Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

recent posts

about

Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Category: My Country Life

  • It’s already Saturday? (Sweet!)

    I'm in a calm spot between a busy week and a busier weekend. We've been blessed with spring-like weather, lately, and I admit I'm ready for it to just stick around. Wildflowers haven't yet ventured our way, but we're being serenaded by birds and frogs and a running creek. Storm clouds and sunshine are taking…

  • Good Dogs, Brave Duck

    Monday morning my head was floating somewhere in the clouds when the dogs and I climbed the path to the little pond in the hills. Belle seemed excited about something, rushing to the top of the path. That brought me down to earth in time to ready my camera and snap this…     …before…

  • Under Attack

    It seemed like a good idea at the time, getting off the main road and taking the path along the creek for a bit on my morning walk. The problem is that path is little more than a deer trail in many places, making it necessary to duck and zigzag around mountain cedar branches.  Well,…

  • Friday the 13th

    Up late last night, writing and coming through on a months-old promise of photos to a sweet friend. Reset alarm, later, later. Finally staggered out of bed at 6am to kiss Tom before he hit the road. "Happy Anniversary!" he tells me. My sleepy brain scrambles for the meaning behind his words. Through the fog,…

  • Kids, Jewelry, Birthdays, Weddings and other (belated) Sweet!s

    A rumble of thunder and whisper of rain woke me in the night. It continues today, another steady, soaking rain falling from a colorless sky. We've had enough rain in the past few weeks that I almost take it for granted, despite the months of drought. Almost, but not quite. Waking to the sound of…

  • Ssssh! Don’t Tell my Mom! (plus the Shutterfly winners)

    Life has gotten crazy busy. My oldest son and his girlfriend are heading here this evening, joined by a few of his 'old' college buddies who are driving in from Dallas. Tomorrow is his birthday and he's letting me celebrate it with him for the first time in years and years… well, since he left…

  • Summer, a fading memory

    A splash of light from my iPhone guided me through the dark to my car last night. The wedding guests were long gone and only one light glowed in the winery Bistro behind me.  Pausing in a clearing, I gazed up at the stars crowded around a sliver of moon. My frosty breath rose to greet…

  • Simplify! (and my Saturday Sweet Report)

    "Simplify, organize, simplify…" a small voice has been chanting in my head lately, making it difficult to concentrate. So when my friend Gwen invited me to add some of my things to her garage sale this weekend, I jumped on the chance to de-clutter. By yesterday morning, my car was loaded with two large boxes for the…

  • “The Best Laid Schemes…” (What happened to Monday and Tuesday?)

    According to my calendar, I'm in Galveston right now, visiting my friend Ann, finally getting to see the cute little Victorian house she's fixing up and browsing through some wonderful eclectic shops. Things don't always go according to plan, though, do they? Instead of strolling the tourist-free beaches and staying up late talking and laughing…

  • Tuesday’s Storm

    Nature is holding its breath. Not a leaf twitches. Trees crowd the hill leading up from the creek bed and stare at the slate sky.  Frozen in place, they wait – hope – for the promised storm, banners lifted high… some fresh and green, others rusting, faded by the summer sun and heat. Their quiet pleading…