Who's Out on this COLD MORNING?

 It's too cold outside for angels to fly.

~ Ed Sheeran

It might have been too cold for the angels, but not for the cats or the birds. Although it did seem that the cold slowed everyone/everything down.

We don't consider these black cats bad luck. We love them...Mom and two kittens (all grown up, now). Yes, there are other park cats, but we only saw the black cats today.

Two women and two dogs shivered all the way...and the birds cooperated...perching or wading with time for us to take a photo or two. Many were hard to see in the light, but we managed.

Dogs got to chase a squirrel or two. What were the squirrels doing up so early? Whatever. It is hard not to love this park. It is so much more than nice sidewalks, picnic tables, gazebo, and basketball goals.

Here is a little of what we saw:

They did not cross our path.

I'd never noticed this - the seeds of the Boxelder Maple.

Blue Jay

Northern Mockingbird

One of my better shots of a Great Blue Heron.

Crow (there were two)

House Sparrow

White-winged Doves

House Finch

Red-bellied Woodpecker - in 4 photos.

The Cooper's Hawk we have only seen twice here. You know them by the dark bands on the tail. We saw the Red-shouldered Hawk as well.

NOTE: No squirrels were harmed and no trespass committed during the hour-long walk along Nolan Creek.

The Lion

If ever you feel like an animal among men, be a lion.

 ~ Criss Jami

Be a lion!

After a few days of shared meals and focus on giving thanks, we shared a few hikes with friends. Our good buddy SB, the dog whisperer came back for a visit!* We headed out on a few adventures including a couple at Cedar Creek.

Cedar Creek in the fall discloses many dangers...a sort of central Texas Serengeti. Come wander the grasslands and watering holes. And watch where you step.**

The sky was clear on on day with scattered clouds on the other. There's a dog hiding in this photo. [Fields of grass - yes, I fear snakes, but I "gut it up" and follow the dogs and fellow walkers.]

I often miss the blooming of the liatris here (see the spikes?). This area is open for dove hunting and so the best time for the fall wildflowers is hit or miss. So I forget about hiking here in the fall.

The dogs make good use of the deer trails.

This trail is along the edge of brush at the top of the creek bank.

It appeared that the tree was grinning at me.

TDW had removed a deer spine to the branches to keep the dogs from distraction. A curator of iNaturalist*** inquired as to the possibility of large cats in this area. I didn't tell him about the lion.

Hugo watched the girls run a little wild.

Zelda tried to convince him to play.

Zelda and Ruby sprint along.

Grass and dog glow golden in the sunshine!

A natural sculpture in the prairie.

"What? It was a very good smell. I look a mess? Really?"

Ram's Horn - devilishly designed seed pods. I'd only seen them described until our two walks.

Zelda came running up with something attached to her face.

This was wrapped around her neck. It was quite well attached. I suppose she is so low to the ground it grabbed her....

...and the next trip found one attached to my boot. I had to struggle to remove it. Very well designed seed pod indeed.

Goldenrod? It's pretty in spite of the allergies.

Balloon Vine

As some plants to go to seed others are starting to prepare for the spring. Texas Bluebonnets are popping up.

I've never found one of these before. I don't know what kind of insect left it behind.

I am always surprised at how much I love this place. Perhaps it is due to all the wonderful hours spent here with friends.

Soon enough the birds will be nesting here.

NOTES:

*And he will be coming back to visit and explore often. Hurrah!

**I fear snakes, but it is the stickers/thorns and grabbing plants one must fear.

***A friend posted Zelda's photo and the database identified her as a lion. Haha!

Zelda refused to wear her hat!

And it appears the faeries were messing with my camera. One never knows where they might show up. I am not surprised they love this magical place. We will have to mind our manners in future.

Here, Hold My Dog and Watch This!*

This plant exhibits frequently a remarkable phenomenon. 

In every clear frosty morning, during the winter, 

crystalline fibres nearly an inch in length, 

shoot out in every direction from the base of the stem. 

It would appear as if the remnant of the sap or water, 

absorbed by the decayed stem, 

had congealed, 

and had burst in this manner through the pores of the bark.   

Does this proceed from any essential quality of the plant, 

or from its structure? 

~ Stephen Elliot, 1824

Today is our first serious freeze. It was cold yesterday - just at freezing - but the temperature dropped lower today. And I remembered the frostweed.** Frostweed is fairly common in wilds of our part of Texas. It has a pretty boring flower - if you are one of those people who enjoys vivid colors and exotic shapes, this is not the flower for you. The exotic potential of this plant can be observed with the first frost. When the temperature drops low enough, the stem of the plant splits -- wild and beautiful formations of liquid - forced out of the stem and frozen- can be seen, lasting only until the temperature rises and they melt.

I've seen a lot of frostweed in my day, but never at a time or place where I could see its magic. Until today.

The park where we take almost daily walks is the gift which keeps on giving. A few days ago I found and photographed some frostweed. It was on a steep incline (maybe 45 degrees or better). I duck-walked up the partially concreted hillside and took photos of the flora within the reach of my camera.*** I must have made a mental note that here was some frostweed within an easy distance of 1) the house and 2) a parking lot.

Zelda and I headed out on this cold (27 degrees) morning to our park to see what we could see. I once again duck-walked up the concrete and saw a few small examples of the explosive frostweed. But these were just far enough away that I would only be able to take awkward photos with the new camera.

The angle of this small hillside was too steep for me to juggle dog and camera and avoid going "ass over teakettle" down to the paved path below. So I fastened Z's leash around a light post and attempted to get just a little closer to the plants. Loose gravel and leaves kept me from making progress.

I thought I might be able to go to the top of the hill and approach the frost weed from above. I climbed nearby stairs to the sounds of a whining/whimpering dog (she's been abandoned at least twice before she came to live with us. After 2 year she is still reluctant to be "left alone"). I waived to her from the top of the stairs and again from the top of the hill. She quieted.

Yes, that is Z - the small brown spot at the base of the light.

Finding no sensible way to climb down without risking a bone-breaking fall (at worst) and/or an embarrassing roll down to the dog's location (at best), I turned around and walked carefully back down the stairs. I freed the dog and settled for the puny observations of the morning. We would hope for the best and see if any more weeds would explode in the early frosts of winter to come.

[To avoid disappointment I am sharing a link to the Google images of this amazing phenomenon even as I keep trying.**** ]

An awkward shot, I know, but it does capture somewhat the steep angle of this hillside.

A small stem exploded in ice.

A larger stem - but most of the ice formation on the other side. I did not risk injury for a better shot.

NOTES:

* A Texas joke, but usually "hold my beer" a catchphrase said before attempting a dangerous and/or ill-advised stunt. But since I don't generally have a beer in my hand - today and most days I have a dog leash. Nope. I did not go skydiving or any other such nonsense. I did not fall down. I could have, but didn't.

** Verbesina virginica

Observation from last Friday.

***Thank you, Charlie! (My buddy, Charlie, showed me the great photos he had taken with this point-and-shoot camera that is better than most and could be purchased at a local chain store.

****
https://www.google.com/search?q=frost+weed&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFta_fpdTeAhUCR6wKHfyHBl8Q_AUIEigB&biw=1440&bih=725

Walking on Our Own - Two Hours in the Weeds

None of your knowledge,

your reading,

your connections

will be of any use here: 

two legs suffice, 

and big eyes to see with.

Walk alone, 

across mountains 

or through forests.

You are nobody to the hills or the thick boughs heavy with greenery. 

You are no longer a role, 

or a status, 

not even an individual, 

but a body, 

a body that feels sharp stones on the paths, 

the caress of long grass and the freshness of the wind. 

When you walk, 

the world has neither present nor future: 

nothing but the cycle of mornings and evenings. 

Always the same thing to do all day: 

walk. 

But the walker who marvels while walking 

(the blue of the rocks in a July evening light, 

the silvery green of olive leaves at noon, 

the violet morning hills) 

has no past, 

no plans, 

no experience. 

He has within him the eternal child. 

While walking I am but a simple gaze.

― Frédéric Gros, A Philosophy of Walking 

The hike began and ended with crows - they "haw-hawed"and the squirrels chattered. And those, save the gurgling of the creek and the bells of the Baptist Church.

This crow went flying. I tried, but could not track it from tree to tree.

Asters in white and purple (but mostly white) lined the banks of the creek. We hugged these edges of green looking for tiny flowers.

We saw the creek in a different way as we journeyed off the paved walks. It was only a little muddy and we easily avoided the fireant mounds.

This heron, most recently fishing under the pedestrian bridge, was downstream balancing on a fallen tree.

He tried to act like he didn't see us.

But he did.

Green poinsettia was a little reminder of the holidays to come.

There is no question of the identity of this mound, but the databases never believe me unless...

I disturb the ants. Fire Ants - Red Imported Fire Ants. I am not a fan. Their mounds are everywhere.

Bluets

Amaranth

Santa Maria Feverfew

Bur Oak - I did not realize there was a Bur Oak in this park until I saw the acorns (come on - we are usually looking for birds and wildflowers). It is a huge old tree. Yes, yes I did save some seed.

Carolina Snailseed - when I was a kid I think we were told that snakes ate this. Weird stuff they tell you. Hard to know what is true and what is false.

Frogfruit and Straggler Daisy. Love the little ones.

Yes, we have fall colors. No, do not gather them unless you know what they are. These leaves are poison ivy.

I thought these purple/green leaves were lovely too - tievine. I should have known.

See, I told you asters lined the creek.

It's that bastard cabbage...I hate it. Need to carry a trash bag and pull a few weeds when I can.

One of the many piles of driftwood - and trash.

Grapevine

Another snag. This is under the Second Avenue bridge.

A path down to the creek. Zelda tried to drag me over a cliff and down a few paths. I thought better of it.

A small snag on the bank. I know someone who might be digging through these snags with me, if she was here.

Panicled Ticktrefoil - it looks like a pea blossom. I saved some seed...then I found other seeds clinging to my fleece jacket.

It has a pretty bloom.

The feral pigeons did some swoops around us, but not like yesterday.

More asters - they just make me smile, except when they appear to be something else and I get excited to find them just asters.

I could not believe this fox squirrel was 1) so close and 2) so still. I also cannot believe Zelda did not see the squirrel.

I knew it saw me, but I think it froze so it wouldn't give away it's location.

Zelda could have gotten it, but the creek was just on the other side. I didn't think wet dog or wet person a good idea.

Someone lost a shoe.

Four o'clocks?

Pretty, whatever...

I saw some white blooms up a concrete drainage structure. We climbed to find this Purple Leatherflower blooming. There were a number of seed heads as well. I a already timing my seed harvest.

This was the best surprise of the walk. This is why you need to get off the path sometimes (unless it is a place they want you on the trails).

Woohoo! I love these wild and crazy seeds.

Frostweed

Frostweed Bloom

I could see the seeds - just waiting for me. They are still waiting.

Mexican Buckeye

Now THIS is something you can pick for fall colors - Virginia Creeper.

Another path - this one ends in a cliff. No, I did not walk this one either. But I will when I have someone to hold Zelda back.

A viburnum of some variety

I kept being distracted by this little white flower - only to discover it was a little tuft of down from the ducks.

Goldeneye

Stuff that's floated down the creek in recent floods.

Freshwater clam, among other things.

I was just taking random shots. NOW I see some interesting stuff. I may need to go back and do some scavenging.

One of the biggest "devil's toenail" shell fossils I've seen

The waterfall at what used to be a low-water crossing.

I glanced down the creek and thought I saw a heron wading.

It was a heron and startled before I could get another photo.

I love this creek.

The snag under the I35 bridge. I think someone needs to take a look at this one.

Shamrocks/Woodsorrel

Over and over these dragonflies would light and then zip off. They had a "pop" of red on the body. I saw one land in the grass and stalked it.

It's hard to see the red here, but when the sun is reflecting off the body - wow!

One our way back to the car two squirrels were fussing at each other. This is one.

Caught him.

This is the GBH that we have found fishing under the Penelope Street bridge. It has some injury or marking on its wing so I can identify it. 

Looks like he was waiting for me too.

Another view of the creek.

This bird watched me and I watched him. And I took a ridiculous number of photos - as the ducks intruded and then finally left.

It was a little windy and I loved the way the wind caught this GBH's feathers.

My intrepid companion guards the few (really DH - very few) bits of driftwood we gathered.

Dandelion and fly

Crows

NOTES:

We took a walk mid-morning. It was cooler than normal. We skirted the creek most of the way and found some friends (all three herons - finally) and one surprise. Our normal one hour walk took two. Then Zelda and I napped most of the rest of the day. 

This walk was for VM who was not feeling well and missed the hike. We missed her (and Ginger too). 

We call this duck "Bomber" as he kept photo-bombing us.

A beautiful old red brick smoothed by its trip down the creek.

"Where are our friends? Take me home, now."

The loot: one rock (I think it has a fossil in it (!), 4 small pieces of driftwood for handles, a handful of Bur Oak acorns to plant, and two kinds of wildflower seeds to spread (in my yard or a friend's). See? A place for everything. Hahahaha!