Lost Maples

Thanks to my very nice friend and partner at work, Terry, who worked a shift for me, I got 7 days off this week so we did some leaf peeping in the Texas Hill Country. Lost Maples is a State Natural Area where some bigfoot maple seeds blew in on a wind many, many years ago and gives us Texans a fall color display that rivals any found in New EnglandWe found this very nice place to stay at the Seven Bluffs Cabins and RV Park. We had some interesting neighbors.


All these critters were in our front yard where we could watch them from the porch.

We wished we had brought all of you with us to share !


It is a 20 acre Pecan Orchard on the Frio River near Leakey, Texas
One of the Seven Bluffs
We passed many little towns traveling to the park. Bandera had a museum where we found this steam tractor in their back yard. They also had a beautiful Catholic Church built by Polish Immigrants in 1876.We also liked the First Methodist Church in Utopia. We also found this "fabricmobile" in Utopia. (anybody remember bookmobiles?)Makes me think there may be a lot of quilters in the hill country.We also visited nearby Garner State Park.

Garner is also on the Frio River. There were people swimming in this river today. I asked them if the water was warm. They said, "NO!"

We aslo found another state natural area near Bandera, called Hill Country State Natural Area and had another hike by their river.

And a little bluff to climb for a lovely overview.

I am so grateful for this time in my life when we have more freedom to travel and enjoy God's beautiful world and each other. My prayer is that all of you will have a beautiful relaxing time in your lives, too, when your children are grown, happy in their own marriages, giving you lots of beautiful grandchildren and you can enjoy the fruit of your labors and the husbands of your youth.