§ Here, There, This and That...

Some years ago, I attempted to paint some rocks [called kindness rocks] to hide along some of the pathways [hide in plain sight] for others to find. There is usually a picture depiction on the top side with a kind word or passage on the back side. Well, the one time I did, I did three stones and that was the end of that. I also painted another rock to make it look like an alligator [or some thought a dinosaur] head. I shared it here a couple years ago, but looking through my post labels I can't seem to find it. [addendum: Found it! Photo of rock HERE, and the others in post HERE] Well, a few weeks back when it was still too hot to be outdoors, I started another stone to paint. I finished it finally...

I have a couple other ones in mind, but I have to find the "just right" stone.

I mentioned ordering a metal sign that is "me" through and through. It arrived on Friday as promised. It was hung on the kitchen wall for permanent display before the day was out...

For Sunday dessert I finally used up all the apples that we bought at a roadside stand. We had a peck of tart cooking apples. I made apple crisp the other day [I froze some of it]. And then while watching football games we dined on warm apple pie a la mode! Thing is the pie played a nasty trick on me. I would guess what apples were left totaled about 3 pounds. I used them all! Yep, you guessed it. The filling over-flowed in the oven while baking. Now I have an oven to clean. Oh, goodie. [self cleaning it is, but when it's done the cycle, I still have to scrap out the ash. I'm retired. That shouldn't have to be. Ohh-h-h-h Bud? Hmmmm, he seems to have disappeared!! Guess it's up to me to clean the ash...even if I did find him, I wouldn't be able to convince him the pie was baked for HIM.

With my heart health issues, I don't wanna be unprotected if I happen to have to make a trip to the ER. So, this weekend I also got a booster shot for Covid. What harm can it do? I know there are breakthrough cases reported, and the mandates are unconstitutional; but for me personally, it's playing it safe. Bud, the aged one has yet to make an appointment. He says he will, but that remains to be seen. Anywho....we went out to dinner afterward just 'cause I thought I deserved it being punched in the arm and all. The pain in the arm? Guaranteed I'll milk it all it's worth to get out of cooking! We went Mexican. A yummy LARGE margarita and Chili Rellenos!

It was delicious. And yes, my margarita has no salt on the rim....ordered that way by me. Again, with heart disease, I don't need MORE salt.

One more thing, then I'll let you go [if you're still here with me]...we finished the jigsaw puzzle Monday. And tore that one up to take to the senior center and started another one. This time instead of 750 pieces, it's 1000.

§ Alligator or Dinosaur? - - -

I took off early one morning taking my art connection [2] with me to stash somewhere in the park. I chose a close-by refuge along the bay to 'hide' them in plain sight. The first one is near the entrance to the refuge, the 2nd one I walked the trail and veered off the trail where I knew there was a bench with the overview of the water, hidden in the tree-line that drapes the trail in shade during the summer...

After I finished walking the trail and turned around to go back to the observation platform, I then got back in the car and drove to the other side of the bay where the NAS [naval air station] and the Oso Bay Texas A/M campus is to check out the waterfowl in that vicinity. By the time I arrived, the wind had kicked up and as I walked the shoreline of the bay side, I had to fight for balance. It was warm, but the high velocity of the wind kept my walk short. I did see a lot of birds hunkering down on the leeward...gulls, terns, willets, skimmers, pelicans, sandpipers, gulls, herons and more....

As I mentioned in previous posts, I had picked up three rocks to paint for this kindness project. The third one I finished and will take out to hide some other time.  All three rocks, I coated them with a clear varnish that has glitter added...they will sparkle in the sunlight [that is, IF the sun decides to shine!]

It's supposed to be a Texas Alligator, but both Bud and I think it turned out to look more like a dinosaur! lol

I painted the wording on the backside...

hashtag STRONG

§ A day in the 'hood...

SPRING IS HERE!!  The Mesquite trees are budding out!

Yesterday I walked around Port A. The town is improving...things are getting cleaned up. Readying for Spring Breakers I imagine. After hitting my birding hotspots, I decided to take the 'secretive' walkway around the back side of the ship channel and head to see what improvements, if any, were unknown to most of us 'locals'. Well, I parked my car and walked the 2 mile path. Found myself a bit surprised and shocked, yet not expecting much done...

The state and county are dredging the ship channel...eventually they are going to deepen the 'cut' for larger ships.  The abrupt ending of the path is where there used to be a deck and bench to view the lake.  The deck and bench were washed out during the hurricane!

On the main path to all the boardwalks meandering along the salt flats...of course it too was highly damaged...the other photo shows why - the channel's breaker was washed out and the salt water is now flowing freely into an area that once was...dry.

Here is the section that closed the trail for now...as you can see by the pink arrows I added...this was the first boardwalk to cross...[bottom of photo, the arrow is the beginning...the midsection pink arrow shows the trail]...the boardwalk, of course traversed where the water is now.

Egrets and fog along the ship channel

- - -

Then, these are two rocks I painted to hide somewhere when I go out and about...an act of kindness.  The first one is a high mountain  "climb high" is my message.  The 2nd one is for St. Patrick's Day..."I'm Lucky" with a pot of gold.  I have picked up a 3rd rock, but yet painted.  Gotta think of some subject first.

And...just a thought:

§ Art of Connection...

Traveling to find the wintering Whooping Cranes at Goose Island, I stopped at a few other sites.  I posted a partial photo album in my previous post - - And this is the continuation of my hunt for the wintering birds....



LINDA CASTRO BIRDING SANCTUARY


ALONG THE BAY on Goose Island Park Road


A massive bull in the field and boardwalk along Tule Lake East


A hidden stone marked for Valentine's day "HIS" and a Snowy Egret

The 'hidden rocks' campaign is to promote random acts of kindness - "The ART of CONNECTION" This is the 2nd one I've found while out on my birding treks. Kinda fun, and I'm seriously thinking of joining in on this fun way of spreading kindness to those that would appreciate a smile and good thought toward them!!!

Along the shore of Copano Bay on the park road, I spied a few -five- of my targeted bird!! [more photos will be shared next Saturday on my bird blog]. Behind the cranes and the road sign is the bay...not visible 'cause of the fog!!!