Sea Rim State Park

This was our first time to camp at Sea Rim.  We've made lots of day trips here but since it's less than 35 miles from home, we decided to give it a try and camped for two nights.

This is a view of the campground from the boardwalk that crosses over to the beach.  Our camper is at the far end on the left.  I loved the tent that looks like a log cabin!

Our front yard for a few days!  It's only a short walk to get to the beach.

Loved bird watching, especially this beautiful Great Egret!

Common Nighthawk

There were quite a few of these around!  They would be sitting in parking lots or any place where they just kind of blended in.  They are not very active all day but then as soon as the sun goes down they are out catching insects.  And there were plenty of mosquitoes for them at night!

This Black-necked Stilt was fussing at me to please stay away 

from her baby!

Killdeer

I came home and looked at this picture several times before noticing the extra set of legs!  There is a little baby chick hiding from me!

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 91:4

Linking with - Wild Bird Wednesday

Happy Spring!

My favorite thing about Spring has got to be all the beautiful birds and their sweet cheerful songs!  

Harbor Light Resort Hemphill, Texas

Eastern Kingbird

Mockingbird

Canadian Geese

Bluebirds

ADVICE FROM A BLUEBIRD 

 Rise early 

 Spread a song in your heart 

 Think spring 

 Be colorful 

 Feather your nest with friendships 

 The sky's the limit!

The Flight of the Great Blue Heron

On our last camping trip we had a beautiful campsite right next to the water and enjoyed watching the beautiful Great Blue Herons each day as they waded along the edge of the lake. My husband was lucky enough to capture these pictures as one took off and landed further down the shoreline.

San Augustine Park - Lake Sam Rayburn, 

Pineland, Texas

Because of their size (3.2 to 4.5 feet) and wide wingspan (5.5 to 6.6 feet) it’s really amazing to watch them in flight.

We see these birds every time we go camping and even here in town along the canals. I love watching them as they patiently wait for their next meal. 

Sandy Creek Park - Steinhagen Lake, 

Jasper, Texas

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson


Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Flowers and Sunshine to Warm Your Day

 We finally have sunshine back in Southeast Texas today!  Thank goodness!  We have had so much rain, drizzle, fog, and gloominess in our weather the past month or two. 

 I just wanted to post a few pictures of some beautiful days we’ve had in the past year.  

San Augustine Park on Lake Sam Rayburn

 I always love a change in seasons and have enjoyed our winter but really starting to look forward to spring!

 

Our Backyard

 My house is full of plants that I've brought inside to protect from a hard freeze we had last week.  I know they need some sunshine too!  I really do need a greenhouse!!

Kansas City

The days are already getting noticeably longer which I love.  I think we should have daylight savings time year round!

Weston, MO

With the cold and rain that we've had lately, I have resorted to mall walking to get my steps in.  My new fitbit definitely encourages me to "get moving!"

Sandy Creek Retreat

The cold this winter hasn't been that bad at all, but we've just missed our sunshine!!

Lake Sam Rayburn

“Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”
― Hans Christian Andersen

Wishing everyone some warm sunshiny days.

Jeanne

Fall Camping Trip and RAIN!

Fall is my very favorite time of the year to go camping.  Last week we, along with our son were able to camp at one of our favorite places, San Augustine Park. This is the view from our trailer. 
 

 

When camping for a week in October it's not unusual to see a cool front come through bringing with it a little rain or even a thunderstorm.  But this time we had more than a little!!  In nearby Jasper they had 10" and I'm pretty sure we had about that same amount.  It rained and rained and rained - over 24 hours of rain!!  We had a canopy over our picnic table that kept us dry for a while.  Eventually we had to go into the camper.  No pretty sunset or campfire this evening! 

 

After things dried out we were able to get out and hike a little.  The woods were pretty with the leaves showing their beautiful

fall colors.

We were able to see a beautiful clear sky  most nights and Venus was so bright and pretty.  It was so bright that as it dropped lower in the horizon and the sky became darker it created a reflection on the water.  I wish I could have gotten that picture!

Into each life some rain must fall.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We really did have a good time even with all the rain.  We caught enough fish for a fish fry and had a good campfire every night except one.  We heard owls and coyotes and saw two otters floating along the water's edge.

 

I have to admit though, it's good to be back home! 

I love camping but a week is about my limit.  

 

Happy Fall to You All! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset on Lake Sam Rayburn

We're looking forward to seeing more beautiful sunsets like this one soon. Our favorite parks have opened back up and this is always the very best time of the year to camp.

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Pslam 19:1

Sandy Creek Park

Due to some busy days during the last couple of months I haven’t done much blogging but hope to get caught up soon. We’ve found a place to camp that is only about an hour and a half away so we’ve been there a couple of times lately. It’s called Sandy Creek Park and is a Corp of Engineers Park. Of course right now our government has “shut down” all Corp parks so we can't go back until they re-open. We have reservations to go to another Corp park later this month, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens. Hopefully an agreement will be reached by then, but it’s not looking too good right now!

This is looking back at our campsite which was located by the fishing pier.  It's a beautiful park with lots of wildlife and birds to watch. One evening as we sat by the campfire it was like an animal parade passed right in front of us!  First a possum walked by, then an armidillo, and after that we saw a whole family of racoons.  In other parts of the park we saw deer but I didn't have my camera with me when we saw them.



Great Blue Heron

Caught in action - taking my birdseed!

One night we left some dog food out as a treat for these little guys and they ate every bite!

 

 

 

 

We took our boat up the river one day where the water was as smooth as glass.  It was a beautiful day but quite hot so a boat ride was a good way to cool off.

 

 

This was a small alligator that was watching us fish.  He probably wanted us to get out of his territory!

The Great Blue Heron had better luck fishing than we did!  The pier was covered with bugs.  I think they were mayflies.  They were awful!

We had beautiful sunsets almost every evening we were there. 

“God never made an ugly landscape. All that sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild.” ― John Muir

Springtime Camping in East Texas

Seems like this is the "Year of the Eagle" for us.  In February we saw eagles in the Hill Country and on this camping trip we were in for an amazing treat when a bald eagle landed in our campground.  We usually see one fly over the lake but have never seen one actually land in the campground. 

I almost didn't bother getting my camera since they usually don't stop - or at least we've never seen them land here. I'm so glad I did because he sat in a tall pine tree about 30 yards from our campsite and I was able to get about 20 shots.  The evening sun was shining on his beautiful white head which made everything even better!

After about 5-10 minutes he flew a little further away into the tip top of a tall tree closer to the lake.  I was able to get a few more pictures before he took off. 

 

 

 

 

I love this one!  Just such a beautiful bird!!

 

 

"The founding fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the nation. The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America."

President John F. Kennedy

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

 

October Sunset

 

To watch a sunset is to connect with the Divine.

Gina De Gorna

Favorite Month for Camping

October has got to be my favorite month for camping! Last week we went to San Augustine Park on Lake Rayburn and every evening we were treated to the most beautiful sunsets. We camped with some friends and had a great time visiting, playing games, and relaxing. Missed having a campfire though. They still have a burn ban at the park. We had great weather the whole time and our only complaint was the love bugs. Ugh! They were everywhere! We usually have them twice a year - May and October and each female lays about 350 eggs so they can be a big nuisance, especially to the front of your car.

The lake level was down 12 feet from normal.  This timber is usually well below the surface.  

Autumn's in the Air

Autumn's glorious dwindling days

Mirror sunset's scarlet rays.

Butterflies flit by in grace,

Hurrying to their hiding place.

The evening air now holds a chill

As fall, her vibrant colors spill

Yesterday summertime was king

But Fall today is in full swing.

The harvest moon, a lantern bright, 

Showers the stars with brilliant light.

As I gaze at the heavens and say a prayer,

I thank the Lord for His autumn-wear.

Nora M. Bozeman

Last of Walnut Ridge

I took an early morning walk and saw that there was a low lying fog over the creek. It looked really pretty with all the cypress trees and moss hanging from their branches.  The water was perfectly still.  This is part of the paddling trails that run throughout the park.

Always glad to see these insects on the job. We didn't have a problem with mosquitoes but there were lots of other bugs. One day there was a swarm of some kind of bug - kind of like a termite. They didn't stay long.

We had a great spot to camp with lots of room.


I love what these guys have to say about camping - of course I don't agree with them (most of the time at least).

Camping: nature's way of promoting the motel industry.  ~Dave Barry, Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need

Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations.  When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.  ~George Carlin


Camping:  The art of getting closer to nature while getting farther away from the nearest cold beverage, hot shower and flush toilet.  ~Author Unknown