ESCAPE!!

Happy Belated Lord’s Day my friends…I spent the morning at worship, had Sunday dinner with my family, helped my husband try out our new bikes this afternoon, and spent the rest of my day playing "catch-up" at home and getting ready for another busy week ahead.  My weekend was topped off by a short-lived but WONDERFUL and much-needed rain shower here in Zig Zag!  THANKS GOD!!!

Last weekend my hubby and I decided to head for the hills to celebrate our 24^th wedding anniversary.  We made our getaway on Friday afternoon, and arrived in Fredericksburg, TX in time for dinner.  While there we enjoyed a delightfully relaxing weekend at a wonderful little B&B called Meusebach Creek.  

What an appropriate welcome!


The place was somewhat secluded and just far enough away from the hustle & bustle of life.  Whew...just what we needed!

Our little hideaway was close enough to town so that we could go in and enjoy some window shopping and a couple of meals at the wonderful restaurants there, yet far enough away from it all that we could truly relax and enjoy the blessing of God's creation. 


Meusebach Creek Farm - front porch

With its small (but fully equipped) kitchen, we had the wonderful option of just sleeping in and having leisurely breakfasts "at home".  We also enjoyed some simple dinners there while watching movies on the couch.

The back porch faced the sunrises (which were incredible), and the front porch faced the sunsets (also incredible).  

The back porch…

We got to sit out there and enjoy our morning devotions every day, and we were able to see lots of wildlife too…all kinds of birds (cardinals, hummingbirds, hawks, and MANY more), deer, a variety of insects (no bothersome ones though) and even an armadillo. 



One of the incredible sunsets from the front porch…GO GOD!




The morning and evening nature sounds were so relaxing and peaceful.  We have plenty of those available at home too, but sadly, we don’t often take the time to enjoy them!



Pretty nice for a weed huh?

The only thing that might have made the weekend better was some much needed rain.  So sad to see such a beautiful place so dry and parched (just like home)…however, there are still some tough beauties proving that God always gives us signs of his grace, even in the deserts of life.

Our hostess, Leola Mills, provided us with delicious home-baked breads, cookies and homemade jams throughout our stay, so I asked her permission to share some of her recipes with you all.  She graciously agreed, so I’m sharing these recipes as they came to me - without my usual adaptations…enjoy!

Homemade bread & jams…

Zucchini-Honey Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans

2 large zucchini

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1-1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup honey

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine first 5 ingredients; stir in pecans.  Shred enough zucchini to measure 2 cups.  Combine zucchini and remaining ingredients; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 9x5x3 inch loaf pans.  Bake at 350°F for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pans 10 minutes;  remove from pans, and let cool on wire racks.

Yield:  2 loaves.

(Leola noted that she uses smaller pans which makes more loaves.)

Leola's zucchini-honey bread…mmm, mmm good…

Banana Bread

1/2 cup shortening or butter

1-1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon soda in 4 Tablespoons buttermilk

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cups bananas, mashed

1 cups nuts, chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all together.  Pour in greased loaf pan.  Bake at 350°F for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Yield:  1 loaf

Another note from Leola:  “I like to sprinkle my loaf pans with sugar rather than flour and then sprinkle sugar on top of the mixture before baking.”

Special thanks to Leola for sharing her lovely place AND her delightful recipes with us!

If you’re ever looking for a place to stay in Fredericksburg…give Meusebach Creek Farm B&B a try.  You’ll be glad you did!  And if you do, don’t forget to tell Leola that Faithy sent you!

Blessings,
--Faithy