§ South Bay Sunrise...

§ Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder....

These photos were taken just after sunrise along the park's beach in Rockport, Texas. I didn't realize it'd be like it was as the sun was peeking over the horizon, until it was up in the sky for about 15 minutes. I was walking along the trails and not paying much attention 'til I actually looked! LOL




This park, along the beach bay has been in the midst of a huge renovation since damages from hurricanes. I always like walking here very early in the morning...at the end of the trails, there is a rookery where several species nest in the Spring months.

This will be my last post for a while! I will be...

A few asked in my recent comment section to share a photo of the new kitchen faucet. Why? I dunno. But since inquiring minds wanna know, here it is...

The brand is a Mohen [is that how it's spelled?]

I took a short drive to Packery Channel to see what the traffic was like. Not bad. Saw a very pretty sunrise over the causeway. But, I didn't stay away from home long as I had a promise to keep at home...

Then, I was out helping Bud trim all the crepe myrtle bushes in our front yard to get rid of the seed pods from last Fall. So, I took my cellphone and snapped a couple of photos of some bushes that are blooming now in our yard. So many [mainly the hibiscus] got frozen again this winter...two years in a row. And they were just coming out of the shock this past autumn, froze again, and I don't know if they'll come back. My hybrid hibiscus [the mini blossom, varigated leaves] has a lot of new spring growth. For which I am very happy. And the Tombstone Rose [Lady Banks] is beginning to bloom profusely...I'll get a photo of that too in a bit. For now, two I share...the gardenia's first blossom for the season, and the plant called "Mexican Fire Bush"...

My newest book to read is a twist on the assassination of the Lincoln conspiracy; a subject that has held my interest for decades. The author claims to be a distant relative of JWB, and he is proposing that perhaps John Wilkes Booth was NOT the one captured outside of Washington D C, but an accomplice. And that Booth lived under an assumed name. I am interested in how this comes about, the author's facts, the perhaps new evidence that could possibly be feasible. I doubt it, but I guess anything is possible. Especially if you consider today's times and how our government "covers up" many events to appease the American people. I will tell you want I think when I finish the book. Truth or "Fake News"?

To make a long story, short, for weeks I've been looking for Isaiah's favorite toy. The "tail" has long been chewed off and thrown away, but the ears still remain. He has played with this from day one when we brought him home after adopting him. But it disappeared. For good, I thought. Then, dusting the venitian blinds behind the entertainment center...there it was!! Trust me it's as small as it looks! Perhaps an inch and a half...two inches tops. I was pleased to find it, but not as much as El Diablo [aka Isaiah].

After quite a bit of yard work and picking up around the house, indoors, I was ready for a nice hot shower and a quiet evening with TV on and watching a new FBI on CBS. But first, hot BBQ pork sandwiches, home made potato salad, tossed salad and carrot cake for desert. By now, all clean and spiffy and ready for an hour or two of reading after watching TV, I will don my sleep shirt...

I don't give a rat's A$$
It's just how I feel these days.

§ 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.

§ The Buck Stops HERE...

Sunise through the trees

I left just before sunrise. Arrived at a park in Calallen as the sun was just coming over the tops of the trees. I thought I'd take a blog break from everything Halloween and share what I saw...the reason I left so early. I was hoping to see some white tailed deer in the field by the riverside. They didn't disappoint me! Four young does and two bucks. Tho, one buck took off to higher ground and hidden before I got a photo of HIM. Something scared him, while the others just kept on munching. As I entered the park, two yearlings were seen behind the fence [there is a golf course on the other side of the park road that butts up ONTO the road]. I backed up and took two pics before they too sauntered off dashing over the 8th hole fairway. I was too close for comfort. After driving around the park, I stopped the car and got out and walked. A gentle breeze and the early morning hour made for a pleasant walk-about...in other words, I "walked about" an hour and a half so I could later stop at the Dollar Store when it opened and then stop and get bananas and search for Christmas Tree decorations.  Cheap stuff and unbreakable because of Isaiah the Cat!  Our local news had a segment on how sparse all things Christmas will be this year on the shelves because of the shipping industry and lack of truck drivers. My sister will be here for a couple of weeks for the holidays [as will Erik maybe], so I want to do a different theme for our tree. I decided on green and gold. Last year it was all peppermint and candy canes, snow and ice. I hoped the Dollar Store had some gold deer ornaments. They did, but not enough...it's a huge tree. Will plan on going to another store and get more. Oh, while walking I sighted in on a tree full of cattle egrets still roosting for the night, grackles, green jays, blue winged teals, sparrows, cardinals, flycatchers and mockingbirds. The doves were singing their mournful cry. Anyway, back to the deer...

§ Good Day Sunshine!!

The Power Of A Sunshine - By Dolston Morian

With its blazing brilliance from the horizon it arose.
It climbs through the heights of the glorious heavens
It lights up the world with streams of golden ray
It's the power of the sunshine.

§ The Fountain....Part II

This fountain [previously mentioned in last post] is part of the culture center and kiosk along the seawall. Palm trees line the walkway and flowering plants and grasses are strategically placed with benches and stone paths [sometimes brick here and there] and trellises that have climbing vines for shade. Along the entire seawall [about a mile long] there are also sculptures every few yards along the bayfront and the roofed miradors. I walked there purposely to just sit at the early morning hour and listen to the sounds of the flowing water and birdsong!

§ Down By the SEA -wall....

Early, before I did anything around the house, I left for a short walk along the seawall! The temp reading on our atomic thermometer showed 75 degrees outdoors. Even tho, the humidity was present, and the dust from the Saharan Desert prevailed, I was stir crazy [cabin fever], and anxious to get outdoors. Armed with my cellphone camera only - I headed on the Expressway toward downtown and parked across from the Federal Courthouse on the shore of C C Bay. I had intentions of getting a photo or two of the fountain as I walked along the wall toward the WWII Aircraft Carrier, USS Lexington. Of course, you should know me by now, "a couple of photos" turned into a couple of dozen. Why not?

As you can see in the following, the early morning sky was YELLOW...not from the sun, but mostly showing the dust storm in the air. One particular image I captured [of the shrimp boat] you can see, if you look closely, the blue sky at the top of the photo and the haze of the dust between the blue and the boat. It's been nasty this year. But, I will take the dust any ol' day instead of those HORRORcanes coming ashore. [someone called them "horror"canes and it stuck with me. I like the reference to its similarities to HORROR - a Cat 1 - 5 storm!]

Okay, I will put this into two posts since I took several photos to stay away from overloading. Next post will be part II.