah, that sounds like fun"...would turn into a life changing trip and the beginning of a whole new life adventure.

When we got to his mother's ranch, we were greeted with a loving "granny" who was so happy and willing to play babysitter to her newly born baby granddaughter. Considering she was not even 3 months old at the time, it was a welcome opportunity to go on a day date.

RC drove me into Austin...the nearest major city, determined to show me around where he had once lived. We did some sight seeing and then it hit him...he knew just where to take me...a little gem, a budding district called "Soco" or as the locals know it by "South Congress".

Well, it was love at first sight.

Imagine if you can a mixture of Los Feliz and Melrose, all rolled into this mile or so long bustling, yet not crowded, strip. The energy, the vibe - man I could just tell something exciting was happening here. And well, turns out - something is...

South Congress many moons ago was a shady part of town, just south of the State Capitol. I still don't have the entire history, but the basic gist is that a lot of Government officials used to get caught hanging out there...with their pants down....

Then about 10 years ago a revitalization project began and it's a completely different scene. Boutiques, vintage, high-end, new developments, a wealth of amazing little holes in the wall - each with their own personal touch and style, diners, cafes, you name it, they have it...

One of the things that I found charming were the vintage "silver bullet" trailers up and down the street that have been converted into cupcake stands, hot dog stands and good ole' fashion BBQ joints. This being no small business indeed...one of the cupcake trailers has blossomed into a nationwide business and was just featured in Forbes magazine. And I will attest, their red velvet cupcake was off the charts.

But I want to say this, that even amongst all this expansion...every single person I met, every place I went was real, down to earth and still had that "big hearted" Texas feel.

Well, there I was walking down the street and I just felt this sense of peace. The kind you feel when you receive a heartfelt hug or when you've just gone out of your way to do a good deed. And it was at the defining moment that I knew I was happy here, this place had changed me and as it turns out there was no going back.

And so my friends, my South Congress adventures began...

Love, Kristina