A Little Organization

I got fed up with all my earrings landing in one big heap, getting tangled up, lost and broken. So I made myself an earring panel. Perhaps it's already been done by someone else, but I think this is genius!

It's hanging on a wall in my closet and I love it. I can find my earrings so much faster! I love efficiency!!! MATERIALS: Stretcher bars for the frame (art supply store, about 6 bucks)–I chose these because the bars come in different lengths so I could have a "custom" size frame. However, you may just want to purchase an old frame from a second hand store. (The corners will look better anyway.) Paint. Totally optional. I wanted the frame white so it would be easier to see my earrings. Mesh. (fabric store) you'll find it near the tulle, but it's stiffer and the mesh is a bit larger. Get enough for all four sides to wrap around the frame (stretch it tight) and staple it in the back. Hinges. Although mine are on the top I am going to SWITCH THEMM TO THE SIDE (highly recommended) so the panel opens like a cupboard door. This allows the user to put the backs on the earring studs easily!

I had some supplies on hand (mesh and paint), so the whole thing cost less than 12 bucks! Wouldn't this make a great handmade present? The mesh comes in all colors so you could make one in pink, or black, or whatever.

Open Pit

We are on a quest to find the so called famous Texas BBQ everyone keeps talking about. So, every time we go to the beach we do a little research and fit a lunch stop into our plans. Adam found this HUGE gem out in the middle of nowhere. And it was PACKED, at 3:00 in the afternoon!

The Salt Lick is one of the only open pit BBQ's you can find anywhere. The meat is basted in their sauce which drips down into the oak and pecan chip fueled flames. The smoke rises and all those flavors enhance the meat. That's the way I like it. Forget all the dry cooked stuff and then adding sauce later. I want my meat wet and flavorful. So we were excited to try it. The pit is indoors and they let me walk right up to it and take all the photos I wanted.

Featuring sausage, pork ribs, brisket, and turkey. You can't tell me this doesn't look good. If you aren't convinced, watch this video. The Salt Lick's sauces have a sweet mustardy flavor. (Actually, all their flavors are on the sweet side. Even the cobblers which I prefer a little tangy, but still are good.)

It's BYOB, and you should have seen all the coolers people were hauling in. I ordered fresh squeezed lemon juice, so delish!

The place is huge. There are several indoor rooms with huge windows and outside seating where you can listen to a live band. And across the walk there is even a second building! They do weddings and the property is surround by vineyards which the Salt Lick owns as well. The ambiance is loud and excited and friendly.

If you want to go, it's in Driftwood Texas. It's totally worth it for the experience. Now there's a Texas name for you. Salt Lick. Driftwood. Texas.

Beach and Strip Search

This is called a Portuguese Man of War. And is actually not a true jellyfish. Click for info.

Strip Search: We were in the ocean for no longer than eight minutes, when suddenly it became our ultimate goal to retreat as quickly as possible and strip naked—I could have cared less who saw! Something was in our swimsuits and the minor itching we had ignored moments before was quickly intensifying into painful little stinging sensations! We looked at each other, I saw the fear pass between us, and realized we were in some sort of weird trouble; we dashed out of the water. Upon our panicked strip session, we found these little meanies (see below) clinging to our skin. They'd been pinching and digging, trying to escape the confines of our swimming suits. I roughly brushed most of them off—a few I pinched off with great revenge. "What IS this thing?! Baby crab? Sea lice? Something poisonous? Are they burrowed beneath my skin? Will I get a rash, bloat up and die?..." Evidently Adam is a much faster stripper than I, so he ran around the car with only his towel on, threw everything inside, and we sped away in search of some kind of shower. We didn't go swimming again.

Here's a close up of one meanie on his back. I wasn't able to figure out exactly what these are, but a good guess might be a variety of amphipod, or copepod. I am guessing they are seasonal because we weren't bothered by them last year. Note to self, when no one else is swimming, maybe we shouldn't be either.