Hot First Day Of Spring Sikes Lake Nature Communing

The temperature was almost 80 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, when I ventured to Sikes Lake for some pleasant nature communing, along with a surprisingly large number of fellow nature communers.

As you can see via the photo documentation of the view from the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake, looking southwest, it is a clear blue sky day, on what I think is the first day of the season known as Spring. But my wall calendar is telling me yesterday, March 19 was the day Spring arrived.

I must go Google now to find out, for sure, what season I am currently experiencing.

Well, according to Google my calendar is erroneous. The Vernal Equinox is happening today, March 20.

It seems like only a few weeks ago we were experiencing extreme Winter weather, with snow and a couple days with the temperature sub-zero. It seems like only a few weeks ago, because it was just a few weeks ago.

And now look at what our predicted high is two days from now, that being the day known as Sunday.

100 degrees in March just seems wrong. I suspect we are heading towards a record-breaking HOT summer. 

Nature Communing Lucy Park's Jungle-Free Backwoods Jungle

It was to Lucy Park I ventured this third Wednesday morning of the 2026 version of March, for some actual salubrious outdoor nature communing, after several days of avoiding such, due to the chilly windy outdoor conditions, which have now abated, with today's high getting into the 80s, if the prediction is accurate.

I speed hiked the Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle today, photo documented above.

I thought the Lucy Park Backwoods might be in near jungle mode, but the Lucy Park trees have not greened up as much as the trees seem to have greened in non-park locations.

Maybe the temperature is a few degrees cooler in Lucy Park, due to the lack of blacktop and heat producing vehicles which warm up the trees lining streets in town, hence causing the Lucy Park trees to more slowly start to sprout leaves.

Anyway, it was mighty nice to get a dose of endorphins, today, after experiencing withdrawal symptoms the past several days.

Thursday the temperature is scheduled to get into the 90s, so I should have another good day of nature communing tomorrow.

Chilly Tuesday Morning Enjoying Rising Walmart Gas Price

A week ago, give or take a day or two, I filled my tank at my neighborhood Walmart gas station at $3.17 a gallon.

This third Tuesday morning of the 2026 version of March I was back at Walmart to do some interior space nature communing and wildlife observation, in Walmart. 

I opted not to do outdoor nature communing, due to the outer world being extremely chilled. And windy. We got below freezing the past two nights. Tomorrow warmth is predicted to return.

Upon leaving Walmart, walking to my vehicle, I decided to fill my tank again, what with the gas price predicted to keep on rising, soon going over 4 bucks a gallon.

It looked like many were so inclined to fill up, what with this gas station being way busier than it usually is, in the early morning.

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...