Top Ten Things Not to Do in the Presence of a Camera

October 20, 2025October 19, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

This list, co-authored by Marie Ann Bailey and me, was first published on June 22, 2014. Since there are still cameras around, it might be useful today.

Top Ten Things Not To Do When in the Presence of a Camera

10. If you are tempted to take a selfie (why, we don’t know) to show your friends your new tan lines, do not send the picture to anyone. If you do, at best, you may show too much line. At worst, your picture may go viral on the internet for the next million years.

9. If you are with friends and a picture is being taken, do not stick out your tongue as if you are Miley Cyrus. If you do, at best, you will look as graceful as Miley Cyrus. At worst, like your mom said, “Your face may stick that way.”

8. If you are tempted to take a selfie in the bathroom, do not take a picture until you check the background. If you do, at best, there may be some stray clothes lying around. At worst, that shot of the commode may be enough to get an unexpected visit from the health department and possibly a letter from a concerned citizen about the lid being in the up position.

7. If you are tempted to take a selfie, try to make an expression that does not resemble a duck. If you don’t, at best, you will look like any one of a million selfies. At worst, your lips may be entered in the most obviously botched category at the Botox convention by a well-meaning friend and win.

6. If you are in charge of taking pictures of a friend’s get-together, do not ask everyone to say cheese. If you do, at best, you will have different group photos that look the same. At worst, you will have walking dead expressions, and your outing will resemble the before shots at the orthodontist.

5. When posing for a group picture, do not put up two fingers behind the head of the person next to you. If you do, at best, you will ruin what could have been a nice picture. At worst, everyone in the photo will be able to attest that those two fingers represent the number of drinks that it takes to get you blotto.

4. If you have had too much to drink, do not show up in each picture with your red solo cup. If you do, at best, you will have a chronicle of your behavior. At worst, you will document your own downfall and will have to face the inevitable slide show every time you and your friends get together.

3. When taking pictures of the scenic wonders of America, do not take photos from a moving vehicle. If you do, at best, you might catch a tree or two in the blur. At worst, you will have lovely landscape colors that resemble finger paints to show, as a result of your trip.

2. When trying to capture the romantic nature of the moonlight over the lake, do not use a cell phone camera. If you do, at best, you might get what appears to be a pinhead in the night. At worst, you will have a close-up view of your fingerprint that can be used as a new form of identification.

1. When taking pictures of pets, children, or anything on the ground, do not stand as tall as you are and take the shot. If you do, at best, you will get shots of little frightened beings resembling something out of The Hobbit. At worst, since you are not down at their level, your angle of attack will produce nothing but the tops of the innocent little heads.

Views of the Neighborhook – Lakeway Photo Contest Winners and Runners-up

October 19, 2025October 18, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

Today, we are going to take a look at the lovely photos of the winners and honorable mention entries in the Lakeway Annual Photo Contest. The contest is open to residents of Lakeway and provides opportunities to win in seven categories. They are Birds, Community, Deer, Flora, Foliage, Vistas, and Wildlife. All photos must be taken in Lakeway. We are catered by Emmer and Rye of Austin, and our entertainment is Ringo Starr.

Picture of an old time school bus

Get on board.

So here we are – The Winners.

Birds – Charlie Cobb – Breakfast

Community – Michael Paule – Sunrise over Honey Creek

Deer – Troy McLean – Velvet and a Bloom

Flora – Jennifer Landis – Lovely Lark

Foliage – Bill Galloway – Contemplative Bench

Vistas – Debbi Varela – Flight Across the Moon

Wildlife – Keith Everill – Squirrel

The Runners-up

Birds – Robert Kormos – Catch Me if You Can

Community – Joe ReceR – Snow Day in Tuscan Village

Deer – Renny Eisele – Fawn

Flora – Madison Cottey – The Bloom’s Buzzkill

Foliage – Robert Kormos – Hidden Song Falls

Vistas – Keith Everill – Rainbow over Mount Lakeway

Wildlife – Bill Galloway – Nothing to See Here

I hope you enjoyed the photos. Now it is time to relax with some music and food. I hope you have a great week.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Hook”

October 18, 2025October 17, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

Today the coffee machine greeted me with the following message. “We here at AI headquarters want to wish you a happy day.” Like a fool, the thank you came out of my mouth so fast it could not be stopped. Who thanks a heartless machine is the thought that came to mind. Pressing the Latte Macchiato button and waiting for the frothy brew to be delivered, causes more thinking about the anthropomorphic nature of this machine. It amazes me that a greeting in the morning is a hook sufficient enough to pull me in to say thank you to a piece of stainless steel and electrical components. The coffee is delivered and at the first sip Egor’s baying hounds reacting to the doorbell shatter the feeling of peace. A quick toss of a chew toy into the soundproof room followed by a slam of the six inch sound proof door, brings back peace in the valley.

Checking the monitor shows a large grey blob that take up the screen. The process of attempting to find out who is there is met with the delivery answer. Of course the delivery has to be signed for so there is no chooice but to open the front door. With a sigh the security shut down process is begun. The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots were chained in the basement. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

Before me is Dumbo the elephant holding an envelope and clipboard in his trunk. He gives me the envelope and a place to sign on a clip board. Returning the signed clipboard the ubiquitous sign of a tip expected is made with the right foot. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken,” is my tip as the front door is slammed. The envelop is from Linda Hill and inside is a message It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “hook.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt visit Linda’s post. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2025/10/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-18-2025/

“I like how you slipped the prompt in there.”

“I was thinking of doing something with Captain Hook.”

“So glad you thought better about that.”

“Aw come on. We could have clapped for Tinker Bell.”

“Yeah, count me out. Much better this way.”

“I also thought about the old hook, line, and sinker gullibility thing.”

“I always love stories like that.”

“Well, nothing came to me so I went back to the security set up.”

“What about history?”

“Nothing going on that is worth putting here.”

“Well, at least there is goof ole VooDoo Ranger.”

“Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Hey he’s already heading down the road in that 1936 Buick.”

“Don’t worry he’ll be back.”

“Where is he going?”

“He said he had an errand to run. Something about a pumpkin.”

“So we wait?”

“Do you have a better idea.”

“I wish we could have caught him and then go on the errand.”

“Humm. I thought you would rather stay.”

“I suppose you are right.”

“He said it would only be a few minutes.”

“That sounds good to me.”

“Why is your hand shaking?”

“VooDoo withdrawl maybe.”

“Yeah, right.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA -TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

October 17, 2025October 16, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

This week’s good news story comes from Yahoo News ‘The Cool Down. Many thanks to Noelle Granger for sending this story to me.

Creature hunted nearly to extinction makes stunning comeback: ‘It’s thriving’

Hannah Slusher

Sat, October 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM CDT

In a remarkable win for both people and the planet, the Eurasian beaver — once hunted to near extinction in France — is making a triumphant comeback.

A single beaver family that arrived in the tiny hamlet of Montlahuc in 2020 has transformed a dry, sun-scorched pasture into a thriving wetland, showing how one small species can help fight the negative impacts of a warming world and revive local communities.

Montlahuc, a village of just 40 residents in the Drôme region, had suffered years of worsening drought that left meadows parched and local farmers struggling. But within three years of the beavers’ arrival, a once-barren field now holds more than 2,000 square meters of standing water.

Birds, insects, and lush green vegetation have returned, inspiring residents to rethink how they manage their land.

“We used to graze this land only once a year,” local farmer Marc-Antoine Forconi told Futura. “Now, it’s thriving.”

Beavers are often called “nature’s engineers” for good reason. Using their powerful teeth and instinctive building skills, they construct dams and channels that slow water flow and store moisture in the soil. This natural water management supports healthier ecosystems, creates habitats for other wildlife, and provides a low-cost, low-maintenance way to help landscapes withstand drought.

Inspired by their furry neighbors, Montlahuc farmers have even built their own small dams to retain water — though, as Forconi joked, “The beavers outperformed us.”

Once reduced to only about 100 individuals in the early 20th century, Eurasian beavers are now protected and number between 20,000 and 25,000 in France, according to Futura. The species’ return highlights how protecting wildlife can lead to unexpected climate solutions, echoing other success stories, such as the resurgence of gray wolves in Yellowstone or the rewilding of bison in Europe.

This quiet resurgence is more than a feel-good story. It’s a reminder that working with nature, rather than against it, can create healthier landscapes and a more resilient future for communities everywhere.

The good news in this story is that nature has once again demonstrated that good practices and effective land management can help reverse environmental damage. Today’s JohnKu talks about taking that lesson to heart. I hope you have a delightful weekend.

Nature keeps saying,

Take care of the land and it . . .

Will take care of you.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste at Play

October 16, 2025October 14, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 102 Comments

“What game do you want to play, Tempeste?”

“I was thinking of maybe fetch.”

“Um. There is a problem with that.”

“What is that?”

“We have no thumbs to be able to hold and throw the ball.”

“What about Dad?”

“He’s in the office working on something.”

“Well, there’s Mom.”

“She is busy as well.”

“Well then, Twiggy. How are we going to play ball?”

“I guess ball is out. How about tuggy?”

“With that miserable little toy?”

“Better than nothing.”

“One more look tells me this thing is totally inadequate for two Frenchies to play tuggy.”

“So where’s that leave us?”

“It leaves us standing around until dinner.”

“Speaking of which. I hear the call of the kibble. You coming?”

“There is a stray leaf back here. Maybe it will be tasty.”

“More than the delicious stew and kibble.”

“On second thought. Hold up.”

Guest Post – Michele Lee Sefton – Jade’s Broken Bridge – #newbook

October 15, 2025October 14, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

I am very happy to host Michele on my blog to introduce her new book, Jade’s Broken Bridge. So without any chin music from me let’s get to it.

Excerpt (Jade is reflecting on her choices)

”If only I could have seen a bright future for myself—without the help of a fickle goddess. If only I had been strong enough

to rise above the shadow’s darkness. If only I could have understood that beyond the vapor of those fallen stars,

resides an entire universe brimming with magnificence. For dreamers to cast dreams into. Not just one ‘star light, star

bright,’ but an entire brilliant universe waiting to nurture fragile dreams.”

Synopsis:

Jade’s Broken Bridge, by Michele Lee Sefton, is a raw and poignant story of survival, self-destruction, and hope. The narrative follows Jade, a young woman navigating a tumultuous life shaped by family fractures, addiction, and the pursuit of financial stability in the shadows of the adult entertainment industry. The story unfolds as she reflects on her past, particularly her experiences as an Arizona native, working as a topless dancer in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the personal struggles that led her there. Jade’s journey is a deeply introspective exploration of self-worth, desperation, and the relentless search for escape — whether through drugs, relationships, or a false sense of empowerment gained in strip clubs.

Inspired by true events, the book delves into Jade’s complex family dynamics, particularly the impact of her parents’ divorce, and the financial hardships that drove her to make life-altering choices. Through vivid and unfiltered prose set in the late1980s, Sefton paints a picture of a woman torn between who she was meant to be and who she has become. As she battles addiction and shame, Jade ultimately confronts the truth about her past and her desire to reclaim her life.

In her debut novel, Sefton offers a sobering account of self-destructive life choices and the painful consequences that follow. The story does not romanticize the struggles of survival but instead offers an honest portrayal of resilience and the possibility of change.

Key Themes from the Book:

• Survival vs. Self-Destruction: Jade’s choices are driven by the need to survive, but her means of doing so often lead her further into self-destruction. Her work in strip clubs, substance abuse, and avoidance of emotional pain highlight the paradox of trying to escape while simultaneously sinking deeper.

• Family and Fractured Relationships: The book examines the lasting wounds of a broken home, particularly how parental neglect shapes self-worth and decision-making in adulthood.

• The Illusion of Empowerment: Through her experiences in the adult entertainment industry, Jade grapples with the false sense of power and control that comes with her work. While the money offers financial independence, it also entraps her in a world that feeds on vulnerability.

My review

This is a story that lingers long after the last page. It gets under your skin not through shock or spectacle, but by drawing you deeply into the life of its protagonist, Jade. From the beginning, her voice and her struggle are so engaging that you can’t help but care what happens to her. You want her to succeed, to overcome the obstacles that weigh heavily on her—but the stark reality she faces often makes that hope feel like a fragile fantasy she clings to in order to survive.
The author paints Jade’s world with a vividness that makes you feel as though you are living her life alongside her. The grit and hardship are described so clearly that empathy becomes unavoidable. At times, I found myself wishing I could step into the pages to comfort her or offer solutions, only to realize I could do nothing but read on and hope. Without giving away spoilers, I can say that Jade’s challenges are both raw and moving, and the uncertainty of her path kept me invested until the very end.

What makes this book truly stand out is Michele’s exceptional prose. Written in the first person, the narrative combines stream of consciousness with lyrical, almost poetic phrasing. This style not only brings Jade’s thoughts and emotions into sharp focus but also elevates ordinary experiences into something extraordinary. One passage that struck me describes a simple trip to the grocery store in Alaska: “Like the four of us, everyone was padded and bundled. Like stuffed sleeping bags, characters slumbered their way down the aisles. I had found ground zero for a zombie apocalypse. These people actually live like this, I thought. Not just for eight weeks, but they choose to stay here. God, please let me make it back to the valley of the sun, I prayed fervently while standing between the shampoo and tampons.” Moments like these showcase Michele’s gift for transforming the mundane into scenes that shimmer with insight, wit, and emotion.

At its heart, this is the story of a woman confronting life’s toughest challenges alone, and though a happy ending is never guaranteed, the journey itself is filled with resilience, raw honesty, and a quiet but persistent hope. I highly recommend this book to readers who appreciate powerful writing, a deeply immersive voice, and a story that stays with you long after you close the cover.

Buy links

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, available to order through any bookseller, or direct through Michele.

Jade’s Broken Bridge

by Michele Lee Sefton

Publisher: Tumbleweed Spirit Press

Publication Date: Oct. 10, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-9991506-0-8

Print Length: 256 pages

Genre: New Adult

Formats: Paperback, Kindle, audio book

Further Praise for Jade’s Broken Bridge:

– Kirkus Reviews

“Sefton offers a gritty and introspective chronicle of one woman’s descent into addiction and sex work in 1980s America. The author invites readers into a visceral, memory-laden interior landscape. Chapters move fluidly between present-tense narration and past recollections. Vivid descriptions of frozen sidewalks, smoky clubs, sticky bar floors, and the ache of unspoken shame create an immersive reading experience. While the tone can be emotionally heavy, the work rarely veers into melodrama; the author maintains control over the narrative voice, even as Jade loses control over her life. A harrowing yet beautifully rendered chronicle of loss, self-destruction, and the long road to self-acceptance.”

– BookLife

“Sefton carves out one woman’s fight for survival in this moving debut, following Arizona teenager Jade, whose desperate need for money propels her into “a life of despair and addiction.” …What makes her journey unique is Sefton’s skill at crafting her gradual transformation: visceral disgust at this new world, followed by a begrudging appreciation of the strength and community she discovers there, to the final wild, drugged mess it turns her into… Sefton triumphs with this riveting portrait of a broken girl desperate for the light…” Read the full review.

– San Francisco Book Review

“What stands out in Sefton’s writing is her ability to let readers into the story without weighing them down. Despite the subject matter, including addiction, grief, and exploitation, there’s an undercurrent of hope and a desire for something more… It’s a coming-of-age memoir for readers who appreciate storytelling that doesn’t flinch. With its engaging voice and heartfelt honesty, this memoir is both a cautionary tale and a testament to the strength it takes to rebuild. A heavy story, yes, but told with just enough wit and heart to keep readers turning the page.”

– Sandra Marinella, The Story You Need to Tell

“Author Michele Sefton uses vivid and poetic imagery to tell the story of Jade’s descent into a world filled with loud music, flashing lights, and parties laced with “liquid courage” and an overabundance of cocaine. Jade takes the reader on a journey through her inner demons as well as her inner goddess who is trying hard to pull her life forward.”

– Ginger Scott, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author

“In a masterful debut, Michele Lee Sefton carries readers through a woman’s journey of self-discovery, unflinchingly guiding her main character from feelings of loss and, perhaps, resentment to strength and independence. Jade’s path through the adult dancing world offers readers a glimpse into the shadows and a raw and honest portrait of the opportunities as well as the risks that lie there. Sefton has created a character to root for… it is impossible not to feel her struggles in your bones as you read. A deep, thoughtful and immersive read that will stay with you long after the final sentence.”

Bio

A bit about me… I am a veteran English teacher who left the classroom in 2019 to develop my own writing voice. A writer of poetry and poetic prose, I’ve since been published in various anthologies and platforms, including Piper Poetry Month Anthology through the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University and Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (Poetry Anthology).

Collaborating with my artist daughter during the pandemic, I published a series of illustrated poetry chapbooks, Being a Woman: Overcoming, Being a Woman: Becoming, and Being a Woman: Forthcoming. In 2020, I published a collection of poems to celebrate my one-year blog anniversary, My Inspired Life: A Poetic Journey. My titles, Her Coastal Cottage: Where Truth & Love Rise and Honeysuckle Heat, offer readers vivid poetic prose in novella length.

I enjoy sharing and connecting with readers and creatives on my writing and photography blog, TumbleweedSpirit, dancing with expressive women, and working with Sandra Marinella, the author of The Story You Need to Tell, co-facilitating narrative therapy workshops. My undergrad is in English with a Secondary Endorsement, and I hold a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies from Indiana University.

For More Information:• Visit the author at msefton.com

• Follow the author: @mlsefton on Instagram

• Media inquiries: Kim Cecere | kim@onpointbrand.com

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Floor

October 14, 2025October 13, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

Today, I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 137. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “floor.” This is our prompt.

“Not sure I can do it.”

“Oh, come on. I’ve done it a thousand times.”

“Yeah, but you’re older.”

“That has nothing to do with it.”

“Does so. You have experience.”

“Well, I think I have taught you everything you need to know.”

“But that was all theoretical stuff. This is the real thing.”

“Maybe your nerves are taking over. I’m telling you, if you follow my instructions, it will be a snap.”

“Why do I have to do it anyway?”

“Because I can’t keep living your life. You need to be able to take care of yourself.”

“That is a long stretch of openness.”

“I’ll give it to you. From here, that floor looks pretty foreboding. Trust me, once you get running, you’ll be in the kitchen in no time.”

“I’ll be safe there, right?”

“Under the stove, remember.”

“Lots of crumbs and no cat.”

“You got it.”

“One more thing.”

“Yes?”

“What if there is a trap under there?”

“Oh, please. What have I said about traps?”

“Don’t touch ’em.”

“Right. Now get going. You are a mouse and you’ve got this.”

“See you on the other side.”

“That’s my boy.”

Top Ten Things Not To Do When Traveling by Plane

October 13, 2025October 12, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

This list was authored by Marie Ann Bailey and me, and ran on June 16th, 2014. Since people still travel by airplane, it might prove to be useful.

Top Ten Things Not To Do When Traveling by Plane

10. When traveling by plane, do not think that you can fake being 75 or older so you won’t have to take off your shoes, since you are self-conscious about foot odor. If you do, at best, the TSA agents will just roll their eyes as you stoop and shuffle over, and then will patiently insist that you remove your shoes since your ID makes it clear that you are not as old as you claim. At worst, the TSA agents will decide that you must have some mental health issues and flag you as someone to be examined in the TSA office, which causes you to miss your plane and totally gross out the TSA agents in the small examination room with your smelly feet.

9. When traveling by plane, do not expect that the happy, cooing baby seated behind you will remain happy and cooing once the plane takes off. If you do, at best, the parents will attend immediately to the baby whenever it starts to cry. At worst, the parents will ignore the baby, as apparently they always do, and it will be your eardrums that will suffer more from the baby’s ear-splitting screams than from the change in cabin air pressure that is causing the screaming.

8. When traveling by plane, do not assume that the carry-on bag you bought online for half price will actually fit in an overhead bin. If you do, at best, you’ll be the first to wedge your bag into the bin and can ignore the other passengers whose bags are smaller but unable to fit because your bag is so large. At worst, a big guy named Tiny will pull out your bag, drop it in your lap, and put his own in. You’ll be stuck having to check your oversized carry-on at the last minute unless you foolishly want to argue with Tiny.

7. When traveling by plane, do not think you can escape screaming babies by hiding in the lavatory. If you do, at best, you’ll only face a long line of angry passengers when you finally come out as the plane is preparing to land. At worst, the flight crew will summon an air marshal and forcefully extricate you at a most inconvenient moment.

6. When traveling by plane, do not think you can time your use of the lavatory to coincide with the smoothest part of the flight. If you do, at best, you’ll be lucky and only be slightly jostled about on the toilet as the plane hits some minor turbulence. At worst, the plane will hit an air pocket, causing the plane to drop sharply, you to accidentally open the lavatory door as you grab the handle for stability, and the flight crew to be forever marred by an image of your blue water-colored naked bottom half.

5. When traveling by plane, do not assume that the passenger behind you won’t mind if you put your seat all the way back. If you do, at best, that passenger and all the ones behind will be doing the same thing, causing a strange but convenient domino effect. At worst, the passenger behind you will show displeasure by choosing that time to pitch forward and have a sneezing fit over your head, making you wish you had brought an umbrella.

4. When traveling by plane, do not think it would be a fun idea to tease your fellow passenger’s cat while the passenger is in the lavatory. If you do, at best, the cat will only hiss and growl as it backs into the corner of the pet taxi when you stick your fingers through the grate. At worst, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do to the flight attendant and your fellow passenger when you ask for help in retrieving your hand from PsychoKitty’s clamped jaw.

3. When traveling by plane, do not think that you can imbibe several alcoholic drinks and somehow be sober when your 10-hour flight ends. If you do, at best, the flight attendant will be aware of your naiveté and water down your drinks so you can disembark without assistance. At worst, you drink yourself into a Bermuda Triangle stupor and wake up hours later in a TSA office, strapped to a wheelchair and not having answers to the questions being asked by Fritz, the head interrogator.

2. When traveling by plane, on your return flight, do not think your fellow passengers will find it amusing if you sing along with the movie Happy Feet, which you’ve seen several times already. If you do, at best, all the passengers will choose to use headsets to tune you out. At worst, you may be faced with a mass passenger mutiny, where walking the plank takes on new meaning at thirty-five thousand feet.

1. When traveling by plane, do not pull an Alec Baldwin and insist on taking a cell phone call just when the captain requests that everyone turn off their phones and other electronic devices. If you do, at best, a flight attendant will gently but firmly take your phone away from you and refuse to return it until your plane has landed. At worst, the captain and flight crew will pay a personal visit to your seat and escort you off the plane (after landing, if you are lucky), totally ignoring your claim to be a very important person.

Views of the Neighborhood – A Visit to the Bee Cave Sculpture Park and the Free Little Art Gallery

October 12, 2025October 11, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

A new art gallery has been established in the Bee Cave Sculpture Park by members of Lake Hills Service Unit Junior Girl Scout Troop 2065.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Bee Cave Little Free Art Gallery on July 23.
As part of a troop project to create more accessible art for local communities, the gallery welcomes visitors to leave their own art to share with others or adopt art from the gallery to bring home, a troop representative said.
The Bee Cave Little Free Art Gallery, or BCLFA, has its own Facebook page and hashtag. The troop encourages individuals to use the hashtag when adopting or donating art, and to share the project on social media.

Since we missed the ribbon-cutting ceremony, we are going to the Bee Cave Sculpture Park to have a look. Additionally, we will examine some sculptures that have been added since our last visit in 2022. Here is part I and Part II.

We are catered by 1886 Cafe and Bakery in Austin. Our entertainment is from the movie Footloose.

CHILE RELLENO fried eggs, salsa roja

MIGAS scrambled eggs, cheese, tortilla chips, tomatillo salsa

HUEVOS RANCHEROS fried eggs, refried beans, avocado

GARDEN OMELETTE whipped feta, braised greens, green salad

STEAK & EGGS home fries, green sauce

BREAKFAST BUN steamed egg, cheese, bacon

CUCUMBER ZA’ATAR BAGEL

So let’s go.

There’s the Sculpture Park sign.

Dedication marker.

Tangle by GD Wright.

A Tiny Library.

Emerging by Lys Santamaria

A favorite and a repeat – Ram by Sheryl Latimer.

Foam on the Waves by Karen Christian Alvardo

Knitted Washers by Michael Bennet.

Wren House.

Another favorite and repeat – Wanna Race by Marla Ripperda.

The Girl Scout Little Art Gallery.

A look inside.

A closer look.

Hadron by Kevin Bruce Stanford.

Birdview by Terry Condrasky. (has fallen from the tree)

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Now it is time for food and music. I hope you have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “at the beginning”

October 11, 2025October 10, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 71 Comments

In the beginning, coffee in our house was made by dripping water through a filter filled with ground coffee from a can. The result was hot caffeinated brown water. Then, in a quest for better coffee, a French Press was (wait for it) pressed into service. It was more or less the same as water dripping, but was pushed through grounds that came from a bag filled with freshly ground beans. The result was a hot, brown-colored water that tasted more like coffee. Now, where are we? Today, it is a snark-filled monster machine that delivers any kind of coffee drink at the push of a button. You talk about first-world convenience. It has arrived. Today, the selection is a flat white. After delivery of the first sip, the Westminster chimes cause my gold fillings to vibrate and the hounds to levitate while demonstrating how they can bark an intruder to St. Louis.

Tossing a few chewy treats into the soundproof room and slamming the door brings back the silent pre-doorbell condition. Checking the security monitor, it is obvious that an Elmer Fudd look-alike can’t read the “Do Not Ring the Doorbell” sign. The usual exchange of greetings determines that the door must be opened. The security system needs to be disengaged. With a sigh, the process is started.

The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots are chained in the basement. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

“Have you seen that wrascally wabbit?”

“No.”

“Sign here then.”

While signing, the shotgun in this guy’s hand causes some concern. “You hunting today?”

“No, I work for the delivery company. Just being careful, that’s all.”

Handing back the clipboard, the guy gives me an envelope and holds out his hand.

“Keep your powder dry,” is my tip, and the front door is slammed. Looking at the security monitor, the guy has gone.

The envelope is from Linda Hill (what a surprise). Inside is a message. It reads.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “at the beginning.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link, https://lindaghill.com/2025/10/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-11-2025/

“I enjoyed your at the beginning” opener.”

“I’m surprised.”