Pineywoods to Petit Jean

Valentine's at JCRV

Feeding Major

Boo-Boo and Sugar Baby

Axis at JCRV -- see the buck?

Chapel of the Hills at JCRV

Zumba Zumba!

Before leaving Johnson Creek RV Park in Ingram, TX, we got to enjoy a delicious Valentine's dinner at the rv park and watched 3 couples duke it out in the Newlywed Game. We were also able to be there for the Chapel of the Hills dedication and memorial service for Jack Betts. He was a workkamper from NE who spent a lot of time building the chapel last year. His wife and sister came down for the memorial and sprinkled his ashes in Johnson Creek. Cliff played the accordian for the event. Very nice service. As David and I were walking back to the camper afterwards, all 3 donkeys started braying at us as if they knew it was our last night there. So cute! Speaking of cute, we saw the cutest thing a day or 2 earlier: Mr. Ken was coming over to feed Major (the oldest donkey) and Major started running toward him. Now, that prob doesn't sound too extrordinary. But Major is old and doesn't seem to have a lot of flexibility. So running is a great feat for him! Ken fed him then headed off to the other end of the pasture in his golf cart with the horses running wide open after him. The 2 little donkeys, Boo-Boo and Sugar Baby must've been on stun. They just froze in the middle of the pasture watching it all. Really a fun sight. Another fun thing before leaving was Zumba, Babies! Got to try my first Zumba class at Curves. I'm a spaz. But fun workout. Sarah took Ann, Joyce, and me to Fredricksburg to Wildseed Farms. Cool place and a huge wildflower farm. March would be a great time to see it!



2-14-11: Got to Lockhart State Park. I thought that was an appropriate place to be for Valentine's Day – Lock, Heart? Lockhart is not a very attractive town. But there are some really beautiful and well-kept old blgs downtown. Including the courthouse on the square. One of the coolest I've ever seen. We ate at famous Black's BBQ. OMG!! A must if you are in the area. The park is very small – only 20 sites and only 10 full hookups. But set up well and right on the park's golf course. This is a place we'll def want to stay again.

Ball Moss?

2-15-11: Played 9 today. Saw a couple of signs on the course that said “scatter” and they also have the 90 degree rule. (not about temp as I thought). Anyone know what those 2 things mean? Lots of Chinaberry trees here like they had at JCRV. Tom had told me that the Axis love the berries. They are pretty trees. And we saw tons of the oaks with the “oak wilt” all over them. However, a ranger told me that instead of oak wilt, it's ball moss. Not sure, but I'm going to assume he knows more than the Bandera waiter who identified it as oak wilt. The Spanish Moss on the trees here is really pretty.

Sunset at Fairfield Lake in TX

2-16-11: Headed to Fairfield Lake State Park today. Went through Bastrop, TX – such a pretty place. We are def back in the Pineywoods! Went thru Manheim. ( Is that where the Steamrollers came from?) Passed some really picturesque pastures loaded with oaks and pecan trees. We got a lakeside spot at Fairfield. The park hosts here are a couple we met last year at Johnson Creek: Jeanette and Uwe. Jeanette is gone this week, but we will get to visit with Uwe a bit. And watch him work. Lots of natural beauty here. It's a fishing lake, stumps in the water, etc. Lots of tallgrass between us and the water. Great view of the sunset from our site. We've seen armadillos, dark squirrels, and Uwe says there are bobcats here in the campground, so we need to keep a close eye on Rocky. (if his reaction to Tigger is any indication of what might happen if he had an encounter with a bobcat, he'd be in trouble). If you are ever on I-45 in the Fairfield area, Sam's Restaurant is awesome!

Fixin' to Hike

On a Hike

Supper

Hotspot in the woods!

Litter of Wild Hogs

2-17-11: David and I did a 2 mile hike on the Dockery Trail this morning. Love being in the woods! Easy hike and felt great. Saw an armadillo nosing around. We let him have the right of way on the trail. We came upon some rustling under a bush. The brown butt told us it was not an armodillo. Maybe a beaver? We saw signs of them. So I clapped my hands and out came 7-10 wild pigs!!! Babies. Sooo cute. But about the time I said “sooo cute”, David and I thought “where's Big Mama?” So we froze on the trail. We've heard wild hogs are pretty aggressive. And protecting her babies at that. We waited. Clapped again and the piglets all ran off. Never saw Big Mama. Whew! A little tense for a second. Gus told me later not to mess with wild hogs. He's heard stories. Then he said, “I mean, you can beat 'em on the football field, but not in the woods”. Sigh. Where did I go wrong, raising a Longhorn fan? We also saw lots of dark black ducks.  New for me. About 6:35 tonite, the coyotes started singing. Quite a choir. Sounded pretty cool. Since it was at a distance.

2-18-11: Drove over to Mexia to work out at Curves. Remember the old joke about the 2 guys driving down the road arguing about how to pronounce Mexia? Finally, they stopped and went in a cafe there and asked the guy working there to tell them the name of the place and to say it very slowly so they will both understand and remember. So the guy says, “ D-a-i-r-y Q-u-e-e-n.” Anyway, while we were there, we drove out to Fort Parker State Park and Restoration (restoration of the original fort the Parker families built when they settled the area). The ranger was telling me a little about Cynthia Ann Parker and I said “sounds like the John Wayne movie, The Searchers.” She said the movie was somewhat based on that Parker story. The state park is on the Fort Parker Lake and Navasota River. Some CCC structures. Kinda neat spot. We saw several wild hog traps around there. Got back to Fairfield and asked our rangers about the hogs. They told me they are overun with them here. Wildlife Management has finally told them just to put down as many as they see. They used to trap them and take them somewhere. But now “somewhere” has too many, too. Just this week they put down a sow that was getting too aggressive. From the description of the area where she was, we figure she was prob Big Mama. Uwe said the babies will survive on their own after they are about 2 weeks old. Evidently these wild hogs can have a litter every 115 days. That explains why the Big Mamas are so cranky, right? You'd think being from AR, I would've known a lot of hog info. But this was my first encounter with them. The ranger told me that clapping or yelling will usually send them running. But the most important thing, in case they are aggressive, is to trip your husband. I can do that.

Oh, and on the way over to Mexia, we passed the Boyd Unit (prison) area. We saw a chain gang out working in a pasture. They had 2 groups lined up, chained together, digging ditches – and synchronized with their strokes. Lots of guards positioned around the perimeter on horses. Looked like something out of a movie.

Panties with the Graves

2-22-11: Left Fairfield today and arrived in Texarkana. Parked in our friends' (Cranford and Kathey) driveway. First time we've stayed in a driveway since we started traveling. I'd forgotten what it's like to have a full size bathroom! Taught them how to play “Panties” and we played nearly every night we were there. They really got into the spirit of the visor thing. Loved playing Mexican Train with their youngest granddaughter, Casey!

Edith beating me at Panties

2-26-11: Taught Edith and one of her friends how to play Panties. They caught on really fast and we will finish the game in December. I need more practice before I play against Edith again. She got into the visor spirit, too! ( The visor tradition started when I was in college.  Cookie and I would wear visors to play Yatzee so we'd look cool. And we really did – right, Cookie?)

Kathy P and Mr. Parmley

2-28-11: Had lunch with Kathy P today and got to visit with her dad a bit, too. Always felt like they were a second family to me during college and years after! Lots of memories!

Gus and me emailing each other

3-1-11: Zumba at Curves! So much fun. I'm still totally spastic, but now I'm outa town everywhere I go, so it doesn't matter. Had lunch with Linda W. Great catching up! Asked my dermatologist today about that homemade hand cream. He said the ingredients are everything a dermatologist loves. The only thing he'd add would be some sunblock.

David and Becky at PJSP

3-2-11: Got to Petit Jean State Park in AR. Checked out Cedar Falls Overlook where Jakeb's wedding will be. Set up camper where we have a great view of Bailey Lake. And the little airstrip across the lake – which is supposed to be the only airport in the country that goes right into a state park. Bailey Lake has been recently drained and refilled, so it's nice and clean right now. Very pretty. Lots and lots of Honkers (Canadian Geese). They are very entertaining. Besides the ones walking around the campground, there seems to be a group that buzzes the water around dusk, and another cheerleader group near the bank honking like crazy as they do their flyovers. Petit Jean is absolutely beautiful. Arkansas' first state park. On top of Petit Jean Mtn. Lots of CCC structures. (I'd never known about the CCC until we started traveling. Jerri's dad was in it and she told me a lot about it. And, as I learned at Parker State Park, there was also an African American CCC. Evidently, FDR began the CCC program under his New Deal. I think it was a fabulous idea and we could probably use it again today to update/preserve the current state and national parks.) The Petit Jean Legend is interesting, too. There is some totally unique geology here. Lots of pretty little bluebirds, cardinals, and the large red-headed woodpeckers. Arkansas is still one of the most beautiful places in the country. Maybe not as much expanse, it's a small state, but still breathtaking in many areas! Right now all the white-budded trees are out: either Japanese Cherry Blossom or Bradford Pear. Anyone know which? Usually, when these pop out in AR, that mean the Dogwoods are about a week or 2 away. If you've never seen the AR Dogwoods in spring, it'd be a good add to your travels.

3-3-11: David and I rode our bikes about 3 and ½ miles on the CCC trail today. Then sat outside the camper and enjoyed the mountain breeze. This is the life, right?

Jakeb's and Lacey's Wedding at PJ

First Kiss.  Seriously

My Big Brother and Me and little Ethan

The Middle School Gang

3-5-11: Jakeb's wedding today. Cold and cloudy all morning. But once we all got down the trail to the wedding spot, the sun came out and the temp warmed up a little. Like God was smiling down on this marriage. Then when it was over, it was cold and cloudy again. The wedding was awesome. Really enjoyed all the family time and seeing old friends today! And missed the ones who couldn't make it.

The Joneses camped right next door to us. Fun getting to spend time with them. Just wish Meleah would quit making me look bad when it comes to cooking and cleaning. Sigh. Martha vs Mary.

3-6-11: visited FBC at Petit Jean. Sweet, friendly little (I counted about 30 people) church in a very pretty setting. We drove out to the Petit Jean gravesite and overlook. Amazing view of AR River and valley. The remains of an old, rock YMCA bldg is near that overlook. Then we went to the other side of the park and hit 3 overlooks: from the first one we could see Mts Magazine (highest pt in AR) and Nebo. Awesome view. The others were the CCC lookout and Palisades. Interesting bluffs, boulders, valleys. Drove by Winrock Farms and the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. Do you non-Arkansans know why Winthrop is significant to AR?

Petit Jean Hike

Petit Jean Hike

3-7-11: After going to the Morrilton Curves, David and I did the Cedar Creek Hike – about 2 hrs. Beautiful! And more like rock-climbing, actually. It's supposed to be rated as moderate, but was probably the hardest one I've ever done! Great scenery though. Amazing rock formations and the boulders are magnificent. We took a drive afterwards to the Heifer Int'l Ranch outside of Perryville, AR. We've met workkampers who have volunteered there. Now I know why!

Tonite the Joneses came over and watched the wedding pix that David took. Then we made them sit through our travel dvd's.

Auto Museum at Petit Jean

Auto Museum at PJSP

3-8-11: Zumba, Zumba! I dragged Meleah to Curves with me so we could do Zumba for an hr. Really fun workout! David went to the Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean this afternoon. From the pix he took, it looks like they have some awesome autos. Including a couple that Wintrop R drove.

Hiking at Petit Jean

Step back just a bit...

Turtle Rocks at Petit Jean

3-9-11 David and I did the Rock House Cave and the Bear Cave hikes today. Saw the cool turtle rocks and many more huge boulders! So prehistoric! Rock House Cave supposedly has some American Indian writings still visible. We think we saw them, but really 100% sure. Things take a toll on our environment, so they fade with time. Drove over to Ormand Locks and Dam. Then Meleah, Odestine, and I went to a barn flea market in Opello. Really a great flea market! Worth a stop if you are ever over this way. I was told by one of the Curves girls that nearby Wye Mtn is a great place this time of year due to the daffodils. Didn't make it there tho. Another trip.

3-10-11: Heading to KS. Spent tonight in Checotah, OK. This is the home of the Oklahoma Odd Fellows Home. And 2005 American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood.

3-11-11: Landed in Wichita and set up in one of the city rv parks, Blasi, for the weekend. Worked out at a Curves there where my mom-in-law used to work out. Today is the one year anniversary of her funeral. Sure do miss her smiling face!

Andrew and Brooke

See Me!

3-12-11: Drove out to Douglass to visit Justin, Brooke, and the grandbabies. They've both gotten so big and are so articulate now! They don't stay babies, do they? But nobody has had as much of a growth spurt since we saw them in October as Avery – their Great Dane. Wow!!! But she still likes to sit in our lap!

3-13-11: Got SLEET here tonite – for hours!! The KS wind is very chilly!! I thought it was time to put my winter coat away, but I think I'll keep it out awhile.

Heading out for 1st Sleepover

Bye, Brother!

Keeping an eye on the camper

Watching the setup

Helping Grandpa with the Flagpole

3-14-11: Moved out to El Dorado State Park today – outside of Wichita. On the way, we stopped and picked up Andrew, our oldest grandson, so he could spend the day and night with us in the camper. His 1st sleepover!! Ahhh, grandparenthood! I know some of you have awesome grandkids, but he is probably the smartest and cutest and funniest kid ever born. Well, I take that back. He and his little brother are probably tied for that position. KS has the beautiful Flint Hills and the greatest starry nights! But Andrew and Asher are what make KS awesome!

Andrew looking at himself in the mirror

Sleeping at the Camper

Candyland

Who is Watching Who?

3-15-11: 9:20 A.M.- we've had showers, played cars, had breakfast, washed dishes, watched part of Robin Hood, baked a cake, and played Candyland ------ all before David and I ordinarily even wake up in the mornings!! LOL. Ahhh, grandparenthood!

3-18-11: David and I took about a 1 hr walk through the state park today. With 40 hr wind gusts, it was very similar to water aerobics! Only not as warm.

3-19-11: Fierce wind this afternoon at the campground. Played Panties at Justin's tonite with him and Brooke and her parents. Girls stayed ahead first 3 rounds, but the boys made a very lucky comeback. Final score was within 100 pts (boys won). Fun game! 2 year old Asher had a cold tonite and we were hearing him snore on the monitor as we played. At one point he woke up and started whimpering and saying “Mommy, where are you? Heeelp me”. Brooke nearly had 4 grandparents following her up to his room! Pitiful.

Justin and the boys flying a kite

Run!

Asher and Justin

Peep-Eye!

3-23-11: Justin and family came out to campground to play today. Still chilly and windy. But they had a great time playing and flying a kite! Kansas must be where kites were invented.

Nicole and Boys

3-24-11: Divebomber plane flying around campground today. Cool to watch, but kinda wish they wouldn't do that over the campground – in case they miss. Nicole and boys came out to camper today. We hiked down the bike trail and up the dam hill. Beautiful day. Warmed up to nearly 50!!

We will have a couple of more weeks in KS, then on to Iowa to see Laura Lee and the Amana Colonies!

Much Love to you all!

Rocky's Parents