The Campground

Port Aransas Wildlife Refuge

The Port Aransas Wildlife Refuge is not far from Goose Island, so we drove up there in the hopes that the Whooping Cranes had arrived. They hadn't, but we saw wild turkeys and a wild hog! The lady at the visitors' area told me to keep Sookie close because an alligator might eat her. Yikes!!!! In some places you couldn't get out of the car because the mosquitos were so thick. However, there was a great observation tower that rose above the treetops and gave a wonderful perch for bird watching. I'm definitely planning to return in spring.

Through the truck window

The Catch

Here's what was being caught. These were red fish which I'd never heard of, but then I'm not much of a "fisher person" yet.

You can certainly see why the pelicans are smiling.

Pelicans

These guys were total beggars and were hanging around the boat ramp where people were cleaning the fish that they caught. When fishermen threw the fish heads etc. into the water, they went for them along with a bunch of hard head catfish that where lurking in the depths as well. They were like piranhas and I held Sookie tight because I thought they would probably eat her if she fell in.

Goose Island

Sookie and I spent five days at Goose Island State Park. When we got there on Thursday, the weather was hot and very humid which we were hoping to avoid, but a cold front came through in the night and the weather changed from miserable to perfect for the rest of our stay. I have to laugh at the words "cold front" because in Texas that means the weather changes from 90+ degrees to 60 degrees. One might need to put on a sweatshirt.

The campground is right on the water so when the bay is rough waves splash over the sea wall within five feet of your site. The sea gulls are so tame that they take food right out of your hand. People were fishing right beside their tents and RV's. And speaking of tents, there was one right next to me and they had an air conditioning unit sitting outside with a vent hose plugged into a window. I've never seen something like that before.

Best of all were the pelicans!...

First Day

The boys and I survived our first day together quite well. They arrived here in time for a pancake breakfast then I drove the two older ones to summer school. Their mother and teacher had threatened them with no swimming if behavior was not impeccable and so they were perfect angels at school. Owen was happy that we went straight to the pool, and he didn't have to do his homework until dinner time. We worked on that while I prepared dinner, and it went smoothly enough. After dinner I started them on their reading lessons and found that the books I had chosen were at their frustration level so will get different ones tomorrow. We played I spy on the computer then read each one a story. The going to bed routine reminded me of "So Long, Farewell..." from Sound of Music. Read Ezra Where the Wild Things Are then tucked him in. Next I read to Austin from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and tucked him in. Ezra was still awake, but down. Last I finished off with The Mouse and the Motorcycle with Owen and we went up. Ezra was out, Austin was barely awake, and I haven't heard a peep from the upstairs contingency since kissing Owen good night. Very satisfactory ending to the day, phewwww!!!

Rain

In the middle of the night, it started raining. I got up and sat on my front porch to enjoy it. It is very different here than at home when it rains. One area can be getting soaked while another area only a block away will stay dry. We are now on stage 2 water restrictions as southern Texas is experiencing drought while the Dallas area is flooding. With stage 2 I'll most likely lose my back lawn, some of my plants, and possibly the front lawn; however the St. Augustine grass comes back quickly when water is available to it again.
Yesterday, I had to laugh when I found out what creature has been helping himself to the tomatoes. Who would have thought, but it is a yellow-fronted woodpecker! There he was strolling around the plants checking for just the right one. It's my fault because I lure him to the garden by putting pancakes in one of the feeders, but now that Ezra hasn't been here in the mornings, there are no pancakes therefore tomatoes seem to be his second choice. The greedy little guy should have plenty next week as all the boys will be here full time. That is going to be a lovely time for me.