Skyline is full of cranes

Our little town is certainly growing up. Supposedly we are close to being the tenth-largest city in the country now. Her you see the view from our balcony. I wish we could go out and enjoy some dining and clubs, but, oh well. 
 

A blast from the past

This was our view when we moved into our condo 12 years ago. I'll show you the current view tomorrow.  

Time Warp!

 We have a drive-in theater on the roof of the parking garage below us. They run this part of Rocky Horror Picture Show sometimes as a lead-in to the feature of the night.

Now this is puzzling

 A friend sent us this challenging puzzle to keep us from being bored. Linda has made some progress on it and I am impressed, that's for sure!

Cheesy, cheesy, cheesy!

 We love buying fine cheeses from Antonelli's Cheese Shop here in town. These four reserves a nice spectrum of flavors. Buy local!

Pretty Little Library

Sometimes we carry a book along to put into one of these delightful Little Libraries we find in nice neighborhoods around town. We have extracted a couple of books to read in the past few months, too. This one was really cute -- it even has landscaping!
 

Stocking is hung, with care

 

Forrest's mother made this stocking for him in 1951. Amazing how well it has held up after all the visits from Santa Claus!

Good to-go

 We have been eating a lot of to-go food during the plague time. Here you see a pizza and carrot soup from Cipollina in West Austin. Very tasty. 

Then and now -- Hyde Park Christian Church

Sometimes we go walking in the Hyde Park neighborhood in central Austin and we go by this church. It was where I attended church as a child before they moved to a larger facility. It always makes me have memories of the people I met there and many a Sunday School class. 

Tasteful Christmas

 

As we have walked around different neighborhoods I've snapped Christmas decorations. On Facebook, this one received lots of reaction. Wreath, poinsettias, tidy ivy-covered house just made a nice picture.

Odd Sculpture

 

It's not a monolith, but I also didn't figure out what it is!

Little Free Library

 

On our wanderings during the pandemic through various neighborhoods we have visited lots of Little Free Libraries. We peruse the offerings (we've taken a few) and I often carry books we want to give away in my backpack to place in them.

Dog's Out

 

On one of our walks this guy was loose. He asserted himself but I told him to go home and he did.

Beware!

 

There are lots of Beware of Dog or Dog on Premises signs in this neighborhood. These are on meet and greet duty.

Cars in the Yard

 

We've been driving to walk in all sorts of neighborhoods including those that often have automobile work going on in the yard.

Let's Go Inside

 

On one of our walks, we saw a bunch of quickly-abandoned bikes in a yard. Here's hoping the kids all belong to a 'pod' and aren't spreading the virus. Tha's all we think about any longer. Sad.

Christmas is Comin

 

In spite of the approaching holiday associated with snow that causes people to hand wreaths on their gates, our weather has been dry and sunny. As the blooms and tropical plants visible here attest.

We Are Back

 

This is FFP walking through a park. We gave up in October  when the portal was having trouble, but we are still listed in the new portal and one (1) person complained about the loss of the Daily Austin fix. We aren't leaving Austin at all for the foreseeable future so I figured I could post some pictures here since I've been taking scores to entertain folks on Facebook. 

Tribute

This resident of the Brentwood neighborhood in our town has put flags in his yard to recognize the Texans who have died of the COVID epidemic. A tribute like this is an apt entry for today, since we have decided to stop trying to post on a daily basis, as we have since May 17, 2007. We may put something up from time to time, when we snag an especially good shot. The loss of the worldwide portal has just put the brakes on our enthusiasm. Cheers!

Hipponotic Yard Art

 

Someone used those colored glass pellets and some hippo statues to decorate their yard. Different!

Drinking the Koolaid

Halloween brings out some funny stuff.
 

Halloween Gone Wild

 Walking around the neighborhoods is interesting this time of year because...Halloween. But this is the first snake consumes snake I've seen. That's scary!

Skeletons Relaxing

Does it signify Halloween or have those people just sheltered on the porch too long during the pandemic?
 

Historically Modern

 

A historic house in the modern style on Red River.

Convenience Mural

 

This mural on the back of a convenience store includes some odd icons. I guess the yellow roses (of Texas?) and the Armadillo could denote local icons but the snake and tiger? No clue. Love walking along and discovering something like this. Near North Loop and 51st Street.

Mr. Smoke

 

I suppose that's a dragon on the side of the Mr. Smoke shop. Quite the elaborate mural.

Gate as Work of Art

 

Why have a plain gate when you can make it look like an abstract painting?

Ghost of ?

 

This ghost haunting a yard has, to me, a very calm almost religious face. Like Mary the Mother?

Spider Prey?

 Giant spiders are popular in the neighborhoods for Halloween, but those skeletons give me pause as to what they might be allegedly dining on!

Invasion of the Giant Spiders

Apparently, spiders are a popular decoration for Halloween this year, and the bigger the better. This one was in South Austin but they are all over even though Halloween is weeks away.
 

Landscaping Coup

This is in a private yard in Bryker Woods. That took a bit of work!
 

Easy Care Yard

Gravel, succulents, and a few spheres. Attractive and easy to keep up with little water.
 

Creative Railing

 

The porch and steps on this East Austin home are very creative.

Country Look

 

This looks like a place in the country with the gate in the stone wall, but it's in east Austin not far from skyscrapers.

Texas!

 

Forrest walks down a lane in the Texas State Cemetery that is flanked with Texas Flags. Lest you think that we don't honor the U.S. of A. there, you will find a U.S. Flag on top of the hill above here.

Yard Art

 

It's interesting what one can find in the yards of private homes.

Still Life with Magnolia Seeds

 

That's a seedpod from a magnolia tree captured on a recent journey in a neighborhood. Magnolias aren't rare in Austin, but live oaks and pecans far exceed them in numbers.

Not a Park

 

This home in Tarrytown has such a park-like setting they felt the need to announce that it is private property.

Local Recreation

 

This cul-de-sac in Tarrytown sports an ivy-covered wall...as a backdrop for a basketball goal.

Save the Elephants

 

This colorfully painted elephant is in the yard of a Tarrytown estate.

Knotty Live Oak

 

This old tree has some interesting bark growth. It's a live oak, I believe.

That's One Way of Looking At It

 

This is the first time I have seen this particular sign asking folks to clean up after man's best friend.

Interesting Detail

This house (walking distance from our high rise in Old West Austin) has interesting plaster details.
 

Beyond the Gate

 

This home in Old West Austin promises a flagstone path and shade trees beyond the gate.

Hope They Have an Alley Entrance

 

One hopes there is an alternate way to get into this house! In Old West Austin.

Please don't.

 

Some graffiti wants to make us more depressed!

Encouraging Graffiti

 

Some graffiti we encounter on our walks is trying to be uplifting.

Color-Coordinated

 

A little house with a bright pink door, a flamingo and a pink Little Free Library.

Dry Stack

 

On our walks, I like to observe the different types of walls and gates. This wall, in Old West Austin, is a great example of a dry stack wall.

Former Graffiti Park

 

Below what is called Castle Hill in West Austin is a former graffiti park on the remnants of a failed condo project. It has closed and it going to be redeveloped.