When I was 11 years old, my family moved to Mobile, Alabama. For the first time, we lived someplace hot enough long enough to own a swimming pool. As we moved in our house in the winter, I was marking down days ’till I could give our new pool a try.

When the pool’s temperature reached 68 degrees, I was sure it was plenty warm. The family breakfast table conversation went something like this:

“Can I go swimming today? The water is 68 degrees,” I asked my parents.

“No! That is too cold,” my mom replied.

“Just let her,” my dad replied, “I doubt she’ll stay in long.”

What a wise man. One dive in, one lap across the pool and I was done.

Fast forward…ahem…a few years to last summer.

I think Austin was perfectly situated over an updraft from Hades during the summer of 2009. Days turned into weeks, weeks grew into months of daily temperatures well over a hundred. Rain was but a distant memory.

So really it was a good summer to check out some of the local cold springfed swimming holes. These small oases of relief are a gentle reminder that God has grace on us all, even loudmouthed Texans.

Barton Springs Pool is most famous on the Austin natural-spring-circuit. From a distance it looks like any other public swimming pool. But up close you notice the difference. While the pool’s edges are professionally molded concrete, the bottom is simply a naturally formed rock-and-moss spring. The water remains a chilly 68 degrees year-round.

By the time August rolled around, we realized we’d yet to visit Barton Springs. But then our plans were waylaid by a reprieve in the weather. Temperatures dropped to the low 90’s.

To most normal people, 90+ degrees may seem like a great day for a swim, but perspective is relative I guess. Armed with the vivid memory of exactly what 68 degree water felt like, I wanted to go on the hottest day possible. So we waited a few more days and finally got our chance.

I think my Facebook post that day says it all:

“Went to Barton Springs for the 1st time today. I watched the people. I decided other than the kid splashing his mom and the teenage couple making out, most people weren’t actually having fun. They were standing around with goosebumps trying to figure out what to do in a 68 degree pool with a moss and rock covered bottom. Did I just speak Austin heresy???”

Yes, my friends, despite 100+ degree weather, 68 degree water was every bit as cold as I remembered.

Useful Information

Address: 2101 Barton Springs Road (located in Zilker Park)

Phone: 974-9331 or 476-9044

Website: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm

You might think I’m just another girl following the crowd. After all, organic eats are all the rage and passionate people everywhere demand support of local farmers.

But no, I have no consistent lofty conviction regarding that kind of green eating.

Rather I seek a simpler sort of green.

Truth be told, I like fried green tomatoes.

Since I’m handier with a frypan than I am with a garden, come summertime, farmers markets are a reliable source for the otherwise elusive green tomatoes.

With visions of tasty summery goodness, I was beyond thrilled to learn a new farmer’s market was opening practically in my own backyard.

F2M Texas, a local nonprofit, organized this new market to open in Cedar Park.

On Saturday my family and I headed north to check it out.

Local bands played lively music creating a fun atmosphere.

Booths sold fresh produce, local honey, eggs, meats, Gulf Coast shrimp, dips and jams.

Hurricane Katrina booted one couple from their New Orleans home. Austin is sweeter since their arrival.  They’re whipping up New Orleans style pralines for the farmer’s market masses.

Need a cute gift? These are pralines boxed with style.

The market was shocked by the turnout, so most booths sold out of their products before we arrived at 10:00 a.m. However, most vendors apologized and promised more was on the way.

From what I understand all the products are local and no re-selling is allowed. It’s literally farm-to-market here with no middle man.

So if you live near Cedar Park and want to eat local, this farmer’s market might be just for you. As we head into tomato season, maybe I’ll see you there!

USEFUL INFORMATION:

Location: North Parking Lot of the 1890 Ranch Shopping Center in Cedar Park at the intersection of Tollway 183 and FM 1431. Located behind the movie theater.

Time: 9:00-1:00 every Saturday

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Park-TX/Cedar-Park-Farms-to-Market/327245517264?v=wall#!/pages/Cedar-Park-TX/Cedar-Park-Farms-to-Market/327245517264

This weekend, eager to enjoy the Spring sun and gentle breezes, we took Titus to Champion Park in Cedar Park, Texas. Though somewhat small, this park offers unique discoveries particularly targeting the preschool crowd I’d say.

Concrete casts of dinosaur bones hide beneath the sand in the covered dinosaur dig area.

If shovels won’t do the job, why not bring in the heavy machinery?

Specially designed boulders encourage climbing.

The miles of pathways and bridges that make up Brushy Creek Trail System are but a few steps away.

Other amenities include ample picnic areas and a blue whale-shaped splash fountain to provide cool summer fun.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Admission Fee: Free

Location: 3830 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park, Texas

Phone Number: 512-246-2683

Park Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Website: http://www.williamson-county.org/CountyDepartments/ParksandRecreation/ChampionPark/tabid/809/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Williamson County put county dollars to great use by creating a nearly seven-mile trail system along the creek complete with six parks:

• Creekside Park
• Olsen Meadows Park
• Champion Park
• Brushy Creek Lake Park
• Brushy Creek Sports Park
• Twin Lakes Park

I thought it might be a fun little series for my family to visit these six parks and tell you all about them. As we’ve only been to one with our camera so far, this will be a bit of work-in-progress.

Enjoy!

For all you local moms planning a staycation this Spring Break, I hope you’ll find it to be an inspiring and useful resource.

Happy Spring Break!

Did you know Dr Pepper hails from the great state of Texas? Since I’m such a loyal customer, I decided it was time to make the pilgrimage to Waco to pay homage to the bubbly goodness at the Dr Pepper History Museum.

Kenny defected from Dr Pepper to Diet Pepsi a few years ago. Turncoat that he is, he agreed to accompany Titus and me on this spur-of-the-moment adventure.

The museum is a fun little outing.

There is a replica of the old drugstore where the drink was originally concocted in the 1800’s.

The original soda fountain bar is on display.

There are old bottling machines from the early bottling plants.

An artisan water well supplied water to the original factory in Waco. It was covered up in the 1920’s. When the old factory was restored to become the Dr Pepper museum, archaeology students from the nearby Baylor University excavated the well. Archaeology in action right here in Texas – wow! That’s something.

Our favorite part of the museum was a theater showing all the old Dr Pepper commercials. We laughed and laughed at those quippy ads.

We declined a Dr Pepper from the soda fountain and headed to happy hour at Sonic for our Dr Pepper fix. My friend Shelby says we missed the museum’s best offering – the original syrup mixed the traditional soda fountain style.

Maybe next time…

We are at peak season for the Texas bluebonnets and Saturday we drove a loop from Burnet to Lampasis to Llano in search of these wild wonders.

After an afternoon of driving we stopped in the charming little town of Llano.

The Llano River cuts through the heart of this town, and a bridge connects the otherwise divided downtown.

As we walked the pedestrian sidewalk on the bridge, a hot spring sun beat down on us, and we envied the people swimming and splashing in the river.

I perused several of the cute antique shops. Kenny protected the merchandise from Titus’ curiosity.

Have I mentioned that I love the Texas Hill Country?

One Friday, Kenny, Titus and I headed a couple hours west to Enchanted Rock State Natural Park. This hike was the perfect length for one couple and a sleepy little boy. By sleepy, I mean fussy; but like all good Southerners, I’m trying to state this unpleasantry in a more delicate manner.

We climbed the steep rock, enjoyed the 360 degree vista from the top, splashed in a few puddles from the recent rain and headed home.

Want to know more about enchanted rock? Well, here’s a teaser from the State’s website:

The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level, and covers 640 acres. It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States.

Exciting stuff, huh? Well, if words don’t do it justice, maybe pictures will.

Please do take note – the park often reaches capacity and frequently closes on weekends, sometimes by 11 a.m. (which we experienced!) Plan to arrive early and have alternate plans.

We heard about the Grizzly House from a local. It’s a funky fondue restaurant from the 60’s. We were promised the opportunity to cook elk and caribou on a hot rock.

Kenny was really excited about the chance to be a cave man and cook exotic raw meat on a hot rock, so we knew we would visit The Grizzly House. This place was so much fun!

We didn’t want to pay the top dollar for our experience, so we went at lunch – same experience, smaller portions and cheaper prices. Perfect!

The Grizzly House is a very funky place. I don’t think the decor has changed since the place opened in the late 60’s. I don’t really exactly remember the inside as we opted to sit out on the porch but my impressions include random shades of orange and gold, weird carved wood, decorative mushrooms, and knitted things…maybe a noodle macreme plant hanger?

Kenny really wanted to try some kind of game, but didn’t see it on the lunch menu. We both ordered the steak fondue. Our waiter, Ivan, suggested we upgrade 1 or 2 ounces of our meat to try bison and caribou. Excellent solution!

Soon we were cooking small pieces of meat on a 650 degrees rock right on our table.

We were giddy that the wind was blowing the smoke of the fondue in the opposite direction. We thought we could leave greasy-meat-smell-unscathed. Then a table of Russians next to us also ordered a hot rock and raw meat. Our clothing may forever remind us of them. Ha!

Our entree was accompanied by a tart German-inspired green salad and bean salad.

We finished with fruit to dip in a rich pot of chocolate fondue.

If you’re heading to Banff anytime soon, DO visit The Grizzly House. Ask for Ivan. He was our waiter. We watched him handle the entire patio full of visitors, including the very large party of Russians, with the same grace, ease and friendliness that one would expect at a 5-star restaurant.

Have fun!

Funny that’s the color of the autumn leaves in Canada. No time for red, brown or orange. Only yellow will do.

Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.

It’s true little leaves. It’s true.

Party hard. Winter’s coming.