'sploring the Texas Hill Country...

We were expected to be at the rehearsal on Friday evening, but had the day to roam around. We went to a couple of grocery stores, one catering to the Latino population, with some pretty unusual items stocked on the shelves: items to clean one's house, and/or person, that would insure luck in love, or gambling, or bring bad fortune to others. We were actually looking for some fresh flowers for me to make the brides' bouquet, so had to go to another supermarket to find what was wanted. 

Bought some flowers, and 'borrowed' a bucket to put them in, for fresh-keeping. Then we went wandering... I'd read about a fresh water spring out in the country relatively close by, and wanted to go have a look. Driving in the city always takes longer than expected, with various stops at interesting places - like the little shop we veered off to see because the sign said Taco Donuts.

 I was so curious: would they put the Taco stuffing inside the hole? As it turned out: No. Donuts and tacos are two completely different items on the menu, so the sign was a big deceptive. But we did take Stanley in to get a photo of him visiting the Taco-Donut shop. They made donuts in the shape of a Texas Star, and a hand making the 'peace' sign - so you can imagine what happens when you buy that donut, and eat off the pointer finger?

Traveling along the by-ways, when the freeway suddenly disappeared, came to an unexpected end.... on to the scenic highways of south Texas. There have been recent torrential rains, after a very dry summer. The water table is understandably low, but with lots of rain in the past couple of weeks, there are lots of wild-flowers blooming gloriously along the right of way.

We were looking for Hamilton Pool, near Dripping Springs, TX. When we got to the entrance of the park, the gates were locked, due to 'weather': washed out trails, muddy roads, recent exceptionally high water flowing over pavement in places. So we traveled on. And found ourselves at a Park the County maintained, bought as a ranch from a private owner, along the Perdaneles River.  High sandstone bluffs on each side, but really scenic. All the trees, mostly oak and cedar/juniper are low and scrubby, due to lack of water and sandy/rock/infertile soil, but lots of native grasses and desert-type plants. Not what we are accustomed to in the southeast, but beauty full nonetheless.

Flat Stanley enjoyed getting out and walking around a bit.