Well the roadmaps of west Texas never gave me good advice.

Pictures from yesterday here

We didn't really do much of anything yesterday, which was actually a bit nice. I can only go out and do do DO so many days in a row. Today I think we are going to the art museum and the science and history museum, which is purported to have pirate stuff, so that should be cool.

The reason we didn't do much yesterday is because we had to sit around and wait for the rooter guys to show up — there was something blocking the main line of the house, putting all the toilets out of commission, and if you know Dragons, you know that that just wasn't acceptable for more than an hour.

But a mostly relaxing day was had by all. We sat around and yakked all morning and then I got my pie-baking schwerve on in the afternoon (with delicious results!) and hit the grocery store for grilling supplies.

On the way there, we spied a Party Barn. I don't know if this is a chain, or if this is a lowercase concept in Texas like icehouses are, but I am pretty sure the name of the place was Party Barn and it was a drive through beer establishment. It was kind of neat.

You drive into this big blue barn looking structure, which is lined on either side by coolers full of beer — the same kind you would get your beer out of in a convenience or grocery store — and someone comes up and takes your order and fetches your beer and you never have to leave your car.

It was a bit like driving through a very awesome person's garage.

I suppose we all seemed a bit bemused at the way things went, because the guy was all, "You guys not from Texas?" and we were all "Uh, no, we're from Seattle." and he was all, "Ah." and nodded his head.

It's actually quite an awesome concept, if a bit trashy in execution. I don't really care though, I got drive-through beer!

Eventually we made out way home and then eventually got our grill on and eventually ate fabulously large and juicy burgers of delight. Plus beer.

And eventually we put on some coffee and had vanilla bean ice cream and pecan pie for dessert.

The filling turned out to be shockingly easy to make, but the pie crust was, of course, just a tiny bit of a pain for a n00b like me. It's one of those things I think you have to get a feel for over time, as to how many sprinkles of water you need and how to bring the dough together, etc, etc.

But in the end, it was well worth it, because everyone agreed that my scratch crust was awesome and flaky and most wonderful. Especially filled with pie. Ala mode.

. . .

It's like they know me personally or something.