Thanksgiving in Texas - 2017

We arrived by plane instead of car for the first time to Texas for a Thanksgiving visit.  Papa had a good idea to take a picture in the best light of the day, twilight, but I think the sun was still to bright, don't you? 

Favorite Grandson is learning how to use a pocket knife he got in Cub Scouts.  It's a bit scary...only one nick of the finger.  He carved me a gift for Christmas out of soap... a cross with JESUS written on the side... thanks, Buddy!

A trip to the State Park and exploring nature is always a winner with these two. 

It is winter in Texas but it seemed like Spring to us.

I hadn't gotten a picture of a Vulture sitting in a tree before.  Usually they are soaring on the thermals but this guy was accommodating.  I think his name is Victor, the Vulture.

There are lots of Oak Trees in Texas and these still had color, though I messed with the camera settings to emphasize the orange/brown.

If you live in Texas you have to learn how to shoot.  I think it is a state law, so when Texas leaves the Union which they periodically threaten to do, they can defend themselves.

Mesquite trees have great climbing branches, but I miss the massive trees of the north. 

For a small city, the zoo is rather nice and always a winner with the kids. 

This loud mouth seems right at home in the Texas heat. 

While this kitty cat is intimidating, even through a fence.

I wouldn't walk a mile for this guy though my dentist could clean up his lower teeth.

The baby Giraffe is cute and has grown quite a lot since we last saw it.  The parents are really huge when you get up close to them.

I could probably drive one of these.  It moves slower than my Accord.

This must be a favorite perch as a picture was requested, not a regular request from camera man.

Speaking of monkeys, this guy seems over dressed for the Texas heat and could use a comb.

Like other towns after Christmas, Abilene has a Christmas light parade down town.  The kids rode on a float of the Boy Scouts.  It was pretty dark for camera shots but here was an example.  It seemed funny to me that it was on a Tuesday night.

The "Fighting Hawks" are the new name for UND athletic teams.  It reminds us that we aren't Texans and have to head back north.  We sure had a good time and will miss our Texans till next time when we plan to visit on four wheels instead of wings.

Another season is History

The flowers are finished blooming.  

The bird feeder handouts are over.

The canoes are off the lake. 

The tiny humming birds have headed way south.  Their last day was Sept. 15.  Next time they will visit will be April 15.  I wonder if some of them are the same ones each year.

The boats are on shore and the docks have been pulled out. 

Our summer hide-a-way is buttoned up for winter.  We had a great year and trust the Lord that we shall have more to come.  Bye for now, Eagle Lake.

A Week at the Lake

We have four stackable chairs that look like wicker but are some sort of plastic.  Every time we lift the chairs off we find this guy trying to blend in with the brown color of the seat.  At least six times this summer he has been on the seat of one of the chairs.  I tried shaking him off but he latched on to the chair leg.  I just hope one of these times we don't sit down on him... 

The ruby-throated humming birds give us a lot of pleasure and will soon be gone.

Some dear friends from Detroit Lakes stopped by for lunch on their way to a Blue Grass Festival.

The clouds looked so pretty last night that I had to get a picture at the beach.

This morning the birds were hungry and literally running into each other trying to get some seed.  So I took down the feeder and offered my paw.  They were hungry enough to land, though some were very cautious. 

The red-breasted nuthatch were the most brave.

Texans Visit the Lake One More Time

Our neighbor at the lake has given the kids a ride in his boat for several years.  Even though he was busy helping his son get some projects done, he took time to give the Texans a ride in his new boat.  Thanks, Doug.

Our camper is small so this is what it looks like on Saturday night.

I got this passing shot of a Belted Kingfisher from the kayak.  They are nearly impossible to get a picture of on land.

M and E were home to get a ride on the new train that the camp crew put together from 55 gallon plastic drums using 2-wheel carts as wheels and structure to hold the drums.  Pretty clever.

This one was for sister-in-law who likes people pictures... tee hee.

The Grands have made great strides in their swimming and enjoyed a beautiful few days at the  camp's swimming pool.

Best friends.

This woodpecker (I'm not able to identify which one it is) thinks it is a  hummingbird or else has a sweet tooth.  I found in drinking several times from the feeder. 

No fear.

No sense... no really it was a triple gainer that I caught just as he entered the pool.

What is a camp ground without a marshmallow roast?  Note the unique roasting sticks

Smooch anyone?

We managed to get a kayak ride with C and me, and then C and each of the kids.  I think next year, Lord willing, this will be something we will do more often. 

You can see from where we launch the kayak that it isn't really rough water.   Some would  probably object to calling the Hobie pedal kayak a kayak, but we like it

C went with me and spotted two loons which are nearly invisible in the picture.  What great memories we made in the three week visit of our favorite Texans.  Next year hopefully their Daddy will be able to come.  

Quick Trip to Duluth

We made a quick decision to go to Duluth, Minnesota's number one tourist destination, for a couple of days.

The first day was overcast but the kids enjoyed climbing on the rocks, one of their favorite activities. 

The canal into the harbor is a gathering place when the ships from the Great Lakes come in or go out.  The schedule is posted but the times are not always accurate.

Here comes a 1000 footer into the canal.  The crowds are waiting.

This left-over from ice house days is a great diving spot for the locals. I wonder if their mothers know what they are up to.

The arial bridge lifts to let the ship under, though it looks from the picture that it isn't high enough.

The next day it was up to Gooseberry Falls State Park where we camped in our Scamp trailer when C was young.

Can you tell who is the boy and who is the girl from this picture?

Our hotel had this view of the lake and another ship entering the canal.

I remember a trip to the North Shore with the Hartmans when I was a boy and seeing the ships traveling on the lake at night from the car where we youngsters got to sleep.  There wasn't room in the tiny cabins for all of us.

Pictures don't do justice to the size of these ships... longer than three football fields and as they enter their horn sounds a greeting of one long and two short blasts followed by the arial bridge responding the same.

E asked if we could go to Duluth again next year.  It is great to make memories that the kids enjoy and will remember.

Last year the Leif Erickson park that had the rose garden was minus the roses because of a severe winter kill.  But this year they were back!

This weed was tiny but I thought it was beautiful growing in the State Park.