A Naturally Cool Thing to Do

Smack dab in the middle of Austin is a gorgeous natural spring called Barton Springs, which runs through Zilker park. We were brought to this wonderful oasis by some good friends of ours while finishing up this last tour. It was refreshing, to say the least.

I had to be coaxed, prodded and bribed to wear a borrowed bikini in public. I decided to get into the water as quickly as possible. However, the water is frigid. Cold. Icy. Chilly. Polar.
It took me ten minutes just to get my ankles into the water.

The sun had begun to set, cooling off the air around us. I inched my legs further into the water. After about twenty minutes, my knees were in. I was so proud of myself. And then this little cutey pie came up behind me and plunged right in. It’s hard to have a four-year-old show you up.
I finally forced myself to get in up to my waistline. My teeth started chattering. Biceps told me that once I got all the way in, it wasn’t so bad. He has never lied to me before…but….
I decided to stay at the waist line level. Please don’t judge.

Our friend shelled out the $3 to get us into the ‘nicer side’ of Barton Springs-complete with a diving board. There is also a free side to Barton Springs, but that means no diving board, no life guards and no sitting area.
However, you can have your dogs frolic about on the free side, which is honestly pretty cute to watch. And this is coming from a cat-lady.
I recommend this ol swimmin’ hole if you are ever in the Austin area. You won’t be disappointed.

Simple Textured Raven

Remodeling offers odd benefits.
Not only are you equipped with hard callouses that are quite attractive on a lady’s hand, but you get to keep the spoils of your remodeling leftovers.
You can make this modern silhouette quickly and for pennies on the dollar. I like that.

My ‘Raven’ was made from a piece of duroc (some call it hardi-backer: this is the material they line shower walls with).
Duroc has a great texture to it and is oftentimes filled with holes and riddled with crazy patterns. It resembles a piece of rough concrete.

Here’s what you’ll need for you very simple duroc art:
Piece of leftover duroc or hardi-backer
Skilsaw with a masonry blade
Wood Stain-very small amount
Plastic cup, lintless rag, and gloves to apply stain
Marker
Oops paint & foamy brush

Begin by measuring the space on your wall you would like to fill with your purty art. Cut your duroc to fit the space using a masonry blade.
My purty piece measures about 1.5’ by 2.5’.

Fill a plastic cup about halfway with water and dilute your stain, adding about a tablespoon at a time until you are happy with the color.
You need to dilute the stain so that it will flow easily over the duroc.

Use a lintless rag to apply the stain onto your duroc.
I would recommend wearing gloves…or if you are like me, live with the disgusting dirty nail consequences.

Once your stain is dry, use a marker to outline your preferred silhouette.

Paint your creation onto your duroc using oops paint and a foamy brush.
Let your piece of art dry while enjoying a cold beverage.

We hung ‘Raven’ by screwing drywall screws directly through the piece and into the wall. I touched up the screw heads with more black paint, which are now incognito. I am very, very sneaky.
I am also very pleased with my one-of-a-kind ‘Raven’ that cost me less than a latte from you-know-where.
Make your silhouette of anything you fancy; a flower, an owl, a child’s face, your own face…
And use any color of paint your little heart desires to paint your silhouetter; orange, yellow, blue, fuschia…
Get bold. Get crazy. Get creative!

A Kid’s Retreat-My Plan for the Future

We don’t have rug-rats, yet. I have taken this non-rugrat season to observe parenting styles, take notes, ask questions and compare results. I am like a scientist without all of the sciencey stuff.

While Biceps and I were finishing up this last tour, I discovered something wonderful in the backyard of our friends. They have two little boys and one dominates this treehouse.

While the dominator was dressing up in a skeleton costume-for some unknown reason-I snapped these shots for future reference.
If we were to have a boy-and I hope we do-this is what I would love to build for him.

I began taking notes on the treehouse, rope bridge and all, stowing the information in my ‘boy’ file.
I could see building something similar for myself. Who doesn’t love to hang out in a tree?

I suppose if we don’t start pro-creating soon, I could always build this in my backyard and pretend that it’s for my nephews. I think people would buy it.
Unless of course they caught me swinging from the rope bridge. I had better get a gate that locks.

No Air to Austin-A Refining Fire

Every tour bus has its issues. I had one that proudly proclaimed that the engine compartment was on fire. Thankfully, it wasn’t. We had a bus throw a drive shaft while cruising down the highway at 65 m.p.h..

The incapacitated bus coasted to the ‘Snap Shop’…on our anniversary.
We drank wine from paper cups and watched Billy Bobs procure their night crawlers and 12 packs for their upcoming fishing excursions.
It may sound weird, but it was actually pretty fun.

A generator failure is a frequent problem on most buses. And usually, a bus has a backup generator or another source of alternative power. This one does not.
When your generator fails, you loose electricity which powers your lights, air conditioning, refrigerator…pretty much everything.

Without air conditioning, the only source for ventilation are two tiny windows in the front and back lounges.

It was a long night to Austin for all of us.

Peeling myself from the leather couch I tried to sleep on this morning, I joined my eternally positive man up front to watch the sun rise. He had driven through the night, aided by Rock Star energy drinks, just to get us to Austin before the sun melted us all. And he did it with a smile on his face. I am too dang lucky.