Yesterday I went to Matagorda County for some work stuff, and took a detour to the beach there. It was very peaceful (other than people driving on the beach, which annoys me!). I picked up some neat shells and walked a long way.

Which brings me to today’s soap box…. There is an election on, did you know? It is for amendments to the Texas Constitution. Amendment 9 will preserve our access to beaches in the state. See this Surfrider Foundation page and this Galveston County Daily News article for more information. Vote YES on Proposition 9!

This weekend, the weather was so gorgeous it was almost surreal.  I felt guilty staying indoors.  We got our chores done Sunday morning, and headed to Bastrop State Park in the afternoon.  The trail map is awesome, and the trails are well-marked.  We found a route that was about the right length (almost 3 miles), and took off with Sweetpea to check it out.

It was gorgeous. I used to do field work in this area, so I feel very at home among the pine trees. I miss them.
There were lots of different kinds of mushrooms popping up everywhere, too. These pumpkin-colored ones were my favorite.

I’ve been scoping out other parks on the map for some more day trips. Actually, next week I’m going to Matagorda County for work so I’ll have to check that area for more.

And the good news… I hear more rain is on the way! Love it.

Because I can bring myself to look at the garden again.  Everything bloomed when the rain returned, making the pollinators very happy.

I picked the satsuma that has been on the tree for almost a year. It was pretty tasty. I don’t think they are supposed to be green, but it was. Hopefully the tree will make more!

We didn’t even make it to the Wildflower Center sale this fall. I don’t have anywhere to plant things! There are some patches of dead grass in the front yard that I have been thinking about digging up, but I haven’t managed yet. My main goal this weekend is to get a gate for the vegetable garden so I can plant something in there. The dogs ruined so much last year, I don’t want to go through that again!

I don’t think there is any passive about it, but it’s hilarious.

It’s been raining here!  Really raining!  The plants can’t believe their luck, and I’m actually contemplating the fall vegetable garden.

I signed up for a darkroom class! I’m very excited. I love shooting digital, but there is something special about shooting film. Yes, I also have a typewriter and a record player. And a land line. Now for some favorites from photographers on Flickr.  Check out those poodles in the bottom right-hand corner!  Hilarious.

1. Untitled, 2. Tupaia – Tree Shrew – Tupaia belangeri, 3. The Dive, 4. The Team, 5. In and Around Hoxton, 6. norway_pro400H_4, 7. Il Caffè di Roma, 8. Egon, 9. Western Patch-Nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis), 10. flickr.com/photos/7944725@N05/3770316577/, 11. Muscle Beach, L.A., 12. LBI, 13. Crazy Heifer, 14. Ginge, 15. love by the adige, 16. happy pooches

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

The drought here is getting worse and worse. The river authority just closed the last public boat ramp on Lake Travis. In 8 days we will step up to Stage 2 water restrictions, with residential customers only being able to use a sprinkler once a week. Every time the sky darkens just a bit, you see everyone looking up at the sky frequently, hoping for a drop or two or an inch would be nice. Earlier this week we had thunder but just a few little drops. It was frustrating.

On that note, a few of the flowers around her are managing to bloom for Bloom Day. The rock rose is looking gorgeous in the morning, and keeping the bees busy.

Some volunteer sunflowers sprung up in the back flowerbed and I left them alone. Our neighborhood has a lot of sunflowers, and I like that.

Other blooms right now (sparse!):

Yellow bells/ Esperanza
Lantana
Flame acanthus
Salvia greggii

See what is blooming all over the country at May Dreams Gardens, the host of GBBD.

The wedding was dreamy. We really didn’t spend a lot of time planning it, and it went perfectly! I don’t know how that happened, but it was great. We got married in the back yard of my parents’ vacation rental house in Santa Fe. We hadn’t seen it beforehand, and it was perfect– there were four aspen trees, and a little patch of grass, and lots of things in bloom. Brian had found the minister; the Unitarian Universalist church had referred him to her, and we met her the Thursday before the wedding. She was perfect– an animal lover, very down-to-earth, and she had already put together a ceremony that we loved. The morning of the wedding, my mom and I went to the Santa Fe farmer’s market and spent $22 on four bunches of zinnias and four HUGE dahlias. My sister-in-law is a talented flower arranger, and with some ribbon and wire, and the drinking glasses from the house, she made amazing bouquets. Our parents got along. We ate delicious food. My niece was the flower girl, and was fantastic. My nephew disappeared with the rings during the ceremony and gave everyone a good laugh. The sky was blue, the temperature was in the 70s. Like I said, I don’t know how it happened, but it was perfect!

We drove there and back, which was way less stressful than flying. We stayed off the interstate, and got to see lots of little western towns and beautiful scenery.

We should have more photos coming in soon.

When will it end?

I’ve been going through what’s left of my photos after the hard disk crash last year (i.e., procrastinating cleaning the house and packing).  Not much is left, but there are a lot of photos from Big Bend National Park from some field work I did there when I was in graduate school.  I’m working on scanning some prints in as well, and generally archiving my photos online.  Anyway, here is a sampling of photos from summer 2005.

Double rainbow

Regal ring-necked snake

Spiny softshell turtle

Trans-Pecos rat snake

1. Ruskosuohaukka, 2. PHUKET SUNSET DANCE…, 3. American Pika, 4. Run, Pepper, Run!, 5. Unofficial Fly Over, 6. seahorse tails, 7. mr and mrs oriental white eye, 8. which shape are you?, 9. the red canoes, 10. sunset-on-Lake-Georgetown, 11. Cat in the street, 12. Flamingos, 13. wedding invite with the key block, 14. Grooming…., 15. showing off, 16. La vuelta al mundo

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys