The Rest of My Time in Austin

Lunchtime Picnic at the Capital

(frozen blueberries)

(note the Texas flag blanket . . . it was only appropriate)

A Few More Pix from Red Bud

A Few More Austin Classics We Visited

Alamo Draft House to see 500 Days of Summer

Kerbey Lane for the Famous Pancakes . . . I was not impressed!

Sno-Beach

Yesterday, we went to get Sno-Beach snow cones, which I'd been told are like no snow cones you've ever had. Patrick was not all that confident in my ability to seek out Austin gems, but his confidence is slowly growing. I got "cream" on mine (see below), which was kinda amazing. Patrick (again, no trust) did not, but he regretted it.

Sno-Beach on Barton Springs

Black Cherry and Orange (with cream, please)

The BATS

I haven't been very good about documenting this summer for one (or two) main reason(s):"The Crazy Twins"

. . . as one Barton Springs Doggie Pool Patron dubbed them yesterday. I think it came as part of the phrase, "oh great, the crazy twins are back!" . . . and while I think he was kidding around . . . I'm not really sure.

Anyway, having 90 + collective pounds of overexcited puppy who pull you this way and that, wind their leases around your legs, and jump in out of the water while rolling in God knows what, stealing other dogs' toys, barking at canoes (embarrassing, Hank, embarrassing), and "saying hi" to every baby in a stroller ( . . . yeah) kinda kept me busy, on my toes, and did not provide me much confidence in my ability to keep a camera safe.

But, now that Patrick is here, we've been checking some things off my to do list AND (some of the time) I have actually remembered to bring my camera. One thing on my to-do list was to go see the famous bats . . . (I didn't take this one, but I thought it was cool shot!)

So, on Monday, Patrick & Jenny picked me up, and we went to eat at the Hulu Hut and then to see the famous Austin bats.

Hula Hut

The Congress Avenue bridge is the summer home to North America's largest urban bat colony, an estimated 1,500,000 Mexican free-tailed bats that emerge from the bridge each night at twilight.

It was quiet except for a faint squeaking. Then, suddenly they all flooded out into the sky, staying clumped together like a long, black river.

Here is a pic and some videos:

Question: Where do they go?

Patrick: Uhhhhhh, College Station.

Going in for the Kiss

I realize that this picture is blurry and kinda gross (. . . most people would say really gross), but I just couldn't resist posting it. Here, I go in for a kiss, but Dagny beats me to it. The girl just can't hold back the love!

The Barton Springs Doggie Pool

Now that Jenny is back in town, she has introduced us to Barton Springs. Here, there are lots of other dogs and lots of people who want to play with my dogs - a good thing since they kinda ignore me when we go (and that's okay, really).

This guy definitely fancied himself the dog whisperer. I think that he thought he'd taught Hank how to sit and lay down, and I let him think so. Hank is a smart puppy; he figured out what this dude wanted. It was pretty funny to watch. Dagny, however, was NOT into having to do tricks, and wait, for the ball to be thrown.

Pretty Girl

Leaping through the shallow part

Welcome to D.C., Ma'am

I went to D.C. last weekend for the Institute for Justice’s Law School Conference. After I checked out of my room, I needed somewhere to sit until Colleen arrived (she drove 2 hours to come and see me!) and whisked me off to lunch in Chinatown . . . So, I walked across the street and stumbled across a cute little park I hadn't noticed before. It was picturesque! - Trees, ducks, park benches, a little statue . . . plus this gentleman:
He was sitting on the park bench across from me taking a bath with a jug of water. He then struck up a lively conversation with the gentleman sitting next to him (there was no one sitting next to him).

I thought it was a lovely introduction to our Nation's Capital.

Kitty Cat Attack

So we were walking though a friend's apartment complex today, and the puppies were doing so good considering we'd already seen TWO kitties, and they didn’t bark or lunge at them, go spastic and start fighting with each other, or do anything else that would be “unacceptable puppy behavior.” Then, we passed a kitty in the doorway of “her” apartment. Dagny and Hank were definitely interested in her, but we kept walking. But, after we’d gone a few steps, all of a sudden, from behind I felt something pierce the back of my calve and there was quite a commotion of leashes and hisses and barking at my feet. The cat had charged the dogs(!) and gotten me. After coo’ing over her sweet little kitty, the owner said “not to worry; she’s charged a pit bull before.” Me worry? Really? Me? Her cat attacks me, and as I stand there with ten puncture wounds (no bites) and blood running down my leg, she is telling me not to worry about it. Ok. I am definitely not a cat person now (sorry Allison) . . .

See the claw?

P.S. My fearless pups are just fine. Mommy protected them from the evil kitty cat. Thanks, guys.

"Just Jump In!"

The doggies love Red Bud Isle Park. We go pretty much everyday after I spring them from the kennel!

Cuddle Time with Mr. Puppy

Indoor Dog Park

Here are a couple of pics from the indoor dog park in Dallas (Unleashed):

Alejandra and an Admirer

(she always has many)

A Little Agility Time . . .

we make it look so easy

Happy Fourth!

Dagny is a little nervous about the impending fireworks . . . last time it did not go well.

Playtime in Dallas

Alejandra

"Mom, Alejandra has the B-A-L-L!" - Hank

Vegas Babies, Yeah!

Big Kitties - the 4 "baby" tiger cubs

Closet Re-Do

Patrick’s closet, dresser, and the space in between were in a dire state. The dresser had fallen apart and been put back together several times during the move and never quite recovered.
One thing led to another . . .
So, when he went to Chicago (this post is a little overdo), I decided to try and alleviate the situation a bit by getting a new dresser and re-organizing his closet -

Results

What kind of Pup should Gwyn & Tory get?
Bulldog

wins with 18 votes (50%)

Just remember - This cutie pie . . . . . . becomes this cutie pie.Border Collie got 9 votes (25%),
Labrador got 7 votes (19%),
and Yorkiepoo got 2 votes (5%)

Art Project for the Mantle

One day you'll be sitting on the front porch doing crossword puzzles and folding paper." - Colleen

Engagement Party

Congrats Gwyn & Tory

Phrase of the Day

Let me set the scene:

• Patrick = Asleep
• Me = In my towel, 90 minutes until exam
• Dogs = Outside

. . . CRASH!

Phrase of the Day: “Patrick, the dogs knocked down the fence.”

Note: I have no idea who (or what) they were chasing, but they came back when I called them . . . so . . . yeah. That was my morning.