§ Blogger Interface is a Challenge These Days...

I started out the morning after breakfast, working online in Blogger. The "newer" interface is not the friendliest. I feel I'm pretty proficient with coding. Yet, I can get tangled up in HTML for hours. I really shoulda just forgot the whole thing and gone birding. But no! Stupid me. I worked for hours and took a lunch break. Yes, hours. Then, I ended up getting the finishing touches on both of my blog templates for March after lunch. The most frustrating features [or I should say LACK of features], are the customized backgrounds...they don't work as they should [covering only the top few inches without being a complete filled in page! And secondly, the header! Each time, even after resizing it to fill the width, it comes out aligned to the far left! Not centered. I worked and worked. Finally, got it figured out, and made notes for next month's updated design. At least I hope.

As I said, I shoulda gone birding!

§ A Very Angry Sea...

Last Sunday morning, when Tropical Storm Beta was out in the Gulf, threatening us along the Texas coast, I drove to the Packery Channel [one of the few places that wasn't closed to the public]. Y'wanna try saying this fast three times: "Wanna see what I saw of the sea?" Here are some photos. Of course, I didn't go all the way to the end. In fact NO ONE did! But, I had my zoom lens ready for some action [and also one when a deafening stillness was noticed]. I was standing MANY yards away; out of harm's way. But, I must tell you, I did get drenched heavily once. The surf came in along the jetty boulders and hit the corner of one and sprayed up with great force, soaking me. LOL

I thought these girls were either brave or showed some stupidity. When they got up close to me far away from the wrath, the one on the right offered [without my coaxing] to take a photo of me hanging on. The blinding sun was in my eyes. But, the gesture was appreciated...
Keep in mind, these taken were far away from the danger zone...I was using my large zoom lens!!

On Monday morning it was breezy, light rain, and minor coastal flooding. Corpus Christi made it out of danger pretty well.

§ Shoreline/Ocean Drive Part II

Skyline from Oleander Point

About 3-4 miles down the road, Shoreline Blvd turns into Ocean Drive. This is mainly one of the many ritzy residential areas, altho the closer you get to the island campus for A and M University, there are apartment complexes, and hotels along with offices for doctors, etc. 

But, I didn't plan on going any further than another roadside park to climb down the embankment to search for sea glass. I found one blue piece, very small, but the views from the shore were fantastic...the water so sparkling and that made me almost forget how hot it was!  From the car, driving to Oleander Point [part of Cole Park], this church fills the skyline.  The street curves just beyond the church entrance and a slight incline to one of the many, many hospitals here in town.  Beyond the hospital, the small area parks begin...

My park of choice for the day, as I said, was Oleander Point.

Once out of the car after parking under a huge palm tree for shade, I snapped the fancy home just across the divided road...here you'd see many, many million dollar homes!! Hundreds of them even larger than this one.

Corpus Christi's Chamber of Commerce nickname is "The Sparkling City by the Bay". That it is in certain areas...this is one of them.



[the yacht being refurbished was at the yacht club in the Marina...its name was Sharon...I took it for my sister who's name happens to be Sharon!!]


The Sparkling City by the Bay

§ Along the Channel - Beach

...those that arrived before me:

As I posted in my previous post, He is Strong, the day began early for a lot of us. By the time I arrived at the beach, shortly before sunrise, the surfers and sports fishermen were already there. A lot of them! As I drove into the parking lot to begin at the paved walkway along the channel, the sun was peeking over the sand dunes. I enjoy the rising of the sun more than setting. It's a new day, a new beginning...

I'm a sucker for LOVE. This couple walking hand in hand on the warm beach oblivious to that that surrounded them...

...the dune vines/flowers were just beginning to open. With the rainfall aplenty the last couple of weeks, the white morning glory vines were quite abundant - all OVER the dunes! The pink railroad vine was lacking as was the yellow blossoms, but I did find a few. At the entrance to the beach access road, the warning flags were blowing in the wind...red/dangerous rip currents and orange/caution for surfers I believe. I am not really sure.

Once back home, I made a blackberry pie, using my Texas shaped cookie cutter for the top crust [all made from scratch -including the crust]. I only show you this, 'cause the oven is clean...

§ I Love to be Beside Your Side...

...beside the sea, beside the seaside, by the beautiful sea.  I love living by the sea!!! The sights, the colors, the sounds, the sand, shells and wildlife, the salt air fragrance, the tranquility and even the storms creating turbulence [of course, from the land, not out on it...lol]. Sometimes, when I am out walking; day trippin', when I feel like just walking, I head out to the water...And most times I find peace within. The sea does that to me so very often!!!

Surfing School



Crashing waves!

The seagulls laughing and enjoying life, glad to be alive, surviving the day, even if we humans invade their territory!  Sometimes I think we should do as nature does...just be.  Forget everything.  They aren't called laughing gulls for nothing!!

The colors and the quiet times of the early morning hour!


Wild grasses on the dunes just off the shore dancing in the breeze!


A man and his best friend!


The picturesque foreground and the still horizon!

Incoming!!!  Soon, the crew will be at the dock, selling their catch of the day to those waiting with their pockets full of cash; shrimp on the barbie tonight for dinner!

...and of course, a favorite pastime, watching ships from foreign lands leave for places unknown, or coming in to port with their imports.  Oftentimes I wonder how lonely it can be far far from home.

§ Rockport Street Fair

After driving around to watch the hummingbirds at their shared feeders around Rockport-Fulton Texas last Saturday, I then went to the street fair that was being held over the weekend. I checked out ALL the booths and really found nothing of interest or anything I could live without....

Except one booth. A lady had all kinds of handmade soft sculptured teddy bears. They were cute! Then, I spotted the wagon sitting just below the display and saw what I "had to have"!  I'm sure you guessed from my last post sans hints. Yes, it's seasonal. In the wagon were four dolls. One with a wicked green face that caught my eye. I asked her the price she had for them, and quickly put it back on the wagon. Way too much! Ridiculously priced if you would've asked me....but, I continued drooling at the bit. I said, "I'll give you $25 for the green faced one". She said that's too low...So, I started walking away. As slow as I could so she could maybe change her mind. "I'll sell it to you, but don't let anyone else know I am practically giving it away!" Huh...So, I handed her the $25. And walked along. Bud would just laugh at me, like I need another witch!! She was just too adorable. And I know I got a 'steal'....'cause the labor involved and the price of materials to make them wouldn't give her that much profit....but, I don't feel guilty [well, maybe a little]. She didn't have to sell it to me! Right? Okay, now I DO feel MORE guilty!!!

The green faced one, she came home with me. The saleslady named her 'Tilda.

Once back to the car at the parking lot, and 'Tilda snuggled on the passenger seat, we drove around the harbor/yacht club area of the Rockport Park just to check out some sights before heading home.