Busy Traveler

Benini Sculpture Ranch, Johnson City, TX

On a beautiful Friday in January, Melissa F and I decided to check out the Benini Sculpture Ranch. Formerly LBJ’s hunting camp, the Sculpture Ranch and Foundation moved here in 1999 from Florida.

We were expecting a short stroll with a dozen or so of the artist’s sculptures on display. Boy, were we wrong! Set on 140 acres outside of Johnson City, at least 60 sculptures by Benini and other contemporary artists were displayed among the hills and live oaks. 

 

Scott Sustek (?) figure

   

  Gemini's Song, Peter Mangan

Our neighbor, Warren Cullar, has three sculptures there…which I didn’t realize until I read through the listing.

(left to right) Easter Island, Pharoah's Treasure, Spirit Totem, Warren Cullar

The Studio building, a quonset hut, housed exhibits of Benini’s 80s-era paintings, small sculptures, and rotating exhibits of other artists.

We walked along the 1-1/2 mile path, marveling at the variety of sculptures.

 
Commedia dell’Arte series, Marshall Cunningham

The many kinetic sculptures by LaPaso were fascinating, especially when a breeze caught the copper cups and starting parts spinning. Our favorites included glass pieces that glowed in the sunlight.

  
 

We certainly didn’t understand many of the pieces, but they were fascinating. In particular, the ropes installation was intriguing.

Phantom Hill, Robert McConaughy 

But our favorite was the Mother Tree. It’s nice to see they have a sense of humor around there.

 

We walked up the steep incline to the artist’s home, which used to be LBJ’s camping lodge. Benini offered us a ride, but we passed. The home has an amazing 360-degree view and is, of course, surrounded by sculptures.

I think the most special part of this collection is how carefully it’s been sited to complement the beautiful landscape. Even the birds agree. Can you see the nest inside the chest of this figure?

Untitled, Bob Fowler

The Sculpture Ranch is amazing and inspiring. I highly recommend you check it out.

http://www.sculptureranch.com

Another sculpture ranch close by to check out:

Eyfells and Eyfells Foundation
www.eyfellsandeyfells.com

 

Article on Spicewood, Texas

Check out my article on Spicewood in the November issue of austinwoman Magazine!
http://www.austinwomanmagazine.com/Articles/2010/11_NOV/74_Weekend.html

Wildflower Show, vol. 2: West on 1431

On our way to review a restaurant in Marble Falls, Phyllis and I came upon this field of wildflowers.

We hopped out of the car and started snapping!

 

The sky was gray and rain threatened, so the colors were vibrant.

A short distance later, we spied these bluebonnets along a creek. I don't think I've ever seen them in a wet area.

Please excuse me as I daydream...

Spicewood Vineyards, Spicewood, TX

If you are a good navigator, check out this laid-back Central Texas winery. It lies off Highway 71 W on County Road 409. When I visited, the signage was almost non-existent, so make sure you check the website for directions.

Bring a picnic lunch (and the family/canines) and enjoy the scenery from the shaded pavilion. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere idyllic. It gets even more idyllic when you realize you can taste seven of their wines for $2. They are known primarily for their Chardonnays, but you be the judge.

They've recently added a beautiful event center where they host concerts. It looks to me like it would be a wonderful place to hear a concert. The line-up is primarily classical and acoustic. It is available for weddings and other get-togethers and would be a perfect gathering spot for a group.

 

1419 Burnet County Road 409
Spicewood Texas 78669
830.693.5328
http://www.spicewoodvineyards.com/

Ilsa’s Kitchen, Spicewood, TX

This Bavarian restaurant opened in an ill-fated location in December. So far, it doesn’t seem to be doing much of a dinner business and that’s a shame. Everything we ordered was fantastic, including the German potato salad, the sauerkraut, and even the side of veggies. The star was Kaese Spaetzle, a huge helping of egg noodles, cheese, and onions (bacon optional)—basically German macaroni and cheese.

I’ve heard the weekend brunch selection is out of this world and I plan to check it out very soon. If you’re on the way to the lake or other recreation in the area, please stop by and keep this gem in business!

 

20700 State Highway 71 W
Spicewood, TX 78669
512.494.4270

http://www.ilsaskitchen.com/

Luxury on the Lake

My dear friends own this gorgeous place on Lake Travis and you can rent it!

Stone House Lodge on Lake Travis

• Sleeps up to 15
• Vanishing edge pool, hot tub, paddle boat, canoe
• Home theater room, game room, workout room

It's a dream! 

http://www.stonehouselodgeonlaketravis.com/

And I love that they are using one of my photos on the site:

Traveling again

After a hiatus for the holidays and bad weather, I'm on the road again. I will be focusing on the Texas Hill Country in the Marble Falls/Spicewood area. Let's see, how do we know we're in Texas?

Beer, bait, and ammo. What else do you need? Well, maybe hardware to enhance the entrance to your ranch.

 

Restaurant Review: Thyme and Dough, Dripping Springs, TX

 

This cute little place is the perfect spot for breakfast or lunch on your way to the Hill Country. It’s located a block west of the intersection of Highways 12 and 290.

Order at the counter and eat on the shaded porch while surveying the attached plant nursery.

Our food was fabulous:

• The Texas two-step chicken sandwich is a special on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
• The fruit and chicken tango is a chicken salad with fruit, pecans, and cilantro. Get it as a salad or a sandwich.
• The tuna salad was fresh and tasty.

 

www.thymeanddough.com

 

Viewing Bats: Old Tunnel

For decades before the 1910s, towns in the Hill Country built railroad spurs between farming areas and commerce centers to get the harvest to market. Several attempts to construct a line between Kerrville and Fredericksburg failed because of the difficulty in laying track over the “Big Hill” that separates the Pedernales River watershed from that of the Guadalupe River.

Finally, in 1912, sufficient funds were raised from local businessmen to bore a tunnel through the Big Hill and complete the railroad connection.

From the TPWD website:

The tunnel was to be a straight bore through the "Big Hill" about 920 feet and the material to be removed was estimated at 14,222 cubic yards. Work began simultaneously at both ends. The labor was performed with blasting powder for the solid portions of the rock and with many shovels, picks, scrapers, and narrow gauge dump cars to haul the material out. Work was a 24-hour day, split into three shifts. Late April saw the passage reaching about 90 feet in. A report of May 24 stated that the depth was now 450 feet, so a month's worth of work produced phenomenal results. Track laying from the Junction was under way and it was two miles along from there in March.

When work began on the north end of the tunnel it was necessary to dig a cut 500 feet long and 40 feet deep up to the entrance. This made it difficult to remove debris from the bottom of this cut. This problem was solved by erecting a derrick on the mouth of the tunnel which would lift small railcars to the top and dump them out on the sides of the cut…On the fourth of July it was estimated 89 feet of digging remained and on the 15th the two ends broke through. The engineers' calculations were so accurate that there were no more than a few inches difference between the two bores.

Finally, in 1913, the first train made the trip, with appropriate celebration. By the 1940s, however, truck and automobile traffic made the line obsolete and it was sold.

Mexican Freetail and Cave myotis bats began roosting in the abandoned tunnel. In 1991, Texas Parks and Wildlife acquired the land and designated it as a Wildlife Management Area.

Between May and October, visitors can sit on bleachers and watch the 3 million bats emerge at dusk, a process which takes five minutes. Wildlife experts provide background information and answer questions.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=17

Copyright 2008 Beth Schrader

Kerrville-Schreiner Park

This park straddles Texas 173 from the banks of the Guadalupe River to the nearby hills. It began as a city park built by the CCC in the 1930s, was deeded to the State of Texas upon completion, then transferred back to the city of Kerrville in 2004.

The beachfront is a wonderful place to cool off or fish. Kayaks, canoes, and floats are available to rent. A nice playground will be appealing to the little ones when they tire of swimming. The hiking and biking trails are relatively short, varying from flat to steep.

There are many camping sites available, with and without hookups, cabins, and an air conditioned group dining hall that can be reserved.
On Sunday mid-day, the park was quiet. This would be a wonderful place to spend a weekend.

http://www.kerrville.org/index.asp?NID=318

Copyright 2008 Beth Schrader

Restaurant Review: River's Edge, Kerrville

The River’s Edge ("A Tuscan Grille") perches over the Guadalupe River in Kerrville. After you navigate the confusing entry, settle in for a gorgeous view and delicious meal. The chef, Blake Pickett, is friendly, but very serious about food and wine.

Because the restaurant boasts of the only all-Italian wine list in the Hill Country, I was lost. In Tuscany, Pat and I drank the house wine at all restaurants and were never disappointed. I have no idea which Italian varietals have which characteristics. Chef Blake took our orders, and then suggested a Ripasso Superiore wine.

Traditional Ripasso wines are produced by re-fermenting Valpolicella wines over spent Amarone grapes. This technique imparts the big-bodied, low-acid flavor of the Amarone to a young wine for a reasonable price. The Ripasso Superiore ferments the Ripasso wine a third time over dried grapes, producing a luscious, colorful wine.

The Ripasso Superiore perfectly complimented our selections. We started with a delightful grilled Romaine salad. Thanks, Michelle, for introducing me to the concept of grilled salad!

Janet ordered what turned out to be the largest helping of veal scaloppini we’ve ever seen. It was delicious served with pesto spaghetti. Chris’s pancetta-wrapped scallops looked and smelled superb. They were served over capellini with roasted tomatoes and spinach. I might have to order that next time!

I’m not a big eater, and asked the chef for a recommendation. He immediately suggested the sea bass. The small filet was moistened with a light butter sauce, served alongside wilted spinach with tomato and the best gnocchi I’ve ever eaten. Chef Blake says that it’s the pan frying that makes the gnocchi crispy on the outside, instead of the mushy mess it usually is. I may be a light eater, but I love decadent dishes!

For dessert, we shared an order of cantaloupe and candied ginger panna cotta. It was light and just right for a summer evening. The waitress says the best dessert is the pear poached in port (try saying that ten times!) and to always ask for it to see if it’s offered that day.

I hope to check out the roof-top bar next time I’m in Kerrville.

This restaurant provides a lovely setting, outstanding food and drink, and a friendly wait staff and chef. What more could you want? I give it four stars.

River’s Edge, a Tuscan Grille
1011 Guadalupe St.
Kerrville, TX
830-895-1169

http://www.riversedgetuscangrille.com/About.htm

Copyright 2008 Beth Schrader