Long Hollow

A sweet!-speckled day and SxSW...almost

 

 

Now, as a REALTOR®, this t-shirt from the Etsy shop SpikeStuff goes against everything I stand for. I want people to move here! And I want them to let me help them find a home! Austin is an awesome place to live and there's still plenty of room for everyone!

But tonight, as an Austinite, I let the logistics of traffic and parking overcome the excitement of going to a private SxSW party downtown in the Google Fiber Space. 

Yes, the dread of traffic and the challenge of finding a parking spot was more powerful than the allure of free food and alcohol, and the (very) slight possibility of catching a glimpse of a celebrity. 

Because at this time of year, Austin is not just full... it's overflowing! Thousands flock downtown for SxSW, and the Austin Rodeo draws a huge crowd, too.

And there really are celebrity sightings. Phil Collins visited the State Library and Archives last week, where my son works. 

I had actually been looking forward to the event tonight, very excited that I had won a spot. I would have gone despite the traffic and parking challenges, but I was busy working on an offer for a precious young couple trying to buy their first home and just lost track of the time.

When I finally looked at the clock, I realized I would barely get to the party before it would be time to leave.

So... I decided to write a blog post instead, and tell you about some sweet!s I gathered today...

...As soon as the sun rose enough to light my path, Belle and I headed out for our morning walk. (She's ready to go when it's still dark, but I draw the line at walking by flashlight, as much as possible!) It was cool, but not cold, and gray clouds were peeling away to reveal a clear blue sky and a crescent moon slow to say goodbye. 

We followed our normal path, jogging down the caliche road, then making a large loop through a neighbor-who-doesn't-live-here-yet's property. His pond actually has water in it, now, and as we followed the trail close to it, we heard a loud ruckus on the other side. Belle barked and dashed forward. I arrived in time to see the tails of three deer disappear into the woods.

Life is returning to the hollow, along with the water.

Here's a photo of our pond. Not full, but more full than it's been in awhile!

 

...Mama was still lying down when I arrived for my visit this afternoon, but the aides soon had her up in her wheelchair. I fetched hot water from the kitchen for her afternoon cup of Cafe Vienna (General Foods International Coffee - her addiction for twenty-plus years) while she had her nebulizer treatment. Once the mask was removed, I brushed her hair as she sipped her coffee.

It's longer than I ever remember it. She has no interest in going to the beauty parlor there in the nursing home and getting it cut. The beautician did a fantastic job last time, but that was months ago. Now her silver-white waves flow below her ears.

I enjoy smoothing the bed-head tangles away, chatting as I move the brush. Mostly I enjoy touching her, doing something for her. Being with her. 

 

...Our caliche road runs down a small hill, then curves around its base, paralleling the creek that gives the hollow its name. This afternoon I had rounded the curve at the bottom and was approaching our house when I spotted something that gave me flashbacks to my beloved Frankie: a huge wild turkey was crossing the road just beyond our house. He wasn't in a big hurry, but moved in a steady path, disappearing before I even turned in to park. 

I thought about trying to track him down and maybe snap a photo with my phone, but decided instead, to let him be, and just be grateful for the sight of him. Maybe he'll stay.

And adopt us. And eat birdseed on our windowsill. And come inside to inspect my bookshelves. And go on morning walks with me and Belle.

(Yeah, I know I'm dreaming. There was only one Frankie bird.)

 

 

I hope your Monday was speckled with sweet!s, too! If it wasn't (or even if it was!) here's a wish for you in honor of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow...

A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.
~Irish Blessing

 

 

Princess Josie, Country Dog

 

While my son and daughter-in-law have been traipsing through castles in Germany, we've been lucky enough to hobnob with a princess this past week - Princess Josie, our grandpuppy. 

 

 

Belle's had mixed emotions about it. She's always loved Josie, but has gotten used to being an "only" puppy since Max passed away. For her part, Josie is a little older and has always been an "only" puppy.

 

 

Plus, on visits in years past, when Max was still with us, he and Belle were outside dogs; Josie had the house to herself. That's just the way it was and everyone accepted it.

I'm sure Josie was surprised when Belle followed her into the house this time!

 

Still, as a princess, she has managed to maintain some perks that Belle doesn't get to enjoy. For instance, I gave up ages ago trying to keep Josie off of the couch. She is a persistent little poot.

 

 

But so cute! It's tough saying "no" to that face!

Belle is more obedient; it only took one "no" for her to realize the couch was off-limits. Of course, she was just grateful to be inside at all, and didn't want to jeopardize her new status!

I was worried that Belle would try it again when she saw Josie snuggled up there on the couch, but she's been content to lie on her bed in my office during the day or next to my bed at night, while Josie snoozes on the couch and Aunt Cathy's afghan. 

 

 

 Overall, they are both really, really good dogs. I was nervous about leaving them in the house all alone for hours and hours  but apparently they both have iron bladders and just sleep when we're not here. 

(Although it's obvious one - or both - have been sleeping on my bed when we're not here. But considering there were no messes and nothing destroyed, I choose to turn a blind eye.) 

For the most part, the girls have enjoyed each other's company, especially these last few days of gorgeous weather... chasing squirrels, barking in harmony at the slightest noise, and graciously sharing the attention of all of us with nary a growl. 

Well, very few growls.

 

 

But this was their last day together. Josie's parents are back from their European jaunt. Her dad picked her up this evening.

Josie and I were both happy to see him, but Belle and I will both miss Princess Josie. 

 

 

"If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around."

~Will Rogers 

The Great Austin Ice Storm of 2015

  

 

This past Thursday - the morning of the Great Ice Storm - I slept in, made myself a delicious veggie omelette, then took the girls (Belle and my grandpuppy Josie) for a long walk through the hollow.

 

It was cold, but the cloudless sky was a brilliant blue and the sunshine was a welcome sight after days of drizzly gray.

The girls were excited about getting out of the house.

 

 

 

The city pretty much shut down in anticipation of what could have been a very dangerous situation due to a cold front and warm front crossing paths above us.

 

 

However, we lucked out because of timing. The rain fell before the temperatures had a chance to drop low enough to be a problem ... or something like that. I can't remember the weatherman's exact explanation for the no-show-ice-storm.

 

 

 

All I found to photograph was a little frost and some tiny frozen droplets. 

I really didn't care.

My last GRI Marketing class was postponed until Friday, so Thursday was a much-needed deep breath in an exhausting week, and I took full advantage of a day at home.

 

 

Josie and Belle were happy about it, too.

 

 

But since I teased you about an ice storm, I'll share my photos from earlier in the week...

 

 

That's about all the winter I want, thank you very much.

I think this little yellow flower agrees.

 

Instead of compiling my sweet! moments in one post, I'm going to try to share some of them separately. This was definitely a sweet! spot in my week!

What was one of yours?