Springtime is here ...

and that means new life in the yard, garden and flower beds. The purple Irises were plants that my MaMa saved from her mother's (my great-grandmother) garden. I planted them last year and these are there first blooms. These plants are about 20 years old. The rose pic is one of my Knockout Rose bushes that I planted last week. The last is a pic of this year's garden. I have collared greens, carrots, cilantro, squash, zuchinni, spinach, broccoli, kale, potatoes and of course tomatoes (17 plants).

I love this time of year. There is nothing more enjoyable or relaxing than working in the yard/garden in the cool of the morning and taking my coffee on the back porch while I God bring new life to the world around me.

Camp of the Hills

On March 24 the main building at Camp of the Hills burned resulting in total loss of the dining hall, offices, nurses station, counselors quarters, kitchen and all contents. Camp is moving forward for summer 2010 and plans are in the works for the long-term future of camp of the hills but help is needed. Please go to the COTH website and find out more.

http://www.campofthehills.org/

Here is a link to an article about the fire:

www.statesman.com/news/local/hill-country-camp-plans-to-come-back-after-458552.html

Here is a link to a news report:

www://kxan.com/dpp.news/local/camp-destroyed-by-fire-readies-for-kids

Archer County Hunt

I went to the Bridwell Ranch in Archer County with my dad, brother and his kids along with Bridwell Hood. It was a great weekend that brought great results. We came home with six bucks including Zachary and Stephen's first ones. We spent the day hunting the 32,000 acres and would cook out over the campfire for lunch and dinner. It was the first-ever hunt that we have all been able to go on together. It was a great weekend! Enjoy the pics.

View from my ground blind where Stephen and I both shot a buck.

View from my rock blind on the Horseshoe Pasture.

The weekend's haul - 6 bucks.

The whole hunting group. Dad, Montana, David, me, Stephen, Brid and Zachary.

Dad, David, Stephen and Zachary with their deer.

David and my nephew Stephen.

Cleaning the biggest of my two bucks.

Stephen with the first buck he ever killed. He is a shooter. He has pulled the trigger on three deer in his life and has knocked down all three.

Stephen in our ground blind.

Camp of the Hills

To those of you who have had an affiliation with Camp of the Hills over the years, please take a few minutes and go to the following link to find out some information about a dinner we have planned for February 27 at The Zone Club at Kyle Field in College Station. It is going to be a great night of reunion and celebration for the benefit of Camp of the Hills.

http://www.cothdinner.blogspot.com/

Devils River 2009

From October 20-24 I went to the Devils River in west Texas and kayaked and camped down a 24-mile stretch with my brother and James Garner. This was the second trip for me and James and it was my brother's first trip with us. We spent three nights camping on the river and four day floating and fishing our way down the 24-mile stretch. We knocked out 10.5 miles the first day and around 5 miles each of the next three days. The river is surrounded by private land - except for one small stretch - so we are forced to camp on rocks in the middle of the river because we would be trespassing if we got on the shore at any point. Camp one is about 10.5 miles down river and is no more than 250 square feet. Camp two is the State Natural Area and is the only spot where we can leave the river during the trip. Camp three is about 5 miles down river from that and is a big boulder in the middle of the river. It is very cool to pull up on a huge rock and set up camp with the river and rapids flowing around you. It makes for really good sleeping - especially when a big storm rolls in during the middle of the night as it did during our first night. Here are pics from our trip. Enjoy! We sure did!
Sunset from camp one - "Flat Rock"
David with about a 3-pound largemouth bass

Enjoying the sounds of the river as we take our morning coffee and spend some time reading.

Rapids at the convergence of Devils River and Indian Creek.

My kayak all loaded an resting on a rock. This was my home for four days!

On our last camp site. This was our first time camping on this rock.

James reading on our final morning.

We didn't want to set our tents up the last night so we used our kayaks as anchors and pulled a tarp over our sleeping area. It made for a great night of cool rest on the river.

We may be camping but we do not go hungry. The last night we had a feast of fajita meat, corn and potatoes, cheese and bacon. It was a great meal to cap an amazing trip.

Enjoying a dip in the Indian Creek Rapids on a hot afternoon.

Cooling off below the Indian Creek Rapids at our final camp site.

Paddling through Three Tiers Rapids - a class 3 rapid.

David taking on Three Tier Rapids.

Me and David

Sitting below Dolan Falls - the largest waterfall in Texas and a pretty good fishing hole.

Me and David atop Dolan Falls.

Sometimes you get tired of sitting so it is nice to have a kayak you can stand and fish out of.

James going Venice-style on the river. Making his way to another fishing hole.

One of the beautiful scenes we get to experience. Notice the clarity of the water.

James headed out to fish.

James and David relaxing on the water.

This is me fishing the State Natural Area in the morning fog. The morning fog is always one of the most beautiful sites on our trip.

Me and David

James fishing.

Me and James

Making our way through the narrow reed chutes on the Devils. Often times we have to portage our kayaks through the low areas.

With my big ole' black bass. It was the largest fish of the week at a little over five pounds.

Camp one - we call it "Flat Rock"

Relaxing on Flat Rock while David gets unpacked.

Kayaking with my brother.

David making his way through the reeds and rapids.

David fly-fishing

Packed and ready to go.