Fredericksburg, TX

Our drive from Austin to Fredericksburg was just over an hour. Along the way we saw a lot of ranches. As we got closer to Fredericksburg, we started seeing vineyards and wineries. The terrain changed from mostly flat to hilly, and we realized we'd driven into Texas "hill country."

We passed by the Lyndon Baines Johnson National Historical Park as well as the Texas Rangers Heritage Center. These aren't the kinds of things that interest us, in general, but we may go back and see them if we have time. There wasn't much to see along the way, but I captured this one barn.

We're staying at a pretty nice KOA this time around. Right away I knew I was going to like it here, when I noticed this while walking to the office to check in.

These two have some sort of secret kitty avenue to the roof of the private residence situated just behind the office.

In fact, the park is crawling with kitties. I thought they were feral at first, but when I went to use the laundry, I noticed they have free access to the screened in patio attached to the house. Also, there is a large flock of chickens living there.

When I took the images above, I'd underestimated just how many kitties are living here, and so I'd like to get out and try to take pictures of some more of them. Of course, having kitties roaming all around outside causes great consternation to these two.

Also in a pasture adjacent to the park, I got a good look at some Texas Longhorns. I've been hoping to see them. Their horns are impressive, but they were not the least bit aggressive, and seemed completely bored by me standing very near and taking dozens of pictures.

This next one is going into my Sketchbook.

My one word for this One Word Wonder: "Horny." And what else would it be? That leaves just one more page in my Sketchbook, and then I'll be ready to send it back to the Brooklyn Art Library to be included in their permanent collection.

We needed to do some grocery shopping in the afternoon, and so we drove the main street of Fredericksburg. It is a town of historical significance and heavily influenced by German immigrants. You can read more about the town right here. I'm afraid my pictures aren't very good since I was shooting through the windshield of the truck as we drove by. As usual, my images are plagued by power lines and telephone poles. Nevertheless, it gives you a flavor for the place. One might expect to see Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty strolling the streets together. (You need to have been born during the 14th Century to get that reference.)

Here's a better image borrowed from the internet and used with permission:

(Attribution: By Photolitherland Chris Litherland (Own work My own photo) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons)

It's still dark outside as I write this, but the forecast was for stormy weather today. It seems as if it will be a good day to visit Creations quilt shop in Kerrville. As we've been traveling along, many of you have sent recommendations for quilt shops you like. None have received as many recommendations as Creations, and so it seems I need to go have a look and see what has y'all so hepped up.

Also, while we're here in Fredericksburg, we want to see the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. It's one of those oddball things I've pulled from my collection of manilla folders, and so we'll take a drive up to see it. The weather is supposed to improve by tomorrow. There are some other things that have been recommended as well, including Wildseed Farms. If you click on that link, you can see a slideshow of some of their pretty flowers. Our time here is limited (as it always is), and so we'll do as much as we can before we need to move along.