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A spring day at the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails

Journey Jotter

April 18, 2023

One of the best things about April in Texas is enjoying the roadside wildflowers as they blossom. Anyone driving up and down Texas highways knows it’s the best time to be on the lookout for bluebonnets, the state flower. But to get an up close and personal look at these beauties on a leisurely drive, there’s no better place to be than Ennis. Well known for its abundant bluebonnets, along with Indian paintbrushes and primroses, Ennis is a must-see in spring.

Bluebonnets peak at different times in April in any given year. Also, where the blooms are abundant varies from year to year. To take the guesswork out of the equation, I follow the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails and Festival website, www.bluebonnettrail.org. It contains the peak predicted times, the best locations to enjoy the blooms, trail maps, the best spots for photos, etc. The Ennis Garden Club members visit the trails to check on the flowers and constantly update the information.

Ennis is located about 30 miles south of Dallas, a straight shot along I45 south to Houston, making it easily accessible within an hour’s drive. In addition to the trails, Ennis also hosts the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival over one weekend in April. Spread over three days, from Friday to Sunday, the Festival is held downtown and includes kids’ activities, foods of all kinds, arts and crafts, and wine-tasting experiences. It also includes live music performances on the main stage and at the Wine Wander tent.

This year, in 2023, the predicted peak for the bluebonnets was between April 8th to 18th. And the Festival was held from April 14th to 16th. Since the weather was perfect on Sunday (yesterday), we decided to make a quick trip. Our friends, the K family, joined us. It was their first visit to the Ennis area.

Last year, we used the Ennis Y’all app, but this time, we decided to be low-tech and get a trail map. Our first stop was at the Ennis Welcome Center, where the friendly staff gave us a trail map, and another staffer showed us all the locations where the blooms were the best seen. Although the center was crowded, the line moved quickly, The Center is one of the few places with restroom facilities, and they were well-maintained and clean.

Ennis has three main trails: North, South, and West. The area around the West Trail has the Ennis Veterans Memorial Park, Bluebonnet Park, and the Meadow View Nature Area. These are the best places to leisurely take photos among the bluebonnets and enjoy a nice picnic. Besides the Welcome Center, these parks have restroom facilities (we saw portable toilets at Meadow View).

It was nearly noon when we left the Welcome Center and went to the Meadow View Nature Center. The collections of blooms were different in different parts of the area. Some were purely bluebonnets, while in other regions, orange-red Indian paintbrushes vied for attention. A few pale pink primroses grabbed our attention. It was a beautiful afternoon, and we spent several minutes admiring the beauty of the flowers and clicking photos.

Primroses, paintbrushes and bluebonnets pose for the camera

Eventually, our hunger caught up with us, and we enjoyed a sumptuous meal prepared by my friend. We topped off the excellent meal with cold sparkling cider and ice cream. Bellies full, we were ready to hit the other trails. One of the nice things about Meadow View is the lake that borders it. The lakeside was the perfect tapestry of colored blooms in the foreground and the blue water in the background.

After a quick stop at the Welcome Center, we went to the Festival next door. After paying the $5 per adult entrance fee, we walked around the festival grounds, enjoying the warm sun. People thronged the area, enjoying various vendor stalls. Artwork, quilts, small jewelry, and clothing boutiques competed with food stalls of all kinds. Mr. JJ bought sasparilla root beer, and we snacked on cinnamon-roasted nuts. We walked past stalls offering brick-oven pizza, boiled crawfish, burgers, and fries. The funnel cake stand also sold nachos, corn dogs, fries, and Snickers and was immensely popular with the longest line. There were many games for kids of all ages while performers crooned on the main stage. Shortly, we left the Festival to get back on the trail.

We first took the South trail and were rewarded with at least three flower fields. The first had only bluebonnets and afforded the perfect opportunity to take photos seated among the blooms. We saw many families, some multigenerational, happily creating new memories in that field. The next area was so abundant with blossoms we could only see a sea of orange-red interspersed with blue. The vista was breathtaking! No amount of photos or words can do justice to the natural beauty of that field!

Further down, we came across a tidal wave of yellow! We had to stop and explore this bright and gay field of yellow daisies! Oh, what a joy it was to walk among them and let their happy colors soothe the eye and the soul!

Next, we took the connecting Hwy 660 to the North Trail. We drove past Bristol to the Sugar Ridge Winery area. It was nearing 330 pm by the time we got there. A stop at the winery is highly recommended by those who have visited, but we chose to skip it. I loved the overarching trees and the canopies they provided in this area. There was something exceptional about the narrow lanes and greenery and the changing topography of this area. Well past the winery, we came across a small pond with a couple of swans. The bluebonnets in the meadow fronting this area appeared larger and more densely packed.

Further along the route, we came across Sugar Ridge Ranch, where we saw four horses. Fenced in, they still stood several hands high and nudged visitors for food, Two large bags of grains sat in front of the gate, and we joined others in feeding the horses! We saw some longhorns grazing a short distance away but didn’t stop to see them up close.

The fields along the North and South Trails are private property, so we followed posted directions like not trespassing, etc. Since the roads are narrow and traffic on weekends is high, we had to keep our eyes peeled for people and animals. Especially, when we reached a flower field, with many cars parked along the sides of the road, There are no shoulders in these areas. On most streets, the traffic was free-flowing except in one where we had to wait patiently for a large RV to pass almost 20 to 30 other vehicles!

The paintbrushes overtook the bluebonnets in most locations this year compared to other years. I’m not complaining as their fiery color only added to the beauty of the viewing. This time, we saw more blooms on the South Trail than on the North, which is usually the case. I could have sworn, eight years ago when we first visited, there were far more blooms than this time.

Ennis Bluebonnets are a ritual of sorts for us. I hope to be back for more spellbinding colors next year!

Food Travel: Ichiran, New York City

Journey Jotter

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March 29, 2023

I am starting a series titled Food Travel. I have long wanted to write about some of our dining experiences, and a series such as this would serve that purpose well. In early February, I had a chance to visit New York City (NYC) and eat at Ichiran. It was a unique dining experience and one I present below.

Missy JJ spent a summer last year in NYC and explored several eateries then. One of the places she highly recommended was Ichiran. My hotel during the visit, the Sheraton Times Square, was a couple of blocks away from this restaurant. The day of my visit being one of the coldest in NYC, I was loathe to venture out despite being layered from head to toe. But a feeling of restlessness and hunger eventually drove me to make the short walk. Missy JJ insisted that the place was to be experienced in person and not to order online. And boy, was I thankful she made me go!

Ichiran is famous for its classic Tonkotsu soup with its “deep savory flavors of pork-bone broth without the strong aromas.” The ramen noodles are made fresh in-house daily from a unique blend of flours. The ramen is then enriched by a red pepper sauce or the Hiden no tare made from thirty specially blended spices. Toppings and sides further enhance the soup’s taste and include Yakibuta (marinated pork in thick slices), seaweed, mushrooms, scallions, chashu (barbecued pork), white rice, and a soft-boiled egg. Ichiran serves vegetarian ramen (although not vegan). The diner can customize it with extra minced garlic, scallions, mushrooms, and an extra helping of spicy red sauce. If they choose, the guest can order either full or half servings of the noodles as Kae-dama or refills.

What is unique about the Ichiran service are the Aji Shuchu counters. Each guest is led to a single dining booth enclosed on both sides by the counter and in front by a curtain that separates the diner from the kitchen service. Essentially the guest is left to enjoy the meal with the least distractions. Also, since the freshly made noodles start expanding once added to boiling water, Ichiran guests are served the dish within fifteen seconds to enjoy the exact texture of the ordered noodles.

While waiting to be seated, guests order their meals using a written order sheet from which they can customize the toppings and sides. They can choose from soda, sake, draft beer, Calpico, and Ramune (Japanese soda). Matcha pudding serves as dessert. To order noodle refills, a Kae-dama plate is left at the booth. Guests place the plate on a sensor that activates a tune and notifies the staff.

The day I visited, there were about eight people in line ahead of me, waiting to be seated. I received the order sheet and filled it in, but I didn’t see an option for veggie ramen. As I neared the start of the line, I asked the waitress about veggie options, and she handed me a different sheet to fill. Soon, she led me to the single booth counters inside. She showed me where to hang my coat and mentioned the water dispenser. All but three or four booths were occupied. Soon the curtain in front of me opened, and I handed the server my order. She showed me how to place the kae-dama order. Then I waited patiently for the food to arrive.

I enjoyed some cold water and hot Matcha tea meanwhile. After the brisk walk in the cold, it felt cozy to be sipping the tea, lost in thought in my booth as the servers worked on the other side. Soon enough, the curtain opened, and a waiter placed a black dish before me. Inside was the gleaming ramen with scallions and extra servings of the spicy red sauce. The ramen was worth the trip! Tasting the umami of the broth at first without the sauce or the toppings felt perfect! Not too salty, light enough to swallow quickly, and rich enough to feel satiated. As I swirled the red sauce and the toppings into the ramen, the flavors came together, and I was lost for the next few minutes in the ramen-umami world! I saved some soup for the half kae-dama I had requested. Although it may be a bit too filling, I had a bakery to walk to next and knew I could walk it off.

Walking away from Ichiran that afternoon, I was glad Missy JJ pushed me to experience this unique ramen place. I can’t wait to return the next time I’m in NYC.

A New Orleans getaway on spring break: Food and Mardi Gras World

Journey Jotter

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March 28, 2023

The itinerary for the first day of the trip was to reach New Orleans and do the ghost tour with Free Tours by Foot at 730 pm. The rest of the afternoon was quite open.

As if to get any future problems out of the way, the flight from Dallas to New Orleans was delayed by a half hour. But once we took off, it was all smooth sailing. We took an Uber to the hotel, where the staff had a room available, even though it was a bit early. Mr. JJ and I thought to finish lunch at the French Quarter and go to the Warehouse District, where the National WW II museum and Mardi Gras World are located.

Unfortunately, Killer Po’boys was closed that day. So we were walking around the French Quarter when we came across Cunada. It was on my list of restaurants to try for its many vegetarian options. The interior was quiet, with only one couple dining in the back. There was a counter and bar to the front and right of the room, while a few white folding tables and chairs occupied the space to the left and the back. The decorations were typical of any Mexican fiesta.

The simplicity of the inside belied a staff that was quick and efficient and food that was delicious. We ordered the tortilla soup with fixings (tortilla strips, onions, avocado, crema, radish, and cilantro). The soup wasn’t much to speak of by itself, but once we added the fixings, it tasted sumptuous. The vegan ceviche was lemony and tasted of tomatoes mixed with well-cooked cauliflower and lentils. Perhaps it was the texture, but I wouldn’t say I liked the ceviche as much. We also ate one taco each; mine was the calabacitas, while Mr. JJ chose the taco de papa. The tacos were just adequate and oh! so fresh and highly reminiscent of our time in Mexico. I also ordered the hibiscus-infused Jamaican but couldn’t enjoy it as it was too sweet.

While we dined, two groups of college kids showed up. A couple of them mentioned visiting Cunada for the third time as they loved the food. Nothing could be a better testament to the food than thrice-returning customers!

We decided to look up the World War Museum with lunch out of the way. The Museum has several exhibits and a movie about 45 mins long. Since the Museum closed at 5 pm, we would need more time to enjoy it. So we decided to go to the Mardi Gras World instead.

Mardi Gras is such an integral part of NOLA history that we felt obligated to visit this store. Mardi Gras World is a working studio owned by Blaine Kern, generally regarded as “Mr. Mardi Gras” in New Orleans. Blaine helped his father build their first float on a mule-drawn wagon in 1932. In 1947, he established his studios to make a float for one of the local krewes. Since then, he has pushed for more detailed and extravagant floats for his customers and to the delight of the revelers!

The studio runs tours daily; each lasts about an hour. Ours started with a 15-minute movie about the history and significance of Mardi Gras in NOLA. Followed by the distribution of the king cake, and then we set off to tour the studios. The whole facility was teeming with artists, architects, and painters. The guide showed us how float designs are first created on paper. Then cutouts are made using styrofoam which can be easily manipulated into different shapes. Next, using the papier mache technique, the styrofoam figures are smoothed over and then sent for painting. We saw models in various stages of completion scattered throughout the studios. Of course, most of them were gigantic as befits a grand float.

We met Katy Perry, Clint Eastwood, King Kong, and Darth Maul, among others. They were so lifelike, it was uncanny! But even these giants paled in comparison to the actual floats! The massive floats sat on wooden platforms housed on a custom-melded chassis. The guide mentioned that the wooden floor was covered by muslin. Slowly, the main elements are added according to the original sketch. Eventually, flowers and other props add to the layered effect.

The float’s inside has hooks designed to hang Mardi Gras beads and storage areas for doubloons, etc. There are seat belts for the riders and much-needed bathrooms for comfort! The floats are pulled by tractors and run on solid rubber tires to avoid any flat tires.

Each Krewe commissions its float annually. Once done with the parade, the floats return to Kern Studios, where the props are removed and the floats stripped down bare and painted white before they begin a new transformation journey for the following year.

One of the neat things at the studio was watching a robot named Pixie, who works on digital fabrication. Kern Studios employs cutting-edge technology with the use of this robot. The artists create a 2D sketch which is then transformed into a 3D model. Once all the details about the type of armature, prop material, and finish are decided, the information is fed to the robot. Pixie then works precisely and tirelessly, creating what she has been tasked to do.

Pixie sculpting away! At Mardi Gras World (seen through glass window)

Named Pixie after a long-time beloved employee of the company, Pixie has enhanced the accuracy of the work and increased the production capabilities of the studio, leading to more employment.

We watched from the studio as Pixie sculpted away at her prop, ignoring her gawkers. A large mural on the wall behind her depicted the real-life Pixie and Blaine Kern, keeping a sharp eye over Pixie. As the tour ended, we walked the floor of the vast studio, admiring the colorful props everywhere, from the iconic to the whimsical to the ordinary. As we left the lobby, the staff announced a free shuttle that could drop us off on Canal street, close to our hotel.

At Canal Street, we found ourselves across from Cafe Beignet, one of the two beignet places on our list. So we walked over to join the long line, ordered our beignets and coffee, and waited in their indoor seating area. As luck would have it, the weather had cooled that morning after being balmy all winter. While we had to layer clothes to stay warm, it was the perfect weather to enjoy warm beignets and hot coffee. I was disappointed that the beignets smelled of overused oil. But they were warm and coated in powdered sugar, and I was glad about that.

Satiated, we decided to skip exploring and took an Uber back to the hotel for a break before returning to the French Quarter for our ghost tour. Join us tomorrow for a review of the spooky ghost tour. Until then!

A New Orleans getaway on Spring break : Trip planning

Journey Jotter

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March 21, 2023

The JJ family recently took a spring break getaway to New Orleans, LA; these are their stories. As you know, some trips work out perfectly, and flights delay some, and still others don’t happen. This trip is one of those times! Huh, you say?!

Well, our original plan was for Mr. JJ, Sonny JJ, and I to travel to Colombia. That country had long been on our travel list, and we were looking forward to finally visiting. First, Sonny JJ had to drop out, then Mr. JJ fell ill a couple of days before the journey. Given the very active itinerary we had created for Colombia, we decided to cancel. We couldn’t do justice to the itinerary and allow him to recover adequately. Fortunately, most of the flights and hotels were booked using miles and points, and we were able to have them reinstated.

As Mr. JJ gradually recovered, we considered a short getaway. Flight and hotel costs were excessive, forcing us to look for places within driving range. Eventually, we found reasonable fares to New Orleans and booked two tickets. Hotel options were either nonexistent in the French Quarter that late into spring break week. Or extremely high-priced, like a Holiday Inn with a room for just over $2000! The Hyatt Centric was over $600 per night. After thorough searches, we found a Hyatt Regency on Loyola Avenue for 54,000 points for four nights. It was away from the French Quarter but easily accessible by car within ten to fifteen minutes.

Anyone who knows New Orleans is well aware of its storied music and food culture. Bourbon Street is a must-do for many, as are plantation and swamp tours for some. The more I dug into the culture and history of the city, the more the itinerary started building up. Since there was so much to see and do in NOLA, we decided to pick some experiences as anchors and schedule the rest of the days loosely around them. With an early morning flight in and out of NOLA, we had a solid four days to spend.

A few months ago, I heard two Free Tours by Foot guides talk about NOLA on Rick Steves’ radio show. Their website offered multiple tours, and we chose their ghost tours to start off our first evening. One of the guides, Andrew Farrier, has multiple videos on YouTube, and I found some of them (French quarter highlights, tips for visiting, foods to try) very helpful. We had used the same company in Mexico City and liked their business model and the experience.

I also used Amateur Traveler’s podcast on NOLA and Nomadic Matt’s guide. From the latter, I chose the NOLA Tour Guy for our walking tour of the French Quarter on the second morning. Although I was very impressed with the other company’s videos, I wanted to try different operators and see them for myself.

Many guides recommended taking a Mississippi River brunch or dinner cruise on the paddlewheel steamboats. I couldn’t get a reservation on the Steamboat Natchez but came across a dinner cruise offering vegetarian options. So we booked a cruise for the third evening when the weather was the best. We also wanted to do a swamp tour that morning. Swamp tour options include airboat tours, individual kayak tours (led as a group by a captain), and private kayak tours for two with a captain. While we have kayaked before and Mr.JJ had tried an airboat swamp tour before, we felt a private tour made more sense on this trip. I called Wild Louisiana Tours, and it took them a couple of days to confirm the trip, but we felt it was worth the wait.

As we started to plan, I was concerned about how freely vegetarian options would be available in a city known for its seafood culture. The neworleans.com website helped search for various vegetarian options in different parts of the city. I narrowed down restaurants with vegetarian options and perused their websites. It also allowed me to look at websites of legendary restaurants like Brennan’s, Antoine’s, and Arnaud’s and decide which to visit. Many of the uber-famous ones offered little options for vegetarians and were easy to forego. Of course, we made plans to visit the Cafe du Monde and possibly Cafe Beignet for their famous offerings.

As for music, Mr. JJ had enjoyed the Frenchmen Street experience on his last visit. So we allocated time for that. In addition, we booked a concert at the iconic Preservation Hall with a standing room only on the last night. The weather was supposed to be rainy that day, and it felt like a good time to be indoors with some outstanding music.

Exploring the French Quarter, the Garden District, the City Park, and the Treme were hopeful goals for the trip. Did we see some or all of them?

Join us over the next few days as we explore the charming city of New Orleans.

A fall morning at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Journey Jotter

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September 30, 2021

Last weekend, Mr. JJ and I took a Sunday morning trip to the famous Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG). Established in 1934 and one of the oldest significant botanic gardens in Texas, the Botanic Garden is easily accessible from downtown Fort Worth and is a must-see while there. It took us just about an hour to drive to the Garden from our home in North Texas.

An Arkansas cabin getaway at Christmas, Part 2

Journey Jotter

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September 19, 2021

Yesterday I wrote about the cabin we rented for a Christmas getaway to Arkansas last year. We rented the cabin for four nights and were eagerly anticipating the stay, after staying home all years long.

An Arkansas cabin getaway at Christmas

Journey Jotter

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September 16, 2021

At the end of 2020, the JJ family took a Christmas getaway with our friends, the T family. After worrying about the pandemic all year long and staying home, we felt it was time to take a break. We decided to venture out of Texas on a road trip but not too far. Our friends found a cabin on Airbnb tucked away on the banks of a lake in Arkansas. The place was large enough to house at least four families if any other friends decided to join us. The photos of the lakefront home and the great reviews made the decision for us. Our friends booked the cabin,,, and we could hardly contain our excitement!