§ He's Got a List...and Checking It Twice!!

At sunrise, I was getting prepared to go to town along the seawall; a car trip over Ocean Drive, parallel to the coastline.  The Rotary Club and several other institutions recognize veterans in a special way. It's quite impressive to see. The first time, years past, I went to view the tribute, there were maybe 50-75 flags in one park only, unfurled with each flag dedicated to a certain veteran of wars/peace time. I try to go each year. This year, a couple days ago, I drove there with intentions of taking photos as I walked. But, to my surprise, the flags display started at ONE park and continued through 4 more seaside parks....my estimation is 1000s of flags! Each separate flag dedicated to an individual. The flags are purchased for $50 to raise money and help those who served our country. I was in awe. I took a few photos, but this is just a minimal effort....

At the first park I pulled off and didn't park, I just sat in my car and viewed a bit. I was a bit speechless. I knew there'd be more further down the street, closer to town. I left shortly and followed the traffic flow to another...surprised at how many I'm seeing! Then, another park! Still more flags. The scene was a spectacle and humbling! Finally I stopped at the 'main' coastline park and got out and walked along the trail.

Leaving from my morning walk, it was becoming overcast, and I had other stops to make before heading home. Before I reached the car the sky was painted gray yet the sun persisted...

I stopped at the nearest Dollar Tree, but didn't find much. Across the street, there is a Walmart. I still had to get some bananas for lunch [my potassium supplement]. Once in the parking lot I noticed a LOT of police vehicles up front. My first thought was a shoplifter caught. Then, what with things going on these days I thought "Should I go in or stop somewhere else". There was no commotion or lights flashing. Nothing roped off, no stand off scene, and other shoppers were coming out and going in. Okay. Safe! I bagged my bananas and then, just 'cause I'm a fanatic, I headed to the holiday shopping area. As I walked through the aisles, I notice the cops!!!! They were everywhere. Each had a cart and a list. Their carts were filled. Aha! This too is a tradition here in Corpus. The police department play holiday angels to those in need....children [poor, orphans, foster homes]. I stopped and asked the one in my aisle if I could take his photo for my blog. He permitted me to snap a photo. I asked how many he is shopping for and he said three. "All girls". Later as I walked further, I spied another officer...she was talking to herself. I had to laugh inwardly. Then I saw some holiday leggins and first blogger I thought of was Sandra. She shops frequently at Walmart and wears those comfortable leggins with ease and style. I thought these would be perfect with a long plain red top. With her complexion and fun demeanor, these would be great. Even if she wouldn't wear them anywhere, they'd make a wonderful set of lounging pjs or part of Christmas Eve wardrobe!! She'd look mahvelous, don't you think?!

When I got back home, Isaiah was happy to see me.

§ Sunshine on My Shoulders....

....Makes Me Happy

I woke up yesterday morning to clear skies and no rain. And, since it was so chilly at that hour, I waited 'til the temp climbed up a bit, to 50 degrees, before I went out walking. I just walked a short distance this time. I have been wanting to go down along Ocean Drive/Shoreline and view the Veteran's Flags of Heroes that are gracing our city ... Sunday is the last day. I was hoping for a perfect day and it was. Lining the park and placed strategically on the lawn and surrounding the WWII bronze sculpture is the American Flag by the 1000s. Each flag is sponsored by a donor family in memory of their choice....each flag has a tag on it with the person's name. Soldier, Airman, Seaman....those who served in military and wars. My first sighting of this park as I turned the curve on the street was startling and humbling. As I walked the grounds I felt pride in every step and wanted to honor each and every one. They served their country, by choice or drafting, and some lost their lives to keep us free. Brave men and women.

Without any more words, I show you and hope you, as I was, can be awed by the pride of a nation as you view the images!!

§ Follow the River

One morning this week, I drove to Calallen Texas. I was given a free $80 value coupon for a synthetic oil change for the car [From the American Heart Association's 5k walk back in October of 2018]. The coupon was valid for a year, and since I had just had the oil changed in October, I thought I'd wait 6 months to take advantage of the savings. Besides, I drive to Calallen many times for walking and birding. Guess you could say I killed two birds with one stone! So to speak. Anyway, I called ahead of time to schedule the hour since I didn't want to be sitting around waiting my turn. I arrived, the oil was changed, and they did an entire "sweep". Oil, filter, all fluids topped off under the hood, tire check and brake check. And they even did a courtesy car wash and vacuuming!! All for free. And I was soon out the door, on my way to the park....

I walked along the river bank...

I got my step count done, the car has had a transfusion. We're set to go somewhere else in a day or two!!  By the way, as my blog title  post suggests:  a long time ago, there was a published book FOLLOW THE RIVER.  A great book!!  I still have it somewhere on the book shelf here at home.  It's a 5 star epic I have read numerous times.  [Native American  - young pregnant white woman kidnapped by the Shawnee...novel]

Photo source : Amazon

§ C'mon Autumn!!!

Church Steeple in the Morning Mist

On a still, warm, humid, morning, I drove to the river and the park...to walk. Well, after the heavy flooding rain from the week prior there was still a lot of standing water here and there. I was amazed! At our home, the water soaked in in a couple of days... after the rain stopped falling...but I guess the difference in the 15 minute drive [at 75 MPH], the storm dropped a LOT more than in town where I live!!! There was evidence of the river being out of its banks and flooding some of the near-by park land.

Normally dry grassy picnic areas, this was still under water. And the one with the trees in the foreground, look thru the branches and you can see a bit of the remnants of river water [near center of photo]...

I didn't do too much walking. Too humid and my insect repellent wasn't working too well either. The air was close to suffocatingly still...nothing stirred; as you can see by the flag that flies over the country club golf course...

After checking for any wildlife, and finding very little, I left the park and drove a short distance on a county road to the TURF FARM thinking maybe I could find an Upland Sandpiper or two. What I found instead was the land utilized for growing turf to sell; it too was still flooded! And I had to whip a "U" turn before I came to an intersection...the road was under water and barricaded. Stopping right in the middle of the road [there were no cars to be seen 'cause of the road closure], I spotted egrets and herons taking advantage of the flooded land - hunting for breakfast...

Tho the calendar says Autumn is the 22nd, here in the Coastal Bend of Texas we still have another long month ahead with soaring temps!!!! I'm so ready for Fall!!!!!!!!

§ Hilltop Community....

With the onset of some “miracle on 37th street” [interstate 37]…the hatching of Killdeer chicks, last Sunday morning I drove to the nesting area to check and see if the babies were out and about. It’s been nearly 24 days since I found the nest…when I arrived both mama and papa put up a show of wounded bodies and screeching to distract me. Eventually, I walked along the wall and through the rock outcropping to find the nest, and mama Killdeer was frantic and very nearby. I found two hatchlings out of the shell, just so new they barely moved…one unhatched, and the fourth egg was nowhere around. Did a snake get it? Or a hawk? I don’t think either scenario fits in…if any predator found the nest the entire nest would no longer exist. Perhaps the egg was not fertilized and she shoved it out, keeping the others. Who knows? Nature. If you’d like to see the nestlings, CLICK HERE! Anyway, I took a few photos of this, and left quickly.

Since I was out in the area and heading back toward home, I pulled off the interstate and used the Violet Road exit to an area park that has a lot of hilly paths and shade for me with the show of the white hot sky promising another day of dangerous heat index. I’ve only been walking a short distance because of the temperatures. A little bit of outdoor exercise is better than none. Once home again, I use my stationary bike to complete my routine ‘steps’. [Yes, I've had gym memberships, but I don't care for them...not to mention they're nothing but an indoor petri-dish]. The park is called Hilltop Community and it’s within a small burb of Corpus Christi. Annaville, Texas. Here are some photos of what I saw besides the bird life of doves, kiskadee youngsters galore and busy parents of the kiskadees coming in with their breakfast feast of spiders and insects, cardinals, blackbirds, grackles, starlings, thrashers, mockingbirds, and more…

A few miles down Up River Road is another park where I then turned into and stopped at the duck pond. While there only a few minutes by the pond, in the shade of an oak tree, I saw one long billed curlew, several domestic ducks, geese, gulls, terns, stilts, vultures. Down the hill several car loads of gentlemen were setting up to play disc golf, and behind me on the other side of the park road a lone Mexican squirrel was dining on his breakfast. Photos of this park will be in another post.

My appointment with a new cardiologist specialist went well.  He read my history and checked my charts from years past, did another EKG, and could see I have an extra heart beat each time [I've been told this before].  It also showed up in my holter monitor 24 hour wearing.  The carotid ultrasound was good for my age and heart history  Anyway, instead of going with another ablation or becoming a candidate for a pacemaker, he adjusted meds to nearly half of what I've been taking...even my blood pressure is dangerously low for now.    We'll then work further if anything scary develops.  I like the fact he didn't 'jump to any conclusions' without trying what he recommended!!  Unwanted surgery or unnecessary surgery has always been my way of thinking...in fact, I am more than likely to push my luck to the limits first.