Now that the master bathroom remodel is done, and the feast is behind us, we took a little time away to go out into the hill country.  For us, this is a huge treat.  Apparently, many others thought so as well!  Oh the crowds!  And the cold!  We got a cold front the other night and it was around the 40's in Fredericksburg.  Every time we stepped outside, there was the feeling that it could snow in any moment.

All the weekends prior to this would have been beautiful weather with few crowds for shopping.  However, remember that remodel?  I could have postponed this one more week, but I did not know what next week would bring.  I am on  a deadline because my TOG yahoo group is doing a Secret Sister ornament exchange and I'm not much inspired by the ornaments in our big city.  The nearest Christmas store, which is huge, is in Fredericksburg.  I have to have the package in the mail by December 5.  Since the weather is getting worse the rest of the weekend, we went today.  I just checked the weather report, and I actually think we left Fredericksburg too soon!  We should have booked a hotel room!  There are snow chances on Sunday!  Alas...

One fun part about today is that we ran into old friends who used to be in our Sunday School class 18 years ago!  They came to our wedding!  They haven't changed a bit!  However, I could not get over the fact that their boys were old enough to drive out from the lake to meet them later!

Although I brought my camera, it was too cold and crowded for me to use it while walking through town.  While looking for parking, we passed some gorgeous architecture and gardens before I realized I had the camera with me!  This is the only picture I got!

Much of the town has Victorian charm and rustic stone buildings.  One of the big surprises of the day was finding a Jeep Collins store!!!!  Apparently, it's the only one! Anyone familiar with kellieann 's contest...

will know that she's offering a set of gorgeous earrings from Jeep Collins!  If you click on the button in my right column, you'll see the earrings. Turns out he's from Fredericksburg! And he went to the same college I did! I had no idea!  We walked through the store and I told my husband all about Kellie Ann's husband buying her Jeep Collins' jewelry for Christmas (dh is always looking for hints for me).  The selection was gorgeous!  We grabbed a catalog, since he wasn't committing to anything just yet.  There are many affordable pieces, around $35.  Many of them even express Christian faith.  Here is his testimony...

http://www.jeepcollins.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?page=aboutus.htm&cart_id=1193930580.29325

I can't tell you how many times I have walked or driven right by that store without a second thought.  Thank you Kellie Ann for telling us about Jeep Collins!

After a few hours meandering on Main Street Fredericksburg, we headed for...

http://www.wildseedfarms.com/

It's that time of year to plant bluebonnets.  This is the largest working wildflower farm in the US.  Seven years ago, we were able to roam the fields and see the newest crops.  Sadly, they put up tall wooden fences and now one has to pay a hefty fee for a tour.  Nevertheless, the gift shop area is one of my favorites.  Especially when you find a cat laying in a field of flowers!

He thoroughly enjoyed laying there while all the customers took turns patting him.  After going into another room, I found another cat...

After posting for his picture, he came to me to be patted!  Of course, the kids loved all of this too!