I never thought I would write a story about fashion, but this one jumped out at me. Last Sunday I was walking around the Texas Wine Revolution event with a glass of 100% Texas Rose wine saying, “Do you mind if I take a picture of your boots?” By the way, rose isn’t what it used to be, and it is wonderful.
I went to the Frio on a Sunday afternoon with these two guys. Here is a photo essay of sorts about this special river.
Now and then I slip a little ‘dull but important’ in front of readers. If you hang around me for long you will know I’m passionate about dark nights and reversing the trend to lighting up the night. It turns out that humans were made for dark nights, and night lights create health problems and sleepless nights, and there is science on that. This is a short piece on the subject: Are Your Streetlights Killing You?
The unique ecosystem we call the Texas Hill Country is disappearing before our very eyes. In writing this story about Jacob’s Well I learned once again how quickly we are losing the place we love. David Baker (Wimberly Valley Watershed Association) is one of my heroes.
Joni Mitchell noted this many years ago in Big Yellow Taxi:
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
Put ’em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see ’em
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Hey farmer farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Fredericksburg Insider: Take a Scenic Drive Down Lower Crabapple Road
My favorite bicycle ride!
I went for a walk yesterday looking for color. http://texashillcountry.com/flowers-spring-colors-enchanted-rock/
I wrote a story about a new kind of dining experience for Fredericksburg – a food park. I was impressed with the young couple who own the project – Justin and Kara Armes – with their enthusiasm, sense of taste and style, and how they persevered to make it happen. Because the City’s development rules only allowed food trucks to be temporary, they had an uphill battle in creating this permanent site for them. Ultimately truth and justice prevailed; the City recognized that the location and concept fit Fredericksburg nicely and they changed the rules to allow this unique business to open.
I had one comment on the Facebook link from a guy who said that his two least favorite things were kids and dogs, which made me laugh. Kids and dogs have brought great joy to me.
My editor said she needed Valentines stories. Here’s mine. I prefer first hand stories and photos but that will have to wait till next year-I’ll be in Valentine tomorrow. 
In reading the 116 comments on Facebook on this post, it became apparent that a great many people commented without actually clicking or or reading the story. Maybe I should reconsider what I’m writing?
Nah, its too much fun. And this state park is absolutely one of my favorites, and are lucky to have an excellent superintendent who just transferred in from Enchanted Rock.
Peter, the Master Brewer, advising me on Spanish beer. 
I’ve been training for my 500 mile pilgrimage in May; working out at the gym, walking more often at ERock. Here I am pictured training for drinking beer on the Camino, getting tips from Peter at Pedernales Breeing Company. His advice? “Don’t. Drink the wine instead.”
I’ve been reading up on it (The Camino Sucks was enlightening). I’ve pulled my backpack out and fretted about whether or not to take any cooking equipment, like my PocketRocket. Should I plan to make oatmeal for breakfast like I do in the mountains? I even googled “can you buy peanut butter in Spain?” I don’t want to rely on restaurants all the time (peanut butter may be hard to find but I’m hoping good bread isn’t).
I read blog post after post until I realized that I was over-thinking it; I’ve been walking on my vacations since I was 19, in more challenging terrain, carrying camping equipment and food. I have the guidebook and the equipment and the clothing.
So I’m waiting patiently for the first of May and keeping up my training- gym, E Rock, brewery; gym, E Rock, breeery. And where is that Pocket Rocket anyway?
robertcdeming 