Since that trip I have added my own things to see and do, creating a personal Texas Bucket List. I love travel, and there isn't a state on the map more diverse than Texas.
During that first Bucket List Trip, way back in 2011, our first stop was Austin. We visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and returned there in March of 2012. It is small, as far as botanical gardens go, but the major appeal is it's native plantings. Both times I've been I've taken lots of notes in hopes of adding some natives to my landscaping.
This is agave, the tequila plant.
I really loved this trellis and want one somewhere on the property. Maybe right off the walking path as a rest area?
The ponds were Abe's favorite part, I think if he ever has a lot of extra money and time to spare half our property will be ponds.
He was extremely disappointed this tiny door led into a normal sized room.
We then headed to Zilker Park to appreciate the huge oak trees (all a bit dried out from that year's drought)
And dipped our toes into the free side of Barton Springs.
We didn't even go over to the paid side, but I thought I saw swings and slides over there. For a quick cooling dip the free side was just fine (but it smelled a little.... Doggy... Hey, four legged friends want to keep cool too I guess.)
After Barton Springs we headed to Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon for some Chicken Shit Bingo. Ginny's is a typical dive bar, but they showcase some of Texas' best musical talent... For FREE. While it's tiny inside they have a speaker system outside, so you can hang with the kids and enjoy the music without the usual smoke and spilled-beer-sticky-floor atmosphere of these types of establishments.
Chicken Shit Bingo is pretty self explanatory. The bottom of the cage has boxes with numbers... You buy a ticket with a number on it and they add a chicken to the cage. Feeding commences and the chicken "selects" a winner. Also... Cheap beer. Though I had just learned I was pregnant with the JuJu Bee and didn't drink. If I lived in Austin, I would do this again, it was a fun Sunday afternoon.
Unfortunately, we were too late to see Stephen F. Austin's grave. The State Cemetary had closed for the day. Ah, well. That just meant we needed to visit Austin again.
