Digging is 18 years old, and other news

Digging is 18 years old, and other news

February 20, 2024 Last week I celebrated two milestones. Digging turned 18 years old on Valentine’s Day, which means the blog is a full-fledged adult now. Still can’t drink though. I’m amazed by how long blogging has continued to interest me, even as so many other blogs that started around ...
Folk art fence faces in South Austin

Folk art fence faces in South Austin

February 06, 2024 After a marvelously head-spinning visit to Austin’s thrifting treasure box, Uncommon Objects, I got turned around in its South Austin neighborhood. Cruising past a neighborhood day care, I spotted folk art faces on the fence and slowed down for a looksie. Upcycled junk has been turned into ...
Golden hour at Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin

Golden hour at Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin

December 10, 2023 On these beautiful December days in the ATX, whenever I can, I get myself out of the house, make my way through holiday traffic, and set out on the Hike and Bike Trail’s 3-mile loop. If my timing is good, there’s nothing better than seeing the buildings ...
Thankful for today

Thankful for today

November 23, 2023 Happy Thanksgiving, my fellow Americans! I’m finding much to be thankful for today and hope you are too. I’m grateful for cooler weather, walks around Lady Bird Lake, and a vibrant hometown to enjoy. Beauty all around me Peaceful moments in nature And of course family and ...
Creek Show art installations glow at Waterloo Greenway

Creek Show art installations glow at Waterloo Greenway

November 16, 2023 Last night I headed downtown to Waller Creek to see this year’s Creek Show, an annual exhibition of light-art installations, put on by Waterloo Greenway. While the event is free, let me tell you, it’s worth it to pay $10 for a fast pass that allows you ...
Summer pleasures: Barton Springs Pool and Lockhart art

Summer pleasures: Barton Springs Pool and Lockhart art

September 07, 2023 I had reservations for a dip at Blue Hole swimming hole in Wimberley, Texas, just before Labor Day. But the drought has left little untouched in Texas this summer, and I soon received a cancellation notice. Blue Hole has closed for the rest of the season due ...
Evening under the Petals at Blanton Museum

Evening under the Petals at Blanton Museum

July 07, 2023 I’ve been wanting to see the Petals at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art ever since the flower-shaped shade structures were officially unveiled in May. For one thing, I’m a big fan of shade in Texas. For another, I love public art. The Petals are a grove of ...
Zilker Garden lights up with neon, costumes for Surreal Garden

Zilker Garden lights up with neon, costumes for Surreal Garden

April 12, 2023 These flowers are watching you If you enjoy seeing a familiar garden with a twist of surreality, humor, and neon art, the Surreal Garden event at Zilker Botanical Garden is for you. And for me! I attended last year’s inaugural event and happily returned this year. The ...
Juliet Whitsett reimagines native plants and animals and co-curates Really Small Museum ATX

Juliet Whitsett reimagines native plants and animals and co-curates Really Small Museum ATX

March 20, 2023 Browsing the well-curated garden shop at Barton Springs Nursery recently, I stopped to admire a dozen framed graphic prints of cacti, butterflies, snakes, salamanders, and other Texas flora and fauna. The artist behind these joyful works is Austinite Juliet Whitsett, and they are part of her “Threatened ...
Zilker Tree spin on Christmas Eve

Zilker Tree spin on Christmas Eve

December 26, 2022 The week leading up to Christmas Day was a whirlwind of holiday gatherings, eating, drinking, and merry-making with friends and family, for which I’m deeply grateful. On a quieter Christmas Eve we visited the Zilker Holiday Tree, which has been lighting up Zilker Park just south of ...
Exploring Portal Potty and more at Creek Show 2022

Exploring Portal Potty and more at Creek Show 2022

November 20, 2022 A chilly drizzle on Friday couldn’t keep me from seeing Waterloo Greenway’s Creek Show, an “annual display of illuminated art” along the banks of downtown Austin’s Waller Creek. I go every year with family or friends to explore the creative light sculptures. Last year’s Creek Show abandoned ...
Zilker Garden turns surreal after dark with fantastical neon art

Zilker Garden turns surreal after dark with fantastical neon art

April 25, 2022 Last Friday my husband and I decked ourselves out in floral clothing and headed to Zilker Botanical Garden to attend The Surreal Garden, an interactive neon-art event. I have to say, it was even more fun than I’d imagined. Fantastical neon light sculptures filled the gardens (mainly ...
Have a rainbow Christmas!

Have a rainbow Christmas!

December 24, 2021 A very merry Christmas to you and yours, and happy holidays to all who celebrate the season in other ways! I spotted this rainbow of Christmas trees at Austin Motel on South Congress last weekend, and it lifted my spirits. I hope it does the same for ...
Creek Show 2021 lights up spacious new Waterloo Park

Creek Show 2021 lights up spacious new Waterloo Park

November 17, 2021 After a covid hiatus last year, Waterloo Greenway‘s fantastical Creek Show — light-sculpture installations by local designers — has returned, and it’s better than ever. The illuminated art lights up Austin’s newly overhauled Waterloo Park nightly through November 21. We reserved our free tickets weeks ago (it’s ...
Pease Park after dark

Pease Park after dark

September 08, 2021 I recently returned to Kingsbury Commons at Pease Park to see the Treehouse and other new features after dark. It turns out, nighttime Pease Park may be even better than daytime Pease Park! (Click for my first visit to Pease). I mean, look at the Treehouse, glowing ...
Exploring reimagined Waterloo Park in downtown Austin

Exploring reimagined Waterloo Park in downtown Austin

August 30, 2021 Shade trees are precious in a hot climate, 200-year-old heritage live oaks even more so. As Waterloo Park in downtown Austin emerges from a massive, 10-year redesign and overhaul, two grand old live oaks on the west side of the park greet visitors as if lovingly presented ...