One of my good friends growing up was born on February 29, during a leap year, which I always thought was pretty darn amazing. Despite us both being born the exact same year, I was already 12 years old by the time she turned 3. When I turned 20, my friend looked far older than her youthful 5 years. Like most “leaplings,” she celebrated her birthday either the day before or the day after February 29. It was only every four years that she was able to celebrate her true birthday. Fortunately, for all those leaplings out there (there’s an estimated 200,000 living in the United States; 4 million throughout the world), there is a place for them to celebrate: Anthony, Texas.

Located 20 miles north of El Paso in Big Bend, Anthony, a tiny farming community, is the Leap Year Capital of the World. And beginning tomorrow, February 29, through March 2, leap-year babies from as far away as Germany and Norway will flock to this town of 3,850 to celebrate their big day during the 6th Annual Worldwide Leap Year Festival.

Begun in 1988, the festival was founded by Mary Anne Brown, a leapling herself (she was born in 1932, which makes her 19 years old!) with the help of the Anthony Chamber of Commerce. This year’s event will include a golf tournament, parade, birthday dinner, and carnival.

For more information, or to join the Leap Year Birthday Club, call 505/882-5677; or go HERE.

On my way back from visiting Lost Maples State Natural Area this past weekend, I made a detour to Love Creek Orchards Cider Mill and Store in Medina. I’ll admit that I’ve never been much of a pie person. However, that all changed on Sunday when I sunk my fork into a thick slice of their award-winning apple pie. And no, I’m not exaggerating. This slice of, um, heaven, must’ve been several inches thick considering the generous amount of apples stuffed between the crust, which was golden and delicious and had just the right amount of flakiness. By the time I cleaned my plate, I officially declared myself an apple-pie convert. I was too late to buy a whole pie (someone had snagged the last one right after I bought my slice), but lucky for me, these four-pounds of bliss can be shipped anywhere across the United States. But don’t wait too long, as Christmas orders must be placed by December 10.

Love Creek Orchards Cider Mill and Store is on Texas 16 in Medina. For more information, or to order a pie, call 800/449-0882 or go HERE.

Ever wonder what becomes of all the pumpkins that aren’t sold before Halloween? I sure didn’t, that is until last weekend, while picking pumpkins at a pumpkin patch in Buda. It turns out that all of the leftover pumpkins at this and other patches get shipped to San Marcos, where they’ll take a 100-foot nosedive from a hot-air balloon. When I found this out, my mind automatically flashed back to a segment I saw years ago on the Late Show with David Letterman where Dave would drop televisions and other random objects out of a high-rise building. Jack-o’-lanterns going ker-splat on steaming hot asphalt? Sign me up! Luckily for myself and other pumpkin pitchers, I’ll get the joy of saying “Sayonara” to my fruit (that’s right, it’s a fruit, it has seeds) this Saturday, November 3 during the first annual Great Texas Pumpkin Drop. Ten dollars takes me up in a tethered hot-air balloon and allows me to toss my pumpkin overboard into the asphalt abyss that is the McCoy’s Building Supply parking lot. For $15, you can go up in a cherry picker in a game of pumpkin target practice (winner gets an iPod)! Pumpkins are provided, or you can bring your own. Proceeds go to True Vineyard Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps people living in third-world countries affected by HIV and other illnesses. I think it’ll be a smashing good time.

The Great Texas Pumpkin Drop is from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 3 at McCoy’s Building Supply, 1200 N. Interstate 35 in San Marcos (at the intersection of I-35 and Texas 12), 4 to 8 p.m. $10-$15. For more information, call 512/557-7734 or go HERE.

If you like small-town festivals, here’s one more to add to your list: the Fine Arts Festival in Buda. Scheduled for this weekend (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday), this annual event brings more than 50 artists to this main-street town located 15 miles south of Austin to showcase their paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, drawings, and more. When I attended last year, the “big-top” tent where it is housed wasn’t overly crowded like festivals in larger cities tend to be, enabling me to talk one-on-one with some of the artists, and really get a feel for their creations. Food vendors will also be on site, but I recommend crossing Main Street and eating lunch at one of the local restaurants, such as the Primrose & Fine Lace Tea Room (tea for two is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and a pot of tea) or Big Oak Bar-B-Que (pulled-pork, homemade potato salad, brisket, etc.) If a snack is more your choice, try the Coffee Nut Bookshop, where you can snuggle up with a steaming mug of gourmet coffee and a handful of fresh-roasted almonds and pecans while browsing the store’s comprehensive selection of rare and used books.

Buda also has a number of great gift and antique shops that I have come to rely on over the years, especially during the holidays. For instance, last fall I was in search of a pitchfork to weave with a chain of dried leaves to decorate my front yard. The shiny new ones at Home Depot just weren’t cutting it, so I found the perfect rusty, vintage one at Buda’s Old 1898 Store, an antique lover’s paradise. (Seriously, you can spend hours in there and barely skim the shop’s dusty surface). I can also count on Raby’s Roots, a home décor shop, to find something charming and unique to decorate my home during Christmastime. And, if all else fails, I know that I’ll find something special at the arts festival.

To get to the Fine Arts Festival in Buda, take I-35 to Exit 221 (Main Street) and head west. For more information, call the Buda Chamber of Commerce at 512/295-9999 or go HERE.

For some reason, I’ve always been fascinated by everyday objects made jumbo sized. My first brush with the world of oversized things was during a family vacation to Universal Studios when I was about 10 years old. One of the theme park’s gift shops specialized in anything and everything ginormous, such as clothespins, utensils, pencils, playing cards, you name it. I remember zeroing in on a colossal-sized toothbrush that, no matter how big of a mouth some might say I have, I can’t fit inside (yes, I tried—I was 10 after all). To this day, I have it prominently displayed in my bathroom. In my mind, it’s a work of art. So, it’s no surprise how excited I was to view EXTRA-ORDINARY: The Everyday Object in American Art at the Austin Museum of Art-Downtown this past weekend. The exhibition features works by artists known for their ability to play with scale, such as Claes Oldenburg, a Swedish sculptor who fashioned a belly-busting BLT sandwich out of vinyl, kapok, and wood back in 1963. Claes is also the mastermind behind a stack of pillow-soft French fries covered in a satisfyingly large plop of red-vinyl ketchup. (Other notable works include Andy Warhol’s iconic painting of a Campbell’s Soup can, his faux Brillo-pad boxes, and a 5-foot-tall fiberglass paper lunch sack by Alex Hay.) The exhibit, whose goal is to force us to examine things around us in a new light, is on loan from the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, and continues through November 4.

AMOA-Downtown is at 823 Congress Ave. in Austin. For more information, call 512/495-9224 or go HERE.

Claes Oldenburg, Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich), 1963, Vinyl, kapok, and wood painted with acrylic, Overall: 32 x 39 x 29 inches, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of The American Contemporary Art Foundation Inc., Leonard A. Lauder, President 2002.255a-n. Photograph courtesy of AMOA.

Oftentimes when I travel, I spend the night someplace that’s cheap and efficient and serves a complimentary continental breakfast. Someplace like LaQuinta Inn and Suites or the local HoJo. However, during a recent trip to Waco, I threw my need for a standard king-size bed and satellite TV out the window and aimed for a place far cozier: The Judge Baylor House.

Tucked underneath a canopy of trees just a few blocks south of Baylor University, this two-story, red-brick cottage was once the home of Judge R.E.B. Baylor, the school’s founder. Today, it’s a five-bedroom B&B decorated with Victorian touches and other accommodations that you won’t always find at a chain hotel, such as a library filled with poetry books and travel guides, and a full breakfast served on china. (During my stay, owners Bruce and Dorothy Dyer served a delicious meal of raisin-bread French toast sandwiched together with cream cheese and a flute of blueberry yogurt sprinkled with oats.) Despite my not knowing any of the other guests, we all enjoyed breakfast at the same table; the conversation was as free flowing as the fresh-brewed coffee.

Guests can spend the night in one of five rooms, each of which has its own private bath. I stayed in Anne’s Room, which has a claw-foot tub, stained-glass window, and hardwood floors. Each room is named after one of the Dyer’s children. I enjoyed my two-night stay so much that I’ll think twice before I make plans to stay in a regular hotel.

The Judge Baylor House is at 908 Speight St. Rates start from $78/night. For more information, call 254/756-0273; or go HERE.

Folks at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco are abuzz this week, and it’s not because they’ve been drinking too much Dr Pepper. This Friday, the museum anticipates that its one-millionth visitor will cross the threshold into the 101-year-old building, a monumental achievement for this museum dedicated to the carbonated drink.

The museum, which first opened in 1991, bases its estimate on visitor counts, which, as of this writing, is at 999,461 and counting. Jack McKinney, the museum’s executive director, calculates that the millionth visitor should arrive sometime before noon on Friday. So what does this lucky person receive? According to Jack, a lifetime membership to the museum, a gift basket of Dr Pepper products, two nights lodging at Hotel Waco, dinner at Elite Circle Grill (don’t miss the Dr Pepper baby-back ribs), and, of course, bragging rights. Even if you’re not the millionth visitor, it’s still worth the visit, as there will be a special appearance by Bill “Old Doc” Pantel dressed as Old Doc, the drink’s original mascot, replete with top hat, tails, monocle, and a doctor’s bag. Peggy Pepper, another mascot, will also be in attendance, along with museum board members and employees, who will perform a 10-2-4 cheer for the millionth visitor.

And, of, course, don’t forget the 18,500-square-foot museum, which houses a collection of more than 17,000 Dr Pepper items, including bottling equipment, metal signs, and an old-fashioned soda fountain where ice-cold Dr Pepper floats are whipped up on the spot. Will you be the 1,000,000th visitor?

The Dr Pepper Museum is at 300 S. Fifth St. in Waco. For more information, call 254/757-1024 or visit HERE.

Last weekend, I was doing my usual daughterly duty of giving my dad a weekly phone call. Normally, our conversations revolve around movies, traveling, and my finances, and often end in a heated political debate, but not this past Sunday. Instead, our conversation turned to peaches. My dad, who lives in Arizona, complained that he has trouble finding good peaches at his local supermarket. “Does Texas have good peaches?” he asked. Well, that’s a no brainer. I explained to him that plucking a fresh-picked, sun-ripened peach bursting with juice from a tree is practically a rite of summer here in Texas. And with Fredericksburg, the “Peach Capital of Texas” smack dab in the center of the state, there are plenty of these juicy fruits to go around.

Although peach season is beginning to wind down, a number of stands are still open to the public for a few more weeks. One of my favorite places to stock up is Burg’s Corner in Stonewall. This market offers peaches from a number of area growers. In addition to boxes of just-harvested peaches, Burg’s sells peach jams, jellies, salsas, and vinaigrettes, as well as other produce. During my last visit, I walked away with some beautiful zucchini, squash, and tomatoes. Also, don’t miss Burg’s white chocolate and peach bark, well worth the $5. Homemade peach ice cream and cider are also available.

Also open:

Behrends Orchard, four miles east of Fredericksburg on US 290. (830) 997-4420. Peach ice cream, peach pies, and other produce.

Engle Orchards, on US 290 east of Fredericksburg. (830) 997-3292. Peaches, other fresh produce.

Gold Orchards, 14329 E. US 290 East in Stonewall, (830) 644-2890. Peach ice cream, award-winning peach pie, peach candies, and more.

Vogel Orchard, 12862 US 290 East, between Fredericksburg and Stonewall; (830) 644-2404. Peach preserves, peach butter, peach-butter ice cream, and more.

Burg’s Corner is at 15194 US 290 East; (800) 694-2772; HERE.

For more information on peach farms, go HERE.

A forest grows in Wimberley, but from the roadside, you wouldn’t know it. Set back from RR 12, a winding swath of road that meanders past ranches and strip malls just outside this small artist village in the Hill Country, sits Jade Gardens Bonsai Nursery, a garden center that focuses on the horticulture of native Texas trees in a bonsai environment. In addition to offering traditional bonsai trees, such as maples and pines, the nursery houses a jungle of trees more commonly found towering over the Texas landscape than in pots, including Crape Myrtles, cedars, and oaks.

During my recent visit, I met with Pat Ware, who owns Jade Gardens with her husband Chuck. I was surprised when she told me that caring for a bonsai tree isn’t as time consuming as you’d think, just a clip here and a snip there every few months and voilà. At first I was skeptical, since I automatically had this image in my mind of Mr. Miyagi from the movie The Karate Kid painstakingly pampering his trees in the back of his workshop. According to Pat, the hardest part is lifting the tree from its pot every year to trim its roots.

Interestingly, any tree can be turned into a bonsai, just so long as its crown and roots are trimmed religiously and it remains in a container. “As long as it’s fed, watered, and trimmed, it’s content,” says Pat, who explains that Chuck does the majority of caring for the couple’s more than 200 plants. On a typical day, he’s responsible for twisting metal wires around the trees’ delicate branches to control their shape, trimming leaves and roots, and watering them. Some of the bonsais at Jade Gardens have been under Chuck’s care for more than 20 years.

Prices start at about $25 per tree, but can climb as high as $1,000-plus for larger trees—large being relative, since these are trees in miniature. Jade Gardens also houses the Central Texas Bonsai Exhibit, a display of more than 160 tree species. An adjacent gift shop sells jade jewelry, figurines carved from elephant tusks, and pottery.

Jade Gardens Bonsai Nursery is at 12404 RR 12, about two miles from downtown Wimberley. Hours vary by season, so call ahead. 512/847-2514 or go HERE.

Pink is the new black this summer, or at least that’s the case at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Corpus Christi. From now until Labor Day, pink plastic flamingo yard ornaments dressed in hula skirts, straw hats, and other funky garb will be on display throughout the center’s lush gardens as part of a new exhibit called Flamingo Fandango. Prior to the exhibit, locals were invited to pick up a plastic feathered friend from the nature center, bring it home with them to decorate, and then drop back off dressed however they like. Several folks returned their birds looking like Hawaiian hula girls decked out in straw skirts, coconut-shell tops, and leis, while others gave a nod to Texas with birds spiffed up like cowboys. In other words, no two flamingos are the same. What’s more, awards will be given to flamingos in a number of categories, including the most original, the one that most resembles a celebrity, and the most patriotic. If you recall Dances with Dolphins, an outdoor exhibition of fiberglass dolphins installed throughout Corpus Christi several years back, this is somewhat similar, except with birds. It’s even spearheaded by the same group, Art for All, in conjunction with the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center.

Once you’ve taken in the rose-colored flock, make sure to browse through the nature center’s many greenhouses and lush gardens sprouting with roses, orchids, and fragrant plumeria. Much of its 180-acre grounds, which are part of Corpus Christi’s Oso Creek Greenbelt System, are protected wetlands, making the area a prime spot for bird watching, even if many of them are plastic.

The South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is at 8545 S. Staples St. in Corpus Christi. For more information on the nature center and Flamingo Fandango, call 361/852-2100 or visit HERE.