Freezing Sikes Lake Nature Communing On Last Day Of November

With the temperature chilled to two degrees above freezing, in other words, 34 degrees as measured via the Fahrenheit method, with a strong wind making those 34 degrees feel like the temperature was in the teens, according to the radio weather report I heard whilst taking a brisk walk around Sikes Lake, I had myself some chilly nature communing on this final Sunday and final day of the 2025 version of November.

The photo documentation does not look as cold and windy as was the reality. 

Last night's low was below freezing for the first time since last winter. Freezing had been predicted a week or so ago, but my location did not freeze.

But, last night freezing arrived, as evidence by my neighbor's vegetable garden getting obliterated. 

Up til now the way the neighbor's tomato plants seemed to be thriving, we thought they might make it til the actual arrival of winter.

Last Christmas a Washingtonian gifted me thickly lined Land's End sweatpants, which I never wore, til today, figuring all that lined insulation would cause me to overheat. Such was not the case today. Not even remotely close to overheating.

Today I made the foolish mistake of not having my hands covered with gloves. Upon returning to my abode I located my decade's old ski gloves. 

My cross-country skis made the move to Texas, but not the move from Fort Worth to Wichita Falls.

There has been a time or two where the cross-country skis would have been fun here in Wichita Falls, with the Circle Trail snow-covered.

The Circle Trail runs right by my abode. The Circle Trail through the hilly Wichita Bluffs Nature Area would be fun on cross-country skis too.

I shall see if Amazon sells cross-country skis. I doubt any store here does...

Balmy November Walk Around Sikes Lake Before Rain Pours Down

I have been a bit lax the past several days with my usually regularly scheduled bouts of nature communing.

With a lot of rain on the weather menu for the next couple days I decided to get outside and enjoy being under the clear blue sky before the deluging arrives.

And so, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured, which would make the above photo documentation the view from the rocky east shore of the lake, looking southwest.

I had a lot on my mind in need of contemplating whilst communing with nature. Pondering serious subjects, like dementia and Alzheimer's.

No, it is not my mind I am currently afraid of faltering. But, of late I have had some disturbing personal interactions which had me wondering if it was some level of dementia or Alzheimer's I was experiencing.

We had a couple days about a week ago where the temperature got near freezing. Cold enough to switch the interior climate control to heat mode. And then a heat wave arrived, necessitating reactivating the interior climate control's cool mode.

Winter arrives in a little over a month. I hope it is mild winter, with no repeat of that sub-zero deep freeze of a few winters ago...

Sunny Sikes Lake Nature Communing

On day three of 2025's November, also known as Monday, it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured for some salubrious outdoor activity.

Which would make the photo documentation you see above the view looking south from the bridge at the north end of Sikes Lake.

As you can see, it is a totally clue blue sky day at my North Texas location. What you cannot see is the temperature is in the low 70s, heading to a high today in the 80s.

We made it through the recent couple days of freeze warnings without the temperature getting anywhere near 32 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method. I do not know how long the current semi-heat wave is predicted to last.

Since this is the first Monday of a new month, if I was up north in my old Washington home zone,
I might consider going to a Burlington restaurant called Coconut Kenny's, where every first Monday, unless a conflict prevents it, a group from my high school class meets.

A monthly high school reunion.

To each his or her own, but for me, I feel like I get totally enough high school reunion experience on Facebook...

First November Nature Communing Around Peaceful Sikes Lake

It was to dead calm Sikes Lake I ventured on this first day of the 2025 version of November, for some much-needed salubrious nature communing, after last night's exhausting Halloween debauchery.

The photo documentation view is looking southwest from the rocky east shore of my favorite neighborhood lake.

My other neighborhood lake, Weeks Lake, is too small to be considered for favorite status. Weeks Lake does have a paved trail around it, with an offshoot trail which heads up a slight bluff, terminating at a gazebo, with a view of the lake.

I have never used the Weeks Lake trail for salubrious nature communing. I have used the Weeks Lake gazebo for peaceful contemplation purposes, a time or two.

27 days til I don't bake a turkey for Thanksgiving. I decided this morning I am not going to go through that whole regular ritual with all the trimmings. 

I think I'll have pizza, or some similar favored food item.

Sunny Semi-Chilly October Wednesday Sikes Lake Walk Around

The outer world temperature at my North Texas location dropped into the 40s, last night, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.  Thus, I found need of a thin blanket in the middle of the night.

The big chill has not cooled the running water which runs into my abode enough to make a cold shower need some hot water added.

An hour and a half before noon, on this next to last Wednesday of the 2025 version of October, the temperature had risen to 70 degrees, again as measured by that aforementioned Fahrenheit method.

Which made for a pleasant, sunny, semi-cool walk around Sikes Lake, which you see photo documented above, from the lake's rocky east shore, looking slightly southwest.

The next few days are predicted to be stormy, with the storms in the form of rain and thunderstorms.

And continued semi-chilly temperatures

Low Sunday Sikes Lake Tide Waiting For Winco To Open Tomorrow

This second Sunday of the 2025 version of October has Sikes Lake in what looks like low tide mode, with a large flock of ducks mucking about looking for something to eat.

Seems like the ducks should be flocking south for the coming winter. Or is this already their winter southern location?

The outer world is still being way too warm at my southern location. The high will hit the 90s again today, with no predicted temperature relief in the near predicted future.

The speed controlling chain on my bedroom ceiling fan broke last night, when I pulled on it to turn the fan on. So, I have nothing spinning overhead in my bedroom. The A/C seems to be sufficing, so far, making the lack of a ceiling fan bearable til repaired tomorrow.

The walk around Sikes Lake was pleasant today, not too hot, only in the low 80s. And breezy. There seems to be an increase of people enjoying the outer world now that it has become more pleasant, temperature-wise.

Tomorrow brings a big change in my regular routine of going grocery hunting at Walmart. Winco is having its Grand Opening tomorrow.

When I lived in the DFW zone I never grocery shopped at Walmart, even though it was nearby. I instead drove the few extra miles to Winco.

The Wichita Falls Winco is real close to ALDI, and way closer than the DFW Winco I used to drive to.

Losing Weight Walking Around Sunny Sikes Lake

On this second Friday of the 2025 version of October, I opted to use the trails around nearby Sikes Lake to get me some much-needed endorphins, which renders the above photo documentation to be the view looking southwest from the rocky shore of the east side of Sikes Lake.

When I looked northwest from this viewpoint I saw something which seemed a bit strange to be seeing in a bright blue sky an hour before noon.

The moon.

What looked to be a full moon was looking way too close.

I tried to take photos, but zooming in with the phone camera rendered the moon a blurry mess.

If I remember correctly, and sometimes I do, a week or two ago I made mention of the fact that I was in need of dropping about 20 pounds so I could fit into some outerwear I needed to be able to fit into so I could attend an upcoming event which requires not being casually attired.

So far, I have managed to drop around five pounds. I need to shrink to my 2008 size. That is a long time ago, 2008 is, that year being the last time I was attending an event which required not being casually attired.

I need to get a bike. I think it has been at least two years since my last bike was stolen...

Final September Saturday Keeping Cool At Sikes Lake

On this final Saturday of the 2025 version of September it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some much-needed endorphin acquisition and the corresponding calorie consumption.

In the photo documentation you are standing on the rocky eastern shore of Sikes Lake, looking in a southwest direction.

The outer world air at my North Texas location is cooled to an extremely pleasant temperature today.

That seems to have resulted in a far larger than the norm number of people out enjoying being under the sun without feeling like you are being broiled.

The arrival of fall, with its predictable drop in temperature, comes at an opportune time for me, enabling me to ramp up my physical activity, so as to burn more calories, and lose some weight.

About 20 pounds.

An event is coming up which will require me to be in outerwear of the uncomfortable suit type, with the dress slacks part of the suit requiring me to shrink. That or go slacks shopping. Which is an activity I prefer to avoid.

Being 20 pounds lighter will make being stuck in an airplane seat feel less sardine can-like. I remember way back in August of 2008, weighing 20 pounds less than I do now, flying from Love Field, in Dallas, to Seattle, on Southwest. Most comfortable flying experience ever.

I think part of that extra comfort may have been due to being on a Southwest plane, instead of an American Airlines plane, which is what I am stuck with, flying out of Wichita Falls...

Almost An End Of Summer HOT Walk Around Sikes Lake

In the photo documentation you are looking southwest from the rocky east shore of Sikes Lake, on the final Tuesday of the 2025 version of summer.

Fall falls in less than a week.

We seem to have zoomed past halfway through September, way too fast.

I am beginning to become no fan of how time seems to be accelerating, the older I get.

Even though this is almost the end of summer, the outer world, at my North Texas location, managed to be HOT, under that totally clear blue sky you see above.

A high in the mid 90s, today, as measured by the Fahrenheit method which only one or two nations use to measure the temperature.

My air-conditioner is currently trying to get my interior temperature down to 78. I forgot to activate it when I exited my abode to go to Sikes Lake. The cold air blowing on me feels good.

In about a month I suspect it will be heated air blowing on me which will be feeling good, after a chilly walk around Sikes Lake, or some other local hiking venue...

Seeking Sikes Lake Cherry Blossom at Wichita Falls Museum of Art

 
Under a cloudy September sky, a Monday, the second such day in the 2025 version of this particular month, I once again ventured to nearby Sikes Lake to commune with nature whilst acquiring much needed endorphins, along with other benefits one gains when one communes with nature.

Today, in addition to my regular route, when I walked around the Wichita Falls Museum of Art I opted to add a walk around the Museum's Sculpture Garden to gander at the many wonderful works of art.

Such as the work of sculptured art you see photo documented above.

Looking at this creation, the work's name is obviously obvious to even the most casual of art lovers.

But, I shall type the art work's name in case someone is somehow not able to easily glean it.

Cherry Blossom & Astronomy

Now, don't you feel foolish if you didn't realize the name without having it spelled out for you?

Saturday Return To Sikes Lake Getting Chilled With Multiple Communists

On this first Saturday of 2025's September, it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured for a healthy bout of nature communing, along with oodles of other communists communing with nature.

Methinks the reason for the size of the number of nature communers is due to the outer world being chilled to 15 degrees cooler than my usual air-conditioning setting of 78 degrees.

I will do the math for you.

The temperature was a chilly 63 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, whilst I was getting myself some good feeling endorphins.

Unlike yesterday, today I remembered to photo document my nature communing, before I got back to my motorized means of motion.

Which would make that above view looking west across Sikes Lake from the lake's rocky east shore.

Yesterday's predicted thunderstorm did not happen. But rain did pour down, but not in downpour mode, for a short duration.

Possible rain is on the weather menu for today. 

Yesterday my air-conditioner did not cycle on for the first time in many months.

Last night, sleeping in my regular mode, in the buff, atop my bedding, I was almost chilly enough to get up and walk into the closet to get a throw blanket. This morning, anticipating tonight being colder than last night, my bed is already equipped with that previously closeted throw blanket.

I wonder if the currently early in the chilly season chill is a harbinger of an extremely cold upcoming winter. I hope not...

Friday Sikes Lake Nature Communing

Since Labor Day, til today, the 5th day of the 2025 version of September, also known as Friday, I have not felt like nature communing in the outer world, due to a combo of factors making the outer world way too humid for me to enjoy subjecting myself to it.

But, today clouds are mostly blocking the sun, the resulting temperature in the low 80s, a nice cooling breeze blowing, so I drove myself to nearby Sikes Lake to do some of that aforementioned nature communing.

Even with the outer world conditions improved, I managed to get a bit overheated.

On the weather menu for later today we have some thunderstorming to look forward to, with strong wind gusts and possible flash flooding.

When I got back to my motorized means of motion I realized I'd forgotten to photo document my nature communing.

Since the phone was in hand, due to checking how many Google Move Minutes I'd accumulated, I switched to camera mode, aimed the phone at the windshield and shot the above photo documentation of the parked view in the Sikes Lake parking lot.

As you can see, the outer world is already looking a bit stormy....

Final August Friday Chilly Drizzling Sikes Lake Walk

On this final Friday of the 2025 version of August, the start of Labor Day weekend, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some salubrious endorphin acquisition acquired via high-speed walking.

The photo documentation is the view from the rocky shore of the east side of Sikes Lake, looking southwest.

As you can clearly see, clouds have obliterated the regular clear blue sky. 

Whilst walking around Sikes Lake those clouds were delivering some cooling light drizzle, making the relatively chilly 72 degrees feel even chillier.

Later yesterday afternoon the weather delivered a surprise, unpredicted thunderstorm, with heavy rain, for about a half an hour.

Does this seeming early arrival of cooler temperatures portend an upcoming extra cold fall and winter?

I hope not...

HOT Nature Communing On Rocky East Shore Of Sikes Lake

It was to Sikes Lake I ventured on this 14th day of the 2025 version of August, to commune with nature under the broiling sun.

In the photo documentation you are on the rocky east shore of Sikes Lake, looking west, well, probably more precisely, looking a bit southwest.

We are almost half way through the next to last month of summer. 

I am ready for summer to end.

I grow weary of having no cold tap water. There is no such thing as a refreshing cold shower. The cold water is warmer than lukewarm.

And the swimming pool is even warmer than the warmer than lukewarm tap water.

I am grateful I have  freezer which can churn out a lot of big ice cubes. Or crushed ice cubes, if I am wanting to quickly turn hotter than lukewarm tap water into something closer to being pleasantly refreshing.

In a couple days, as in Saturday, I was scheduled to attend a high school reunion. But, after careful consideration, due to an extreme outbreak of wanton Karen-itis, I have opted to forego the pleasure of attending, due to my ongoing aversion to dealing with, well, personality types I do not usually experience, personality types with whom I have zero desire to experience in person.

The above paragraph is what is known as an Easter egg. Planted to see if anyone sees it...

Chilly August Tuesday Walk Around Sikes Lake

A drastic weather change had me communing with nature for the first time in days, on this 12th day of the 2025 version of August.

Overnight the low was a chilly 68 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method. By the time I nature communed, walking around Sikes Lake, the temperature had soared into the mid 70s.

Brrrr.

I could not figure out what the guys in green in the boat were doing. My first thought was they were police and it was a crime scene. I suspect, though, that such was not the case.

My peaceful slumber, last night, was rendered not so peaceful by a couple hours of storming that began around 3 in the morning. The storming included wind gusts, rain downpours and a lot of lightning strikes, with loud thunder booming.

A couple of the lightning strikes were so close the lightning strike and the thunder boom were simultaneous. 

Yesterday my only aerobic stimulation came from verbal jousting with one of my dear Washington friends, she being a master debater who is terribly difficult to outwit.

I feel totally refreshed after the Sikes Lake walk around.

But, I fear a nap may need to be in my future this afternoon....

Not Too HOT Walk Around Sikes Lake With Ukrainian Sunflowers

It was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured today for my regularly scheduled daily nature communing, on this first day of the 2025 version of August.

This morning my AccuWeather weather information source indicated to me that the temperature would be 79 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, at my regular endorphin acquisition time.

When I exited my abode I was pleased to see the sun mostly blotted out by clouds. I was also pleased to feel a cooling breeze blowing.

But, the temperature was 84 degrees, according to my phone, with the humidity making it really feel like 91 degrees, also according to my phone, despite the wind and the sun being blocked.

So, my hoped for chilly nature communing did not happen.

I did come upon a new patch of sunflowers blooming near the lake shore. That is what you see photo documented above.

That big bright yellow sunflower reminded me of the recent work of the renowned Pacific Northwest artist known as Tamara El, and her recent series of painted homages to the sunflower symbol of Ukraine.

Thunderstorming is on the weather menu for later today. With more thunderstorming tomorrow, followed, supposedly, by thunderstorming and heavy rain, with possible flash flooding, on Sunday. 

I expect I shall manage to remain dry, despite the dire predictions indicating otherwise...

Chilly 90 Degree Sikes Lake Nature Communing With Baby Cambri June

With the outer world, on this final Saturday of the 2025 version of July, chilled to a relatively chilly (compared to yesterday) 90 degrees, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured this morning for my regularly scheduled nature communing bout of endorphin acquisition from aerobic activity.

As you can see via the photo documentation, the outer world at my North Texas location is looking peaceful, little wind blowing, no clouds clouding the sky, the high humidity largely burned off.

A perfect Texas Saturday in July.

So far.

Changing the subject to something totally different.

Two days ago, I was informed that for the first time in 55 years a girl has been born to my mom and dad's branch of the extended family.

And yesterday I learned the name of the new family member.

Cambri June.

My informer opined that the June middle name seemed ironic, what with Cambri having been born in July. But, I like the sound of Cambri June better than Cambri July. 

Cambri June's paternal parental unit is my nephew Christopher Jay Weston. Cambri June's maternal parental unit is my niece-in-law, Carissa Weston. I do not know Carissa's middle name. I assume her middle name begins with the "J" letter, as that seems to be the family theme.

I think Cambri June's big brother Cade''s middle name is Jay, same as his dad. I may be wrong about that. Maybe Cade's middle name is Jack. That would make sense, what with both Cade's grandpa and great-grandpa being named Jack, and his grandma being named Jackie.

I have yet to see photo documentation of the newest family member.

HOT 101 Degree July Walk Around Sikes Lake

What you are looking at here is the third Friday of the 2025 version of July view from the rocky east shore of Sikes Lake.

With nary a cloud in the sky, just a slight white wisp which hardly qualifies as a cloud, you might accurately intuit that the outer world at my location is hot, with a little wave action on the lake indicating maybe a slight cooling wind was blowing whilst I walked around the lake.

Today is the first of what is predicting to be day after day over 100, with the first predicted day under 100 being a predicted high of 99 on August 4, with that cold front lasting just that one day, then going back over 100.

Here's screen cap of today and tomorrow's temperatures...

The current long-range forecast for the foreseeable future has the hottest day being the final day of July, hitting 109 on July 31.

How did people live in this climate before the invention of air-conditioning? 

Tuesday Nature Communing With Sikes Lake Sunflowers

On this second Tuesday of the 2025 version of July it was back to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some naturally heated HOT nature communing.

According to my phone, whilst I was at Sikes Lake, the temperature, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, was 84 degrees, with the humidity making those 84 degrees really feel like 93 degrees. There was not much wind blowing, thus not much of a wind chill factor to factor into how HOT it really felt.

Since my last visit to Sikes Lake a patch of what I am assuming to be sunflowers decided to go into blooming mode. Maybe the blooming sunflowers were there on my last visit, and I did not notice. That seems likely, as it does not seem likely that such a big bright patch of yellow would have sprouted up since a couple days ago.

We are heading into a period where day after day the temperature prediction is over 100 degrees. Am not looking forward to that.

Not much of a fan of having to retreat from the heat, or rain, to do my daily nature communing in Walmart, or some similar location, like the nearby Sikes Senter mall.

Any time I type Sikes Senter it causes me to wonder how anyone could have thought it clever to spell 'Center' with an 'S', because of the Sikes name, even though 'Senter' and 'Center' are pronounced the same in the American English version of pronouncing those words, it really makes no sense, since I do not think 'Senter' is even an actual word in American version of English...

Sunday Sikes Lake Nature Communing Mushrooms With No Local Texas Flooding

On this first Sunday of the 2025 version of July, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning, for some salubrious nature communing.

The temperature was a relatively pleasant 80 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method. But the Heat Index, measured via factoring in the humidity and wind, had those 80 degrees really feeling like 90 degrees.

But, it really did not feel all that HOT, to me. I suspect the clouds blocking the sun helped mitigate the HOT feeling.

Since my last Sikes Lake visit, a couple days ago, mushrooms have sprouted from the ground, which is what you see photo documented above.

Big mushrooms.

I harvested a few to possibly turn into Beef Stroganoff this week.

I have been asked by answer seekers, living in my old home zone of the Skagit Valley in Washington, if the Texas floods they have been seeing on the news are flooding where I am located.

No. I am far north of the area being catastrophically flooded.

From the Skagit Valley perspective, distance-wise, it'd be like a bad flood happening south of Portland, Oregon. In other words, around 300 miles south of my Wichita Falls location.

However, rain, and possible flash flooding, is on the weather menu for my location today. Along with possible thunderstorms. So far, not a drop, nor a thunder boom...