The Last Lucy Park Walk Of 2021 With Rain

It was back to Lucy Park this morning on the last day of 2021. Above we are at a fork in the trail, making a sort of trail version of a roundabout, with trails surrounding that round bit of landscaping you see at the center of the photo.

As you can see, the sky at my location is no longer blue. Clouds arrived overnight, ahead of the Arctic Blast which is scheduled to begin arriving in a few hours. Snow is in the forecast for the first day of the new year.

A week ago we were in the upper 80s, low 90s, and now we have Winter arriving.

Lucy Park today was looking like a desolate Winter landscape. Monochromatic.

I got off the paved trail to do some leaf walking. The pile of leaves is thick. Walking on the leaves makes a crunching noise which is quite satisfying, like walking on potato chips.

Rain began dripping for the last mile of today's Lucy Park walk. Post-walk, by the time I made it to ALDI, I had had my windshield wipers wiping for the first time in a long time. This made my driving outlook on the world much brighter.

And now I am off to Walmart to secure goods for tonight's New Year's Eve Party...

Lake Wichita Park Remembering Vietnam War Veterans Struggling Through The Brush

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured for today communing with nature and the natural acquisition of relaxing endorphins gained from aerobic stimulation.

That and to check out the new Vietnam War Veteran's memorial which has risen between Mount Wichita (also known as Murphy's Hill) and Lake Wichita.

I believe, total acreage-wise, Lake Wichita Park is larger than Lucy Park. But sees fewer visitors. Like Lucy Park, the Circle Trail runs through Lake Wichita Park. And there is a gravel trail which sort of goes around the perimeter of the park. But, there is no maze of trails, such as what one finds at Lucy Park.

Today, I ventured off the paved Circle Trail and made my way cross country to get in my walking miles. Now, in Summer I would not do this due to my fear of snakes. But, even though we are still being unseasonably warm, I think it is chilly enough to slow up the slithering of those cold blooded reptiles.

Above we are north of Mount Wichita, with that memorial statue on the side opposite of what you are looking at here. As you see via this photo, there is a lot of open space in Lake Wichita Park. There are also several ballfields of the football, soccer and baseball sort. There is a dog park. A rocket launching pad. An airstrip for model airplanes. Various children's playground items, like slides and swings and such. Oh, and a disc golf course.

Here I am out of the open area and trying to make my way through brush trying to get to Little Lake Wichita, the pond which the Circle Trail goes by, with Lake Wichita on one side, and Little Lake Wichita on the other side.

I was not successful in my effort to get through the brush to Little Lake Wichita. Can you see Mount Wichita in the distance in the middle of the above photo? That sort of gives you an idea of the size of this park.

Now, that has been my excitement for this next to last day of the year. That and making broccoli salad from a recipe in a cookbook I was Xmas gifted with

Cemetery Hiking With Woolley Snow & McNutty Boy Band

Riverside Cemetery, adjacent to Lucy Park, is becoming my favorite location to get in some walking exercise to acquire the relaxing endorpins which come from aerobic stimulation.

There really are few places as peaceful as a cemetery.

Today I realized hiking Riverside Cemetery is the closest thing I have in Wichita Falls to hiking the Tandy Hills in Fort Worth.

I miss hiking the Tandy Hills. Like the Tandy Hills, Riverside Cemetery has miles of a maze of trails, in the form of narrow roads, most paved, some not. Though not as hilly as the Tandy Hills, Riverside Cemetery does have some up and down zones.

Riverside Cemetery is huge. Walking the perimeter takes about half an hour, at a fast walking pace. The only other hilly hiking location in this town is the Wichita Bluff Nature Area of the Circle Trail. Trouble is that is just a straight hike, as in, walk as long as you want, then turn around and walk the same route back. Like the Tandy Hills, at Riverside Cemetery there is basically a maze of routes one can hike, with no backtracking needed.

As you can see, blue sky prevails at my location. And the winter heat wave continues. Today in the upper 70s. But, this comes to an end on the first day of the new year, with the high that day now predicted to be 39, with the low chilling to 16.

Meanwhile, back in my old home zone of the Skagit Valley, most people I hear from are currently snowbound, unable to go anywhere via motorized means.

Miss Beth, on Facebook shared the below photo of what the outside of her Sedro Woolley abode currently looks like.

And then, from the opposite side of the country, as in the state of Virginia, I was sent that which you see below.

I believe what we are seeing here is Madame McNutty being helped do yoga poses by her boy band, called the McNutters, which Madame McNutty is coaching and teaching elaborately choreographed dance moves.

Here we see Madame McNutty demonstrating one of those aforementioned dance moves. So graceful. One can almost see the fluidity of motion even though this is just a still photograph.

I am looking forward to seeing the McNutters first video production. It should be epic...

Sending Cheer From Over Here To Tacoma

 

The Christmas card you see above showed up in my mailbox this morning. Four days after Christmas.

This Christmas card was a one piece two-side postcard type card. For demonstration purposes I took a photo of each side and turned the result into the one-sided version you see above.

I do not know the name of both poodles in the kayak. But I think one of them is known as Raven.

At the top, with Santa, that would be Theo, Ruby and David.

Floating in kayaks, with Mount Rainier behind them, it looks to be David, Kristin, Ruby and Theo, left to right.

I do not know the reason behind the Churchillian V with the fingers behavior in the photo on the lower right. But, I do know that is little sister, Michele, Ruby, Theo and David.

Gigglemugging Lucy Park Walk With McNutty Hello Dolly Showgirl Evidence

 

With the winter heat wave continuing, it was back to Lucy Park again today to enjoy the summer like temperature.

As you can see via the photo my phone took of me, this pleasant endorphin inducing weather has me being a happy gigglemugger.

Gigglemugger is British slang for someone who is constantly in smile, giggle and laugh mode.

Currently the heat wave is scheduled to end on the first day of the new year, as in next Saturday. The temperature on that day is currently predicted to hit a low of 18.

So, basically, winter finally arrives at my location when the new year arrives.

I like getting in my daily five miles at Lucy Park because there are so many trails meandering through the park, some paved, some not.

The paving quality of the paved trails varies from a solid cement type trail, such as above. Or crumbly asphalt, such as below.

And some trails are paved with gravel.

I think I have made mention previously of this lady who lives in Virginia who calls herself McNutty. She lives in Appomattox in an antebellum era house. 

McNutty seems to constantly try to make me believe some silly thing. I believe the cliche for such is known as pulling one's leg. Why pulling one's leg means trying to get someone to believe some silly thing, I do not know.

McNutty's latest is telling me she has the lead in the Appomattox Playhouse production of Hello Dolly. A production of Hello Dolly where McNutty claims she gets to wear a variety of what look to me like Vegas Showgirl costumes.

When I acted doubtful as to the veracity of McNutty's Hello Dolly claim and asked for some sort of photo documentation, McNutty emailed the below, supposed proof.

Okay, that does look like McNutty in some sort of possible Hello Dolly Showgirl costume. But, that proves nothing. This could have been McNutty's Halloween costume this year.

I need to see something like a Hello Dolly starring Madame McNutty Playbill plastered on the Appomattox Playhouse entry, or some such thing...

Nephew Jason Finds Wichita Falls Hottest Town In America

Incoming email from FNJ (Favorite Nephew Jason) last night, comparing temperatures in key cities at the same time yesterday, as in Sunday, the day after the latest version of Christmas. With my location being the swelteringly HOTTEST by far.

Lynden is always coldest when an Arctic Blast blasts into Western Washington. There is a range of mountains between Whatcom County (where Lynden is) and Skagit County (where Mount Vernon is).

So, a cold blast coming down the Fraser River Valley, in Canada, will chill Lynden way colder than further south. And also deliver epic amounts of snow.

When we were kids one of the great thrills of Winter was to head north from the Banana Belt Skagit Valley, to Lynden, where there'd be deep snow, with snowdrifts so high cows would walk up the drifts to the roofs of barns.

Below is Jason's amusing email about the Texas heat wave...

I can't believe how hot my uncle is today.  Is this because ya'll use so much fossil fuel?  Have you yet to purchase a Tesla?   Spencer is encouraging me to do so.  However I'm leaning toward Chevy's new 2022 all electric truck.  Although it may be a little out of my price range.

I'm currently snowed in.  I measured nearly 8 inches of snow--that plus the temperatures in the teens have pretty much shut down the entire PNW.  I've succumbed to watching football.  Currently the Seahawks are playing at home in an almost unrecognizable snow covered field.  I'm sure you have the game on.

I think I may be stuck here for quite a few days.  We are not projected to be above freezing until Thursday or Friday.   I think I have enough food until then.  Though I have run out of all the good stuff -- and working on frozen goods, canned soup, and Christmas candy.   I do have some apples, which I have recently learned are better for me than potato chips or cheese and crackers.   I suppose I could walk to the store to get some milk, eggs and something green.  But that sounds like a lot of work.  Driving is currently not an option, as my truck does not fair well in the snow.  I'm planning on reassessing the food situation tomorrow.  

Did Santa bring you anything useful?  Spencer and I are sporting new AZ sweatshirts sent north by your youngest brother.  Thankfully the package arrived at the correct address, unlike a package mailed by your brother to FNJoey this past November for his birthday.  That package arrived at the wrong son's home.  Your brother has inherited the 'mail the package to the wrong relative' gene.  I'm hoping I don't get that gene.  But it will be years before I'm able to be tested for such, as I currently don't mail packages to any relative.  Maybe that will someday change when I move away to a warmer climate for the winter months.   Hawaii does sound pleasant right now.

The Seahawks are currently tied in their ball game.   If I understand this correctly, the odds of you cheering for them at your upcoming Superbowl party are very slim, if not impossible.

I'm looking forward to Spring.   The Roozens have planted a huge field full of tulip bulbs right in front of the Jones Beaver Marsh Property.  They should be gorgeous.  Are you planning on coming up this Spring to see the tulips?   I should have my house fully furnished by then, and open for select relative company.

Go green, stay cool, FNJ.

Balmy Sunday 80 Degree Lucy Park Hike While Washington Blizzards

It was back to Lucy Park this final Sunday of the 2021 version of December to go on a long hike with the throngs of other post-Christmas holiday revelers.

Due to the main trails being crowded with way too many of those aforementioned post-Christmas holiday revelers, I opted to leave the main trails and head to the Lucy Park undeveloped Back 40 to get in my many miles of hiking.

Temperature in the 80s again for the third day in a row. I think that may be one of the reasons there were so many of those aforementioned post-Christmas holiday revelers in the park today.

We are heading north, towards a line of Lucy Park trees, in the above photo documentation.

Earlier today I saw a couple Facebook postings with photos showing the current weather state of my old home state. Western Washington is in blizzard mode today. Strong wind, heavy snow.

Towards the end of today's five mile hike Linda Lou called from Mount Vernon, where she is currently snowbound by a foot of snow and that blowing blizzard. A respite from the snow is expected later today, followed by a temperature drop, followed by another round of heavy snow.

This storm, up in my old home zone, has record breaking potential.

Meanwhile, in my current home zone I hike in shorts and t-shirt trying to stay cool in the balmy 80 plus degrees...

Hank Frank's Merry Christmas Tree

That which you see above arrived on my phone around noon, whilst I was walking around Lucy Park with throngs of other merriment seekers, disc golfers and pecan pickers. The photo was sent by Hank Frank's proud papa, my Favorite Nephew Joey.

Along with text saying "Happy Holidays to you. Currently 35 and raining. Snow predicted later this evening."

I Merry Christmas-ed back along with saying "Near 90, clear sky, no snow this evening."

Joey then inquired whether I still had access to a swimming pool, to which I said I did, but it is Winter, so pools are not poolable.

To which Joey opined that Texas is such an odd state.

I assume Joey was referring to the odd weather, but it could be any number of things to which Joey was referring.

I should have explained to Joey that in Texas one day in Winter the outer world might get heated to 90, with two days later an Arctic Blast dropping the temperature to below freezing...

Hoping Your Day Is As Nice As Your Butt

 

About an hour ago, this 2021 Christmas morning, I got around to remembering to unwrap the assortment of packages which have spent days sitting under the Christmas tree. 

Of the things unwrapped I think that which you see above was the most surprising. It came from some sort of gift store in Portland, Oregon called Heart You Gifts.

I expected the box to contain some sort of candy product, was not expecting a coffee mug talking about my butt. After cutting the box open there were several layers of protecting fluff to get through before I reached the Butt Mug. It was a big box for a little mug.

Now, I know you are wondering who would send a thing such as this to me.

Well, I will just say that this person's last name rhymes with one of the words on the mug. And that this person has seen my butt, and thus, I guess is qualified to think it to be nice.

I am looking forward to the classic Christmas dinner I'm making today. Beef Stroganoff and Cauliflower Soup...

Wichita Falls Merry Christmas Eve Fantasy Of Lights

Last night, Christmas Eve, I walked the Midwestern State University (MSU) Fantasy of Lights, with my phone in video mode. That resulted in two videos, covering the entire Fantasy zone. I walked fast, because I did not want the videos to be long. Walking fast resulted in a lot of artful dodging around a lot of people. 

The two videos are below, at the end of a series of photos. 

After walking the Fantasy of Lights, I got back in my vehicle to drive through the Wichita Falls Beverly Hills Fantasy of Lights, where dozens upon dozens of homes are lit up with over the top Christmas lights and displays.

The Polar Express trams, there are three of them, leave the MSU Fantasy of Lights parking lot every few minutes to tour the Beverly Hills Fantasy of Lights zone.

When I saw the above photo, my first thought was how did my phone camera mess up this picture. Then I realized the lights were reflecting off my vehicle's hood, with the road I was on above the reflection.

The above entire house was draped in lights. I'd never seen this type of Christmas lighting before.

My favorite house in what I call Beverly Hills is a flat roofed modern style that looks like my Mount Vernon house would have looked like if way more money was spent on it. This house's lights consisted of stringing so many lights in the trees that it looked sort of like illuminated spider webs.

That is one of the aforementioned trams you see behind the tree in the middle.

Again with the reflection off the hood.

The giant snowman you see here was the most unique thing seen last night. It is HUGE. And it glows with a sort of pulsating light.

The phone's camera really does not do justice to these displays. It does not help the quality when shooting through the windshield.

The above trees had the biggest tree ornaments seen last night.

All these photos were taken on routes I regularly roll by on my bike. I do not know when all these lights are installed. I did not eye witness any installing going on whilst I biked by. Seems like it must take a lot of time to string up so many lights in so many locations.

And now the videos of the MSU Fantasy of Lights..



As I walked, phone in video mode, by the time I ended the above video I had no idea how long it'd taken. Ten minutes? Five? Turns out less than three. When I realized it was not all that long I decided to take video of the rest of the Fantasy of Lights. Hence Part Two of the Fantasy of Lights...