Blooms, Booms, & 3 Billy Goats Gruff

on the Guadalupe River

Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville, TX

this is called Promise by Dean Mitchell

An excerpt from Dean Mitchell's statement re: the sculpture:  “One day while working on the stone I had the thought that God has many faces but only one heart.  And it occurred to me that this thought reflected nature, with many thousands of species & countless individuals but only one web of life that sustains us all . . . & of the natural cycle of birth & death, with the constant promise of rebirth to follow.  And I thought of the cycle of the seasons with barren winter followed by the promise of spring.  And Lin Yu Tang’s thoughts concerning the stream of human life, the grandfather seeing his grandchildren & being reconciled to old age & passing on, at the promise of immortality that succeeding generations represent.  And I thought of the Riverside Nature Center, many individuals devoted to one common purpose . . . & how that purpose represented the promise of the community to preserve & protect this lovely Hill Country to which we are heir. 

the Bald Cypress in the middle of this pic measures over 300 inches around

a little info about it

and some info about the biggest one in TX

Texas Barberry

Cool Cactus

nearly a tree

the "bark" is interesting

I was taking a pic of a cool tree --- then realized I was being watched

Bat house

conservation 

just cool

spooky ole tree

I see......knitting needles and yarn

Bamboo is actually an alien to TX and chokes out native trees and plants.
So making it into needles and yarn sounds good to me!

This baby stayed in tornado drill position long enough for David to go to truck and change lens

a rare sighting of a black squirrel -- a pretty good sized one at that

gorgeous sky

3-4-13:  David and I visited the Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville.  Interesting plant life.  Would love to revisit when trees and bushes are leafing out more.

finishing up Gus' hat

awesome rice bowl Jerri found at Bandera resale shop for 50 cents

Laura's Trailblazer after rolling it into a cornfield

Jake and his dad checking it out

and retrieving some of her stuff

She has an angel on her shoulder

new ride - Ford Focus

3-5-13:  DOW opened at record high of 14, 220.  Passed the high of Oct '07.  Jerri taught me how to use to use double-pointed needles and lifeline.  Laura Lee sent pix of her wreck from yesterday.  Wow!  I've always told her she has an angel on her shoulder.  She hit black ice on the way to work, rolled the Trailblazer and landed in a cornfield.  Thankfully, she was able to crawl out a window and walk to the road to flag down help.  David and I are on stun, and saying prayers of thanks that she wasn't injured! And thankful for Jake and his family for pampering her!

Connie and her placemant, which will be a gift to Myrna

3-6-13:  The guys played golf today, while the girls made potluck placemats in our last craft class for the season.

Civil War Monument in Comfort, TX

the story

a huge Live Oak there at the site

3-7-13:  David and I had date day today.  Went to Comfort to the yarn store, then over to the driving range at Leon Springs.  Then we came back through Comfort for lunch and to find the civil war monument we'd both read about.

At the Apple Store for a burger in Medina, TX

George, Jerri, and Mr. Ken

they always manage to find the people who are allergic

3-8-13:  Mr. Ken drove Jerri/George & David/me over to the Apple Store in Medina for lunch today.  After the best hamburger in the world, the biggest apple pie ever, and a cat in my lap while eating, we headed across the road to the fabric shop.  It's where I bought my little Janome last year. Love that little shop!

Tom telling us about his upcoming septic tank training while snuggling Rocky - planning to get a lotta mileage over his crappy conference 

Tom and his girl glasses

great sky 

Gus' hat

3-12-13:  The guys played golf, then we all sat outside to knit and visit. Beautiful day!  Finished Gus' hat.

the goats were getting brave and checking out the rv's

getting away from Rocky

forget, Rocky.  let's climb a tree!

3-14-13:  On David's and Rocky's walk this morning on the backroad, David said the "pet" deer with a collar down at the corner house, came over to the fence to see them!  And followed them down the fence.  As they came back into the rv park, Ron and Reuben were trying to round up 3 goats who got loose from their property and are visiting jcrv.  They hollered at David to try to stop them.  Well, Rocky got loose from David and ran after the goats.  The goats then jumped over the rock wall at the clubhouse and jumped around aimlessly for a bit.  Rocky --- the French Shepherd.

Bandara Pass marker

337 - Bandera Pass between  Medina and Lost Maples - one of my fave hill country sights

another view of the Pass

Lilac on 337

337 between Medina and Leakey

337

337

337

337

336

336 - Fiber!

335

335

bikers love Twisted Sisters

335

Nueces River

near Vance, TX

335 near Vance

335

335

335

bbq joint in Leakey - for you, Lisa & Andy!

Leakey

Butt Camp (seriously) on 83 just outside Leakey

overlooking Butt Camp

 83

83

39 toward Hunt - cement pond?

Guadalupe on 39

3-15-13:  Today David, Rocky, and I took a daytrip for our date day. Left around 8ish to travel all 3 of the  Twisted Sisters. Among the beautiful sights on 335, 336, & 337, were Bandera Pass, 2828 from Camp Verde to Medina, Redbuds, 337 to Leakey, 336, Beverly Hills Ranch, then over to 41 to 335, Hackberry Creek and Ranch, bluffs, lilacs, yucca, Vance.  I did most of driving so David could take his great pix. We came back to 337 to Leakey over to Hunt on 39.  Beautiful, breathtaking day! We highly recommend this daytrip.

Lucas Thomas McClintock

Abby, Jennifer, Lucas, and Ryan

3-16-13:  We have a new McClintock -- Lucas Thomas McClintock!  Parents: Ryan and Jennifer.

Surprise!!

 Some of us serenaded Myrna on her bday.  Managed to wake her up!

3-17-13:  Bye, Jerri and George!  Will see ya'll soon!

 McClintock Uniform

rockin' his green

St Patrick's Day/Wanda's bday

Thought a lot of David's sweet mom today on her bday.  Mac sent David, Dan, and Doug a tshirt and cap to wear today in her honor.  Loved them!  Thx, Mac!

Mr Ken, I hope this pc won't be to stimulating for you to sleep

Stan the Man and his hat for his Alaskan Adventure

3-18-13:  Gave Ken his pillowcase and Stan his hat.

Rocky checking out Johnson Creek

bluff behind the jcrv

bluff behind the clubhouse along Johnson Creek

beautiful sunset from our rig

sunset along Johnson Creek

David and Rocky caught a few shots around the rv park this evening.

Connie trying on the coolest fur "tanktop" I found for her

Just a little problem with it 

3-20-13:  Made my last 2013 trip to Comfort's Tinsmith's Wife with Connie and Dawn.  Sho gonna miss that yarn shop!  But I think I've stocked up enough to keep me busy for a year. Once back in Ingram, I took the girls to Ingram Loop to point out a couple of resale shops.  One of them, Griffins, had a sign out front that it was closing and most everything was 50% off, or best offer.  All 3 of us found some great deals, but Connie totally hit the jackpot! And it was like playing dolls picking out clothes for her!

Ann & Sarah Sarah

Carolyn

3-21-13:  Got to play Panties one last time today with Sarah, Ann, and Carolyn.  Dee & Jerri -- we missed ya'll!!  David played golf with David, Curtis, and Johnny at Lady Bird, so Sarah and I went along to play cards at Ann's.  Such a good day.  So much laughing and teasing!  Good times with long-lasting peeps.

3-22-13:  We enjoyed a potluck at jcrv on our last night.  I rushed over at 5:30 to put mine and David's placemats on the table where we usually sit with our friends.  Got back over there at 6:00 and they were all in the sunroom.  And it was full.  Funny!  Oh well, we enjoyed the company of Lisa, Delaney, and Mr. Ken at our table.

Woodpecker on the neighbor's birdbath outside our camper

posing

hotrod in the park

and it's loud

ball moss everywhere

hill country sunset

3-23-13:  Heading out. Sweet send-off from our JCRV peeps  (as they were on their way to the breakfast at the ch). Will spend a few days visiting family, friends, and doctors in Texarkana before going on up to Branson.  Looking forward to doing that gig again from April-Oct.

As always, we will miss our lovely Hill Country friends, the Axis, the live oaks, the comforting sounds of the Grackles, the windmills (not the big turbines, but the quaint ole windmills), the beautiful hills, the splattering of the redbud trees, gorgeous sunsets, and all the laughs and hugs!  And HEB!

Til Next Year...........


Billie, Nannie, and Cabrito