Memorable Mother Daughter Getaway - part 5

Back at the old school house room, Emily and I took turns getting refreshed and dressed.  We rested under the fans spinning the conditioned air around us, as we sat on leather couches facing each other.  We let our hunger grow before driving 10 minutes to downtown Gruene.  Hopefully we could find parking and a table at the Gristmill Restaurant on a Sunday afternoon to eat some grub.

The hostess seated us right away on a wooden table with wooden benches overlooking the tree lined bank of the Guadalupe River.  It was a wonderful setting!  We had dabbled shade from and umbrellas protecting us from the afternoon sun, but the temperature was rising and our appetites were fading.  We drank water and ate their famous onion rings until our food arrived.  Fried food didn't settle so well on a hot day, so we ordered dessert to go, German chocolate cake and Jack Daniels Pecan pie. We would eat it later in the a/c, since the restaurant was not air conditioned.  How did the wait staff work in the heat of the summer?  Our server, Katie, said she drank a gallon of water a day.  I believe it! We promised each other to bring Daddy when it was cooler weather, he'd like the setting, vibe and the food.

When we got back to the bed and breakfast, we caught the ending ceremony of the FIFA World Cup.  It tok us a while to figure out which team was celebrating.  Then they announced Germany won!  What a coincidence, we were staying in an old German settlement.  How perfect!

Once we were comfy and cool again, we devoured our delicious desserts and watched the big screen tv located on the stage floor in the old classroom.  The modern media tool seemed incongruent with the 1800s style school room and blackboard that filled the wall behind it.  I sat there imagining the stories of the children and teachers who spent their days reading an writing in that very room so many years ago.

It was getting late, so we settled in for the night.  Full, rested, happy.  Looking forward to breakfast and visiting with Margy and the other guests...

We walked right into the stone house and found a family of three with a high school daughter in the morning, along with Margy and her cooks.  The food was waiting for us.  We had cheesy eggs, bacon, fruit, including half a mango with blackberries, toast and jam, juice and coffee.  As we sat, Margy introduced us to the family who were regular visitors.  We got to know them and visited for quite a while, enjoying the Houston family's stories and Margy's tales of the old days.  It felt like a home away from home.  It was lovely for me and Em sat quietly listening as she nibbled more bacon and eggs brought out fresh when we asked for more.

Emily and I were about to leave to pack and Margy invited us to see her room in the stone house.  She showed us her private quarters and let us into her heart a little more.  What a treasure she was, she made me miss my parent and grandparents!!  Our trip was winding down on a very sweet note!

We will definitely be back to find respite at the Kuebler Waldrip Haus!