Now that River House is well into Christmas, I turn my attention to my home - yikes - " the cobbler's children . . . !"  After looking the holiday décor in my retail store for several weeks, it is hard to think about more.  But grandchildren are coming and it's time to persevere! 

In an effort to rekindle enthusiasm for decorating at home, my mind wanders back to the family gatherings of my childhood.  I recall my childish awe:  the meaning of Christmas, heartfelt and warm, which still enfolds me every Christmas season. The beauty of it all was splendid  to my young eye!  Decorating began one week before Christmas, and the metamorphosis was astounding; I could not believe that so much effort went into something just for us!  Then there was the food: chili, spice round, divinity and fudge; what could possibly be more wonderful?

Now I know that to transform one's home into Christmas can be done with less fanfare than I imagined. Wreaths, tree, ribbon, and stockings are musts.  Keep everything else simple.  In your main room, select one color (red,white, gold, silver, copper, green) to mix lightly Into your regular décor.  Tie ribbon on candlesticks and tray handles - just enough to look festive.  It does not take much to transform the room when a beautiful tree is the focal point. 

Make a good pot of chili (put chopped garnishes in baggies) and some spicy pork posole a few days before Christmas, and save it at the back of the fridge.  After the tree, Christmas morning, a big breakfast of eggs, posole, sweet rolls and fruit is appreciated by all; good coffee and hot chocolate rule. Lounge out for the rest of the day, having chili and rice sometime midday, and enjoy all things Christmas!

PS - We are very grateful for our loyal patrons and friends, from near and far, who have called and/or come to shop with us at River House this year.  Thank you!

Summer is the time when many of us are apt to cut loose and seek out a little adventure.   I am no exception, and this summer’s adventures were full of surprises!   First, I found that I was scheduled to be half way around the world in Indonesia; yep, Jakarta, two days after the most recent hotel bombings.  I know it sounds crazy, but my youngest son (26), his sweetheart and friend were waiting for me- so what’s a mama to do?  My second surprise came at 3:30am at the San Antonio airport when I found out that the airline had not received payment from Expedia- so after a grueling bunch of phone calls and a day late, I began my journey.  Not knowing how we would be received on Java, my group took sensible precautions and stayed in locally owned, modest hotels. We were pleasantly surprised by how genuinely gracious the people were, Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist alike, and how clean and welcoming the hotels and public areas were everywhere we went. The bazaars, great (insanely inexpensive) savory meals, and the beaches of Bali made for a delightful adventure in spite of our initial concerns.

Back in Texas, I squired my granddaughters to the annual Wynne Family Reunion held at a lodge on Lake Buchanan.  On our first evening there, while milling around with her cousins and listening to a Cowboy Poet perform, granddaughter Kelsey (9) was struck by a rattle snake. Yes, bitten by a rattle snake, right there on the patio with 40 other people.  We raced to the hospital where anti venom was administered, and were medivaced to Dell Children’s in Austin.  Kelsey is a rock star patient, making a full recovery . OK, terrorist bombings, and rattle snake bites make for a bit too much adventure, even for me!

 Being raised a good Texas Woman, I believe that it is an honor to welcome guests into my home for a drink or a meal. However, many of us, who have moved from bustling big cities where entertaining was a more formal proposition, may now find ourselves on shaky ground when faced with the prospect of hosting friends in our new homes.  "My house is not.......", " I want to wait until I have............",  " I am not confident enough about my cooking".  Do any of these fears sound familiar?
 
Living in the Texas Hill Country affords us a new perspective on entertaining at home.  First of all, having friends in for a meal is a way of life here- not a rare opportunity to be scrutinized.  The purpose for getting together is friendship and conversation.  I have attended a small dinner around the kitchen table, innumerable tasty potlucks, picnics, drinks on the porch, dessert and coffee, dinner for anywhere from 3 to 25 people, seated and buffet.   I even had the pleasure of going to a party where you had to swim across the creek to the cooler for a soda or a glass of wine! 

The most important rule of hosting in one's home is to keep it simple (by your own standards).  Start with something familiar: make a beautiful cheese tray with pears, salty nuts and dried apricots for drinks on your porch; prepare an old family favorite served with a salad and a Wimberley Pie Co pie a la mode; put something beautiful on your buffet or new napkins on the table- something small that pleases you.   I find that the setting, simple or grand, is wonderfully satisfying when the host is in his/her comfort zone. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved!

Don't forget to check out all the fab items at our new webstore, RiverHouseWimberley.com!


www.RiverHouseWimberley.com

Current events have caused a great deal of concern and uncertainty across our country.  The airwaves are swollen with yea and nay sayers, pitching their opinions in loud high pitched voices.  With two wars and the financial debacle, even the steeliest nerves get rattled.  We cannot  let the uncertainty of our times rule the day, freezing us in our tracks; it is time for action!

Let yourself be gratified.  Turn off the tube! Life gives us many tasks that are MUSTS, so take care of these first, and quickly. Keep things simple and forward moving.   Put the things that you like to do least at the top of the list, dispatch them with haste and feel great about it.  Tidy up the house, file those papers away and move on. Success is the ticket!

Let yourself be relied upon.  Offer a few hours each week to others.  We are told that "getting out of ourselves" by helping others can bring great rewards, and I agree.  Our community offers myriad opportunities to keep things moving In a positive direction.  Helping at The Village Store on behalf of  the EmilyAnn, for example, generates real dollars to the heart of our community.  Sign up, suit up and show up.   Just do it - every little bit truly does help.

Let yourself go for a dream with gusto! I am watching for the sun to show me the perfect spot for a kitchen garden- a small plot on which to build  small raised gardens (and I mean a few feet off of the ground) that I can fence against the deer.  I have been thinking about this for a couple of years, but somehow right now seems perfect. A little victory garden, something doable, and I do LOVE having fresh herbs and vegetables at my fingertips.   

What actions would make your heart sing?  Just do it - we'll all be glad we did!

Current events have caused a great deal of concern and uncertainty across our country.  The airwaves are swollen with yea and nay sayers,  pitching their opinions in octaves high and low.  With two wars and the financial debacle, even the steeliest nerves get rattled.  We cannot  let the uncertainty of our times rule the day, freezing us in our tracks; it is time for action! Let yourself be gratified.  Life gives us many tasks that are MUSTS, so take care of those first, and quickly. Keep things simple and forward moving.   Put the things that you like to do least at the top of the list, dispatch them with haste and feel great about it.  Tidy up the house,  file those papers away and move on.

Success is the ticket!

Let yourself be relied upon.  Offer a couple of hours per week to others.  We are told that "getting out of ourselves" by helping others can bring great rewards, and I agree.  Our community offers myriad opportunities to keep things moving In a positive direction.  Helping at The Village Store on behalf of  the EmilyAnn, for example, generates real dollars to the heart of our community.  Sign up, suit up and show up.   Just do it - every little bit really does help.

Let yourself go for a dream with gusto! I am watching for the sun to show me the perfect spot for a kitchen garden- a small plot on which to build  small raised gardens (and I mean a few feet off of the ground) that I can fence against the deer.  I have been thinking about this for a couple of years, but somehow right now seems perfect. A little victory garden, something doable, and I do LOVE having fresh herbs and vegetables at my fingertips.    What would make your heart sing- just do it - we'll all be glad we did!

About this time, things around the house are usually looking a bit dull, and we are getting restless.  It is time to count our lucky stars and designate our home as the place we most love to be! A flurry of cleaning is just what the doctor ordered to lighten and brighten our homes and our spirits. We need to give in to Spring fever with gusto and let those creative juices flow!   Scoop out the fireplace and arrange some good-looking candles or something leafy green in the hearth. Replace your winter comforter with something light and airy.  Step back and divine a fresh look for your most frequented rooms. Shuffle your décor around a bit and add a textile with refreshing spring color (a runner , a throw or a couple of pillow cases?); it is amazing how much the eye loves even the smallest changes.  Ain't it great!

Any excuse to be outside will do!  Take your spring cleaning out to the porch to give your walls and screens a good going over. Consider what can be affordably upgraded; fix, plump and get ready for company!  "Plant, plant, plant" is what this wonderful season yells at us, but we need to remember to plan our gardens with this draught in mind.  Mulch really well this year, and set in a few small groupings of annuals that can easily be watered by hand.  We need only enough to add a few splashes of color as we await the glory of our native plants and wildflowers.

While the weather is still cool, have a few friends over to enjoy your freshened environs.  Serve wine and spiced tea with a fresh leek soup, green salad, garlic bread and a spicy turkey/vegetable lasagna. Have decaf and  warm brownies with a scoop of vanilla to top off the evening. Enjoy the great blessing of being at home!

With anxieties brought to bear by the recent economic shift, we need to be diligent about nurturing our spirits and celebrating love wherever we can!  Valentine's Day just reminded us of how many good friends warm our lives, invigorate our minds, and welcome us so willingly into their homes.  But it does not have to end there.  With plenty of uncertainty surrounding us, we need to take time to turn off the TV, get out of our chairs, and love a little!

Schedule fun with determination.  It doesn't have to be expensive, and it's good for our souls.  If you stay home too much - go out.  Our spirits and minds are nurtured by the human connection.  Accept invitations. Find a neighbor to walk with a couple of days a week or go out for mini adventures in our fabulous Hill Country parks.  Invite a friend to walk the shops with you or to see a movie.  Clifford's Wine Bar on RR 12, the vineyards, and other local establishments offer cool movies, classes and other affordable events that are well worth checking out.

Of course, sharing one's home can be seen as the ultimate valentine, givable year round!  Living here in the glorious Texas Hill Country, we have more opportunity than most to extend this gift and nurture the spirits of others.  Keep hosting as simple as you like. Come for coffee and pie, a fire and some fun.  How about pulling out that Risk game, or sorting out those poker chips on the spur of the moment?    A simple home cooked meal is always wonderful and much appreciated.  For me, Book Club where we rotate homes, eat, laugh and exchange ideas is invaluable.

Whatever expression of camaraderie you chose is sure to spark the spirit, ward off demons and make you happy.  What is not to love?

A dilemma that many of us face is what to do with good, possibly valuable belongings when they do not fit our life styles, or cease to please us aesthetically. I cannot count the number of people I know who have been stumped by this issue, Sometimes there is a full set of china stashed away, furniture in storage, silver in the attic, etc, etc.  We struggle with this when grandparents and parents pass away, when we move, and when we decide that we no longer want to shuffle or store certain items.  What to do?

I find that often the hardest thing for me to come to terms is my own sentimentality.  I make associations made between inanimate objects and the people I love. However, sometimes thoughts about the origins or quality of the items can make me feel guilty when I store them indefinitely, or think about giving them away:  "this box was my grandmother's (one of many)," or "I was with so-and-so when we bought this. . ."  The idea that we are disrespectful if we do not keep all sentimental items can doom wonderful treasures to dark storage shelves or, worse yet, non-acclimatized storage units.  Bring those things out into the light of day! Ask, "DO I TRULY ENJOY THIS?"

Keep it simple.  If the answer is no, we can find someone who will! 

There are good methods for sending good items on their way. The easiest, and best, in many cases, is to gift the items to family, friends or to a worthy charity.  If the value of the item is monetary, place it in a consignment store, an auction house, on EBay or in a garage sale.  It is true that we may need to store a few things for the child who loves that particular piece, but letting the rest go, to be enjoyed by others feels pretty darn great!

The end of summer is ripe with colorful tales.  We gather together to regale one another with stories of our exciting travels, news of our children and perhaps a new perspective or two.  I love it!  Even the most devout Hill Country dweller tends to venture away during the heat of the summer, and in doing so, is likely to broaden a point of view, or gain some new insight to be shared among friends.  It is so much fun to hear of family, friends and distant travels.  Sometimes there are gifts and goodies to taste or display as well!

This summer, I had the great pleasure of traveling to Oaxaca, Mexico on a buying trip with my good friend, and store manager, Llea Norboge.  We were delighted to go from severe Texas heat and draught to a high mountain valley full of flowers and showers, where temperatures ranged from 65-85 degrees.  Just like here, there were wonderful, friendly people, talented musicians, and beautiful landscapes.  We stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast in laceName>OaxacalaceName> laceType>CitylaceType>, and wandered into the city Zocalo for dinner and a variety of surprise concerts and celebrations.  Just like here, there were talented artists and fabulous crafts to behold.  

We had the pleasure of visiting private workshops in nearby towns, to observe carving, weaving, embroidering and potting.  While there, it was fascinating talking briefly to Oaxacan friends about local, national and International politics, and, just like here, opinions varied pretty widely.   The overall experience provided colorful memories and much food for thought.  At the end of the trip, we were loaded down with pounds gained from extraordinary Oaxacan food, delighted with the great textiles that we procured, and armed with a treasure trove of stories and ideas to share with our families and friends.  All in all, “getting out of Dodge” makes for good times, active minds and wonderful conversation!