Long time passing......

Sometimes life is complicated.

Several months of complications have kept me away from this blog for a while.  Life may be leveling out, or it may get worse.  I'll take it as it comes.

Throughout it all, I wander around with my camera and my dogs.  I wish the dogs could go everywhere I do, but society is not there yet.

I can find beauty everywhere, I just have to look.

On the Riverwalk:

At sunset in Sedona:

In the rocks in Arizona:

In the Grand Canyon:

In what man has made, recently:

and in ancient times:

In God's creatures:

And the world around them:

And ALWAYS in Rocket and Rusty!

Checking out the new greenspace

For a city as large as San Antonio, our lack of public parks and green spaces is shameful.
However, strides have been made in the last few years the change this.

One new park is Hardberger Park, named after former mayor, Phil Hardberger.  Mayor Hardberger was an advocate for green spaces and did much to raise awareness and funding for them.

Every time we go to a park or greenway we meet people of all ages walking, jogging, riding bikes, walking dogs; just enjoying nature in the middle of the city.

It's rejuvenating see wildlife in an urban area.

Flora, too.  Plants that might not be seen without leaving the city limits are right under our eyes.

Refreshing and relaxing, I love our parks.

Life is Good

We wander through spring in no particular hurry.  School winds down, weather gets hot.  A drought is hurting farmers and lawns, but if you are willing to see, there is always something beautiful nearby.

Good things come in many ways.  Graduation, for one.  The culmination of hard work, some partying, and a rite of passage.

And the dogs.  The initial reason for this blog.  Rocket and Rusty are learning to play.  Rusty is learning to trust.

Rocket is the teacher in many ways.

Usually happy, Rocket has come a long way since he was rescued.  Scared and aggresive when we adopted him, he's a funny little fellow now.

Rusty follows Rocket around.  Although not as angry as Rocket was, Rusty is still uncertain in  many situations.

But, he is coming in to his own.

River Restoration

The San Antonio River runs through town from its' headwaters just north of downtown to missions on the very southern end.

Although most of the river is developed to some degree, the southern part from the south of downtown to the missions is being restored to a natural riparian woodlands.  It will also be lined with walking/jogging/biking trails. The first phase is complete. 

Although the trees are not yet planted, wildflowers have been seeded and the blooms are beautiful.

It's a great place to walk the pups.

Boat Ride

The pups took their first ride in the boat today.  They did fine.  They will still need some practice in it before I'm comfortable taking their leashes off though.

Cocoa used to love to ride in our old boat.  It was too hot for Sammy to ride out in the open.

Time will tell how these two adapt to it.

Tax Day!

and also the Battle of Flowers Parade in San Antonio.  Battle of Flowers is always a holiday for San Antonio schools, so we took advantage of the day off and took the doggies to Landa Park in New Braunfels.  It was a beautiful day, sunny and breezy.  Rusty is learning from Rocket, and this was a perfect way to get him used to being in parks.

Rocket Meets Rusty

Rocket got a little brother yesterday.  Rusty was adopted from the Alamo Heights Kennel Club.

He was rescued from the pound; dirty, matted, and with mange.  The Kennel Club took care of him, cleaned him up, and readied him for adoption.  A former student of Danny's told Danny about him.  We went to visit, and of course, he came home with us.

I was a little nervous about ow Rocket would take to an interloper in his domain.  It was fine.  Rocket wants to play, but Rusty is still a little skittish.  When they are out in the yard together, Rusty wants to explore new territory.

It got a little dicey at bedtime though.  Rocket did NOT like Rusty coming to bed with him.  It all worked out, but Rocket did claim his place.

Just another pleasant Sunday

Walking through Olmos Park; it's a nice way to end a weekend.

Out and About South Texas

Soooo, today we headed out on a wildflower hunt. It's picture taking time in south Texas.  The spring has been too dry and the flowers aren't as plentiful as they have been.  One good rain though..... we could have a bumper crop.

Since we were so close, we headed on over to Choke Canyon Lake.

And then on up the road to the Medina River Natural Area.

Rocket really enjoyed the doggy water fountains.  This ia great idea!!!!