A funny thing happened on the way to a baby shower in Belton; I discovered another hidden downtown treasure near Austin. First, the Sarsaparilla Saloon caught my eye, so I had to stop and take a closer look. The old city courthouse was built of indigenous austin stone, like so many in the area; but what made it unique to me was the pristine white lady justice at the top of the dome and the old soldier still standing guard on the lawn. It was like going back a century or more, where life was simpler, buildings were built to endure, and just sharing a malt at the Sarsaparilla Saloon made your day special. There is certainly a different aura to the small Texas town, where you can feel your heart rate slow, as the peaceful scene takes you in.

The baby shower for Meagan Maas was exceptional as well. Her sister Shannon recently went to work for Chip and Joanna Gaines at the Magnolia Silos in Waco, in the buyer’s department of course. Her ideas were just plain Texas-style fun. She played off of her sister’s surname, Maas, and went with the nacho/cactus theme. Needless to say, we made our own tacos. Meagan and Geoff opted for the surprise gender-reveal at the birth of their baby, no sooner:) It was fun to guess what the baby might be, and the packages were wrapped in all colors of the rainbow, making it more interesting I think.

And then there was the road trip back, after visiting the grand angels in Austin. Highway 71 is always an amazing trip offering so many bucolic rural scenes along the way. Hruska’s is a mandatory stop for the czechoslovakian kolache treats and unique Texas-themed gifts. Just a few miles past Hruska’s, I always slow as I pass the FreBo Ranch. It began as a simple cattle ranch, but over the years has refined into an exotic wildlife refuge, and buffalo ranch. The longhorns have been replaced with wandering bison, zebras, water buffalo, and african antelope. I just had to stop this time and snap a few shots, albeit far distant from the road. Just another amazing trip through the Texas hill country.