Austin ModHouse

Wimberley:  I found an aligator lizard inside the old house.  I called everybody for a look.  it must've thought we were a threat, it ran straight between my legs and over #2 son's feet.  he freaked out just a bit.  not the daughter, she patiently stalked it until she could coax it into her grip. 

she also managed to catch a skink lizard. 

kat found one of those giant orange, yellow and brown centipedes.  that sent her running and screaming.  she also found a scorpion (I killed it), and a snake. 

kat bought a bunch of flowers.  she had forgotten that deer LOVE to eat flower salad.  she regrouped and came up with a new plan.  hopefully this setting will protect them. 

I finished my in table wine/beverage bucket.  all sealed and ready for ice and bottles.

HAPPY HOUR!

we purchased some cheese from a local (austin) shop.  we were looking for the artisan alpine cheeses we love.  this cheese from GA is supposed to be in the same style....  but it lacked the punch in the face flavor (stink) we've grown to love from Rolf Beeler cheeses.

kat and I enjoyed the last of the Rio Star Ruby Red (texas) grapefruit.  she made the kids some age appropriate beverages with some blueberry syrup and lime. 

CHEERS!

I don't really like boilled eggs... I don't really like pickled eggs... but I DO love these spicy pickled quail eggs, QUEGGS!  SO GOOD!

the daughter made a few of these pretty snack bites from toast, raw honeycomb, cherry tomato and salt. 

#1 son contributed some juice from of his beloved fire roasted mushrooms.  she said it was really good.   

we enjoyed beef tenderloin (sous vide prepared and grilled over mequite) with moody blue cheese and mushroom gravy. 

we lined up the outdoor chairs before we left.  hoping to protect the new plants from the deer. 

kat and I had reservations at the salty sow for restaurant week.  we really liked their craft cocktails and I LOVED the oyster and boudin balls. 

we had an issue with the salad.  kat didn't really care for the big cheese cubes.  we checked the menu and noted the salad was supposed to have Point Reyes Blue Cheese.  I tried a cube it it tasted more like an irish cheddar.  then we noticed the salad was missing the carrot, and the bacon lardons, and the dressing was not as described.  I flagged down our server, she checked with the kitchen and confirmed that we were served "yesterday's salad".  she explained the error like this "it's easy to make that mistake when you have a different salad each day.  but at least this one is good too!".  she somehow glazed over the fact that kat had pushed all the cheese cubes to the side. 

I'm not sure how serving food other than what was ordered became acceptable.  still, we liked salty sow!  I looked forward to going back to enjoy the happy hour.  kat enjoyed the mixed grill, it was a huge plate of meat.  however, about 5 hours later, she was less than impressed (food poisoning).  so sorry salty sow.