Mandy Spivey

Lake Travis Area Excursion: Christmas Time in Fredericksburg

Written by Mandy Spivey | December 23, 2013

Christmas is a special time of the year. The time when gorging on Santa themed sugar cookies isn’t cause for alarm and a family intervention. A month-long celebration of holiday traditions, mugs of hot cocoa, family get-togethers and unlimited shopping sessions.

But when you want to get back to basics and get into the true spirit of Christmas, just get into your car! Living in the Lake Travis area is such a great reason to take a day trip out to one of the many colorful towns surrounding us, and what a better place to visit than Fredericksburg, Texas?

Lake Travis Area Excursion: Johnson City and Pecan Street Brewing

Written by Mandy Spivey | December 20, 2013

Take a drive down scenic Highway 290 in the Hill Country. Forty-five miles west of Austin is the small town of Johnson City. The entire city sits on less than 1.5 square miles of land. In spite of this, the town carries with it a huge legacy; the city is the birthplace of President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

And there are big things brewing in Johnson City these days. Pecan Street Brewing, located in the heart of Johnson City’s town square across the street from the courthouse, is one of the newest business endeavors from Tim and Patti Elliot. The two originally met back in Austin while working at the Armadillo World Headquarters—she worked as a barmaid and he had the job as club handyman.

The famous institution, known for hosting the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bruce Springsteen, the Pointer Sisters and members of the Grateful Dead, was an Austin staple in the burgeoning 1970s music scene. At a time when the music genres of country, urban blues, and jazz coexisted together in the downtown scene, the AWH sought to bring these differing groups together under one roof.

Lake Travis Area Leash Laws: Lakeway

Written by Mandy Spivey | December 16, 2013

Moses loves to run. He is my 4-year-old Weimeraner with so much energy, I have to take him out for a long walk at least once a day or he’s 80 pounds of growling flesh around the house. The more walking, running, and playing he gets daily the better. As the old saying goes, “A tired dog is a good dog.”

Whoever came up with that saying must have had a Weimeraner, I am sure of it.

When we take Moses out, we have to be cognizant of the local laws for allowing dogs to play and run free. Some municipalities have strict rules dictating where, when, and how a dog can play. Living by Lake Travis has given us a plethora of parks and trails to venture down and explore, and learning the leash laws around the area has given us a bit of insight into the rules of owning a dog in the area.

Lake Travis Area Excursions: Wimberley Market Days

Written by Mandy Spivey | December 9, 2013

Lake Travis and the Texas Hill Country are home to some of the most quaint and colorful towns around. One of my favorite towns to visit, not just for their art and their history, is Wimberley. Located in Hays County between San Marcos and Dripping Springs on RR 12, this short excursion is about a thirty minute drive from Lakeway and a perfect place to take a day trip.

This past Saturday was the last Wimberley Market Day to take place until early next Spring. The daylong flea market, which runs from March thru December on the first Saturday of each month from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m., is orchestrated by the local Lions Club and has been a staple of Wimberley life since 1964 when the first vendors set up shop out of the back of their trucks in the Town Square.

After just a few short years, the crowds grew and so did the list of vendors wishing to sell their goods, so land was purchased in the 1970s off RR 2325 and the Market was moved to where it sits today.

Do-It-Yourself Dog Grooming in the Lake Travis Area

Written by Mandy Spivey | November 25, 2013

From time to time, it happens. Usually it’s when my mom comes to visit and insists that we take our Weimaraner Moses, to the groomers to “freshen him up,” she always tells me. Some days that task goes smoother than others.

We have attempted to simply schedule an appointment with dog groomers in the Lake Travis area, but our big guy is a nervous pup and can’t deal with new people and loud equipment.

I guess I can’t blame him. A few years ago when Moses had a grooming appointment, we left him with the groomers and were told to come back in an hour. Within 10 minutes we received a call from them; Moses had become so upset and scared, he almost hanged himself when he tried to jump out of the waist-high dog wash bays.

At times when real grooming is necessary and the alternative of a professional groomer, washing your dog in the shower or out in the backyard won’t cut it, a self-service dog wash can be a lifesaver.

Mandy Spivey

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