Homeward Bound With a too brief Stop At the Keystone Gallery

Our plan was to leave for Wyoming by ten am but like most of our plans we were too optimistic. We finally finished and left at twelve-thirty. The first day’s original goal, was to spend the night in San Angelo, but we changed the plan and spent the night further south at Junction, Texas. The next morning the wind came up but we were able to drive in spite of our high profile vehicle, which was even higher with the Thule Carrier. Still, we were able to drive five hundred miles to Liberal, Kansas. Arriving at Liberal, the wind increased again, and was so strong that I had to hold the door for Renita so she could safely exit the car. Checking into a motel we hoped to leave the next day, but the wind was still to strong for us to safely travel and we extended our stay to two nights in Liberal. The wind finally abated and we were back on our plan as we were able to drive to Ogallala, Nebraska. During our journey, we stopped at the Keystone Art Gallery and Fossil Museum along the way and engaged with two paleontologists. Chuck Bonner and Barbara Shelton, specializing in the excavation of fossil fish and other specimens from the Niobrara Chalk Formation. The formation was deposited from eighty-two to eighty-seven million years ago, . The Museum’s collection even included type fossils which are fossils discovered, described and named by the discoverer.

One of the fossil fish was named after the paleontologist’s, (Chuck Bonner), sister. Of course, I had to buy a fossil and tee shirts, (always support the Museum).Barabra and Chuck gave us great information on the Museum and fossil collectons. It was so nice to be able to converse with experts!

We next stopped at Ogallala and stayed at one of our favorite and cheapest motels. Eating out gets tiresome and expensive, so we resorted to the frozen food aisle in Walmart, and the microwave in the motel room. The next day we passed Chimney Rock in Western Nebraska, drove through Scottsbluff and reached the Wyoming Border! Two days later we finally arrived at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Our plan is to stay here for nine days and photograph wildlife in Grand Teton National Park. Clear skies

A Pair of Aplomado Falcons at Mustang Island State Park

After birding at Goose Island State Park, we had to try to see the Aplomado Falcons at Mustang Island State Park. Ten years ago, we had added one it to our life bird list, a bird we had spotted at Laguna Acosta National Wildlife Refuge, but not a picture. So, we headed over to Port Aransas, with our friends Barb and Dan, (thanks for driving). They are great birders and wanted to add the Falcon to their life list. Crossing the Ferry, we turned south from Port A. As we neared the park, we spotted one of the special man-made nests and a flying bird. It was too far away to get a picture or an Id.

Deciding to check with the park headquarters, we learned that one had been spotted hunting by a church a few miles further south. Nearing the church, we saw a bird on one of the nests. It was an Aplomado Falcon, and close enough, about one hundred and fifty yards, for a positive id and a picture! We watched the bird and then drove down a park road that got us a little closer.

As we watched the bird, another arrived and landed on the top of a tall utility pole.

The one on the nest then flew up and joined it’s mate! After watching for prey, they both flew off together,

(a pair will often hunt together with one flushing and distracting their prey while the other pounced for the kill). If you see a bird with pointed wings and a long narrow tail, it's a falcon, usually a Perigrine or Prairie falcon.

Deciding to stop at the Leorna Turnbill Birding Center, we walked out on the boardwalk. The flamingo wasn’t there, but a flock of Avocets were sleeping in the same spot as last month. Now they were adorned with their blooming plumage.

Heading back to our rv park we talked about how lucky we had been to spot the Aplomado Falcons.

It was a great day! Clear skies

A New Guided Birding Tour at Goose Island State Park, (at least to us)

We had known about the Guided Birding trips available at Goose Island State Park but had never gotten around to signing up for one. Our friends Dan and Barb told us about an upcoming Golf Cart tour and so we signed up them along with friends Dave and Jane. We met at the parking lot next to the White Building and loaded into the nine-person vehicle, (actually too small for nine, more comfortable with seven adults).

As we drove to Big Tree we approached a gate with a closure sign. However, the land had all been acquired by the state park, after Hurricane Harvey. Our guide unlocked the gate allowing us to pass through. The gravel road passed a small subdivision of destroyed houses before reaching a narrow and short runway. Turning onto the weed choked runway, afforded us with a view of areas we had canoed and kayaked in years past. Our guide called out the birds as we stopped near the runway’s end.

The view included a shallow back lake that we had once gotten stuck in. Luckily on that adventure we had not seen/met the large alligator that lives there.

A Caracara stood proud on the runway, (they live primarily on carcasses, but we did see one kill and eat an American White Ibis on the beach near our rv park.

A Long-Billed Curlew bathed in a short puddle as three Lesser Yellowlegs chased each other.

Heading back to the State Park we drove along the shore and spotted six Whooping Cranes. Most have already stated their migration, and so we were surprised to see this small flock, (A week later they were, probably on their way north to their breeding grounds in Canada. Four Roseate Spoonbills flew in and landed.

They were all bright pink in their breeding plumage. The guide did mention that there were a nesting pair of Aplomado Falcons at Mustang Island State Park They are one of the rarest Falcons and have been reintroduced (we spotted our first one years ago, at Laguna Acosta National Wildlife Refuge). Our tour today was great thanks to our knowledgeable guide! Thanks for the Day! Now we have plan a trip to Mustang Island State Park and hope to see the Aplomado Falcons! Clear skies

The Sixty Third Annual Gulf Coast Gem and Mineral Show, Robstown, Texas

It was time for the Gulf Coast Gem and Mineral Society’s Sixty-Third Annual Show. The show and the club’s existence had hung in the balance. We are happy to say that the President, Rick Price and his wife Yvonne along with club volunteeres had done an excellent job in saving the club and setting up the show!. They had even attracted new venders and so this year’s show, had thirty-five booths! One booth had a vender with a mechanical dinosaur that anyone could ride! It was a hit with the kids! The ride had a weight limit of two hundred pounds and even I could meet this, but as my back was giving me fits, I didn’t think It would be a good idea. I tried to get Renita to take a ride on the dinosaur, but she also passed.

The doors opened at ten am and after a slow start the Exhibit Hall, At the Robstown Convention Center, became filled with people. We had donated four pieces of our work as door prizes, (as did many of the other venders). Every hour a number would be drawn, and the lucky winner awarded a prize. Pam and Roy drove over, (Renita’s sister and her husband), and they aided us with our booth, (thanks). In the first wave of people many stopped at our booth and viewed our work before moving on to look at the other tables. All tables must be related to rocks, fossils and minerals. Some said that they would return, something that is often said but seldom happens. This time most did come back! The first day, the crowd was steady, and we had an excellent day! I added to my fun by purchasing a partial scapula from a Colombian Mammoth, (to add to my partial Colombian mammoth skull),and a small display case with two Bison Antiquus teeth, (the prehistoric bison weighed three thousand pounds).

Saturday afternoon we were filmed by the Channel Three, an ABC Affiliate in Corpus Christi, and were part of their broadcast!, The day ended at six pm and we drove back to our rv park. Unfortunately, the new harbor bridge was closed, (accident or high winds), and so we had to detour through Mustang Island and Port Aransas. That added another hour to our drive home! A cold front passed through on day two and brought much needed rain. As this part of Texas is a in a severe drought, (stage three restrictions), you never complain about free water. It ended by noon and the crowd slowly grew. It wasn’t as busy as day one but we still had a good day. This is the Twelfth Year we have sold at the show, and as usual we had many returning customers/friends stop by! We set a record in sales for our Texas Shows! Regardless, the shows are always fun! Thanks to all who volunteered to work on the show! Clear skies

A Winters Day Birding at Port Aransas

We decided we needed a day birding at Port Aransas. Barb and Dan joined us and so we loaded up, crossed on the Ferry and headed to The Leorna Turnbill Birding Center.

When we arrived the trees along the sidewalk harbored a few Yellow Rumped Warblers. The one pictured wasn’t in its breeding plumage, which was a common sight for many of the birds at the Center. One exception was the American Flamingo.

It was still at the center but sleeping with a flock of American White Pelicans. It did wake up for a bit and preened its plumage before returning to it mid-morning siesta. The weren’t as many ducks as we expected to see and that was normal as hunting season is over.

A pair of American Shovelers did pose only to have a Black Necked Stilt, photo bomb the picture. A pair of whooping Cranes made a brief appearence but they were too far away for a decent image. The huge alligator nickn

amed, “Boots” has been trapped and moved to near the city of Beaumont, Texas. Probably because it was eating too many waterfowl at the Center. Leaving Leorna Turnbill, we drove next to a small birding spot, Paradise Pond. There was very little there as the pond is almost completely dry from the severe drought, (we later talked with a member of our rock club who told us that his four wells were all dry and that his fifty-year-old Live Oak trees have all died from lack of water). Our next stop was at Virginia’s for lunch, and as usual were served a lunch of excellent seafood! Our favorite is the Parmesan Crusted Black Drum, while our friends shared a salad and an order of Calamari. The day had passed quickly, the older we get the faster time flies by, and so we crossed the ferry and returned to our place at Blue Lagoons Rv Park. Clear skies

Valentines Day 2026

Last year, Renita and I volunteered as Activities Directors. Thank goodness, our Activities Directors, Zita and Alan, were rehired this year, and so we had their usual feast. Alan is a Barbecue Pitmaster and so we had the choice of his Prime Rib Plate or Chicken both grilled in a large barbecue drill!

The cost for the dinner was only twenty-five dollars for the Prime and twenty dollars for the Cornish Hen plate.

Where else could you get such a feast for those prices! As usual the festivities started off with pictures, a prayer, and the feast itself.

We enjoyed the special time with our friends and family. Thanks to Zita and Alan for the outstanding feast! Clear skies

Show and tell and Sell Arts/Craft show at Blue Lagoons 2026, (also called Marks and Renita's Show)

2026 Blue Lagoons Show and Tell and Sell Show Over the past years Renita and I have organized a Craft and Tell and Sell Show. This allows anyone in our park to share their crafts/art work. They can sell or just show and describe what they do. Most do not sell anything, just show that there are other things to do, besides fish. This year we had three new tables, our friends Jane, Rhonda, and Jim. Two others had to back out at the last minute due to other conflicts. We hope they can return next year. Here’s pictures of their work along with the rest of the returning friends,(greta smiles all).

Rhonda does beautiful small bead work.

Jim flies radio-controlled airplanes. He allowed all to practice flying one, using remote controls on to a tv screen, (mine ended in spectacular crashes)!

Jane designs and sews beautiful purses, phone carry cases, and other items from recycled material.

Maureen is a returning vender who demonstrates her line of Skin Care Products.

Dianna makes practical items that are always well received.

Jim Dogget is a Lapidarist, (like us), and make’s roseries, wire wrapped jewelry, and other items. He also sells slabs. Finnaly a picure of our tables. Renita is a lapidarist, wire wrapper, and also braids Kumihimo! Thanks to Blue Lagoons for allowing us to share our love for what we do! Clear skies