what beauty goes unnoticed
Please enjoy photos of a peaceful winter sojourn to the beach. The weather was sunny and mild with a morning shrouded in mist thrown in for good measure. Happy New Year everyone!
Sitting at the bar at The Lighthouse Inn in Rockport sipping a luscious Chocolate Martini, I happened into a conversation with two San Antonians who were determined to try Crab-N, a restaurant that several friends had recommended. I had some fresh, juicy oysters at the Boiling Pot that evening with a nice hot shrimp gumbo but I was ready to enjoy the inside scoop on locally preferred seafood that came in options other than fried, not that I object to the occasional crispy treat.
Although I checked a map for the Crab-N, I didn’t see it until I was headed back to Rockport from Port A on the south side of Hwy 35. They are open for dinner from 5:00-8:30 or 9:00, depending on the day. I arrived around 5:30 and by 6:30 the main dining room was full. I immediately noticed the music -gypsy guitar- melodic but not overbearing, a nice compliment to the white linens and fresh flowers. My server, Kim, was knowledgeable about which fish was fresh, and what was locally farmed, and gave good suggestions about the various entrees, wines and salads. When I return I’ll make a meal of the appetizers and try the Crab and Shrimp Bisque, but I only had eyes for the Lump Crab Meat (sauteed) with Crab and and Shrimp Butter cream Sauce. Sound decadent? Ahhhhh. It was surprisingly light and delicately delicious, nicely offset by a side of long grain and wild rice with roasted pecans. Crab and shrimp morsels languished seductively in the butter cream sauce while the rice had great definition and texture with a decidedly nutty flavor. This luscious main course was preceded by a very nice salad of fresh greens with homemade blue cheese dressing. Fresh mixed greens might be more of a rarity than the hunka burning crab love, a welcome relief from southern fried cuisine.
I heartily recommend a stop at the Crab-N if you are staying in Port Aransas or in Rockport/Fulton. The menu is posted on their facebook page, linked above and offers tantalizing crab, fish and meat options (for those unfortunates who eschew bottom feeding). There are vegetarian plates at the Crab-N and a plethora of gluten-free options as well. My trip to Rockport would have been much less satisfying without the fresh oyster and crab delights I enjoyed, all locally caught. While Kim was kind enough to serve me a glass and 1/2 of Sauvignon Blanc, I spied a full bar just around the corner. I was too full for dessert, but word is the key lime pie is worth leaving room for.
I love winter trips to the beach, the quieter the better and this December proved to be no exception. I’ve taken to staying in Rockport on the bay, which attracts many birds and not the party crowd that Port Aransas sometimes does. Of course, that means I don’t get to hear the ocean waves crashing off my balcony, but sauntering a few miles down the road to the ferry is no big whoop. The sound of the waves, their incessant ebb and flow speaks to the most essential human experience: simply being in the vastness of time and space. We are reminded of our status as drops in the big bucket of life. Of course the ocean changes, as does the earth, but it remains the primal abyss, the womb from which we have all crawled onto the land.
Who does not identify with the little Sanderling below, a small bird facing the challenge of waiting for random tidbits to wash ashore? Certainly, if time is the cosmic ocean, then much of our lives are spent running around looking for these moments of discovery, of existential nourishment.
May we find peace in the ebb and flow of whimsy, in the depth and breadth of an ocean of time and space we can never fully apprehend or elude. Spending a few minutes with a little bird might be just the thing to ward off the demons of discontent and bring the gift of humility into our hearts.
I’ve spoken to a number of people who suffer from holiday fatigue, worn out by the demands of our season of giving. 
What has traditionally been a time of peace, reflection and honoring the shift from longest night to brighter days is now über LED lit. The story of the holy family finding refuge in a stable and the birth of a baby who would be the embodiment of God is heartwarming, evoking rich, nostalgic memories. Growing up in Heidelberg, Germany during Weihnachten contextualized the celebration of Christmas Eve within the tradition of Advent. The preparation, a month in advance with ceremonial lighting of candles, fasting and stories leading up to the celebration of the birth of Jesus gave Christ Mass substance and historical and spiritual flavor. Gifts were part of the festivities but the mystery of the incarnation thrummed in the background. While I didn’t spend much time thinking about it as a child, the scent of frankincense and flickering candles cast a spell that hymns and priestly incantations wove like a warm blanket to ward off winter’s chill.
Now we are not young, our myths are in tatters but a germ of kindness, of love remains. As Eric Fromm says, the means (consumer production) has become the end. Armand Baker has posted a lecture on Fromm’s The Art of Loving which affirms love in life rather than in possession. The theme of mature love will be explored more fully in another post.
In researching advent traditions I discovered The Advent Conspiracy and made contributions in the name of my family members to people none of us know who need fresh water. Living water, another Christ motif. I am reminded that this is the season of endings and beginnings. Remembering loved ones in holiday’s past 
can bring love and sorrow together. If we are blessed to have the experience of a loving family, our gratitude can lay the foundation for hope, health and the capacity for innocence throughout our lives. The inner baby remains intact.
Having just watched Ricky Bobby in Taledega Nights praying to the baby Jesus, the solution seems simple. This is the time for us to be quiet, to listen for the return of the light and to keep our inner baby happy. As we celebrate the child who fulfilled a promise of spiritual renewal, so should we take the time and care to love the baby in each of us. Just as fresh water is a gift to quench the thirst of those who need it, loving the baby in every pair of eyes we meet, be they human or animal can generate spiritual warmth in this chilly holiday season. Wishing you all the peace and happiness your baby self can enjoy.
Tis the season for errands galore but who has time to work, shop and cook? Then there are the inevitable gift returns, holiday meals and care for children, pets and parents. Calgon, take me away! I don’t know what happened to Calgon, but in its stead, let Wifebiz offer you the support you need during the holidays and beyond. “What can Wifebiz do for me?” you ask. These days, who has time to cook nutritional meals? By the time you finish making a shopping list, grocery shopping looms, wedged between small grabs at sanity like yoga or working out. What if someone could put it together for you?
As I perused the web looking for wifely material, I discovered that nutrition has come a long way from the 70’s. Give babyboomers props for surviving:
The Gallery of Regrettable Food
and from the Institute of Official Cheer we are reminded of some of the more psychologically compromising effects of interior design, correctly identified as Interior Desecration in this lovely site. I just can’t stop myself now, how about making a fashion statement? See what you missed? Is it any wonder we turned to drugs?
Wifebiz consultants offer value pack errand services but are not offering fashion consulting or interior decorating tips at this time. Take a moment and “like” Wifebiz on Facebook. And consider giving yourself or a loved one the gift with no calories, a gift that makes everyone’s life a little easier: Call or email Paloma or Amy at: 512-222-WIFE (9433) mail@wifebiz.com. You’ll be glad you did.
Rain, still a novelty in Austin, sauntering around UT taking random shots.
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
Drink up baby and be on your way
Took all summer and into the fall
You must have been having a ball
Heading south before the frost
Hurry my friend and don’t get lost
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
Drink up baby and be on your way
That flower’s been waiting for you
Wondering if you’d ever come through
So glad you stopped to get refueled
Come back again baby after winter’s cool
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
There’s a butterfly on my milkweed
Drink up baby and be on your way
We’ll be looking for you some fine spring day.
This year’s East Austin Studio Tour was not as ambitious as last year’s tour. I’ve seen David Leonard‘s work at the Davis Gallery. Jennifer Balkan shows at the Wally Workman Gallery. Shown below are studio photos from this year’s short saunter. One side benefit was discovering Texas Coffee Traders on east 4th. The tour continues through Sunday, November 20th.
Contrary to popular belief, there is water in the hill country. Colleen and I had to go to Hunt, Texas to find it, but Autumn cypress foliage rivals northern forests for flaming reds, orange and shades of gold and rust. Taking a break from the routine, 11 brings an opportunity for balance, recalibration and strength. For fun, we went to Stonehenge II (now in Ingram, Texas) to stand among the stones and release the old, walking counterclockwise around the circle, then ushering in a new energetic cycle by strolling clockwise among the stones. The creeks and rivers offered peace – lush grasses and languid flowing waters the dry beds closer to town have lost in the drought. Ingram has a few shops, including the Copper Cactus, whose humorous mural is featured below. If you are looking for a good German meal in Fredericksburg, I recommend Friedhelm’s Bavarian Restaurant. Schnitzel, ja voll! All in all a lovely day touring the gently rolling hills and dales of Central Texas. May peace remain and pass on to the warriors who have gone before us this Veteran’s Day 2011.
Tasty tour of Castroville, the charming Alsatian village with the ever enticing Old Alsatian Steakhouse and Ristorante. Tito’s tip of the day: 2010 Victor Hugo Viognier from the Paseo Robles region (yelp reviews), paired with flounder – resonant! The old world charm of this unique village is understated enough to provide a welcome reprieve from the standard issue box houses that line the I-35, 410, I-10 corridors. Historically strategic during the civil and Indian wars, the city has kept many historical dwellings intact along with the French/German (Alsace) heritage that distinguishes it from the Germanic dorf of Fredricksburg.
The McNay Art Museum in San Antonio took us back into the tine of Japonisme and its influence on Art Nouveau and Impressionism in Europe in the 1890’s and 1900’s with drawings of Mary Cassatt featured. While no pictures of the exhibit were allowed, I include a few whimsical shots below.
