TURNS IN THE ROAD

2010-05-23T21:41:00.003-05:00

BLUEGRASS ROOTS MUSIC
IN FREDERICKSBURG TX

I returned to my roots last night in Fredericksburg, TX at the Pioneer Museum. A bluegrass concert is what drew me there. I didn't discover bluegrass as a child but the first time I heard it, something came alive in me that had lain dormant and I had an immediate connection to this music. People who think they know me are surprised. Kind of like the time a co-worker asked me what my favorite pet was and I said, "I don't have any pets right now, but if I could manage it, I would have a horse." She looked shocked and said, "I can't imagine you with a horse," and I replied, "I guess you don't really know me then." So apparently I don't look like a bluegrass-horse-loving person but it's there and it runs deep!

Three bluegrass bands appeared as the first installment of the Pioneer Museum's Roots Music Series 2010. The concert was on a portable stage with a canopy on the grounds of the museum. We, the audience, sat on lawn chairs under tall trees with lush foliage that created much needed shade. There was a nice breeze and when it got dark, lights strung through the tree limbs lit up. It was a most pleasant evening. If there had been fireflies, it would have been a perfect night!

CHRISTY AND THE PLOWBOYS

The first band opened at 6:00 p.m. and called their music pre-bluegrass. It was a mix of old-time, country and hillbilly-styled music with an emphasis on obscure and unusual tunes. They closed with the very lively "Freaking at the Laundromat."

LONESTAR BLUEGRASS BAND

At 7 p.m., the Lonestar Bluegrass Band from Houston appeared and the crowd, which was small to begin with, had grown considerably. They were very good, not only musically but as entertainers, and the crowd couldn't get enough of them. Lonestar was founded by Chris Hirsch twenty-something years ago. It includes both the state flat picking champion and the state banjo champ. This group was voted “Best Bluegrass Band” in the Houston Press Music Awards three years in a row. They graciously took requests at the end. And if people wanted more, CDs were available afterward. I liked the other bands, but this was the headliner and they lived up to that billing!

ROCKIN' ACOUSTIC CIRCUS

The Rockin’ Acoustic Circus group with its young musicians aged 15, 16 and 17 years old closed out the concert for the night. Based in Tulsa, OK, this band calls itself "Newgrass." It sounded pretty much like bluegrass to me except for the “bluegrass cellist.” We were told the musicians were "classically trained." They and the vocalists were good and the cello sounded right at home there in the midst of the bluegrass!

AND ALSO

Food was also available and will be as the series continues. Guests can choose a rib-eye, pork chop or smoked brisket plate with trimmings for $9. Wine, beer, soda, iced tea and water are available. But be careful of those little round tables, they're rickety! Go for the long skinny tables instead.

Here's a link to the upcoming music gigs at the museum:
http://www.pioneermuseum.net/roots-music.htm

2010-05-09T11:32:00.004-05:00

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOM

Just Like Mom

Just like mom, I raised my children to be good citizens instead of the dreaded “little hellions” she sometimes feared hers would become. Like her, I disciplined, directed, corrected and trained them. I gave it my all. Just ask them, they’ll tell you!

After I married, Mom respected the adult I had become and no longer corrected me. She treated me like a valued close friend and her input was supportive. She never meddled. She was a wise woman who set a good example. Now that my children are married, I hope to continue to be just like my mom!

Published Mother's Day, May 9, 2010 in the San Antonio Express News Life Section.

2008-03-11T14:48:00.006-05:00

Are You Left Brained or Right Brained?

I often feel I alternate between two different mindsets: Sometimes I go with the flow and other times I stick to the tried and true like glue; I love order but I have a hard time maintaining it; I can do quality control on a huge project, strictly enforcing all the known rules but when the project is running out of time, I can throw all that to the winds and just wing it.

I once saw myself in my mind's eye actually wearing two hats. Somebody said to me, "You can't do that!" and I said "Watch me!" I felt like the picture was from God, smiling and saying, "Don't worry, I made you like that! I like you like that!"

The test below confirms what I suspected. There's a link at the bottom if you want to take the test yourself. If you do, I invite you to share what you learn in the comments section.

Oh! By the way, when you go to the link, you can skip that big Q at the top - it takes you to a link elsewhere. Start with the test right after the Q.

You Are 45% Left Brained, 55% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.

Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.

If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.

Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.

Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.

If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.

Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

2008-02-25T18:13:00.000-06:00

2007-10-01T18:05:00.000-05:00

SUMMER'S END IN SCENIC VALLEY

TODAY'S MORNING WALK

2007-09-13T10:03:00.001-05:00

Blue Heron
Originally uploaded by jgrantmac

DEER SIGHTING

As I walked through our neighborhood and toward the woods just past the water tank, I thought I spied at least one deer and possibly
two. They held their ground long enough for me to spy antlers of at least 8 inches on the one in the lead. Around here, that is worth noting. We seldom see large racks. As I approached I saw movement behind the first two and spied two more. Four! At that point they began to fidget and dance around and then suddenly turned their four white tails and ran. No matter, they had made my day! A day in our small Hill Country valley without a deer sighting is a rare one.

GREAT BLUE HERON

From there I cut through an absent neighbor's side yard (some people only live here seasonally) to the sidewalk along the creek in hopes of sighting other wildlife. And I was not disappointed. I heard a loud sound of flapping wings before I saw him: the lone blue heron that winters here is back. He is a shy one; it is very hard to get close to him! I regretfully watch him fly away and then turn my attention elsewhere observing that fully-formed pecans are beginning to fall off the pecan trees along the creek banks. As I turn a bend I hear flapping start up for the second time. Apparently I have disturbed the blue heron yet again. There he goes! How can he be both awkward and graceful at the same time?

DOC & BIG DOG

Next I see that Doc has completed his fence for Big Dog and is now painting it. I think Big Dog is going to like this enclosure better than being on a chain. His name isn't actually Big Dog but I can't pronounce his real name, it's Hebrew for Big Dog, so I just call him Big Dog. (Huge Dog would probably be more appropriate.) Doc is a retired neurosurgeon who makes ceramics and sells them at county trade days.

ELUSIVE BIRD STANDS STILL

As I come toward the dam at the edge of our small community lake I see the heron again, standing idly on one long stalk-like leg. And he doesn't move, he doesn't fly off! Now, that's a surprise. My path takes me over the dam and around the other side of the neighborhood. When I come back he is still there. This is the only time in my two years here he hasn't fled on my approach. I wonder why that is? Maybe he has just flown all day and night to get here to his winter retreat and he's tired. Whatever the reason, I am glad of this opportunity to admire the usually elusive bird.

2007-09-07T21:35:00.000-05:00

THE STARS AT NIGHT . . .

We walked after dark tonight and for the first time in a long time, there was no rain and the sky was clear of clouds. Our path took us past our community to a dark meadow near a small creek and it was there that the stars jumped out at us. There's been so much rain here in the hill country that we haven't seen stars for a long time. I had forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful they could be on a clear, dark night! The Big Dipper was just overhead, positioned as if to pour its contents down on us. Off in the trees along the creek, two fireflies blinked off and on as clear and bright as if turning a light off and on. These were different from the ones we had earlier this year: not a cloud of them as before but their light was bigger, stronger, clearer.

On the way home I found myself singing, "The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas." Back in my grade school days every child of Texas learned that song. I found myself wanting to know more about the song. If you do, too, read on (lyrics are at the end):

RECORDED BY PERRY COMO & BING CROSBY

This 1941 song features lyrics by June Hershey and music by Don Swander. The song was first recorded by Perry Como with Ted Weems and His Orchestra on December 9, 1941 for Decca Records. It spent five weeks at the top of Your Hit Parade in 1942.

The song was also recorded by Bing Crosby in 1949. That version reached #3 on the Billboard charts that year. Other famous artists to record the song include Ray Charles, Hank Thompson, Bob Grant, George Strait and Nickel Creek. The University of Texas Longhorn Band performs the song during each football pregame, and the Texas Christian University Horned Frog Marching Band performs an arrangement during each pregame also. Fans sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" followed by "Deep In the Heart of Texas" during the 7th inning stretch of Houston Astros baseball games.

ALSO SUNG BY TEX RITTER & GENE AUTRY

The song's title was borrowed for a 1942 western film starring Johnny Mack Brown as a man instrumental in restoring Texas to the United States following the Civil War. It featured Tex Ritter singing the title song. Gene Autry sang the song in "Heart of the Rio Grande" in 1942. His version may be the most well known.

LYRICS HERE

The stars at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas, The prairie sky is wide and high, deep in the heart of Texas. The sage in bloom is like perfume, deep in the heart of Texas, Reminds me of, the one I love, deep in the heart of Texas.

The coyotes wail, along the trail, deep in the heart of Texas, The rabbits rush, around the brush, deep in the heart of Texas. The cowboys cry, "Ki-yip-pee-yi," deep in the heart of Texas, The dogies bawl, and bawl and bawl, deep in the heart of Texas.

We didn't see any rabbits rushing but we did flush out a white-tailed deer ahead that showed his "white flag" as he scrambled ahead of us.

Photo by Ben Borkowski

2007-07-27T12:00:00.001-05:00

HILL COUNTRY SUNRISE

Photo by Jean Eastes

2007-07-14T16:17:00.000-05:00

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE . . .

with deer - they are bounding all over the place, white tails flying: bucks, does, fawns. We've seen several sets of spotted twins. Not up close. The town deer let you get up close, but we live in a rural area, a small valley with a creek and small lake that is a haven for wildlife of all kinds. More than anything else, though, we have deer. That's always been true but even more so now.

UNUSUALLY HEAVY RAINS

According to the Kerrville Daily Times, unusually heavy rains here in the Texas Hill Country have brought about a record-breaking deer population.

“Last year was about the worst that anyone can recall experiencing, and this year is about the best year anyone can recall experiencing,” said Mitch Lockwood, a wildlife biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Kerrville. “The conditions are so good that if it didn’t rain for the rest of the summer, we wouldn’t expect to see a rise in mortality among the fawns this fall.”

OVER 100 PERCENT INCREASE IN BIRTH RATE

The Daily Times continued, "The favorable weather conditions have helped keep deer populations healthy, and sparked over a 100 percent increase in birth rates; The average faun rate is between 30 and 35 percent, while estimates this year predict a birth rate between 67 and 75 percent or higher, according to Lockwood. The 2007 deer population could be the highest in living memory, which could potentially cause problems with local ecosystems."

"Deer consume a great deal of vegetation, and an over-abundance of deer could jeopardize a wide variety of plants and foliage. Lockwood said that any animals depending on those plants, including endangered species like the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, could also be at risk."

DEER POPPING UP EVERYWHERE

So we may have a problem developing. But for now, we are enjoying the deer, especially the young ones. My husband, father and I walked down a trail toward a meadow that we often see a few deer in. My Dad was visiting and wanted to see some deer. It was almost twilight, when they typically feed, but we didn't see any deer in the meadow. I thought he was going to be disappointed. The weeds, wildflowers and grasses on both sides of the path were extremely dense and at times shoulder high. Before we started out, I had no idea they were that tall or thick. As we walked, deer started popping up out of the vegetation, showing their tails like white flags to us and heading for the surrounding woods. As we continued toward the meadow, the activity all around us was unbelievable. It was a short walk, but all in all we estimate that we saw at least 25 deer, maybe more.

What a wonderful surprise!

2007-06-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

FIREFLIES IN THE NIGHT

Last night D.H. (Dear Husband) and I sat on our back porch and watched the water in our small lake ripple as the fireflies came out. We then noticed the silhouettes of three deer in the moonlight munching grass in a neighbor's backyard. I sighed deeply several times and silently gave thanks to God once again for moving us to this beautiful small rural valley.

In the Cool of the Evening

Something of the joy I experienced in my youth returned to me. Back then there was much porch-sitting in the cool of the evening. My grandmother was usually shelling peas or cracking pecans. The rest of us sat quietly, talking little, just enjoying being together and watching nature's unfolding beauty as the sky turned various shades of dark. The best part was when the fireflies would appear and randomly light up, as if by magic. They were so plentiful back then, we kids would run around catching them and filling Mason jars.

They Seemed Extinct

Fast forward several years and they seemed to have disappeared. D.H. and I often talked about why we didn't see them anymore. They seemed to have become extinct, at least in our part of the world. He blamed fire ants. After hearing about someone buying ladybugs online, I thought about searching the Internet to see if they were available for sale anywhere. But I never did, and now I don't have to.

Twinkling on a Dark Hill

Twice lately we have walked to the back of our community at dark, flashlight in hand. There, where the cultivated property ends at a creek on one side and a ranch on the other, hundreds of fireflies on the dark hill beyond stand out against dark cedar and live oaks, twinkling like tiny Christmas lights, randomly blinking.

D.H. just read an article in the newspaper that in another part of the world - and only in that one place - there are fireflies that blink all at the same time. Everywhere else they blink randomly: here one and there another, all darting around leaving a light trail behind.

I've always liked watching lush darkness fall upon the waiting world but, without the fireflies of my youth, the joy hasn't been there ... until now. Sigh. Thank you, Lord!

Photo by Christine Wainwright

2007-05-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

SCENIC 390 & BURTON, TX

We didn't plan on taking Scenic 390 but it was the closest way back to 290 after we missed it along our northwesterly path through the backroads from Conroe to the Texas Hill Country.

Detouring Through Burton

Our misadventure apparently started in Brenham but we didn't realize our mistake until we were well on our way to North Texas on 36 North. That's how we lucked into the happy experience of detouring through Burton via 390.

No Disappointment: Picture This

I am always interested in scenic drives and, I must add, often disappointed. But not this time! Scenic 390 was the first road in the state to get the designation of "Scenic" and it is well deserved for many reasons. Picture this: old oaks everywhere, tall and wide, sprawling over the countryside, picket fences along both sides of the road, fields of mixed wildflowers with bluebonnets giving the open spaces a blue cast, plentiful overflowing stock tanks, sleek horses, fat cattle of many different denominations, beautiful homes and farms with names. All this and more: most of the road hugs a ridge that affords a grand view of hilly terrain to the north.

Lovely Little Town

When we got to Burton signs were out announcing their 18th annual Cotton Gin Festival. It was a lovely little town with beautiful well-maintained "antique" homes and buildings. I don't remember seeing another small town that was as attractive and inviting as this one. I really wanted to stay but D.H. had already indulged me in a lengthy stop at the VF Mall in Hempstead, so I knew there was "no way."

Upcoming Events

But there's always next year! If this article has piqued your interest, the 19th Annual Cotton Gin Festival will be April 18-20, 2008. And if you can't wait until then, there's the Barn Dance and Gala Dinner October 20 of this year. For more details and extensive information on the cotton gin, click here.

1st photo by bennypix
2nd photo by Bob.Rosenberg

2007-05-02T10:33:00.000-05:00

MONSTERS ABOVE AND BELOW

A few nights ago our TV viewing was interrupted by a weather alert stating that a tornado was sighted 20 miles from us and travelling in our direction. We were watching a show that I normally like but I felt drawn outside.

Ominous Sky

The sky to the northwest was dark and ominous looking but nothing was going on except the hint of a sunset breaking through. I decided to go for a walk because chasing sunsets has become one of my favorite things to do. Before moving to the Texas Hill Country I didn't pay much attention to what was going on in the sky, either good or bad. All I did about storms was prepare for and endure them. Back then I lived in a tall forest rooted in flatland and the sky wasn't accessible like it is here. Maybe that's the difference. I didn't know then all the interesting things that could be seen up above.

Watching for Funnels

I didn't get very far before strong winds came up and drove me back. Still, I stayed on the front porch and watched the approaching storm, with an eye on the clouds, looking for funnels. Strangely, I wasn't afraid. Inside I had an assurance that this particular storm wasn't going to harm us. I didn't see any tornadoes but a friend did. The people in her home all left and went someplace safer. We were all blessed that none touched down.

Lake Clearer Than Usual

The morning after the storm the sky was overcast. As I started out for my walk I realized there was a slight drizzle and it was coming at a slant, right on my face. So I went back and put on rain gear. Not a good day for a walk you are probably thinking. Ah, but you are wrong. I saw things that day I have never seen before although I walk every day, twice when the weather is good.

When I came to the dam I stood and looked into the lake and noticed that, while it is always clear, it was clearer than usual. I would have expected on a dark day after a storm the waters would have been churned up and darker. But the opposite was true.

It Seems Nothing is There

At first when you look into the water, it seems nothing is there but I have learned that if I keep looking, my perspective will change and suddenly I see beneath the surface. Almost every day I do this, both coming and going over the dam. So that's a lot of looking into this same spot.

I'm on the shallow end looking down at the green vegetation in the bottom when suddenly it parts and a monster turtle rises to the surface. It is the size of a huge Thanksgiving platter. Just as I am adjusting to this new thing, the submerged plants part and another monster turtle floats to the top. This is repeated a third time. Wow! I never had a clue those things were down there. I've seen lots of turtles around but none this size. This is a small lake for something that big to be here. (Actually, my uncle's stock tank is bigger but that's another story.)

Everything Out and About

And speaking of big. Three giant carp (five feet? six feet?) glide by the turtles. Then just to add to the show, numerous bass and perch of all sizes swarm around in those normally placid waters. It seemed the storm had caused everything to be out and about at the same time.

When I go by that spot now I stay a little longer than usual, knowing what's there and hoping for another show. So far, nothing!

Photo by Chris Cowan

2007-04-25T13:03:00.000-05:00

AFFECTIONATE PAIRS

Previously - down the page a bit - I bid goodbye to our swans, thinking they would do as they usually do: head north in early April. But it turns out that I don't know much about "swanology." All seven swans recently reappeared and are still here.

After the young ones matured, they paired off and left, seemingly to nest in a more secluded area. But apparently the heavy rains we had washed away their nests and they came back to their home waters to enjoy the delicacies in the waters here. One of their favorite things is the corn our residents liberally provide them with. I've heard it said that if we feed them maybe they won't leave. I'd love it if they stayed but I think they will heed the "call of the wild" and head further north when it gets warmer here. So far we have had an unusually wet and cool spring.

Since I've already posted many photos of the "Magnificent Seven," this time I will provide something different. When the family returned, I noticed those that had mates doing something I can only call "necking." Maybe that's not what it's called but it does seem to be an exchange of affection among the pairs. See for yourself!

2007-04-11T16:25:00.000-05:00

WILLOW CITY LOOP - 2007
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

2007-03-28T10:20:00.001-05:00

ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BLUEBONNET SEARCH

It's traditional on my birthday that we take a little trip and look for bluebonnets. We have countless photos of our children - and us - sitting in fields of bluebonnets. Now that it's just us, we skipped that part.

When we lived in The Megalopolis (Houston), there were always bluebonnets to be found on my birthday. Hubby usually spotted the first ones along T.C. Jester Boulevard while going to work. Then our annual trip would involve going to Chapel Hill through Hempstead so we could see fields of blue.

This year we live in the Texas Hill Country and we had to put forth more effort for less reward. Our only sighting was at a picnic area near Canyon Lake. It was a small patch but it was beautiful and I was glad for it. I picked one. Just one!

The THC is known for wildflowers - Lady Bird Johnson saw to that - but they are late this year. Last year we didn't have any and there was some talk that the continuing drought might have lasting effects. But experts say this will be a good year, there're just a little late.

Whew! I'm glad for that. I've seen gorgeous fields of them in Navarro and Ellis Counties on past birthdays, as well as Harris and surrounding counties. But my favorite viewing area is the Willow Loop, just north of Fredricksburg. It's spectacular. I'm looking forward to driving through there in another week or two.

Wherever you are driving this Spring, enjoy the view!

Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmmtx76

Originally uploaded by tmmtx76.

2007-03-13T11:59:00.001-05:00

DROP-IN GUESTS DEPART

Yesterday I heard the beating of large wings and a unique noise I can only call a shrieking murmur. The noise was somewhat familiar. I rushed to the open patio doors just in time to see lift-off and the beautiful ascent of our two sometime-resident swans. This was the second of two short visits since they left with the Magnificent Seven (See October Archives).

Never before have they maintained the loud volume of noise for this long. After all, these are Mute Swans! I can't help but wonder if they were saying good-by and heading north now that warm weather is here.

See you again next year (I hope)!

Photo: Nature's own Concorde by Elvis Payne

2007-03-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

FIVE "FIRST FISH" & MORE

2007-02-02T10:19:00.000-06:00

LONELY LAKE

Twice now I have looked out at the lake and seen only ripples from the wind. The parade of regal graceful swans has ended. The absence of seven large white swans has created an unfillable void. After their leave-taking, I did take pleasure in the antics of the 35-50 wild diving ducks. But this morning marks the second time they, too, have flown off.

Oh, I think some ducks will come back. There are usually some here throughout the winter. And I have spied two of the swans from afar in a lake half a mile from here. It's not quite like having them in your own backyard, but it does bring some satisfaction, knowing they are alive and well.

SAD LADY

For a couple of weeks before they left, I watched them pair off: two here, two there, and another two yonder. And then the sad leftover swan (seven divided by two leaves an obvious and sad one). This "odd" swan had once been a member of the family but was now an outcast. The Boss, the daddy swan, chased her (or him?) away every time she came near. The babies were now grown and this process of pairing off was expected, since swans mate for life. My husband and I debated whether the leftover outcast was a male or female. He thought male but I reasoned it must be a girl because a male would have been more combative with The Boss and would probably have taken off to find his own mate.

MATING SEASON

Their going wasn't totally unexpected. Last year the few that were here left around the end of January, despite the sometime twice daily feedings of corn by several residents. Yesterday I spied one pair in a more remote lake half a mile from here. Obviously, they wanted their privacy through the mating season. Last year, one pair nested there, where it was safer, and in April were seen leaving with five babies, accounting for the magnificent seven that returned here September 1.

NEXT YEAR?

There are now seven that consider our backyard their home lake. I wonder how many will return next year?

2007-01-18T21:35:00.000-06:00

NO ICE -- NO SWANS

This afternoon we were able to go outside and walk for the first time in days. No more slippery icy conditions, no more fierce freezing wind, and no more beautiful snow! The snow I miss. Both the fluffy falling of it (that was really beautiful!) and the white shiny banket that covered the barren landscape.

Where are they?

Because we back up to the lake and also have large sliding glass doors, we have had an excellent view through the seige of bad weather. Yesterday I was treated to a flyby of the seven swans that have lived here since Thanksgiving. They hovered just above the water. You wouldn't believe the clatter as 14 large wings beat the air together. Often they also drag their webbed feet in the water, sprayng multiple plumes skyward as they fly. Today I was anxious because I hadn't seen them.

My husband noticed, too, that we hadn't seen the swans. As large as they are and there being seven of them, they are hard to miss! So the first thing we did after bundling up for the walk was look for the swans. Although the lake is just a small private one, we don't have full view of it from any one spot. So as we walked we kept craning our necks, hoping to get a glimpse of a large spash of white, preferably several large splashes of white. Well, it never happened!

FUR NOT FEATHERS

I thought maybe the swans got tired of the cold weather and headed someplace warm. But if that were true, why didn't they leave earlier? Why wait until the thaw? The lake seems empty and lifeless without them. Well, almost. There are the lesser creatures: 30 or so diving ducks, 4 mallards, and 2 domestic ducks. And just a little while ago I saw something that was uncommon. Instead of feathers, it had fur. Was it a beaver? I'm not sure but definitely something like that. However, there is nothing to compare with seven swans swimming by like royalty on parade.

Sigh....I hope they come back.

ROBIN IN THE SNOW

2007-01-17T10:56:00.000-06:00

Doesn't he look cold!

IT'S SNOWING!

This is our second winter in the Texas Hill Country and, to our delight, it is snowing. Not just fluffy flakes but big beautiful globs of snow are coming down. As I looked out the glass patio doors toward the small lake there, I noticed a robin perched amid the snow in the large live oak there. A robin in the snow! I knew it was a robin because of it's red breast. And also because I saw a whole flock of them when I was walking a couple of weeks ago. I did some research and learned that their love for the berries of our ash junipers brings them here in the winter. That, and because it is usually warmer here than up north where they came from.

I-10 IS CLOSED

The temperature has been hovering around 20. On the news I hear that I 10 is closed from Bourne, about 30 miles east of her, to an unnamed distance west. I actually thought I heard them say to CA but that seems a bit hard to believe.

We've had no reason to get out. Thank God! No mail delivery today or yesterday and we didn't get our newspaper.

SEVEN SWANS ARE STILL ASWIMMING

The seven swans are still aswimming in the lake and came up hoping we would throw them some corn. Raymond did but reported it was slippery to do so. I ventured out the back porch to take some photos and into the carport to look at the streets better but that is all.

DIVING DUCKS AND OTHERS

There look to be about 35 of the diving ducks that only come in the winter swimming back and forth in the lake. And I saw the 4 male mallards that live here year round. Raymond said he saw the two domestic ducks: Blackie and Whitie, he calls them. I like to call them Rae and X-Ray because they are opposites in their coloring.

That's my report on happenings in the frosty Texas Hill Country today.

Photo by richardrichard -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardrichard

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2007-01-09T22:36:00.000-06:00

ROBINS IN WINTER?

It's Winter on the Edwards Plateau where I live. The night-time low is often in the 20's so imagine my surprise when I came across a large flock of robins in a grove of trees near my home.

"Robins!" My eyes said. "Impossible," my mind said back - "it's not spring. Everyone knows you see robins in the Spring." But the distinctive red breast of the robin was obvious.

I checked the Texas Parks and Wildlife brochure by Mark W. Lockwood entitled Birds of the Edwards Plateau, A Field Checklist, and found on page 11 that American Robins are found in abundant numbers during the months of January, February, and March on the Edwards Plateau. So, my eyes had not deceived me!

Shortly after, Bill Lindermann, who writes a column in our local paper called Hill Country Birding, had a long article about the phenomena. It seems the birds love the berries that we normally have in abundance. And though it may seem cold to me, the robins find it much warmer than in northern climes.

Photo by Lucina M

FIREWORKS OVER WATER

2006-12-31T15:14:00.000-06:00

Fireworks
Originally uploaded by Michael R. Ross.

If we shot fireworks over our lake, they would look like this. But it's too dry here in the Texas Hill County for that . . . also we wouldn't want to scare away our near neighbors, the swans, ducks and geese. They give us too much pleasure.

So I'm settling for a digital display.

May you have a blessed and happy new year!

Angels in the Fire

2006-12-15T22:18:00.000-06:00

Christmas 2005 180mini Originally uploaded by Hello Hillary.

Some people see angels in the fire in this photo. What do you see? Do you believe in angels? Not the kind that dance in the fire but the kind that are messengers of God?

More important, what do you believe about the Christ child whose birth we celebrate on Christmas day?

And in the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary...Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. Luke 1:26

Photo by Hello Hillary

2006-12-09T13:48:00.000-06:00

TOWN DEER

I've featured several of the deer that populate the rural small valley in the Texas Hill Country where I live in the past, but the deer in this segment are different: they may be cousins to our wild deer here but they live in town and are more domesticated. Not totally, but they do like to hang out in the large yards of the people there and they definitely enjoy the handouts. These photos were taken in the yard of our friends Margaret and Clare.

| View Show | Create Your Own

2006-11-30T22:53:00.000-06:00

GRANDBOYS GALORE

We finally got all six grandboys together. (We have no grandgirls.) This was their first cousins' reunion!* Their ages are 6, 4, 4, 1, 2 and 2-1/2.

They fished, fed the swans, got close to some deer, and fished again. Another favorite thing to do was to throw whatever they could find into the water: acorns, stones, pecans. The stones kept getting bigger and bigger - because, of course, the bigger the stone, the bigger the splash! We had to draw the line at boulders.

*I wasn't sure "reunion" was the proper term since this isn't a re-union but a first event. Dictionary.com seems to approve of this usage, not as its first offering but its third:

3.	a gathering of relatives, friends, or associates at regular intervals or after separation: a family reunion.

2006-11-08T14:00:00.000-06:00

MORE FOLIAGE COLOR

These photos were taken near my home in rural Kerr County, Texas.

Create Your Own!

2006-11-04T21:58:00.000-06:00

FALL COLORS IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

Create Your Own!
Lost Maples photos by IngaMun flickrCC

2006-10-30T09:46:00.000-06:00

DOMESTIC DUCK DUO

These are the two domestic ducks that reside in the lake behind our house. I call them Salt and Pepper or Rae and X-Ray. They occasionally fly above the lake for a short distance but I have never known them to leave the lake. For some reason I think of Rae as being the female of the couple. I can't really explain why - just something in her manner. You never see these two apart.

2006-10-16T12:41:00.000-05:00

LADY M UPDATE

Previously (August 9) I had expressed delight in the nest Lady M had made behind a bush in front of my house. She deposited 5 eggs there and several of us in the neighborhood dared to anticipate ducklings. Others dissed Lady M saying last year she had failed in her maternal duties.

NAUGHTY LADY?

Well, the nay-sayers were right! And I'm giving serious to changing her name to Naughty Lady. The truth is that she did not like being separated from her four male mates. She was diligent to make the nest and deposit the eggs there and I think she really intended to follow through with them. For several days the male mallards hung around the house, giving her moral support while she was doing her duty. Once I even found her companions asleep in the middle of the nearby road and tried unsuccessfully to urge them our of danger back to the grass.

DISHARMONY AMONG DUCKS

Then came the day my husband heard her screeching, squawking and carrying on. This was all directed at her male companions who had deserted her and gone for a swim in the lake. Contritely, they started toward her. She then thumbed her nose (beak) at them and flew petutantly away. That was the end of the lonesome duty of nest setting. The whole bunch of them not only abandoned the nest but this whole end of the lake for some time.

SAD ENDING

A sad ending to our hopes and dreams of fuzzy little Mallard ducklings to repopulate our lake! I'm not sure I dare to hope that next year will be any better...Well, maybe she is entitled to three tries before being ruled "out."

Top Photo by hddod @flickr CC

2006-10-10T13:32:00.000-05:00

Create Your Own!

2006-10-01T13:31:00.001-05:00

SEVEN SWANS ASWIMMING

I thought about calling this article The Magnificent Seven...but since I've already headlined the return of the swans...and given them another headline when the early arrival of three turned into six...what do I do now that there are seven?

MISPLACED EXCITEMENT?

At this point I need to tell you that the second time (or was it the third or fourth?) that I excitedly told my oldest son that we had swans in our backyard, he said, "Mom, you already told me about the swans."

DADDY SWAN APPEARS

So, I decided not to headline the fact that the daddy swan has now joined his mate and five offspring in our backyard. Photos? Yes. A screaming headline? No. I chose to start out with something light such as Bird Business. But after looking at that a while, it seemed ho-hum lame, so I moved on to the current headline, with apologies to my son. (And then snuck in this subhead about the Daddy's arrival.)

SWAN FANS UNDERSTAND, RIGHT?

Still, I'll bet all you swan fans would think it incredible to have SEVEN swans as neighbors; you don't think I'm overreacting, do you?

2006-09-26T12:08:00.000-05:00

KERRVILLE SCHREINER PARK

Kerrville Schreiner Park is a 513-acre recreation area and camping park adjacent to the Guadalupe River and across from Flat Rock Lake in Kerr County, Texas.

It began as a city park built by the CCC in the 1930s and was then deeded to the State of Texas and became one of the Texas State Parks. For the last three years it has again belonged to the city of Kerrville, which has done extensive improvements and upgrades.

HEADQUATERS LOCATION AND TIMES

The park is located on State Highway 173, also known as the Bandera Highway. SH 173 can be reached from SH 16 or Loop 534. Coming from Kerrville, park headquarters is on the left. It is open 7 days a week year-round; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The main gate is open from 8 a.m. to10 p.m.The busy season is described as being March through Thanksgiving.

ALONG THE RIVERBANK

We tried three times on three different days before it was convenient for park personnel to allow us a 15-minute “drivethrough.” We were not allowed to drive through the larger part of the park so we saw only a small portion of the camping area available. I was very impressed with the limestone “fishing terrace” along the riverbank. A shaded picnic area with tables is adjacent.

Nearby various kinds of floats, kayaks and canoes can be rented. The playgrounds near this area have been upgraded to what I can only call "elaborate."

TWO SECTIONS TO THE PARK

There are now 23 new air-conditioned park cabins, with six alongside the river. The remaining cabins are across 173 from park headquarters. Entry into that part of the park is through a gate that requires a code that comes with registration. That section of the park is the larger section, containing hiking and biking trails. Although a foot and bike trail is available across 173, many people will prefer to drive to the river.

TYPICAL HILL COUNTRY

Park elevation is 1645 ft. Landscape is typical Hill Country with acres of juniper, live oak, and Spanish oak on the hills and arroyos. Other plants include redbud, sumac, buckeye, pecan, mesquite, and several varieties of flowers. White-tailed deer abound. Also present are: squirrels, armadillos, turkeys, jackrabbits, mallard ducks, and several species of birds. Fish include crappie, perch, catfish, and bass.

Available activities include boating, fishing, camping, picnicking, unsupervised swimming in the river, bird watching, hiking, walking, and cycling.

July average temperature high is 94 degrees. January average low is 34 degrees. Humidity year-round is low with September the wettest month. First freeze can be as early as November 7; last freeze, April 5.

AVAILABLE FACILITIES

Facilities include restrooms with hot showers; day use picnic sites; campsites with water nearby; campsites with water and 50/30 amp electrical hookups and sewer connections and shade shelters (pull-through); campsites with water and 30 amp electrical hookups (back-in and pull-through); campsites with water, 30 amp electrical hookups and sewer (pull-through).

Also available are: a large group facility, a laundromat, concrete boat ramp, 8 miles of hiking trails, 6 miles of mountain bike beginner/intermediate trails, a lighted fishing pier, two age-graded playgrounds, and a convenience store within .5 miles of the park entrance.

RESERVATIONS & TRAIL MAP

Reservations can be made by calling park headquarters at 830.257.5392. A map of the park and trails is available by clicking here.

2006-09-19T17:17:00.000-05:00

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL HILL COUNTRY SKY

Right off, I admit I did not take this photo, someone else did! I had a choice to make: either run into the house and get my camera or live in the moment. I chose to enjoy what was happening all around me as the sun set and, in the afterglow, the sky turned first peachy-colored, then darkened to near-purple. On top of that, there was a rainbow right at the end of my street, to the east.

Betty, I'm really sorry you didn't get to see this Sunday night because I know you miss the sunsets you enjoyed in the Panhandle. And it may make you feel worse when I tell you I rang your doorbell! I didn't hang around banging on the door because I knew the window of glory would only last another few minutes. Please forgive me.

Sure enough, everything changed within 5 minutes as darkness fell on our little valley.

Oh! I forgot to tell you about the progression. First the horizon turned a peachy color, then the piled-up clouds changed, and then our lake reflected the color of the clouds. It was as if the whole world turned the same shade. But only for a few minutes. I'm sure there will be another beautiful sunset but it will be a long time before we have a sunset plus the lake plus the rainbow- all complementing each other in such a glorious combination.

Photo by Marada

2006-09-16T12:25:00.001-05:00

FIREWORKS IN THE SKY

Last night Sarah and I walked at twilight. First we checked out the northwest side of the creek, where a deer herd feeds. Then we walked over the dam and inventoried the resident birds of our lake. Our walks are never complete until we locate and count each one. Six swans? Check! Two domestic ducks? Check! Five mallards? Where? There!

We ended our walk on her deck, contemplating the star-laden sky. Sarah says she never fails to see a shooting star. She's good at spotting them and usually sees some that I don't. But not this night! I stretched out, face up and counted five. Wow! And the last one? Unbelievable. It was wide and long and burst into orange-red flames just as it came to the horizon. I've never seen anything like it! It was a beautiful evening. Sarah's deck makes an excellent star-gazing platform.

Photo by J P Stanley @flickrCC

2006-09-14T21:34:00.000-05:00

WAXAHACHIE & CHISHOLM GRILL WORTH THE EFFORT

We were traveling on I-35 to North Texas and it was lunch time. Although it is getting harder and harder to find a unique restaurant with"down-home" cooking, that's what I wanted. So we passed all the chain restaurants and fast food joints on the exit to Waxahachie and headed toward what we hoped was downtown to see what we could find.

After circling the downtown square twice, we parked the car in order to better check out two or three possibilities. One place we thought was a family-friendly cafe turned out to be a gift shop with only a snack bar. My husband started to turn right toward what he thought was a hotel coffee shop, then stopped when we saw a big neon sign above that read "Bar." To the left I saw contented-looking people coming from a green building so we headed that way and were really glad we did.

OUTSTANDING FOOD & SERVICE

There were 3 adults and one child in our group. Each of us grown-ups ordered different menu items. I was delighted to see "Mom's Meatloaf" on the menu. Husband, of course, ordered his usual chicken-fried steak. Daughter went for "Grilled Jack Daniel's 6 oz Pork Chop." Her choice cost $6.99; ours were $5.99. Each of these came with mashed potatoes and one choice off the long list of side dishes. Our waitress was very helpful and courteous. Our food came without a long wait and was appropriately hot or cold. After a few bites, we competed among ourselves claiming that each of us had the best meal. It was outstanding. Really outstanding. The potatoes were REAL. I make a point of that because I have eaten at places that claim to serve "fresh fruits and vegetables" and one bite tells me the potatoes are instant.

At the end of our meal, I noticed they were offering "lunch size" slices of homemade pie for $2.00 and asked for chocolate pie. I staggered at the size of the piece brought to me and asked the waitress what happened to the "lunch size." She smiled and said, "Oh, we always serve our regular size pie at lunch." It was as good as my mama used to make and she is famous (in our family!) for her biscuits and her chocolate pie.

I can't say enough good things about Chisolm's. The decor is eclectic, interesting and attractive. Then, there's that one-of-a-kind beautiful courthouse right across the street. Definitely a detour worth making!

CHISOLM'S VOTED THE BEST

Chisolm's was voted "Best Steak in Waxahachie" and "Best Lunch Under $6.00" by the Waxahachie Daily Light Newspaper. Hours of operation, a menu, and other information can be found by clicking here.

ELLIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Another really good thing about Chisolm's is that it is across from the Ellis County Courthouse, which by its ownself is worth the effort of leaving the interstate.

Someone made the comment that it looked like something from a movie. How right they were! Several movies, actually. Waxahachie claims to be the most photographed motion picture setting in Texas. The movie business discovered Waxahachie in 1967, when Bonnie and Clyde came to town. The historic courthouse and surrounding square has been the background for many movies, television programs and commercials. My favorite is Places in the Heart.

The courthouse, built in 1895, is the best known of Texas county courthouses, possessing ornate trim with carved ornamentation by Italian artisans, circular towers, graceful archways, and polished pink granite that complements red sandstone. The clock uses a windup mechanism that weighs 250 pounds and the bell-striker weighs more than 800 pounds. The courthouse stands nine stories tall and contains 23,739 square feet. The structure still retains its original copper gutters and down spouts. Inside, the walls are plaster on brick and are 20 inches thick. The floors are 8 inches thick and the ceilings are 9½ feet tall.

WAXAHACHIE, THE COUNTY SEAT

Waxahachie, the county seat of Ellis County, is on Interstate Highway 35E and U.S. Highway 287, thirty miles south of Dallas. Its name comes from an Indian word meaning "cow" or "buffalo" and is also the name of a local creek. Population is 21,426

Because of the Victorian embellishments on many buildings, Waxahachie is known as "Gingerbread City" and sponsors an annual Gingerbread Tour of Homes. Five historic districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo by Full Circle @flickrCC

2006-09-06T22:07:00.000-05:00

MORE SWANS, More Swans, More...

If you just can't get enough, click here for a slideshow of even more swans.

2006-09-04T18:51:00.000-05:00

SWANS RETURN!!

When we moved into our Hill Country home last January, there were four swans that greeted us. Literally. The first time we walked out to the small private lake behind our house, the male rose up, feet trailing, creating two large plumes of water as he flew toward us across the lake in that position. He made a loud trumpeting sound as he came straight at us. The female swans came behind but he was the spectacular one. I chose to take it as a greeting but others have told me he meant it more as a threat. But it was just too beautiful a sight to be threatening.

NESTED IN THE SPRING

Through the winter, they alternated between our lake and one just across the road. In the spring it was possible to see that one of the females was nesting there. The male swan stayed close to her and was very protective at that time. A friend of mine later saw the exodus of the mom swan and two babies in April. She said the male swan left in a different direction.

REMEMBERED THE "SWEET" SPOT

We really missed their graceful presence, hoped they would come back, and speculated about when that might be. Well! Friday I looked out and saw three swans land practically in my backyard. Two of them were gray and I remembered this was a sign they weren't full grown yet, even though they were almost the size of their mom. I grabbed my camera and snapped as many photos as I could before the sun went down. The first thing they did was take a lap around the old home pond in their stately, royal manner. Then they headed to the place where a neighbor often feeds corn to the ducks and swans. By that, I knew this was the same female as before and these were her two babies. Otherwise how would she have known of the "sweet" spot?

MULTIPLIED SWANS

Imagine my surprise the next morning when I looked out and there were SIX swans, five of them grey. Where did the other three come from? My husband observing how dependent they were on the mama swan decided that she must have led the first two here and returned overnight to get the other three. At first we were confused about where she could have gotten the others, since she had only been seen with two when she left. After thinking it over, it is probable she made two trips when she departed, like she did coming back. Only two babies were seen then, but there must have been more in the nest because all five of the grey teenage swans are the same size.

We are so glad they returned. Nothing else in nature is quite as graceful and beautiful as a swan.

2006-08-31T11:38:00.000-05:00

BAT-FREE SKY!

This may look like a photo of nothing to you but to me it looks like relief. The bats are gone! When they first came I enjoyed the novelty of their presence. But then more came, and still more. They especially liked to congregate on a hilltop across from my home, where I usually begin my walk.

COLLISION COURSE

One morning a few days ago I started to walk in my usual direction and then just stopped and turned around. Not only was the sky full of bats but they were repeatedly swooping down low over the pavement where I was headed and I saw no way I could avoid being hit by the swoopers. At this point you may want to tell me that their built-in radar would have prevented such a close physical encounter. Yeah, I know. That is I know with my head, but my heart wasn't convinced. Nor my eyes. They told me that the sky was full of bats blocking my path and I was on a collision course with them.

I had read in the San Antonio Express News that this bat invasion was primarily young bats not likely to have rabies. I'm sure that's true (again, with my head). But the rest of me did not want to chance a personal physical encounter with the creepy creatures (or several of them!) even if they were in good health. Enough said!

BLESSED RELIEF

So please, rejoice with me that I'm now enjoying the blessedness of a bat-free sky and a bat-free walk over my usual turf. And did I mention it was also a nice cool morning with a temp of 65 here in our small rural valley in the Hill Country? Ahhhh! Relief!

2006-08-27T15:21:00.001-05:00

PERSIMMONS FOR BREAKFAST?

A neighbor and I exchanged greetings this morning and then we talked about his persimmon tree. I had noticed the tree before, with its nice crop of round fruit, and wondered what it was and why it was prospering in our long drought. My neighbor, Jim, told me it is doing well because he waters it so it will continue to produce fruit. Since it was breakfast time and he appeared to be harvesting some of them, I asked if he puts them on cereal. He said no, he eats them plain - out of hand.

I've always thought that persimmons were sour, but later, when I met Jim's wife, she said they aren't, and, although they are rather messy to work with, they make wonderful jams and jellies.

SIX KINDS IN TEXAS

This website on trees native to Texas lists six different kinds of persimmon trees. The photo for Texas Persimmon looked very much like the one in my neighbor's yard. Which is probably accurate, considering this statement: "It grows best in shallow, rocky limestone soils, and in the Edwards Plateau it can make heavy thickets." That's us: Edwards Plateau. Which should make a good topic for a future article. The weather is a bit milder here than the rest of Texas, with low humidity, making it a wonderful place to live. And the terrain is what I would call "hilly with character."

SWEET OR SOUR?

On another site I found that "Persimmons can be classified into two general categories: those that bear astringent fruit . . and those that bear nonastringent fruits." I guess that explains why I thought persimmons were sour. It turns out that some of them are and some of them aren't! After reading that a crisp nonastringent persimmon can be eaten like an apple, I determined to try one. So I asked for a sample next time I saw Jim's wife. She helped me pick all the black ones and sent them home with me. So now, I can verify from my very own taste test that they really are tasty and sweet . . . and messy, just like she said!

2006-08-22T12:35:00.000-05:00

CREATURES IN THE SKY

There's something stirring in the evenings here that is more noticeable than the deer. That something is bats. They are swooping down and around our small community in great numbers. One hovered over me last night on my evening walk and made several investigative passes, checking me out. My husband said that to him, with his night vision, I looked like a giant ball of energy. He finally moved on, probably realizing I was too big to be dinner.

WINGED MAMMALS

Because they are so predominate right now, I decided to do some investigation of my own. My research revealed that bats aren't birds but instead are winged mammals. An article in the newspaper said that the mild winter just past left a large insect population, and that has attracted the Mexican free-tailed bats. Their favorite food is the corn earworm moth, but this summer they have millions of American snout butterflies to dine on in our area.

Mexican bats look creepy (especially when they decide to inspect you up close), but they protect South Texas crops from insects and their guano makes good fertilizer.

SEASONAL MIGRATION

Now is the beginning of the seasonal migration of Mexican free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave, which is about 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. The cave is home to the world'’s largest bat colony, estimated at between 20 and 40 million bats. The bats start leaving Bracken Cave in early August, and then usually wander the area before beginning their southward migration in October.

2006-08-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

FIERCE ENCOUNTER ON HILLTOP

WILDLIFE NEAR MY HOME

Many of my wildlife sightings here in the Hill Country have taken place on a hill near my home that has a thick cedar forest just to the right of a turn in the road. The favorite gathering place for the local deer herd is a feeding station there. It’s rare for me not to have a “deer” experience when I climb that hill, regardless of the time of day. I’ve written about the hungry deer several times and also shared my delight in observing the playful antics of two foxes. I’m still learning how to differentiate the many bird species there. And often from that height I can spot the mallards and domestic ducks that live in our small private lake in the small valley down below.

SURPRISED BY A GREAT HORNED OWL

One morning recently I was thinking that there couldn’t be anything new to discover at that spot when I was greatly surprised by the flyby of what could only be a Great Horned Owl, since it is the only large owl with ear tufts. I’ve never seen one in flight before or up close. Just as I was wondering if I had imagined him, he soared by again, circling me. I was delighted and a little bit scared as he was large, powerful and fierce looking, with his ear tufts that looked like horns and his bright yellow eyes fixed on me. Surely he wasn’t considering me for breakfast, was he?

GREAT HORNED FACTS

My new companion had dramatic coloring with well-defined markings. He was rusty brown, light gold and brown, with a white throat patch, with cross-barred under parts and dark bars on his extended tail. His wingspan looked to be between 4-1/2 to 5 feet and I would say he was about 3 feet in length.

After he had a good look at me and I at him, he disappeared in the thicket and I came home and did some research to verify what I saw and learn more about him. My research revealed that this must be a mature specimen because, although the young are similar in coloration to the adults, their barring and dark markings are not as crisp and defined and the ear tufts are smaller or not apparent.

I regret that I did not get to hear its call, which I understand is a distinctive “hoot” and is a way to distinguish males from females. The males usually give four to five hoots while females give six to eight hoots in a lower pitch. I also learned that the Great Horned Owl is very adaptable and inhabits every type of terrain in North America from sea level to 11,000-ft. elevation. A preferred habitat would include mature woods that offer maximum roosting concealment and water near open habitats for hunting.

NEW FEAR FOR RESIDENT WILDLIFE

After reading about how great the Great Horned Owl’s predator skills are, I was worried about the safety of the small animals that I have come to enjoy in and around our small private lake. When I spied the foxes a few weeks ago, my first thought was that they were a threat to the few ducks that reside here. Now I was worried about the foxes, as well as the ducks and the lone Great Blue Heron in the next article down. This owl is known as an opportunistic forager that often chooses a high perch to scan for prey, although it will glide over areas where prey is likely to be, it will walk on the ground, and it has even been reported to wade into the water. Scarcely anything that moves is safe from this fierce predator. It will eat prey as small as insects and scorpions or as large as domestic cats, woodchucks, geese, and Great Blue Herons. It has no predators (a very unusual thing in nature!) and will eat anything from crayfish to young foxes.

1st photo by Brian Scott @flickrCC
2nd photo by Kevin Day @flickrCC

2006-08-11T10:48:00.000-05:00

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

If you look in the lower middle of this photo, slightly to the left, you will see a Great Blue Heron. It's often seen in the small creekbed just past the lake dam near where we live. I've seen it many times but this is the first photo I've gotten. As I made my way forward to get a better, bigger image of the bird, it rose up on huge wings and took flight. Apparently it isn't very sociable! It's a very solitary bird, always just the one, although I have read of huge colonies of them.

Seeing the bird in flight is a wonderful experience, as it spreads its giant wings and soars upward. Which brings up the question of how fast can he fly? Two studies have measured these birds as having a cruising speed between 23 and 29 miles per hour.

DID YOU SEE HIM?

Did you locate the Great Blue in the first photo?

Here is a cropped version showcasing the bird, with its distinctive "S" shaped neck. Again, he's on the left.

Sixty-nine percent of newborn Great Blue Herons die in their first year, although some have been known to live over 20 years.

Click here for a website with more information on Great Blue Herons.

2006-08-09T18:51:00.000-05:00

WHO'S EGGING ME NOW?

That's what I thought when I returned from my walk and found this on my driveway. Then I remembered that I don't live in Megalopolis anymore with its many challenges but in a peaceful rural community.

FIRST THE FACTS

First of all, the splattered egg had not been there when I left for my early morning walk. Of that I was positive. Second, it was obviously a very fresh egg. So I pondered other possibilities as I watered our thirsty plants and bushes.

WHERE TO START?

I considered an investigation, but where would I start? As I came to the bush on the right, next to our front door, out stepped Lady M, our resident female Mallard. She stood still for a brief while and then waddled off. It looked like the only thing I needed to investigate was the bush she had been behind. Sure enough, nestled close to its root system, I found a nest of eggs.

MYSTERY SOLVED

So why was the broken egg on my driveway? How did it get there? Here's what I think happened: Lady M was on her way to the nest to "deposit" the egg and she misjudged herself.

VISIONS OF DUCKLINGS

Since seeing the nest, I've been having visions of ducklings . . . baby Mallards!! We only have five mallards in our pond and two older domestic ducks that stay here year round. (Wild ducks and swans come in and out during the winter.) Lady M is the only hope we have for adding to our resident duck population. Is she up to the job? There's a difference of opinion among the neighbors. She herself was hatched here so she is well known. And she has her detractors. Some say she is irresponsible. But I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Several of us are pulling for her, that she's stay the course. I'll keep you updated.

2006-08-08T15:39:00.000-05:00

YES, WE HAVE ANTLERS TODAY!

Most of the bucks we see in our small valley have only buds instead of antlers, so I was impressed with this young male. He was also one of the rare ones who didn't run at my approach. At least not right away!

I came upon him at a turn in the road at the top of one of the hills I try to climb early each morning. When I first saw him I stopped and stood still for several minutes. Then I took three giant steps and stopped, stock still again. He let me do this about ten times before he literally turned tail and ran, white flag showing. At every stop I snapped photos, thinking I might not get any closer. You can see how close I got from this photo. Isn't he pretty?

2006-08-08T09:15:00.000-05:00

HUMMINGBIRDS ABOUND

We have two hummingbird feeders on the back porch. And they've been almighty busy during the spring and summer months. Usually there is one "boss" bird who monitors the feeding station and chases all others away. So it's never boring at the feeders as we watch who is "boss" today and who gets chased away. And will the tiny one with the white neck ring ever outwit his nemesis and get a swig of juice?

Hummingbird wings always seem to be whirring as if in perpetual motion. Since I never see them still, I was intrigued with this photo from Bruce Smith on his website. He captured this little hummer enjoying a break from his usual frenetic quest for nectar.

Bruce has agreed to let me use his photos on this blog when my own are not sufficient. He has a gallery of wildlife photos at http://reddog.org you might want to check out.

For more information on hummingbirds this is a great site:
http://birding.about.com/library/weekly/aa072401a.htm

2006-08-07T19:48:00.000-05:00

SARAH SAVES BAMBI

We were out for a drive to enjoy the rural countryside in Kerr County. Sarah, our friend and neighbor, was driving in her black SUV. Suddenly, we came upon a dramatic scene: on our left we saw a fawn running as if for its life. On our right two massive farm dogs of mixed breed were keeping pace with the fawn but were restrained by a sturdy fence.

OPEN GATE = DANGER

In the pasture with the dogs, someone was baling hay and the hay balers had left the gate open for easy access to the road. The fawn was safe as long as he kept going straight but for some reason he turned around and headed in the opposite direction. When he turned back, so did the dogs.

SARH'S SUV FILLS THE GAP!

Sarah immediately noticed the danger: the dogs were headed for the open gate. Once out, they could do as they pleased with the fawn, for the fence on his side of the road appeared impenetrable. He would be trapped.

Caught up in the fawn's emergency, we all called out to him, as if that would help! But Sarah did something better. Thinking quickly, she began to back the SUV up the road. At first I thought she did it just to continue to see where the fawn was going but then I realized she meant to cut the dogs off. They were right alongside of us and it was a toss up if we would get to the gate before they did. But we made it! Just in the nick of time, she backed into the gate, neatly closing the entrance so that the dogs could not get out.

HEAT EXHAUSTION?

We thought the fawn was home free but, strangely, he turned around and headed back in the direction he had come from. The dogs turned back that way too, and since they were no longer interested in the gate, Sarah pulled out and drove slowly so we could continue to watch the fawn and encourage him (not that he knew that!). Since he wasn't very old I kept wondering where his mother was. My husband remarked that as hot as it was he was likely to die of heat exhaustion if he continued to run back and forth with all his might.

When he got to a certain section of the fence he turned back. We were afraid he was headed back to the danger of the open gate but instead he quickly double backed again. He did this several times and it became obvious to us that he was looking for a way through the fence. It was a well-built fence designed to keep deer out and to us it looked like an impossible barrier to overcome. But he kept looking, as if he knew there was a place but just couldn't find it. We agonized with him and worried about the dogs and the open gate.

HOME FREE!

Then suddenly, he slipped underneath and was bounding on the other side, white tail waving. Whew! We were thrilled but exhausted from living his adventure with him.

1st photo by xtoq@fCC

2006-08-06T14:11:00.000-05:00

TODAY'S TURNS

I was too late to see our local deer herd when I walked up the nearby medium-grade hill this morning, but that doesn't mean it was a boring walk! There were many birds in the cedar thicket. I suspect they were feeding on the remants of the bread thrown out twice a day for the hungry deer by my dear neighbor, the deer man. What sounded like the cry of a wild cat disturbed them somewhat but not for long. In another post I wondered if the cat-like cry might be the red foxes I spotted earlier, though they looked more like dogs than cats.

BUTTERFLY CLOUD

On my way back down the hill I was suddenly surrounded by a large swarm of butterflies. I've seen them around a lot and have read in the local paper that they are called American Snout Butterflies. They aren't so lovely as the monarchs that surrounded me last fall in Louise Hays Park on the Guadalupe in Kerrville, but it was still quite an experience to be walking in the midst of a fluttering cloud of gold and brown butterflies.

Our region has been inundated with these tiny winged visitors in recent weeks. This unusual phenomenon is attributed by local naturalists to the drought. While a lack of rainfall is unfavorable for most species, it has created favorable conditions for snouts this summer.

The snouts are named for their flattened noses that makes them resemble a dead leaf. The mottled white underside of their wings resembles those of a moth (or a dead leaf), while the orangish gold, brown and white wing top looks more like a butterfly.

RESIDENT DEER FAMILY

In the year that I have been in this area, I have only seen two deer families, that is the male deer out with a doe or two and accompanied by fawns. One of those families lives behind our community and shares a creek with us. Several times I have seen the four family members either at the creek or in a small nearby meadow. They seem to live apart from the herd that gathers on the hilltop twice daily to be fed by my neighbor. I was blessed to see them as I finished my walk today. Just as I approached the dam to our small lake, I noticed them at the creek's edge, on alert, made skitish by my presence. I tried to stand still but soon tired of that as the sun was out and I was both hot and tired, so I went on, regretting that they turned and left without finishing their drink.

1st photo by JackRussellTerror@fCC
3rd photo by ektelonn@fCC

2006-08-03T15:40:00.000-05:00

GOOD MORNING!

This deer helped me greet the dawn a few mornings ago. I climbed up the tallest hill around (mountain-grade), hoping to get a photo of the local herd waiting for their morning rations from the dear man who feeds them day old bread and corn tortillas. Over two dozen deer were assembled but they scattered immediately upon seeing me, even though they were on the road below and I was above them. Only this young one, who was by himself up on my level, stayed around. Apparently he is more adventurous than the others. And bolder! I was able to snap several shots of him before he got bored and left, with a flick of his white tail.

2006-07-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

NEW ADVENTURES AND TURNS

We've had so many adventures and "turns in the road" lately, it's hard to know where to start. Here's a brief update on the local wildlife: there's a serious drama going on with the ducks that I will write about in another article; I haven't spotted the two red foxes that live in the cedar thicket lately; there's not much to report about the deer except that the drought continues; therefore, they are still hungry. The fawns appear to be thriving in spite of the drought and lack of good forage. So far I've seen two sets of twins.

The "deer man" was absent one day but I met his wife. First I saw bread flying down the hill. When I looked up she was on her lofty perch (porch) throwing down heels and slices of day-old bread. No corn tortillas that day! Perhaps DM had driven to San Antonio on his weekly quest to replenish his stash of emergency deer food. His wife was in her robe and I wasn't sure she wanted to be noticed but she called out a "Good Morning" to me. As the deer had fled at my approach, I apologized to her but surmised, "They'll be back." She answered with the same lament her husband had earlier voiced (except with a German accent), "They are so hungry!" He had told me earlier that she grew up in Berlin and he wasn't sure she would like country life since she was used to a big city. Apparently she has adapted and also taken on his mission of feeding the hungry deer.

BAPTISM IN THE GUADALUPE

We attended a baptism in the Guadalupe River between Kerrville and Center Point. Over 20 people professed "Jesus is my Lord" and were briefly dunked in the water. Not that many had signed up but the atmosphere was contagious and some from the crowd went forward at this opportunity to "recommit" to their Lord and to have the experience of being baptized in the river.

As the second wave came forward to be baptized, someone blew the ram's horn as each person's name was called, just before they were dunked. And another person was standing on a rock and waving a Christian flag. Why it didn't start out that way, I don't know. Maybe the two "heralds" lost their way and arrived late. As each person came up out of the water, the crowd cheered and clapped. A celebratory picnic and fellowship followed. Most of the children and some of the parents went swimming. The day was hot but the water was cool.

Three of us then went off exploring the area by car. We visited Kerrville-Shcreiner Park, Singing Wind Park, Comfort and places beyond. I'll tell you more about that adventure on down the road.

1st photo by Txd @flickr 2nd photo by gunnyrat @flickr

2006-07-19T09:49:00.000-05:00

NOISE IN THE NIGHT

A couple of weeks ago my friend Sarah and I were walking after dark and we heard crying sounds. We walked a bit in the direction of the sound, trying to decide if we were hearing a baby crying or an animal in distress. (We were concerned about the local ducks that live in our small lake as we only have a few.) After listening for awhile, we decided that the ducks were undisturbed. The noise persisted and we guessed that it was a cat, either domestic or wild.

The next morning I walked early while it was still cool and as I came to a thicket of cedar, I spotted a small dog-like animal but with much more pointed ears. Suddenly I realized this was a red fox, although I had never seen one in its natural habitat before. I wondered if this was the source of the high-pitched yowling noises we had heard the night before. And I began to worry about our small duck population.

TWO THIS MORNING

This morning I was out walking in the same area and, through the cedar limbs, in the exact location as before, I noticed two red foxes cavorting and teasing each other like puppies or kittens do. They never saw me and I watched them for some time, delighting in their play with each other. But I'm still worried about the ducks!

1st photo by Mark Wells: flickrCC

2006-07-18T17:17:00.000-05:00

SEASON OF THE FAWNS

A few days ago we walked down in the cool of the evening to a creek bed nearby. A doe and a fawn startled at our approach, hesitated a bit and then ran up the steep side of the ravine on the other side and stopped. The doe looked back longingly at the lush grass around the creek, before giving in to caution and bounding off to a meadow in the distance where a herd of about two dozen were feeding.

THE DEAR MAN

Because of prolonged drought in the Hill Country, the deer and other animals native to this area are suffering. Very early one morning I hiked up a hill on a road nearby and was surprised to see 14 deer, including some little ones, at the top, standing either near or on the road. They held their ground for longer than usual as I made my way up. And when they did break and scatter, they didn’t go far. I soon discovered why they were gathered there when a man came out of a nearby house carrying two very large shopping bags. We spoke and he revealed to me the contents of the bags: day old bread and corn tortillas. He said the deer are very hungry and he feeds them both morning and evening. He makes a two-hour round trip every week to San Antonio, where he fills up his car and trunk with the bread and tortillas. I call him the “deer man,” or maybe the “dear man,” enjoying the play on words.

TWINS!
This morning I walked out of our small rural community to climb one of the three hills I scale each day (graded low, medium and mountainous). As I glanced left before crossing the road, I saw a doe and twin fawns cross just ahead of a car. So I turned and walked that way. The mama deer saw me right away and stood still with her head up and ears forward in that funny startled way that deer have, causing their head and neck to resemble a large “Y.” As I got closer she began to pace in a circle, pausing to look my direction often. The little ones just switched their tails and waited for her to make the decision: feast or flee. I didn’t want to drive them away but I sure wanted to see those babies! I stopped behind some trees, peeking through and watching from a distance for some time before turning back to my hike up the mid-size hill. Those spotted like tykes sure are cute!

Top photo by BugMan50 flickCC; 2nd Steve Walls flickrCC; 3rd Andrew Poth flickrCC

2006-07-06T23:08:00.000-05:00

My family, my life:

2006-06-24T11:11:00.000-05:00

EUREKA SPRINGS, AR

My sister just returned from Eureka Springs, AR and brought me this beautiful AmeriBag, purchased at Wild Blue Yonder, 93 Spring Street, Eureka Springs, AR. We just think AmeriBags are the best! They are also called Healthy Back Bags. My first one was purchased at this shop almost 4 years ago. You can't get them just anywhere.

There's a bit of a testimony about it. For months upon months I prowled eBay and various online outlets, including the original AmeriBag.com site. My desire was very specific: an AmeriBag, preferably a tapestry one, in colors that would match my hair. After years of trying to match my bag to my shoes - which was frustrating because changing shoes is easy but changing bags is a pain - my sister finally put me on to a simple solution. It was to match my bag to my hair. Aha! Eureka! (Pun intended.)

UNEXPECTED TREASURE

So a few days ago my sister was passing time waiting for her husband in downtown Eureka Springs (a world of wonderful shopping!) and thought she would see what new things might be in Wild Blue Yonder. She walked in the door and went straight to this bag hanging on a hook. "That's perfect for my sister; she's been looking everywhere for a bag like this," she said to the clerk.

Wait - there's more! Turns out AmeriBag releases one new tapestry bag each year AND only for that year AND the store had received only one bag of this type AND the clerk had just hung it on that hook 5 minutes before my sister walked in, snatched it up, and called me.

Maybe you don't believe that God cares about such things but I know for sure that He does. He delights to give us the desires of our hearts, large and small, spiritual and natural. (Ps 21:2).

WONDERFUL THINGS IN EUREKA SPRINGS

And now a word from our sponsor . . . just kidding, but I do think I should write a little about Eureka Springs, AR. It is one of a kind, like nowhere else in America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Eureka Springs as one of its "Dozen Distinctive Destinations." Streets are lined with Victorian homes hugging cliffsides, and its entire downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Eureka Springs has block after block of one-of-a-kind shops, boutiques, fine art galleries, craft emporiums, spas, museums and restaurants. Festivals and events span everything from blues, jazz to opera, antiques and the arts. Thousands attend The Great Passion Play each year. Eureka is also home to several
music variety shows. Trolley and carriage rides are a popular way to see the city. Historic hotels and unique bed and breakfast inns, hotels and cabins accommodate visitors. Click here for more.

Thanks for letting me share one of my favorite places, and telling how I received an unexpected blessing from my Father. See you on down the road!

2006-06-23T12:33:00.001-05:00

WHY "TURNS IN THE ROAD"?

Since I already regularly post to another blog, why start a second one? Why Turns in the Road? The answer lies partly, but not wholly, in this email excerpt from my friend Donna:

Well, may I be so nosy as to ask where you're traveling to? I can travel vicariously with you. I am so glad for you that you can retire and travel like you have.

This called to mind a long-time dream of traveling and writing travel articles. Lately I've been thinking a lot about dreams and how we need to pay attention to the longings of our heart. (See article on my other blog called Dreaming the Unthinkable.)

Then there's all the times my husband and I intend to remember some special place and return but as time passes, the details become fuzzy. So why not write about our travels? A natural thing to do since writing is my thing. I started my other blog because it was impressed on me that writers should write. It's sort of an itch that needs to be scratched.

EL-LOG?

If you call a web log a blog, what do you call a travel log - Llog? No, that won't do. What about El-log? Don't think so. Maybe I should broaden the concept to include more life experiences than just traveling. Hmmm. After a time of brainstorming and coming up with names too stupid to share, I was stumped. So, being the digital person I am, I surfed through various quote websites. Somewhere around the 4th page view, the phrase "turns in the road" from a quote by Ronald Reagan jumped out at me. Wow! That's it. Covers traveling and life.

BLOG-ADDICT?

I am not a blog-addict. I WILL NOT start another blog after this one. Two is plenty. This 2nd one is going to have to cover everything! (Although I won't make a solemn vow because I hear my husband's niece Ann has a T-shirt that reads, "I'm blogging this," and I want one just like it! No! I want SEVERAL like it so I'll always have a clean one.)

NOW FOR THE TRAVEL NEWS

I was about to sign off and then I remembered Donna and my original intent with this blog. So, here it is - for what may only be an audience of one: our recent travels and "turns in the road."

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

We were in Houston a couple of days last week (6/15-17/06) for a wedding and just barely escaped the floods. It had begun raining and the skies were ominous when we left mid-day Saturday. I-10 at Highway 6 was closed due to an accident between two 18-wheelers and some other vehicles. One report said eight vehicles were involved. Later many roads in Houston were closed because of flooding. The terrain is flat and the elevation low so that the torrential rains didn't have anywhere to go.

Houston, as always, was both impressive and oppressive. Huge and sprawling, it's congestion is constant and unwavering, night or day, 24/7. And it goes on forever. I remembered the outlying small town of Conroe to the north. But there's no small town there now. Driving out that way, Houston never ended and Conroe never began. Houston swallowed up Conroe.

I was impressed with the Pine Forest Country Club on Clay Road where the reception was held. It is heavily wooded (although I saw no pines!) and lushly and attractively landscaped. The clubhouse was also beautiful. But no match for the radiant bride.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Our trip to the Rio Grande Valley was necessitated by my father's health crisis. He moved down to the tip of Texas for the warm weather, golf and dancing. For the most part, I didn't like

South Texas except for the palm trees and cheap local produce. Oh! and I liked that it cooled off to about 70 in the evenings and was breezy so that I could be comfortably be outside. There was a wonderful swimming pool where I could watch awesome sunsets. However the teeny tiny insects that swarmed around my eyes, ears and nose were worse than bothersome. I thought they were gnats but was informed they were mosquito's. Mosquitoes! You could hardly see them. I thought everything in Texas was big! They were definitely a big nuisance. Now, if you want to see mosquitoes, large and plentiful, go to humid Houston, you'll experience flocks of them. Unless the mosquito-spraying truck has just come through with it's orange revolving light on top.

We walked over the international bridge into Mexico to shop, primarily to get some cheap prescription meds. They were easily available and very affordable. We had no trouble bringing them back over the bridge. We went across at Progreso, which was only a hop, skip and jump from where we were staying. I bought a beautiful leather purse the color of my hair for $50 that has PRADA written on it. But how could it be? - those sell for hundreds.

My favorite place to eat in the Valley is a little Mexican restaurant in downtown La Feria. Outstanding! I'll have to get back to you on the name but it is the only one in tiny downtown La Feria. Be sure and get some of the pralines when you pay your bill. Never had better!

I found a really good chiropractor in Weslaco, and this time I do have a name: Dr. Robert Bishop. He told me one of his favorite places to eat is the Blue Onion.

One neat thing about the Valley was how easy it was to get oriented and get around. There's only one expressway (U.S. 83) and it runs east and west. Highway 281 runs north and south. Except right at the Rio Grande River. Then it takes a turn and goes east along the river. You can't see the river but you do see dikes along its edge. This part of 281 is very rural. There's lots of grain crops. Those that weren't being irrigated with water from the river were totally brown. I read later that this area is experiencing the worst drought ever. Locals told me they couldn't remember the last rainfall.

1st photo by Txd @flickr, 2nd by GeeSeeBee/Geoff @flick