Family Camp-out at Brazos Bend State Park

 Gorgeous weather and we took advantage of a school holiday to camp at Brazos Bend. We are lucky to live close by this nature playground. 

 

A beautiful night around the campfire.

Smores and stories. The kids call them ghost stories and I call them adventures from a long life.

 

Are you brave enough to bike the trails at night?

Coyote came into camp looking for a little kid to eat 

Turkey Vulture keeping an eye on our campsite

Jake is into photography and I just love this photo he took with his new camera in the low light of the forest.

Must be getting close to lunch time

This gator swam over to our fishing spot looking for a handout.

The boys were into whittling points on spears and arrows. Luca is about to shoot a deer with his bow and arrow. 

Another Jake photo, 

Brazos Bend with Sally

 Sally and I had an awesome hike around Forty Acre Lake at Brazos Bend State Park. It was our lucky day as we had a couple of rare sightings. 

Hognose Snake.... also called a Spreading Adder ..... observe the flattening of the head like that of a cobra.

When disturbed, the hognose snake will use this behavior to confuse a predator.  It flips over and lays motionless.

We were blessed with sunshine and lots of amazing nature.

Gator and its habitat... It is rare to see them laying on a log.

Juvenile Yellow Crested Night Heron just caught a crawfish

Large gator feeding on a spotted gar. 

Halloween 2024

Cora and friends

Haley and friends

Jake looks like Jake. Partying at some spooky undisclosed location.

Gabriel headed out to trick or treat with his friends.

Luca and Ryan are ready to go!

Grace and friends
 

Grandparent paradise - All eight grandkids together this evening!

Grandkids and "yes" that is the Aggies beating LSU in the background.

 

 

A short getaway for hiking in the Hillcountry

 Perdanales Falls State Park with the river just barely flowing.

Jacob's Well Natural Area with no water flowing from the well. 

The Texas Hillcountry springs and river are in serious decline. Somewhat due to dry fall season but also due to dropping water table level of the Edward's Aquifer because of uncontrolled housing growth in this area of Texas  

 

Where has the waterfall gone? 

Pretty little canyon ..... River flow only about 5 cubic Feet for second

Looks likes this would be a fun tube ride!

So many fish just waiting to be caught. Grandsons would have so much fun here.

I have wanted to visit Jacob's Well for many years and I finally made it.

No flow of spring water at Jacob's Well near Wimberley, Texas. 

Brazoria County Fair Beekeeoing Booth

 During the County Fair, the Beekeeeping Club operates a booth that includes a plexiglass bee hive for viewing the inside of a hive. Finding the queen bee is a popular activity. 

 

 

Big Bend National Park

 When you fall in love with the Big Bend, you just can't get enough of it. We were back in our old familiar stomping grounds this past week.  This year's bunch of outlaws might be taking shorter hikes and taking afternoon siesta time, but the good times are still rolling.  Archie Rison, Mike Sanders, Erwin Lehmann, Debbie Scott, Jane Garza, Kathy and Glenn Schulze, and Yours Truly made the 2024 trek. 

 

  

 Hiked 5 mile round trip to Cattail Falls.  Photo taken at the iconic oak near where the Homer Wilson home once stood.

 

Kathy and Glenn

 

Debbie, Archie and Mike

 

Strawberry Cactus

Rainbow Cactus

Headed into Cattail Falls Canyon

Slow and careful approach to falls

Archie

Falls in background behind Erwin

Many Monarch Butterflies fluttering around the falls area. This one stopped for a photo. Got to wonder if she will make it to Central Mexico before the first freeze.

This is what Poison Oak looks like

Cardinal Flower is a native beauty of west Texas

Yellow Columbine is found in wet shaded canyons in the west. One of my favorites native flowers

Boquillas Canyon Trail - 2 miles roundtrip

For those that are hiking along the river, there will be stations of handmade crafts along the trails which supports the Mexican people of Boquillas. This is the first time we had seen tamales for sell.

Jane and Debbie and I with the Rio Grande behind us.

Spotted Whip-tail Lizard

Rio Grande Leopard Frog

 

I'm thinking "Bear Den"! Estimated population of Black Bears in Big Bend is 30-40. 

Signage at Boquillas Hot Spring - water temperature as it comes out of ground is 105 degrees.

Short Trail to Hot Spring

 

There are no strangers at Boquillas Hot Springs. 

Archie, Erwin and I soaking in the mineral hot spring. That is the Rio Grande is just behind us. 

Three-foot Diamondback Rattlesnake crawling in the weeds at edge of the trail at Dugout Wells.

Roadside Coyote

There we are.... outside patio at Starlight Theater in Terlingua

Starlight Theater on last night .... the Pork Medallions are excellent!

 

 Live music by singer/songwriter Sarah Burton