Bue Hole

With the temps reaching triple digits, Toby and I decided to kill two birds with one stone and hike close to a water source. After all, we don't have our fancy pool anymore so we have to go in search of watering holes now.

We hiked the Picket Trail on the San Gabriel River. Luckily, the hike is mostly shady, but we did walk a stretch that was full sun. The water felt really good to cool off in and I even got my first burn of the season.

GRANDMA'S CORNER

Hutto Cottonwood Trail

Last week we set out on of our first hikes this year that was not on our own trail system. I wanted something close by, yet different. The Cottonwood Trail is in Hutto, which is the next city just northeast of us. It's also known for it's many hippo statues situated throughout the city. We came across a few on our hike...

The hike was a pleasant one, but very hot as there was no shade along the trail. We probably would have hiked more to explore the downtown area, but the sun was blazing. We'll save that for another day...

We stopped to say hello to some cows lounging in the field next to the trail....

 
Interesting looking birdhouse. It appeared that it could be raised up and down...

One day I would like to go back and explore Hutto a little more.

Here is a photo of sunflowers I took on our trail the other day...

Outdoors

If you pay any attention to my blog, you know that we moved into our forever home in January 2020. The only positive thing that seems to have happened this year. I've always been an outdoor person, preferring to be outside rather than in when weather permits.

Our new home has a trail system right out the "back door" and we have spent a lot of time utilizing it throughout this whole Covid Calamity. At least they haven't taken the outdoors away from us.

I finally got a pic of the outside of our home, after we spruced it up a bit. When we bought it, the bushes in front were out of control and there were many bald patches in the front yard. It still needs more TLC, but it will be a work in progress....

It's apparent the previous owners never gave the yard much love, so Toby and I started by building a little flower bed around the otherwise drab looking shed, which they had made the focal point of the yard...

Here it is with a beautiful sunset setting behind it the other night...

This picture does not do it justice, but every morning the sun shines through the little colored panes in the window and cast a colorful glow into the living area....

It's wildflower season here in Central Texas and the wildflowers have been showing off  beautifully this year...

Lake Pflugerville finally reopened the other day, so me and Skye took a hike around the three mile loop around the lake. It really is a beautiful hike, but it was also blazing hot as there is not much shade on the trail. And we are not "permitted" to swim there yet per whoever is making up the stupid rules we are forced to adhere to these days. I'm a rebel though, and sat down on one of the forbidden benches and took some beautiful pictures of the lake...

 

Well, that's all for now folks. This is about as interesting as it gets these days.

Colorful Covid

Since moving to Pflugerville and amidst the pandemic, we have not traveled much out of a 3 mile radius from home in the past couple of months.

Yesterday me and Toby decided to venture downtown Austin to see what it looks like as a ghost town. Street artist had taken to giving it an even more colorful flare than what it already has. I hope they will keep some of this art when everything gets back to "normal"....

Deserted Downtown