Thursday 2-10 More Hiking & Sunshine

 

Smile and have fun

We had another gorgeous day with the morning temperature at 34 and the high 73. 

I made pancakes for breakfast. Then we went on a 4 mile hike. We hiked all the hiking trails. Because they were in the open and we wanted the sunshine we started by hiking the Pond and the Prairie Trail. We hiked to the pond and turned around. We hiked back to where a short trail took you to the Prairie Loop trail (.6 mile). We hiked Prairie until it Y's to go to the playground. We walked the park road by the playground to the trailhead for the Tower trail (.6 mile) at the camping area. We hiked all the trails in the area. They were: Tower, Bluff (.4 mile), Cave (.2 mile) and Wash Tub (.5 mile). The distance of the trails are one way and at times we had to hike part of the trail twice to get to another trail. We hiked the Tower trail twice because we started on it and ended the hike on it. We didn't see any deer or people on the trail. The trails are very nice and not too challenging. At times you have to hike up and down hills using rock steps built by the CCC. You do have to be careful because you can trip over rocks and roots but overall the trails are easy. Today we did see the wash pond, it was off on a small side trail that led to a parking lot. The wash pond was almost dry, it use to be a swimming hole but over the years sediment has filled a lot of it in. When the CCC built the park they built a dam to make the pond bigger. We had a super hike.

Bridge we crossed

Today we noticed a flag hanging from the bathroom that had not been there previously, we were curious so we walked over and found out it was a no burn flag.

 

No Burn Flag

By the time we got home it was lunchtime. I made leftovers. I heated up the taco meat and a sausage link and made soft tacos. 

After lunch I played my games. Solitaire and Mahjong Daily Challenges and Event: Easy Street Mini of 5 games. It took me 8 minutes and 40 seconds, which put me in 9th place in my group.

After playing my games I took a nap. While I was napping Larry went outside and read.

After my nap I went for an hour and fifteen minute hike for 3 miles. I hiked the trails in the trees we did this morning. While I was hiking I said hi to a few people (a family of three with a friendly dog, a couple my age, a young guy and a young couple at on top of the tower. I had a great hike and I was glad I had shade the whole time.

After my afternoon hike I did a little housework. I swept out the Minnie, it's so small it only takes five minutes. 

An hour later it was time for dinner. Today we tried a new dish that we picked up at Aldi called Thai Coconut Chicken. It was delicious. It's always nice to try something new. 

After dinner I walked around for an hour and fifteen minutes, I ended up doing 26,000 steps for the day. Yesterday I over did my steps and my knees were hurting a little bit. I ended up coming in 7th place in my group.

After doing my steps I baked cookies and started a new book written by Derek B. Miller called American By Day.  

Cardinal at the pond

 

Sunset at Mother Neff State Park

Mother Neff State Park is a small park with great hiking. They only have about 3 miles of trails but they utilize all the land and the trails intertwine with each other. The trails are easy to hike.

   

Wednesday 2-9 Hiking Mother Neff Trails

Camping at Mother Neff

We had a gorgeous day with a lot of sunshine. We woke up this morning with the temperature at 37 degrees and it got up to the low 70s. 

After breakfast we went on 3.5 mile hike. We hiked all the trails but two. We hiked Tower Trail (.6 mile), Cave Trail (.2 mile), Bluff Trail (.4 mile) and Wash Pond Trail (.5 mile). We hiked through Juniper trees, by the river and up and down hills. The trails had rocks on them and some roots but not much. This park is a CCC park so there were a few CCC structures, the CCC Tower, CCC Table and parts of the trails had steps that were made by the CCC. At the tower we saw a beautiful CCC building that was to be a Caretaker's Resident, today you can rent it for overnight use. We crossed over a bridge and hiked along the creek. There was no water in the creek. We walked through the Tonkawa Cave, people use to live in it for shelter over 200 years ago. There was a nice staircase that was built by the CCC and it took you to the parking lot. We rested a bit and continued on our hike. The bluff trail was pretty with a lot of trees. The CCC Stone Tower was beautiful with a spiral staircase, that went to the top of the tower. People are allowed to climb the tower. When you get on top you get a great view of the surrounding area. The Caretaker's resident was next door to the tower. The CCC table was nearby, it was in pretty bad shape. There were trail signs and signs at the structures giving the history of the structures. We had a great hike and saw deer.

 

 Caretaker's Residence

CCC Stone Tower

A view from the top of the CCC Tower

CCC Table

 

Tonkawa Cave

 

View from the tower bird watching blind

By the time we got back to the Minnie it was time for lunch. After lunch I played my games. I did the Solitaire and Mahjong Daily Challenges and the Event: Tri Peaks Adventure of 20 games. It took me 1 hour, 12 minutes and 45 seconds, which put me in 13th place in my group.

After playing games Larry and I went for another hike for 45 minutes. We hiked the trails we didn't do this morning, the Pond Trail (.6 mile) and the Prairie Trail (.6 mile). Before doing the pond trail we took a short trail to see an old bell that was donated to the CCC by a local family. They used it to call the workers to dinner, meetings and to warn them about storms. As we were walking the Prairie Trail we met a family going on a hike. The kids were very friendly and talkative. 

The CCC bell

When we got home Larry got his book and went outside to read because it was a gorgeous day. While he read I went on an hour walk/hike. When we checked in yesterday Larry walked through the visitor center and said it was very nice. So this afternoon I decided to walk to the visitor center. I started by hiking the Prairie Trail to the parking lot, which was about a half mile. Then I took the park road to the visitor center, it was .1 mile. It wasn't big but it told you the history of the park and how it became a park. The visitor center is also the park store so they sold hats, tee shirts, backpacks and other items. It was very nice. After walking around the visitor center I went back to the Prairie Trail and finished hiking it. As I was doing this I met up with the family we met earlier. When I got back to the beginning I hiked it a couple more times before returning to Larry.

About an hour later it was time for dinner. I made tacos. After dinner I walked around the camping area for an hour to get my steps. By the end of the day I had done 29,000 steps, which put me in 6th place in my group. I guess I got carried away. After doing my steps I made cookies for dessert. Then I spent the rest of the night finishing the book Norwegian By Night.  It was an excellent book. We had a super day.

Tuesday 2-8 Mother Neff State Park

Awesome day

We had an awesome day. 

We started the day out by finishing up getting the Minnie ready to go camping. We didn't leave until noon because we only had 25 miles to go. We going to Mother Neff State Park. 

After getting the Minnie ready I played my games. I did the Solitaire and Mahjong Daily Challenges and Event: World Tour Mini of 10 games. It took me 1 hour, 1 minute and 43 seconds, which put me in 17th place in my group.  

A lady from Mother Neff State Park called to verify our reservation. Larry answered her questions and she said when we checked in there would be an envelope waiting for us. In the envelope there was information about the park and maps of the trails and camping area. This was the first time anyone called to verify our reservation. This was very nice.

Mother Neff State Park was one of the first state parks in Texas. When Isabella Neff (Mother) died in 1921 she left a small piece of land to the state. At the time her son was the Governor of Texas. There was no money to develop the land so it sat until the 30's. Mother Neff's son was no longer the governor but he now sat on the board of the Texas State Parks, the CCC was developing many state parks around the country, however, Mother Neff had not given the state enough land to meet their requirements, her son and another neighbor donated enough connecting land to meet their requirement and he was then able to get the CCC to develop the park. 

The developed part of the park is vastly different today from what the CCC developed. Much of the developed part of the park was near the Leon River and due to flooding issues the state eventually closed the campground. About 6 years ago the new campground opened.  

This is the first time we have been to Mother Neff. Larry tried a few times to get in but it was always full. It's has a small campground with only 20 sites, from that there are 2 camp host sites and 2 handicap sites leaving only 16 sites. All sites are full hookup. It a gorgeous camping area. All the sites have concrete pads for your RV, fire ring, grill, electric, water and sewer dumps. The sites are either pull through or back in. We got a pull through. The sites are huge. The hiking trailheads are right at the camping area. The area has a playground that has two sections. One section has an armadillo, tee pee, logs, slide and cabin. This section kids can play in the dirt and explore. The other section has swings, slide and jungle gym.

Cabin in the playground

The old playground

 

 

Armadillo and logs

After setting up the Minnie for a few days we setup our chairs. Then Larry relaxed in his chair and read. I didn't last too long in my chair because I got cold so I went inside and read.

After reading about an hour I decided to go for an hour and a half walk. I hiked the Pond Trail (.6 mile) and Prairie Loop Trail (.6 mile). The first half hour I walked to the pond. When I got there I was surprised the pond had some water in it considering we haven't had much rain. There was a nice bird watching blind. Then I walked the prairie loop trail. The trail was mainly in the open but it did take me through some Juniper trees. I walked the trail to the playground trail. I crossed the park road to get to it. I walked around both sections. While I was in the armadillo section I met a lady and her dog. She had a little girl but she was busy playing in the dirt. After walking around for a half hour I went home. I rested for fifteen minutes and then I went on another walk for an hour. I hiked the pond trail to the prairie loop trail. I walked the prairie loop trail three times and went back to Larry.

 

The pond

 

Hiking trail through the trees

 

The pond bird watching blind

While I did my walking Larry read.

By the time I got back it was dinnertime. We had tacos. After dinner we went for an hour walk. Larry walked with me for a bit. We walked around the camping area. As we were walking we saw deer in the fields. The sun was going down so they were coming out. After dropping Larry off I continued the walk to get some of my steps before it got too dark. I saw a few people walking their dogs and walking around the area. When I got back I made sugar cookies for dessert. 

By the end of the day I did 27,500 steps, which put me in 6th place in my group. We spent the evening reading and relaxing in the Minnie.

      

Monday 2-7 Getting the Minnie Ready for a Trip

The weather is suppose to be beautiful so we decided we would go camping for a few days.

Let's go camping

Yesterday, I made an online grocery order with Walmart but when I went to checkout there were no times available for home delivery or curbside for the next couple of days. I guess the ice and snow last Thursday got things backed up. First thing this morning Larry took the list and went grocery shopping. On the way home he bought breakfast at Top Donuts. 

I got up around 8:00 and Larry got home a few minutes later. He likes to go to Walmart early to avoid the crowds. I put the groceries away and got ready to dance.

We attended one virtual square dance, Di Green's Weekly C1 at 9:00. Terry still wasn't filling well so we pined Carol and Brian from the U.K.. They dance with their backs to us and you can follow them. They're good dancers. Di called 5 tips with 27 participants. Larry danced with me. Di worked on Tally Ho and Linear Action. The dance was a lot of fun. 

After the dance we went to the storage center and picked up the Minnie. On the way to get the Minnie we stopped by the UPS Store to pick up our mail. It was busy but Larry had his key and we didn't have any packages waiting so he was in and out very fast. We were going to take Hwy 317 to the storage center but the road was closed and the traffic was backed up. We drove back to the dam and took the route we take from the house. When we got home Larry parked the Minnie on the side of the house.

After lunch Larry went out and filled the Minnie with water. Then he moved it in front of the garage. Larry installed the tire air pressure monitors. A little later I loaded the Minnie for our trip and made the bed. We're only going away for three days. In the morning I'll finish getting the Minnie ready.

Getting the Minnie ready to go camping

I played my games. The Solitaire and Mahjong Daily Challenges and Event: The Hard Road of 16 games. It took me 2 hours, 10 minutes and 35 seconds, which put me in 9th place in my group.

Yesterday I mentioned, that Larry did an Easter paper project. It was a chick and rabbit.

Cute Easter Rabbit and Chick

In the evening we watched the Olympics. I ended up doing 27,500 steps, which put me in 6th place in my group. 

While I continued watching the Olympics I looked in our security cameras and saw a possum on the porch, a fox and deer in the grass. I hadn't seen the wildlife for a couple of days. I have stopped feeding the deer because they were starting to expect to be fed. I'm glad the wildlife is still coming around because I enjoy watching them.   

 

 

Sunday 2-6 Dancing, Crafting & Olympics

 

We had a beautiful day. It was a little cold but not as bad as it was a couple of days ago. 

I started the day out by playing games. I did the Solitaire and Mahjong Daily Challenges and Event: Free Cell Mini of 5 games. It took me 13 minutes and 17 seconds, which put me in 28th place in my group. After playing games I continued reading Norwegian by Night.

Larry did a paper crafting project.

I attended two virtual square dances. First was Ett McAtee's Weekly C Series. After two weeks on vacation Ett was back calling. She invited Di Green to come and call with her. The dance was six tips of C1. They had 37 participants. Di usually dances with her partner Terry McCann but today he wasn't filling well so she danced and called by herself. I ended up pinning our friends Susan and Ken out of the Dallas area. I had fun dancing to Di and Ett and with friends.

 

Di Green

Some of the participants

 

Ett McAtee

The second dance was Loren Smith's Weekly A2/C1 at 7:30. Loren called 3 A2 tips with 25 participants, 2 C1 Teach and Review tips with 24 participants and 2 C1 tips with 18 participants. This week Loren reviewed Cast Back and Cross Cast Back. In the second tip Loren introduced Pass the Axle and Anything the Axle. I danced by myself and had a super time. 

 

Participants in Loren's dance

 

Loren Green

We watched the Olympics. While I was watching television I did my steps. I did 26.500, which put me in 5th place in my group for the week with 193,604 steps.

 

Saturday 2-5 Reading, Olympics & Keeping Warm

Today was cold but not as cold as the last two days. We woke up to 23 degrees with no wind. It got up to 49 degrees. The ice and snow is almost gone. 

Last night before I went to bed I took a couple of cinnamon rolls out of the freeze to thaw out overnight. When Larry got up they were ready to be baked. I got up at 8:00 the rolls were still warm. 

After breakfast I put out the bird feeder and bowls on the porch. It didn't take the squirrels long to find the food. We had four squirrels on the porch at one time. They took turns eating out of the bowls. There are three bowls and they don't like sharing so they would scare each other off, not in a mean way. For awhile we had a squirrel at each bowl. About an hour later the birds started to show up. 

Squirrels visiting

I played my games. I did the Solitaire and Mahjong Daily Challenges and the Event: Pyramid Adventure of 20 games. It took me 1 hour, 35 minutes and 36 seconds, which put me in 20th place in my group.

After playing games I started reading a book called Norwegian by Night written by Derek B. Miller. I read for a couple of hours and Larry started and finished a book.

 

Relax with a good book

We watched the Olympics. While watching them I did my steps. I ended up doing 27,500 steps, which put me in 6th place in my group.   

Friday 2-4 Cold Day, Tee Shirt Touch Up and the Olympics

Hold on 

We had another cold winter day. It started out at 24 degrees with wind. It didn't get out of the 20s until mid afternoon. At 4:30 it was 37 degrees. 

The time and temperature on the Echo Show

When it got out of 20s things started to thaw out. We were relaxing and we heard the snow and ice fall off our neighbor's metal roof. The cold weather didn't keep the birds away but they weren't as active as yesterday.

The snow yesterday

 

Today, snow almost gone

A few days ago Larry suggested I discontinue feeding the deer because they were starting to hang around waiting for food. At times I would have seven deer under the tree. They weren't around yesterday but they did show up today. There was no food under the tree but they still ate the grass. I blow off the porch every night and some seeds get blown in the gravel and grass so maybe they found some seeds. 

I started the day out by playing games. I did the Solitaire and Mahjong Daily Challenges and Event: Hard Road Mini of 5 games. It took me 53 minutes and 44 seconds, which put me in 19th place in my group. Then I finished writing my annual book. Now I will start editing it.

While I played games and worked on my annual book Larry read.

Last month we attended a square dancing tee shirt painting party with Ett. We filled in the boxes on the front of the shirts with different colors. The other day I washed the shirts and in a few areas they needed a bit of touch up. Today we decided to get that done. Ett has scheduled another day later this month to paint the boxes on the back of the shirts.

Tee shirt to touch up

 

Larry having fun painting his tee shirt

We found out that the Winter Olympics were starting and NBC was covering it. We have Peacock (owned by NBC) installed on our FireTV and we can watch some movies and programs for free with commercials, you can pay a monthly fee to remove the commercials. The Olympics are in Beijing and Peacock and NBC are covering it. We wanted to be able to watch more events than what is shown on NBC so Larry changed our Peacock subscription from free to premium for $4.99 a month (we will cancel it after the Olympics). Now we can see lots more of the Olympics and if we miss anything Peacock has replays of all the events. Tonight we watched qualifying for pairs skating, curling and womens freestyle snowboarding.

During the Olympic broadcast one of the commentators mentioned they were not actually in Beijing, due to Covid NBC decided to send as few people to Beijing as possible so most of the commentators are actually covering the Olympics virtually from Connecticut. I am sure they are disappointed about that.

After Larry went to bed I watched an episode of Rosemary & Thyme. Then I went back to watching the Olympics. I ended up doing 27,500 steps, which put me in 3rd place in my group.