Kite Tails & K9s Festival

Pets are just a part of life for my family.  My husband and I have a Jack Russell Terrior named Holly seen at right keeping my dad company in his recliner.  She brings a smile to our faces most of the time while acting like a thug in clown's clothing!  My youngest daughter has 3 dogs and two horses, my nephews both have dogs, my brother has a dog.  So we love dogs and they love us unconditionally.  If you have a special K9 in your life and want a fun outing with your dog and perhaps your kids or grandkids, then here's the place to be.

Come out Saturday April 14 to the Cultural Activities Center in Temple for the Kite Tails & K9s Festival from 11-2.  This is an event sponsored by Leadership Temple to help raise funds for an off-lease dog park in Temple.  The event is free, but please bring your checkbook and donate to the cause of a place for our dogs to run and play off lease and make new dog friends.  Bring your dog on a lease to the event if you like--there will be a dog agility course set up, dog contests, demonstrations, and kite making and flying for the kids.  You might enjoy the Dog Look-A Like Contest if you have had comments to the effect that you and your dog could pass for twins--and get your picture made with your favorite pooch.  Lots of fun and for a good cause--

Central Texas Entertainment

This weekend (Friday-Sunday) the Temple Civic Theater is putting on one of the funniest plays I've seen since the "Tuna" series!  "The Dixie Swim Club" has so many hilarious one-liners that if you aren't through laughing at one, you will miss the next one.  The local ladies who star in the performance play their parts perfectly.  I am so glad to live in an area that has such wonderful opportunities locally to enjoy the arts and such talented people to help that be a reality.

Also this Saturday night at the Cultural Activities Center, The Resentments, an Austin-based group will be performing as part of the singer/songwriter series.  Come for dinner beforehand, free adult beverages provided by a nearby alehouse, and wonderful music!  Start time is 7:30, ticket price is $25--where else can you get quality entertainment for that price without driving 60 miles or more! 

The place to be this weekend is the Temple-Belton area for food, music, friends.  Come join the fun!

Spring Weather in Central Texas

As is true across the state of Texas, spring is a time for sudden changes in weather taking us from a warm sunny day to an evening of severe storms, possible hail and tornadoes.  Last night was one of those events.  It may seem freaky for some, but I love a good thunderstorm with lightening stretching across the sky illuminating the darkness of the clouds in the background.  There is a majesty in those events and an unleased power that is awesome to behold.  But having experienced my share of tornadoes as a part of those ugly storms, I know when to quit watching and start taking cover.  Luckily, last night was not a tornado or hail event, but some thunder and lightening and much needed rain on our parched Central Texas land. 

Central Texas Theater

One of the great things about living in Central Texas is the opportunity to enjoy the arts in many forms.  One great venue is the Temple Civic Theater, a community theater which does wonderful productions using local talent.  This intimate theater is located at 2413 South 13th Street in Temple and has a wonderful season for which memberships may be purchased each year.  The current production which begins March 23 and runs on weekends through April 1 is The Dixie Swim Club, a comedy in the tradition of Steel Magnolias.  Tickets are only $20 for adults and $10 for students--a bargain in this day and age.  Tickets may be purchased by phone at 254-778-4751.  Hope to see you there!

Spring Break in Central Texas

Spring Break officially begins in this area of Central Texas at end of school today.  And as happened so many years when I was teaching school and had children at home, the beautiful springlike weather we've enjoyed over the past month has gone away and been replaced with cold, blustery, rainy weather.  So it looks like it's going to be indoor recreation for the kiddos getting out next week--at least part of the week.  Hope everyone has a great and relaxing week regardless of the weather. 

There are many fun things for kids to do in the Temple-Belton area that will keep them out of the weather--

A visit to the Bell County Museum (www.bellcountytx.com/museum/) is a wonderful outing.  And if you are looking for bargains, go to the Bell County Museum annual garage sale on Sat. March 12 at the Expo Center and help support the museum while finding treasures galore! Check out activities that are going on at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple(www.cacarts.org).  The Temple Public Library is a great place to while away some time browsing through books and videos and finding just the right ones to take home and enjoy while curled up on the couch.  The Mayborn Museum in Waco has a wonderful children's museum as well as many things for adults and older kids to enjoy.  Check them out as well at www.maybornmuseum.com to see what exhibits and programs are available.   Explore, create, learn and have fun--all these venues will make spring break right here in the Temple-Belton and Central Texas area be a great time for all.

The Mighty Oaks

There are always tell-tale signs that spring is approaching in Central Texas.  One of the first is the blooming of the Texas Mountain Laurels with their fragrant purple flowers.  Also, the Redbud trees put on their show with their pink to almost red blooms before leafing out.  Those are the pretty signs. 

But, then there are the mighty live oaks, our signature trees which are so majestic and beautiful all year long--except in March!  This is the month they drop their leaves; put on blooms which, as they are swept away by the wind, turn everything in their paths green and cover the yard, gutters, cars, roofs and streets as they fall and then finally new leaves appear.  It is a process that happens fairly quickly and is happening early this year, but it is the one and only time of the year that the trees aren't pretty and aren't really even welcome in our yards.  But, we prepare to sweep, rake, wash cars and windows--just as I suppose the North prepares each winter to shovel snow--and then we are as pleased and proud of our live oak trees as new parents showing off their baby! They truly are beautiful trees and a hallmark of Central Texas landscapes.

Leap Day 2012!

There is just something weird about a day that only shows up every four years!  When I was young, I remember hearing that Leap Day was the only day a girl could ask a boy to marry her--my how times changed!  Now, it appears it is simply another day and another excuse to have a "sale" on every single online retail website that I have contact with.  I woke up to a blizzard of emails from everyone I have ever ordered from letting me know today was the day to get something for weird discounts like 29% off or $12 for a book with $2.29 shipping in honor of 02/29/12.  The minds of marketers would be an interesting study. 

Anyway, I hope everyone reading this is having a wonderful Leap Day and if this is your first birthday in four years or anniversary or whatever, make the most of it!