Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

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Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Category: Family

  • Blame it on the Moon

        I'm not really blaming the moon for anything. It accompanied me on one of my morning walks this week and I just wanted to share the photos with you. I just thought it was a catchy title! I slept in this morning. I've looked forward to it for days and it lived up…

  • 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…

  • Irish Blessings on St. Patrick’s Day

        Bridget Shallue was just 52, younger than I am now and already a widow, when she said goodbye to Ireland in 1852 with her grown children…chased away by the potato famine, I'm sure. If she ever returned, it isn't mentioned in the family lore. Accompanied by two daughters and two sons, Bridget first…

  • Life in the Underground (and other sweet!s)

    Austin is a wild place right now, caught up in South by Southwest fever. I wish I had the time to just hang out downtown all day and night, catching interesting seminars and random stars performing. Maybe next year… But I moved a little closer this year by attending a kickoff party downtown for Austin…

  • A Saturday Morning at Austin’s Franklin Barbecue

    On the surface, getting up extra early on a Saturday morning to wait in line four hours for lunch doesn't sound very appealing, especially when the weather is kind of chilly and drippy. But I did it this past Saturday anyway, just to experience Franklin Barbecue for myself. I'm on a continual quest to discover…

  • 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…

  • Love and Respect

    There have been mornings when, after snapping photos of birds or leaves or bugs, I turn and discover Max and Belle are nowhere in sight. They've slipped off in a different direction, distracted by an interesting smell or a glimpse of a squirrel, assuming I will follow them (as I often do.) So I backtrack,…

  • Simple Sweets

      Steve and Lisa, a couple in my church, took it upon themselves to form what they call a "hospitality" ministry several months ago. Almost every Sunday they prepare and offer some special brunch item after each Mass. Just the two of them.   Today it was French toast. Yum! They also offer fruit in…