Garner State Park

Each vacation seems to be 'my most favorite' ~ this one has made it to the top. We took the travel trailer to the Texas Hill Country and found paradise. I've only started to work my way through the 200+ pictures and having a hard time deciding which ones to 'scrap'.
To describe this much needed time off, to put words to the time we spent together, to share breath-taking views and ventures in this garden seems too impossible.
I start here with a couple of pictures - the love of my life that ask why I did no pages of me... so, I've done two pages so he doesn't feel lonely :0)

My Girl

Well, I wish I could claim her as my own. Well, she is mine ~ in a remote kind of way... Rick's neice, Dena's daughter, my girl with the rainbow hair.
She came to E.T. with Dena in May, stayed a week and upon arrival back in Georgia told her mom that she wasn't done in E.T and came right back. She's been here all summer ~ flitting in and out of my house at her whim. She and Tim have found a different kind of 'cousin' relationship - they're both near adults now - right and taking advantage of their freedom from 'can I... huh, can we please go, Mom?' of years gone past when Dena and I ruled the worlds of teenagers.

I love her untamed free spirit, quite ways of coming / going, and rambling nature that is an excellent work in progress. Her future is so bright and she burns brighter still.... And I love her ever-changing rainbow hair, constantly new toe nail polish... yep, I'll take her every minute I'm graced with.
We are missing her already and she's only been gone for 2 days. We've been so blessed with her visit. I'm very sure she had the best summer ever in... where else... East Texas.

East Texas Summer

We had such a great time with these kids. Tim is such a clown ~ he and Angelica keep each other on their toes with constant jabbing at each other.

Tim is sure he'll win the bet of girl vs. boys fishin' tournament - that got Angelica's competitive spirit up
"no way, boy". Rick was impressed how she took care of business ~ baited her hook, patiently brought in the biggest of the bluegills and even took 'em off the hook.

Excellent day, even if it was hotter than hell... but that's a July day in East Texas - 105 degrees in the shade.

Fishin' with the kids

What a great day. A short 1-1/2 hr. drive to Purtis Creek State Park. Rick took the newly re-newed (4 yrs in reconstruction) john boat for it's maiden voyage. Problem is it only holds 3 peeps... no problem, rent another boat for the girls and see which team can catch the most fish. Girls win... yeah.
This is a first trip to this state park and won't be the last. It has great RV spots and lots of water to fish.
After a morning of fishing, time for a great picnic of sandwiches and then swimming while Rick talks fish-shop with a local 9 yr. old - 'what ya fishin' for, what kind of bait you use, been here before?'... Rick always talks patiently with young folks.