Today is an in-between kind of day. The Holidays are past, and the New Year is in front of us. It is a good time to take a look at the deciduous trees that have finally turned here in Texas. It is also a good time to check in with the volunteers who are busy restocking the seed library. We are catered by Comedor of Austin, and our entertainment is Elsie Duckworth
Menu
Sunchoke Tostada – Salsa macha, charred summer squash, shishito pepper salpicon
Grilled Greens – Curly mustard greens, 2×4 Farm black radish & turnip, masa croutons, persimmon vinaigrette
Chapulines – Heirloom hominy hummus, green mole, escabeche, masa lavash
Cobia Crudo – Apple, almond, cucumber, burnt allium
Quesadilla – Heirloom masa, onions, HiFi Mycology mushrooms, quesillo (Oaxacan cheese), smoked Fresno salsa
Fish Fundido – Oaxacan quesillo, Fresno chile, totopos (corn chips)
Fish Tacos – Blistered cabbage, toréado aioli, green salsa
Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce – 44 Farms beef, heirloom hominy grits, chipotle salsa
Bone Marrow Tacos – Quelites (wild greens), smoked butter, pecan gremolata
Enfrijolada – Rancho Gordo Vaquero bean salsa, sunchoke
Black-Grilled Chicken – Greener Pastures half chicken, heirloom masa, fire-roasted salsa, herbs
Berkshire Pork Chop Milanese – Double-cut bone-in pork chop, manchamanteles mole, 2×4 Farms sweet peppers
Lamb Barbacoa – Sweet potato, pickled tomatillo, chipotle & lamb fat salsa
44 Farms New York Strip – Chilhuacle negro chile butter, butterscotch squash, garlic-tomato confit
Potosí-Style French Fries – Charred onion aioli, chives, cilantro
Grilled Carrots – Requesón cheese, nixtamal crumble, chipotle glaze, mint, cilantro
Caesar Salad – Romaine, epazote, masa croutons, Manchego cheese
Here’s the bus. Let’s go.
The location of the seed library. The administration offices of the Lakeway Municipal Utility District.
There are treats.
Some discussion with Stephanie Threinen, CPC Public Information Liaison. (Right)
Sorting donated seeds and labeling the packets.
The work is very necessary.
To help, some music to keep the spirits bright.
Most of the deciduous trees in Lakeway are oaks, so there is a lot of red. The color time is very short.
A lovely oak.
Another oak but golden.
Bradford pears with red leaves,
An oak just turning. In a week, these will be on the ground.
Another oak.
A final oak.
Now that we have witnessed the seed round-up and the changing color of the trees, it is time for food and music. I hope you have a great week and a Happy New Year celebration.
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Fiction Favorites 
Such a lovely version of the song. Happy in-between days. I haven’t had to cook for three days due to a fridge full of leftovers. Doggies are happy for the turkey scraps too.
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Yeah, it’s kind of a sweet spot in the rush. Thanks, Darlene.
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What does the seed library get used for?
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You come in and check out seeds that you want to plant, and then in the fall, you bring back seeds from the plants you planted in the spring.
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So, it’s like a seed exchange.
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Yes.
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This precisely the type of activity I should LOVE to be involved in! And I love Michigan-ish foliage on the oaks!
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Reminds me of my roots.
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beautiful picture 👍
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Thank you.
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You have some lovely Oak trees and beautiful reds which are perfect for the season!
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It took forever for them to change but they finally did Thanks, Deborah. 😀
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I love the red trees.
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It wa so overcast when I took the photos I was afraid they wouldn’t look good.
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Sometimes things just work
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So true
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A seed library is fascinating. The oak trees are really pretty.
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Thank you,, Tim. 😊
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I like the idea of the seed library. Seeing the changing colors is a nice thing. I don’t think I ever appreciate our oak trees, as they change late and we’re running out of time to bag them and get them picked up before the leaf dump closes for the year.
I was getting worried about those menu items. I settled on Fish Tacos but could I also get a side of the Potosí-Style French Fries?
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I love the oaks and we are lucky there is no rush. Yes you can still get a side of fries. 😁
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It looks like autumn is late in Texas, eh? The trees are great!
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A Little late. Thanks, GP
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John this was a delightful romp around the neighborhood. I had never thought about grilling greens. That combination sounds delicious. I’d like some alongside that Sunchoke Tostada, please. My trees never turned this year — the leaves just went from green to brown and dropped several days ago. Although, we’ve had highs in the 70s for all but the first week of December. (It’s a little cooler today though.) You also introduced me to musicians I didn’t know in Elsie Duckworth. Beautiful voice and a fine, smooth rendition of the song by the band. Thank you, John. Have a splendid new week. Big hugs.
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I always love it when you enjoy a post, Teagan. I’m glad you did. Here’s your sunshine tostada and grilled greens.
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What a gorgeous collection of oaks! Where I lived in Texas, we had lots of hickory trees (which turned mostly yellow). But these red-leaved oaks are stunning even if they’ll drop their leaves too soon. Happy New Year to you and yours, John!
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Thank you, Debbie. Happy New Year to you, Domer, and Monkey. 😁
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Seed libraries are a wonderful idea! Do they give the seeds away to people who ask for them?
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Yes you just need to come in and ask. It is hoped that you will bring some of your seeds in the fall.
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Good exchange!
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Yup.
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Our local library also has a seed library. Pleased so see you participate and advertise, John.
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Thanks, Pat. 😊
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I would gladly share my Dessert Bird of Paradise seeds. The showy oaks are inspiring. I don’t see many here but a neighbor does have one. Cheers, John!
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I would love to be able to grow Birds of Paradise. I had so many at the coast. Thank you, Jo. Cheers. 😁
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I love this idea! So cool.
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It is a cool idea, Monika. Thanks
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The seed project looks like fun (as long as it’s being done with others). And with snacks.
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Yes, Liz. And snacks.
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So interesting John. What happens to the seeds after they go to the library?
O🌱 O🌱 O🌱
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People come, take them home, and plant them in the spring. Then, in the fall, they bring back seeds to be put back in the library.
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Ahh, that’s fabulous!
🏆🏆🏆
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We all win.🏆🏆🏆🏆
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OX
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🐂
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😊X
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I was sorry to see the last of the leaves come down in all this wind.
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Yes. I was lucky to get the shots when I did cause they were all gone a few days later. I had to settle for cloudy skies when I took them.
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What a beautiful neighborhood, John! Thank you for sharing.
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Glad you enjoyed the photos, Jan. 😀
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About Holidays being in the past, isn’t New Years part of the Holidays, and and how about the 12 Days of Christmas, and the Eastern Orthodox celebrating Christmas on January 7th, and how about tjugondag knut on January 13? Well tjugondag knut is a Swedish holiday and not celebrated by everyone in Texas, but still. Comedor of Austin certainly had a lot of offerings. I would pick Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce. Anyway, it looks like it was a good day.
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You got me there. Thanks, Thomas.
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Wondefrul New Year seeds & trees! Happy New Year’s Eve, dear John!🍤🍤🍤🍻
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Thank you, Maria. Happy New Year to you. 🥂🍰
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I adore the Resort twins’ costumes. Turn them into elves is a perfect Christmas idea!🎄🍾🥂🌟
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We had fun doing that. 😄
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I’ve never heard of a leaf library. It must be hard work. I’m guessing they decide where and when to plant the seeds for new trees. You have many beautiful reds in your neighborhood.
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These are seeds for gardens. You take some and plant them in the spring, and then bring them back from a seed harvest for donation in the fall
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This is so cool. It would also make for a great opening for a science fiction piece. One random seed is actually the harbinger of an alien invasion. It hides among the other seeds until John Howell takes it home and plants it.
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Does seem like that should be written. Thanks, Craig
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