Herbs for sale

This store has an unusual list of items for sale. Too bad it was closed when we walked past it. By the way, for those of you who have been dissatisfied with our downtown-centric choice of locale for our photos, this one is pretty far over on the eastside.

The Giant Pumpkins in their lair

Whole Foods had some amazing pumpkins on display recently. I'd guess that big one weighs fifty pounds.

Turf Car

Not sure why you'd cover a car in artificial turf but there you have it.

Shall we gather at the river. . .

A good old-time baptism was going on under the MoPac Bridge the other day when I went out for a walk.

Nice paint job

Some lucky birds will be spending time in this cute little house! But I hope that they won't be as angry as the painted ones!

Mezcal Bar

You have to be a pretty serious tequila drinker to try this little bar out!  It's in the Rainey Street part of town.

We could use some more trash cans

After a partying weekend downtown, the trash containers get a wee bit full. This one was overflowing on a recent morning.

The New and the Old

This is an interesting juxtaposition. In my boyhood, Scarbrough's was THE department store downtown. Now the ground floor of their old space is occupied by Brooks Brothers.  Here you see the contrasting names on the entrance to the building.

Dale Watson Entertains

Local talent Dale Watson and his band played for the crowd at Wooldridge Square Park's recent reopening.

Ribbon Cutting for the Grand Reopening.

A group of local dignitaries rededicated and reopened one of our grand central Austin parks --
Wooldridge Square -- recently.  I caught an image of the ribbon as it was being cut.

Timeless Shakespeare for a Historic Park

These are three of Austin's finest actors who declaimed some modified Shakespeare as an invocation to the ceremonies at the Reopening of Wooldridge Square Park last Friday.  

Here is what they said:



A: What city, friend, is this?

B: This is Austin, lady. In first days christened Waterloo, Which, in the Commentaries Caesar writ, Is term'd the civil'st place of this state: Sweet is the country, because full of riches; The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy.

A: I doubt not but this populous city will yield many scholars.

C: They say this town is full of cozenage, As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye, Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind, Soul-killing witches that deform the body, Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks, And many such-like liberties of sin: If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner.

B: Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices That, if I then had waked after long sleep, Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would open and show riches Ready to drop upon me that, when I waked, I cried to dream again.

A: Here is everything advantageous to life. How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green! Had I plantation of this isle, my lord, And were the queen on't, what would I do? I' the commonwealth I would by contraries Execute all things; for no kind of traffic Would I admit; no name of magistrate; Letters should not be known; riches, poverty, And use of service, none; contract, succession, Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none; No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil; No occupation; all folk idle, all; No sovereignty; All things in common nature should produce Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony, Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine, Would I not have; but nature should bring forth, Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance, To feed my innocent people.

B: This Austin, o'er which we have the government, A city on whom plenty holds full hand, For riches strew herself even in the streets; Whose towers bear heads so high they kiss the clouds, And strangers ne'er behold but wonder at; Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'd, Like one another's glass to trim them by: Their tables are stored full, to glad the sight, And not so much to feed on as delight.

All: This earth of majesty, this seat of Muses, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set on the silver lake, This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this Austin, This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land, Dear for her reputation through the world.

Back of the Pickup

One day I saw a pickup on South Congress with coolers, boots and antlers. Think the guy is a hunter. Of course, the truck was outside Hudson Meat Processing!

Arty Convenience Store

A convenience store on East Cesar Chavez has already appeared here for the Our Lady of Guadalupe Pay Phone. But noticed some new art the other day.

Muscovy Duck

Encountered this fellow on the Hike and Bike the other day.

One Serious Mural

This is part of the new mural at Austin's iconic Cisco's Cafe.  A beautiful piece of artwork.

Let's do the Boardwalk!

Austin's big boardwalk project is coming along fine. We are anxious to give it a try.

That is one big stick, mom!

This couple was trying get their dog to swim back to shore with a large stick he'd found.  He's getting good exercise!

Priorties Straight.

This car on the east side had a spectacular paint job.  It must have taken a lot of time to do.

Neighborhood Grocers Still Exist

There's still a need for a place that sells ice cream, snacks, beer, and food in a neighborhood setting.

Graffiti in the Shadow

Since getting back to home turf after an August trip, we've been walking all our favorite trails. This paste up graffiti was in one of the tunnels you have to pass through to traverse the Johnson Creek Trail.

Gay Nostalgia

Right before Pride Weekend the South Austin Motel had a rainbow flag along with the saying 'so nostalgically Austin.'

Hard to argue with that!

The people who run this booth at the Framers' Market have some witty signs each Saturday.

Pepto-Bismol Loose in the System?

Saw this weird sight on a recent walk.  Someone obviously painted it for effect.

Yet another mural

This masterwork is in the parking garage two blocks from us. The caption says that "You are a Unicorn." We posted a shot of this one in progress.

Fishing Buddies

This man and his dog were having a relaxing time on the waters of Lady Bird Lake on a recent morning.

"Mom, Can I Go Swimming?"

This lady's dog seems to be wanting to take a dip.

Found Objects

These cool pieces of art work are displayed outside the Dougherty Center.

Beautiful trees

These crepe myrtles and a cypress tree were looking green and flush the other day.

Take a deep breath . . .

"Take a deep breath -- then let it go."  That is a nice thought for almost any situation in life. This sign is in the window of a massage salon on S. Congress.

Pink Lips, Pink Tongue

This graffiti has lasted a month on a pillar that supports Mopac. It is some perilous steps from the Crenshaw Pedestrian Bridge. Soon enough it will be painted over but right now it serves for the Austin Daily Photo entry into our City Daily Photo theme day which is: pink!