Redbud Cafe, Blanco, TX

While in Blanco, TX last weekend I walked around in the early morning taking photographs while the G-man slept late. He needs his strength for his golf tournament this afternoon & I need to roam about town.

I found a cute cafe, pub, bakery on the square just across the street from the old Blanco County Courthouse. It is the Redbud Cafe and looks very inviting. They don't open until 10:30 so I'll have to have a look-see from the exterior until later this afternoon.

Outside looking in...

Boot sculpture in front window.

More from the street...

Yippee, the restaurant is open
and I am desirous of a glass of the local wine
and a pastry for a mid-afternoon delight.

Even though the temperature is a bit cool
and the day is drab
I have my wine & pastry on the sidewalk tables.
Gertie will like this because she can sit with me.

My pastry is lovely.
It is a cheese Danish with fresh strawberries
The crust is flaky & light.
It's even better than the pastries at
Sweetish Hill Bakery in Austin!

A few hours later the G-man & I stop for a light supper
before heading back home.

I had a scrumptious chicken salad sandwich on homemade bread
and the G-man had a hamburger which he said was outstanding.

The sculpture is from a local artist (didn't get the name)
and the textiles are huipils from Mexico.

Close-up of sculpture
wood & metal...

Above the coffee bar are paintings for sale...

Interior shot of tables & artwork...

Wood & stone sculptures in each front window

Looking out a back window

The shot above is looking into the little art shop next door.
They sell items from Mexico and pottery from local artisans.

Now we'll head back home & look forward to visiting another day.

Adieu Renee

For Renee
We have lost our wonderful friend Renee.
She has joined the birds, bees, & butterflies;
the breezes that blow through this beautiful world;
the earth, the sky, the day, the night;
the oceans, lakes, streams.
Whisper her name, Renee
and a smile will arise.
Rest peacefully & watch over us.
There is another angel in heaven this day.
"Fly in Peace & Love"

The Drought is Over

About a year ago the G-man and I went
to the Pedernales River State Park
to do some hiking and birding.
The day was glorious,
blue sky & water,
but only small pools of water
as Central Texas was experiencing
a severe drought.

On this revisit last month
the day was overcast, cold &
the drought is in abeyance.
The river is roaring!

This is a magical place to visit.
Someday I'd like to visit in the summer &
take a dip in the very cool waters of the Pedernales.
Maybe this summer there will still be water to enjoy.

Here you can see the force of nature and
how immense the area is in comparison to the man taking the photo.
It is breath-taking.
I just wish the sky had been the brilliant Texas blue,
but alas the day was overcast
& the temperature hovering around the freezing mark.

February, 2010

Along the Golden Isles

I am a native of Georgia, but have not spent much time there since the 1970s. When I lived there I did not travel down the Georgia coastline, but when the G-man & I visited there last month we decided to drive from Savannah to Jacksonville, Florida where we would turn westward going back to Texas.

After leaving Savannah our destination was the Brunswick area where we planned to visit Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, and Sea Island. The following are photos from Jekyll, St. Simons, and the town of Brunswick. As it turned out Sea Island is a gated community and alas we could think of no one to ring up to invite us onto the island.

Each of the "titles" are linked to a web site giving more information about the area. You can also "click" on each photo to enlarge it for better detail.

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island beach

The day was so gray, but spectacular.

Cedar Waxwings atop a tree on Jekyll Island.

A Cormorant takes flight.

Wetlands past the sandy beach.

Immature Ibis in the wetlands on Jekyll

...and just in the bushes is a Wood Stork.

Saint Simons Island

Cormorants sunning on the pier.

Looking back from the pier.

Lighthouse and home along the sea wall in St. Simons.

Park just up from the pier.

The little main street in the older part of St. Simons

View of the bay from St. Simons' library steps




Brunswick, Georgia
Gateway to the Golden Isles

Marina near downtown

Just a few of the cute little shops in the downtown area.

The town of Brunswick seems to be quite active and is just a few minutes to the lovely barrier islands along its coastline. It is the kind of small town I could live in if I were to ever return to Georgia. It is vibrant and has exceptional beauty surrounding it.

I would enjoy spending a few more days here exploring this pretty setting. Maybe on our next trip back to this part of the world. We should be back in the area sometime this summer and it would be interesting to see what it is like in summer.

Puttin' on the Ritz

Government building

It's a new day...

What a beautiful morning it is in central Texas!
The G-man & I are feeling much better
and this gorgeous morning helps much.

The birds are a-twitter in the back yard,
New grass blades are poking their heads
through the dead grass,
and the Carolina jasmine is blooming.
The Buff-bellied Hummingbird is still here
and enjoying the jasmine blossoms.
Life is good!

Under the weather

Both the G-man & I have been "under the weather" the last few days. A stomach bug hit on Sunday for me and on Monday for him. Gertie has been having to play nurse to the both of us. ...and I might add she's doing a very good job.

We have been in such good health for the last few years except for aches & pains from arthritis, over-exertion, a hernia surgery for the G-man and carpel-tunnel surgery for me. When these bugs and flu hit it is a wake-up call to how fragile our bodies really are. We try to eat well, exercise, not expose ourselves to illnesses of others and yet an illness will sneak into our lives.

These are minor problems compared to friends and family who are suffering from heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer. Life is scary, illness makes us vulnerable to depression which compounds the underlying problems.

These days I am thinking of two Canadian friends who are suffering from cancer. My thoughts are with Renee & her family and Barry and his. Today perhaps Barry has good news and will be cancer free & not need more chemo-therapy. I hope Renee is free of suffering and that her pain is being well managed.

Other blogger friends have just lost their mothers. It is a time of sorrow. My thoughts are with you all. May you have strength and love to carry you through.

For Renee

Keeping a candle
burning for Renee

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,

and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend the sick, Lord Christ;

give rest to the weary,

bless the dying,

soothe the suffering,

pity the afflicted,

shield the joyous;

and all for your love's sake.

Amen.

Potholes

Snitched from High Desert Diva
via Pete Dungy
but it could just as easily
be the street where I live!
Love this imagination.

Just finished reading...

Just finished reading Sue Monk Kidd's novel The Secret Life of Bees. I seem to be drawn to southern writers, especially those who write of the rural south.

Being from Georgia originally I identify with the 1960s culture illustrated in this book. It is a culture in which I lived until my 29th year.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and this story revolves around that particular era. I can visualize every aspect of this story as though I were there living it with the characters.

Lily Owens is the protagonist in the story. A 14 year old white girl being reared by a hard-hearted & distant father who has no love for anyone including his daughter who desperately searches for love.

There are several lines by Lily that jump out at the reader:

In the first chapter, the reader realizes how difficult a life Lily lives when she makes this statement:

"People who think dying is the worst thing don't know a thing about life."

After the suicide death of of a close friend Lily thinks:

"I was afraid, though, the blame would find a way to stick to them. That's how blame was."

Referring to her own feelings as well as those of others Lily believes:

"People, in general, would rather die than forgive. It's that hard. If God said in plain language, 'I'm giving you a choice, forgive or die,' a lot of people would go ahead and order their coffin."

Lily believes that imagination brings out the goodness in people. She imagines hard people can have a soft side, that they can let love into their lives & let it shine out toward others.

"I know that is an absurd thought, but I believe in the goodness of imagination."

This story is very simplistic and yet complicated. In it the reader can experience love from the simplest acts. In the unusual analogy of living with bees one comes to understand how bees are cared for and protected and goes far in understanding community.

along the Danube

along the Danube
the lover's walked,
old ladies sat
on benches,
old men strolled
arm in arm

the sun shone
on that first day
in November,
All Saint's Day

bright, shiny, glittering
was the water

young men performed
their break dancing,
people window-shopped
on cobblestone streets

leaves glowed
orange, yellow, red
as the autumn chill
brought beautiful color

all seems right with the world.
Peace.