We spent the day hiking at Cooper Lake State Park, the South Sulphur Unit. The five mile loop trail was pleasant, and it wasn’t too hot. The trees are just starting to leaf out, and there were several redbuds in bloom.
We took a picnic. I can’t think of any picnic I have had in Texas that has been pleasant. Usually there is too much wind, or it is too hot, and then there was the time we were attacked by bees. Raymond and I used to laugh about it. I can’t begin to count the times we ended up eating in the car. Today it was windy. We had to hold everything down while we ate. Even with food on the plates they were blowing off the table. Plus it was cold. We had to wear our coats, and yet, when we crossed the road to hike it was really warm.
I was surprised that I got through the hike without crying. Usually when we do something that Raymond and I used to do, or something we did as a family I cry for at least a few minutes.
Raymond used to call me a cheap date because I liked to go hiking when we were in college and living where we did in Kentucky we were able to hike in the National Forest without driving very far. We continued to hike after we got married and moved to Texas and once we had kids we would take them hiking. I want to continue hiking with the boys so that maybe they will continue the tradition with their kids. I’m also going to tell them they shouldn’t marry anyone that won’t hike.
6 comments:
Where in Kentucky?My wife and I are seling our home and moving there.I'm a carpenter.It's been our dream to build cabins in the hills for so long.And...since we are not getting younger,we are going for it.
We live in A town 30 miles south of Cleveland,Oh.We bought some fabulous property in northeastern Ky.
It is a perfect place for picnics.I hope to make many memories with my grandson.That will be the funniest thing,a litle brown skinned indian boy with a southern accent!
I hope your next picnic has perfect weather for you.
Howard
We are from Somerset, KY on Lake Cumberland. I was born in Dayton, OH and lived there until I was 13, then my family moved to Somerset. My husband was born and raised in Somerset.
My father was a carpenter. It was a shock to me when I had to live in a home he didn't build and customize to our needs.
I'm thrilled you are going to go for your dream.
I heard today that Pine Meadow Cabins is for sale. For a minute it was my dream, and it might be someday, but my boys do not want to uproot themselves for that right now. I probably am not up for that kind of work and responsibility.
My real dream is to live in a cabin or a small house by a lake where I can walk out my back door and fish whenever I want. You probably don't get to fish all day when you are running a vacation cabin resort.
My parents used to live in Bella Vista, AR and I still love to rent a house there and fish all day long. There are at least 4 small lakes in Bella Vista that I can bank fish.
I hope you have years and years of picnic memories with your grandson in KY.
Cheryl
There are 3 state parks around the little town there in ky.There is fishing at all of them.That is something I have never done...fish
All I have done is frame homes for 32 years.About 800 homes in all.All that work,and never gone fishing,can you believe that?
Me and my wife are looking to travel.We married at 18,started our family at 21 and are ready to hopefully do some things together we have always wanted to do.
We have 2 daughters. Ages 23 and 27.They have always been daddy's girls!
Did you ever go out on your dad's job as a little girl?Those are some of my girls favorite memories growing up.They have always loved my job.
I'll have to look up where Sommerset is. I think it's at the opposite end of Ky.I am really looking forward to a little shorter winter.Winter is long and cold in Cleveland.Like today,it is a rain,snow,sleet mix.I am trying to get a roof on a 3500 sq. ft. home,but the weather crapped us off the job...Oh well
I hope the weather is better in Texas.
Howard
You've never fished!!! There is nothing better than sitting on a bank with a worm on your line and fishing the day away. I only fish with worms, and I always have a worm rag that I use to wipe my hands after I bait the hook. I also use it to hold the fish while I take it off the hook to throw back. My dad was my fishing buddy. When he was alive he took the fish off the hook for me.
No, I did not get to go to my dad's building sites with him. He was very protective of me and the few times I remember stopping by one of his sites I was barely allowed to move because he was afraid I would get hurt. Although you might call our new homes work sites. We never moved into a completed house, so that was like being on a job site.
I really love Ohio, but I could not go back to those winters. Kentucky seemed to always have gray skies, and was very humid in the South Central section we were in.
Texas weather can change in an instant. Today was gray, windy, and very humid. We are in a drought so I am praying that the humidity means storms to come later this week.
It is nice that you get to travel now. My parents had me when my dad was 40 and my mom was 38. They started to travel after I got married at 22, but they only got a few good trips in before my dad starting showing the signs of Alzheimers.
Make sure you take a fishing pole on your travels. My favorite is a collapsible pole that doesn't need a lot of room in the car.
I hope I'm not talking too much?
My dad's name is Raymond.
Tell me more about Raymond if you feel like it.
Howard
Howard,
No you are not talking too much.
This is the type of conversation I like. One where I can go away for days if I want and then go right on talking.
My Raymond was a wonderful man. He was extremely intelligent, artistic, kind, gentle, witty, and yet quiet. He had a masters in Electrical Engineering. He was selfish in many ways, and would be the first to admit it. He was an unbelievably fantastic father, and a good husband for me and to me.
Unfortunately he did not try his hands at the arts until he was in his 30's. He started with ceramics because I wanted to learn how to be a potter. Raymond loved to take classes and I hate to take classes. We agreed that he would take the classes and then teach me. Turns out that I wasn't that interested when I found out all the work it took to make a beautiful pot, and he loved it. Not only did he enjoy going to class, he made great friends, made beautiful pottery, and found he had artistic talent.
He eventually had to give up making pots because of his health, so he took up painting. Turns out he wasn't bad at that, and he could have been great given more time. He had to teach himself how to paint because his chemo treatments prevented him from getting out in public and going to classes.
I could spend hours and hours telling you about Raymond, but I would never get it right in words. He was loved, he was respected, but most of all he was himself.
Cheryl
Post a Comment