Wall Art

Two noble figures who were in attendance at the sale in Warrenton.

The Sale

   Yesterday we drove 50-60 miles east of Austin.  Round Top - Warrenton.  From Monday through the week-end is a 10 mile long "garage sale".  It is that but much, much more.  It was cool and misty and only Tuesday but there were folks everywhere.  AS we came into Warrenton the booths lined both sides of the road and the traffic flow slowed to a crawl.  We took the hint and found a place to park an began to explore this shopper's paradise.
    We actually found out about this event from watching one of our favorite programs, "Fixer Upper".  Joanna, the host, made a trip to Round Top to find some "treasures" for her decorating business.  She and her husband have built their TV fame into a large retail business in addition to their successful remodeling business.  After Googling "Round Top" we decided that we were going to go check out this event.  It was busy, and tiring, and overwhelming, and great fun !  Despite the  distance and all the other things, we would go again.  We found some great objects for our house.  We also got some ideas for future acquisitions because some of the items we wanted were too heavy to haul back to Oregon.
   In addition to the many items for the home, there were some cool guy stuff like a rustic hood from a 49 Chev, or the beat-up grill from a 34 Ford, each of which would look great on the wall of my garage or shed.  Pieces of farm equipment was everywhere as well.  It was an fun event for both men and women.  A Good Thing !

Flower Lovers

The Butterflies love even the tiny flowers.

Easter Weekend

This is Easter Weekend.  We did not know if our visitor count would increase or decrease.  Thursday was a normal day, however Friday was busy.  We were going back to back all afternoon.  Today we expect the same.  There are, however, more rangers and volunteers to cover the numbers so it should actually, be better today.  Easter Sunday should be busy in the afternoon, especially if the nice weather of the last few days remains.  Nothing like sun and warm temperatures to bring out the travelers.  The wildflower bloom helps a lot.  The busloads of visitors are on their way through April.

More flowers

The Bluebells are everywhere right now.  Many of the roadways are lined with patches of the blue/purple Bluebells and red Indian Paintbrush.  It makes driving the highways of the Hill Country that much more enjoyable.

We at the ranch have been warned about the month of April.  Buses.  Lots and lots of tour buses coming to the Hill Country to see the wild flowers.  Are we ready?

Morning

    Last night we went to Albert for what has become a weekly outing.  18 of us in all, both NPS employees and volunteers.  Food, music, and lots of conversation.  We all have been together long enough to feel comfortable with each other and the weather has mellowed enough to be outdoors in the evening without being too uncomfortable.  A good time was enjoyed by all.
    The moon was coming up as I walked the boys last night.  A warm wind was blowing from the south.  The boys were happy to be out in the dark, smelling and listening to the night.  However, at 12:30 we were awakened by lots of flashing lightning and rolling and crashing thunder.  As the storm rolled in from the west, passed overhead and moved to the east, the light show was almost continuous.  It was wonderful.
    Living in western Oregon, we get to experience rain.  Lots of rain.  But the thunder storms.  I miss the thunder storms that I remember from living in Minnesota.

Good Healing

A creek along the Willow City route off Hwy 16 between Fredericksburg and LLano.  One of the best areas to see Texas wildflowers.

Wildflowers

Went with friends Joe and Martha on a trip today.  North on Ranch Road 1623, then a couple more roads. Then we found the Willow City loop.  About 30 miles of narrow paved road up through hills and canyons. Lots of interesting scenery and  great roadside wildflowers.  Red Indian Paintbrush, Bluebonnets, Yellow Texas Groundsel.  It was a fantastic drive.  It was a Good Thing!

Thunderstorm

Yesterday was an interesting day.  Lots of visitors.  It's still spring break.  We have been slammed, especially in the afternoon.  Yesterday was no exception.  The difference was the weather.  It has been a pleasant spring break weatherwise.  The forecast said 60% chance of rain, but as I stood in the dining room yesterday, I know we were in for an exciting afternoon.  Dark clouds to the north and west.  Lightning too.  The house was full of people.  The crew in hanger, our rangers in charge, warned us on the radio that thunderstorms with lightning, were approaching from the west.
   Everything stopped.  The tours stopped.  We listened to the radio for advice on what to do with our visitors.  For a while I tried to resume my talk about the dining room, but the radio chatter continued and even increased.  Finally, the announcement came across our radios that the storm looked big and visitors had the option of hurrying to their cars or retreating to the hanger and waiting the storm out.  I think everyone ran through the rain to their cars.
     R and I did the same and we hurried back to the trailer.  The boys had been indoors all day long so I took them for a quick, wet, short walk.  Luckily they both took care of business quickly and we scurried for the trailer.  Then, it began to Really rain!  Crashing thunder, brilliant lightning.  Very exciting!  Then - the sound of hail.  Oh, oh.  I made the decision and put on my parka and ran to the truck and moved it to the nearby open hanger.  I pulled the truck in and waited.  The hail subsided. ( other areas nearby had hail the size of a dime.)  The rain, however intensified.  Harder, then harder.
I have never seen rain this hard.  The tin roof of the hanger magnified the noise.  I stood on the running board of the truck and watched in awe and counted the seconds after the flashes.  Wow!

Morning Songs

6:30 am walk with the boys is an auditory opera.  The ear is bombarded with songs.  Wild Turkeys, Sandhill Cranes. Cardinals, Morning Doves are the ones I recognized.  Many others were vying for air time.  A couple of Coyotes were adding to the aria before the sun lightened the sky.  I reluctantly returned to the trailer to fix breakfast for us all.

The Original Texas Star Trail

The Original Texas Star Trail.

Each year about 300 people attend the event and ride 112 miles from Fredericksburg through several towns and nearly two dozen ranches along the way.  Some ride horses.  Some ride wagon.  It seems they have a good time because there are many repeat travelers.
  www.texasstartrail.com

Taxes

    It's that time of year.  Ugh!  I tried to do our taxes this year, but we sold our Bandon lot last year but the paperwork we got from the handling company was not clear.  I heard that AARP offers free tax filing assistance.  So I looked up the nearest help.  Dripping Springs or Kerrville, both about 50 miles away.  So I called the 800 number.  I told the person who answered what I was trying to do and she told me that I had better call the IRS direct and gave me the 800 number.  After a 15 minute wait, the IRS representative listened to my question and told me, "Your question is too difficult.  We don't answer those type of questions here.  You need to go to the IRS website.        
    So I have an appointment with H&R Block in Fredericksburg on Monday.  

Roadside lunch

Sometimes a guy gets hungry even when he is in the middle of the road.

 There are at least 25 baby calves that have been born in the last couple of weeks.  It is fun to see the little ones running around.

Bales

  Parked across the street from the post office on Friday was this truck and trailer.  Round bales we have seen before.  The trailer was new to me.  I had to check it out.  The rancher said it made unloading a lot easier.  Pull the pin, lift the lever and the bale rolls off.  Voila !

Texas Mountain Laurel

Starting to bloom here.  Grow and look like of Lilacs.  Flowers smell like Grape Kool-Aid.

 Taking a whiff is like going back to my youth.

Spring

                            Spring is getting close !  ?  !

Caracara

Saw the Caracara sitting along the back road on the ranch this morning.  A Caracara is sort of a cross between a vulture and a hawk.  Tap on the photo to enlarge it.

Austin

   Went to Austin yesterday.  Went to see the LBJ Library.  Located on the campus of University of Texas.  Nice location next to Texas Stadium.   Pretty impressive building.
    Three floors of displays.  Five floors of archives.  Four hours were not enough.

 When we were ready to leave.  The truck would not start.  Just clicking when the key was turned.  Rats!!  I looked for jump starts on my phone.  Several miles away.  I decided to walk back to the library to see if they knew of some place nearer.  On the way there I saw two guys getting out of the University van so I asked them.  They gave me the number of the campus security.  Security provides assistance to cars parked in the University parking lots.  Five minutes later a white university vehicle shows up the gal pulls out a jump-start unit and bingo the truck started.  We were more than pleased.  Definitely, a Good Thing !   Found a nearby Interstate Battery store and drove home with two new truck batteries.