Weekend Snaps: A Story In Photos

I’m sure my post on Thursday made it seem like it’s all work and no play around here. There’s plenty of work, for sure, but we found some lovely moments this weekend, too.

Friday morning, we enjoyed brilliant sunshine and cool temperatures at the annual Rodeo Austin Cowboy Breakfast. I’ve written about it before — coffee, sausage, Longhorn cattle, horses, live music, and the mix of hippies and cowboys that’s definitively Austin. I’ve shared a few of Dave’s snaps below.

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Just seconds before this cowboy stood on his horse to do rope tricks, he did a handstand on the horse’s back! I kept halfway hoping the horse would buck, as if to say, “Get offa me man!” But he was a patient, gracious creature.

cowboy1

With its hipsters and rock musicians, Austin isn’t the cowboy-hat-and-boots version of Texas people think of when they think “TEXAS,” but these are real, honest-to-goodness, Wrangler-jeans-with-ironed-creases, cowboys.cowboys

A horse is a horse, of course of course. And no one can talk to a horse of course…horseofcourse

On Saturday, after our usual morning yoga with the brilliant, inspiring, adorable Kim S. (Boy-howdy! Did I need that stretching and mental oasis), we indulged in a leisurely breakfast at Habanero Café. There are no pics of what I ate — a big bowl of caldo de res and a side of guacamole — but Dave snapped this photo of me looking relaxed. It’s rare, so I’m glad to see it documented.

ilovebreakfast

Even Smudge was feeling the weekend love! She likes to greet us at the door to smell the sunshine, and before she remembered she should be standoffish, she gave me a nose kiss… which makes me feel like Queen of the World (when we all know that it’s Smudge who makes the rules).

smudge

Hope you’re enjoying a lovely weekend, too!

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Comments

  • melissa says:

    I’ve always wanted to go see the cowboy breakfast but never have.
    heck, I’ve only been to the actual Austin rodeo grounds twice in the almost 9 years i’ve been here. I was spoiled growing up in San Antonio and going to the events all of the time and them being large and fun.

    Now that I live in Austin, I’ve traded SXSW for rodeo since it falls around the same time. I usually only do all of the free stuff, but it’s still one of my favorite times of year

    • Mel says:

      This time of year is nutso in Austin! We usually skip the SXSW mania. Cowboy Breakfast is more chill, so just our speed 😉

  • Andrea says:

    That’s a beautiful picture of you! Sounds like a very pleasant weekend. 🙂

  • Linda says:

    Dave is an amazing artist! What a lovely picture of you and Smudge.

  • Eileen says:

    I love how you talk about the ways you take care of yourself during the intense process of writing & photographing your book. So many bloggers talk about how their health plummets during their book process, because they don’t take care. You’re an excellent role model. We all need to stop and breathe. Thanks for showing us that it doesn’t have to be either/or. We can accomplish great things, and still take care of ourselves at the same time.

    • Mel says:

      I’m *trying* to take care of myself. It’s pretty challenging to remember to put care before work when the calendar is hounding me, but after our book deadline, we’re going to Europe for six weeks, and I want to feel awesome on that trip — which means I have to put deposits in the Good Health Bank now.

      I’ll continue to share how I’m doing so y’all can see if I burn out at the end. HA!

  • Heather says:

    Isn’t it amazing how a nose kiss from a cat makes you feel so special? I feel the same when our Ninja bestows one on me. It’s rare, and always makes my day. (She’s a bit of a Smudge look-a-like, BTW – love seeing the Smudge pics!)

    • Mel says:

      The nose kisses are rare, which makes them special. Although she could be a little less stingy with them, and I would still have mad appreciation.

  • Isla says:

    I have two dogs and get my nose kissed weather I want it or not! Loved the photos Dave took of you. Beautiful!

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