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.)

Saying Goodbye

My Daddy passed away this past Saturday. 

The week has been a blur, 

feeling more like five weeks than five days. 

You can read my letter to him over at Long Hollow, but I decided to post the handful of photos I took at the service here.

Daddy was in the Navy in WWII.

A Color Guard escorted his casket and presented my mom with an American Flag.

And then a lone trumpeter played "Day is Done". 

Perfect.

Each of the pallbearers - my kids, niece, nephew, and cousins - wore red carnations, which they placed on top of the casket, one by one.

As each one stepped forward, in my mind I saw a younger version of them, playing with my Daddy, and it made me smile.

Back home, we made sure to give this skinny little squirrel some peanuts, because that's what Daddy would have done.

The next morning, my son stepped up to Daddy's place at the stove and fixed us a huge breakfast with bacon, eggs, and biscuits my sweet friend Rae left in a cooler on our doorstep.

Despite the huge cholesterol-laden breakfast, the kids and I stopped for dinner at Whataburger, because that was one of Daddy's favorite places.

Rest in peace, Daddy. You deserve it.

(But I am going to miss you.)

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
 ~ Thomas Campbell

A Walk on the Wild Side

It's March, can you believe it? 

I'm not happy that the year is flying by,

but the signs of spring I find around me make me want to dance.

The Hollow is coming back to life.

Most branches are still bare, but the redbuds are getting the party started.

Mourning doves are back, greeting me on my morning walk... 

...and cooing their mournful song from the trees.

There's been enough rain to keep Max's favorite pool open.

And he's not the only one enjoying it.

Adventurous and hardy Prairie Verbena is always one of the first to emerge and last to disappear.

American Robins have decided they like the Hollow and are lingering a bit.

Our little front yard (home of the bird feeder) is becoming a popular hang-out for the neighborhood critters like this squirrel.

I don't know why this Mexican Jay is giving me the Evil Eye.

A small party of fluffy American Sparrows arrived and posed for me. 

I'll share more of them tomorrow. 

What signs of spring are you finding?

Linking up with

and

Leaves and Good Intentions

Daddy's front yard was a blanket of gold and brown pecan tree leaves, so thick not a blade of glass peeked through. 

It called my camera, but it also called a neighbor's rake. 

The rake moved faster. 

Look how many bags he filled!

And there were still plenty more leaves clinging to the tree for dear life!

 I was disappointed I didn't get that leaf-carpet photo, but I was so grateful for that man who stepped up to help Daddy without being asked.

You can bet I didn't procrastinate when I spotted these untouched leaves on the back yard deck a little later...

I noticed this sweetheart watching me and had to snap his photo, too.

Squirrels rarely come onto the deck now that the cats are around, but this one couldn't resist grabbing a pecan.

Do you see the watcher in the yard keeping an eye on that squirrel?

My parents haven't decorated much for Christmas in years, but I noticed this little tree up on a shelf in my grandmother's old bedroom where I sleep at my parents' house and brought it out to add a little Christmas cheer. 

My own tree still sits bare, except for the lights Tom strung on it. 

I intended to decorate Monday before I left for my parents, but I ran out of time. 

I shifted the intentions onto today, but decided to have lunch with a friend instead. Since I was going into town, I ran a few errands while I was there to save gas.

Day gone.

Tomorrow and Sunday are already booked, so those good intentions are just in limbo right now, poor things. 

I'll try to rescue them Monday. 

Wish me luck!

(Am I the only one who hasn't made progress on decorations or cards or baking or gifts?)