New Ulm

Oh my gosh, the entire fall I let go by without updating this area of the magazine, and I promise to be better about it in 2022!

We had two days for this trip, and it was to celebrate my husband's birthday. We didn't want to drive more than two hours away, and we found a super cute airbnb in New Ulm, Texas! Next, we looked at a map for an alternate route (not the main highways) through a few other small towns for stops on the way. And we asked the airbnb Dos Arbolitos if we could check in a bit early and stay a bit late - she was so nice to say yes!

We drove through Bastrop State Park on the way, just for fun. My husband likes to "see things" not just pavement. First town stop was Winchester, a tiny town with a cute old depot with old hobby horses on the deck. We want to go back when that's open! (Oh, we visit the link for Texas Escapes to print out the towns' history stories - because they're so fun to read!) On to Lake Fayette Thicket Park - where folks are not allowed to drive through on the weekends - what? We didn't have time to stay, anyway.

We did get out in Fayetteville and took a picture of the tiniest courthouse with a clock - so cute! It was early, so only a few things were open, but we had come there to eat at Orsak's Cafe. And we did stop in one antique shop.

At Orsak's, he ordered the roast beef special with a salad, and I ordered a chef salad - both of our salads were strewn with pickle slices (that was different!). But our food was delicious. The ham on my salad wasn't thinly sliced deli ham. It was chunks of roasted country ham! So good...

The last stop before New Ulm was in Frelsburg at the Heinsohn's Country Store we'd read about on line as being the oldest general store in Texas. It was a very interesting store with things to buy that we'd NEVER buy but some people do, apparently. From turtle traps, to all sorts of cooking equipment to meat machines, to even a counter of foreign country spiral recipes and MORE, this place was worth a walk-through!

We wanted to get to our place around noon, so we did all of the above in the morning - as we left at 7am! We were serious about enjoying the WHOLE weekend!

We drove up to Dos Arbolitos' gate and I was so pleased that she still had Christmas decor up - what a fun surprise. The wreaths were beautiful at the gate and on the house where we stayed. It was tucked away at the back of the property after driving through a mossy oak tree lane - that was so beautiful. The house is so cute inside, has a full kitchen, spectacular windows, a charming front porch, all the amenities, and a second story for another view and experience altogether! We loved every square inch.

We brought with us games, crafts, a couple of meals to prepare, and were excited that the TV had Netflix and other options, but first...we walked the trail around the back of the property. This was one of our favorite things. The owners have some retired show horses that seem to be delighted when people take walks, there are a couple of ponds, a bridge, an unusual and cute swing, and a fire pit. My husband called this place so "serene and peaceful" multiple times. I thought it was breathtakingly beautiful.

We then went back to the house to read and relax and play a new game I'd bought called 60-Second City - quite challenging and fun. We brought trivia cards too, and we just relaxed - and I looked out all of the windows.

For dinner, I was so excited to prepare it in the kitchen - another favorite when traveling. I used a baking sheet there to place all the items for a "fajita bar" with all the things we'd brought, arranging them and placing them in new ways. (Used a tall glass for the refried beans!). I also used some cute utensils and cloth napkins a sweet friend had mailed me just that week! We ate and watched Tick Tick Boom - a great movie on Netflix!