In the middle of August when central Texas temperatures reach well into the 100s, it is nice to look back on May's 80 degree days. Having been to San Antonio for an evening event and overnight stay, rather than brave I-35, we took the long and scenic route home to Austin. Our first stop was the General Store in Bandera where we picked up coffee, since it was too early for ice cream.
Just across the street I spotted Lavender and Sage Stitchery, the first yarn and needlework shop I've ever encountered with a saddle on the rail out front.
Naturally I had to go in for a look. And found this hand dyed yarn by Savvy Skeins, a Texas company.
The color, called "Boyfriend Jeans" contrasts nicely with a leftover from my stash, TeenyButton Studio's hand-dyed "Patisserie Party." And so I have been knitting these socks using the Flora Knee High pattern from Barb Brown's book, "Knitting Knee-Highs." This is the second sock, so I should be finished by the time cooler weather sets in.
But back to our little jaunt. Next stop was Comfort where we saw the tiny Gothic revival Comfort Community Church,
as well as the 1866 Treue Der Union monument, memorializing 68 men who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War.
The monument is fittingly located at the edge of a lovely park graced with beautiful live oak trees including this giant.
Our last stop was Old Tunnel State Park. The tunnel, used by the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway until 1942, is now home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats and became a state park in 2012. Since we were there during the day we didn't get to see the bats emerging, so this is another place we'll have to visit again.
Just across the street I spotted Lavender and Sage Stitchery, the first yarn and needlework shop I've ever encountered with a saddle on the rail out front.
Naturally I had to go in for a look. And found this hand dyed yarn by Savvy Skeins, a Texas company.
The color, called "Boyfriend Jeans" contrasts nicely with a leftover from my stash, TeenyButton Studio's hand-dyed "Patisserie Party." And so I have been knitting these socks using the Flora Knee High pattern from Barb Brown's book, "Knitting Knee-Highs." This is the second sock, so I should be finished by the time cooler weather sets in.
But back to our little jaunt. Next stop was Comfort where we saw the tiny Gothic revival Comfort Community Church,
as well as the 1866 Treue Der Union monument, memorializing 68 men who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War.
The monument is fittingly located at the edge of a lovely park graced with beautiful live oak trees including this giant.
In the main part of town, we strolled along Main Street, which has a couple blocks worth of interesting old limestone structures.
I found Comfort's history as a center for Freethinkers fascinating.
Ready for lunch, we stopped at High's Cafe & Store, where we had a deliciously fresh meal. It's definitely on my list of places to visit again.
Our last stop was Old Tunnel State Park. The tunnel, used by the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway until 1942, is now home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats and became a state park in 2012. Since we were there during the day we didn't get to see the bats emerging, so this is another place we'll have to visit again.
The other nice thing about a drive in central Texas in springtime is, of course, the amazing wildflowers. Here's a shot from Travis County to give you an idea of just how spectacular it can be.
