Feels like spring out there

We walked after lunch - long enough for the sun to warm up the park. We have enjoyed lots of cold weather lately. It has been cool and windy for days - maybe weeks. Today we started a stretch of almost spring-like weather. The temps are in the 60s and 70s. Hurrah!

In shades and baseball caps (walkers, not pups), we greeted our friends who had arrived a few minutes before us.

The guys talked politics and world issues. I listened and added a comment here and there.  But I was mostly concerned about Paddy.  She has been limping a little - babying her right front paw. I even left the camera at home so I could focus on her and see if I could figure out what was bothering her.

All the dogs were subdued today. It was hard to tell if they were hot or tired or feeling punk or what.

We wandered down to the creek and suddenly all the dogs were in the water. I sat down to check Paddy's paw again. I couldn't find anything, but could tell that the paw was still tender. [We will watch it over the weekend and see if there is any improvement.] Then everyone sat and we loved on the dogs for a bit...and the dogs loved back. Even "stand-off" Scruffy wandered over for a head scratch and quick "dog kiss."

Then Paddy led everyone astray, across the creek. We try to keep them on the park side of the creek. It is not a good idea for them to wander beyond as we know there are homes and barking dogs beyond. Paddy, even moving slowly, manages to get in trouble.

On our way back down the creek I checked a rock pile for fossils. Here are the ones I found. One was a conglomerate. The other disclosed only about a finger of curve above the dirt. I pulled it out to see the full nautilus shape.

Conglomeration of fossils

This is about the amount of fossil showing above the ground when I saw it.

This is what it looked like when extricated.

Here is the size (compared to my lens cap).

Insect nests (one bag worm covered with large chocolate brown leaves and a low wasp - probably yellowjacket) were observed along the trails. I wonder if the insects and plants will be fooled by the unseasonably warm weather. It doesn't take much for the plants to bud out and creatures to hatch. Then a freeze would be devastating.*

We found a plastic bag at the creek and picked up a bag of shotgun shells and more plastic bottles than would fit in the bag as we walked back to the cars. We talked about a trip when all we do is pick up trash. I suspect it will take multiple trips.

Hugo** tried to load up with us again. I am glad he loves us, but it makes leaving a bit of a challenge.

At home we off-loaded trash and dropped plastic bottles in the recycling. One was saved for a garden project we may undertake on Sunday. Watch this space for something new.

NOTES:

*The only plants that seem to know when the last freeze is past is the pecan. The pecan will not bud-out until the last chance of a freeze is past. You can trust a pecan.

**Look at this sweet face. How could anyone say "no" to Hugo.

Look at that face! We love Hugo.