Gorgeous, even though we only have a few.
The poppies are popping.
Gorgeous, even though we only have a few.
Category: Flowers
Must be March.
The bluebonnets are beginning to pop in our back yard, and all over the hillcountry.
Can’t wait for spring.
I spent some time this weekend working in the garden, getting it ready for spring. The african daisies are way ahead of me. 
Love-ly day.
Tulips! I had a very nice Valentine’s Day. We went to the lake for the afternoon, and enjoyed a great sail up the lake a ways. Kevin, Kurt, Marty & Sue joined us on our boat, and Lori & Joe sailed along on Camelot.
And to cap off the day we had a delicious dinner at Andiamo. They were serving a special 4 course dinner with wine flight, and it was wonderful.
Now, I’m trying to get psyched up for Monday…
Friday frames.
I’m trying really hard to focus on work. After next Friday, I’m off for the rest of the year (!) But, when I get a chance, I pick up the new camera to take a few shots. I’ll share a few.
Possumhaw holly out back has donned its Christmas red and green.
A little wren flitting in the vines along the fence – I think it’s a Carolina Wren, from its coloring. One of the first shots taken with my telephoto lens.
And a picture of the bouquet of flowers from Thanksgiving, still hanging in there – vivid pink lilies and white hydrangeas.
Garden guest.
I was walking back from the shop today when I saw a butterfly fluttering among the zinnias. She flitted around, while I stopped to watch, for a good 2 minutes, posing, in perfect light. Of course I didn’t have a camera with me. When I got back in the house I grabbed my phone and popped back out. She was still there, but wouldn’t let me get as close, and didn’t pose as perfectly this time — camera shy, i guess. I took some zoomed-in shots, not crisp, but pretty. I think this is an eastern black swallowtail. She does love the zinnies.
The zinnies just keep on coming.
This is one of the latest zinnias from the garden. A vibrant, pink-salmon-fuschia color – this shot has not been retouched aside from cropping it. The color is just amazing.
Autumn afternoon.
We checked out trees at a nearby nursery. They didn’t have many, but I found the mums mesmerizing.
Then we stopped by the beer garden at Austin Beer Works brewery and enjoyed a couple pints and some trailer-fare for dinner.
With temps still in the 90s, it’s hard to imagine a chill in the air. But that, too, shall come.
A fun, full, first weekend of Fall!
We’ve been busy! This past weekend, we made a roadtrip out to west, stopping first at William Chris Winery, where we caught up with a friend of ours that we ran into, by chance; then we hopped over to Wildseed Farms to pickup a bunch of seed; then made it over to one of our faves, Becker Vineyards, where we had a tasting, a picnic, and checked out their new field of zinnias. Just beautiful.
On the way home we headed over to the Real Ale Brewery in Blanco. We took the river road south/southeast from Hwy 290 to Blanco, and stopped along the way several times to check out the now lazy river that was uncontrollably raging just 4 months ago, tragically sweeping away homes and families over Memorial Day weekend.
At Real Ale, Monte sampled a flight, and I sipped my favorite – Hans Pils.
Then Sunday rolled around, and we headed out to see the Anderson Mill historical site, near its original location at Cypress Creek on Lake Travis. The Anderson Mill Gardeners do a wonderful job of preserving the site and its history.
We made it to the boat in time to cheer the Seahawks on to their first win of the season, enjoying the recently repaired air conditioning on Nirvana (yay!).
About an hour before sunset, Kurt, Barbara, Dakota and little Leila joined us on the boat, and we motored out to the body of the lake to drift and watch the supermoon lunar eclipse.
Have I mentioned taking photos of the moon and stars on a moving boat is hard? I didn’t get any good shots. But I thought this one was kinda cool… you get the idea.
It was a great weekend, indeed.
Lovely blooms.
I happened upon these beauties while running an errand after work yesterday. Just have to share…
Red glads.
I picked up a bunch of gladiolas this weekend. They are blooming and look stunning – vibrant red.
Love me. Love me not.
We are spending the weekend at Lake Cushman, playing on the lake and tent camping. Fran and Art’s property is fringed with daisies – Mom’s favorite. Nice.
Clematis.
A pretty purple vine growing on Noreen’s back yard arbor: 
Sláinte.
Today we celebrated my mom, and said goodbye. What an emotional day. It was a beautiful ceremony. Lots of family and friends shared the day with us.
We sent her off with a graveside parting glass.
I’m a little exhausted. A little sad. And very happy to have an angel of mom’s calibre in my corner.
I’ll leave you with a picture from my sister’s garden, and the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem version of The Parting Glass.
Sheila365 