Deep in the Heart of Texas

Guess where I was last week. 

Hint: Remember 4th grade geography and

study the waffle below.

That's right.  I was in Texas, the Lone Star

State.  It was my first visit.  Judy and I tagged

along with Jennifer, Matt, Claire, and Evan, who

all played parts in a beautiful Texas wedding.

In this post I'll share photos from some of the 

peripheral events, in which we were graciously

invited to join right in.  In a blog post to follow,

I'll show a few wedding shots, mostly showing

the grandkids in action.  I won't embarrass myself

by competing with the classy wedding photos of

the professional, who did incredible work.

Let's dive in.

This is a card catalog, which is going the
way of the slide rule and the rotary phone.
It's a creation of the bride's talented mother.

At a family get-together at the bride's
home Evan managed to get more water
on him than if he had jumped in.

Evan practices mountain-climbing skills.
This is just a small Texas mountain.

Can you tell that Claire is air-borne in her Texas boots?

One grand event was held at Austin's

beloved Zilker Park.

We had just arrived when we spied the train as it
came through the playground area.

This actual vintage fire truck was a huge hit.

No gas pedal required.  Just tell it to go, sort of
like the Magic School Bus.

There was not yet any water in this neat little splash
area, but what a great concept!

We walked down to Barton Creek on these stone steps.

Now, it was OUR turn to ride the Zilker Zephyr.

Somewhere along the way, Evan picked up a
non-paying hitchhiker.

Claire claims him as a friend, too. We mercifully
released him in his own habitat before we got back
to "civilization."

Nearing the station after a 25 minute ride around
the perimeter of the lovely park.  Now why would
they put a sign saying "Do not enter tunnel," then
force us to exactly that?!

Claire and Evan REALLY liked the train ride.

And I think they REALLY liked the ice cream
that followed.

These mildly annoying (but very interesting) birds
are great-tailed grackles.  They dominated many
public areas we visited, both by their physical
presence and by their scolding, harsh calls.

While the kids swam with their parents and others,
Judy and I walked for a while on a greenway trail,
catching this view of Barton Creek just before it
merges with the Colorado River.

Jennifer and Matt took us on a tour of downtown
where we noticed 38 1/2 Street.  Getting pretty
crowded, I suppose.

One of Jennifer's friends who lives in Austin clued
us in to the city's central market, which also featured
a very nice playground.

Live music was an added bonus.  The kids and
adults loved it all.

When Claire and Riley saw young folks swing
dancing they took their cue and joined right in.

This was a relaxing and family-friendly spot to
spend several hours on wedding day.

Before we left the park, we strolled to a pond
with turtles and this grand old tree.  And Claire's
motto is, "Have Tree, Will Climb."

Grandma knows that water draws Evan like a magnet.
So let's just view the turtle from a distance.

Evan had his turn on the tree and then we loaded up
 to head back to our hotel and prepare for the wedding.

On our route back, Jennifer swung by the Texas
state capitol building.  It was quite impressive, and
in true Lone Star style, it is somewhat taller than
the United States capitol.

The wedding was now just a few hours away.
My next post will share a few special moments from it.

Cub Scout Pack 582 is Back for Labor of Love on the SFL Nature Trail

Saturday, April 12, 2014, the young men

of Cub Scout Pack 582 gathered once again

to labor on the Sandhills Farm Life Nature Trail.

They constructed three new benches, posted new

instructional signs, and got an early spring tour

of their nature trail.  It was a great morning of

work, fellowship, and learning.  They would leave

the trail in the best shape it's ever been in.

Jack, Will, and Tom is a lofty perch if you're
big enough to climb up.

Digging holes for the hickory supports for the new
benches is hard work.

The boys transplanted three clusters of a dainty
plant called Green and Gold.  Now the plants won't
be trampled by hikers coming through or sitting on the
new bench.

These things must be done delicately.

Assisted by the faithful Moms and Dads of the Pack,
each boy had his hand at digging, hauling, and
assembling during the morning.

Gloves and Phillips screwdrivers go together well
to accomplish the task.

Here will be the new Rock Cycle instructional sign.
Appropriately near Big Rock, a quartz extrusion of
the McLendon Fault, which runs deep under this
portion of Moore County.

The two new benches at streamside near Big Rock
create a natural teaching station for classrooms.

It's a good idea to take turns digging and resting.

This sign is in just the right place.

Here are the four new instructional signs.

Each is a suitable launching point for a

nature lesson on any grade level.

The finishing touches of the new bench beside
Jack, Will, and Tom.

This can serve either as a teaching station or
just a nice spot for a rest.

Scout projects are all about teamwork.

Plus patience and perseverance.

Big Rock is always a tempting destination.  And it
has been for 40 years.  Now the rain has washed this
old log onto the rock.

Who volunteers to help move the log?
I DO!  I DO!

And the team gets it done.  Now this log, which is
the only remnant of a gigantic tree which fell more than
20 years ago, becomes a teaching station in itself.

Getting over here was one thing.  Getting back and
staying dry is another matter.  But we like a challenge.

When work is done, there's time for play.  Such as
trying to climb Old Man Poplar.

This seems like a good spot to camp for the night.

As a special reward for their hard work, I take the
pack across the old bridge into "No Man's Land."

An up-and-coming Cub Scout to be likes
the new nature signs.

Ah, there's no place for a group picture than
Big Rock!

Everybody give the Cub Scout sign.

The nice new benches are built to stand the test
of time.  Come and try them out.

The benches look even better when in use by a
fine-looking crew from Pack 582.

The trail will grow more and more beautiful

as spring progresses.  Plan to come by sometime

soon and enjoy the latest improvements in a

most serene setting.

And a big salute to Pack 582 who made it all happen!

The Videos of Spring Fun

In this role-playing video, Claire and Evan

are the Mommy and Daddy.  I am the naughty

baby.  When I won't stop taking a video I am

threatened severely with a spanking.  Dare

to discipline!

Somehow, Hunter makes friends with a 

little cricket.  Instead of jumping away, it

crawls right onto his hand and stays there

until he releases it.

 Yes, we have this much fun all the time!