Texas Bluebonnets

These pictures aren't from this year although I have seen a few patches of these beauties around already this year. 

We plan to visit the Hill Country sometime in April and hopefully this will be a good year for the bluebonnets once again! 

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"The best things are nearest:  

breath in your nostrils,

light in your eyes, flowers at your feet,

duties at your hand, 

the path of God just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars,

but do life's plain common work as it comes

certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life."

Robert Louis Stevenson

A Cheerful Little Bird

House Finch

This is one of my favorite birds and I wish I could get them to come to my back yard more often!  The house finch has a cheerful little song that always makes my heart happy.  We do have them pass through every now and then but this picture is from our hill country trip in February.

 

 

You can listen to his beautiful song here on this youtube. 

 

 

 

 

“I don't feed the birds because they need me; I feed the birds because I need them.”
― Kathi Hutton

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

 

Our Texas Hill Country Trip

I've been falling behind in my blogging lately but wanted to post a few pictures from our February trip to the hill country. We were there visiting with our daughter and son in law at their condo on Lake LBJ. It's such a pretty place and so much to do for anyone loving the outdoors. First off we had to go to visit the eagles near Llano. We weren't disappointed either. As we drove up we could immediately see the huge nest and one of the parents flying in with food for the eaglets.
 

The eaglets are hopping from branch to branch now and will soon be fledging the nest.

This parent was close by just watching as the little ones exercised their wings and keeping a close eye on the river below.

 

 

 

We took a scenic route back to the condo, crossing the Llano River and passing through some pretty countryside.

 

 

 

 

 

The following day we drove to Ink's Lake State Park where we walked one of the hiking trails.  This was fairly strenuous for me and I'm so thankful it wasn't a very hot day or I never would have made it!!  It was 3.2 miles which doesn't seem like very far but a lot of it was rocky and steep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now which way??  This isn't looking good!

 

 

 

Now back at the lake and Tropical Paradise.  Seems so unusual to see palm trees in central Texas, but they do very well here.

 

 

 

These little guys look happy with their home on Lake LBJ.

 

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One touch of nature makes the
whole world kin. ~William Shakespeare

 

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 Hope you are seeing some pretty weather

with some spring in the air also!

Deep In the Heart of Texas

In April we traveled through the hill country and then up through Oklahoma, Kansas and on to Kansas City, Missouri. We had a great time visiting with our children and saw lots of beautiful country. 

We went to the Bluebonnet Festival in Burnet which is something I've always wanted to do.  Lots to do in Burnet during festival weekend with crafts galore, rides, food and an air show. 

We had good mexican food at a place called The Maxican where we were given a hug and back rub by the sweet little lady hostess as we waited for our table.  She said she does that to everyone who walks in the door because most people don't get enough hugs!

One day we rode around to see wildflowers and stopped at this pretty church on a hillside with lots of bluebonnets.  It is in the community of Art which is between Llano and Mason.  The church was built in 1890 by the early German settlers. 

The front of the church has two large, double, Gothic-arch doors - originally designed to be used separately - one for men and one for women.  Seems the German Methodists were very strict and observed unwavering social and moral standards.  Even the seating was segregated, with the men sitting on one side and the women on the other.  Wow!  I wonder where the kids sat - probably not with Dad!

Llano County Courthouse

I love the old towns in Texas that have a town square with the courthouse in the center of the square.  This one was built in  1892. 

There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country.

A fine landscape is like a piece of music;

it must be taken at the right tempo. 

Even a bicycle goes too fast.

Paul S. Mowrer

 

I'll be posting more about the rest of our trip soon.

Hope you all have a good week and enjoy some sunshine!

More of Our Texas Hill Country Trip

After leaving our Freedom Flight on Lake Buchanan we drove to this site of a well known eagle nest close to Llano. This pair have been nesting in the area since 2003. So many people visit that the Texas Department of Transportation built a safe pull off area that makes it convenient for birdwatchers that come out with their lawn chairs and binoculars to spend hours watching this family of eagles.

 

 

 

 

It's very easy to spot the nest as soon as you drive up because of its size. They are on average five feet across and two feet tall. It is located along side the Llano River which I imagine is the prime source of their food supply. When we first drove up we didn't see any action at all in the nest but saw one of the parents flying across the highway.  Finally we noticed the two little young ones pop their heads up and then they started practicing for their departure by exercising their wings - wingercizing! Still no parents but we continued waiting. 

 

 

 

 

This eaglet will be fledging soon!! 

 

 

 

 

 

The young birds grow rapidly, gaining about a pound to their body weight every four or five days in the beginning.  At six weeks they are nearly as large as their parents. 

 

A female bald eagle's body length varies from 35 to 37 inches; with a wingspan of 79 to 90 inches. The smaller male bald eagle has a body length of 30 to 34 inches; with a wingspan ranging from 72 to 85 inches.   This explains the need for such a huge nest! 

 

Finally our waiting paid off!  One of the parents flew in and we were able to watch these three for a while.  Looks to me like they're still waiting for more food to be brought in from the other parent!

 

 

It was a great day and we will definitely try to make it

back next year. 




This was hanging on the fence near where we watched.  I thought it was interesting.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31