Making summer dreams come true

I've been pretty blog-less this summer and for good reason. We've been soaking up every second of this sunshine, and the fact that it's creeping into late August is just depressing.

There's plenty to recap with photos and blog posts once the weather turns gray again:
- Annual Pac Crest half-marathon and Sunriver weekend with the Lagreids
- Celebrating America's independence
- Our off-the-grid Montana road trip--I wrote every single day and plan to post those musings on this here blog
- Welcoming the McFarlings from Austin for a week of Portland and Sunriver splendor
- A new baby joins the Benz family (August Jay) and another is almost here (baby girl, name TBA)
- Dogger Bethell makes its (his/her we're still not sure) appearance ... and will be arriving at our doorstep in just a few more weeks

And then there's that list of summer to-dos we've been busy just a-doin':
- Stand-up paddleboarding almost every day...until our feet get numb
- Outdoor concerts
- Barbecues
- Camping
- Spontaneous visits from friends
- Cooking and baking from nature's bounty

Before the summer started, Taylor and I had a couple of simple goals for the season. We wanted to be on the lake as much as possible and to make salsa from ingredients out of our garden. I'm happy to report--as of last night--both of those goals have been achieved. Years from now, we're going to look back on the summer of 2014 as one of the most special. I just know it.  

Salsa 2014! Full disclosure: Tomatoes and jalapenos from our garden. Onions and garlic from my mom's garden. Cilantro from the store (ours came and went earlier this summer). Note: Taylor really didn't want me to take a pic of this, so I publicly apologize for that, Taylor. 

Swift trip to the cabin on the lake

A few weeks ago now (isn't that the way all of my blog posts seem to start these days?), we took a quick trip up to Mike and Kat's family cabin at Swift Lake. 

Being away from the city <> and the hustle and the bustle of everyday life--work, email, texts, traffic, people--really recharges my batteries. I mentioned this revelation to Taylor on a morning run through the woods, to which he responded, "Why do you think I love fly-fishing so much?"

Although I'm having a hard time forming sentences at this very moment, I wanted to post a few pictures from our time at Swift as it was one of the first in which we got to spend such quality time with baby Ben. 

From happy hour at the lake, to losing a beach towel due to an unfortunate miscommunication, and of course the Ranger ride, thanks for the memories, Greeners. Never a dull moment. Even now that you have a baby boy. 

Not a bad view for morning yoga, right Taylor? (Note: He's not really doing yoga. He'd never.)

Mixin' drinks like it's his job.

I don't want to say goodbye to summer '13. Not yet.

Americana summer '09

Summer is the best time of year, especially when you live in Central Texas. The sun stays out so long you forget what time it is, and everyone is ready for adventure at any given time.

These are a few of my favorite things (Summer 2009 edition):

Roping: I love to watch Rocky rope. I can tell how much he enjoys it by the way he saddles his horse and fiddles with his rope. He and his sister are quite a sight on their fast horses, headin' and heelin' and whatever else they do. I haven't had the chance to see him reel 'em in that much, but I sure love it when I do. Now, on the other hand, attending team roping events is extreeemely boring. You sit around all day long to watch your cowboy attempt to throw a rope around one steer. I'm sure this is exactly what my parents felt like when I'd play in volleyball or basketball tournaments ... but then again, those matches and games actually lasted more than 8 seconds. Hmm.

Rocky and Jigger "my" horse.

The Ranch: No, not the bar where I met Rocky (although that is one of my favorite things, too!)--Rocky's family ranch. I love it. I can't wait to go back. This summer we went for the Fourth of July. It was so Americana. We rode around town (by which I mean we drove into town, turn around and drove back) in his Model A truck, and we laughed the entire way as our knees were jammed into the dashboard. His parents invited all their friends over for a huge cookout. We're talking about Dutch oven cookin' here, folks. Mm. Mm. Mm. I am licking my lips just thinking about the steaks, potatoes, and all kinds of fixin's. Oh baby. The food was amazing, and the locals brought a homemade canon to celebrate the holiday.

The cowboy and the toy truck.

Dutch oven apple pie. My mouth waters just looking at this photo.

Home: When living states away, nothing's better than a trip home. I was fortunate enough to witness the wedding of my good friend Mindy and her new hubby Jacob. I also made a trip to Seattle to see my favorite friends. Summer in the Northwest is gorgeous.

Can't believe my high school point guard is a wed woman!

Baby shower: Fernanda and John had a huge party at an amazing Italian restaurant in Austin. It was the coolest "baby shower" I'd ever attended. It was a big belated celebration of their marriage and a pre-welcoming for their baby boy, Antonio. Good people. Lots of love and laughs. One of the most fun nights all summer.

Fernanda, a giant margarita, and me.

Concerts: Randy Rogers Band, Roger Creager, Xavier Rudd, the Radney Foster birthday bash, the free concert series at Hill's Cafe and the list continues ... we saw some great shows this summer, and I can't hardly imagine life without the influx of music I've been exposed to in the Live Music Capital of the World.

Two of my best Austin girlfriends, Andrea, Jenny, and me at the Xavier Rudd concert in June.

One of my favorite photos of Rocky and me ever--taken at the Radney Foster birthday bash at Hill's Cafe.

Races: What's a summer without running a few good races? The Trail Foundation's Moonlight Margarita Run continues to be my all-time favorite race. I didn't win this year, but I still had an absolute blast.

SeaFair Torchlight Run with KVH and Em in Seattle. We decided to have two beers each and share a round of French fries before running an 8K race. It wasn't smart, but we did share a lot of laughs running around downtown Seattle and happy hour-ing it up in our sweaty, bib-sporting post-race attire.

Swimming holes and lake days: Rock and I attempted to find some of Central Texas' best swimming holes (and watering holes!). Hamilton Pool has to be one of the most spectacular swimming holes in the area (aside from the wasp sting I received there). Nothing's better than lounging on a floaty in the middle of the water on a hot summer day. Well, that's kind of a lie. Soaking up the rays with a cold one on the bow of our friends' boat might take the cake. Either way, we sure lived it up this summer.

Hamilton Pool.

Out on Lake Austin with the gang.