Trip to Fredericksburg with Nana

This is a beautiful time of year to drive thru the Hill Country of Texas and into Fredericksburg. My friend Denise and I took a road trip last year on Good Friday to see the flowers in bloom and check out Wildseed Farms.




Nana comes to see me every other year and I've never taken her to Fredericksburg so when she began planning for her trip this year, she told me she wanted to see that town during her visit. So, last Saturday that's just what we did. While the wildflowers enroute were a disappointment, the butterflies in the Butterfly Hause inside Wildseed Farms couldn't have been more cooperative.

On the way to Fredericksburg we made a couple of stops, the 2nd of which was here at a park in Blanco.

Marty spied some fish swimming just beneath the surface of the water and was showing them to Heather.

Of course he had to go for a closer look. I was sure his boots were going to slip on the wet rocks!

Once we arrived in Fredericksburg, the most interesting flowers we found were inside the Butterfly Hause.

There were many butterflies that made it easy to capture their pictures. This one, however was very elusive. The white ones didn't stay in one place long enough to snap a photo. This is the only photo I managed to get of one of the white butterflies.

There are 2 butterflies in this photo.

Marty and Heather inside the Butterfly Hause.

Butterflies even landed on each of us at least once.

Heather with the first butterfly to land on her.

This butterfly is on the back of Nana's shirt.

This butterfly landed on my jacket so Marty snapped this photo.

a butterfly on Marty's t-shirt.

Zedler Mill with Nana

I know I said 2 days ago this post would be up tomorrow....well it's finally tomorrow! :0)

I've been to Zedler Mill before and even posted about it a couple of times. I decided to take Nana there while she was here. We drove to Luling after poking around in Palmetto State Park taking pictures all morning. We found a picnic table and ate our lunch then wandered over to see Zedler Mill. We took photos from the top of the hill above the river facing the dam then wandered around to the other side to view the other buildings on the property. When we rounded the corner of one of the buildings we could see construction equipment and crews over much of the property. It was exciting to think the old mill may be restored but it was hard to tell what was going on. We talked about just walking over and asking someone about the project but didn't right away. It turned out we didn't have to. One of the men from the crew came over and introduced himself to us and told us all about the project. He's obviously very excited about all the plans. The current construction underway is to build restrooms. Then a pavillion is planned on the site of the building that burned in the 70's, in addition to an amphitheather on the bank of the river, and eventually restoration of the mill itself. A restaurant is planned for the big house across the street. I'm anxious to go back periodically and check out the progress! He even told us of the paddling trail that ends there and gave me his business card so I can bring Marty back and take him on a canoe trip. I'm thinking I've found another summer activity to plan!!! I haven't been in a canoe since I moved out of Missouri!

I had Nana pose for a photo with the backdrop I wanted for our family photos this year. The day I took our family photos the sun wasn't cooperative at all (imagine that!) but this day was overcast and perfect for photographing in midday.

The dam at Zedler Mill.

I've found that I'm liking taking photographs of reflections. Sometimes the reflection makes a more interesting photo than what is being reflected.

There were even flowers blooming here and there around the mill property.

Beyond this neat little building you can see an area of dirt that has been leveled. That's the future site of the pavillion.

The back (or front depending how you look at it!) of Zedler Mill. I guess technically this would be the front (it faces the street) and the back faces the river?

I wish I'd taken photos of the construction in progress. I will update you any time I head back over there and see anything new. It will be fun to see the progress.

Road Trip from Palmetto Park to Zedler Mill

After Nana and I left Palmetto Park Friday we headed into nearby Luling so I could show her Zedler Mill.

Just outside the park, yet still on the park road, we immediately began seeing more wildflowers blooming so, everywhere we could, we stopped for photos.

The first thing Nana saw that she wanted me to pull over to photograph was this cactus.

Just before we got to the end of the park road there was a scenic overlook:

Nana suggested for this photo we put my camera on the hood of the car and set the timer, so that's what I did!

Somewhere out there I saw a house off in the distance and I told Nana I want to live THERE! As I pointed it out she snapped my photo so she has one really dorky photo of me in front of this scene!

The large rocks at the ledge.

A lone "Manystem False Dandelion" among the Bluebonnets.

Texas Bluebonnets

I'll post the photos I took at Zedler Mill tomorrow and tell you of the interesting things we discovered while wondering around. Stay tuned!

Palmetto State Park

I've heard over the years from several people about a very nice park in a nearby town but until this weekend I'd never been there myself. Originally Nana and I had planned to meet my cousin Vanessa (who also lives in Texas) at Bastrop State Park (which is about half way between Vanessa and me) on Friday so we could see her and her kids but Vanessa couldn't make it. I suggested since Vanessa couldn't make it to Bastrop that Nana and I drive over to a closer park and stop along the way for any fields of flowers we'd see. Nana was game so it was a plan. I forgot to grab any of my maps when we set out so I called Bill who's one of the people who has told me of this park and asked him for directions.

We found our way very easily and when we entered the park were greeted with so much lush greenery and the whole park was just very peaceful. The campsites are great with leveled spots for pitching tents. I'm ready to grab Marty, Heather and a group of friends, the tent, some grub, and head back for a relaxing weekend on the river! And yes, I can call a camping trip such as that relaxing because Marty has always spoiled me when camping and that's when I get to relax and he even does all the cooking!

The first road we turned into led us to this pond.

There are many tent camping sites between the river and the pond.

The park was relatively empty but we did spark the interest of a couple of ducks who ventured over to check us out.

We drove further through the park and found a dead end so parked the car and followed a paved path. We followed the path over the river and up the hill and this is what we found at the end. There were more campsites, this pavillion and a playground. What a beautiful park!

Nana in front of the pavillion at Palmetto Park

Nana snapped this picture of me behind the pavillion

I'm definitely planning a return trip here!

Chiro Java

The day finally arrived. I posted here asking for your help in deciding which photographs I should choose to display/sell at the local coffee shop this month. Chiro-Java is a coffee shop downtown and every month they allow local artists to display their work for a month and can make it available to sell as well. I received the most feedback from that post and am thankful to all of you who left comments, left suggestions on my flickr site, or sent me emails with your opinions of your favorite photos. The decisions have been made, the photos printed, the frames/mats selected and last night was the night to hang the photos at the coffee shop.



Nana arrived yesterday morning, just in time for me to put her to work helping with this task! While I finished my work at the church office, she finished the task of getting the final photos framed for me. I'm actually very excited that she gets to be here in time to see the display and am very thankful for the help she, Erica and Marty were in getting everything framed and in place!!!! A HUGE THANK YOU to all 3 of you!!!! I could not have pulled this off in one night without each of you. With all 4 of us hammering, hanging, pricing, etc., it still took almost 3 hours just to get everything hung. What a wonderful opportunity Chiro Javo offers to local artists to display their work!

Erica and Nana just getting started.

Notice Erica busy yakking on the phone while Marty slaves away!

It wasn't long before Erica took my hammer away from me and got busy.

NOW is it straight, Erica?

Erica and Nana contemplate what should be displayed on one of the walls.

Erica busy hanging more prints.

I put Marty in charge of figuring out what I needed to display the matted prints on the pegboard walls. He arrived and looked at the wall and headed off to Home Depot to get what I'd need. It didn't take him long to come back and get right to work. Thanks Babe!!!

Some of the displays when we were through.

On Thursdays the coffee shop's open late and there's usually live music. I don't know who this man was, but we sure enjoyed listening to his music as we worked.






Nana made me pose with one of the displays when we were all through, so dorky or not, this one's for Nana!





Thanks guys for all your help!!!

If you live in the area, be sure to drop in to Chiro Java and have a look around any time to see what local artists have on display.