An Afternoon on East 6th

My Nikon has felt neglected the past few months and I've missed spending time with photography in general. Joining an Austin photography meet-up group seemed like a great solution.

And I was right. 

My first outing with the group was a couple of weekends ago to photograph Austin's East 6th Street, an area that has seen new life in the past few years. I've been there before at night, when the restaurants and clubs are overflowing with people and a parking space is usually blocks away, but a quiet Sunday afternoon is a good time to capture the backdrop of all that fun. 

And find a good parking spot. 

A herd of photographers.

A mural on the side of a building. Obviously. 

We met in the parking lot of the Violet Crown Social Club, across the street from the cool mural. Patrons can step outside to order Detroit-style square pizzas from Via 313. They'll deliver them to you back inside the club! 

I've had one -  the Omnivore - and it was yummy!

One of the photographers brought her dog, Peaches, along. It was so sweet to see an owner who was thoughtful enough to protect her puppy's feet from the hot pavement!

East 6th is dotted with great places to eat and drink. I've only been to a few... the Violet Crown Social Club, Via 313, and Wonderland, which is a small, dark bar with a large area in the back outside. 

When I visited the last time, the East Side Kings food trailer was there with great Thai food. 

According to its website, it is moving to Whisler's, but still on East 6th!

People were oblivious to us and our cameras. The first couple above said they understood why we were there, snapping away, because they were "Austin Lovers, too!" And told me I should take their photo. So I did. 

East 6th Street is full of color!

Just random shots. 

And in the midst of all the revitalization... the funky new clubs, restaurants, and Saturday night crowds... there sits this old house with the metal fence. 

I hope you enjoyed the stroll! Next up... Enfield! I can't wait!

As the bluebonnets fade into memory...

Bluebonnet season doesn't last long, maybe a month from first pop to stragglers still hugging the roadsides. 

It creates a weird dynamic - a sense of urgency to step on the brakes... 

...to forget that you're already running late to the next somewhere... 

 ...to step outside of your normal, hurried day... 

...and just soak up the sight and smell of them, 

before it's too late. 

From top to bottom, these photos were taken at: my neighbor's yard on my way home, a field near a client's weekend home after delivering option money, the Smithwick cemetery on my way to a new listing, and Turkey Bend recreation area on Lake Travis after a Chamber of Commerce meeting down the highway. They were already past their prime; next year, I'm going there first!

Cedar Fever! (But I still love you, Austin!)

My eyes itched. 

My nose ran. 

If I'd had a sheet of sandpaper, I would have reached it down my throat and 

scratched, scratched, scratched. 

Yet there I stood yesterday morning, 

frozen with fascination, 

as one tree after another in the Hollow before me exploded, 

sending smoke billowing from the treetops, 

adding to the haze already veiling the ones in the distance.

Like one of those weathermen I chide for reporting from the middle of a hurricane, 

I stood surrounded by junipers loaded down with tiny yellow bombs which could detonate with the slightest gust of wind, 

but I couldn't resist snapping just one more photo, 

hoping to catch that first second of explosion.

a close-up of the arsenol

On the plus side, my mom is here visiting (I'm keeping her in the house!),

I saw George Strait in person Friday night for the very first time, 

and I reunited with some of my former co-workers /current friends from those DuPont days of my youth in Houston on Tuesday.

I  hope you have a great, allergy-free Sunday!