I have some layouts to share about a 2017 visit to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The first is a 2-page spread.
Digikit: Scraps N Pieces – A Smackerel of Honey
Template: AK Designs Two Pager Pack 2
Font: a second breakfast (journal/date)
Here’s a close up of the left side.
And the right side.
And the third is a companion page to the 2-page spread.
Digikit: Scraps N Pieces – A Smackerel of Honey
Template: Scraps N Pieces – Template Pack 66
Woodland Fairy captures the playful spirit of childhood fairy hunting. This whimsical scrapbook kit is packed full of adorable hand-drawn elements and subtle details you need to see to believe. Everything from the color scheme to the patterns adds a sense of wonder to your layout. Sunny yellows and shaded greens interplay with pops of teal and blue, while fairies and woodland creatures appear if you look carefully. Everything from hedgehogs to owls to foxes and raccoons can be found in this kit, alongside toadstools and flowers galore. It’s enough to make you want to go hunting for fairies to photograph. Recapture the magic of childhood with Woodland Fairy.
Woodland Fairy is part of this month’s Bits N Pieces. Scraps N Pieces has an element pack, a paper pack, a cardstock/glitter pack, an alpha, an owl add-on pack and a brand new template pack.
I made three layouts and I need to make at least one or maybe two more to finish scrapping a visit to the Lady Bird John Wildflower Center with my friend Kristy in 2009.
Digikit: Scraps N Pieces – Woodland Fairy
Template: Scraps N Pieces – Template Pack 20
Font: Idolwild
Digikit: Scraps N Pieces – Woodland Fairy
Template: Scraps N Pieces – Template Pack 20
Font: Idolwild (title); Another Typewriter (journal/date)
Digikit: Scraps N Pieces – Woodland Fairy
Template: Seatrout Scraps – Cornucopia 1
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Yesterday, we visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to view the bluebonnets. This has become an annual family tradition as we went last year too. Technically, I went in 2009 also, but that was with my friend Kristy. Although, I guess I was pregnant with Jessica at the time.
It was a little overcast with a nice breeze, so all in all a good day to be outside.
Bluebonnets
The bluebonnets aren’t as prolific this year since we had a much drier winter than the previous year.
Lupinus Texensis
These yellow flowers are really pretty, but I missed the signpost with their name and haven’t been able to find it browsing the Native Plant Information Network, so if anyone knows what they are, please let me know.
Yellow Flowers
Yellow Flowers Close-up
Purple Prairie Verbena
.jpg "Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)")
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
After we finally convinced Jessica to get out of the stroller (she’s seems to enjoy being strapped in), she wanted to help Daddy push it.
Jessica Pushing Her Stroller
I have to say last year was way easier getting Jessica to be still for the camera. This year she didn’t want to sit still for her Mama to take photos.
Jessica Among the Bluebonnets
James Smiling at Me
I ended up getting out her goldfish crackers to see if that would get Jessica to sit still and it did, but then she wouldn’t look at the camera much.
Jessica and James
Is Jessica Going to Sit on That Rock?
Why Yes, She Does Have a Seat
Jessica and Jennifer
Now If Only I'd Sat Up Straighter
"Oooh"
Bluebonnet Beauty
A nice lady offered to take a family photo for us.
Our Little Family
Jessica Sitting In Front of Large Buttercups
Pink Evening Primrose and Bluebonnets
Cactus Bloom
Serene Meadow
Meadow Close-up
Last Saturday, we took Jessica to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. I really like visiting the Wildflower Center. It is always so pretty. You can see pictures from my other trips to the Wildflower Center here and here.
Giant Spiderwort (Tradescantia gigantea)
Mommy and Jessica in the Bluebonnets
I was excited to get some pictures with Jessica and the bluebonnets. She seemed to really enjoy the bluebonnets and other wildflowers. She also liked the little mini waterfall at the pond and kept looking at it.
Jessica Checking Out the Bluebonnets
Bluebonnet Beauty
Bluebonnets Along the Trail
Jessica in her Sun Hat by the Bluebonnets
Daddy and Jessica by the Bluebonnets
Jessica Enjoying the Bluebonnets
Jessica Grabbing the Bluebonnets
Sweet Baby Among the Bluebonnets
Butterfly Bluebonnet Garden
Close-up of the Bluebonnets
These yellow flowers are called Engelmann’s Daisy (Engelmannia peristenia).
Daddy's Girl
Mommy's Sweetheart
More Giant Spiderwort
As most of my faithful blog readers know, James and I play World of Warcraft, a massively multi-player online game. Our small guild consists mostly of friends here in Austin, but we have a small number of guildies who live elsewhere. Back at the beginning of May, Mona and Dean, who both live in the San Francisco area, and Eric, who lives in Atlanta, came to visit. We had a lot of fun visiting, doing touristy Austin stuff, and of course talking about WoW.
Friday night, we went to Salt Lick so our visitors could experience true Texas barbecue. Then we played pool and hung out at Aric’s house. I think we had enough non-WoW conversation that my friend Kristy, Aric’s wife and lone non-WoW player, wasn’t bored with us.
Mona, Eric, Ranger, Dean, Justin, James, Ken, Aric and Kristy
Justin, Mona, Ken and Eric
Justin, Jennifer, Phap, Mona, Ranger, James, Eric, Aric and Dean
Saturday started off pretty early (well early for me who typically sleeps until 10 or noon Saturdays) with Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake followed by visiting the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It was too late for bluebonnets and a tad too early for the cacti blossoms, but it was beautiful and the weather was really nice.
Pond
For lunch, we went to the Alamo Drafthouse, an Austin movie theater original that serves food and beverages (what other theater can you buy and drink beer at?) and saw X-Men Origins: Wolvervine, an excellent movie. Then we visited the Texas Capitol. I totally think no visitor to Austin should skip this attraction. The Capitol is a beautiful building constructed of Texas granite and completed in 1888. I especially love the dome: outside with the lady liberty at the top, inside from the ground floor looking up or inside from the 2nd or 3rd floors looking down at the five different Texan crests in the marble floor.
James Outside the Main Entrance
Ranger, James and Eric Looking Up at the Inside of the Dome
Inside of the Dome
Crests on the Floor
Dean, Ranger, Eric, James, Jennifer and Mona
Afterward, we went back to our house where I put Dean and Ranger to work (they offered) helping me prepare the food for the guild party, which was a lot of fun.
Dean, Eric, Ranger, Jennifer, Mona, Aric, James, Phap, Adam and Justin
On Sunday, we went to Mount Bonnell, the highest point in Austin (which isn’t saying much). You do have some nice views of the Austin downtown skyline and Lake Austin, but the views weren’t quite as good as I remembered. Of course, since the last time I was there was almost 6 years ago when James proposed, tree growth and euphoric romantic feelings could bias my memories.
Pennybacker Bridge
Mona and Jennifer
Ranger, James, Eric and Dean
We then had lunch at Texadelphia, another Austin original that serves a Texas version of the Philly cheesesteak. We then checked out the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. It was the first time James and I had gone there even though it opened in 2001. I really enjoyed the museum, especially the special exhibit about immigration through the port of Galveston (ya’ll know my love of genealogy). It is definitely a museum that I would enjoy spending some more time visiting. Keep in mind photography is not allowed. It is also home to Austin’s only IMAX theater.
Eric, Phap, James, Mona, Ranger and Dean
After dropping Eric off at the airport, we went to Chuy’s, another Austin original (we can’t take guests to any old restaurant) where we chowed down on excellent Tex-Mex and chatted with current and former guildies (it is sad to say, but people do come and go in the land of WoW).
Alex and Melissa
Jennifer, James and Will
Ranger, Mona, Adam, Jennifer, James, Will, Alex, Phap, Melissa and Dean
James dropped Mona and Dean off at the airport Monday morning before work and our weekend came to a close. It was a great weekend and it is safe to say that Mona, Dean and Eric enjoyed their trip to Austin.