A bit of water in the desert seems appropriate for August 2018...
I'm hoping this encourages a little rainfall.  The scene is near the start of the West Fork hike, a few miles north of Sedona, AZ.  The sunlight was a bit too harsh for the best image when we were here - which somehow makes it the perfect image for August, right?
Feel free to download a copy for a screensaver.
Have a great month!
​John

One of the many Arches in Arches National Park, taken by my lovely wife Kimberly.  Arches is named for the many... OK, that was just going to be such a bad joke
It's a great month to get out and see a part of this wonderful country that you might not have visited before.  Hope you have a great month!
​John

This week's new listing has an exciting bonus wing, outdoor kitchen and living, and even a splash pad!
More details here.  Come visit our mini open house on Saturday morning from 10:25-10:50.  
$425,000
4 beds plus a dedicated study
3 baths
​1 story

Just flowers this month.  Photo was taken on a visit to my sister and family in Portland, OR.  We walked up Mount Tabor and came across this hydrangea bush - about the size of a small car!  I got in close for this shot.  A couple of family shots follow.  Sorry John O - you and I didn't get to be pictured here.

Happy May!  This month's image was taken this past Spring Break near Moab, Utah.  Colorado River, Professor Valley, Fisher Towers, and La Sal Mountains all line up for a great view.  I hope you get a chance to get out and see some of the beauty surrounding us, whether here in Texas or a little further...
Have a great month!
If you are talking to someone and real estate comes up, please mention my name...
​John

This month's calendar image has a bit of a story.
For Spring Break Kimberly & I headed off to Moab, Utah for some hiking.  As the Brothers Osborne song we listened to on the way says, "Just you and me remembering how to have fun!"
Our key hike was going to be the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park.  It is described as an adult playground.  You crawl, jump rock crevices, walk under arches, slither under an arch, squeeze through narrows, and slide down rocks.  That kind of fun.
The hike requires a permit and an orientation class.  The goal is to try to get lost in the 2 mile x 1 mile maze of rock fins - without actually getting lost.  Backtracking skills are a must.
We got in line too late for the day we wanted (limited number) and got permits for Thursday instead.  Rain forecast 80%.
So Thursday we started the hike with layers of clothing, rain gear, and extra water in amazingly comfortable 52 degree no humidity weather.  About 2 hours later among tall rocks with a sliver of sky, the wind picked up and we smelled rain and put on the rain gear.
Little pea-size snowballs fell instead.  It only lasted 10-15 minutes then the sliver of sky returned to blue.
After 5 1/2 hours among the passages we emerged to see the storm pictured here.  The entire sky was storming except this little hole in the clouds between the sun and the fiery furnace!
We took it as a sign that God approved of us playing like kids in one of His rocky playgrounds.
There is a lot of fun to be had in Moab.  Call me if you are headed out that way.  I'd love to help you plan part of your own adventure.
​Also a shout out to Pasta Jay's - great food you would not expect in such a tiny town. 

Hope you have a fun April!
John

https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/fiery-furnace.htm  NPS info
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2qj5agrYpk  fun video of the Fiery Furnace, not mine
http://www.brothersosborne.com/audio/playlists/4709/rum  The song mentioned
https://pastajays.com/locations/moab/

March already!  Hard to believe...
This month's calendar image is from an overlook near Payson, AZ looking Southwest from the Mogollon Rim.  We reached a break in the rain and could see other showers and the beginning of sunset colors.  Timing of the roadside overlook was perfect, so we stopped for some photos.
This panorama was almost as wide as the view from a home in Westlake that I am listing this month.  See "Best View in Austin?" page for more about that one.
Panoramas are fun images.  Sometimes there is so much in the photo that it is easy to miss details - focused on the big picture.
There is a good life lesson in here - balancing big picture and the details of everyday life.  How about I stop there and let the image spark a little reflection?
Have a great month - and 31 wonderful days!
John

My friend Matt at Matt's Electrical reminds us to check those GFCI outlets once ever month or two.
The whats?  You know the outlets in your kitchen and baths that have "test" and "reset" buttons.  We are supposed to actually push the test button once in a while and make sure they outlets pop off.  Plus something in.  Hit test.  With the item you plugged in turn on?  If not, then hit reset.  It should come on now.
If test doesn't kill the power to the outlet or reset doesn't turn it back on, the GFCI is bad and should be replaced.
Easy enough to add to the air filter and check smoke detector batteries "to do" list each month.