way down to Hruska's and back

[threeplusfire]

Yesterday was perfect in too many ways. I felt as if I slipped into some weird film of an idealized version of my life, not something I knew. The temperatures rose up into the low seventies, the sky was blue with fat white and grey cumulonimbus clouds drifting along like lazy cows. We drove down 71, through the Lost Pines and small hills to La Grange and Ellinger. I like that drive, the four lane highway with a wide grassy median, the roll of the farmland and ranches to either side, the very small towns without even stop lights or Dairy Queens to announce their presence. We wore cowboy hats, and probably looked like weird Austin hipsters. In Hruska's we were in line between the oddest mix of people including some scruffy blue collar workers and the most flaming short gay couple I've seen in ages. A girl had a box of free puppies outside. The sun stayed out all day, and we drove back to Austin so I could take him to the scenic overlook out on Loop 360 where you can see the downtown skyline between the hills. It was so clear yesterday, it felt as if you could see for a hundred miles in any direction.

We also went to IKEA, because he needed a table and I have never seen an IKEA up close. It is bigger than a Wal-Mart and slightly terrifyng in the sheer volume of stuff. I think I could buy a lot of random things that I don't truly need but become enamoured of in very short order. I saw some gorgeous pine bookshelves stained a dark walnut color. It made me want my own house so badly I could cry. I settled for buying weird ice cube trays shapped like puzzle pieces and triangles. I restrained myself from buying a million pillows. I did eat a tasty egg and shrimp sandwich, with lingonberry soda and chocolate mousse. Plus, there's a Swedish food section I'll have to pillage one of these days because it looks like they have a lot of baking supplies. Oh IKEA, you frighten me with your crowds but I like you anyway.

Comments

[n-o-m-i-c.livejournal.com]

YAY Hruska's! That's usually a stop someone in the family has to make when we head that way.

What's the kolache shop-cum-gas satation in La Grange called?

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Weikels! We also stopped there.

[swswswsw.livejournal.com]

In an oddly strange coincidence, my first Ikea trip last week also involved me buying ice cube trays in the shape of triangles...

[cjwriter.livejournal.com]

I <3 IKEA. We've purchased a few small things there that are working very well. We're contemplating our first $100+ furniture purchase. I also <3 the lingonberry soda in the restaurant. You can get a concentrate in the Swedish food market that is almost-but-not quite the same.