Nature's Metallica - Green Longhorn Beetle

One of the good things about having kids is that when your eyes start wearing out, 

your kids can spot things you never would have noticed. 

Like this Green Longhorn Beetle.

It was zipping all over a little tree near our front door on Father's Day weekend, 

but I never would have known it if it weren't for my kids.

Even after they pointed it out to me

...again and again and again...

it took a long time for my eyes to find it.

I was determined to take its picture, but... yeesh! 

It was twisting and scurrying so fast along the limbs that it's a wonder I captured any images that were remotely in focus.

And then, uh-oh...it spotted me.

Or maybe it had just had enough of me and my camera. 

I recognized that look.

 Very similar to the one my kids often give me when I point a camera at them.

Just one more, I promise! Hold still!

Great! Thanks! All done. 

(I haven't seen him since. But then, that doesn't mean he's not there!)

Moon, Super or Not

I admit I'm confused about the date of the Super Moon. 

I've heard June 23, but then read where the best time to see it rise was last night, on the 22nd...

Does it really matter? What's one day?

So at dusk last night I ran up to our road with my camera to snap a few portraits of the full moon. 

I had time on my hands that would be gone this evening.

The golden moon had already risen above the treetops, but was still larger than it normally appears. 

It was at least semi-super, if not officially "Super".

My photos...not so super, 

but better than I expected after playing with them in Lightroom, 

so I'm sharing them with you!

"Be still, and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46:10

That verse always comes to mind when I regard a full moon.

(Add your link in the comments if you captured the moon with your camera, too!)

Yucca Blossoms

The yucca blossoms 

gracing Long Hollow the past few weeks

are mostly gone.

Dried and yellowed.

The stalks stretch toward the ground,

weary of their load.

So I'm grateful 

they sat for so many portraits 

while they were here.

...Reminders that even the short, spiky, commonplace 

yucca plant

can accomplish 

amazing 

things.

A Week Ago Today...

Last Monday I spent the afternoon near

and IN

Lake Travis, 

tagging along after this sweet, fun family.

You can see more photos of them over at my website

 Barbara Shallue Photography.

But you won't see them all. 

I kind of went crazy.

I took over 200 photos!

Between working, editing those photos, and celebrating Father's Day with my dad and then with Tom, 

this past week has zoomed by. 

But guess what?

One of my photos will be featured in HuffPost 50's 

Fifty Fine Arts, 

but I'm not sure when. 

I'll keep you posted.

I have other photos I want to share with you soon 

of the yucca blooms 

and this weird metallic beetle my kids spotted 

but they aren't ready yet. 

So I'll just share these of this awesome old red truck 

resting in the parking lot of Bogie's Buggies, 

an automotive shop in Lago Vista. 

It's missing a few parts. 

Can you tell?

I hope they can fix it up, 

but I loved it the way it was and had fun meeting it

and playing with the photos.

(If it had air-conditioning, automatic windows, and a radio, this would be the vehicle of my dreams!)

Thanks for coming by!

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Laguna Gloria

I scratched another item off my "Austin To-Do" list: 

I finally visited Laguna Gloria, Italianate-style villa, former home of Clara Driscoll. 

(We can thank Clara for not just remembering the Alamo, but making sure it was preserved, too!)

Laguna Gloria sits at the foot of Mt. Bonnell. 

It's a green paradise where peacocks roam and swans swim in the bordering pond.

I joined other writers there for a Critiquenic.  

Critique + Picnic = Critiquenic! 

We snacked and critiqued each other's works and gave thanks that we lived in Austin.

Afterward, I roamed the grounds with my camera, of course.

Come see what I saw...

The front of the house faced the fountain and the rest of the grounds.

The back of the house opened to walkways and adventure.

It was all I could do to NOT step through this cute little gate.

Inside the house. Loved this little corner.

A better shot of the details of the window.

Just one of many paths meandering around the grounds.

Did you notice the lights strung above the path? I'd love to visit at night!

I'm so glad I caught a glimpse of one of the peacocks!

And of this dad and his little daughter on the lawn.

This swan ruled the pond.

A reminder that this is an Art Institute now.

"No one can see their reflection in running water.  
It is only in still water that we can see." 
-   Taoist proverb

This path led to...

...the buildings that comprised the art school.

And look who I found there!

Now, what's next on my list...

May All Your Weeds Be Wildflowers

My friend Jill has been having Garden Parties for almost a month now, but I keep missing them. 

I was determined to attend this week, though, because even though the wild wildflowers of Spring have mellowed, there's still plenty of color.

So grab a bottle of water (it's hot out there) and let's go for a walk.

I'll show you what's blooming in my garden.

(Forgive me if I don't know the names of all of them! I'm headed to work and will tag them later!)

Yucca blossoms...delicate white bells. 

(Nothing yucky about them! Sorry...couldn't resist.)

My front yard, full of Mexican hats and Indian blankets. Lots of diversity!

There are fields of Mexican hats right now.

They'll last all summer, rain or drought.

Cactus are blooming, although lately the deer (or something) are eating the blossoms before the bees can get to them.

The one below was taken last month.

This is a tiny little cactus that hugs the ground along my favorite walking path. 

It's easy to overlook.

I'll try to get a photo of it fully bloomed...if I can beat the deer to it.

Yellow is the color of the season, for sure. 

My miniature rose bush is blooming. Still just a single bud, but that's okay. I'm just grateful it's still alive!

It's survival of the fittest around here.

Hope you enjoyed the walk!

For more beautiful gardens, hop on over to She Who Carries Camera.

And I hope you have a beautiful Sunday!

May all your weeds be wildflowers! 

~ author unknown