is there any more pie?

so sorry

Posted on March 28, 2013 by is there any more pie?

I’m still having technical difficulties here in Texas. The wifi stream is iffy and my ability to load photos from my computer (via Son #2’s camera) to wordpress is zero. While I have lots of Austin photos piling up on my hard drive, I can’t share them with you until I get something called an “IO error” solved.

In preparation for the upcoming Season Five of RIVER MONSTERS, my very favorite tv show in the world, I have taken various fish photos here in Austin.

Some of them are very strange. As are the fish in River Monsters, which is why they’re called “monsters” and are worth spending an hour of my life watching someone (Jeremy Wade, extreme angler) fish for them.

River Monsters, Season 5, premieres April 7th. I’ll be celebrating the show’s return with fishy blogs, including some of my own fishy triumphs.

You don’t believe I have fishy triumphs, do you?!?

Posted in lake, River Monsters | 2 Comments

the last picture show

Posted on March 23, 2013 by is there any more pie?

Small green box at “Uncommon Objects”, Austin, Texas.

I think is the last picture from my 10-year old camera. Banjo Man surprised me with it one Christmas so I could take my own pictures at the local animal shelter. I used to write a weekly pet adoption column and it was great fun to photograph the animals myself.

It is all my fault. I dropped it from a stool at the Continental Club while watching HeyBale perform. My purse, with my giant old beast of a camera inside, tipped over and fell.

Not the first time the camera has hit the floor. I am nothing if not clumsy. I mean, really clumsy. The camera has survived much abuse.

So…does anyone have a suggestion for a new camera? I’m reading online reviews and thought I had a good option–a Sony Cybershot DSC-WX150—but Sony has discontinued it, though it is still available on Amazon. I’d like something compact this time.

And under $300.

Suggestions? Advice? Do you love your camera?

Would I love your camera?

Posted in austin, secondhand stuff, texas | 3 Comments

the very good long day part 3

Posted on March 22, 2013 by is there any more pie?

You thought I forgot all about the music, didn’t you? We’re in Austin, it’s the opening day of the music portion of SXSW, so where is the music????

At the Continental Club, of course. 3 PM, no cover charge. Just a walk down the street.

This was after our second meal of BBQ ribs in Lockhart (downtown, at Smitty’s, where you walk down a smoky hall past firepits to order your food) and experiencing a slight “meat coma” that required a 20-minute nap.

Hot Club of Cowtown, one of the best bands ever! We all bought the new cd.

Elana James of Hot Club

Playing in the San Jose parking lot behind Jo’s Coffee was “Asleep At the Wheel”. Asleep At The Wheel???!!!!

We then piled into the van and headed to our favorite place, The Saxon Pub, for some blues with Johnny Nicholas. He grew up in Pawcatuck, CT and Westerly, RI and he is Banjo Man’s favorite musician in Texas.

Johnny Nicholas

Banjo Man talked to him for a while outside his truck.

Yes, this is a margarita in a beer mug. Please, do not judge. 🙂

Then Ben, Amber and John joined us for a late dinner at the Magnolia Cafe. After all those ribs, most of us ordered pancakes and eggs.

My grandson wasn’t thrilled with his father eating his home fries, so he stuck his fork in his dad’s blueberry pancakes. They ate off of each other’s plates for a while, which I think is going to happen for many years to come.

We couldn’t fit anything else into the day, but when you’re in Austin you have to see as much and eat as much as you can.

It’s the law.

Posted in austin, food, friends, music, texas | Leave a comment

the very good long day, part 2

Posted on March 20, 2013 by is there any more pie?

Lockhart, Texas is a cool little town that boasts four bbq joints. The BBQ Adventurers and I decided to take a little tour before hitting Smitty’s for a second round of ribs.

Are these guys waiting for a plane? Admiring the courthouse? Looking at a really big cow? Confederate monument. Lockhart was part of the Chisholm Trail. Okay, I found an antiques store. And I went inside. I admit it. In Texas, if you only have one boot (damn those margaritas!) you make a lamp. I loved these. Too small, though. I liked her attitude. And her hat.

(more about Lockhart tomorrow)

Posted in austin, secondhand stuff, texas, travel | Leave a comment

$1000 boots

Posted on March 19, 2013 by is there any more pie?

Poor Banjo Man. He thoughts these Lucchese boots looked really good on me, until we both saw the price.

$999.99

It was fun to pretend I still wanted to buy them. Seriously? We’ve spent much less on cars.

Time to buy a Powerball ticket…

It is always fun to tease Banjo Man.

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the really good long day, part 1

Posted on March 17, 2013 by is there any more pie?

The day started in Lockhart, a town that calls itself the “BBQ Capital of Texas”.

Here are the BBQ Adventurers:

George, Will, Jack and Banjo Man

They are standing in front of the legendary Kreuz Market, which opens for business at 10:30 AM. We were the second car in the parking lot.

There are rules here on the BBQ Trail.

Delbert McLinton once ate here. I was impressed. Obviously.

Banjo Man had other things on his mind.

Like ribs, beef shoulder, sausage, smoked turkey, beans, bread, crackers and potato salad.

I ate ribs. The best ribs of my life.

And the very best 99-cent banana pudding in the universe. Here is the empty bowl: I’m not sure why Gene Autry’s suit was on display, but perhaps you’d enjoy seeing it mounted on the wall. Beautiful tailoring. We waddled out of these door about an hour and a half after we arrived. But we were not through with BBQ yet….

Posted in austin, food, texas, travel | Tagged Austin day trip, BBQ, Kreuz, Lockhart, travel | 4 Comments

vintage boots on south congress

Posted on March 16, 2013 by is there any more pie?

Which pair would you try on????

Posted in austin | 4 Comments

an emmy lou afternoon

Posted on March 16, 2013 by is there any more pie?

Emmy Lou Harris at Waterloo Records day show.

Emmy Lou Harris and Rodney Crowell

I wish it wasn’t midnight so I could tell you all about the “day show” at Waterloo Records.

There are times in one’s life where standing in a parking lot, in 86 degree heat, with a purse full of water bottles, is great fun.

My daughter-in-law, Amber, agreed. She was waiting for Raoul Malo (I’m sure I’ve spelled his name wrong. Sorry, Amber) at 5 PM and I was waiting for Emmy Lou Harris and Rodney Crowell at 6 PM.

We arrived at 1:45. Bless our hearts.

I bravely stood in line for the Porta Potty at 4:15.

We ate ice cream at 4:40.

Amber stood in line for Raoul Malo’s autograph at 5:40.

My feet stopped aching when Emmy Lou sang.

Then we went out to dinner and drank margaritas.

THE END