We walked aboard a train... (AKA Train Ride I)

There were to be no walks to the usual park this weekend as it was time for a long awaited and somewhat carefully planned adventure with my nephew.

And so begins our story...

We (DH and I) woke early Saturday morning to "grab the kid" and get to the Austin Amtrak Station in time for the once daily Texas Eagle trip north. Our drive down to Dripping Springs was disturbed only by the realization that we knew where to go once we got to Dripping Springs, but we had no idea exactly how to get to Dripping Springs. We have traveled there before, but not so early in the morning with a hard and fast deadline weighing on our minds. In the end all was well, the child was ready, and we headed to the Austin Amtrak Station.

We knew where it was. We thought we knew how to get there. We could SEE the station. We just couldn't figure out where the entrance was. I suspect we approached the station at least 5 times before we figured it out and drove in. Luckily we were still about 45 minutes early.

[And I should add that our patient nephew never expressed a doubt. He never said (what he must have been thinking), "OK, you two weirdos, if you cannot even find the train station, perhaps you should just take me home. Maybe we should forget about this trip entirely." No, he was game and laughed with us with each failed approach. It was an indication of the type of travel companion he would show himself to be. He is calm and collected. He pays attention. He has fun. He NEVER complains.]

DH refused to leave us at first as the neighborhood surrounding the station was pretty sketchy. I took photos of the abandoned warehouse "across the tracks" as it was so spooky and derelict. [If I say I loved it, I might upset some folks, but I say it anyway. I loved it.]

What do you take photos of when you are waiting for a train?

The abandoned warehouse across the tracks...

...and the grafitti thereon...

...and the sad barred and boarded up windows...

We boarded the Fort Worth car with an interesting group of folks. We found two seats together and worked to figure out how the reclining seats worked. Oh, did I say we were on the top of what looked like a double decker?

My traveling companion is settled in (the hat eventually ended up on the overhead shelf).

The train "set-up" is very like a plane with pockets and fold down tray tables. But there is so much more room!

We made ourselves at home and took a few photos. The girls across the way (traveling north from San Antonio, ultimately to Colorado) took a photo of us too. We watched the group in the seats in front of us break out the cocktails (We brought lunch, but forgot the cocktails. We just had soda and water).

Another group in front of them brought blankets and pillows and seemed to settle down to sleep. Two women behind us shared the stories of their lives - one, a military wife talked of raising children around the country while the other, a recent widow from Oklahoma, spoke of tornados and storm shelters, raising cattle during a drought and her antipathy for raising horses.

My nephew said that everyone on the train had a story about why they were on the train, but that we were probably the only ones riding "just for fun." And he was right.

We were surprised at the towns where the train stoped:

Taylor:

The sign says "Welcome to Taylor"

See, there is an Amtrak Station

I don't know what this buiding is, but I loved it.

And Temple:

Heading toward the Temple Station. (We were on the wrong side of the train for a photo of the station.)

Temple has a large railyard.



There were lots of engines moving around on the tracks

And McGregor:



The town name is on the other side. You trust me, don't you?

 

The McGregor Amtrak Station. (We were many cars back and they loaded the cars based on destination.)

See, you can trust me.
 

Cleburne:

Cleburne

Cool old caboose outside the Cleburne Station

And, FINALLY,  Fort Worth:

Approaching our destination

Rounding a turn on the way into Fort Worth gave us a view of the front of our train. We were in the sixth car (?)

 

Stay tuned for Train Ride II (more blurry/bad photos to follow).

NOTE: DH does not enjoy public transportation and declined the experience of the 4 hour ride (and, considering the crowded train and weird seating, I admit he would have been miserable). He joined us later for the second day of our journey.

Exciting walk...creatures I have never seen...

I managed to  convince DH to walk today even though he had excuses. I just wanted company as I am nursing a sore arm and want to make sure I could manage the pups. It is always great to have backup, a little help.

We were out early but not too early. The sky was already brightening. The birds were singing. And, as we entered the park, we all saw tiny creatures running back and forth at the curb. In the dim light it was hard to make them out. I thought, "squirrels?"  "possum?" "rats?" "What the heck?"

BABY ARMADILLOS!

I have never seen a baby armadillo before today. They were about 1/3 the size of an adult and very fast. And they were crazy brave/oblivious.

The dogs were mad to get to them. The armadillos ignored us all. DH stomped at them to warn them away and we were able to keep walking towards the main area of the park.

And there, grazing in the field along the roads were three whitetails. We walked to within 40 yards of them before any of them looked up. They watched us for a while and then one walked into the brush. The other two just stared before one finally spooked and ran, closely followed by the other. The dogs never noticed.

It was such a pleasure on this final work day of the week. I forget how much better my day is after an early morning walk.

[Of course, I forgot the camera today. And we have not seen the bunny for days.]

Teasing rain

The morning birds were singing all around us as we headed to the park in the thick humid air.

Three cats returned home as we walked along. The first, a tuxedo cat, flattened itself against its home sidewalk...and silly puppies noticed nothing. Number two was spied at a half block distance, sitting by a driveway. The third, a sleek black, peeked around the corner of fence and watched until we were within 15 feet. Then it too skedaddled. No reason to face the goofy mutts headed down to the park.

I looked up about half-way to the park and gasped at the suddenly beautiful Parrish sky (of course no camera). DH and I discussed this vision and, almost as suddenly as the sky brightened, the thicker clouds blocked the morning rays and the morning turned grey.

A skunk was exiting the park as we arrived. Two women were loading their big dogs into their car - they beat us to a walk. And we noticed that we are no longer scofflaws. The sign at the entrance to the park indicates a change. The park is now open from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

We ignored the old hours (I think it allegedly opened at 8) as did all the other walkers and runners, dog trainers and fishermen (not to mention the drug dealers and other more serious misbehavers). But I suppose it is better to act within the law on these forays into the semi-wild.

We felt raindrops off and on along the walk, but only towards home did they begin to polka dot the sidewalk.  Grackles and doves sang us home.

No bunny sighting today.

Who's been eating my collards?

We have been busy and life exhausting. [Sorry for the whine, but it's my excuse and I am using it.] We haven't been walking, much.

But, we DO spend a little time documenting sightings of the bunny.

I took the day off today and was trying to be gracious, walking DH out to his car (making sure he was leaving and not, last minute, deciding to interfere with my day) and talking about a (potentially imaginary) home-cooked meal that would be waiting for him when he returned home.

"The bunny is in the street," he said.

"Well, he better get out of the street," replied the still functioning mother in me.

So I walked around to "herd" it back into the yard. I was operating blindly at this point. I had not seen the bunny, but trusted that DH knew what he was talking about. He generally does.

Yes, there he was, encouraged into the yard. And he seemed to watch us until we saw where he was sitting - sitting very still by the pistache. Then he bounced off through the front yard, giving what seemed to be a joyful little kick.

As I watered the containers of wilting plants I discovered that "someone has been eating my collards." They are last year's collards weirdly hanging on for another season and should have been pulled up. I am happy to share them with the bunny.

I think the bunny lives here now

While killing time this morning (trying to avoid thinking about my impending visit to the dentist), I surprised the bunny in the west side-yard. And it surprised me.

I gave him a fairly wide berth and he froze in one place as I watered a few plants and, finally, gave up the stalling and headed to my fate (It was OK - some issues ahead. Bummer.).

So, it is beginning to seem like we have another pet. I suppose we will tolerate him until he starts eating my plants. Perhaps I should get some bunny food?

Day of the bunny photos...

I know they all look the same, but you are getting them anyway....

Far meadow

Cone Flowers

More coneflowers

Verbena growing from trash pile (Someone came down the road a year or two ago and left some junk. Nature is trying to cover it up...and starting to do a pretty good job at that.

One horsemint in the middle of the grass - wild carrot (?) blooming white behind.

Muddy place to avoid...yeah...

I can almost hear these puppies thinking...."That mud sure would be fun to walk through." "Yeah, bet she won't let us."

Nice puddle...but not for us today.

Day of the Bunny #2

When DH is still abed at 5:30 on Friday morning, I know that I can pressure him into walking to the park with the dog pack. It is a matter of stretching out achy muscles (from CrossFit the night before). Today was such a day.

And we moved slowly. We didn't get out of the house until 6:00. But this time he had his coffee and I had a cane (and a camera). It is light by 6, so we did not need as many flashing lights to help the distracted drivers see us.

About half-way to the park we slowed at the house of the woman with the lovely flowers. Her house was all lights, but the newspaper was still in the yard. I commented that "This does not seem right" when I saw our neighbor through the breezeway - just standing in the back. Relieved, we walked on.

But then I heard her voice. She commented on how she had not seen us walking in some time and had wondered about us. I confessed our laziness. And we confirmed our neighborhood connections. With all the coming and going, birth and death, it is nice, a comfort, to have some sameness.

Arriving at the park I further coerced DH into a walk down the dirt road. We have avoided it in the past weeks as we knew the rain had turned it into a hazard, a mud-wallow waiting to happen. And while I love playing in the mud, I don't relish a face-plant caused by dogs pulling and the loss of solid footing. And DH has no sense of humor about some things...

There was a little mud today, but we were able to make it with no trouble down most of the track. The dogs caught scents in the grass and on the air, but we saw no creatures save an occasional bird moving in the trees or a butterfly fluttering among the wildflowers and a perhaps imagined deer snort.

And the wildflowers! The coneflowers were a riot of color - yellow, orange, burgundy and brown. Here and there a purple verbena or white wild carrot bloom peeked through. And I did see a single horsemint blooming as well as a silver-leaved nightshade. It is as if everything happened overnight.

Once home I released the pups for breakfast. Scruffy, freed first, flew across the yard in pursuit of - yes, it was the bunny. Scruffy was fast, but the bunny faster. It scooted under the fence and into the front yard.  Poor Scruffy could not follow.

DH is convinced the rabbit is stealing dog food while we are walking. Silly rabbit.

Photos will follow.

Bugs....

It was just daybreak when we fell out of the house for our morning walk in the humid, humid air. [At the end of the week we have a hard time getting these creaky old bones out of bed and out of the house for a walk.]

I left the house without a cane (protection, not balance - yet). DH forgot his coffee. And as the hounds and I  started across the yard, something streaked past. [Now, dogs apparently don't see all that well. They are attracted by the movement. People see better and are often frightened by the movement.]

Suddenly I was being dragged across the lawn by very excited pups.

My mind in about 2 seconds: "What is that? Raccoon? No, it's a cat. No, it isn't big enough to be a cat. What? There's a flash of white. It's a cottontail!"

Managing to get Paddy and Scruffy under control, I pulled them back towards the driveway to distract them and restart this walk.

DH had missed all the excitement (he was filling dog bowls as the rabbit ran). I related the story to him and, as we were about to head east to the park, delayed long enough to point out the very still rabbit sitting in the corner of the yard. DH reported that he had seen the rabbit on other mornings, but that it was in the dog yard (the dog-run that the dogs don't use, except to tunnel out of confinement).

Silly dogs confirmed what I had read about vision and movement. Prey that stands still can escape. DH and I observed and did not disclose the presence of a rabbit sitting mostly still, only a shiver or tremble to give him away.

The rest of the walk was uneventful. We stopped where we usually stop. We saw no friends as we traveled to and from the park. We had that memory and the dying rush of a wild and short chase...

But, as I left the house for work, I glanced into the side yard. Our cottontail friend had returned to the more traveled part of the yard. He was sitting quietly under the wheelbarrow, watching me, and preparing to run if I got too close.

So, here's the proof:

One bunny by the wheelbarrow. Don't you see him?

See him now?

A better view.

Lightning strikes three times

It was raining at 5....still raining at 6...but then stopped by 6:15 and we rushed outside to walk before the next wave of rain.

Padimus, sporting her tail bandage (We are not sure what is going on. A visit to the vet is in the offing.), Scrufimus and I hit the street before DH. We wanted to take the shortest walk necessary.

We found ourselves in a hard sprinkle. And the lightning started in the southeast. Then the thunder started and, when the third lightning bolt streaked across the sky (the first two were nothing), we booked it home as fast as our little feet could go.

20% chance of rain? Sure...thunderstorms, but no ice cream

After a long day sweating on some projects in the summer heat (no air conditioning where I was working), I finally gave up and headed home for a shower. I could see dark clouds towards home. By the time I arrived it had started storming.  I am leery of showering in a thunder storm.

But at the break between storms we needed to get the dogs out for a walk. So I sit here dirty and wet and doggy...but I am jumping ahead....

DH, Paddy, Scruffy and I headed down the street towards the park. We were running between raindrops initially. It continued to clear long enough for us to get to the park and decide to stop for ice cream. Cutting through the field we arrived as they were cleaning up for closing...the vanilla machine was off and dogs cannot eat chocolate. Bummer.
So we all headed home and the clouds opened up.   

DH moved quickly towards home. Our plan was for dogs and Walker to take shelter on a friend's porch while DH brought the car back.

So much for plans. We reached the porch and the rain decreased a bit. We continued on. DH was a few blocks ahead and a dog came tearing out of its yard across the street. He "woof, woofed" and I screamed for DH.

DH spun around and yelled at the dog. I pulled my pepper spray.

Confrontation was averted as defensive pooch's owner retrieved him from the yard.

Distracted, delayed, and drenched we entered our yard and house. We toweled dogs dry. Scruff retired to his kennel. [We will never know why he loves it, but he loves his kennel as much as Paddy hates hers.]

Paddy came into the living room and snoozed in front of the TV with me for a while. She did give me a few looks as if to say, "Where is the animal channel? I cannot believe you watch such junk!" Still she calmly handled the thunder - I suspect because she was snuggled up next to me.

Now pups are bedded down for the night. I am still dirty and wet and smell of dog. Time for a shower - the storms are over.

All in all it was a good and productive day. I suppose the only way it could have been better would have been if there had been ice cream...maybe tomorrow.


Note:

All the rain has greened up the woods. The ditches flow with runoff. It is wonderful to get the rain, but the yard is starting to look a little wild too. More rain is expected tomorrow. Maybe Sunday will be clear. There is mowing and trimming, planting and organizing ahead.

Ride to the sound of the battle

After my hour long walk a-square the yard (mowing. I mow in squares, not circles), DH and I started running a few errands. At one point I started to hear gunfire. Then cannons.

I looked at DH and he told me he had been hearing those noises for a while.

We discovered there was an encampment of civil war reenactors by the river, about 5 miles away.

I was reminded of an old story about my great great grandfather, John Carroll Flinn. He was a doctor living near Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee during the war between the states (and before moving to Williamson County, Texas). He lived some 40 miles from Shiloh.

Around the time of the battle of Shiloh there were many skirmishes in the general area. At one point, Dr. Flinn could hear the sounds of  a battle. He packed his saddlebags and rode to the sound of the guns.

I have heard that the Yankees would not allow civilian doctors on the battlefields, but the Confederates would. Great great grandpa found the battlefield, arriving after the shooting had ceased. He treated the wounded and dying, blue and grey alike.

Distant cousins report he picked up a cannonball that day (and it is floating around somewhere in the family).

I am always in awe of those who ride or march or run to the fight, not away from it. I am not sure I would be one, but I am glad to know those people do still exist.

Monday morning coming down...

Yeah, the song was "Sunday morning coming down" but there were surely two tired and worn out bodies on our Monday morning walk. I spent hours cleaning and then working on a project (tossing around about 50+ lbs of earth), while DH ran a half marathon on Sunday.

Hence, tired muscles and creaky joints accompanied us to the park early Monday morning.

The sky was just starting to brighten and the sliver of moon hung low in the sky.

Paddy and Scruffy moved back and forth seeking dominance and position on the sidewalk and, in doing so, twisted the leashes into a pink and red candy cane length. It reminded me why we use the double lead - they can jockey for position without winding themselves up and frustrating the walker (after all, someone has to untangle that mess).

We saw our friend running man as we headed home. And the morning birds sang.

Moon hanging in the sky (note DH walking with pups just below the lights)

All twisted up

Moon over the park pecan trees and the sun just starting to light up the sky

Heartbroken - walking with friends

Molly

A dear artist friend lost her beloved dog, Molly, this week.

The weather here has been warm and cold, warm and cold, warm and cold. Spring has started and stopped multiple times. And the snakes are out.  Molly found a rattlesnake while on a walk this week.

Perhaps it was the location of the snake bite or Molly's small size, but she was not able to fight the poison (despite immediate and excellent veterinary care).

My friend grieves and I can do nothing.

And I am reminded to love my walking companions and appreciate my time with them.

And I am reminded that this is the time of year we must be wary.

Watch for snakes.

Blister bug, stink bug, true bug

After backing out of the drive this morning (making sure not to hit any stray dogs, walkers or church attenders zipping off to services) I started down the street only to see a tangle of long insect-ish legs and antennae on the windshield. I could just see the palm-sized crawler out of the corner of my eye.

The first thought is always "Is that thing inside or outside?" [My dear MC watched a woman flip her SUV on a back road who explained the accident  in one word, "SPIDER."]

The creature was outside. And it was a beauty - what we used to call a blister bug, one of the "true bugs" (we learned all about them when the children were in biology - heaven forbid you call an insect a "bug" unless it was one of the "true bugs" easily identified by the triangular shape on its back). And it clung to the windshield as I headed off to catch up on a project.

I wondered how long he would ride with me and decided to take care to drive within the limits (I must say I do have a bit of a reputation although I do not rise to the level of a "scoff-law.") Still, I took care and my hitchhiker continued along with me until the speed limit rises at the edge of town, just as we passed the McDonalds. Perhaps the aerodynamics of the car were too much. Perhaps he had a craving for a Big Mac or Happy Meal. Whatever the case, he flew away and I suspect my speed might have inched just a little higher as I hurried down the road.

My project continued in pieces today - interrupted by chores and a family lunch (perhaps the best meat loaf I have ever made). Each time I left the building today I was in the midst of a flurry of cottonwood seeds floating in the air. They are lovely and strange. They pile up in small drifts just as does the snow. But the sun was bright and the day hot. There was no mistaking these flakes. And I am inevitably laid low by them - a reaction that almost negates my delight in the fluttering.

NOTES:

* The wildflowers are incredible - bluebonnets, foxglove, firewheels and more!

* Images of true bugs: https://www.google.com/search?q=true+bug&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=b8x9UbOHMqnQ2QXWmYGgAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQsAQ&biw=1120&bih=746

Ignoring the chores today...

Woke at 3 a.m. and had such a tough time getting back to sleep. So I didn't really worry about subsequently sleeping late and and getting a slow start on this day that was to be full of chores.

Our walk was marred by parents hurrying to drop kids off at the park. It was 7:30 in the morning (I should have written that in all caps) and it was already impossible to cross the street from the sidewalk to the park. [This prompted a discussion of whether or not we will be able to retire and stay where we are as we are both becoming impatient cranky older people.]

Oh, did I mention that DH slept late as well? He did. So he was stuck with humoring me and walking the pups.

I had planned to check out the wildflowers in the meadows, but I gave up any such thought as we were dodging all the "mommy cars" (sorry, but this is our family name for the Suburbans, SUVs and station wagons) delivering precious cargo to the playing fields. We just went home.

I did get a photo of some pecan leaves budding out that I will share here. I am also including snaps of the spear grass growing on the corner (for my dear sister) and the buds and blooms in my yard. We have been blessed by the rain and we are enjoying each flowering thing.

[After a hike around the courthouse square with purchases of veggies, bread and mustard at the farmers' market I hiked the gem and mineral show. I totally used up my "chore" time and will just have to work a little harder tomorrow. Stay tuned.]

Pecan trees budding out

Spear grass!

Louisiana iris

More bearded iris (and the chaos of the yard showing) about to bloom

Another Louisiana iris

Yet another bearded iris about to bloom

NOTE: With these spring rains we have had 4 or 5 different purple bearded iris (and 3 other colors), 3 German iris, 2 Louisiana iris, one amaryllis (two scapes) and multiple other plants bloom. I just need to clean up the stray pots and things and mow. There is also trimming and weeding to be done, but I am going to ignore that for now...

"Skip, skip, skip to my Lou..."

We woke to rain once again. At least I did not wake DH and send him out into the storm...once is enough.

Two hours later the rain had stopped and we crankily and creakily dressed for a walk. The clouds had parted and the sun was trying to break through.

We dodged the working men and women as they hurried to the office. Only a couple of folks were so busy or distracted that they managed to miss seeing a couple of people with two big dogs (and one of the people with red flashing lights on their cap!) walking down the sidewalk.

We were late for deer and knew our dirt road would be muddy (and DH has no patience for that kind of thing) so we decided to walk the paved paths around and through the park. We steered clear of the other walker with two big black Labs. I have been tired and sore from the "going, going, going" this week and I was afraid I could not control Scruff and Paddy had they wanted to hang out with their brethren. DH was tired and sore from his exercise routine and did not need much persuading to wait until the other walkers had loaded up and heading home.

The pups, in turn, found and followed the scents of the earlier walkers - I think of Paddy and Scruff as retrievers, not trackers, but they are curious dogs and fond of tracking too. And they can catch that sent of other creatures in the wind, even if they cannot see as well as I once thought. [Truth be known, Paddy will fetch until she is exhausted. Scruffy will watch in amusement. He was not taught to fetch and has refused to learn. What is that about old dogs and new tricks? I am proud he learned to sit on command.]


First sunrise we have seen in a few days...



DH walking ahead with Scruffy and Paddy



My gang. Aren't they a lovely sight?

I had just about decided I would not even write about our walk today. It was uneventful. It was a pleasant, but ordinary thing. We solved no world problems and did not even make plans for the day. We just enjoyed the surprisingly late cool weather and the opportunity to be together with our pets - not in a hurry or concerned about more than that.

We turned away from the river to head toward home and I stopped. "Deer!"

The underbrush and grass from last season has died and fallen. This year's grass is just taking hold. So our view down the hill to the start of the dirt road was almost unobstructed. There, casually grazing on the just sprouting green, was the deer herd. DH and I counted and watched and counted again as the deer moved in the clearing. I handed the dogs off to DH to see if I could grab some evidence.

Here is the best of my poor photography. We stopped a couple of times for photos and I used the telephoto option (remember, this is a pocket point-n-shoot outfit).




OK. I know you can see them here.




No? How about this?



And this?



And this?



We were surprised they did not run. This was taken from behind a tree much closer to the road.



As was this.



And this.



And this.



And, finally, this.

We counted five deer. I was never able to get a photo of all of them together, but I was pleased to have some proof.

Pulled a fast one

On a day I took off work I was up at 5. DH had said, "If you are up and it is not raining, wake me."

So, I was up waiting for daylight. It was not raining (yet). And I woke up the sleeping one so he could take his early morning run before the streets were filled with cars.

I had failed to watch the weather radar. He had not been gone long when the rain started. When he returned he reported that, mid-course, he had taken one step and the temperature was in the 70s. With the next step the temperature had dropped 30 degrees and the wind and rain started.

That first wave of bad weather passed as day dawned and the pups and I headed out for a quick walk. It was late for us. The older children were waiting for the bus. Dogs were short-leashed to prevent anyone for heading to school with paw prints (I am not so good at that. My co-workers often let me know that I sport unintended spots of mud from an affectionate dog).

We spoke with neighbors who were new to us. "Good morning," said we. A shy "Good morning" was returned and I could almost see the wheels turning in the child's head - "Mom says not to talk to strangers. The crazy lady with the big dogs seems harmless enough." I suppose it passed as neighborly conversation as mom was present.

The park was empty save the city workers. We heard noises in the woods, but we could not tell if it was deer walking gently or the loosely coordinated dripping of rain from branches as the wind blew by.

But we appeared to be the only beasts out in the wet cold. Although we heard the song of the "squeaky hinge" bird (I promise to ask my brother what it is) and saw one Mocking bird perched on the fence line.

We threw one paper on the porch of an elderly neighbor. There was no need for her to worry with walking down slick steps and sidewalk to retrieve it today.

We had already experienced the slick sidewalk. Our hustle across the street was too fast for the weather conditions. Even good hiking boots will slip in the right (or wrong) circumstances. But no blood was drawn - there will only be a bruise on one knee...a reminder of the need for caution in the rain.

So slow down out there on these slick roads. Consider the weather conditions (and watch out for crazy old ladies walking their dogs).

NOTE: I hesitate to mention any falls as I don't want to worry the children. Still...

A first

Sunday mornings can be so hard. No one wants to move. We have overdone and our achy bones tell us that we have walked enough, worked enough. But we know better, really. But there is an internal argument - walk or don't walk ("Stay home and put your feet up." or "Get up, you lazybones. You always feel better after a walk!").

And the good angel won the argument today - walking clothes were gathered, gear readied and walkers headed down the road in the damp, almost mist of a grey, grey morning.

A pickup entered the park as we walked the wood-line. The terrier and Labrador in the back stared at us. We wondered if we would have companions walking the park paths today. But they did not stay. So, once we were alone, we headed towards our dirt track.

But first I stopped to take photos of the dewberry vines in bloom. They were not as profuse (or lovely) as those at the springs, but I wanted to see if I could at least grab a photo. After taking a series of bad shots of dewberry flowers we heard a loud rustling in the woods.

To be clear - we hear "a loud rustling in the woods" all the time. We are usually confident that deer are about. But we never see them unless they break out of the woods and into the meadows. The saplings and underbrush in our woods provide sufficient camouflage. And the eyesight of the walker and two aging dogs always proves insufficient to distinguish deer hiding in the depths of our small forest.

But today we were stopped adjacent to a long clearing. We could see into the woods for about 60 or 70 feet. Having no reason to move too fast today, we watched and waited. And we were rewarded as three deer crossed the clearing. Camera in hand, foolish me, I counted deer instead of attempting to capture this event. [So, you will just have to trust me.]

I thought it too much to expect deer in the meadows as well, but we walked our road and the pups followed scents as we followed the turns in the road. The near meadow was empty of deer, but full of green and just blooming wild verbena.

See the deer in the meadow ahead?

Here, let me blow it up for you. NOW do you see it - there to the right side of the road? No?

OK. This all I can do. Do you see her now?

We continued down the road and glanced up to see a deer standing at the opening to the far meadow. It stopped, we stopped. I snapped photo after photo realizing that distance would work against me.

The deer ran as we approached, but was hiding close enough to us that we heard that loud warning snort as we entered the meadow. We watched and waited. It had been such a lucky morning already. Surely the deer would break from the woods and give us one parting vision. They have done so before...

But not today.

Dewberries along the barbed wire fence.



New mesquite leaves bright green against the cedars.

More dewberries near the entrance to the park.

Wild mustard blooming along the edge of the woods. It seems to be taking over the countryside.

NOTE:

Danger of frost is over. The native pecans have budded out. Spring is officially here.

Saturday, Saturday!

Six o'clock this morning! What were we doing up so early on a Saturday?

Spring is here.

We walked east towards a cold blue morning sky, dappled with dark scattered clouds. Little light shown from the sliver of moon still visible above us. There would be no golden and rosy sunrise, but we would trudge down the road to be greeted by the cacophony of morning bird songs in the park.

No people were visible during our walk to the pavilion and away, but three cars were parked near the playing fields.

For cautious walkers cars without driver indicate warning. But Padimus and Scrufimus and I had company this morning. So we did not walk alone into the park and we were all wary. But no one (man or beast) appeared during our walk - no runners, no walkers, no dog people, no deer, no park cat, no fox, and no skunk.

We only heard the morning bird song, the roar of traffic on the interstate in the distance and, finally, the clank and bang of the trash truck moving through the neighborhood.

I left the the pups and DH at the house and traveled on to the farmers' market. We have two competing markets in town. The tightly regulated one has yet to open. The "free for all" was just warming up.  I found local honey, loads of plants, field greens, goat cheeses, beets and field greens. I was surprised to see young Jesus, a now teenager who helps his parents sell flour tortillas and tamales.

I feasted on a goat feta and field cheese soft taco...a Greek-Mexican fusion-ish warm breakfast.

A new friend

It has been a rough week. Pups have had to deal with rapidly changing weather. And they were all distracted in their walk today.

At the springs there were almost too many distractions for man and beast. Every green thing was  growing crazy - budding or blooming or vining or fruiting. The wild mustang grapes looked like they will bear well this year. I have not found any in recent years - not enough water I suspect. Perhaps our rains this year have been timed right.

The dewberry vines were blooming their bright white flowers against the dark vines and leaves. Then, of course, the purple wild verbena were out and starting to spread themselves in the fields. The coneflowers were just coming up and leafing out. I noticed something that almost looked like a cross between a violet and a wild petunia. Some aster-like white flowers, yellow wild coreopsis (?), and dandelions of many varieties were scattered through the prairie. [But the dominant blooming event was the dewberry - stunning.]

We climbed over and under new tree falls - victims of the wild weather of late. It will take some work to clear a few trails, but some trees are always left to decay naturally. While this is the way of things, my heart breaks to see ancient trees broken - first weakened by the drought and then wrecked by the wind and rainstorm.

The dogs, however, ignored the changes to the canopy and the trail. They were more interested in a new scent, a low flying vulture, or movement in the meadow.

Along one trail we met a friend of TDW. C and his tiny dog, Snoopy, were introduced as we wandered to the bridge and then river for a quick swim (dogs only). Snoopy was young and energetic. And she smelled the cookies in my pocket.

We did not walk along the limestone ledges today. People were tired and dogs not themselves. My guys just stared at the car and had to be convinced to get in, then "fell out" in the yard when we arrived at the house.
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NOTE:

We have no photos as the camera had no battery today. Our spring resolution - make sure the camera is juiced up for each walk. We don't want to miss a thing.

It was a cold and rainy night...

We made a mad dash down the street yesterday evening.

I thought the pups would be tired from the day, but they were full of energy as we headed east.

The streets were wet and a cool breeze was blowing - a fleece evening, odd for April.

Oak catkins knocked from the trees by the rain created a green carpet on the sidewalks.

The buttercups in Mohawk dog's field had twisted closed.

My companions followed scents or their imaginations up and down our street. And they struggled for position like children - who would walk on the outside of the trio and who would be in the middle.

The dusk hurried to dark as we hurried home.

Hugo, the Romeo? (A walking story shared by a friend)

Hugo the magnificent

It seems my friend, TDW, was out with his pups last Sunday evening.

He stopped to take a photo of a wild verbena, just up and blooming purple at the edge of the woods surrounding the springs. The dogs had not ventured far when TDW heard a small voice exclaim, "They're here!"

He got up to see what was happening. The dogs were moving down the trail towards a young girl and her father. As Hugo arrived at the side of the girl she immediately bent down and threw her arms around his neck. "I love you, Hugo!" she cried.

My friend caught up with the dogs and, smiling, said to the father, "I guess we have met you out here before."

A discussion ensued about how the dogs and my friend had met the father and daughter by the bridge (further into the park) a week before. And, it seemed the girl had been watching for the dogs during the entire visit that day. She had almost given up seeing them when they appeared on the trail.

And, of course, lovable Hugo with his soulful and compelling face received the relieved and affectionate embrace.

Close call(s)

You know how you start to leave the house or the office and something calls you back or distracts you for a few minutes? Most of the time you just talk to yourself about being more organized in the future or ignoring the irritating delay the next time.

But sometimes you wonder if the hand of fate just gave you a little shove backwards - a little protective nudge. Don't you?

Sunday, I had to clean up some work at the barn. One thing after another delayed my leaving the house. As I drove across the river bridge (near the park) I was forced to slow down for the flashing lights and cars scattered along the roadway ahead of me, the remainder of a wreck. It was a strange place for an accident. Visibility is clear. The road curves in spots some distance to the north and the south, but I was at a loss to understand an accident.

And my distraction/procrastination/delay kept me out of the chaos.

Yesterday, I left the office after a late consult with a co-worker and then a quick return to the office to lock a back door accidentally left open by another. As I approached my car I saw the flashing lights of emergency vehicles only a block away - in the path I would have taken home. The paramedics were still loading gurneys into ambulances as I passed the site.

Today I picked up that penny shining up at me as I walked the puppies. You never know...

Embrace the delay...




Much, much later...and JUST IN TIME:

Walker was home to catch up with oh so many things this afternoon. And the lightning flashed and thunder crashed. And a fightened Padimus cowered in the yard (Paddy really hates thunder). Both pups are safe inside now - out of the weather and noise.

TDW - Dogs and treats

Finally had a chance to check with the Temple Dog Whisperer and see if I could post these photos. The earlier photos were cropped and awkward.

So, here you go. Sorry we have been absent for a while. Life has been busy. We have taken walks, but have not written much. We need another adventure...

This is my lunch. You may not have it.

" I have treats, but everyone must sit. Guests go first."

Ruby waits patiently

Everyone enjoying their treat. Hugo  is ready for another.
Hugo is always ready for another.

(Detail of the photo above.) "Those treats were lip-smaking good!"