Last Saturday, on the Pfluger Bridge spanning Lady Bird Lake, I joined a handful of moon watchers with tripods and long lenses, pocket-sized point-and-shoots, and camera phones held aloft to capture images of the “supermoon” as it rose over downtown Austin. I didn’t get the photo I wanted—a crisp moon suspended over downtown buildings—because I still haven’t taken the time to learn the intricacies of my newish camera. (Bad Pam!) But I like this image anyway because the moon is shining like a spotlight over the old Seaholm power plant. And it was fun to moon gaze with an eclectic downtown crowd, many of whom were biking or walking to SXSW music events when the sight of the moonrise arrested them for a few minutes. “Supermoon!” many exclaimed.

Awaiting the moon’s appearance at dusk I watched kayakers paddling east and admired the railroad bridge’s very Austin-esque graffiti.

Looking west across the Lamar Bridge I watched the sunset fade to dusk on Lady Bird Lake.

On a warm spring evening, surrounded by happy people, with music in the air, such moments remind me why I love Austin.

All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

The nearly full moon shone through the colored lights of the Zilker Christmas tree last night, making a spectacular sight on the eve of the winter solstice.

My dad, who is visiting from North Carolina, had never seen it. We made sure he took a spin under the tree. This is what it looks like when you spin under the spiraling lights.

Whee!

Feeling dizzy? So were we.

Have a merry Christmas, dear readers!

All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

I missed the full moon by three days, but the waning Green Corn or Sturgeon Moon looked so pretty tonight that I had to get out my tripod to take a picture.

The moon, like a flower
In heaven’s high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and smiles on the night.

—William Blake

All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.