I Went Off The Grid

This past weekend my husband, father-in-law, myself and a few other guys all headed out of Houston and ended up at a ranch outside of Kerrville, TX.  No cell phone service, in the middle of a dry, rocky landscape littered with cactus and cedar. 

I enjoyed every moment being out in the middle of pretty much nowhere.  I saw many birds that I have never seen before and encountered many animals I had never seen before either.

Immature Summer Tanager

I did some hunting (don't worry, I am feeding my family with what I kill).  I spent a lot of quality time with my husband sitting in a blind while watching turkeys go by.  There were a lot of turkeys.  There were also a few surprises in this landscape too, like this beautiful spring fed pond that they call blue hole.

I wish I could have jumped in.  It was so crystal clear, none of my photos can do an oasis so beautiful any justice.  Upon a glance, it looked to be only about 5 feet deep, but when you dropped a rock in, it sank, and sank, and sank...over 20 feet, I'm sure in a few spots even deeper. 

It felt great to relax, swap stories, reconnect with nature and just enjoy a great "guys" weekend.  I take pride that I get to go along on guy weekends occasionally. A big thanks to my mother-in-law for watching the kids so we could all enjoy our trip.

Gulf Fritillary

Do you ever feel the need to get away and reconnect with nature?  Or do you prefer the spa?  I would probably kill for a massage right now, but wouldn't trade me weekend away in nature for a spa trip.  Am I crazy?

March Best

March seemed to fly right by.  Gardening, trips to find wildflowers, spring break and Easter.  I did managed to snap more than just photos of the bluebonnets!

 Even though bluebonnets are a springtime staple in Texas, I managed to take a few other photos too.  

Top: Bordered Patch Butterfly, Colton and Maben in the bluebonnets in Brenham, TX

Center: Cardinal hanging out on my lawnmower, Colton showing off his favorite egg

Bottom: Top view of a bluebonnet, Colton smiling while playing in the sprinkler, Peacock feathers

Happy Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!

I was just reading my usual blogs and almost forgot about wishing everyone a Very Happy Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!  Thanks Eric Carle for the reminder.  If you have followed my blog at all, you know that we <3 and="" carle="" caterpillar.="" eric="" hungry="" just="" look="" nbsp="" p="" the="" very="">

This comes from the Read Me Bookcase and if you haven't seen the entire bookcase, you can check it out by clicking here.

Favorite Photo Tuesday #26

This week's favorite photo was captured in my own backyard.  I was out back to check and see if some paint was dry,

saw this beauty,

ran back inside,

grabbed my camera,

ran back outside,

watched him fly away,

come back,

get bit by mosquitoes,

finally...get the shot!

This is a Red Admiral, vanessa atalanta.  They are found all over the world.  I was not successful capturing one of these guys while in Vermont this summer, which is why I was so happy to get him this time around. 

The most redeeming thing about Texas in the fall...the great butterfly migration.  Texas may not have beautiful changing leaves, it may not have more than 2 seasons, but in the fall....we get butterflies and lots of them.  Maben and I have been counting Monarchs on the way to school.  Our record is 14 Monarchs in less than a 1/4 mile.