Whoops!  We've moved and I forgot to post it!  Check out blog.studiodetro.com - it's fantastic fun.

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Something I like about the city is the height restriction for the buildings.  I think everything is shorter than the Capitol spire.  I'm sure that does amazing things to the property values (as does the rock solid economy in the area).  But it makes for nice foot traffic city visits.  Human scale architecture in America.  Amazing!

I really enjoyed The National Gallery of Art on the north east side of the Mall.  Since my visit was during the heat wave that hit the east coast in July, I especially liked any place with great air conditioning.  Stepping outside felt just like home in Houston, Texas - 110+ temps and 90% humidity.  But more about the museum: think "endowed" instead of "publicly funded".  It is such a great visit, both the pre-modern and modern buildings. 

One interesting piece is a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, of an American young woman, in Virginia.  Who knew?  It's so very Italian, and so provincial early American.

Library of Congress. Smithsonian buildings. Architectural salvage.  Eastern Market on a Saturday morning. Shopping in Alexandria.  I think Georgetown escaped my photographic documentation this trip.  You know, a good mix.

I'm looking forward to my next trip.

Look who was waiting for us on our back porch when we got back from a recent evening session ... he looks right at home, huh?!

Just returned from a great trip with my Dad, we attended my cousin's wedding in Sonoma.  What a great time with Dad's family in a beautiful locale.  I'm sad for Patrick and Katie, as they don't live there anymore; it's such a great climate and laid back environment.  And I'm glad for them that they have lived there and had such a great memory made hosting their wedding.  If either happen upon this post, thank you so very much for including me!

So, I tried really hard to not be "the cousin with a camera" the whole weekend.  I took a few photos as a guest at the events and then cooled my jets by enjoying being there.  Dad and I got up early and visited the edges of many vineyards making some killer images.  I'm really excited about those.

And I'm excited about these sweet photos of my Miller family!  Happy wedding!

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We love the hours right before sunset.  This is us out fishing during the brief cool daylight with some great friends.

The dogs love the activity, lunging for lures and swimming in the good fishing spots, they aren't exactly helpful.  But it is nice to be outside!

I wish I had more to say about fishing, but I didn't fish, just photoed the fishing people.  It looks tricky, Grant and Scott were doing this quiet competition thing to see who could bring in the most/the biggest.  Elaine and Guy were busy keeping lures or hooks and worms on their lines.  I think most everyone caught something, but I really don't know because I was not paying attention to their results :) just the activity!

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How do you spend an enjoyable afternoon in and around the county seat of Austin County, Texas? 

I've got to recommend lunch at Bellville Meat Market and a trip through Lavande north of town.  At the first (Bellville Meat Market), you can enjoy manly sights and eat very yummy meaty things.  At the second (Lavande), you can visit, smell and touch (I think there is lavender tea, but don't quote me) all things lavender.  Soon, olive oil grown on property will join the boutique mix.

I'm posting the photos from the meat market with this post and the photos from the lavender fields in an accompanying post.

Immensely enjoyable and fortunately photogenic day d' Bellville.  (Everything just sounds so much more country when you throw in that town's name, try it.)

And check out the last post on cookies (+) in Bellville.  Didn't "cookies" sound much more country being "Bellville cookies"?!  Am I right, or am I right? :)

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Best_of_Bellville_1.zip (3.41 MB)

Super close to the county seat of Austin County, Texas (Bellville) is a great spot to visit.  And I have photographic evidence to prove that we have indeed visited. 

Check out Lavande north of Bellville and south of Chappell Hill for yourself sometime soon!

Immensely enjoyable and fortunately photogenic day d' Bellville.  (Everything just sounds so much more country when you throw in that town's name, try it.)

If you have time check out the last post on cookies (+) in Bellville.  And the other post about food in Bellville: visit the Bellville Meat Market.

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These guys have also played praise and worship at the church I attend (Bethel Church) recently and I hope to see more of them soon!

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