What were you doing at 4:15 am?

Probably sleeping, right?

We were groggily getting out of bed to go watch the latest multi-billion $$ rig as it went by town on it’s way to go suck up more oil out of the ocean floor. Why? Because we could!

It is really amazing how large these things are, the photos don’t really show how large they are. Especially when they are being towed down a ship channel that isn’t very big (figuratively speaking).  You have to excuse the photos, I only had my phone with me.

I was surprised how many people were out and about at that time of the morning just to watch it go out.

For more in depth info in case you are interested, go here: http://gcaptain.com/signet-crowley-tugs-get-big-foot-underway-corpus-christi-images/

And here: http://fortune.com/2014/06/09/chevron-goes-to-extremes-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/

Biology 105: What do you call a group of vultures?

On our way to our final Texas destination, we stopped for a couple days at Matagorda Bay along the Gulf of Mexico. One of the days was rainy and gloomy so we took a drive to see what we could see. There were a couple vultures flying around and Al (always the Park Ranger) asked me to look up what a group of vultures was called. We found several terms: committee, venue, volt, wake and kettle.

We came around a corner and what do we see but a large group of vultures doing what they do best: eating road kill!

What do you call a group of vultures?

They are a committee, venue or volt when they are a group in the trees:

They are called a kettle when they are a group in flight:

And they are called a wake when they are feeding together on a carcass:

Here are 20 “fun” facts in case you need to more about vultures: http://birding.about.com/od/Bird-Trivia/a/20-Fun-Facts-About-Vultures.htm

The vultures we saw that day were Black Vultures: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-vulture

See….I taught you something you didn’t know!

How to fish……with a ghost

Al has tried many different types of bait as he tries to fish here. As with most fisherman, they all have their favorite bait and everyone tells you what you SHOULD be using. Al usually uses fresh shrimp (that you could eat, but are a little on the small side).

One thing that many say you should use is the ghost shrimp. On any day you can see fisherman hunting for their ghost shrimp along the water.

They do this with a “shrimp sucker”.  Various bait shops around the area will sell you one for $24.99.  Al tried to make one a couple years ago that didn’t suck. (Ok, maybe it DID suck, but it didn’t suck when it counted) So this year he broke down and bought one.

It’s pretty easy actually, if you find the right hole. You walk along the beach and find this:

Suck up the sand into to the tub, then expel it and hopefully there is a shrimp or two in the sand.

And try to get the shrimp before the waiting gull gets it.

You put them in a bucket

And fish!

We found this one covered in eggs.

We threw it back to let it make more ghost shrimp for next time.

Regrettably, the ghost shrimp didn’t do the trick on this day, but it was a perfect day to sit on the beach anyway.

As I was writing this this morning, I did a quick search online to find out more about them, and found out that there is a 20 per day limit on “hunting” ghost shrimp, and you can’t do it at all down the beach a few miles.

http://www.nps.gov/pais/naturescience/ghostshrimp.htm

Good thing to know!

TTFN

Texas update

We arrived two weeks ago, and I have been reminded several times that I need to update the blog. But we really haven’t done anything exciting to write about! So I thought I would just put a few of the photos that I took the last few days to let you see what you’ve all been missing. :)

Al has of course been fishing as often as possible.

Unfortunately it was too windy a few days last week, so he couldn’t fish. But plenty of people found things to do in the wind.

It was a perfect day for kites.

Maybe a little wind surfing?

We went to a nice quilt show.

I never tire of watching the dolphins and seeing the other local wildlife.

This morning we went for a walk and found this:

Everywhere around town you can see these perfect sand balls. They might be on top of a sign, or in the corner of a local bar, or on the beach. They are perfectly round and by the same person. Last year there was an article in the local paper about the guy. He just enjoys doing them. Whatever his reason, I just enjoy seeing them.

Camper shrimp boil

When we are here we usually go to a local restaurant and have a traditional shrimp boil. It’s very good and has crab legs, crawfish and shrimp, along with the usual ingredients. It’s $20 per person, plus your drink.

Several years ago we started doing the shrimp boil at home after we return since we usually bring home some great gulf shrimp, and we can bring a little bit of Texas home to the kids. We have it timed pretty good when to add what and how long to cook it. 

The “chef”

And we can do it a whole bunch cheaper than $20 per person, although we don’t do the crab legs or crawfish.

At home, however, we just pour it out on our large table and everyone digs in.

That’s a little harder to do in the camper. It would be great to do it outside on a picnic table, but it was a little cold and windy last night. I think we came up with a decent solution……through it in the sink.

We did this a couple weeks ago with 10 people (sorry, no photos) and again last night with 8 people.  It actually works pretty good.

And it was yummy!

The Fire truck

Every year when we are in Texas, we go to the Fulton Oysterfest. Al loves raw oysters, and it’s just a nice evening out to go people watch.  (can you tell it’s been sunny here? He’s a bit sunburned)

One of the annual contests is the Decorated Oyster Contest. You make something decorated with oyster shells basically. He came up with the idea last year while we were here and started collecting shells that would work. The festival is to raise money for the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department, so he thought a fire truck would be appropriate.

This winter before we left he started on his masterpiece and made a wood base and started adding oysters to it.

It didn’t look like much at first, but it was so detailed at the end.

Right down to the fire extinguishers

Hatchet (cut out of a beer can)

Ladder and sign

And fire hoses. These were made out of sea whip sea grass that we find on the beach. They made perfect hoses.

We took it over Friday night to see what the competition was. Someone made a flag. Last year the first place entry was a flag not too different then this one. Real creative……

A red fish and pelican

And a couple others that I didn’t get photos of.

We sat. And Al ate oysters. We listened to the bands. And perused the vendor area.

Then it was time………

2nd Place!

When the announcer presented the (2 foot tall) trophy he shook Al’s hand and made small talk (where are you from, where are you staying, etc.) and put his hand on Al’s arm. Then said “you’ve got a pretty big arm”. Al said “so do you” and the announcer said “just don’t hit me with it”. It was cute. Al doesn’t embarrass easily, but I think he was a little red in the face. Or maybe that was the sunburn, who knows. I’m sure that’s what HE would tell you.

The pelican won first place, which was a good choice.  The photo doesn’t do it justice, it was nice.

After the contest they auction off the entrants that allow them to, to raise funds for the fire department. The others brought anywhere from $35 to $125 (for the pelican), but Al’s raised $250! The person who bought it wanted to talk to Al, so he went up near the stage and she was almost in tears when she told him “you have no idea what this truck means to me”. No other explanation, though, so  we don’t know what the background is, but I’m glad he made her happy by making his oyster fire truck.

I know I’ve been slacking on blogging this trip. I promise to do better in the coming days. We only have 10 days or so before we leave, so we have to enjoy every day we can.

Beer Can House

“A Houston Landmark”

It was cold, rainy and dreary when we visited Houston last weekend, but I had a couple things I wanted to see, including the Beer Can House. It’s a landmark, so we might as well at least drive by, right? 

It was seriously covered and decorated with beer cans.

It was started by John Milkovisch in his retirement in 1968.  He started with high unique treatment of the concrete when he got tired of mowing.

Then he moved on the siding and it grew from there.

It is located in a nice neighborhood not too far from downtown. There were small homes like this one, as well as new 3 story $750,000 houses. The streets were narrow, and I’m sure the neighbors get tired of people stopping to gawk at the beer cans.

I can’t say it was on my bucket list, but I can say I’ve seen it. :) I was unique and fun. And I may actually use some marbles somehow in our new deck this summer.

Here’s the whole story and more info (in case you want to see it for yourself!) : http://www.beercanhouse.org/

and more photos: http://www.flickr.com/groups/beercanhouse/pool/with/3694183069/