When in Doubt, Take a Walk

A couple of weeks ago, with all of the bleak financial news, I was going stir-crazy watching the TV and listening to all the doom and gloom.

Thankfully, it's still free to walk, so I took Missy to the 50 acre park they are developing around the corner from our house.  It was relatively cool, and it revived my spirit so much, that I took another walk later in the day with my camera.  The park has been a work in progress for some months now, and things have really changed.  What used to be a granite path  (3/4 mile) winding around through thick woods is now visible from the street.  They have cleared out hundreds of small trees and brush (more trees than I would have liked).   They have cleared an area for two soccer (multi-purpose) fields, and they are digging out a small lake bed, which will supposedly have a fishing dock at some point.  They are also building a fenced in 1.8 acre dog park with a pond, and  for Kevin!....lighted basketball courts.  A clubhouse & fitness circuit & frisbee golf course are also in the plans.  Right now, it doesn't look that beautiful because of our extreme drought - everything is dry & brown - but it did RAIN last week!

Stoney Creek park  A frozen helicopter!

The soccer fields...

Also in the last couple of weeks, I made my first Shutterfly photo book.  That was fun, but I had to stay up way late in order to finish by the deadline. 

And I finally read "The Blue Castle"...which I loved!  I read it online, because I could never find it at Half-Price Books...until 2 days after I'd finished it.  Heheh. But anyway, I liked it so much, I ordered it from B & N with a gift card I almost forgot I had. 

And...I went back to Sun Harvest.  This time I only spent about $25. since I didn't get any meat.  Here's what I bought...

6 perfect pears     4 awesome apples   2 red peppers  1 yellow pepper  1 green pepper

4 zucchini   4 red potatoes  2 sweet potatoes  2 yellow onions  1-lb fresh green beans  1 avocado            

broccoli crowns   1-lb. baby carrots    grape tomatoes   1 doz  XL eggs    2 peach apricot bars

sliced raw almonds   honey roasted peanuts   whole almonds    1-gal  Blue Bell Choc Chip Cookie Dough

AND  I got a .15 credit because I brought my own "green" bags!  That was new... I didn't know they did that.  Eventually,  it will pay for my .99 reusable bags! 

Isn't my life exciting.

Grocery Shopping can be Fun

Today I went to Sun Harvest for my weekly produce run.  I've decided to try to go on Wednesdays for the double specials, even though it's much more crowded.  This little store is probably the best kept secret in Austin...it's like a mini Whole Foods--without the attitude.   Today, for $37.30, I purchased:

5 gala apples    1 bartlett pear   5 bananas   1 avocado

3 green peppers   2 red peppers  1- 8oz. pkg. white mushrooms   1- pkg. grape tomatoes

5 yellow squash   1 bunch celery  2 yellow onions  1 head red leaf lettuce   1 head romaine lettuce

1- 32 oz. pkg. Organic Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

1-32 oz. pkg. Organic Corn Chipotle Bisque

2 salmon filets

2 center cut thick pork chops

1 lb ground sirloin

2 bacon wrapped filet mignon

and for a snack...some honey roasted macadamia nuts. 

It just seemed like a lot of food for the money...and I'm bummed, because I forgot to get zucchini. 

Now, to find a place for all of it - and make a salad for supper!      Hmmmm, should I grill the salmon or the filets??  Both?  

Beauty and the Beast

I found a few pictures from John's camera - of the Zilker Hillside Theater and some of the cast.  

I don't have a clue how to arrange photos. 

                                                                                 I liked Gaston ever so much more than the Beast...

Summer Review Continued...

The only reason I really want to keep reviewing my summer is to post some photos...

July 4th 

We decided not to go to see the fireworks anywhere, but just watch the surrounding neighborhoods from our deck.  Then at the last minute, we packed up the camera and the tripod and headed toward Lake Pflugerville.  Since we were so late, we weren't sure if we could find parking, so we just went to the Wal-Mart parking lot about a mile or so away from the lake itself.  I forgot the tripod connection, of course, so I just had to steady the camera on the tripod...still, I think I got some pretty neat photos.

The next night, on Friday, the 5th, John & I went to the Zilker Hillside Theater to see "Beauty & the Beast."  For those who've never been, it is a grassy hillside that slopes down to an open air stage/theater.  People bring blankets, quilts, beachtowels, stadium chairs, coolers, picnics/snacks and claim their space...starting at about 5pm.  The show doesn't begin until almost dark, which is close to 9pm.  Sitting out in the sun in 100 degree weather for 4 hours waiting, is not fun, but the show is always worth it.  We didn't get there until after 6pm, but we got fairly good seats, off to the side, but close to the stage.  The production was fantastic,the costumes were amazing, and the night was perfect.  For some inexplicable reason, it was cloudy and actually cool.  I would guess that the humidity was very low, and there was a nice breeze.  I think there must have been rainshowers nearby, because at one point, the wind was actually so cool, I wished I'd brought a sweater!  We could not have ordered a more perfect night.  It was almost midnight before we got home...tired, but wanting to go again.  In my opinion, Gaston stole the show, but Belle had a beautiful voice, as did Mrs. Potts.

It just so happens that John went back multiple times, but I never made it.  He got very involved with the producers, and is now acting as a consultant to the theater company and city of Austin to make improvements in the building & find more fundraising options. 

Next year, the plan is to do either "The Music Man" or "The Sound of Music".  It will be interesting to see what unfolds.

The rest of the month was pretty uneventful...I can't remember anything of interest, anyway.

RAIN!!!!

  Yes, I was surprised  , stunned  & shocked   when I work up Tuesday morning.  And I was also  and  .  We actually had 1.3 inches of rain in the rain gauge!!  It was a welcome blessing.  (Uh, I guess most blessings are welcome, huh.)

This afternoon (Thursday), we had more showers...another 1/2".  I'm so thrilled that I don't have to drag the hose & sprinker around the back yard tonight.  Yay!

*********

OK...back to June 2008.  The later part of the month, John & I took a roadtrip to northeast Texas to visit my niece & family.  Vicki & Kelli met us in Nacogdoches in the early afternoon, and we went to pick blueberries.  I had never even seen a blueberry bush.  Although it was hot & humid, I admit that I loved the whole experience.  I am a farmer girl at heart.  Between us, John & I picked over 9 pounds of blueberries in about an hour or so.  We sampled the berries as we picked...they were plump, sweet & juicy...mmmmmmmm.

We washed & bagged most of the blueberries & put them in the freezers, but Vicki used some of them to make a scrumptious blueberry cobbler for dessert. 

The next morning, we drove to Shreveport, Louisiana, to the R. W. Norton Art Gallery.  I absolutely loved it.  We saw original  paintings by Mary Cassatt, Winslow Homer, Albert Bierstadt, and Remington, as well as sculptures by Rodin, and Frederick Remington.  There were tapestries dating back to the 16th century, and an original page from a Gutenberg Bible.   They have a rare book collection with some beautifully illuminated (illustrated) caligraphy, etc.    I could have stayed there for hours, but I do think I saw almost every item, even if only for a few seconds. 

Oh, did I mention that they had several pieces of colonial silver, many crafted by Paul Revere!   Unfortunately, they did not allow photography, so I can not prove any of this.  But we did go to the back of the gallery, where they have beautifully landscaped gardens and water features.  See what I mean...

It was really beautiful there.  

Next, we went to the boardwalk in Bossier City.  It is a neat collection of shops & restaurants, complete with trolleys to take you around.  We didn't actually go to Hooters...we ate at a San Francisco sandwich shop, which was really good!   

The next day, we had to get back home, but we stopped again at the Blueberry Place and picked another 15 or more pounds of blueberries.  Why, you ask?  Well, they were only $1.25/pound, and they are good for you!  I've made cobblers, muffins & poppyseed cake.  I've added them to cereal, salads, and smoothies.   I feel healthy. 

I took this last picture as we were leaving the blueberry patch...