§ Laugh and the World Laughs With You...

Before I get to my hike from a few weeks ago, I'd like to post these thoughts...

1]  ...duh, y'think?



2]  ...they went that'a way! No...they went that'a way!!



3]  ...can you see 'em now?
[hint: fish and turtle! Bird is obvious!!]




4]  ...Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls - Step right up, step right up. Watch the amazing, the daring, never before seen FEET of Sandy the Piper's broad jump.



Lastly
5]  ...this one made no SCENTS!

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Now then, my hike:

It was a new, but all too short trail head. The trail is called Bear Creek. I saw no bears, nor creeks except for stagnant water in a drainage ditch. But the walkway was nice, level, clean and lots of curves to keep the momentum up and distance markers here and there to the end, where there is a turn-around to reverse your direction and return to the beginning:

NOTE: This will be my last blog post until after Thanksgiving. May all who celebrate the season, be sure you have a safe, wonderful time with family, friends and good food. I will take the time here to tell you all how thankful I am of YOU, and America. Be blessed until next time!!!

~Love, Anni

§ A Taste Treat...for the Palate and the Eye...

Have you ever tasted this bread? I haven't ever tried it...until the other day. The store's bakery had a 50 cent off coupon, and I wanted to sample it. It looked delicious. I bought some fat free, low sodium, honey ham for sandwiches. Topping it off with lettuce, avocado and tomato slices. and for Bud who doesn't need to watch his food intake; mayonnaise. With cantaloupe balls and low salt corn chips...we had a mighty tasty lunch!! I even splurged and had a couple of sugar free almond cookies afterward. But the bread!! I'm sold!! I am definitely going to get MORE of it. Of course, being something new for my taste buds, I did a bit of research:

The bread is generally made with sesame oil, which gives it a distinct aroma, and with a pattern baked into the top made by painting rice paste onto the surface prior to baking. The paste dries and cracks during the baking process. The rice paste crust also gives the bread a distinctive flavor. It has a crusty exterior, but is soft inside. Typically, tiger bread is made as a white bread loaf, but the technique can be applied to any shape of bread.

I've been told over and over from the cardiologist's nutritionist to use OLIVE OIL and that it's very beneficial...I don't like the taste! Okay so...reading that this bread is made with sesame oil...again, out to Google I go...Health Benefits: Sesame Seed Oil Vs. Olive Oil. Sesame oil contains nearly the same fat and calories as olive oil. Both olive and sesame seed oils are heart-healthy choices that supply unsaturated fats as well as certain nutrients.  Question is, is it good for you? Can it be part of a heart healthy diet? Well, of course, everything in moderation, even moderation, right? But this bread contained NO SATURATED FATS and VERY LOW in sugar! Few calories [depending on the slice]. Not bad. It is high in sodium tho. So, take it easy Anni...and you'll do just fine! Here's a recipe I found.

My personal taste opinion is that the bread is a cross-flavor of sourdough and nutty. Delicious. Slicing into the loaf I bought, it also has the texture of sourdough...made me wish I was visiting San Francisco again...dining on the wharf, having my clam chowder bread bowl.

photo courtesy of Google photo search

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One of two...Pollywog Ponds

I mentioned in my previous post about a new trail. It's in the vicinity of Pollywog Ponds. In fact I took the trail before. But that trail, long ago, has been cordoned off and a new trail off to the left traversing the thick woods is now the way to go. And it was gorgeous. So lush with Spring growth of the taller than tall trees...the path was wide. And best of all it was quiet!! I am one to go off by myself and experience the solitude of being alone without other people. Don't get me wrong...I like people. It's just there are times I like to get away from it all. I find serenity in being alone to enjoy the detachment of city-life. I guess you could say "one with nature"...listening to the sounds of nature is music to my ears.  Seriously.

The Trail...


Note: The fruit tree is mulberry! There were a lot of them along the trail...and signs of wildlife consuming the berries.

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The trail head ends on the outskirts of where birders park their cars. I say birders, 'cause I've never seen anyone just walking without cameras, tripods, and binoculars or scopes!!  Vehicles are not allowed beyond the gate so, there is a lot of walking to hike back into the woods heading to the ponds and river. [this new trail now makes four different trails in the area.] Also, the main trail will veer off to hike around both ponds! A birder out in this area can easily get in 20K steps for the day.

** - **

My next stop for that morning was West Guth Park.  This park is hilly.  The wildflowers were abundant, the geese and ducks on the pond were being very vocal...there was a dog training camp going on...I sat and watched them for a while before walking the hills...coming up on my next post!!

§ I Took a WRONG TURN!

Finding myself at Bazemore Park in Calallen Texas, I decided to park the car and walk the entire loop! The road is what I use to walk...it curves and loops along the Nueces River, then the boardwalk goes into the deep woods. Coming back out from the boardwalk, the road continues along two ponds and I climb a short incline where the park trail skims the country club's golf course. Beyond the golf course, off to the left, the Hawk Watch Platform is a stopping place where I climb aboard and scout out the terrain, looking out into the prairie land for birds of course...from the platform the road twists and winds around a covered picnic area to then go out on the entrance road and down hill. I say hill...it's about a 40 to 50 degree incline...the backs of my legs get a real work-out trying to hold myself back without running.

I found a 'new' trail that goes deep into the wooded area on this particular day!! The open area to enter the pathway seemed to be inviting me! It's a quiet area...pretty, and filled with trees that this time of year the new growth is so verdant and lush. BUT!! Back in there, the quiet and what I saw during my exploring the path was also a bit eerie!! There were HUGE pieces of polished [flat and beveled at the same time] granite stone. And long ago used columns of some kind jutting up from the hillsides. It was like I had stepped into the movie set of "Wrong Turn". [If you've never seen this horror flick it's about the back-woods where people are terrorized by disfigured men who are cannibalistic!]   I walked a bit further, and then decided to get the heck outta there and turned around getting back out into the open...safer...away from something I could feel that felt 'wrong'.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but I grew weary in there...alone. If a deer came into view I would've voided my bladder with fright!!

Out in the open again, I sighted in on a pair of Great Kiskadees busy with preparing their nest high up on a light pole. Many ducks on the pond and egrets of the snowy, and great species, black necked stilts, one lone belted kingfisher, northern cardinals, a few hawks, two flocks of Black Bellied Whistling Ducks on a fly-over, mockingbirds, a field filled with Killdeer and Meadowlarks, several Greater Yellowlegs, European Starlings, Ladderbacked Woodpeckers and Golden Fronted Woodpeckers, Morning Doves, Northern Shovelers and more. The birding was a busy time!! I will share just a few more photos of the area.  In order seen in this grouping:  Kiskadee in nest, Hawk Watch Platform seen through the trees, the Larger of the Two Ponds, a snowy egret and Belted Kingfisher in branches, Black Bellied Whistling Ducks fly-over, the two ponds as you view them from the hawk watch platform [looking northwest toward the interstate highway], and lastly, a Northern Cardinal along the Nueces riverbank.....

§ Into the Woods* * *...

At one of our favorite birding areas, it seems the city is clearing out a lot of debris and deadwood to perhaps make a new trail! Bud and I explored it. The area is at the backside of a heavily wooded outcropping, and it was beautiful being that the quietude of it all and clear sky with warm sunlight filtering through was perfect for hearing the sounds of nature! I'm sure by mid Spring, once the trees are leafed out, I'll need to have some insect repellent carried with me ...oh the mosquitoes!! The third photo from top has a Golden Crowned Woodpecker [enlarge the photo]...

At the entrance area we decided to take, we saw the white flowers in full bloom by the gate...Besides the denseness of the trees, we not only saw the wildflowers, but noticed 5 vultures circling high above in the clearing. When we made a turn-about, the same vultures had taken a rest atop the branches. Hmmmm, were they waiting for us to fall and break our necks perhaps? A free lunch buffet?...

* * * I have TWO posts today. The other, by clicking here will show you my CONSTANT CRAVING. And there you'll find my comment box for the day...


or...this link with the hash mark. It may or may not work.

COMMENT FORM - found on my 2nd post for the day.