Springtime finds

I have begun my annual pilgrimages to yonder Hill Country as I do each year.  First up was the Art and Artisans festival at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It’s always fun for me to go to an art event where everything is centered around flowers. There were a couple there I particularly liked that used pressed leaves and flowers to create various scenes and patterns – one on paper and one on glass. Sadly, I do not know the names, because I lose things too often.

The Wildflower Center does a bang-up job with art in addition to their lanscape work. Not just floral-centered but also more generally things that support artists from this area. They have rotating art exhibit, and at the moment are featuring things from the Texas Society of Sculptors Exhibit. For example, these 2 photos. I liked these ceramic figures (above) – they are nuns, from what the description said, nuns singing from psalm books.  They caught my eye, colorful in the sunlight.

I also thought this wood nymph was just beautiful.  She is as insubstantial as bronze would allow the artist to be. At least, it is my opinion that she’s a dryad, the exhibit page suggests she might be a siren. But dryads can be sirens, right?  Most nymphs would be, I’d think. Maybe I’m wrong. If you’ve ever met a nymph and can offer more of a first-hand testimonial, let me know.

Mostly I wandered around and enjoyed the gardens, which were just coming into bloom, and enjoyed the bees and butterflies that were attracted to the just-opened flowers.  See the little guy in there?  He was very, very busy.  Just like the bee cliche, yes, I know. I couldn’t help it.  I would have a bee nest in my garden if I had one, for the native bees, and also plants that attract butterflies.  Perhaps one day I will make good on my threat to have a garden.  Currently I appear to be growing rocks and trees in my backyard. It is not exciting.

Fluff!  Don’t get that up your nose.  You’ll sneeze for a week.

I also traveled into the hill country last weekend, and went to Fredericksburg for a bit of a wander.  This resulted in a couple more photos that just plain amused. me.  I am easily amused, I know.  This guy, for example, probably sells some sort of beef jerky. I honestly cannot imagine putting a license plate on my beautifully restored and lovingly cared-for antique truck that talked about beef jerky, but what do I know?  Of course, to me the plate also reminds me of the Jerky Boys, because I am of that generation and I really can’t help it.  This guy probably never heard of the Jerky Boys.

This one just cracked me up.  When I pulled over to take the picture, a bunch of goats ran right up to the gate there and made a lot of exuberant bleating goat noises.  This Rancho might not be so Grande, but it certainly did not lack for enthusiasm and bravado among its furry occupants, or sly humor from the owners. The ranch also hosts very fuzzy brown llamas, which reminded me of how I want an alpaca. That’s very practical, yes? I could keep the alpaca with the rocks that are growing in the back yard?  Ummm, yeah.

And that is some of my show-and-tell for you.  I have not worked on my quilt lately, instead I took drives, went to festivals and cleaned my whole house from top to bottom.  Not a bad trade, all things considered.