After the Attack

The sun was a big orange ball starting to clear the tree-line as we headed off this morning. It was still early enough on this crisp morning that most neighbors had not recovered their newspapers.

There is no blood or crime tape marking the place of our attack, but we are still marked (me more than Paddy according to my friend Steve - the dog whisperer) and were more than alert as we crossed the street to give the area a wide berth...

The park seemed like it was waiting for us, perhaps since our efforts to get there were blocked for a few days. We missed it and it missed us. And, as brave girls, Padimus and I decided to wander down the dirt road and visit the meadows too. 

We could see the fresh tracks in the dust of the road. They were here, the deer. (That the skunks had been there was clear too, although we saw none of their tracks.)

The wild verbena are huge and beautiful - a new carpet of purple. Ahead on the road the birds (including a cardinal - thank you God for all the birds, but especially for some that are not brown and grey. I love those as well, but I need to be able to identify a few) flitted back and forth from one side to the other.

We heard some rustling in the woods, but feared we were simply too late...until we reached the back meadow. We were rewarded for our courage this day. One deer was just entering the clearing from the woods. It snorted a warning and a second doe joined it. They ran and stopped, ran and stopped, crossing the entire meadow. We watched them, white flags waiving back and forth as they entered the brush again.

With the sun at our backs we went home, again skirting THAT place. We noted the parade of parents heading to the playing fields. And we complain of congested roadways no more remembering our good neighbors...

Park Blessings

Still adjusting to the time. Got up early (6) to discover DH had not gone for his run. I sacrificed my sleeping late to make him walk with me.

Paddy doesn't care if it is 6 or 8 or 11. She is just ready to go.

The lights of town bounced off the cloud cover and so if seemed brighter than normal. The same band present in the park: banana man, Bobby, Escalade man...but there was also a strange truck in the parking lot. The driver was just sitting there with the overhead light on...

We heard lots of night insects. INSECTS! Perhaps this means we will have a return of the owls and other creatures that have been missing this past year of drought.

Banana man spoke of his blessings as we exchanged greetings this morning.

I know what he means...

2 Calicos

Ah, I will always have the walk. 

I will miss these spring break walks. The neighbors and neighborhood are different in the light of day - the calico cats lounging in a neighbor's yard, the heeler off-leash and staying at his owner's side, the little old couple doing yardwork, MORE cats lounging in the windows at Mohawk dog's house, the friend on his riding mower at the house across the street [Once the unhappy house of a murderer, three families later, it still appears in my mind surrounded by police tape], the shrubs and trees (save the pecans which know about snow at Easter) shooting out green in time for the saint's day, and a tiny purple blooming weed creating carpets of color everywhere. 

I know what this silly little thing is called, but cannot remember right now. I have two wildflower books out for help. I think it funny how such an insignificant plant can have its time to show off. It is not normally so widespread and obvious, but the drought killed its competitors. This is its year...whatever it is called...bringing us visions - fields of purpley pink...

The heeler and two calicos seemed a message from Oreo, Ratso and Peaches  -that all is well.

How Many Mornings?

How many perfect mornings do you get?

Every single one you get.  

Sometimes they are easy to recognize

and other times you have to squint to see

and listen hard to hear

the beating of your heart

and the snort of deer

- warning the herd of the approaching threat.*

Sometimes it is just a perfect morning. While we started out late, the day was dawning and gave us such a different experience.

The temperature was cool. And the view? We came around the corner and started down the last hill - the sight of the old truss river bridge bearing the first few cars of the early to work always makes me smile - a youthful memory not yet the victim of upgrade. Above that the skeletal trees, still holding out against one more spell of cold weather, reached up to a necklace of lights from the next town over followed by the vivid colors of the sunrise and the dark layer of clouds.

We decided to walk to the first meadow...where we felt, but did not see the deer herd. They had left scent, prints in the dusty road, and a sense of their having deserted the clearing just as we passed the tree line. We will try again another day.

We noted buttercups blooming along the way home and Padimus attempted to engage an older hound who responded with only a bored look. Mohawk dog and friends made up for the snub. It will soon be time for his haircut and we cannot wait. He is a different dog in the summer. But then aren't we all a little different in the summer?

NOTES:

* This memory popped up in social media and I check to see if it was saved here. It wasn't, but now it is.

Girls walking in the dark

Perfect morning for a walk. Escape dog was glad to get out of the pen.

The park was empty. The stars were out. The creeks were flowing with the last of the rain run-off. I kept thinking, "we will see deer." But there were no deer, no creatures out (too early for the birds).

On the way home we heard two dogs bark as we passed and one of Mohawk dog's buddies came out for a walk with his owner, disturbing Paddy.

She talked about it all the way home.

December 26, 2011

Late walk with Paddy and DH.

We were not alone - new woman with dog, Dave and running man...

Some of the things I love about the park (in addition to the birds, deer and walking/running friends) - the way the leafless pecan trees look silhouetted against the gray sky...the wind moaning spookily across the signposts...the intermittent streams...the tiny wildflowers struggling to bloom in spite of drought...

Trust Your Dog

I love Paddy.

As we approached the second turn into the park Paddy was alert and clearly reacting to something. She was totally aware and concerned.

Then OC spied a truck in an odd place (really almost hidden along the dirt road to the meadows).

We decided to trust Paddy's (and our) instinct and cut this walk short. Read "The Gift of Fear." I just call it "trust your gut."

Paddy would say, "trust your dog."

Paddy Loves the Park

[Early walk with dog - saved here.]

Just finished the walk. 

As we reached our turn into the park, Paddy (who does not watch for traffic) was trying to pull me across the street. She kept looking at me as if to say "Aren't we going to the park? We are here. This is the park. Come on. Let's go!" 

She also seemed excited to see and be seen by other dogs. We see so few at 5 a.m. The last dog was in a car and Paddy "spun me around" as she searched for that barker...too funny.

Deer and Owls

October 18

Walked in my sleep yesterday...no sleeping today...front blowing in. Funny how a cool breeze (ok, it is not a breeze...really windy out there) can change everything. Visited with coughing man a bit and Paddy exchanged greetings with the robot dogs. As we turned for the final stretch out of the park we saw the two small bucks headed in. They walked along the road a ways, lit by the streetlamps...finally they spotted Paddy...and turned into the woods near the creek.
NOTE: Heard great horned owls yesterday along the first stretch of park road...

Sleepwalking

Walked in my sleep yesterday...no sleeping today...front blowing in. Funny how a cool breeze (ok, it is not a breeze...really windy out there) can change everything. Visited with coughing man a bit and Paddy exchanged greetings with the robot dogs.

As we turned for the final stretch out of the park we saw the two small bucks headed in. They walked along the road a ways, lit by the streetlamps...finally they spotted Paddy...and turned into the woods near the creek.

NOTE: Heard great horned owls yesterday along the first stretch of park road...

Moon and Fog

Using a photo from another time (because I can as I save this memory).

No lights in the park. Moon bright and all walkers present, but still eerie in the early morning fog...shadowy creatures are all we see...we stayed on the road and kept a brisk pace as we watched the fog move a little closer...

Early park cat sighting

Few cars today...love holidays... no greeting from the little one as no school today, but we were able to admire his "ghosts" decorating the yard in anticipation of the end of the month...only a cat stalking the playground for wildlife in the park...well, the cat and a number of those large spiders along the sidewalk...

Skunk in the park

Loving the cooler temps for the walk.

We scared and were scared by a skunk... and, while I was re-collaring the dog (she walks in a different collar), she alerted on something out in the yard.

When letting her back into the backyard I am "cornered" at the gate...NOT a time I want there to be something bad out in the yard...I think it was a shrub or shadow...or else a stalker who melted into the shadows...but I may vary this exercise for a while...

Documentation of one of the early walks

Dare I say damp chill?

DH walked with me to an empty park. We only saw two folks - runners - one we call coughing man because he usually will cough to let us know he is about to run past - the other was new and running with a red flashing light. I would call him the "flasher" but folks would misunderstand.

No little one today, but a big crowd at the bus stop (before 7!). Walked Paddy back into a yard with rain dripping shrubs and wet grass...

She's no guard dog

Sweet Paddy walked beautifully today...then we started past a yard with a dachshund wandering around (with his owner)...I think it surprised us all...Paddy stopped, dachshund stopped and his owner hustled him into the house...so much for my guard dog...Paddy just mumbled/whined as we continued on. I have never had a dog "comment" like this before.

Peaceful Walk with Paddy

[9-11-2022 ~ Saving another short walking note from long ago.]

Walking late today (taking some time off) and greeted our little person who called out to us, but wasn't allowed off the porch. If we didn't already recognize it (Mohawk dog) we discovered that Paddy likes big blonds as she almost pulled away from me in the park when an overweight yellow lab shuffled past with his owner...managed to get out of the park before the robot dogs (more yellow labs) got out of the pickup and saluted the bike on the way home...

I don't fish, but I notice

[Continuing my practice of saving old notes as I discover them, this one is added.]

Today I am going to take my lead from the two men in the park...they had all their tackle out in the back of the car...baiting their hooks for a morning of fishing....

While watering the yard (Sunday is one of our days) I discovered the schoolhouse lilies are preparing for their show - some are blooming and some just peeking out of the soil...the squirrels (darn them) are scampering around burying nuts for winter...so giving thanks for the day and planning to be mindful every minute of it...



NOTES:

2016 - The schoolhouse lilies are blooming now as well:

Raptor rescue

Cool and windy walk...forgot the trash bags. :-(. And then, next to a storm sewer opening, a raptor baby (still need to look up what kind) huddled in the street. Girls went for the phone number to the animal rescue and a box. So the crazy lady in the torn tie dye t-shirt and hot pink tennis shoes (now you know why we usually walk at dark) stood in the street to keep cars from running over the baby bird. Then Belton's finest drive by...stare at the crazy lady in the street, turn around and stop... quickly determining the crazy lady is not a danger to herself or others, they call for back-up and take over "operation raptor." OK...off to see what kind of bird that was...

On the river, 2011

    Thursday evening walk…cicadas and frogs competing with their droning evening songs…river level so low, I don’t remember seeing it like this…pond almost dry…bats swoop to snag water bugs off the surface of the slowly moving water…temp almost 10 degrees cooler than home, but still hot…and no fireflies…when have we not had fireflies at dusk on the Frio? – 2011…
    Thursday evening supper out…picked up newspapers at the Italian restaurant…black bear killed in Mountain Home area…whoa buddy…spied a black kitty on our way to the river tonight…tried to convince Mike it was a bear…hysterical to hear him respond…”No, it’s a kitty!” Still, we will be watching our step on the early morning run/walk…no need to surprise (or be surprised by) creatures more exciting than cats or ducks…
    Sunday morning – how did it get here so fast?...second pot of coffee still perking…(STILL!)…old tortillas cut up and waiting to become duck and perch food…ants washed out of the recycling …stuff everywhere, but packing commenced…need to make a tally of animals…2 lizards…one toad…loads of croaking frogs… masses of cicadas and dragonflies (but few other insects)…lots of buzzards…two armadillos…one roadrunner…many cardinals…25+ deer on the drive back to camp Friday night (some exotic – and at least one raccoon) one black kitty…4 mallards...2 mean domesticated ducks…almost as many bats hunting on the Frio at dusk as coming out of the Devil’s Sinkhole (a different variety, they tell us)…one owl hunting bats…loads of perch and minnows…a few bass…a couple of turtles…few people and one idiot jumping off the cliff (not one of us).
    The business folks in Leakey tell us that it has been one hard season and they are more desperate for rain than even we are. The lack of trash on the river speaks of how few folks even tried to tube…or came to camp…sad all around. Three of our swimmers are on the river for the last swim…they will be up soon and ready to shower…then it is back down to the river for photos and sad farewell…oh, and there is one bike…and one boat…

Unknown

Dawn delayed by clouds...walk in between day and night...evening insects still whining - slowly joined by the morning bird songs...one last bat flits by...and Paddy alerts across the street from the park entrance. We all stop...car lights show us that it is a fox...and he, recognizing us, heads back along the creek...the empty park feels too hot and still...we walk to the first meadow and see nothing...then, along the road to the far meadow, a dark figure crouches..."Skunk?" "No, too big - vulture shape." And the creature, hearing us rises and stalks off, not a dog, not a cat, not a fox, tail-so not bobcat...time to go...

Is it time for a stand and feeder? (Just kidding folks)

DH, Paddy and I startled two does and a (nice) buck - all crossed the dirt road in front of us into a stand of trees and then crossed the left side of the first meadow. We got to the second meadow and Paddy was scanning everything - disappointed it was empty. We entered the park and heard (and then saw) the same deer...must have paralleled the road and exited the trees into a field beyond. As we headed home we saw two small bucks trying to cross the busy street coming towards us. They waited and then ran at us along the creek...saw us and disappeared into the woods. Paddy was going crazy...DH and I decided it was just the teenagers, oversleeping and getting into the park late...

Turn of luck

Clouds blocked the dawn stirring up childhood fears (Are YOU afraid of the dark?); I forgot Paddy's water; Paddy - deciding she is a GUARD dog, not a watch dog - growl-barked and lunged at a (strange) runner. I decided to try the first meadow anyway.

The meadow was empty and it seemed we were either too early or too late when one doe entered the meadow from our right and stopped...took a step, then another...then took a step towards us as Paddy and I held our breath (sometimes Paddy is the best behaved, most intuitive animal). Suddenly the deer let out a warning noise - like the lout "shushing" of a mother or an exhausted exhale of breath. She and two other does broke into a run across the meadow while Paddy and I stood motionless. Then we headed home...

Deer (and a bicycle)

Walked down the dirt road that parallels the park. (We used to let Paddy run a bit here until she decided she didn't need to be in visual contact and "took off" for about an hour - scaring us all silly.) Approaching the first meadow we saw some movement - four deer. They finally saw us and ran into the tree line as Paddy yanked the leash (and my arm). At the second meadow we saw nothing, but heard a big crash in the woods (it is on these days I am especially glad DH is along). We circled around into the park mostly watching our feet - huge cracks and holes in the parched areas surrounding the soccer field. Suddenly a whole herd of deer came crashing through the brush towards us (briefly) - one medium sized buck, two fawns and about 4 or 5 does...after they spied us the group scattered, except the fawns. They stopped and looked us over just a minute or so and then bounced back into the brush...

Twenty-one Hours/1400 Miles - Much of It Desert [A LONG Drive Across California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas]

Where are the people?” resumed the little prince at last. 

“It’s a little lonely in the desert…” 

“It is lonely when you’re among people, too,” said the snake. 

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery (The Little Prince)

Long drive...love driving 75 legally...lots of construction and slowing down...boo!...warnings of dust storms and some amazing dust devils on the side of the highway...then some very ominous clouds/dust storms on both sides of the highway, but never where we were. I couldn't tell if it was dust up high or smoke from the fires or both...but very scary...not a trucker fan this trip...they have not been nice.

DFW! Whoo-hoo! Lots of crazy stops along the way...one sketchy gas station just inside the border to TX where there were prisoners in stripes doing road work...all in all a good adventure....now, knock wood, to sleep, airport on time and back home...

No issue with the border stop...YC says she always takes off her sunglasses and stares at them with her blue eyes...

Note:

This was on a drive from California to Dallas to put YC on a plane. I have no conscious memory of where she was going.

I do remember her comment as we drove through part of west Texas. “Odessa? I would have said Odesolate is more like it.”

And now I always say “Midland and Odesolate.”

Friends have shared "Slowdeatha" and "Nodessa."

Walking in the Dark

"Where are the owls?" I have thought on almost every walk. I had finally heard some screech owls in Mrs. Guffey's yard a few weeks ago, but nothing since then...FINALLY this morning we didn't hear them - we SAW them sitting on a wire, silhouetted against the brightening sky...

Still wonder what happened to the great horned owls in the park...

The Fox

Started the walk to the call of a screech owl..."what's that?" J. asked. I love it when people ask me to identify bird calls I know.... Then a fox alerted on us at the entrance to the park. He was finding insects under the street lamp and didn't run right away. He just watched us.

7 Deer, 3 People, 1 Dog

Took a lovely late walk last night with J, DH and Paddy. On the way home Paddy alerted. We had just walked past the bridge over the creek - 7 deer making their way along the bank. This morning's walk was less eventful - one kid with a cell phone and one black domestic house cat wandering a yard...

Notes: Adding this post from FB memories makes it the first in the blog archive. An explanation might be in order. I count things. You are welcome.