Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 2021

Continued from Page 11

The new building was dedicated as the capitol on May 16, 1888, with much celebration. Large crowds of people living a mile away in an encampment were provided the ability to attend with new streetcar lines leading to the capitol. Sam Houston’s youngest son, Senator Temple Houston, accepted the building on behalf of the state with the words, “This building fires the heart and excited reflections in the minds of all. . . the architecture of a civilization is its most enduring feature, and by this structure shall Texas transmit herself to posterity.” According to Records at the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) in Texas, the records from the year 1919 indicate that a Christmas tree was purchased for the capitol grounds as early as the year 1919, but nothing was official until 1964, when a 24-foot, live Douglas fir was purchased for $700 and planted on the West Front lawn. The large, Douglas fir lived for another 4 years, serving as the holiday tree for subsequent tree-lighting ceremonies until 1968, when a storm caused injury to the tree and roots. The tree died and Texas purchased cut trees for the following two years until 1970 when the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service took over and began to provide the holiday trees. This still continues today. In December of 1994, mysterious decorations began showing up on the holiday. Soon after, Texas held an informal and spontaneous tree lighting that ultimately birthed a new holiday tradition for Austin. The annual celebration eventually grew large enough to include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music, an artisan holiday market, ornament making, mini petting zoos, a giant snow dome, and a sing-along. Last year, in 2020, the Austin Downtown Holiday Stroll was extended to last the month of December to allow for a less-crowded, more COVID-friendly experience. At the time of this writing, we presume an extended time period might be considered but has not been announced. The Downtown Austin website, (https://downtownaustin.com/what-we-do/signature-events/holidaystroll/), only mentions the opening night on December 4, 2021, and states to “check back here for more information as it becomes available.” Austin’s Holiday Stroll and Sing-Along is free of charge and located at the Texas capitol: 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701. We wish the happiest of holidays to all of our homeowners and residents and we thank each one of you for all that you do to help our Circle C neighborhood remain among the most generous, most creative, and most beautiful places in Austin to live.

At no time will any source be allowed to use the Circle C Ranch Newsletter's contents, or loan said contents, to others in any way, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in the Circle C Ranch Newsletter is exclusively for the private use of the Circle C HOA and Peel, Inc.

DISCLAIMER: The Circle C (HOA) has partnered with Peel, Inc. to publish our monthly newsletter gratis for our residents. We target our content to keep homeowners updated on appropriate Circle C announcements and notices. In addition to the printed version, residents may find past newsletters on the Peel.com website with a search for “Circle C.” However, the most current news and announcements may be found at www.circlecranch.com. Articles herein are intended to offer information that might be of use to our residents and to share current or historical events. We do not provide legal, medical, or expert advice but welcome input from our neighbors with expertise. We would love to hear from you! If any of our residents have an idea for an article or would like to nominate a neighborhood teenager or volunteer for a featured article, please feel free to reach out to our HOA manager at info@circlecranch. info or call 512-288-8663. Please note that, in an effort to not interfere with our advertisers that fund this publication, we may not promote or mention businesses. We also do not publish letters or op-eds because we wish to keep our newsletter factual and neutral. Thank you for being a part of our community.

Wildflower Notes

Here’s what’s likely to be blooming, fruiting or setting seed in Central Texas this time of year. Look for these native plants around town, at the Wildflower Center and perhaps in your own backyard!

Bushy Bluestem

(Andropogon glomeratus) The fluffy flower heads of bushy bluestem have been said to resemble chunks of silvery cotton candy, catching sunlight and glowing against coppery winter foliage. It's also easy to imagine this native grass's feathery racemes (or the type of simple, sheathed inflorescences you see here) adorning a certain jolly fellow's red costume. Yes, Andropogon glomeratus seems made for winter, and it can add a striking, unique beauty to home gardens at otherwise dull times. Bushy bluestem prefers low, moist areas in full sun — meaning that low, soggy corner of your yard is about to get a lot prettier! Texas Persimmon

(Diospyros texana) Do you break out the loofah and exfoliating scrub this time of year? If so, you've got something in common with Texas persimmon. This native tree, which is usually small and multi-trunked, reveals smooth, pinkish-white flesh after rougher strips of bark peel away. This happens in relation to age more than season, but the low-angled light of winter and fewer view-obstructing leaves make persimmon bark particularly beautiful and beholdable in winter woodlands. And Diospyros texana has more to offer than just glowing skin: It's extremely drought tolerant and disease resistant, and it's an undersung Texas edible; its fruit, which ripens from late summer into fall, is eaten by mammals (including humans) and birds alike. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving! Find these plants at the Wildflower Center and learn more about them at: wildflower.org/plants-main GIVE EXPERIENCE

Gift memberships to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center invite those special someones on your list to experience the wonder of the outdoors. Membership includes free admission all year, discounts in our Gift Store and on classes, a subscription to our beautiful biannual magazine, and more. The gift of nature is sure to please even the most finicky of recipients. As Mrs. Johnson said, “The environment after all is where we all meet.” More information at wildflower.org/join

Submitted by Amy McCullough, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Photography by Joseph A. Marcus (bushy bluestem) and Lee Clippard (Texas persimmon) Bushy Bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus)—Photography by Joseph A. Marcus Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana)—Photography by Lee Clippard (Texas persimmon)

Baby Pet House Yard Name Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

Abrameit, Kyle ....................17................................ * .................. * .......................512.999.0337

Aguilar, Jacob.......................15................................ * .................. * .......................619-713-4469

Artigas, Emilio.....................16................................ * ...........................................512.634.7416

Baird, Olivia........................14.............

* ................................................................512.773.5443 Brauer, Nina .....................15................................ *.................................512.565.4480 Campsmith, Lucy ............14................................ *.................................512-852-9846 Chatelain, Christelle*..........18............. * ...........................................512.963.3218 Cox, Claire*^.......................18............. * ..........................................................512.644.4550 Cox, Ben*^..........................16............. *.............*.................512.963.9464 Eis, Ella*^.............................15............. * ..........................................512.550.3422 Franke, Caroline*^..............15............. * ..............................................................512.590.1112 Havranek, Katie..................19............. * .................. * .......................512.940.1671 Hoard, Jed*^.......................19............. * .................. * .......................512.656.0836 Hurd, Palmer.......................16............ * ..................*...................512.423.0737 Kaplan, Ben.......................14............ *...................512.296.7548 Lim, Jacy *^.........................19............. * .................. * ........................512.744.7338 Mahoney, Nicholas*............16............. * .................. * ...................* ..512.569.1823 Marzani, Jackson.................16............. * .................. * .................... ..512-521-2474 McCurdy, Summer*+.........14............. * ........................................................832.683.7759 Melsa, Olivia........................19............. * .................. * .......................512.576.9225 Mermis, Ana*^....................17............. * .................. * .......................512.529.7458 Mouw, Ella*.........................19............. * ...........................................512.987.0421 Parker, Mia..........................15............................... * ................................,,.*....512-565-4480 Patterson, Makena...............19............. * .....................................512.506.1225 Salazar, Marisa*....................19............. * .................. * ........................512.288.9951 Terracina, Grace..................19............ * ..................*...................512.988.7471 Terracina, Nicholas..............19................................ * ..............................................512.301.3068 Trautman, Parker................14................................ * ............................................512.299.3117 OTHER SERVICES

Name Age Services Phone

Aguilar, Jacob.....................15.............Yardwork & Power Washing........... 619-713-4469 Andrusiank, Sophia...........15..................Mother's Helper..........................512.634.7416 Brauer, Nina.......................14.............MH/Tutor K-5 all subjects............ . .512.565.4480 Cox, Ben ..........................16........................Tutoring...........................512.963.9464 Hurd, Palmer......................15......Clarinet/Piano/Math Tutor K-8.............512.423.0737 Kissinger, Aspen ............. 19....................Tutor K-7.............................. 512.961.2267 Laird, Caden.....................16...............Powerwash Services.....................512.468.7678 Latawa, Pari......................17...............Tutor K-8th................................713-972-2217 Mahoney, Nicholas......... 16... Tutor grades k-5; Beg. Mandarin .......... .512.569.1823 Marzani, Jackson.................16.............Pressure Washing Service............... 512-521-2474 Patterson, Makena..........19..............Tutor Grades K-5........................512.506.1225 Wilson Jake .................... 16....................Yard Work............................. 512.695.8278

Baby Pet House Yard Name Age Sit Sit Sit Work Phone

Waltuck, Ella.......................16............ *.............*............512.658.4554 Wilson, Jake.........................16............ *.............*...........*512.695.8278

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