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!

I remember you, June...

Can you believe it's almost August? 

Can you believe I haven't posted anything here since early summer?

Poor neglected blog.

I'm going to slow things down and mosey back in time, via some of my favorite shots from June.

Most are from our morning walks, which start pretty early. We haven't had many 100 degree days, 

but even the 90's are too hot for Max these days.

June is when the Mountain Pinks decorate the roadsides. 

But they aren't the only wildflowers in the Hollow.

We were blessed with rain this summer. 

See the raindrops left on these yucca petals?

 Rain spills down the hills around us, 

creating huge ruts on our dirt roads, 

so Tom and Daniel spent a morning digging and stacking rocks 

to divert the water down to the culvert below. 

Yay!

In June my nephew brought us a treat - my great-niece. 

She is truly a little doll, inside and out.

We didn't notice until I took the photo and zoomed in close that there's a tiny "pearl" in the middle of this star-shaped plant. 

Anyone know what this is called?

Would you believe Belle is 4 years old now? 

She still acts like a puppy, though, and has the energy of two.

It's funny to me that we say everything in Texas is bigger, yet we call this Lake Austin.

Would you believe a friend's sister lives with this view every day?
I felt blessed just getting to visit and see it once!

More from our early morning walks. 

My friend Leslie turned 55 this month. 

When you've been friends with someone for 40 years, 

you better hang on to them, because they really do know too much about you!

I'd hang on to her anyway. She's a sweetheart.

Speaking of hanging on, this little guy kept me company one day when I was working at home.

I ate my first Torchy's Taco in June. 

I'm ready for another one!

Visits to my house are an adventure for my mom...and impossible without my sons to help maneuver her wheelchair up and down our inclined rock path. 

(Don't take your legs and lungs for granted!)

I gave blood for the first time in more than thirty years in June. 

Then wondered why I hadn't done it sooner. 

No big deal!

I'm glad I chose to be part of Keller Williams Realty for many reasons, 

but one of them is their attitude that we're family. 

Our market center plans fun things for us to do together, 

including a happy hour at the Oasis restaurant on Lake Travis, 

where we watched the sun set.

I told him I just had to take his picture. 

He was cool with it.

I spotted this in a new home I was touring. 

I hope I can find one in a store.

(I'd say I'd make one, but I know better.)

Once upon a time there was a lake...

After months of blue skies and drought here in the Texas Hill Country,

we've finally had rain... and rain... and rain.

Our small pond has filled up, spilling over into the creek below our house. 

The larger ponds... ours and those upstream... are no longer grassy fields, 

but reflective pools for the surrounding trees. 

But the photos below were taken within the past few weeks, 

even after inches and inches of rainfall.

They're of branches of Lake Travis... well, of what used to be branches of Lake Travis.

It's just a matter of time now... I hope it's just a matter of time... 

before the water makes its way to these grassy fields and rocky slopes, as well.

How much more rain will it take?

The Fourth on Lake Travis (well,what's left of it)

A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature.  It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.  

~Henry David Thoreau

Grab a hat, a cool drink, your sunscreen and meet us down at the dock. We're heading out with our friends George and Karen for a ride on Lake Travis (thanks, G and K!) 

What's left of Lake Travis, anyway. 

These docks are at the end of what used to be a cove full of water, not grass.

There's just enough water on G and K's end to maneuver the boat.

If you're really, really careful.

The lake levels have dropped a tad.

Easing past the neighbor's dock (the roof in photo #3) 

Cheering us on our way!

Ah, wide open spaces at last...

Guess they didn't hear about the drought.

Still enough water for lots of fun, though!

I want one of these. (Not really, but seriously, who lives here?)

And here? 

This is actually the one I want.

I've always wanted a turret.

In fact, just give me the turret. I can do without that much house.

Unless it came with a maid, of course.

And it probably does.

Okay, I'll take it.

And this sailboat.

Thank you!

Okay, I'll stop dreaming...

We're going to anchor near this island for a little while.

It's normally under water.

Time to relax in the water.

Doesn't this look like fun?

And this?

Too soon, it's time to head back to the dock 

 Hope you enjoyed the ride! 

(Put some aloe gel on that sunburn. Works wonders!)

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.  

~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732


This is my contribution to Jan@twoscoopz's Focus 52 project for this week...