Fog on the creek

I lured DH to the park this morning. Actually, we just agreed to walk last night and so were determined to get out (and test Paddy's new seat belt). Fog shrouded everything. I cannot remember a morning this foggy in a good long while.

So we proceeded slowly down the road the 8 or 10 miles to the park. Paddy shrugged out of the harness. More work/adjustment is required there. Traffic was well paced and we were able to slow for our turn-off with little concern.

We have never seen the park quite like this. Spiderwebs, usually hidden, were bright with tiny drops of water.

I didn't realize how many spiders there are out here. It is probably better not to know. Still, they were beautiful with the mist showing off their construction.*

Besides a good walk for all of us, I have been anxious to see if the bluebonnets were really blooming. TDW had take a few photos, but I needed to see for myself and gauge the "big" bloom. I suspect it will start this weekend.

The sun struggled to break through the fog.

DH walked the dogs down one path before letting them off the leashes.

Everything dripped.

We were dripping too before long.

The first one we saw today. It is in a little clearing in the woods.

The bluebonnet buds are everywhere.

Look who is sneaking off to get in the creek.

Fog on the creek.

We walked towards the creek, but got off trail early and had a hard time finding our usual path. In a small clearing in the first fence-line woods we found our first bluebonnet of the day.

At the creek dogs jumped in and out. Paddy sported a nose of green algae, silly thing.

Paddy watched some imaginary something on the other side of the creek.

Sweet girl looks a little silly with a green nose.

Scruffy wagging his tail.

Then we cut across one edge of the larger woods in order to check one of the large clearings that has promised loads of blooms. It is just starting to deliver.

Buttercup

Those lovely yellow flowers that have been everywhere!

In the meadow in the woods the bluebonnets have started their bloom.

So lovely - and just the beginning.

Dots of blue in the meadow.

I worried a bit about us all tromping on the plants. Dogs don't care where they run.

One more bloom as we depart the meadow.

Heading back towards the cars.

"Bird leaves" on the path.

Some twigs were not just decorated with drops of moisture, but also garlands of wet spiderwebs.

Scruffy running the meadow.

DH heading up the path.

I talk about Scruffy always coming back for me. Well, here he is.

This was one stunning web. So many were just a mess of stands, a necklace of diamond dewdrops.

Another view.

This is the photo enhanced. The color is too bright, but allows you to see the web in more detail.

I cannot wait to see these plums. Plum jam?

Another fabulous spiderweb (the photo at the start is this web enhanced).

I wonder if there are two varieties of plum here.

Scruffy comes back for me one more time. He then got behind me on the path as if hurrying/herding me on.

Then we exited the woods and headed back to the car. Not only were the dogs soaked from the wet grass and dip in the creek, we were wet too - our pants up to the knees. Neither one of us had thought about wearing waterproof shoes so our feet were cold and wet so we hustled home so all could dry off.**

NOTES:

*I am not so sure I like the enhancement feature of this computer, but I am playing with it. I wanted to show how lovely these spiderwebs were and this seemed to give better contrast.

**We stripped down in the utility room and started a load of laundry immediately. We hurried in case the mailman or other visitor arrived to wonder.

I hear they have taught dogs to drive...

You will have to wait until the end for the explanation of the title. Sorry.

DH wasn't excited at the idea of getting caught in the rain and refused a trip to the wilds. But TDW walks rain or shine and was up for a long walk. I geared up (with just a little extra clothing in case we hit one of the squalls expected this afternoon).

We arrived after our friends and they were nowhere to be seen as we entered the area. We headed toward the creek and watched and waited. Suddenly we saw movement on our left (strange as they rarely start in that direction).

It was Hugo coming to greet us.

HUGO!

Isn't he handsome?

Ruby arrived. Then all the dogs ran wild. This is why we come to this area. It is one of the few places we know the dogs can run and not disturb anyone.

Hugo took off!

Scruffy and Ruby run towards TDW while Paddy came running to me.

We headed down to the creek. The water is high and we chose not to risk a slip into the water. We let the dogs get a drink before we headed back along the woods.

Hugo at the creek.

Hugo, Scruff, Ruby

I do enjoy these walks with TDW. The conversation is always good. His dogs are good and entertaining - and they get along so well with my guys. I really value our friendship. How fortunate am I to have such friends?!

We wandered over to the property line and my dogs decided to investigate beyond this public area. I had to lure them back with a promise of cookies (thank goodness I remembered to bring a pocketful). TDW held them while I snapped a couple of photos.

We've come across one of these signs before. I think we were lost (and on the wrong side of the fence).

C of E? Church of England? Cat of Excellence?* Oh, Corps of Engineers.

This fence post has seen better times. What caused this damage? Shotgun blast? Woodpecker?

Today Hugo decided to be stubborn. He either ran out in front or lagged behind. As we headed towards the entrance we couldn't find him. We called "HUGO" in all directions and finally saw him coming from the woods.**

We came upon a few more abandoned homes. I am always excited to see a different one. This nest is smaller than those I have found before.

Bird nest and dog.

This is another nest that we found fairly low. It was about 4 feet off the ground.

Another view.

Finally. This is the kind of bagworm I grew up finding in the trees at school.

Closer view. These guys can be excellent and neat builders.

This is another empty bagworm.

What a mess! But what excellent camouflage...you would think this was just dry leaves left on a twig.

Then we headed back to the entrance - snapping photos of the wild plum*** and a few other flowers.

Wild plums - I am pretty sure about this.

Look at these blossoms!

It makes me want to wear flowers in my hair!

These were the first flowers blooming in the meadow and now the few are the many.

I do think they would be lovely with bluebonnets!

We talked about a number of things TDW saw on his walk yesterday at the other side of this wilderness. He shared these photos:

TDW took a photo of the first bluebonnet in the wildlife area.

He also saw a good sized snake. He did not identify it, but thought it was harmless. It looks like a rat snake to me. Guess this means the snakes are waking up.

Oh, I almost forgot the driving dog. Don't judge! On the way home we found ourselves in a long line of vehicles when two lanes changed to one. The brake lights on the car in front of me came on; I slammed on the brakes; Paddy (who had climbed into the front passenger seat) lost her balance falling onto the floor - but not before she hit the shift and forced it into neutral; and the car stalled in the middle of the road. We survived it, but we have to do better. It is the first time something like this has happened to us, but once is enough.

I am now investigating dog seat belts. I had considered them before - for the animals' safety. Now it may be necessary to keep Paddy in place. She has a tendency to crawl from the back seat into the front driver's seat if the driver doesn't get in fast enough. She also is the leader of the pack in getting out of the car and will not wait for one to grab the leash.**** That may be fine in some situations, but not when we are off-loading on a busy street or with other dogs.


NOTES:

*We are cat people too.

**Even at the end Hugo was being "hard-headed." He came over to my car as if he was coming home with us (he has loaded up with us in the past). I waited until TDW loaded his crowd up and then we got in the car.

***Heaven help us! There are something like 6 or 7 varieties of wild plum. I have no clue which these are.

****OK. Judge me. These dogs are not well trained. They are in control. I have gotten the first seat belt for the dogs. She is probably not going to like it.