I'm heading for the Hills!

[frawniemae]

Well, folks, it's Spring Break here in my town. And after much thought, we're going to leave the kiddoes for some Hill Country time. I'll be out of pocket for the next week (I may check in from San Antonio but BIL is on dail up and it takes f o r e v e r to load anything.) At any rate I'm glad that I won't be missing Survivor whilst I'm gone. SA, on the other hand, I will miss. This place and you people help keep me sane in more ways than one. A Hill Country fix will help sooth my mind and soul while I'm there and it lasts for a week or two but then it's time for another one. Unfiortunately I can only get away once or twice a year. It's good to be able to come here anytime!

Follow these links to see where I'll be spending my time:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lost_maples/
http://www.americansouthwest.net/texas/lost_maples/photographs.html

I can't take credit for the pics. And they show the more popular sites. I will post pics from Mystic Canyon when I get back.

Y'all take care and have a great week!

[Slitter]

Soon as I saw "heading for the hills" I thought of that Lost Maples place! Those pics you shared with me were so beautiful - and, of course, you told me it was like your favorite place. :)

Sounds like somebody has been working hard in the earning trust back department. That's good to hear.

It's definitely a good week to go, Survivor-wise. I hope you can catch Lost while you're there.

[Gabby]

Enjoy!

:boogie:

[Virgo6]

We will miss you too Frawnie, but you need some vacation time badly. Wish I was coming with ya cause this winter weather and being cooped up with a retired man 24/7 is REALLY getting on my nerves. I keep saying to myself "Spring is almost here".
The photos are beautiful and I hope you have a nice relaxing time and enjoy all the scenery. Hugs

[frawniemae]

Well, I'm back! It took a few days to get over my vacation, though! Seems like a tornado went through my house while I was gone but, alas! It was only a half dozen or so teenagers! :) No harm done thankfully, but they couldv'e at least swept, mopped and washed towels before leaving! Oh well! Can't expect miracles all the time, now can I?

The Hill Country was as beautiful as ever! When we arrived, we got THE campsite we wanted. There was a wild turkey walking around where we would park our popup. I saw that as a good sign. At least better than the one at the ranger station that said "Fire Ban in effect"! So much for our grilled Utopia steaks! Then at 7pm the skies opened and enough rain fell (about 11 hours worth) that the fire ban was lifted! That first night was rough and long but after that the weather cleared and it was gorgeous!

Then the park's water pumps went bust! No running water or flush toilets, or showers. :eek: We had bottled water for the hikes so that wasn't a problem. Port a potties aren't great but they'll do in a bind. But no showers? That just wouldn't do. So the first night without we drove 30 miles to another state park to bathe. The second I waited til dark and made hot water with the coffee pot and sponge bathed behind the shelter. Hubbie was certain that any minute the ranger would come arrest me for indecent exposure but it was dark!! No way anyone could see me! Once I was thru Hubbie went and did his thing, too! At least we smelled better! The next night we drove back to the other park for showers and had supper in nearby Utopia.

Hikes were good and lots of live water where we had never seen any (thnx to the rain). I hope to post pics when I get home.

All in all we had a nice time. And no problems with the kids while we gone helped matters.

Now, to catch up on everything Survivor!

[pocket]

Welcome home! You made it in time for the pollen deluge. I swept the porch the other day, and it's covered in green again. DH is having a cow because the cars are always covered.....never mind anything on or around the house, it's the cars that matter, doncha know!

Anyway, hope you're refreshed and ready for the next adventure life brings.

[Slitter]

Welcome back, Frawnie! :wavey: Sounds like you had a great time except for the stinky factor, lol. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures.

[frawniemae]

Here's pics as promised. I hope I resized them correctly. (I always worry about that.)
The purple flowers are Mountain Laurels. We were just about one week too early for the full bloom of these gorgeous flowers! Close your eyes and think Grape Nehi or grape bubble gum...that's exactly what these smell like! The top of the overlook is covered with several acres of these shrubs which were full of "not quite ready to bloom" buds. Awesome!

All the little streams eventually flow together to form the Sabinal River which can get up to 15 feet deep in places and 30 or so feet wide (but not inside Lost Maples.). Springs feed into it all along its length.

The Ponds are actually where Can Creek pools into a small valley that was dammed at one end by the original owners of the land. Just a little ways from The Ponds to the left of the pic is a waterfall of about 20 feet. Not very big but very nice on a hot day.

My favorite place in the world, enjoy!

[snip the elf]

breathtaking!!!

[Slitter]

Awesome, Frawnie! Wow, that last one really looks like it would be a great swimming hole. :) And blooming flowers...ahh, only a matter of time until we have some up here too but what a welcome sight! Thanks for sharing your pics.

[Virgo6]

Welcome back Frawnie! Glad you had a great time. Love the photos, especially the last one. It looked so peaceful. Flowers??? haven't seen any of those yet.
But I know they are going to be coming out here shortly. Thanks for sharing and reminding me what they look like. Grape Soda smell........yum. Childhood memories. I would love to smell Bonomo Turkish Taffy again!