Butterflies, A Trip To Town, A Sunset, & A Full Moon - (Steinhagen Lake, TX)

It was still dark when I got up, so I went ahead and finished our October financials and got the October Financial Summary posted.

You may notice, after power bead shopping at the Tucson bead and gem show last winter, Linda finally got in the black for the year with DreamLife Creations.  :)

Speaking of beads, she made a bracelet this morning while I was finishing up financials.  And I'm supposed to show you her newest "favorite" that she made the other day.  :)

Click on the DreamLife Creations link here and then you can link into both of her pages that display the different styles she makes.  :)

Around noon, we headed over to Jasper to mail off the bracelet she made this morning and to buy a new socket wrench.  Apparently, after removing the bike rack the day we arrived here, I left my little socket wrench on the bumper of the Jeep.  Oops.  :)

On the way out of the park, we stopped at the entrance station where they have lots of pretty flowers.  Those flowers attract butterflies, so I got out to take some pictures.

Here we have a Gulf Fritillary on lantana.

This is another Gulf Fritillary - wings closed.

This is a Common Buckeye.

This little one is a Fiery Skipper.

And of course we have to include a Monarch.

I'd like to thank my "Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America" for assistance in identification.  :)

For those that are interested in butterflies, there is also the Butterflies and Moths of North America website that is quite helpful.  However, I think the field guide is a bit easier for identification.  :)

After my brief interlude with the butterflies, we went on into Jasper.  We hit the post office and the hardware store and ended up .... where else? ... at the Super Walmart.  :)

We just needed a couple of items, but Linda finally found a long, skinny spatula thingy to use for "releasing" pie crust from the pan.  Of course she hasn't made a pie since we were at the V.A. Poma Ranch in Colorado last year - okay, a slight exaggeration :) -  but she has been looking for that accessory in every store we've been in for about five years now.  :)

While we're talking accessories and the Poma Ranch, I don't think I ever mentioned that our "employer" there, Karen, gave Linda a One Touch Can Opener a while back.

Now, I know this is not a new gadget by any means, but Linda sure loves it.  I know because she says "I love my One Touch" every time she takes it out of the drawer.  :)

Okay.  Still at Walmart.  Now, as we were preparing for this full-time RVing journey, I was very concerned with storage and weight.  The one thing that we didn't bring due to space issues that I have always regretted leaving behind was our toaster oven.

It didn't weigh much, and as it turned out, we had room.  We've looked at them several times since being on the road, but never bought one ... until today.  :)

Today we picked up a Hamilton Beach Toastation for $38.

It's pretty compact (16" L X 9" W X 8" H) and works as a traditional toaster with wide slots and a toaster oven.  We'll let you know how we like it after we've used it a few times.  Anyone need a cheap, $7 toaster?  :)

So we hauled today's purchases home.  We did just a little packing and sat outside discussing how much we liked this campground.  We considered staying another week, but decided to go ahead and move on into Louisiana tomorrow.

The one thing I definitely wanted to do before leaving was get sunset photos.  We love our Site 12 here and the Sandy Creek COE, but we can't see the sunset.  So I drove the Jeep out to the other end of the campground for pics.

The sites out on this far peninsula certainly have great views of the sunsets.  But there still is quite a bit of standing water out there and the mosquitoes are a little worse than at our site.

It was a lovely sunset at that point, but without clouds, it wasn't spectacular.  I turned and headed home when I noticed the full moon creeping up over the trees.

I hung out along the edge of the lake to see if I could get any decent moon shots.  As I waited I saw some deer just sneak out of the woods.  They were snorting loudly but I could barely make them out in the shadows.

I stood listening to the high-pitched voices of the Killdeer.  The moon slowly climbed and reflected on the lake.

I just couldn't quite get the soothing colors I was witnessing to translate to the photos, but it wasn't for lack of trying.  :)

What a beautiful purplish sky it was.  :)

I finally put my camera away and continued driving back toward our site.  But then I noticed the western sky was changing, so I took this shot out the window.

I drove a little farther and spotted a lonely cypress just begging to be photographed.

I just don't have the words to describe the beauty I was witnessing, so I'll let this little tree and the sunset speak for themselves.

Wow!!

It took me a few minutes to catch my breath.  :)

I made one more stop, walked out onto a small boat dock, and took one last picture of the moon over the water.

And with those lasting memories of the Sandy Creek COE park here on Steinhagen Lake, I finally made it back to our rig.  I only wish Linda had gone with me.  :)

I don't know what the future holds or when it might be, but I have this feeling that we'll be back here again some day.  :)

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Comments

[Robbie and Alice Simons]

Howard, those pictures are beautiful.

[Neil]

That Cypress photo, center framed, is one of your best Howard. You were obviously inspired last night!

[J.C. Webber III]

I can't seem to find the link to where you upload your pics. I must have a copy of that cypress on the lake!

[The Bear II]

That Cypress photo, center framed, is one of your best Howard. You were obviously inspired last night!

I second Neils' opinion.

The lone cypress tree photo reminds me of those motivational posters. Your photo would have a caption something like "Stand Strong Against All Odds" if it was one of those posters.

[V4Vagabond]

Particularly beautiful photographs, Howard!

I also want to say that I really appreciate your comments on different products you buy -- helpful!

Vee

[Dee]

You captured MY "IT" factor, what beauty, even in a photo. Thanks

[George Stoltz]

Move over, Ansel Adams. There is a new photographer in town.

SPECTACULAR PHOTOS, Howard.

Hard to switch from that to toaster ovens. It is one of the best appliances we have in the motor home.
We use it a lot. Glad you could squeeze one in.

[Anita]

That is exactly what I say every time I use my One Touch.
I also like the pictures of the Cypress reflected in the lake, almost as much as bare trees.

[Arlene Sullivan]

Beautiful pictures.. Will have to get to this park for sure.. Its now on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
I took my toaster oven with me.. It is rather large but I do have a spot for it. I figured I could weed it out if it didn't work out. I doubt that will happen though.
Leno

[Rodeworthy]

We have so enjoyed watching your pictures improve over the years Howard. You are right up their in the 'Artisan' category with Linda now. You both do beautiful work.

Interesting post - I was packing today and the One-Touch went in. Had to download instruction to find out how to change batteries :) Hint: no screws and no tools required. We missed our toaster oven last year and it is in too. I like yours because it is a two-in-one. Will be interested in a review in due time.

We hit the road Nov 8 and may end up in East Texas again. Thanks for the reviews. Safe travels.

Don and Stella

[Mary Lou from Franklin Indiana]

Incredibly Beautiful, I know those words don't give enough honor to your photo's today but, its all I've got. I loved them. I think The Bear II had is right, what a photo for an inspirational poster/photo. WOW Thank you for sharing!

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Your photos are gorgeous! The butterflies are exquisite.

We recently replaced our microwave with a toaster oven. We use that a lot more and put it right in the microwave space. George had to make the frame a little larger as the toaster oven wasn't quite as large. It's working great!

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

[John & Carol Herr]

Wow! Your pictures today are so amazing. Five Stars!

I saved the Gulf Fritillary on lantana as background on my computer. It just takes my breath away each time that I look at it.

Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

Carol

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1419854508]

Very nice on several levels.

Your Pics are always among my favorite things I come here to absorb.

I am also very curious about how well that toaster oven does for you. My son and wife got one as a wedding present but rarely use it.

We have a toaster oven, now, that we use a lot but its about 1" too long to fit between the edge of the stove top and the counter top electrical outlet plug. We have been considering the one you bought but some reviews of it were mediocre so I need the opinion of trusted no nonsense experts that really use kitchen tools. In particular, is its interior space actually big enough?

Thanks