Hiking is good for the soul...

There is this hiking trail near our house called the Cross Timbers Trail. It even has primitive camping sites along the way, which is awesome and as soon as we retrieve our bags, sleeping bags and gas stove from my grandmother's storage shed, we are all over that trail. Thus far, we have just been day trippers, hiking about 2.5 miles of the 14 mile long trail.

We had some trouble locating the trailhead on our first visit, so we have really covered the first 2.5 miles of the trail and then probably mile 5 to 6.5. On our first visit, we jumped in at the Marina instead of the trailhead. I thought there would be a road going from the marina to the trailhead...I was wrong. Well, the maps I found haven't been too helpful:


I know. And the one I found online wasn't that helpful either.

But despite that little snag, this trail is a gem! The trail is rugged, follows along the edge of a cliff for the first part and has frequent inclines to build up a good sweat and make you savor the top of the hill.

Watch out Chris!

As you can see there are dangers as the trail crumbles away. (No Chris's were harmed in the shooting of this picture)

Brandy also savors living on the edge:

But after you get used to it, the view is fantastic.




After the cliff parts, the trail veers away and wanders more inland.




And there were lots of spots to sit on the beach and eat a picnic, which is exactly what we did. And I thought about summertime when we can get in the water and swim in a little cove, away from motor boats!
Here's me, thinking about swimming:


And overall, this is a fun, free, healthy way to spend a Sunday off. I can't wait for Spring to see the foliage come alive on the trail, although there are some cool reds, fushcias and purples left over:


We all get a good healthy workout as well as enjoying nature from a different part of Texas.
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Subject Change

Alicia's Store: Harts N Crafts

This is the store that is selling my arm warmers:


It is super cute. Again if you are in Waco, stop by! Tell Alicia I said hi! And buy things from her! Like arm warmers!


Oh, and from this store, came our little kitty Lucy. Here is a picture of her mother and some extended family:

Lucy's mama is the tortoise shell one with the white paw. She looks just like Lucy except she is bigger.

Also, Lucy is in heat. We haven't gotten her fixed yet and then we forgot and now she is moaning and mewing all around the house, she sounds like a demented child-ghost...it's creepy. So, we are going to be researching into low cost spay clinics around the area. The one pricing we did get from a vet was unbelievably high, they even wanted her to come in and "meet" the doctor, a doctor-patient visit and charge us for it, of course. GMAB, guys, she is a CAT. She won't remember you doc. Just do a little snip-snip so I don't have to listen to her howl and watch her walk around with her butt up in the air!

Sheesh.