Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

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about

Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Category: My Country Life

  • Birthdays, Austin Adventures, and other Sweet!s

    Once you reach a certain age, numbers become surreal. They change (faster and faster and faster) but you feel the same. Wasn't it only yesterday I was cage dancing in honor of my 50th birthday?  Way back in my thirties and forties, I set some goals for myself. By my 50th birthday, I planned to…

  • Alleluja!

    "Because Christ rose from the dead, we know that sin and death and Satan have been decisively defeated." ~ Billy Graham It rained today. Normally, that's not what you want on Easter Sunday, but when you're in the middle of a drought like we are, rain is an Easter blessing.  And then the sun came…

  • Five Things on a Friday Night (when I should have been dancing)

        1. My crape myrtles are budding! I'm really surprised because we haven't had much rain and the poor things haven't bloomed in two or three years now. I wasn't even sure they were still alive. I've got my fingers crossed they've somehow established themselves enough to give me some summer color later on. 2. I…

  • Caught in the Act

    The schools are closed for Spring Break, the winery is always closed on Monday, Tom had the day off, and it was cold in the house this morning. Do you blame me for sleeping in a little? Because of daylight savings time, the sun was just creeping down the hills into the hollow when I…

  • Sweet March

      I blinked and February was gone, just like January. Now March seems hell bent on keeping up the same grueling pace, but at least the scenery flashing by is prettier, dotted with the colors of Spring.   Redbuds are still sporting their pink bling, bunches of yellow and white wildflowers are popping up everywhere,…

  • If I could talk, I’d tell of…

    Births. Deaths. Certainly those. Celebrations for birthdays, for weddings, for the end of a drought and good crops. Tables in the yard, laden with food. Tantalizing smells wafting from the kitchen, promising more. Heartache. Loved ones who went to war and never returned. Arguments and screen doors slamming. Joyous reunions. Neighbors helping put out a…

  • Monday, Wind-day

          The wind is howling outside my window right now. No snow. No rain. Just wind, gusting up to 59 mph, the weatherman said. In some areas of Austin power lines are down and whole trees are blocking roads.  We're lucky. Nothing but the exhilarating wind here blowing through the Hollow, like a…

  • My Pencils are Sharp Enough

      I slept a full eight hours last night. And I cleaned my bathroom this afternoon. Two things I haven't done in a long, long time. That's about all I've accomplished today, but I'm okay with it. It's my day off and I've relished it. Middle son, Daniel, is home for the weekend, mostly because…

  • Five Things on Friday

        1. Our property is dotted with small iron crosses, marking the resting places of so many precious furry or feathered or scaly loved ones we've been blessed to know. I miss them all. The one above is Charly's and Frankie's.   2. I will never get rich monetarily through my blog, but the…

  • The VIP

    Belle waited just outside the French doors, hopeful I'd appear and be reminded of our morning walk. I stepped out, surprised at the balmy temperatures and blue skies. I had expected a chilly, drizzly morning. With no worries about rain, I grabbed my camera and we headed down the dirt road to one of Max's…