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Texans “Way Too Proud?”

Are Texans “way too proud?”  Like I always say, I wasn’t born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could.  Whether you’re a native or a transplant, its hard not to get caught up in a little bit of that Texas pride and if you’ve spent any time here on this blog you will know that I would have to plead guilty to getting caught up in it myself.  But here’s a proud Texan who put his Texas pride in a video to the Bud Light radio ad “Real Men of Genius” and he has pretty much nailed it. Yes the state reptile is the Horned Toad.  I had a good laugh when I saw it and thought y’all (that’s Texas talk)  might enjoy it too.  So to all my fellow native and non-native Texans, this is for you.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Mr. Way Too Proud Texas Guy

Pancakes Anyone?

If you’re looking for some real down home Texas cuisine you have really got to try the 620 Cafe and Bakery.

When my parents come to town we always make a point to eat breakfast out–at least once while they’re here and the 620 Cafe is where we go. They do have lunch but I LOVE their breakfast menu and they serve it all day.

The pancakes are HUGE and I don’t think I’ve tasted any better anywhere. Be sure to have some of the country potatoes with your order–if only I could make them at home.

Other favorites are biscuits and country gravy, Southern Benedict, Tex-Mex Benedict…I could go on but just go check the menu.

Now lets talk about the bakery.  You’ll want to start with desert before you’re even seated because they display all their bakery wares in a glass refrigerator case just inside the front door.  If you don’t have room for their sweet confections, you can always just take a whole pie home.  Hungry yet?  I suggest you give the 620 Cafe and Bakery a try this weekend.

Hours are Monday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

910 Round Rock Avenue
Round Rock, TX  78681

Bats for Bats

Of course everyone has heard of the largest colony of Mexican Free-tailed bats in North America residing under the Congress Ave. Bridge in Austin, TX.  Pretty impressive to say the least.  But Round Rock has bragging rights to its own colony living under the stretch of the I-35 over pass between FM 620 and Hesters Crossing.  Every night at dusk you’ll see them pouring out from under the bridge for their evening meal of insects.  Every time I see them I’m am hopeful that they will dramatically reduce the mosquito population as they feast.

One evening last year as I drove south on the interstate the bats were making their way out into the night for their usual fare.  Unfortunately for them, 2 hawks decided it was time to dine.  I’m sure those bats looked as tasty to them as the insects did to those bats and just as numerous.  It was Wild America and the Nature Channel at work right before my eyes.

You must be careful though if you’re driving at dusk.  It could be a dangerous proposition to combine bat watching with driving.  I-35 is treacherous enough as it is.  Try pulling of the interstate and parking.  But of course beware of guano !

Round Rock Farmers Market

Did you know Round Rock has a farmers market?  It does indeed  — held every Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. to noon from the first Saturday in april through the week before Thanksgiving in the Public Parking Garage on Bagdad road in Round Rock.

Called the Georgetown Farmers Market that makes the rounds to other small towns in the area, this market consists of 60+ members that grow and sell their produce or product within 11 counties surrounding Williamson County. You can talk face to face with farmers and find out exactly how your food is grown.  They’ve even got a website and a blog for more information.  Good (and healthy) eating!

Tags: Living in Round Rock Texas

San Antonio Getaway

One of the things I love about living in Round Rock is its close proximity to San Antonio.  Its far enough away that you get the feeling you are “away” but close enough that you can make it a day trip or a long weekend by car and there is plenty of road to take in all the beauties of the Texas spring.

I love springtime in San Antonio, everything is green, the wild flowers are in bloom in shades of pink, purple, yellow and red and the Texas sky is its bluest.  And its not too hot yet.

It seems like there is always something being celebrated in San Antonio and usually right on the world famous River Walk.  There is an abundance of great places to eat along there and all over town.  There is shopping galore, including the River Center Mall, right on the River Walk as well.  Of course you have to visit the Alamo while you’re there and then you can cross the street to Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Then on the outskirts of town there is 6 Flags Over Texas and Sea World .  One of our places to stay is the Westin LaCantera Resort near by with spectacular views and beautiful accommodations.

From Round Rock it takes about 90 minutes–unless of course you run into traffic and I’ll warn you right now, there is ALWAYS traffic on I-35 in the downtown Austin area between about 51st street and Ben White Blvd.  Its just worse on UT game days and the SXSW Music Festival.  So just take your time, or if you’re in a hurry you can take the Tollway 130 (its a couple of bucks but worth it!) that connects to I-35 at about Kyle.  If you really have the time, take Hwy 281.  Its a slow drive through several small Texas towns that have all the Texas charm you could ask for.  You may even want to stop in Blanco and take a look around.  Or rent a tube and float down the river that runs through town.

On your way back you can take the long way home through Marble Falls, home of Lake Marble Falls and one of the best little Texas cafe’s on the planet, the Bluebonnet Cafe.  This is real home town Texas food including Chicken Fried Steak with mashes potatoes and country gravy.  And if you like pie…honey…they’ve got pie!  Here Happy Hour is all about the pie.

If you need a little getaway, a quick road trip to San Antonio is just the ticket!

Hurricane’s a comin’!

Hurricane Alex, the first of the 2010 churns towards the Texas Gulf Coast and here in Central Texas we’re already feeling the effects.  Flash flood warnings are in effect in Central Texas through tomorrow.  Just a word of advice, when its been raining like the days of Noah and you come across a low water crossing with even just a couple inches of water…DON’T DO IT!  It amazes me how many people lose their lives every year because they think “I can make it.  My car is heavy enough.” Some even drive around the barricades placed there to keep them out.  Think again folks.  It doesn’t matter how much your car weighs or how high off the grown it is.  Flowing water can cause your car to slide and lose traction and sweep you down stream.  If you don’t need to go out in bad weather, just stay home.  But if you do, please, please, PLEASE stay out of the low water crossings.

Holy Crepe Myrtle!

Crepe Myrtles are one of my most favorite flowering trees of Texas.  Well, they’re not native to Texas but they thrive here.  They bloom from June through July.  They love the heat and sun and are drought proof but after 2 years of drought and a lot of rain this spring the Crepe Myrtles in Round Rock are thriving–exploding!  Its as though they’ve been saving all their blooms for a rainy-er day.

I’ve never seen such thick blooms–the branches are just weighed down with them!  I’ve been here almost 22 years and I don’t remember these flowering trees looking so spectacular–big thick clouds of pink, deep fuchsia, red, lavender and white and they are everywhere!  In the grocery store parking lot, McDonald’s, next to buildings under construction, along streets, parks and in very lucky home owners’ yards.

They are beautiful and I just can’t get enough of them.

I think my family is getting sick of hearing me say “Oh, look at that gorgeous Crepe Myrtle!  Oh! Look at that one!”

So look at these!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Tags: Living in Round Rock, Round Rock Texas, TX

City of Round Rock Events for April

If you’re looking for some fun and educational activities as well as some great service events in The City of Round Rock for you and your family, here are some items on the calendar that might interest you.  Personally I believe one of the best annual events has got to be the Bulk Trash Pick-up during the Spring Cleanup Week.  I just cleaned out my attic and garage and not having to worry about how to haul off all those larger items I couldn’t get a nickel for in a garage sale is a huge deal.  They just pick it all up with the rest of your trash–and that’s 2 days a week!  Now how great is that I ask you?

April 3 thru November 20th – The Round Rock Farmers Market.  Open from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays in the Round Rock City Hall Parking Garage.

April 17 — The City of Round Rock will kick off the 2010 Spring Cleanup Week by having a Household Hazardous Waste collection from 8:00 to noon located at the Recycling Center.

April 17th — YMCA Healthy Kids Day.  All three branches of the YMCA of Greater Williamson County (Round Rock , Taylor and Cedar Park) will join more than 1,700 YMCA’s nationalwide by participating in the 19th annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

April 17 — St. William’s Catholic Church presents its Spring Fiesta from noon to 8:00 p.m. The Spring Fiesta features a garage sale form 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., food, games, raffles, petting zoo, pony rides and more.  It will feature performances by Los Texas Wranglers and Moby Slick, and the roun Rock Ballet Folklorico. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Round Rock Calendar, Round Rock Events

Kamakazi Cardinals

Spring in Round Rock, Texas brings a beautiful variety of birds, including those gorgeous red cardinals.  I have been sitting here at my computer working all afternoon and I’m about to run and open the front door yet again. For weeks, from sun up to sun down this crazy little female cardinal has been attacking all my downstairs windows and today I decided I might as well blog about her.

When this first started it took about a week or so to figure out she and her mate weren’t going anywhere so finally I googled “cardinals attacking window” to find out what the heck was going on.  Apparently cardinals are very territorial and will attack another cardinal if it comes into their territory.  This little bird is attacking her own reflection as she would any intruder and she is relentless but appears to be unscathed by it all. Occassionally the male will join in but most of the time he leaves the task to her.   She doesn’t like it much when I come to watch her but it really tics her off when she finally starts getting on my nerves and I fling open the door.  I guess I shouldn’t complain too much. They are beautiful and I’ve never seen a pair of Cardinals this up close and personal.

Frankly, I don’t know who is sitting on her nest.  How could she possible have the time?  Maybe the male has taken over that job because I rarely see him on the attack.  I will be so glad when those babies are hatched and flown from the nest.  Maybe then I can clean up the bird poop off my porch and have a little peace!