Dark Stormy Thunder Booming Flooding Wednesday At My Wichita Falls Location

The stormy view out my computer room window this morning of the final Wednesday of the 2023 version of April.

Rain has been falling copiously in downpour mode ever since today dawned dark and noisy with thunder booms closely following lightning flashes.

Flooding has made the moat that forms when too much rain falls the most moat I have seen since I have been at this location. 

The moat necessitates taking a detour, through some puddling, to make it to my vehicle's location, under cover, in the carport.

Any nature communing in walk mode will need to happen in Walmart today.

Nature communing in Walmart takes the form of fast walking the aisles whilst being in anthropologic observation mode making note of all the bizarre iterations of humanity who populate the Walmart closest to my home location...

Windy Tuesday Thunder-Free Walk Around Mount Wichita

Lake Wichita Park was my go-to location this final Tuesday of the 2023 version of April, for a windy walk around Mount Wichita.

Today the tide was not out as far as the last visit to this location, a couple weeks ago.

One would not think, so via the photo documentation of the harmless looking sky you see above, but severe weather is on the menu for today.

Rain, hail, wind, thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.

Currently, coming up on two in the afternoon, the forecast appears to be another dud.

Wind blowing in from the south has blown out the cold air that blew in from the north the past couple days. Climate control switched back from HEAT to COOL.

Final April Monday Walk Around Semi-Chilly Sikes Lake

Some sky drippage yesterday stopped me from doing any outdoor nature communing. Today, this final Monday of the 2023 version of April, sky drippage is predicted, along with thunderstorms, but by the time of my regularly scheduled nature communing the outer world looked relatively calm, a little cloudy, but calm.

So, it was to Sikes Lake I drove for a scenic walk around the lake, with the temperature barely in the 50s, appropriately attired in lined sweatpants, hoodie sweatshirt and stocking cap. I did not overheat, nor did I get cold...

There For The Sex At The Lucy Park Log Cabin

The temperature heated into the 90s yesterday. And then today, on the next to last Saturday of the 2023 version of April, the temperature plummeted to way below 90. Consequently, I was way under dressed when I went to Lucy Park this morning. I was in shorts and t-shirt, when sweatpants and sweatshirt were what was needed.

I pulled into my regular Lucy Park parking spot by the Lucy Park log cabin to find myself a bit surprised by a sign which had been hung on the fence that surrounds the Lucy Park log cabin.

"HERE FOR THE SEX"

It took dense me a moment or two to figure out one of those gender reveal events was taking place in the Lucy Park log cabin.

Way back in the middle of February I texted my sister, Jackie, and asked what was revealed at the gender reveal event of my Favorite Christopher Nephew and soon to be mama, Carissa.

The answer to that question came in the form of a photo sent to my phone.

Apparently, the gender reveal at the Chris and Carissa gender reveal event came in the form of some sort of smoke bomb. Pink smoke if a girl, blue smoke if a boy.

That is Christopher on the right, arms in the air, happy at the it's gonna be a boy news.

I do not know when the due date is. I must remember to inquire...

Visiting The Wichita Falls Public Safety Training Center With Breakfast Burritos

Last night I virtually visited the Wichita Falls Public Safety Training Center, where I got to meet an extremely clever police dog, among other things, like meeting the Wichita Falls SWAT Team, whilst seeing their impressive SWAT tools.

Since this was happening during the usual dinner hour time of the day, attendees were provided Breakfast Burritos, with two options, egg and ham or egg and bacon. I opted for both, as did many others. 

At the conclusion of the evening we were given a couple t-shirts. I am modeling one of those t-shirts, above.

I found out this morning it is not easy to use the phone to take a selfie photo of a shirt.

Walking Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Without Snakes

This morning for reasons we need not talk about I drove to the eastside of Wichita Falls. This put me in the vicinity, sort of, of Lucy Park.

And so by 11 this morning I was at Lucy Park to do some nature communing in the Lucy Park backwoods jungle area.

As you can see via the photo documentation, the Wichita River is running low, despite some rain falling last night.

Last year I made note of the fact that the grass in the Lucy Park backwoods jungle zone grew to being taller than me, as in over six feet tall. This was a tad unnerving, activating the fear of snakes in the grass.

A few weeks ago someone set fire to the Lucy Park Japanese Pagoda.

I think the Pagoda fire, at the edge of the Lucy Park jungle, caused a rethinking of what to do about that tall grass. As in the tall grass is now being regularly mowed, totally changing the Lucy Park backwoods jungle experience.

I sort of like it. One can easily now walk off trail, making your own route through the woods, with no fear of snakes slithering unexpectedly.

Today I ran into one of the walkers I regularly see at Lucy Park but had not seen of late. He told me he'd been hiking the Wichita Bluff Nature Area, til yesterday, when he came upon two large rattlesnakes taking up residence on the Circle Trail cement.

That information put the kibosh on hiking the Circle Trail in the Wichita Bluff Nature Area. I have a strong aversion to all snakes, with the strongest aversion being to rattlesnakes.

Of the deadly snakes in Texas, I have seen more rattlesnakes than any other. I've only had a couple encounters with copperheads, water moccasins and cottonmouths...

Madame McNutty, Linda Lou & Brother Jake With Skagit Tulips

What you see here was posted on Facebook, yesterday, by the entity known as Madame McNutty. A tulip field scene from our old home zone of the Skagit Valley, with the Mount Baker volcano hovering above.

This Facebook post led to a dialogue between my little brother, Jake, who recently moved back to the Skagit Valley from Arizona, Linda Lou, and the aforementioned Madame McNutty.

In that dialogue we learn who lives in that house you see on the right, above the tulips...

Jake Jones--That's where I'm living now.

Madame McNutty--I’m green with envy!!!

Linda Lou--hi Jake!

Jake Jones--Hello Linda Lou!

Linda Lou--I have been out to see the fields during weekdays. (less traffic) I will see if I spot your house when I journey that way again.

Jake Jones--And when I say, "that's where I'm living now." I'm now living in the house in the photo.

___________________

The last time I was in the Skagit Valley in April was way back in the year 2006. I did not see any tulips at that point in time, due to the fact I did not make it out to the Skagit Flats, where the tulips bloom...

Mr. Perry Causes Me To Look For The Texas Testicle Festival

 I saw that which you see here, this Sunday morning, on Facebook, via the entity known as Mr. Perry. 

Mr. Perry has a highly sophisticated ribald sense of humor. So, I assumed this was a joke.

And then I Googled "Texas Testicle Festival" and learned this is not a joke, it is a real thing. In Fredericksburg, Texas.

There are multiple websites which have info about this festival, including the Best of Texas website which Googles at #1 with its Texas Testicle Festival webpage, where I read the following information...

Music and great food underlie the planning for this event, including the sweetbreads and Rocky Mountain oysters, paired nicely with some adult beverages (and a little bit of friendly ribbing), these things go down like butter!

Other delicacies such as barbecue ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and Oysters can also be found at the Testicle Festival, so you absolutely won’t leave hungry regardless of your tastes.

Don't miss our Testicle Eating Competition! $40 Sign up fee - $100 Cash Prize, all the Testicles you can eat during competition and FREE BEER to wash it down!

From the San Antonio Current Texas Testicle Festival webpagewe learn some more details...

The fest will dole out fried family jewels of several different animals, as well as sweetbreads made from the thymus or pancreas of calf or lamb. Past festivals have included turkey, lamb and veal testicles that have been served up battered, fried or grilled.

_____________________

I have been to Fredericksburg a couple times. It is a nice tourist town, sort of German themed. I don't think I will make any effort to return to Fredericksburg for the Texas Testicle Festival, even with it being as tempting as it sounds...

Windy Sikes Lake Walk With Evening Primroses Coloring The Landscape

It was to Sikes Lake I ventured this third Saturday of the 2023 version of April, for a walk around the lake, along with dozens of other walkers enjoying the high-speed wind.

Since my last visit to Sikes Lake the Evening Primroses have blossomed in pink bloom mode.

Way back late in the previous century, in late April, I recollect heading to Dallas/Fort Worth on Highway 287, at some point after passing through Amarillo pink blossoms began coloring the landscape.

This was my introduction to Texas wildflower season. 

At some point, after Amarillo, I got off the road so as to check out, up close, these dainty pink blooms.

It was a few years later I finally learned the name of this Texas wildflower...

With Linda Lou In Lucy Park While Prudy Judy Gardens

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured on this HOT day in Texas. With a clear blue sky with nary a cloud in sight. And the air heated into the 80s.

Linda Lou spent some time with me today in Lucy Park. During the course of visiting with Linda Lou she told me about a mighty fine lunch she had yesterday in Anacortes with Betty Jo Bouvier, Honey Lulu and Mr. Clyde.

If I make it to Washington this summer I hope to have a mighty fine time seeing Linda Lou, Betty Jo Bouvier, Mr. Clyde, and a few others.

Speaking of people from my high school years.

Another person with whom I attended Burlington-Edison High School, showed up this morning on a poster advertising World Wide Naked Gardening Day.

This particular person was a bit of a Prudy Judy when I knew her in high school. Nice to see that the 2023 version is so free spirited....