As I headed across Texas last Friday to tell stories at a festival in Galveston, I didn’t think it was going to be a wonderful adventure! It was raining and the weather was icky (that’s a bona fide meteorological term).

It turned out to be a pretty enjoyable trip! I took a lot of pictures, and I’ve been trying all morning to get my Galveston pictures on line. Unfortunately, I have not found an easy way to work with pictures on this MacBook Pro. I’m sure there is an easy way, but after using a PC for so many years, I’m just not catching on to the way to do it.

I put them on Adobe Photoshop Express. Now, I haven’t done much editing on them, yet (because I don’t know what I’m doing). But, I put them in albums so you can view them if you would like. Click on the link to take you there.

The first album is of The 1894 Grand Kid’s Festival in Galveston, Texas. I know it doesn’t look like “kids” in the picture, but I assure you that these guys were little kids in disguise.

The Grand 194 Kid’s Fest. Galveston, 2008

Here is what my evening was like in Galveston. It’s got everything, including bacon, shopping, a carriage ride, the beach, and me being abducted by a pirate. Well, ok, I wasn’t really abducted, but I tried to be. See, my husband didn’t want to go with me on this trip (being from California, he was not impressed by Texas Gulf beaches). So, I have to show what a good time I had. NEXT time, he won’t let me leave home without him!

Evening in Galveston…or How to Make My Husband Jealous

This Adobe Photoshop Express isn’t very easy to use. Tell me if it’s easy to access, so I know whether to bother with it again. I might use it for the Afghan Gallery for Share A Square, if y’all think it is worth it.

Later this week, y’all I’m going on a ghost hunt in Boerne, Texas. A girlfriend is joining me to stay in a haunted room!I’ll blog it as it happens. Right now, I have to go work in the real world.

Dang this trying to make a living!

I was hungry on my drive down Interstate 45 in Texas. My car needed fuel, too. Now, ordinarily, when I’m driving from the Dallas area to Houston, I’d stop in a town called Madisonville to meet my needs. It’s easy to get on and off the highway there, and I can gas up and eat at the Subway Sandwich Shop.

This time, I thought I would try something different. I didn’t want another cardboard sandwich! Especially after I saw the billboard advertising a Mexican food restaurant called “Gilberto’s.” It was located in Fairfield, just two towns before Madisonville.

When I pulled into the parking lot, I could definitely tell that this was the place to eat in Fairfield. I barely found a place to park. I was planning to have a light meal, but when I stepped out of the car the aroma of grilled steaks greeted me. I changed my mind in a heartbeat.

As soon as I saw the Tortilla Machine, and knew there were “real live” tortillas, I knew that whatever meal I chose had to have tortillas.

It’s a lovely little restaurant, clean and nicely decorated.

It even has a fountain.

This family owned restaurant has been in business for eight years, and is definitely worth a stop.

I sat down to order my meal, but when I looked at the menu I was overwhelmed by my choices! I wanted the appetizers: “shrimp kisses” were offered. That’s 6 shrimp battered, covered in coconut and deep fried. Or,” Texas Toothpicks!” That would be strips of onions and jalapeno battered and fried. But, I don’t need more deep fried food, so I resisted.

Diablo Shrimp, Poblano Steak, Poblano Chicken, Enchiladas, Tamales (and every other kind of Mexican food you can name) all called my name. Ribeyes, Sirloins, burgers, Chicken en Mole! The prices were so reasonable! What could I choose? What would you choose?

Well folks, I decided to have steak fajitas.

That way, I could have tortillas and guacamole. Ummm. GOOD!

Gilberto’s is now “on my list.” That means that when I drive down Interstate 45 south of Dallas, my stomach will start rumbling, because it knows I’m stopping in Fairfield!

Here is what you need to know:

Gilberto’s
1-45 and Hwy 27
Fairfield, Texas
903/389-8879

Here’s a map from Dallas. Click to view a larger map, and it will mark Gilberto’s for you. If you live in the other direction, I bet you can figure out Google Maps.

If you are traveling down I45, do make a stop in Fairfield. But, don’t expect it to be a quick meal! Once you get there, you will want to linger.

Now, I’m off to tell stories at a Children’s Festival! I’ll be back with more when I can. Y’all make it a good day.

My day started pretty well. I visited Jupiter House before I got on the road. It’s my favorite little coffee shop on the square in Denton.

J.C. is one of my favorite “coffee artists.”

He makes such beautiful design on the mochas he makes for me, that it’s almost a shame to drink them.

Ten hours later, I am sitting in a “coffee” bar in Galveston,

actually drinking a Dos Equis. I should be sitting in my room at The Tremont Hotel.

Yeah, I know you are jealous. Look at my room:

Are you green with envy? It’s a pretty room, alright, but there is a definite problem. Supposedly the place has internet access for $9/ a night!!! [I told them, “I can host a blog to complain about this doggone place for a month at that price.”]

However, the pricey internet won’t connect. I don’t know if it is operator error or their service, but at this little coffee bar, they told me that a lot of people from the hotel come here. Hmmm. Seems that the more a hotel charges you, the less you get.

You don’t have to be jealous. Though there were a lot of wildflowers spilling down the hillsides:

I couldn’t see them, because of the traffic

and the rain

I did get to eat at a marvelous restaurant in Fairfield, TX and I’ll tell you about that tomorrow. Maybe tell you about The Grand 1894 Kid’s Fest and Galveston, too. Let’s see if I have an internet connection. Right now, I’m going to drink this beer, take a walk in the rain and go listen to the pianist at the piano bar in the hotel lobby.

Yeah. It’s a tough life, but somebody has to do it.