Tag Archives: Austin

The finest castle in… Austin?

Posted on December 17, 2009 | Comments Off on The finest castle in… Austin?

Hard to believe they could find anyone to rent this place for $350 a night. But they apparently do, according to the piece in today’s issue of the daily. New Yorkers, mostly, I imagine. Who else? I was struck by the article and these photos on the rental site because I used to own a condo within spitting distance of the "castle." That was back when Austin was small and cheap. Long gone. What I’d like to know is how they keep the black mildew off the stone? It’s a never-ending battle with the stone work at the rancho.

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Posted in Texana

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Big rain

Posted on September 4, 2009 | Comments Off on Big rain

Finally departing west on the radar after coming in from the east about half an hour ago. Ponding all over the Back Forty, and out front. Really poured. Looks like at least an inch. Good show. We needed that.

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Texas wildfires

Posted on April 11, 2009 | Comments Off on Texas wildfires

We thought the smoke in the air yesterday was the usual spring influx from the Chiapan farmers of southern Mexico burning the scrub off their fields to prepare for planting.

But it was actually coming from the northwest, above Fort Worth, where the drought-induced wildfires have burned-out a couple of small towns. Since some one hundred ninety-nine counties are affected so far, the governor has called for help from the national guard and FEMA. More wildfires appear to be burning around the Fort Hood area which is closer to the rancho but still a comfortable distance. Forecast rain tonight and tomorrow will help, if it shows up.

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Centex drought continues

Posted on December 6, 2008 | Comments Off on Centex drought continues

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November ended very dry, putting Austin in the exceptional drought category, i.e. the worst possible. We’re surrounded by an extreme drought area (the red on the map) with no end in sight. Our driest year since 1956. Odd combination: no rain and an early winter of chilly days andfrigid nights. Yech.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Rancho Roly Poly, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Fry Pan Olympics

Posted on June 3, 2008 | Comments Off on Fry Pan Olympics

We’ve had four five 100-degree days (and a slew of ninety-nines) already this year, according to the National Weather Service, and June has hardly begun. Usually we don’t see more than a fluke one of them before early July. Accuweather’s Joe Bastardi is calling this weather our Fry Pan Olympics. Sure feels like it.

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Posted in Texana, Weather/Climate

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Remembering

Posted on May 25, 2008 | Comments Off on Remembering

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Austin, Texas. Southwestern architecture in a flag theme for the weekend, inspired by Instapundit.

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Posted in Texana, Troops

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Today’s pretty picture

Posted on May 5, 2008 | Comments Off on Today’s pretty picture

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Easily the most colorful historic building in Austin, the 1886 Driskill Hotel was the namesake project of a cattleman for other cattlemen. Texas being short of cattlemen these days, the Driskill is for everybody willing to spend up to $500 plus a night to stay in a place with some character, despite smallish rooms.

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Posted in Texana

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