Today, May 11th, Bud and I celebrate 51 years of marriage!!!!
As predicted, a large rain-filled front came into South Texas. All day Thursday, the weathermen and alerts warned us to batten-down the hatches. Flooding rainfall, high winds, and a slight, but possible tornado here and there. Well, around 4 am Friday, it began. As I type this, the rain has stopped, and the back yard and streets are flooded. Then, there will be a 2nd go-round Saturday with MORE rain and high winds. By Sunday it should be cleared out and far out to sea. [At least in our area].
Well, Thursday morning, then, I went to Mustang Island and checked it out. Another birder that I have befriended who lives in Port Aransas was just leaving a birding hotspot as I came in. She said she was going back home to prepare for the storms. I checked out the two areas and then headed to the beach....the forecast was for extreme high tides. So, Beware!! I did experience high tide...and rough swells on the sea. I took pictures. I will make this a two part posting. Today, flowers....the next post, part two will be the beach photos....
Wildflowers and seed are prevalent everywhere I look...
Yellow is the dominant color and twisted trees line the park road...
At the birding facilities park benches are 'the norm' and white trumpet vines are in bloom...
Paradise Pond has turned into a swamp of Sci-Fi scenery. Dead Trees and silence makes one think we are not of this world. [damage from hurricane]. Wild Poinsettias are becoming quite colorful [last of two photos above is a poinsettia bush]. And then....
....a close up.
As I headed to the beach, blue sky burst through the overcast for just a few minutes before gray returned. Yes, the tide was in...the sea took over the parking area....up to the dunes!! I had to traipse through the salty tide now and then. A few ships, many gulls and pelicans and terns were on a feeding frenzy with the food being washed in by the surf. One lone caracara [Mexican Sea Eagle] was on the prowl for something to scavenge. I took out my lens ball too.
Coming in a day or two, those beach photos. Part Two
In the meantime, I have my oars and snorkel apparatus, ready for more rain....
Bud was napping after lunch on Sunday. So, I played a little with my sketch pad and pencil. It started out with a rough sketch. Then, shading and detailing a bit. I tried to make it as simple as I could, and yet kept it fun. I was finished with it in about a half hour after the initial outlining. Years ago, I did #45 and liked how it came out, but this one is a bit different. All I can say is "I tried". So, now, I introduce you to my caricature of #46 [which in my opinion looks a bit too young]. But oh well, as far as caricatures go, they don't have to be accurate, right? I think his eyes are too wide open. Our Pres has squinty eyes. lol But, here he is...
50 years ago, on May 11th [1968], Bud and I married. 
To begin this post I am now back to present day!! Early in the morning hours [I left on purpose 'cause of the low lying ground fog to avoid the rush hour traffic], I headed to Calallen, Texas to enter the park along the river. At one point where I take the exit from the NPID freeway to the interstate, I almost turned around and went back home, the fog was so thick. By the time the traffic lanes straightened out from the exit overpass, the fog then became thinned out. All along the trip there were patches of dense heavy fog to some clearing. I kept going and arrived at the park as the gates opened.. The air was still, the trees dripped with dew, the birdsong was faint and peaceful. One white tailed dear jumped in front of the car as I took the steep incline on the road. Thankfully, the speed limit through the park winding road is 5MPH...slow enough to utilize the reflexes and not run into any wildlife on the pavement....
Recently, in the local news report I have as a phone app, the long sought after new sculpture is coming to our area. Along a road to one of my birding areas in town, there once was a Native American Burial Ground. Many archeological excavations have taken place long before new apartment buildings have been constructed [for college kids, since its within close range of the AandM campus]. Now that that is complete, and the buildings are going up like crazy, the land that was set aside within the Hans Suter Wildlife Refuge [on the Bay] will see the new bronze statue erected. A few months ago, the Native Americans and city council members had a ground breaking ceremony. They have constructed a ground level medicine wheel, and the bronze work of art will be in this area. When completed, it will be a monument to honor the Native Tribes. From a site online:
