We are starting our run-up to the holiday decorations tour. This week, we will visit several mailboxes and the Walk of Lights in Lakeway. Since we have some daylight activities and some dusk, we are being catered by Better Half in Austin for brunch. Our entertainment today is Jose Feliciano.
Menu
BETTER HALF BREAKFAST SANDWICH
English muffin, crispy hash brown, smoked paprika aïoli, arugula, fried farm egg
CHOOSE BACON, BREAKFAST SAUSAGE, BEYOND SAUSAGE, OR AVOCADO
CHICKEN BISCUIT
southern fried chicken breast, jalapeño-honey butter, curry bread & butter pickles
MAKE IT SPICY / SUB BEYOND CHICKEN
SRIRACHA-MAPLE BACON BISCUIT
spicy glazed bacon, brown sugar-brown butter, fried egg
GRANOLA BOWL
oats, nuts & seeds, pomegranate molasses,
local Greek yogurt, seasonal fruit & berries, Thai basil & mint
PASTRAMI TOAST
thick-cut Texas toast, shaved house-smoked pastrami, berbere horsey sauce, smoky mushrooms & garlicky greens, fried egg & runny yolk sauce
WAFFLE IRON HASHBROWNS
coffee & cream gravy, cotija, farm egg, pickled onions, scallions
PUMPKIN FRENCH TOAST
apple cider caramel, house cultured butter, molasses crumb
NEW THE FALL BIG SALAD power greens & romaine hearts, curry roasted sweet potatoes, coconut milk sweet potato purée, sumac chèvre dressing, honey crisp apple & watermelon radish, chili roasted pumpkin seeds, avocado ADD STEAK, SHRIMP, BEYOND CHICKEN, OR FRIED CHICKEN
BETTER HALF CHICKEN BURGER
house ground chicken, Duke’s Mayo, Swiss, LTO
CONTAINS GLUTEN
BETTER HALF CHEESEBURGER
44 Farms ground beef, Dijonnaise, American cheese, LTO
BEYOND MEAT VEGGIE PATTY AVAILABLE as well as TOP SHELF DRINKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE
So let’s go.
Our first stop is an Armadillo Santa.
Not going to touch this one.
Glass tree.
A wimpy sprig.
Mistletoe Wreath. Gotta lay on the ground to get under it.
Since I did a complete tour of the Trail of Lights last year, this year is an overview. If you would like to check out last year click THIS LINK. Here is Santa giving us directions to the entrance.
Inside and looking up in the big holiday tree.
A view of the lights beyond the tree.
We also did a Twelve Days of Christmas hunt last year. Here are all twelve.
A display of flowers and longhorn cattle.
Santa’s sleigh just getting airborne in the middle of the toys.
I hope you enjoyed our view and I wish you a happy week. Now enjoy more food and listen to the music.
Fiction Favorites 
The neighbourhood is looking very festive. Here is another version of Feliz Navidad for you. https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/feliz_navidad/478d81d8-b35e-4789-b9ca-1714d6aed07e?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand_Exact_Desktop
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What a riot, Darlene. I loved seeing Dot join you in the song. Well done. Thank you.
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Wow, we are impressed. Thanks for showing.
Here we have Advent-windows. People decorate their windows facing the coast road with sophisticated lighting and funny ideas. Most of it is animated with little electric motors. These are little masterpieces of art – well, the community is watching that there is no kitsch.
Have a relaxed pre-Christmas time
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I would love to see those Klausbernd. Sounds like fun. 😁
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Maybe Hanne-Dina will photograph them and we’ll show them on our blog here. Would be a nice Christmas post. Thanks, dear John, to give us this idea.
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Looking forward to the feature. 😁
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Wow, so very festive, John, and a lovely selection to enjoy on a stroll after that groaning board of a breakfast offering…yum! You sure do have the restaurants! Happy holidays!
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Yes, Austin is chock full of restaurants. Thanks, Lori
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Good tour again today. I almost chocked on my pumpkin french toast when I spotted those 2 balls you wouldn’t comment on!
Christmas is almost here ol’ friend!
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Yes it is. Seems like the year has gone pretty fast.
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I remember the Twelve Days of Christmas tour from last year. Thanks for the festive tour, John. I loved the Armadillo Santa!
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I loved Armadillo Santa as well!
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😁
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Thank you, Jill. I liked him too.
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I had decided on that granola mix until I feasted my eyes, or my imagination, in the French toast. I’ll need plenty of napkins. I love that armadillo. Yikes, those are big balls. Is that homeowner trying to send a subliminal message? And where does he keep them the rest if the year. I’m so impressed with the spirit in your neighborhood. It’s not Christmas without Feliz Navidad. Great post, John.
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Thank you, Steve. i wasn’t going to mention the balls but it is a good question about where they are kept.
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I have to agree with you about the wimpy sprig.
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I know right? Why bother?
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I wasn’t gonna say it! 😉
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😁
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Haha, that is the one I like best, Liz. It looks a bit like Cape fynbos.
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I hadn’t heard of Cape fynbos, so I Googled it. Very interesting!
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😁
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Hahahah. Thanks, Robbie.
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Love that Armadillo Santa. I showed it to the armadillo hanging on my tree. He was impressed, too.
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I’m surprised your Armadillo didn’t ask you for one too. 😁
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Wonderful photos, John. It’s good to see so many people in the spirit of the season. Kudos to you for getting down on the ground for that shot of the lights. I won’t ask about getting back up. Good job also with your.restraint;-)
As much as I’d like some granola, I think I’ll have the chicken biscuit.
I hope you have a great week ahead.
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I had the EMS crew go with me so getting up was easy. I would go for the chicken too. I have always thought of granola as something for someone else. Thanks, Dan
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😂
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Good call on the giant Christmas ball pic, John.
Great post as always, buddy.
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Thanks, Hook.
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My favorite for sure is Armadillo Santa. I suspect the folks who live there would make interesting characters in one of your books. 😊 Great stroll through your neighborhood, John, and ending with Jose Feliciano is perfect!
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Thank you, Gwen. I enjoyed the stroll myself. Wishing you a super week.
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Love the shot beneath the tree. And an Armadillo Santa? Pure Texas! 🙂 Feliz Navidad!
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Thank you, Joan. Feliz Navidad.
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I think the Christmas armadillo might be my favorite. Reminds me of an old episode of Friends.
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Looks like most agree with you on the armadillo. The friend part is uniquely Craig. 😁
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I love your neighborhood trips. You seem to have a lot of fun and good food.
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Thank you, Molly Shea. We do for sure. 😁
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Hi John, second to the wimpy spring, I like the glass Christmas tree.
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When the light hits that tree it is special. Thanks, Robbie.
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Nice, John. Your area does a good job of acknowledging the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing. Have a good Christmas season.
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I will, Tim. You as well
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How fun and festive! I really love how your neighborhood really gets into to every holiday, and events.
That armadillo Santa was cool!
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He made me laugh when I first saw him.
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Your first photo is so Texas, John!! Who’d think of putting a Santa hat on an armadillo, with a cactus is the background?!? Love all the Christmas lights — and I probably ought to find some around here to post about. We’ve had a couple of really nice days weather-wise, so that should have brought folks outdoors to decorate. Of course, that was before the tornadoes slammed by — pity the poor people in that path.
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Those tornadoes were horrible. Glad you are safe.
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Thank you, John. Two weeks before Christmas, and some of those people have lost everything. Breaks your heart.
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It really does.
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From the comments it seems like the Santa armadillo is getting a lot of love, and I’d have to agree that’s my favorite too (although the one you wouldn’t touch (LOL), is awfully attractive too). A very festive tour, John. Ho! Ho! Ho!
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Thank you, Mae. Hohoho. Indeed.
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The lights are really cool. Looking forward to stuff like that happening around here.
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It is festive for sure.
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I like that Armadillo Santa. 🙂
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Me too. Thanks, Pit
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You’re welcome, John. 🙂
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Lol, I love the longhorns with the flowers and Armadillo Santa 🙂 Fun tour, John.
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Thank you, Jacquie.
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John, those are the best holiday neighborhood decorations I’ve ever seen. More than the string of lights & blow up Santas. You live in a well established, beautiful place. 🎄🎶🎄Christine
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Thank you, Christine. 😁
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What a wonderful stroll, dear John! Thank you for the holiday mood!
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Thank you so much I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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That’s pretty bold putting a glass tree out on display!
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No here. In NYC maybe.
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Thank you for the tour, John. That was lovely.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, Dale. 😁
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I did, indeed! 🙂
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Thanks for taking us along to see the lights. I love to see all the bright colors 🙂
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It is fun. I’m glad you could make it. 😁
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Gotta love that armadillo! Thank you for taking us along on this tour, John. I love the view of looking up inside the lights!
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Thank you for coming along, Jan 😁
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I’ll try that pumpkin french toast, John, and I agree with the others; that armadillo is the best! The holiday tree is gorgeous, too, as I love lights, lots of lights. I really want to move to your neighborhood. 🙂 Thanks for another great tour.
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Thanks for coming along, Lauren. 😁 We have a few houses for sale here.
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Haha!
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So beautifully Christmas! HAPPY HOLIDAYS, good John & family!
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Thank you, Billy Ray. Happy Holidays to you and yours as well.
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Love the festive neighborhood! Ours is regulated against any decorations (HOA) but everyone is ignoring the rules. The person who wrote the rules is a grinch. Luckily we are in Utah for the month, and my son’s neighborhood is outrageously lighted. I think I’d like that fall salad with shrimp – looks delicious.
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I would miss decorations if they were forbidden. Thanks for sharing, Noelle.
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What a colorful neighborhood, Boss. And umm . . . didn’t AC/DC have a song about those oversized Christmas ornaments?
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I think they did. Thanks Marc.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Nice share, Michael. Thank you.
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😊
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The kind of celebration i love. Thanks for sharing, John! Enjoy your day! xx Michael
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You as well, Michael. Thanks.
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😊😊 Thank you, John! xx
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I love the mailbox toppers, John!
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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