Since restrictions are lifted and I am fully vaccinated, it is time to go back to the gym. I know this isn’t the most exciting neighborhood tour, but it is a monumental event. We have brunch catered from the Hillside Farmacy in Austin. We have Sugarland as our entertainment today.
Hillside Farmacy
Brunch
Texas Cheese Plate
Selection of local cheese, wildflower honey
+ seasonal fruit.
Peel & Eat Shrimp ~
Freshly made biscuits Homefries Cheese grits Seasonal fruit bowl Side of bacon.
GOOD EGGS
Our eggs come from family-owned & operated sustainable pasture-raised organic egg farms around Austin. Their hens are humanely raised outdoors.
BRULÉE GRAPEFRUIT
Texas grapefruit half, sugar in the raw, local wildflower honey
HOUSE MADE GRANOLA & YOGURT
Yogurt, fresh seasonal fruit, local wildflower honey
BUTTERMILK PANCAKES
Mexican vanilla, seasonal fruit, powdered sugar BACON, SCRAMBLED EGG
MAC & CHEESE (vegetarian)
Taleggio, aged white cheddar, bread crumbs
PANCETTA , POACHED FARM EGG, BROCCOLI
Gulf Shrimp
Six gulf shrimp, house-made cocktail sauce, pickled onion
EGG & SAUSAGE BREAKFAST SAMMY
Pork sausage, farm egg, sweet and spicy pepper salsa, spring mix, tomato, mixed pickles, local cheddar cheese.
FARM EGGS BOWL (vegetarian)
Seasonal veggies
SHRIMP & STONEGROUND GRITS
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, cheese grits, kale, microgreens
BIG BREKKIE (vegetarian options)
2 eggs any style
• Bacon or avocado
• Homefries or creamy grits • Wheat toast or a biscuit
White wine: Chardonnay Annabella Napa, CA Red wine:
Syrah Love & Grapes Nobis France
Hop on the bus.
Here we are at the gym.
A new pool is going in.
There’s the workout room.
My machine.
Overcast view
Do we want to do some leg or arm work? Let’s pass.
How about free weights? Not now, maybe later.
High-intensity workout? We have brunch to eat.
So let’s get to brunch and the music. I hope you all have a great week.
Fiction Favorites 
Great to see you heading back to the gym…still don’t have that opportunity at my end…happy workout 🏋️♀️💪
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Thankk you. I’m so glad to be back. 😁
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Nice to see things are getting back to normal.
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Normalish I think. Thanks, Darlene.
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The brunch sounds great, dear John.
We have never been at a gymn, that’s not our cup of tea. But interesting to see one from the inside.
Keep well and thanks for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Having spent some time with Germans, most of them I knew would not be caught in a gym. Might be a North American obsession. When I traveled to Germany on business I could never find a place to exercise. Always did an early morning walk which was very plesent. Thanks, Klausbernd.
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That’s some serious workout equipment!
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I know right? 😁
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I’d love that high intensity workout, but those pancakes might not enjoy the motion and I hear that egg sandwich calling my name/ You go ahead, John. I’ll wait outside.
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Hahahaha. Thanks, Dan.
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Nice facility, John! Will definitely need to work out after tucking into that fabulous breakfast offering.
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All healthy for sure. Thanks, Lori. 😁
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I think an extra intense workout is an order after the big brunch! I’m glad to see things are opening up and getting back to normal. Have a peaceful Sunday, John
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Thank you, Jill. I hope you have a peaceful one as well. 😊
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Every restriction that is lifted needs to be celebrated! Anything that starts us on the road to normalcy should be welcomed and acknowledged. As for breakfast… I do love a good biscuit. You have a wealth of choices.
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The idea is to help yourself, so you can do a nibble on a bunch of things. Thank you, Pamela. I agree on a big welcome to openess.
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You and i have a similar attitude at the gym, only I haven’t gone back yet! hahaha
You have too many favorites on the menu today, so I need more time to decide!
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Take all the time you need.
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Awesome that you can go back. Love how bright that place looks. Seen several gyms here and they all look kind of shadowy.
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Lots of light in this one.😁
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I want some cheese grits. Good for you that you go to the gym, John.
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Looks like a great time, John! I’ve struggled with whether to resume using the small workout room in my apartment building. I’m not so much worried about the surfaces as I am the fact that the machines are so close together. And of course masks are no longer required. It would sure come in handy on these rainy days when it’s a challenge to get out for a walk.
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Going to a gym has never attracted me. If I want to exercise, it’s outside. But over the last two years I have become too lazy. I really need to get back in the saddle again.
Have a wonderful Sunday,
Pit
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After that exceptional brunch, I’m going to need to work out!
Glad things are getting back to normal, John, and you can get back to the gym. I jog in the mornings, but there is a certain appeal to all those choices you get for a workout at the gym!
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What a view from the gym, John.Gorgeous, even overcast. I think I’ll have shrimp and grits to go with my furious bike pedaling.
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That is great to hear. The green shoots of normalcy hold promise.
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They do. Let’s hope nothing will chew the green shoots off.
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After that brunch, I don’t have the energy to work out! 🙂 It’s great to see things getting back to normal. Looks like Austin has been like our area with cloudy skies (and rain) most of this past week.
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Yes, We still have rain today. We are not complaining. Here take this remote.
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Looks like a busy place! Typically, I’d prefer to exercise outdoors, but I imagine your heat and humidity would send me inside! Glad you’re able to enjoy breaking a sweat again!
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Yes. Feels god.
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Nice gym and good some things are coming back 🙂 I’ll exercise after the wonderful brunch!
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Yes indeed.
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Oh, it is a big deal to get back to doing what we did before! So glad you are able to get back to the gym. Nice place to work out and you have many choices. Not bad for a guy your age! Since we were going to the gym, I chose the brulee grapefruit and yogurt and granola. Cheers!
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I would like to try that grapefruit. I have a torch. Maybe I should buy a grapefruit and try it. Thank you, Jo.
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What a positive & optimistic decision, dear John! Has the first sport day passed well? Your gym looks bright & happy as much as a good Friday! I wish you Olympic achievements! 😊😉😊🍨
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Yes, the exercise went well. I returned today and it was even better. Thank you, Maria. 😁
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Great news, dear John! New Olympic records expect you to break them. 😊
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Yes I am a well trained animal in my age group. 😁
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😊😊😊 I have no doubts, dear John! 🥇🥇🥇🏆
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😁
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So which is best John, brunch followed by a workout to get rid of the calories or the workout to give you an appetite for the brunch? Either way, don’t strain yourself.
Hugs
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Mmm. I like to exercise then tuck into the brunch. I’m too old to strain, David.
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Good for you. I’ve never walked into one before.
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Hahahahaha
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I’ve been back at the gym for two weeks, but masks are still required here in California, at least until the middle of June. I sweat a lot in general, but I literally can wring my facemask out when I’m done. Still, it’s better than not going at all.
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I think you are right, Pete. Better than nothing. 😁
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My kind of workout, John! The tour was workout enough and as you say, on to brunch! 🙂
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Thank you, Jan. Seeing all those workout thingys was exhausting.
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I see the gyms are getting back to normal, John. Ours are open but I don’t know if the mask regulation is being enforced. It is supposed to be as our vaccination programme is only just beginning.
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Let’s hope so then. It might be too early to go then. 😊
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I’m starting to get the urge to return to the gym. Thanks for the reminder … love the video!
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Resistance is futile, Frank. 😁
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Phew, I’m exhausted after seeing all that workout equipment! Let’s eat!! 🤣
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I agree. Thank you, Deborah. 😁
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😀
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Glad you can return to the gym, John. And what a nice one – I’m wishing we had some of that equipment at ours.
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There is a lt of it there and most I have no idea how it works.
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I haven’t “gymed it” since I was gifted a Soloflex during the W administration (First term). And I learned how to never need to go back. But who knows? Maybe some day I’ll find it kitschy.
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You can always tell a Soloflex man.
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I swore by the thing.
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😊
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I’m glad you’re now fully vaccinated and can get out to the gym again. I agree with you . . . start slow. 🙂
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Yes indeed.
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How come? We are fully vaccinated and we still grab the mask when someone knocks on the door or head to the grocery store. Can’t bring ourselves to go out to dinner and I want to go Karaokeing so bad it hurts.
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I know right? People are starting to look at me funny cause I’m still wearing a mask. 😁
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Just reading the menu has me starvung for a pampering. Yum.
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I know what you mean, Audrey. 😁
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Superb spread, as always, John, and the gym is a good option to follow. 🙂 Glad you can go now. It’s great to see a sense of normalcy, slowly but surely. And great song to end with, too! 🎵
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Thank you, Lauren 😁
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Somehow I missed this one! What? Lovely eats, as per and perfect music.
I go through periods where I think I’ll sign up and then am brought back down to earth, reminded of how much money I wasted by not going! I heard tell ours were opening up (again). I’m just excited that since yesterday, restaurants with a terrace are open. They were packed despite the temps being in the mid-50’s!
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We paid our membership for a year and a half and never stepped into the place.
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Well. I know how that works. If, however they were closed, your membership should be extended…
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They issued some credits for when they were closed and then opened on a limited basis under guidelines issued by the county. My not wanting to go there was my own choice. They didn’t offer a “suspended” membership for those who thought being in a place with heavy breathing might be risky so I had to eat the fee or resign. This place has few open memberships so giving up a membership meant a possible waiting list.
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I get it. And I don’t blame you for waiting to go till things were better. Your health is more important. Eating the fee makes sense.
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That’s what we came to as well. Thanks, Dale.
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You are such a smart cookie 🙂
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Hahahaha.
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