Big Sur... Beautiful!

 How can a place be this beautiful?

 We drove from Santa Barbara to Monterey on Monday

and saw these wonderful scenes.

 Big Sur begins just north of Cambria and ends at Carmel.

It is the most beautiful 83 miles I have ever driven.

An Oasis in the Desert

Blue grosbeak (male)

Lovely little pond at entrance

Chihuahuan Desert has a beautiful oasis at

Balmorhea State Park.

This is located about 40 miles north of

Fort Davis, TX.

Many minnows swimming in the stream.

From the highway (in the distance) we could see

the charred hillsides where the wildfires

burned thousands of acres of the

beautiful Davis Mountains.

Crystal clear spring water

Kingbird

Cottages in the distance

This stream continues along the roadway & irrigates much farmland.

Ripples in the water. It is a breezy day.

Hills in the distance, campground in park

Signage at the marsh in the park

Chapel along the roadside

Balmorhea Natural Springs Pool; Texas Parks & Wildlife photo

Turkey & Her Chick Came Visiting!

Turkey & Her Chick

Introducing the "kid" to the neighborhood

Moving out...

 It is so much fun to have the unexpected visitor.

Both the mom & chick seemed very at ease

on their stroll about the 'hood.

Let's go to the next neighbor & see what they are offering.

Texas Lavender Festival!

I've been wanting to go the the 

Texas Lavender Festival

and this year I made it.

My friend & teacher (who retired with me 4 yrs ago)

had a birthday on Friday so

another teacher friend & I went to Blanco, TX

to celebrate her birthday & enjoy the festival.

(Click on photos to enlarge--click twice for extra large image.)

 

Colorful shopper is looking at the wares of a vendor.

Many of the vendors wore lavender straw hats.

Cute.

My friend looking at all things lavender.

More lavender with a Texas Garden Almanac.

Lovely display of basketry.

I think the basket maker is from 

Georgetown, a town just north of Austin.

Various types of crafts were available for purchase.

Beautiful Sculpted Pottery
see below...

(Click on photos to enlarge--click twice for extra large image.)

I thought these clay sculptures 

were particularly beautiful.

It must have taken hours to

produce this work.

These pieces are stunning!

I love them all, but my favorite

may be the hearts below.

Above this painting was a sign:

"Tell us if 'your' a biker."

Yes, this weekend is the huge biker rally in Austin.

There are bikers riding all through the country

enjoying their road freedom.

Stay safe, be aware.

One biker died on Friday after being struck 

by another vehicle. 

The bike passenger & vehicle driver are hospitalized.

Just plain fun!!!

Very nice plants for sale.

I love the burro planter.

My friend is showing off the lovely Passion Flower.

Now here is an idea for a place to store your wine bottles.

Put this in your yard or on the patio

and you have sculpture.

Gypsy Couture

I can't say much about the clothing,

but the ride is cool!

Lavender wares...

more lavender soap & embroidery...

lavender hats...

and even more lavender products for sale.

This banner says it all!

Las tres amigas!

The birthday girl is front and center.

Now this is the type sheriff I could find interesting.

He was friendly and funny.

He must have a great sense of humor

to wear a lavender hat & celebratory beads around his neck!

Pioneer Museum

The Texas Hill Country Book

has beautiful photographs of some of

the tiny Texas towns 

located in and around the hill country.

Blanco, Comfort, Fredericksburg, Johnson City

among others are listed.

Each of the towns have several famous restaurants

and some of the more popular recipes from

these restaurants are included in the book.

Next time I'm in Blanco I will bring home this book.

I don't know why I didn't get it yesterday... just dumb, I guess.

My friend in the little shop next to the

Redbud Cafe where we had lunch.

The shop sells Brieger pottery, 

lavender products, Mexican oilcloth,

purses from Guatemala, and other interesting items.

 

Mexican oilcloth sold by the yard.

A new restaurant in town: Zocalo Eclectic Cafe' & Coffee.

It has been open since February 4, 2011.

It has a nice lunch menu and serves dinner

on Saturdays and brunch on Sunday.

It is quite colorful & fun to visit.

Visiting Miller Creek Lavender Farm

at the intersection of Hwys 281 and 290

west of Austin, north of Blanco & south of Johnson City.

One of the many varieties of lavender in their garden.

Dragonfly wind sculpture

The lavender fields would normally be filled with 

blooming plants at this time of year, but

the severe drought that we are enduring has wreaked

havoc on the plants.

A cozy place to sit and relax

even when the temperature is 100

it is rather comfortable in the shade with

a breeze and low humidity.

Misters were sending out sprays of water

to keep us cool as we stood on the porch of the Lavender Shoppe.

Wares inside the Lavender Shoppe.

Pottery with lavender motif, lavender teas, lotions

and cooking ingredients were for sale.

No matter what the season I totally enjoy driving

in the hill country. Famous Fredericksburg peaches

should be about ready for sale and there are

other fresh fruits and vegetables sold along the roadside in

little stores built by the individual farmers.

The hill country is also known for its wineries.

There are a few along the road driving to Fredericksburg

that have music and wine tastings on the weekends.

Fredericksburg is a German town which attracts thousands

of visitors each weekend.

People come for the shopping, the food, the quaintness of 

the German heritage and for the climate.

It is usually a bit cooler & less humid in Fredericksburg

than in other surrounding towns.

Now when I say cooler, I mean the temperature may be

90 with low humidity & a breeze ... rather than 105 with humidity!

Come for a visit... you may see me.

Miller Creek Lavender Shoppe