Kevin

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Kevin’s New DIY Wood Rack

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Several years ago, Kevin built a wood rack from material leftovers in the backyard. Our neighbor had too much wood and shared it with us. and he had to built it in a hurry. A couple of years later, Kevin had to build a ½ cord wood rack in one evening. Because our wood guy called and said he’d be in the area the following morning, Kevin had to hammer and screw something together real quick. That ½ cord rack surprisingly lasted five years. But now, it needs to be replaced. Kevin build a new ¼ cord rack, which is much more stable and right next to the porch. And when it gets a little bit cooler, he will work on a new ½ cord wood rack by the fence. He did really good. I’m proud of him. And what I like about the new rack, it has a roof.

Kevin Built a new 1/4 cord wood rack over the weekend. The old rack had to make room for it.
The backside of the new 1/4 cord wood rack.

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Travel Journal, Day 6 (Part I): From Grants Pass, Oregon To Redwoods National & State Parks, California

June 6, 2019

On Thursday, we’ve made our way from Grants Pass, Oregon to the Redwoods National & State Parks. First we drove through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. A little bit into the ride, there was a huge pot hole filled with water and not enough space on the road to get around it, without having the passenger wheels over the hill’s edge. And the edge was to brittle. With the little Ford Fusion we’ve used as a rental car, we really didn’t want to try anything stupid (at this moment, we wished we still had our Jeep Grand Cherokee). I told Kevin to screw it; we’ll turn around. I’ve got enough photos of the park. And it was just not worth to risk getting stuck in that hole or falling several hundred feet upside down into the gorge.

Pacific Rhododendron
California Douglas Iris … I wish, I had focused the front petal.
Katelynn and Sara in front of a Redwood tree
Pacific Rhododendron
Redwood Sorrel
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Red Clintonia
The Redwood trees dwarf the F150 (F250?) in front of us.

We’ve rather decided to get out of that State Park and drive long the beach into the Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park on US 101. Katelynn and Sara could walk barefoot at the Crescent Beach, until the tide came in. We’ve found some sand dollars, Dungeness crabs, sea stars and some broken shells along the beach.

Katelynn had to come back, because the tide came in.
Sara found a sand dollar at the Crescent Beach
Sand Dollar at the Crescent Beach
Dungeness Crab at the Crescent Beach
Hey Patrick! Are still with us???

Our next stop let us to the Redwoods National Park. In the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center we asked for more information. I found out, that the Park Ranger spoke German due to his German parents, who originated from the Sudetenland. He said, he brushes up his language from all the German tourists, who are the main visitors of the Redwood Parks. He also mentioned, his two sisters moved back to Germany, while he rather stays here in the US. The world is small. Well, after this little chit-chat, the Park Ranger explained to us, the best place to visit is actually Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, while driving on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy. Dangit! we’ve bypassed it on US 101. So, we had to backtrack a little bit …

Cow Parsnip or Hogweed ???
Crescent Beach Overlook
Pacific Blackberry
Crescent Beach Overlook
False Klamath Cove
False Klamath Rock at De Martin Beach
California Poppy
Clover Flower
Pacific Lupine
Pacific Coast by the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
Pacific Ocean Wave
Katelynn, Sara and Kevin at the beach by the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

…to be continued …

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Travel Journal, Day 4 (Part II): The Pacific Science Center (CityPASS)

June 4, 2019

Originally, I really wanted to go to the Chihuly Garden & Glass. But when I asked my family, which place we want to visit next, I’ve got outvoted. The Seattle CityPASS gives a choice: the Chihuly Garden & Glass or the Pacific Science Center. I had to agree, that the Science Center would be much more fun for the girls. What we didn’t know, the Seattle schools are not on Summer Break, yet. A lot of Elementary Schools use the warmer days for Field Trips. As soon as we entered the Courtyard, we heard a whole bunch of kids. We looked back. And sure enough, there was a “herd” of 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders entering the gates. I said: “Oh boy, this might be a short stay here in the Science Center! RUUUNNN!”

Entering the Building, Katelynn and Sara had so much fun touching, playing, exercising, etc. We didn’t go through the whole place. But the girls enjoyed running around in the buildings for over two hours, before we went to lunch. That got the excessive energy out of their system and made them hungry.

Dinosaurs in the Courtyard of the Pacific Science Center
The Courtyard of the Pacific Science Center
The Courtyard of the Pacific Science Center
Sara uses the sprayer to make the water mill work and the sculptures turn.
“We just need a little more strength. We can do this!”
“DAAAD, we need some help!”
Here we go. Daddy gets the wheels rolling and the water running. It’s all about teamwork!
Inside Building #3
Katelynn plays the guitar
Sara plays on the piano
The Sleep Machine
“Look Dad! When Katelynn steps on the right pad, the cyclist moves up there.”
The Cyclist
The Swimmer I
The Swimmer II
Dinosaur Bones
Our beautiful Mother Gaia
The Moon
Jupiter
Pluto
Sara dances in front of the Parabolic Mirror
Once upon a time … I was almost as skinny like I look in the mirror. 😉
By using this beach ball, it is demonstrated, how birds and airplane technology use the air to their advantage in the air.
Dino Expo in the Pacific Science Center
Parasaurolophus
Allosaurus
Triceratops
Deinonychus
Pachycephalosaurus
The Space Needle seen from the Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center
The Courtyard of the Pacific Science Center

… to be continued …

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The Wichita Mountains In April 2019 (Part II)

Coming from Rush Lake, we took a short break at the Visitor Center. And then we moved on to Quanah Parker Lake. Driving to the lake, there were lots of longhorn and bison grassing in the meadow. Some longhorn cows crossed the road. The grass must have been greener on the other side. 😉 Some longhorn were scratching their necks against the nearby boulders. One of the animals was so close, I could almost touch it, if I was crazy enough to do so. But this Texas girl ain’t messing with a longhorn, nor a bison. That is a whole bunch of NOPE!

“Yeah! That boulder will fix that itch. That’s the spot!”
Longhorns in the meadow
Longhorns in the meadow

At the Quanah Parker Lake Dam, we saw the spillway gate was open. This was the first time, I had the chance to photograph the dam with the water flowing down into Quanah Creek. Usually when visit in September, the water levels are much lower due to the Summer’s drought. In Spring, there is plenty of rain. It will fill up the lakes. And the rest of the water goes over the spillways. Kevin, the girls and I wanted to hike the Little Baldy Trail. But something terrified Luis at the stairs leading down to the dam. I mentioned, there is another small trail right by the pier on the north side of the lake.

The spillway gate is open at Quanah Parker Lake.
The spillway gate is open at Quanah Parker Lake.
This is the wheel for opening the spillway gate at Quanah Parker Lake.
Indian Paintbrush at Quanah Parker Lake
Beautiful scenery at Quanah Parker Lake

Arriving at the Education Center of the park, we hiked the small trail by the pier, looked at some plants and read the educational signs about flora and fauna. Katelynn found a small school of fish swimming near the shore and watched them for a little bit. Luis got really tired, and we called it a day. He was so happy being back in the car and could take a nap on the way back home to Texas. He probably was dreaming about his fluffy couch.

At the EE Center at on the norhtern shore of Quanah Parker Lake
The pier at Quanah Parker Lake
The Educational Trail
Quanah Parker Lake
Quanah Parker Lake
Post Oak
At the Educational Trail
Quanah Parker Lake
Black Jack Oak
“I had a fun day hiking with my humans. Now, I’m pooped and want to go home, back to my couch.”

~ The End ~

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The Wichita Mountains In April 2019 (Part I)

Yesterday, Kevin, Katelynn, Sara, Luis and I visited the Wichita Mountain National Wildlife Refuge again. The girls have a four-day weekend. And Kevin took the day off. What’s better than go on a hike on a beautiful Good Friday?! This time, we entered the park from the eastern entrance by Medicine Park. Because first we wanted to go up to Mt. Scott. But for some reason, it was closed for entering by car. We didn’t want to take the long hike up to the peak of the mountain. So we decided to move on and hike another trail. But first, we went to the Holy City. Katelynn and Sara went inside the church, before I went behind the buildings with them. Kevin stayed with Luis in the grassy area by the parking lot. Luis can get a bit excited around people. And we didn’t want to take any chances. Before getting back to Road 115, there is a field where the Prairie Dogs call this place their home. It is fun to watch them, when they bark signals to each other. They seem fine being out and about, when visitors of the park just drive by. But once, we crossed the white line, they became territorial, ran back into their burrows.

Red Wasp on an Atlantic Camas
Bison in the meadow
Cacti behind the buildings of the Holy City
Prairie Dogs on the lookout

Last time we were at the refuge, we went to the Jed Johnson Lake Dam. This time, we wanted to hike and chose to go up to the tower. Katelynn, Sara and I decided to cross the little creek and walked up a “shortcut” along the lake, while Kevin and Luis went the regular trail along the creek. But therefore our trail was a little bit more rugged and some steep boulders needed to be climbed, before we made it to the tower. Kevin just walked the easier, but longer way. Luis could walk, lie in the shade or water for a bit, before he trotted behind Kevin again. Our pup is such a couch potato. 😀

Jed Johnson Lake & Tower
Luis, Kevin & Sara enjoy the hike to the Jed Johnson Tower
Jed Johnson Lake & Tower
Katelynn, Sara and I hiked a shortcut along the Jed Johnson Lake.
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) along the trail
A beautiful sight along the trail
Katelynn likes overlooking the lake
Field Mustard
Deer Pea Vetch (Vicia ludoviciana)
About half way to the Jed Johnson Tower
Overlook at the Jed Johnson Lake
jed Johnson Lake with Mount Scott in the background

Standing next to the Jed Johnson Tower, we had a nice view over the lake. In the distance, Mount Scott could easily be made out as the highest peak in the Wichita Mountain chain. There are also several stories roaming the internet about the Jed Johnson Tower and the lake being haunted. Honestly, if there is a ghost, it is definitely not ill intended. I felt no bad presents going up and around the tower at all. But I sure was drawn to it. After walking around the tower and let Luis rest in the shade for a little bit, we took the same way back which Kevin hiked up with the dog. It was an easier way down to get back to the car.

Jed Johnson Lake with Mount Scott in the background
Almost there
From the Jed Johnson Tower, the Wichita Mountains chain can be seen with Mount Scott, which is the highest peak of the refuge.
Another prickly cactus
Another look at the tower from the trail
Raccoon footprints along the jed Johson trail
In Spring, the streams are running along the trails.
Everything is so green in at this time of the year.
Jed Johnson Lake & Tower
Fallen tree at the Jed Johnson trail

Coming from Jed Johnson Lake, we also took a short trip to Rush Lake. Since we had quite a bit of rain the last few days, the lakes are full. The water of Rush Lake is currently going over the spillway and the below creek leads into the Jed Johnson Lake.

Rush Lake Spillway I
Rush Lake Spillway II
Deer Pea Vetch (Vicia ludoviciana) near the Rush Lake Spillway
Rush Lake Spillway III

… to be continued …

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Kevin & Joshua

Joshua loves spending time with Kevin. While we were waiting for the grill to heat up, Joshua sat in the catio. When the meat was grilling, Joshua smelled the chicken. And he wanted to get out of the cat cage. Kevin picked him up and snuggled with him for a bit. Joshua enjoyed the attention from his Daddy, and rested in Kevin’s arms for a while. Life is good, with grilled chicken and enjoying the warm rays of the Sun in Kevin’s arms. I have to agree with Joshua. 😉

Joshua loves his Daddy.
“Grilled chicken, warm Sun rays, in Daddy’s arms … Yep, Life is gooood!”