Halloween Spooks In Beverly Hills Of Wichita Falls

No. That is not the White House you see here, sporting a tall skeleton. That is a house on Hamilton Boulevard, across from Hamilton Park, in the neighborhood I refer to as the Beverly Hills of Wichita Falls.

Hamilton Park and the Beverly Hills of Wichita Falls is a short distance from my abode, and so I drove there this final Friday of October to get in my daily bout of high-speed walking, and to take some photos of the Hamilton Boulevard Halloween decorations. 

The above is the biggest of the neighborhood Halloween displays. I could not get all the skeletons in the photo, as they were all over the yard.

This one appears to have a tall ghost on the left, a big black cat in the middle, and yet one more tall skeleton on the right.

I have been seeing multiple Halloween yard displays this year as I drive around town. Way more than I remember seeing previous years. 

Christmas Is Almost Here With MSU Fantasy Of Lights Being Installed

Several days ago I was surprised driving by Midwestern State University to see that the annual MSU Fantasy of Lights installation was underway.

Underway way before Christmas, marking, for me, the start of the dreaded (by me) holiday season.

We are only a couple days from Halloween.

After the trick or treating ends, we zoom quickly to Thanksgiving, followed quickly by Christmas, then New Year's Day, and the start of yet another year, which will seem to fly by at warp speed.

The past couple days my north Texas location has been like a stereotypical Pacific Northwest winter day. A totally gray sky, with hour upon hour of sky drippage.

Today blue sky returned, along with temperatures in the 80s.

So, I drove the short distance to that aforementioned Fantasy of Lights installation underway, to take the photo you see above.

I believe that is Cinderella in the horse drawn carriage, on her way to lose her shoe and find a charming prince.

I have driven by some over the top Halloween themed yards of late. I will try and remember to take a photo of the one I saw yesterday on Hamilton Road, by Hamilton Park.

Day Two Raining Hard In Wichita Falls Necessitates Umbrella Search

Second day in a row with the morning view from my kitchen window being a look out at a raging downpour. Even though thunderstorming has been in the forecast the past three days I have not seen a single bolt of lightning or hear a single thunder clap.

I was planning on driving to the library this morning.

But, that may be contingent on locating where my umbrella is currently hiding.

With the rain pouring down at its current copious rate, one gets totally soaked in less than a minute. I do not like getting soaked.

The warm temperature and all this rain has amped up the humidity. Which has necessitated a return to running the A/C.

The downpour has let up a bit. Maybe I won't need to locate an umbrella...

Hours Of Rain Brings Areal Flooding To Wichita Falls

The weather forecaster's forecast arrived as forecast, but, so far, without the thunderstorm part of the forecast.

I began hearing the pitter patter of raindrops around three in the morning. The pitter pattering has continued ever since.

My abode is currently in surrounded by a moat mode. 

I think I may be able to make it to my vehicle without using the inflatable kayak.

The wet look above is via my kitchen window, coming up on 9 in the morning.

The National Weather Service issued an Areal Flood Warning through tomorrow.

I finally got around to looking up what Areal means. Well. It is the adjective form of area. So, all Areal Flood Warning means is a large area might experience flooding.

So, I am experiencing some Areal Flooding in the form of that aforementioned moat...

Lucy Park Backwoods Jungle Mosquito Bites

With the return to Summer, with the temperature in the 80s, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured today, to walk the Lucy Park backwoods jungle. 

At the exit from the Lucy Park backwoods jungle one looks up a slight incline to see the remains of the Lucy Park Pagoda. Will the Pagoda be restored to its former glory? Or will it remain in its current state?

I got myself a few mosquito bites today.

The West Nile Virus has shown up in this town in mosquitoes.

I am fairly certain none of the biters today gave me that Egyptian virus...

Sikes Lake Coyote Back On Goose Guard Duty

The Sikes Lake coyote was back on guard duty today, scaring off the few ducks and geese who remain at the lake, preventing the birds from making messes at the pavilion by the Wichita Falls Art Museum.

The temperature was back in the 80s today, just when I was getting used to being chilly...

Microsoft OneDrive Civil War Battle Memory With Linda Lou

It has been a few days since I remembered the Microsoft OneDrive Memories of a particular day. But, today, I remember all the memories.

At the upper left we are looking at a Civil War battle re-enactment at a battlefield a few miles west of Granbury, Texas.

I've been to two Civil War battle re-enactment. They were impressive productions.

At the upper right, that would be Linda Lou you see, on our way to the top of South Mountain, in Phoenix, Arizona, back in October of 2018. Below that first Linda Lou photo is another, with Linda Lou now at the top of South Mountain, talking to a little dog.

The photo on the lower left is also at the top of South Mountain, where several Native Americans of, I think, the Apache Tribe, were selling products they'd handcrafted. If I remember correctly, Linda Lou bought a jewelry item of the earring or bracelet sort.

On the lower right that would be the Baker Hotel you are looking at, in Mineral Wells, Texas.

Hard to believe it was five years ago that I had fun driving Linda Lou to various Arizona locations. The drive to Tortilla Flats was another memorable moment. Seems like only yesterday...

Mid-October Shadow Of The Lucy Park Thin Man

It was back to Lucy Park I ventured today, to hike the Lucy Park backwoods jungle, a location which is usually chronically muddy by this time of year, but remains dry, due to the ongoing drought.

The temperature was in the mid 60s. Warmer than yesterday.

I have yet to feel the need to locate where I stored my sweatpants.

The pre-noon sun, today, cast a long shadow of the Lucy Park Thin Man.

I am currently the skinniest I have been since I don't remember when.

I have been chunky in times past. I have been un-chunky in times past.

Being un-chunky is way more pleasant than being chunky. I highly recommend it...

Back With Sikes Lake Geese & Yellow Wildflower Carpet

With the temperature barely in the 50s, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning for a fast walk around the lake, with a lot of other lake walkers.

After the mass murder of 383 Sikes Lake geese, a couple months ago, the few geese which remain can not keep up with eating all the sprouting vegetation, like this carpet of yellow wildflowers you see above.

The geese you see flocked above were the only geese I saw today as I walked around Sikes Lake. 

On Saturday I saw a flock of a different type on the way to Lucy Park.

The flock of Sikes Lake Holocaust protesters were back, with the largest group of protesters, yet seen, along with the biggest protest signs yet seen.

I have yet to learn what the Geese Holocaust protesters hope to see happen. A promise of no more goose murders? Criminal charges brought against the goose killers? What?

I sure do grow tired of how fast time seems to be accelerating.

The dreaded (by me) holiday season is fast approaching.

Sunday's Chilly Wichita Bluff Nature Area Hiking

On this third October Sunday, with the chilly temperature barely into the 50s, it was to the east parking lot entry to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured today for some high-speed bluff hiking.

Unlike yesterday's totally clear blue, cloud-free sky, today the sky was hosting a few small clouds.

The vegetation grows tall at this section of the Circle Trail, as it meanders alongside the Wichita River.

Nearing the high point on the Wichita Bluff, sunflowers are busy blooming, and blowing in the wind.

I am liking the chilly weather, and being back hiking on the Wichita Bluffs, which, along with Mount Wichita in Lake Wichita Park, are the only hiking areas with elevations gains, in this mostly flat part of the country.