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!

A Day in Fredericksburg, Texas (Part 1 - On the Street)

I jumped on a bus with a bunch of other Keller Williams agents this past Thursday for a trip into the hill country...

...specifically, to Fredericksburg, a quaint little German-heritage Texas town just an hour or so west of Austin, known for shopping, wine, peaches, and lavender, depending on the season.

Thursday it was cold and windy, but the shops were warm and cozy, all decked out in Christmas color and bling. 

Grab some hot chocolate and follow me along the sidewalks...

So creative!

All decked out for Christmas.

(I had the Reuben. Yum!)

See those people down there? We weren't the only crazy ones exploring the town that day!

I love the architecture...and do you see the figures along the wall to the right?

The Salvation Army bell ringer braved the cold to bring in donations.

The Art Deco touches on this building caught my eye.

A little tequila would have warmed us up!

Who can resist Betty Boop?

Our bus parked near this church. While waiting on the rest of the group, I jumped out and took some photos. Surprised? I didn't think so.

This old home is right across the street from the church. I'd love to know how old it really is. 

Wasn't that fun? 

Join me tomorrow...or Monday or Wednesday...for Day 2, wherein I take you into the shops and restaurants with me!

Walking in the Country with Boy and Dogs

Middle son came home a few weekends ago. 

 I had a rare Sunday afternoon free of work or other obligations... 

...so of course we took a long walk with the puppies (and my camera.)

Doesn't this look like an oasis?

Robins and yellow flowers...

...spring must be just around the corner! 

Daniel took me on a path I'd never walked before and showed me these huge vines.

Amazing!

I spotted the hole in that tree and took this shot with my zoom to get a closer look. 

It reminds me of, ahem, certain body parts. Am I the only one? 

It kind of goes along with the tree in this post, doesn't it?.

Does anyone know what these little pom-poms are? I love them. 

It's like the tree is having a party.

Belle lounging in the dirt

Daniel, the sweet and kind and funny...and all grown-up.

Sigh.

P.S. Many thanks to Hilary at The Smitten Image for bestowing a Post of the Week on this post and this post of mine! Two in one week! You can only imagine how big my head is right now! Be sure to visit Hilary, see her beautiful photography, and read the other Posts of the Week. 


Linking with Lissa's

From a Week in a Texas Autumn

There are times in your life when something's gotta give.

Unfortunately, 

that something for me recently

has been

my morning walk.

But this week, hallelujah, I slipped back into the old routine.

I love and need these morning walks.

It's been a week of beautiful skies, frisky dogs, frosty mornings, glorious light, hunting dogs, spring-like mornings, confused plants, creepy-crawlies, and splashes of autumn leaves.

I kinda went crazy with my camera.

I'll be nice and only share a few of my favorites...

Hope you had a great week! 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with

and the very last

Spring in the Texas Hill Country

Saturday morning Tom and I headed out with friends for a drive into the Texas Hill Country...

First stop: Willow City Loop. 

It's just another winding country road most of the year.

 Pretty, but no more so than any other little country road...

...until spring arrives.

Then it becomes a wildflower wonderland... 

The residents ask that you don't park, so mostly we drove, oohing and aahing around every curve... and snapping bluebonnets from the window.

But a few times Tom agreed to stop so I could jump out and grab a close up.

Indian Paintbrush

White Poppies and Bluebonnets

We continued down the highway to Enchanted Rock State Park...

...where we sat in a line waiting to drive in.

Fortunately, this cardinal kept us company while we waited.

We had a good view of the Rock. 

I prayed we'd make it in before the capacity limit was reached.

We did, hallelujah!

I already posted several photos on Long Hollow of our adventures on the Rock, but here are a few more.

This one gives you an idea of its size...

White Poppies up close... blossoms delicate as tissue! 

The poppies grew along Willow City Loop, but also decorated the beginning of the trail leading to the top of the Rock, along with the beautiful Spiderwort below.

(Who named these, anyway?) 

Fern peeked out from under a huge granite boulder that rested on the Rock.

Colored lichen dressed up much of the granite. 

Besides this University of Texas orange, I also spotted some blues and reds.

We also found color on the cactus...

I have a feeling the cacti below didn't grow like this on their own.

(See those little fuzzy knobs popping out? Soon those will be gorgeous flowers!)

Leaving the rock, we drove into Fredericksburg for lunch and parked near this beautiful church.

The church school... such an imposing building!

A mysterious little door on the side of the church.

I felt sepia added to the mystery.

Fredericksburg is a beautiful little German town with tons of things to photograph

but we were famished and this was as far as we got.

(I recommend the Reuben Sandwich!)

Now that's the way to spend a Saturday in spring!