October 2021 Texas, Gentian at Hemlock Crossing, Ludington State Park, Grand Haven Pier

 We have had a beautiful and warm autumn this year.  Today is November 11 2021 and the trees are still so bright and golden.

This is our driveway, no sun but still warm and glowing gold.

I took my third trip to Texas for the year, this time I went to just play with our youngest grandkids, ages 6, 4, and 2 years.  We played lots of hide and seek at their new house, went in the pool, visited a nature preserve, and a pumpkin patch!  Grandkids amaze me!  What interesting and curious people they are. Each one has their own uniqueness, they are curious and have their own ideas in those adorable little heads. 

 

I really do love being up in the clouds!

After Texas, my sister from Minnesota visited Michigan.  We took her to Hemlock Crossing Park and Nature Center.  This is the park I have been watching some beautiful Closed Gentian, and we checked on those gentian and they were still blooming!  Mid October.

Hemlock Crossing 

We went into the nature center here at Hemlock Crossing and talked with Kristen Hintz, she has so much good information, it was fun seeing her again.  She works for Ottawa County Parks. 

Four sisters go for a walk!  We went together to Ludington State Park, we walked  Lost Lake/ Island  Trail.  It was a wonderful walk and so nice the four of us could be together on a perfect day.

In Grand Haven we went all the way out on the south pier on a very calm day.

That is it for this post.  I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by.

Big Bend National Park - April 2017

Our 2017 trip to Big Bend National Park happened in early April this year. 

One of our hikes was the Lost Mine Trail, just under 5 miles to hike with an elevation gain of 1300 feet. We hiked this trail 2 years ago, when our granddaughter Finley was 12 weeks old.  This time our newest grandchild, Harrison (8 weeks old) was the youngest "hiker" of the group. 

 Granddaughters - Mary and Finley

 We were in the clouds for a bit at first.  Then it cleared up and we had blue sky.

 

Hikers, Andrew with Finley, Debi with Harrison, and Mike.

We went to see red rocks, along the Blue Creek Trail.

Finley Rose admiring the red rocks. 

Hiker Harrison with his dad.  Our son with his son.

We went to visit the Hot Springs, along the Rio Grande River.
Across this river is Mexico.

 Yes, that is Andrew and Finley in the raging river!

The Hot Springs.

We hung out at Andrew's property near Terlingua Texas.  It is so fun to explore there, and discover cool rocks!  We usually have several pounds of rocks in our suitcase on the way home.
Here are the views from the high point of the property.

 

 

 

 This chair is the only accommodation on the property.



  

Here are a few of our finds, the first is a spider that was under a rock I picked up... Notice its big body, I haven't identified it yet.

 

 

 

We went on several other hikes.  It was a fun visit, and the weather was good too.  But the best part is seeing the grandkids!