Donkey Day

Today we met up with friends at Berry Springs Park and Preserve a.k.a the donkey park.

We first discovered this park last November. Skye fell in love with the park donkeys and was excited about seeing them again. Despite the fact that she almost lost her little finger to a donkey when she was 4 years old, I'm not sure why the affection for them.

I sneaked in a few pics while she was enthralled with her "spirit animal" as she referred to them....

They remind me of a giant Bo

With all the rain we got from Hurricane Patricia it provoked some flower blooms...

The weather was perfect for donkey day. Not too hot, not too cold. Just the way I like it.

Mellow Week

We didn't have much planned for the week, but Skye and I did go support our local Crowe's Nest Animal Life Center. for Family Fun Days.  I can't say too many nice things about this place....

Killing two birds with one stone, Toby and I took a little hike through a neighborhood greenbelt nearby an area we had to run some errands. I'd like to see our neighborhood do something like this for our greenbelt. The idea to petition for it has crossed my mind over the years, but at this point I'm not sure if I will be here long enough to strongly encourage the idea....

On other news, Bo has this new thing he has been doing the past few months. When he's ready for a walk or his dinner, he will roll over on his back and stare at me. If I don't respond he will give a throaty grunt to get my attention to let me know he needs something. I think it's kind of cute...

I also whipped up this GRINCH beanie I saw on Pinterest. I put in in my box of cancer hats I'm donating. Since I don't have much social etiquette, I hope it will be appropriate for cancer patients...

Close To You

It's interesting the way an old song can take you back in time. If the song made enough of an impact it can evoke a memory associated with the experience you were having at the time.

I have many songs associated with many different memories, but there is one song in particular that every single time I hear it I have a very vivid visual of exactly what I was doing the very first time I ever remember hearing it.

The Carpenter's "Close To You" is that song for me.

It was summer in the early 1970's. My mom and dad were taking me and my brother to Dauphin Island for the day. My brother and I were always excited about going to the beach. The beach always seemed to make Mom cheerful and relaxed and dad always played with us. We especially loved it when he would let us climb up on his shoulders and jump off into the waves.

The radio dial was on a local station as we headed down Dauphin Island Parkway to our destination. Close To You came on the radio. My brother and I were in the back standing up on the back floor board with our hands grasping around the back of the front seats where our parents sat. This was before the days of all those pesky seat belt rules. We all sang along in chorus together as the song played along.

I felt so happy we were going somewhere fun.

For the past 40 years each time I hear that song it takes me back to that day we were headed to the beach. The memory is ingrained in my brain forever.

HERE is a video my brother uploaded a few years ago on Youtube of one of our family beach days.

Commons Ford Ranch

I'm a big fan of hidden gems. Commons Ford Ranch is an old ranch turned into a Metropolitan park.

The hike was a peaceful one. The beginning of the trail led us through an open grassy area...

Then into a more dense, shady area....

We came upon Lake Austin...

Walked through some more shady areas...

...and ended up at the Lake picnic area....

We walked on past it along the trail. This old Pecan Tree took my breath away. It was absolutely beautiful.....

Beautiful home on the hill above the lake....

The trail opened up again and led us along the road.....

....until we reached a rockier trail.....

This trail led us to what was suppose to be a creek and a waterfall. I'm sure it's beautiful after the spring rains, but it was mostly dry.....

There were some pretty yellow flowers....

We headed back in the direction we came and took a fork in the path that led to rock ledge that overlooked the dry creek...

We also came upon this old concrete bridge. We saw a couple of deer frolicking around through the brush. We watched them a bit before we moved on...

We passed some trees which Toby referred to as "ghost trees". I thought it was a pretty good description of them....

There was another trail that led up to the top of the hill. Totally worth the hike....

The summit! We sat up here for awhile and enjoyed the breeze and the view. Such a peaceful, beautiful place...

My panoramic view...

I can't pinpoint why, but this hike gave me a very peaceful, easy feeling of gratitude and love for too many things to name.