Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

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Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Category: Critters

  • Whew! I made it! (and other sweet!s in a birthday week)

      Considering it's past midnight on a long Tuesday…which means it's actually Wednesday…which means this post is at least two days late…this sweet! list is going to be a little more blurry and jumbly than most. My excuse is I'm a whole year older than I was last week…which means time is going by ten…

  • Canyon Wrens, Laptops, Irish Beer, and other Sweet!s

      I sat on the front porch for a few hours this afternoon. The sunshine and blue sky were so crisp I couldn't stand to be inside any longer. I grabbed my laptop and planted myself in a rocking chair to listen to training webinars while watching a cardinal and tufted titmouse take turns at…

  • Signs of Spring…and other sweet!s

    Cedar Waxwings have returned to the Hollow! A huge flock of them graced the tall leafless willows near the pond most of the morning, just kind of hanging out. I ventured as near as I dared and snapped about a thousand photos with my zoom.  I'm not sure if any of the pics will do…

  • Number 1: Laughing Hard Times into Wine

            1. This is my new favorite quote: “The woman had laughed the hard times into wine.” -Ann Voskamp  I'm not sure if it's possible to laugh hard times into wine, except theoretically, of course… but I love the imagery of it. Thanks to Jennifer at Ripplespeak for posting it. (And for…

  • Not the Sweetest Valentine’s Day…

      I received my Valentine's Day surprise early Friday morning – a stomach bug. It knocked me out all day and left me feeling like a ragdoll all weekend.  Thank goodness my son Daniel was able to deliver the fancy box of Millionaire candy I bought for Mama, so she still had something special, and…

  • An Austin Winter

    A sky of faded gray flannel. The swoosh of a cold wind bullying the treetops, making the old cedars creak and groan down to their roots. Frozen toes eager to be back inside, warming near a fire. After days of sunshine and spring-like temperatures that sent juniper spores partying through the atmosphere, we're reminded that…

  • A Cousin, a Mom, and Mexican Food. Sweet Sunday!

        Tomorrow is my cousin Patricia's birthday. She's always held a special place in my heart, beginning when she was a teenager. Unlike some of my other teenage cousins, she was consistently nice to me when we went to visit, even though I was a brat. I haven't forgotten. Her dad was one of…

  • Closings and Close Encounters

    "…and suddenly, it was Thursday night." That was going to be the title of this post, because there I was, still chipping away at my Monday To-Do list, "…and suddenly, it was Thursday night." Does that ever happen to you? I did have a couple of exciting things happen this week I want to tell…

  • Searching for Silver Linings

       Let's just say…   I found this card in my mailbox yesterday. Inside it says "Hang in there, girlfriend," with a sweet note of encouragement from my friend Rae. She knows me, she knows my mom, and she knew this transition wouldn't be without some bumps. It's perfect and made me smile. Thank you,…

  • Random 5 Friday

      1. Max can still run. Considering all the times over the past couple of years I thought the "early lameness" diagnosis was coming true, watching him disappear into the woods with Belle after a deer makes my heart soar!   2. After a year of posting an old piano on Craig's List, I finally…