Mark & Teri's Travels: 2010

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

December 21, 2010

We're home! Check back in January when we start our next volunteer adventure. We'll be at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

After weeks and, in some cases months, the “big day” has arrived!

Here is the star of the 41st Annual Tree Lighting at LBJ State Park and Historic Site.

Lighted cedar Christmas tree

There was music, a live nativity, and lots of animals.

Two little pigs

Blacksmith shop at the Sauer Beckmann Living History Farm

Spinning demonstration

Live nativity

Live music

Luminaries

Since Saturday was our last day as volunteers at the park, we didn't have to work today and were able to walk around and enjoy the festivities.

Monday, November 29, 2010

November 28, 2010

We went to Johnson City this evening to see the Christmas lights at the Blanco County Courthouse and Pedernales Electric Co-op.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Today was the annual Holiday Cookie Decorations and German Traditions event at LBJ State Park. It was a very busy day for both of us! I spent my day in the exhibit hall where families were able to come in and paint wooden gingerbread cutout Christmas ornaments. We had a woman spinning beautiful mohair into yarn, a woman decorating a gingerbread house and a woman who brought in different kinds of fibers (mohair, angora, wool, etc). We also had St. Nick and his helpers. It took me a while to catch on to the St. Nick story. Apparently, he comes a few weeks before Christmas to remind children that Santa Claus is coming so they need to be good.

Mark spent his day at the Sauer/Beckman Farm making wreaths. There was also candle making and cookie decorating at the farm.

Lots of great dips, jams, etc. to taste

Spinning

Gingerbread house

St. Nick and helpers

Mark making wreaths

Candle making

Cookies for decorating

Thursday, November 25, 2010

November 25, 2010

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We made our third trip to Pedernales State Park this morning. There is a new bird blind right across from the old bird blind. Most of the birds seem to still use the old bird blind. The new side is very nice. Here are some pictures from our trips there.

Bewick's Wren

Black-crested Titmouse

Ladderback Woodpecker

House Finch

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Carolina Wren

White-crowned Sparrow (juvie)

American Goldfinch

Western Scrub Jay

Vesper Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Pyrrhulouxia

Pine Siskin

Orange-crowned Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Monday, November 22, 2010

November 22, 2010

Sing along:

“Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas ...”

You know the rest!

We took a road trip today. We started with breakfast at what is becoming one of our favorite restaurants, Garcia’s Stonewall Café.

We then headed down to Blanco State Park. It’s a very small but pretty park. They have a really nice bird blind. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any birds there today. Since the park doesn’t allow millet seed, it might not ever be a very popular place for sparrows.

Mark in the bird blind

Feeding stations and water feature

The Blanco river is very clear and pretty.

Dam across the river

Bald Cypress Tree

We drove around the park and found a really nice nature trail that we walked. On the trail we saw a Great Blue Heron walking right down the middle of the trail! Birds today were: Great Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Cardinal, Inca Dove, White Winged Dove, Black Crested Titmouse, Caroline Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black and Turkey Vultures. Not much flying around today but it was a beautiful day to be out.

Mark on the Caswell Nature Trail

On the way back to Stonewall we stopped at Luckenbach. Neither of us had ever been there so we thought we would check it out. So, been there, done that, no reason to go back. There really isn’t much in Luckenbach.