Sunday Slightly Chilly Walk Around Sikes Lake With No Burned Pork Chops

On this day 8, also known as the second Sunday of the 2026 version of November, it was back to nearly peaceful, wind-free Sikes Lake my motorized means of motion took me, in sweatpants, for the first time in a long time, due to the temperature being below 60 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, for some salubrious nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

Yes, the above is one long run-on sentence. A couple days ago, on Facebook, a lady commented that a sentence I apologized for being a run-on sentence, was not a run-on sentence. She asked where I would put a period to end a sentence, if it was a run-on sentence.

So, I thought I'd write a couple run-on sentences, just for the confusing fun of it.

Despite the temperature being below 60, I stayed perfectly comfortable and soon wished I'd opted to wear shorts.

It greatly helps when there is not wind causing that dreaded wind chill factor.

Part way into my walk around Sikes Lake the neurotic worry came upon me that I'd forgotten to turn the oven off when leaving. A couple weeks ago that happened and resulted in several over-cooked pork chops.

It was a relief to open my front door and not be greeted by that over-cooked product smell of a couple weeks ago.

Chilly Saturday Wichita Bluff Nature Area

This first Saturday of the 2026 version of November is the coldest day in a long long time. Soon after arriving to hike the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I regretted being in shorts and a t-shirt, instead of sweat pants and a sweat shirt. 

But, hiking fast I was able to warm up, a little.

Above is the view, looking northwest, from near the highest point on the Wichita Bluffs. That brownish area you see in the middle of the photo is the Wichita River. Currently flowing higher than its usual norm.

Aerobically Endorphin Overloading The Wichita Bluff Nature Area Again

I enjoyed the salubrious aftereffects from yesterday nature communing the Wichita Bluff Nature Area, with the ample aerobics causing an endorphin overload, that I opted to return to the Bluffs today, on this first Thursday of the 2026 version of November.

The photo documentation above is the view, looking northwest, from the western entry to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area.

Many people who have never been to Texas think the state is all flat, brown desert. One is not long in Texas before one learns such is not the case.

As you can see, even though we are well into the Fall season, the outer world at my Texas location is still green.

With Tuesday's change in Texas, the state is now both blue, and green, in many locations.

Nature Communing Wichita Bluff Nature Area Contemplating Yesterday's Midterm Election

Last night I stayed up til after midnight, for the first time in a long time, enjoying watching the anticipated Blue Wave turn into a Blue Tsunami.

Even though I was up late, I was up early this morning of the day after the Blue Tsunami, vertical before six this morning.

It was to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured this morning for my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

Last night, after it was starting to become clear what we were seeing, as in a historically significant election changing America's course, I started getting text messages on my phone from some in my old Washington state home zone.

Friend from first grade til now, Linda Lou: "Wowza."

Classmate/Friend in grade school, high school and college, Clyde H.: "Great Day Durango! Trump finally repudiated for the ass that he is."

Nephew Jason: "This is great!. Thank you, Texas."

Sister Michele: "Yay Texas!!!!!"

This election the location I lived in before moving to Wichita Falls, Fort Worth, and Tarrant County, turned blue, despite Republican efforts to stop that from happening by closing dozens of polling places.

It is just a little nerve-racking wondering what is going to happen next. One tries to be optimisitic...

WinCo Nature Communing With Dorothy & Giant Candy Canes

None of my regular morning nature communing on this first Tuesday of the 2026 version of November. Also known as Election Day.

I did my voting last week. And now I await the results.

Most of my walking this morning took place at WinCo. I needed to go there because I needed to grind some fresh peanut butter. The peanut butter you make yourself at WinCo is the best I have ever had. I learned this soon after the first WinCo opened in the DFW zone, years ago.

My route back to my abode, from WinCo, took me by MSU, also known as Midwestern State University.

Every year, since I have been in Wichita Falls, I always seem surprised to see the annual Fantasy of Lights displays begin showing up on the MSU campus, before Halloween.

Today I saw it looked like most of the displays have now arrived. So, I stopped to photo document some of the scene.

Above you see a fallen Santa Claus, near a train and giant candy canes. A Merry Christmas to All sign is between the fallen Santa and that little brown gingerbread house. To the right of Santa, but out of the photo frame is the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship. 

There are a few of the Fantasy of Lights displays, in addition to Jolly Roger, which I don't quite get how they fit the Christmas theme. Like the Wizard of Oz display with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man on the Yellow Brick Road in front of the Emerald City.

I will try and remember to experience the Fantasy of Lights, this year when it gets nearer to Christmas. The Fantasy of Lights draws a large crowd, at night, on weekends. It is entertaining.

Monday Sikes Lake Return Free Of Rain & Lightning Strikes

The forecast for this second day of the 2026 version of November was for heavy rain and thunderstorms starting by 7 this morning.

However, upon the arrival of the sun to begin its daily illumination duty, I looked out my bedroom window and saw a clear blue sky with no clouds to be seen.

So, what with the outer world looking so pleasant, I decided the Wichita Bluff Nature Area would be today's location today of my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition.

However, when it came time to exit my abode for outdoor activity, the sky was totally covered with angry looking clouds, blotting out the sun. No blue sky to be seen in any direction.

And the earlier dead calm had been replaced by strong gusts of wind.

Apparently, the weather forecast was off by a few hours.

Not wanting to be on the Wichita Bluffs when rain opted to pour and lightning to strike I decided to return to nearby Sikes Lake for my outdoor fun.

As you can see via the above photo documentation of today's view of the lake, looking southwest from Sikes Lake's rocky eastern shore, the wind is whipping up some waves. And the sky looks like it could begin behaving badly at any moment.

Fortunately, I was able to complete my endorphin acquisition whilst staying totally dry and free of any lightning strikes.

Speaking of waves. I am sort of anxious awaiting tomorrow's anticipated BLUE WAVE. I shall likely be staying up late tomorrow night.

Sunless Sikes Lake With Blooming Sunflowers On November 1

On this first day of the 2026 version of November, the day after Halloween, it was back to nearby Sikes Lake I commuted for some cloudy, pleasantly temperatured nature communing and endorphin acquisition after a night of seeing way too many trick or treating beggars.

First day of November and wild sunflowers are still busy blooming along the Sikes Lake lakeshore. Colorful wildflowers are one thing Texas does well.

Today was predicted to be foggy, but, so far, I have seen nothing of that type weather action. Just clouds.

Tomorrow, the day before one of the most seriously important elections in America's history, the current weather prediction is for downpours, thunderstorms, flash flooding and possible tornadoes.

Nature Communing Hamilton Park With Halloween Lawn Decorations

I may have gone a little overboard with my Halloween decorations, this year.

Making all these lawn decorations impervious to a strong wind is just a little challenging.

Yesterday's weather forecast for Halloween was for rain and thunderstorms. 

By the time Halloween arrived that forecast had been changed to light rain, Halloween morning. That light rain did arrive, as predicted, this morning of Halloween.

My Halloween nature communing and endorphin acquisition took place at Hamilton Park. Hamilton Park is almost as close as Sikes Lake, with the Circle Trail, and other trails running through the park.

I hope all are having themselves a mighty fine fun Halloween.

Friday Morning Walmart Return After Last Night's Linda Lou Walmart Walk

Washington's Linda Lou went for a long walk with me, yesterday, early in the evening, at Walmart.

Due to being distracted by Linda Lou's witty conversation I forgot to get the main thing I went to Walmart to get.

Apple Cider Vinegar.

This worked out just fine. Because, due to the predicated rain arriving as accurately predicted, with the dripping beginning around 7, this final Friday morning of the 2026 version of October, Walmart became my go to location for my daily nature communing and endorphin acquisition, with Apple Cider Vinegar being among what I acquired, this morning.

And now, an hour before noon, the dripping continues. So far there has been none of the predicted thunderstorming happening that I have seen or heard.

Today's above photo documentation is a look at the not too busy Walmart. Actually, Walmart was being a bit busy. The photo just indicates otherwise.

Tomorrow is Halloween. Rain is predicted. And thunderstorms. I don't think I'll go out trick or treating...

Midterm Texas High Tech Early Voting Nature Communing

I got around to early voting this final Thursday of the 2026 version of October. I had intended to do my daily walking and nature communing in the Sikes Senter mall location of the polling place, prior to voting.

Voting was to start at 11 am. I arrived a half hour before the voting opening. 

A line was already forming. I decided to opt for stationary walking, in line, rather than my normal mode of walking.

The line wait turned out to be a bit entertaining. I enjoyed it. Good stationary nature communing

The Sikes Senter mall is pretty much a ghost town. There are only a few stores still operating. And they also wait til 11 am to open.

In the photo documentation, above, you can only see a couple of the voters ahead of me. There were maybe a dozen more. And behind me, several dozen.

It had been a few years since I opted to use the polling place means of voting. I'd been using the mail in ballot method. But, for some reason, I did not trust that method, this year.

The in person voting method at my Texas location has gone hi-tech, way beyond any previous, in person, voting experience.

After showing photo I.D. and my voter registration card, I was given a couple things to sign, one via an electronic stylus method. I was then given a sheet of paper, with a directional arrow at the top, and the ACCESS CODE 27009 you see photo documented above.

After being given those two pieces of paper, I was directed to a voting station where I inserted the piece of paper and entered the ACCESS CODE. All via the touch screen method.

Then the voting began. Also, via the touch screen method.

When I reached the end of the voting I was asked to review my choices, did so, then instructed, when satisfied with the choices, to hit the print button. 

Did so, the piece of paper then got sucked into the machine and my ballot was printed. I was then instructed to go to another station, with the printed ballot, where I waited in a short line to insert that ballot sheet of paper into another high-tech machine, which sucked in the paper, and then advised me there would be a short wait til completion. Just a few seconds later the American flag was waving on the screen and I was told my voting was complete.

I was then given the I VOTED TODAY sticker you see photo documented above.

Is this what it is like to vote in person at my old Washingtons state zone of voting? For years I voted via the mail in ballot method, in Washington. I do not remember the last election in Washington where I voted in person at a polling place.