Cool in Austin in August

By June 21st, 2011, Austin had already had 45 days of temperatures over 100˚F/38°C. Twenty-four more days tie the record. I don’t know if we have reached that yet, but we must be close. Summers are always hot, but not this hot. The rest of the year rewards us with mostly great weather for our travail.

We have another très cool reward--Barton Springs Pool with its natural, ever-flowing water. The water temperature ranges from 68.0 °F (20.0 °C) in the winter to about 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) in the summer. Real fans swim laps in the early morning all year long. Many then dress in professional garb and leave for work downtown, just a a few minutes away.

In summer I treat myself to lap swimming several mornings a week. The pool is 1000 ft./304.8 meters long. After the initial plunge into the water takes my breath away, I feel quite comfortable. I love seeing the sun come up and swimming in open air. Afterwards I feel cool and mellow. Swim free before 9:00 am (closed Thursday mornings).

On Sabbatical

Back in (x?) months

You can visit http://mypatzcuaro.blogspot.com/

Segs and the City

Glen and I went on a three-hour afternoon/evening tour of downtown Austin, ranging from the Capitol on the North side of the lake to South of the Long Center. We zigzagged, slalomed and just had fun. The Segways are great, responsive little machines but, as I was told, don’t drive off any cliffs. It was a good September 29 celebration.

Loir-et-Cher Birding

My blogposts in France could not keep pace with my activities. We birded in various locales within an hour's drive from Vendôme and whenever a bird opportunely presented itself on one of our jaunts. We had the pleasure of joining the Loir-et-Cher Nature association on an outing.

Birding with the hospitable Loir-et-Cher Nature association in Blois, on the banks of La Loire (not to be confused with the Le Loir tributary).

My birding activities scored 10 "lifers" (list below, not in taxonomical order). I vote the Green Woodpecker my best bird.

The European Green Woodpecker (photo found on Google images).

• Gray Wagtail
• Carrion Crow
• Little Owl
• Cirl Bunting
• Gray Partridge
• Red-Legged Partridge
• Little Tern
• Little Ringed Plover
• Linnet (Common)
• Green Woodpecker

A Total Relooking

At the Académie Française, that august body that is the protector of pure French, there must be a gnashing of teeth. In daily life, the language is constantly being “mondialized” (to anglicize the French term). There is no escaping the creep of globalization.

Consider these borrowings and adaptations from English:

• Total relooking – a complete make-over
• Espresso et un brownie
• Sandwich au choix – your choice of sandwich
• Le hot dog
• Le muffin myrtille – a blueberry muffin
• Donut
• Une pasta box à emporter – a small box to be hydrated with hot water for a pasta meal
• Café Snack – name of a coffee and snack counter
• Auto Grill – name of a highway restaurant
• Stand Chaud – a hot buffet
• Chicken nuggets et frites – chicken nuggets and French fries, not at McDonald’s
• Simply Market – grocery store name
• Break Pain – name of coffee and bread/pastry shop (like a coffee break?)
• Un camping car - a motor home
• Quickos – something you order at McDonald’s (not to be confused with quickies)
• Speedy – name of an automobile oil change, etc. shop
• Le brushing – at a hair salon, ask for this to blow-dry hair
• Le footing – jogging
• Athle-Running – name of athletic shoe store
• C’est nickel – it is bright and shiny, in perfect condition
• C’est super - it’s super
• Le scotch  - trying to figure out how to say scotch tape? Easy.
• Vente de mobile homes – sale of mobile homes, although you might not understand these words when spoken

Universal Directions

Going around and around in a round-about with five exits and not sure which way to go?  There is an easy solution. Just follow the top arrow for “All Directions”.

Medieval Lavardin

We have been going for hikes in the surrounding area. For this outing we started at the foot of the Château in Lavardin, about a twenty minute drive away. We enjoyed the cliffs with troglodyte dwellings on one side of Lavardin, the view. the town itself and a path along the Loir river.

Gathering at La C….rie

The sun came out for the family lunch that MD had planned. She made a delicious Moroccan Lamb Tajine.

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La Ferme de Nouray

We drive to a nearby farm for fresh produce.

Park & Wash?

Never saw this in a parking lot before: