Hiking Instead of Biking

I was going to post a ton of pictures of our adventure today on Facebook and Instagram but decided to just write about the day on the blog instead.  This way I can share more pictures and say more about them. Lucky you.  Plus, I can tick that "pay attention to the blog" box in my life.  Lucky me.

Preface:

TJ had carpal tunnel surgery 8 days ago on his right hand.  

TJ usually rides his bike about 50+ miles on Saturday mornings and probably 50 more during the week.  This means that TJ burns a lot of calories and uses up a lot of energy during the week.  It also means that he is gone for many hours which leaves me alone for many hours....and I enjoy that time.  

TJ realized the day after his surgery that he is conditioned, after 10 years, to wake up early on Saturday morning, get in the car and drive somewhere, get on a bike and ride, have lunch, come home and spend the rest of the day knowing that he has done something and burned a million calories doing it.

TJ also realized that he needs to do something to burn the million calories, other than ride his bike for the next few weeks.  So now he is hiking instead of biking...and apparently so am I.

And now, the adventure. 

The realization that TJ needs to drive and exercise on Saturdays lead to a wild goose chase last weekend.  We drove out to nearby Brazos Bend State Park last Saturday for a hike.  Sadly, the park was full and we did not have the foresight to make a reservation.  We left the park, disappointed, and still with no foot miles under our ever tighter belts.  On the way home we visited a new park near our house and finally walked a few miles.  TJ was extremely disappointed to find out he would have to walk for the rest of the day to burn the same number of calories he burns on his 50+ mile bike rides. 

Not exactly the most lovely of walking venues!  
But if you want to stop by later I think there is a movie showing.

Not to be turned away again, this weekend TJ made reservations at the State Park and we drove back out there this morning for a hike.  We were treated to a nice spring cool front which made our walk very enjoyable.  Judging by the welcome sign and all of the literature, there are alligators in the park.  We had a lovely walk around the lakes and kept our eyes open for wildlife.  We were not disappointed!

Queue the Jaws soundtrack...

Incoming

Gator!

We were very excited to see not one but two alligators which guarantees I would never camp here...if I camped.  The area was lovely and of course I really enjoyed the trees, the flowers and the water.  We did not however burn a million calories on our meandering hike.

Fill me up buttercup!

We kept our distance!

Not sure what these are, but they sure are cute!

Gotta love Spanish moss in the breeze!

Since we had not driven quite enough on a Saturday morning for TJ, we got back in the car and headed north.  After all, it is wildflower season in Texas!  Last year, our first time out of our immediate neighborhood after life shut down for Covid, was a drive out to look at the bluebonnets.  There was no traffic, there were no people, nothing was open and I remember thinking we were being so risky driving around looking at flowers.  It was very early Covid and none of us knew what we were dealing with...and maybe we still don't.  Today felt much different, in a good way...except for the traffic.  I miss those days without traffic.

We ate lunch outside, at a restaurant!  We then found a nice back road with plentiful bluebonnet fields.  I really can't get enough of them.  They were at their peak today!  We soaked in the green and purple fields, the blue skies, the light traffic and the fresh pollen-filled air (we were both very allergic!).  

He was just posing for me!

Perfection

Behind...or in front of...the scenes

On the other side of the fence!

I love these pink ones as much as the bluebonnets!

We were very lucky to find so many fields just full of flowers!  We had heard there was a Bluebonnet Festival nearby and thought we would check it out.  When we got to the main road we were very surprised!  We had no idea that everyone in Houston had driven out to Bluebonnet country for the festival, or at least for some bluebonnet family photos.  We looked at each other, we looked at the traffic and decided neither of us needed anything they were selling at the festival that badly!  We turned around and happily headed back on our backroad.

"Hey...you guys...get off the main road...the best flowers are over here!"

Smile kids!

This is another side of bluebonnet season.  Everyone goes out and finds a field to take a great family photo.  We do it too, so I can't judge!  I really enjoy driving to the opposite side of the field to see it from a different angle.  This particular field was amazing and went on forever!  It really is a good season!

The other side of the hill

The surprise at the top of the hill.

Here's looking at spring in Texas!

P.S.

We did not burn a million calories today.  Guess we will be back at it tomorrow.

Bluebonnets Now and Then

In three and a half weeks I will not be sitting on this sofa at 8:30 at night watching TV alone in my pj's all showered and ready for bed.  Actually, there aren't many nights you can find me in my pj's and ready for bed at 8:30 at night!  I'm not even sick... unless you count severe spring allergies sick.  I played golf (poorly) today in hurricane force winds and a shower and pj's made perfect sense to my weather beaten body and mind.  I figure I need to enjoy these days and nights while I can and rest up the next few weeks before wedding palooza.

Last Sunday was bridal portrait day.  The weather cooperated by raining and getting very chilly.  We  had grand illusions of heading north to the hill country to take advantage of the bluebonnets for the photo shoot.  Drizzle and temps in the 50's do not say "outdoor photo shoot"!  The bride scrambled around and made plan B which turned out better than plan A!  Things work out that way sometimes.

Nice changing room!

We, well the bride and the photographer, found a lovely old inn in Brenham, Texas that would let us use the property for the photos for a nominal fee.  The Ant Street Inn provided us with a room for the bride to change into the special white dress and places to take indoor and covered outdoor photos in case of rain.  It was just charming!  Brenham was very quiet on that dreary Sunday afternoon.  There was one bright spot in a white dress being followed by a photographer, her mom and her sister-in-law (aka hairdresser extraordinaire).  We got plenty of honks, thumbs up and congratulations as we paraded through the town.

One of the bedrooms had an old elevator right in the middle of the room.
We thought it looked a bit like an ancient S&M apparatus....but I digress....

Mother Nature smiled on us and the rain stopped a couple of hours before we got to Brenham.  The gray skies provided lovely light for the photos and the town was the perfect backdrop with its old brick walls, wrought iron fences, secluded courtyards and quaint downtown streets.

the covered upstairs patio at the Ant Street Inn

The only thing we were missing was a nice bluebonnet field.  Things had dried off enough and we were feeling brave enough to have the bride stand in a big blue field in the white dress.  The proprietor of the Inn told us where we could find a bluebonnet field nearby and we headed out to find it.

Bluebonnets minus the bride!  
You didn't think I was going to satisfy your curiosity and give you a sneak peak did you?
Even though it is killing me to do just that!

This week marks our fourth year back in Sugar Land.  If you had told me four years ago that I would be standing in yet another bluebonnet field in four years with my daughter dressed in a white dress I would have been as happy as I was on Sunday.  A lot has happened in those four years and this is one of the best things yet.  So for the next little while I'll try to remain calm and enjoy my evenings on the couch in my pj's.

A Taste of Texas

We have been home for two weeks in a row!  Guess that means I should have written a blog or two during that time, oops.  It is spring in Texas and that equals outside time in my book.  In spite of the yellow film that covers every surface and causes my eyes to burn and my nose to run, I have spent a good part of the last two weeks outside enjoying it while it lasts.  Before too long the temperatures and humidity will be above my comfort level and I'll be forced to be more creative with my free time.  For now it is golf, walking, running and patio season. 

Another thing that spring in Texas brings is bluebonnets!  This year is a particularly good year for the state flower and TJ and I went on a little road trip last Sunday to check out the scenery.  It turned out to be a very nice afternoon so I thought I'd share some of what helps us like living down here....for part of the year.

Before you get to see the bluebonnets here is a typical Texas scene that we happened upon when we took a wrong turn!
Maybe it was a right turn.... 

"You talkin' to me?"

After our detour we found an interesting store surrounded by bluebonnets.  TJ had to restrain me from buying a piece of large ironwork.  I loved this place!  Goes to show the saying, "if you build it, they will come" is true!  They came!

So much to see....

Windmill anyone?

We decided to drive on and find a field of bluebonnets that did not have about 50 people in it taking pictures of their cute families.  We were looking for our "own" field.  So on we drove.  TJ has always been known for his frightening (for his passengers) ability to drive and still see a hawk a mile away or a remote bluebonnet field behind a locked gate and remain on the road... sorta between the lines.

He saw this field from the road....wait...who is driving again?

We ventured a bit farther and found the perfect scene!  We found it because TJ has never been one to go with the main stream and he decided we needed to "explore" off the beaten path.  Yes, there are some very well traveled roads that are known for their bluebonnets and on a nice Sunday afternoon in peak season there will be people in every field taking pictures.  Glad he likes to explore....sometimes.

A very nice patch of bluebonnets and no cars passing by!

So many!!!!

An Indian Paintbrush among the Bluebonnets

 After I took about 100 pictures of the wildflowers we were getting very hungry!  What else would make this day perfect?  The only thing we were missing was some real Texas BBQ.  Where were we going to find that out here in the middle of nowhere?  We followed along and low and behold what should we see but a cute little tin building with flags flying.  I asked TJ to pull over so I could get a nice photo of the flags when he said..."They might be serving BBQ today."  And guess what?  They were!  Cutest most stereotypical place ever!  The food was pretty good too! 

We brake for BBQ!
Not much from the outside, right?

totally cute inside!

I'll bet there is some boot skootin' boogying that goes on here!



They were so happy we stopped by that they invited us back!
No, that is not our motorcycle!!!



And that, my friends, is your taste of Texas! 

Y'all come back!