Usalola’s Weblog

Christmas was coming upon us fast, and we hadn’t yet decided where to plant ourselves. After some research, it was going to be Texas – like it or not.  With a state that is 1,200 miles ACROSS, we had no choice. First, though, we rambled through Alabama and sniffed out some local cheese. We bought some habanero cheddar, perdido (hard cheese with ash-killer!), black peppercorn cheese and a pungent blue. Couldn’t pony up for those deep-fried dill pickles, though I was tempted…

We quickly made our way into Louisiana, and headed towards New Orleans. It was so hard to still see so much devastation driving into town. It still looks like a bomb went off in many areas. The heart of the French Quarter is up and ready for the holidays, and we quickly settled in at Napoleon’s with a bloody mary with okra pickles. Yum..

We ducked in and out of galleries and shops, bought some “mississippi mud” and had a relaxing dinner at NOLA- one of Emeril’s digs.

Glenn in that nawlins' holiday mood

Texas is so vast and flat, we were anxious to get to our holiday destination – Hill Country. But first, we bypassed the Houston sprawl and drove into San Antonio to check out the Riverwalk, the Alamo and have a Shiner beer with some BBQ.

holiday cheer on the Riverwalk!

The Alamo

We arrived at the Escondida resort in Medina and took in the fresh air and peacefulness. Christy is the owner, and she really made our stay enjoyable with our own stocking full of goodies, a Christmas eve buffet, a Christmas morning country breakfast, and a Christmas day feast. After all that food we needed to hike it off in the neighboring hills.

our Christmas hide-a-way

a Christmas Eve feast

We really feel blessed to be enjoying such a relaxing Christmas, and even though we aren’t surrounded by our loved ones, we are thinking of all of you and wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Holiday hugs and kisses to all!!