Windy Sunday Sikes Lake Nature Communing

On this third Sunday of the 2026 version of March, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some windy nature communing. Which would make the photo documentation the view looking southwest from the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake.

Today's weather forecast's most interesting prediction was for strong 50 mph winds to be blowing, starting around the time the sun arrived for its daily illumination duty.

As you can see, the lake is barely rippling, nowhere near having strong wind produce white capping waves.

This photo was taken at the start of my nature communing. A half hour later that predicted strong wind arrived in full gusto mode. I was at the parking lot when the wind began to gust. It did not cross my mind to walk back to the lake to possibly get a good wave photo.

The temperature high for today is predicted to hit 67 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. And tonight the low is predicted to get below freezing, down to 29 degrees. I thought we were done with that chilly nonsense.

I have the A/C running right now. I suspect that will be switched to heating mode in a few hours.

$3.17 A Gallon At My Neighborhood Walmart

Last time I got gassed, if my memory is serving me correctly, it was costing $2.19 a gallon. I still have more than half a tankful. Today my neighborhood Walmart's gas station, that being the location where last I paid $2.19 a gallon, now is costing 98 cents more.

I suspect by the time I need to fill my empty tank again, the price will be well above $3.17.

The last time the price of gas spiked I do not remember how high it went. I don't thing it got out of the three dollar range.

A couple days ago, Washington's Linda Lou told me gas in my home zone had gone over $4 a gallon.

My old Skagit Valley Washington zone is home to a couple big refineries which turn Alaskan crude into gasoline. 

Apparently having refineries in the neighborhood does not make the gas cheaper.

I do not know where the nearest refinery is in relation to my current Texas location. I do know that Texas pumps a lot of crude oil out of the Texas ground. It doesn't get shipped in from Alaska on super tankers.

Early Monday Morning Wichita Falls Library Nature Communing

Communing with nature on this second Monday of the 2026 version of March consisted of driving, early this morning, to beautiful downtown Wichita Falls, to return books and get some new ones.

Which would make the above photo documentation a look at the exterior of the Wichita Falls Public Library.

Yesterday was chilly, with the temperature never getting far into the 60s, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

As you can see, that is a clear blue sky above the library. Today's temperature is predicted to get to 87 degrees. 

How did people live in this climate before the invention of air-conditioning, I often wonder.

Chilly Sunday Morning Not Swimming Or Boating On Sikes Lake

On this second Sunday of the 2026 version of March, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning to get me some endorphins whilst enjoying some chilly nature communing under a clear blue sky.

The photo documentation is looking west from the east end of the lake. Looking at the Sike Lake dam through a fence with what seem to be odd signs.

Who would want to go swimming in this lake? I don't think it is very deep. And it's muddy. The sign next to the NO SWIMMING signs informs that there is to be NO BOATING, CANOEING OR KAYAKING WITHOUT UNIVERSITY APPROVAL.

In all the years I have been walking around Sikes Lake I have never seen anyone floating on the lake via any floating conveyance. So, either the University never gives approval. Or no one tries to get approved to float on Sikes Lake.

I got out of bed this morning at my regular time, despite it being an hour earlier than my norm, due to the annoying switch to Daylight Savings Time.

Wichita Falls Thunderstorms, Flooding Downpours, Hail & Tormadoes On Today's Weather Menu

This is the third day in a row the Wichita Falls weather prediction has thunderstorms on the menu.

Today flooding downpours, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes have been added to the menu,

If today turns out to be the same as the previous two days, we will be hearing no see no lightning strikes, hear no thunder, see no rain. 

And no tornadoes.

I have experienced a tornado, up close, twice since I have been in Texas. It is not a pleasant experience. Not one I want to repeat. 

Thursday Lucy Park Nature Communing With Yellow Wildflowers

Yesterday I blogged about a Chilly Wednesday Pink Purple Walk Around Sikes Lake in which, after seeing a flowering tree being a harbinger of the coming Spring, I made mention of the fact that soon wildflowers would be coloring the Texas landscape.

And now, just a day later, I found myself nature communing at Lucy Park, seeing the landscape being colored by the bright yellow wildflower you see photo documented above.

I know the name of some Texas wildflowers, like Bluebonnets and Evening Primroses, but I do not know the name of this beautiful bright yellow wildflower.

The nature communing was pleasant today, though I was overdressed in sweatpants. The temperature was in the upper 60s, heading to a high in the 80s on this first Thursday of the 2026 version of March.

Thunderstorms are again on the weather menu for today and tomorrow. 

Chilly Wednesday Pink Purple Walk Around Sikes Lake

On this first Wednesday of the 2026 version of March, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some chilly nature communing.

Such would make the above photo documentation the view looking south from the middle of the bridge at the north end of the lake.

As you can see, the sky is not blue today. Totally overcast, sort of foggy, with thunderstorming, downpours and hail on the weather menu for today.

Daylight Savings Time arrives this coming Sunday. Only two of my clocks currently require being manually adjusted, time-wise. 

With the arrival of Daylight Savings Time, the arrival of Spring comes along in a couple more weeks.

Today, at Sikes Lake, I saw a colorful harbinger of Spring, photo documented below.

I have zero clue what type tree this is which is sporting the colorful pinkish purplish flowers. Soon wildflowers should start sprouting, followed by trees turning green.

Texas is significantly more scenic when color returns to the landscape...

Tuesday Morning Tender Sweet Walmart Frog Legs

I saw that which you see photo documented, above, this Tuesday morning in Walmart.

Two pounds of "Tender & Slightly Sweet" Frog Legs. Ready to cook. For only $19.99.

I think I may have noticed the Frog Legs in the Walmart seafood section, previously. But, seeing the Frog Legs today had me wondering if this is a Southern thing. 

Are there Frog Legs in the seafood section of the Walmart in the town I lived in before moving to Texas? That being the town known as Mount Vernon, Washington, a Pacific Northwest location, far from the Deep South.

I did not think to check out the Frog Legs cooking instructions on the Frog Legs box. Is there an air fryer option? Are Frog Legs like chicken legs, with the frog skin part of what you are expected to consume?

I do not think anything could entice me to bite into a frog leg, no matter how it was cooked.

First March Monday Wichita Falls Prairie Dog Town Visit

It has been a few years, since well before COVID, that I made a visit to the nearby Prairie Dog Town in University Kiwanis Park.

This relatively chilly first Monday of the 2026 version of March seemed a good day for a prairie dog visit.

I've thought prairie dogs to be real cute, ever since I first visited one of their towns, years ago, near the entry to Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

Prairie dogs don't bark. They make a sort of chirping noise, almost bird-like. I heard a lot of chirping today. 

Several years ago an effort was made to contain the Kiwanis Park's prairie dogs inside a sort of fenced enclosure, because a lot of prairie dogs had migrated outside the enclosure, building new homes, making hazardous holes on the open parkland.

Well, there did seem to be way fewer enclosure escapees, but I saw at least a dozen outside the enclosure, including the dog you see photo documented above.

The below prairie dog was the first I saw today, upon exiting my vehicle.

This prairie dog was inside the enclosure, and was nicely cooperative about being photographed, letting me get close.

Has anyone ever succeeded in domesticating a prairie dog, I wondered today. I sispect not...

Final Day Of February Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Nature Communing

On this final day of the 2026 version of February, it was to the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle I ventured for some salubrious nature communing and that activities resulting endorphins.

The temperature was in the mid 70s whilst I nature communed, heading for a predicted high of 86 degrees as measured via the Fahrenheit method.

Thunderstorms are on the weather menu for tonight. And the next several days.

It has been a while since I heard a thunderclap.

I filled up my gas tank this morning, anticipating a big price increase due to Trump's illegal attack on Iran.

Gas was $2.19 when last I pumped, before today. This morning the price per gallon had gone up to $2.46.

Dozens of Iranian grade school kids killed in a missile strike on a school. 

Depressing...