Author: townadmin (Page 37 of 45)

Greetings,

Mostly what happens in Pedernales Falls State Park stays in Pedernales Falls State Park.  However, there are a few facts from the March 23-26 campout that can be shared.  A total of 22 TOWNies participated in this outing at one level or another.

Fortunately, the weather was accommodating and we were not restricted in our activities.  We enjoyed the bluebonnets on the park road, birding, hiking, wading in the Pedernales River, stargazing, a road trip, chatting, plus good food and company.

The road trip included a visit to Texas Hill Country Olive Orchard and to a privately-owned bluebird preserve, which one of our members had access to.

We had a special surprise guest (from Coleman, TX if that helps) whom we were all delighted to see and share time with.

Big Foot continues to appear at these outings, but has failed to take anyone hostage to date.  Keep an eye out though as that could change at any time.

There was also a new TOWN challenge introduced.  It was a lot of fun to watch, and I suspect we will see it again.  It comes in the form of a circle.

As always, it was fun and meaningful to spend time with such awesome women!  Thank you all for your participation and playful spirit!

JanB & JennyF

Three of us made the hike around the eastern part of Lady Bird Lake:  Marsha K, Inge and I.  The skies were overcast, and the temperature was in the 60’s.

From the Comacho Center we headed east toward the dam, admiring the diverse variety of houses near the center.  We stopped to look at the statue just before the dam.  On the south shore there were a few bluebonnets along the trail, and Marsha spotted a mulberry tree covered with berries.  We speculated about how much the new condos along the southern shore are selling for as we approached the bridge at IH 35.

I took a closer look at the belts attached to the boardwalk and learned that they are metal, not leather which I had at first thought.

We crossed the lake and turned back to the east for the final leg back to the cars.

JaniceB

The following TOWNies enjoyed an exotic and celebratory weekend at Brazos Bend State Park, southwest of Houston:  SandyS, SusanW, LindaKW, KayS, GloriaB, MarilynF, AdelaR, BeverlyT, JudyS, JackieD, JanetF-B, CherylC, GailW, SandyO, JudyD, CarrieL and (new member!) AllisonG.  Guests Sharon (Kay’s sister) and hubby GaryS also camped with us.  Canines included Augie, Annie, Red, Silky, Chico, and DJ.

This park is huge and has 3 lakes and multiple campsite loops that are spaced far apart from one another.

Activities began on Thursday when several of us arrived, and included fire-building.  This was a time when great exhales moved the flames as ladies let go of their work week. And we definitely did let go.

Beverly brought some Jambalaya to share, which we ate on Thursday night and again on Friday night as leftovers.  It was great and saved us two evening meals!

On Friday, several went biking and hiking with 90 middle-schoolers around the 40-acre lake and along the Spillway Trail.  The Observation Tower swayed in the wind at the top.  We saw many water birds (see list below) and alligators, and school groups.  In the Nature Center, a fabulous staff of volunteers were explainers and offered us a baby alligator to pet (it was darn cute).  Of course, a wonderful campfire was built that night by Susan, Gloria and others that we can’t remember.  Note: brave raccoons tried to raid the snack table, but, Susan was alert and ran them off!

Saturday morning several went on the volunteer-led hike around Creekfield Lake Nature Trail.  Did you know that every one inch around a tree equals 1 year?  A 180-year-old tree and a 160-year-old tree grow close to the Nature Center.  On the Wetlands Trail we spotted wild rice, a great blue heron, a few baby alligators (good eye Cheryl) and other birds.

Saturday evening we had another campfire and a Mardi Gras potluck — in the rain, but the liquid Hurricanes dulled the awareness of how wet we were.  Canopies brought by Susan and Gloria kept the food dry.  Red beans and rice, gumbo, shrimp, and lots more were served.  Of course, the campfire helped to warm us and keep our spirits bright.  Raccoons again tried to invade our space, but we had folks who turned them away.

On Sunday, most folks had to leave, and the rain splashed on.  The wildlife bloomed in the quiet park: frogs came from … where? … to inhabit the new campsite ponds, and the lakes were teeming with birds and more frogs.  Adela, Cheryl, Jackie, Marilyn, JudyD, and Gail stayed overnight once more.

The following birds were noted by JudyD, SandyS and Janet: Common Moorhen, American Coot, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Anhinga, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Gallinule, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, White-faced Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Least Grebe, Great Egret, Black Vulture, Crow, and Common Grackle.  We also saw several American Bitterns (so beautiful to the first time spotter).

Happy Camping,

MarilynF and SandyS

CarolynD, GailP-C and I met at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area for the four-mile Loop Trail.  We were not the only people who had this idea, and there was a line of cars to enter the park.  After negotiating the entrance, we met up for the hike.

The weather was just about perfect for hiking.  Most of the people at the park were there to hike the Summit Trail, so we only had to share the Loop Trail with a handful of people.  There was water flowing in the creek beds, so we had to do one creek crossing.  The Bluebonnets along the trail were just opening, and we saw a rabbit in the brush.  We stopped at Moss Lake, which is where we took the picture, below.

JaniceB

Every outing I attend, the TOWN ladies amaze me with their ability to have a good time, get along with each other, and to just enjoy being together.  This outing was no exception.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Frank and Gayle Steed, 14 ladies had one of the most memorable weekends ever.  The fun began on Friday, when we started gathering at Frank & Gayle’s lake house on the Richland Chamberx Lake.  The house is located in Francisco Bay subdivision near Kerens, TX.

Just a little bit about the lake: it is located east-southeast of Corsicana.  It was filled in 1989 and is 41,356 acres with 330 miles of shoreline.  It is the 3rd largest man-made lake entirely in Texas.

Outing participants were: SharonR, GailW, SusanW, SandyO, JennyF, JanB, JanetF-B, LindaBW, SheilaM, EdenB, LisaD, GloriaB, BeverlyT, and me.

On Friday night, 11 of us went to Double D’s Steakhouse in Kerens for their Friday night fried catfish special.  On Saturday, some ladies enjoyed the hot tub, while some fished, with SusanW taking the grand prize with her 13 ½ lb catfish.  She had several witnesses to the catch and the weighing, so it’s definitely a true fish story.

Earlier on Saturday, several of the ladies discovered a Bald Eagles’ nest in a tree in the water.  There were 2 adults and 2 juvenile eagles there.  We were fortunate to get good views of them.  In addition to the eagles we saw Vermillion Flycatchers, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, a Ladder-Backed Woodpecker, Eastern Blue Birds, a Great Blue Heron, Pelicans, Northern Cardinals and Mockingbirds, in addition to the usual Grackles, Cowbirds, Turkey Vultures, etc.

Saturday morning we enjoyed breakfast burritos, mimosas, coffee, and sweet bread.  During the day Gloria provided us with margaritas and pina coladas in addition to wine slushes.  Saturday evening we fired up the grill for those who wanted to cook, and shared in a potluck dinner.

During the day a couple of the ladies kayaked and others geocached and explored the area around the lake.  That evening there was joking, story telling, and loads of laughter as we sat around the fireplace.

All of us agreed this was a great weekend, and we’re already making plans for a repeat.

JudyD

SandyB, DebraS and I met at Threadgill’s restaurant for dinner, then drove to the Palmer Event Center to take in a fearsome banked-track roller derby bout between the Holy Rollers and the Rhinestone Cowgirls.  It was my first roller derby, so I appreciated Debra giving Sandy and me the rules and expectations.  And it turned out to be as entertaining as the belt sander races.

We arrived right after the doors opened and bought our tickets, soon finding great seats in the folding chairs along the stands.  People were dressed colorfully, and some brought signs cheering on their favorites.

The coach of the Holy Rollers was dressed as a nun, and as the team members were introduced to the audience, each approached Mother on her knees.  All the blessings didn’t help the Holy Rollers: the Rhinestone Cowgirls left them behind by blocking and pivoting more successfully around the banked track.  The Rhinestone Cowgirls were pretty flashy in red — maybe that helped them earn about 100 points to the Holy Rollers’ 50-some.

A talented rock and roll band blasted away as the audience arrived and also during intermission, and some fun intervals took place to (I think) break ties or address fouls.  A penalty wheel was spun with tasks on it like arm wrestling, whole-body wrestling, and pillow fighting.

As each effort began, the Pivots and Blockers would bunch up on the track as the Jammers (one from each team) tried to break through and race past them as many times around the track as possible, securing points for their team. The Blockers were very serious: lots of elbows and the thuds of falling bodies.  Young bodies, I might add.

Other bouts from this Texas Roller Derby League will be occurring this season, and I plan to attend another soon.

MarilynF

TOWNies are always the best and, literally, the sweetest!  JudyL, CarrieL, GloriaB, GenevaR, AdelaR, KarenP, SheilaM, JanetF-B,and LisaM joined me in eating more sweets than we could hold.  Of course we had to have some protein first with chili, and some fruit.  More and more desserts kept showing up, and, of course, we had to feast on all of them.  We were so sweetly filled we could hardly move.

We spent most of the evening laughing and catching up with one another.   We did play one game: “What’s Yours Like?”  More laughs and fun.

Thanks TOWNies!

JuneA

Twenty-seven outstanding women (with their seven super pups) gathered at Fort Parker State Park to visit, hike, eat, bike, cook, eat, talk, bird, kayak, fish, and eat.

And what a group it was! AdelaR (with Annie), AllisonG (Dallas TOWNie with Juliette), BarbaraW (from Fort Worth TOWN), BeverlyT (with Chico), CaroleeD (from Dallas), CarrieL, CherylC (with Red), DarleneY, DonnaT (a friend of MargieS), FloM, GailW, GloriaB, JacqueA, JanB, JaneS (Adela’s friend from OK!), JanetFB (with Barney), JennyF, JudyD, KayS, LindaBW (and friend Gerrie from Bryan), MargieS, MarilynF, SandyO (with DJ), SandyS (with Silky), SharonR, and SusanW all hugged long-time  friends, made new friends, and tried new dishes. Having Gail, Judy, and Sharon (who drove over from Corsicana) join us for the afternoon and dinner was a special treat.

A most surprising episode involved the appearance of Bigfoot! We can verify that this Sasquatch is indeed a simian-like creature that inhabits forests because that’s where we saw him. Usually Bigfoot lives mainly in the Pacific Northwest; however he is a snow bird this winter due to the intense cold and snow. First, he visited the treed area behind Linda’s Mother Ship and then headed to Jan’s A-Frame and was seen knocking on her door. Jan shocked Bigfoot by answering the door in her nightie. Jenny witnessed Bigfoot’s departure for the forest. He did leave large prints and a strange odor!

And eating? Yes, we managed to avoid leftovers! The cast iron dish chefs ruled this weekend! Among our dishes were:

Thursday: brownies, salad, chips, brisket nachos, and Dr. Pepper chocolate cake;

Friday: lentil soup, lemon cake, brownies, chili, salad, bread;

Saturday: stuffed mushrooms, King Ranch chicken, chicken enchiladas, a good healthy salad, Spanish rice, oatmeal cranberry cookies, ice cream, peach cobbler, apple cobbler; and

Sunday: 2 big cast iron dishes of Mountain Man Breakfast.

No one went hungry this weekend. In fact, we shared desserts several times with the park rangers. Not bribing of course, just making friends.

And hiking/biking? Yes indeed, we took lots of steps:

Thursday: Kay and Darlene biked a portion of Baines Creek Trail;

Friday am: (46 degrees upon waking) Darlene, Jacque, Jan, Jenny, Kay, and Marilyn hiked the Navasota River Trail, about 3.76 miles round trip, visited with two fishing folks, found a geocache, and saw a Great Blue Heron;

Friday afternoon: Jacque, Jan, Jenny, and Linda hiked the Springfield Trail (about 3 miles round trip) to the Springfield Cemetery;

Friday afternoon later: Jacque, Jan, and Jenny hiked the Bur Oak Nature Trail, found a geocache, then continued walking the Springfield Trail to the dam and back to camp – about 5 miles roundtrip; and

Saturday am (it was hot): Darlene, Flo, Gloria, Jacque, Jan, Janet (with Barney), Jenny, Kay, Linda, Marilyn, and Sandy (with Silky) hiked the Baines Creek Trail for about 5.6 miles round trip, and we found 2 geocaches. Rumor was someone got lost, but then found the group. It was even warmer when we finished.

Nerdy birders identified the following: kingfisher, great blue heron, red-bellied woodpecker, American robin, red-tailed hawk, northern cardinals, yellow-rumped warblers, mourning doves, crows, white pelicans, cormorants, Carolina chickadee, eastern phoebe, bard owl heard, caracara, tern, snowy egret, black vulture, titmouse, downy woodpecker, Carolina wren.

Mammals we identified — or thought we did: red-eared slider turtles, fox squirrel; with evidence of feral pigs (lots of disturbed soil plus a capture cage), coyote (scat), and a rather large cat (scat samples); plus Flo’s alleged evidence of ‘gators. Now Flo was the only TOWNie claiming to have seen ‘gator evidence, so we cannot disavow or confirm!

Fisher-women included: Barbara, Darlene, Kay, Sandy, and Susan. All large catches were returned to the lake we heard!

Kayakers included: Allie, Carolee, Janet (with Barney in his first water trip), Linda, and Marilyn.

Trips we made to various locations away from the park:

Confederate Reunion Grounds, Fort Parker Restoration, True Value Hardware, Dairy Queen (only once).

AND we have three new members with a possibly of several more as a result of this gathering!!

Such an enjoyable weekend and comaraderie with TOWNie friends. Such is a good life.

LindaBW & JacqueA

Six of us gathered Saturday at 9:00 a.m. to hike the trails at the LCRA McKinney Roughs Nature Park: Carolyn, Jacque, Janet (with Barney, who made his first TOWN walk in great style), and Marsha who brought her friends Alisha and Nate.

We hiked about 3.6 miles in 1.75 hours, and our route included these trails: Coyote Road, Riverside, Cypress, Pine Ridge, Bobcat Ridge, and back to the park entrance via Riverside again.  We talked, walked, and didn’t get lost!  Thanks to Marsha and Carolyn for keeping us moving at the good pace.

Janet and Jacque noticed a sample of coyote scat containing bird feathers.  We also discovered one of the zip lining platforms.  See photos below.

After hiking, several of us sat and visited while we ate the remains of lunch.  Janet’s husband brought their two additional dogs to visit: Max and Gilly.  Gilly is the most recent adoption into their family.

It was a perfect day to be hiking together: very overcast, no rain, and fine companionship.

Join us next time!

Jacque

Team TOWN took down the baddies, and they did it with flair!  Round Rock is safe from all zombies and bad hombres!

GloriaB, Cheryl, Rachel, Sandy and I took on the challenge at SafeRange on Thursday night.  Charlie’s Angels have nothing on these ladies!  We took on old west shootouts, muggers, shooters, zombies and assorted baddies. There was no need for that waiver as all ladies were home safe . . . even if GloriaB and Sandy did aim their guns at me (geesh, you think you know your friends)!

LisaM