As most of you who follow our blog know, Judy and I moved to Reynolds Creek Park on Waco Lake (near Waco, TX) on Saturday, 12/10/11, and set up as camp hosts for the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) for the next 3 1/2 months (through March 2012). Well, we finally got moved in and surveyed our situation to begin working on the site - between rain storms.
Our RV pad is situated in a grove of Arizona Ash that chose the week we moved in to start shedding its leaves so, as soon as I got our front yard cleaned up, a breeze pops up and dumps a couple more bags on the lawn and across our patio. Oh, well, we’ll get there eventually.
Last Monday night, I went out to the car and realized we were being serenaded by 2 different groups of coyotes. This wasn’t the type of lone animal howling and having another answer off in the distance. This was 2 packs of at least 5 to 10 each howling together – loud enough to hear inside with the windows closed and the TV on. I think Judy was just a little freaked out.
This past week, we were busy trimming trees, raking leaves, patrolling the park and picking up some of the litter people have shamelessly thrown out of their vehicles, too lazy to go by a dumpster. Earlier, we spotted an eagle and have a general idea where it is nesting, so my plans are to get close enough to get some decent pics, yet stay far enough away so as not to disturb. One day last week, while doing a patrol, I got out of the car and walked out toward a spit of land sticking out into the lake. As I approached, I watched about 6 does move away from my location and, right behind, were several coyotes leisurely following.
When we first toured the campground, we were treated to sightings of deer at every bend. Last Sunday, we went to the dumpster to dispose of our trash. When I opened the dumpster lid, I was face to face with a terrified raccoon that had maneuvered himself into the container only to have the closed lid trap him. We made a makeshift ladder for him from our trash and left the lid open while we drove around. When we returned, he was gone.
.
Last Monday evening, when I closed and did my final round after dark, I stopped to let a lone coon cross the road in front of me, only to turn and see him come right up to my door and stand on his hind legs making little chirping sounds at me.
Last Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather broke down and the animals evidently decided to "hunker down" and few were to be seen. I only spotted 1 lone buck - granted, a beautiful animal with what looked like 8 to 10 points with a beautiful wide spread. Luckily, he’s safe here, but he would have been a beautiful trophy for some hunter. Just maybe, I’ll be lucky enough to situate a camera blind well enough to get a good trophy picture.
Wildlife is plentiful here and, besides the above-mentioned, includes roadrunners, hawks, bobcats and cougars (mountain lions). Forgive the lack of pictures so far, but most of our sightings have been when we have been doing our volunteer work and were not prepared. I pledge that with the ample wildlife here, pictures will be coming.
A perfect ending to our first week in our "new" location was having our friends Dave and Sue come for a visit (with their 3 puppies) on Friday (12/16), followed by dinner at the Cotton Patch Cafe - and Judy actually had some great fried shrimp! I actually ordered grilled shrimp with blackened tilapia, which was topped with a crawfish concoction. Delicious! OH, and did I say, WE LOVE IT HERE! ~Dick~
Let the clean-up begin!
Here are more details on the clean up and our first week-and-a-half at our "new" site! Dick started cutting the low-hanging branches from the trees and blew all the leaves from our campsite, only to have the winds blow leaves from the trees everywhere. This past Saturday (12/17), Dick blew leaves again, since the trees are almost barren, and I loaded 6 huge garbage bags. It has been fun being outside and getting some exercise, which is preparing us for Colorado next summer!
Sunday (12/18), I looked out our bedroom window and saw 8 or so deer across the road. I quickly grabbed my camera to take pictures – and then realized that my card was in my computer and not in my camera. Later in the morning, I saw 2 of the deer return. What a beautiful site!
Sunday afternoon, Dick used his new chain saw and cut up the branches and we had a big bonfire – since the burn ban has finally been lifted. While watching over the fire, we heard what turned out to be sand hill cranes heading south ahead of the next round of cold weather. What amazed us is that it is so quiet in the park that we were able to hear them before seeing them flying in formation. Another beautiful site but, unfortunately, not captured in pictures!
Yesterday (12/19), we attended a Christmas party and lunch, with a White Elephant gift exchange, at the COE office and met more people, as well as seeing others whom we had already met. Dick made his chicken and wild rice dressing, and has had requests for his recipe. It was yummy! For gifts, I got a $10 (our limit) gift card to Walmart, and Dick “stole” a handmade sign which he knew I really wanted (see picture below)!
 |
| Standing - J. Morris, Volunteer Coordinator |
 |
| Joan and Terry - hosts at Koehne Park and our friends from Seabrook, TX |
We are continuing to perform our volunteer duties this week and will get ready for a road trip to visit the kids, grandsons, family and friends for Christmas and New Year’s in the Houston area and Southwest Louisiana. As you can see, the gifts are bought and wrapped and we are ready!
See ya next time and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ~Judy~
No comments:
Post a Comment