Lubbock Lunch Break - Exploring a New (Very Old) Place

Surprise - it's not Clapp, Mae Simmons, McAlister or Aztlan. It's not even inside the Loop. But it is a beautiful place to take a stroll or ride here in Lubbock.

A kingbird protecting the space

In case you're dying of curiosity, this is where I was:

Learn more about it here

I have a confession: after three and a half decades here in Lubbock, I've been growing restless to explore new places. I've been yearning to ride new trails. Greg has mentioned the trail around the Landmark site a few times lately, and I had a lunch hour to burn on an uncharacteristically cool May day.

Don't pet the fuzzy cow!

Admission is free, but they ask that you sign in at the interpretive center before exploring the trails. There are two shorter trails close to the entrance. The larger trail is about 4.5 miles. Bikes are allowed but this is a not bike trail and it's not a challenging ride.

All the right beasts were there.

If you're like me and feel better when you're outside and more hopeful when you're surrounded by local wildlife, the Landmark site is a great place to be.

Two Prairie Dogs and a Burrowing Owl (on a stick!)

Jackrabbits make me happy!

This visit was more of a scouting trip. My next visit will be focused on learning and observing and soaking it all in. I might even leave the bike at home.

American basketflowers were everywhere - so spidery cool.

And, yes, the trail helped with my restlessness and opened my eyes once again to the subtle beauty of this place where I live. It's also awakened a curiosity to learn more about the history and pre-history of where I spend my days.

And learning more (for me) has always helped with times of living less. It's been a long, dry season of restoration and getting caught up. Adventure and exploration have taken a back seat to paying bills and fixing things that break.

May you find inspiration to get through hard and dry times, and may you be constantly in awe of the beauty of this world with which we have been blessed!

Embracing Guerilla Stewardship and Trash Talk: Clapp Park

I learned a long time ago that any day can be made better with a little time outside. And we are fortunate to have lots of sunny days around here.

I spend most of my working time inside under fluorescent lights, so I try to experience some outside therapy whenever I can.

This week, some of that outside therapy came in the form of a lunchtime spent at my favorite park. I'm trying to get back into an old habit that I've let slip - trash walking, guerilla garbage gathering. (Going for a walk and picking trash up along the way.) You don't need any real skills. You don't need to gather a bunch of people or start a movement. You just need to get out there and gather up some trash.

Guerilla Lunch-Hour Trash Picker-Upper near the infamous hole in the tree

I was fortunate to get to see the touring version of Whose Line It Anyway? here in Lubbock recently. One thing the comedians did well was research local-to-Lubbock references to work into their improv. There were lots of Buddy Holly, Guns Up, and Patrick Mahomes references. There were also lots of references to disturbing local flora that they had observed - hundreds of plastic bags on the roadside. The comedians (especially Ryan Stiles) were stunned at the amount of trash they saw here. It was a running joke through the evening.

Whose Trash Is It Anyway?

And it stung a little bit.

Yes, I know that I'm not the czar of all blown trash, and I know that Lubbock does not have a reputation for being beautiful, but I am a guy who encourages people to seek out the places here in town where natural beauty can be found. And it stung because it was honest and true - their trash talk was legitimate trash talk.

Yes, Lubbock has a trash problem.

How many pieces of trash can you spot in this pic?

How about this one?

The Whose Line troupe turned out to be a fresh set of eyes pointing out something we are so accustomed to seeing that we don't even notice anymore.

Tool of the trade: Guerilla Picker-Upper on the left

It's given me even more encouragement to go trash walking on a more regular basis. It's not a huge thing and it won't make a great impact, but it's nice to think that someone will see the area and marvel at the beauty rather than shake their head at the mess.

Under where?

Sure, it would be vastly nicer if we just created less trash and chose cleaner ways to live, but that is not the society we choose to be.

Solo sandal

Yes, sir, yes, sir - two bags full!

With our semi-arid climate, we have it a little worse out here. Plastic bags and wrappers blow in the wind and there is little to stop them other than the occasional plant or fence.

It looks like the local kids have been busy building a dam bridge.

 The Lubbock parks with playa lakes get more than their fair share of trash and pollution because they are part of our drainage system. Whenever we get a decent rain, the rainwater carries whatever trash and chemicals happen to be on the roads directly to the parks.

Gratuitous turtle pic

It's amazing how resilient the parks are. Natural beauty abounds in spite of our overwhelmingly negative impact. Even so, the next time you feel like going for a walk, why not pick up a plastic bag and fill it with other plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, and such? Try leaving each place better than you found it. Just a little effort can yield surprising results.

Photogenic log

Who knows? You might find yourself feeling a little better about the state of the world and your role in it. You might find that more hope and more health can be found in your new role as a suburban garbage guerilla. You may even find that making a difference in the world can make a difference in you.  

I like this guy! He's always smiling.

Really photogenic log

I pray you are well and striving to be better. I also pray that your works are a blessing to those around you.

Thanks for joining in!

A Few Pics and an Update on Blog Posts in the Works

It's very spring-y around here, so I'm trying to get out with the camera as much as possible.

seeking wisdom

Here on Mesquite Hugger three posts are in the works: my religious evolution, guerilla stewardship, and the importance of getting out of your normal places.

My non-electric car under spring blooms

Over at 2WheelsMaybe I'm working on a post about whether or not electric cars are welcome in my town (or yours).

Speaking of wheels, Greg and Mark dropped off a stack of underappreciated BMX bikes that need some tuning up and minor repairs. I'm hoping to fix them up and find them homes where they'll be used and enjoyed. I'm thinking of doing a post or video about one of those.

On Youtube I'm recording a lot of nature b-roll without bicycles. (I fell off my mountain bike and bruised a rib - taking a little bike break.) Hopefully the b-roll will turn into a few more local favorite parks videos. I'm also working on some third place video to supplement the blog post.

That's about it for now. Thanks for checking in! As always, I am praying that you are well, you are joyful, and your eyes are open to the beauty that exists around you!

Man, those northern shovellers are cool!

Bits of Phenology: Spring 2024 (Don't Blink!)

Weeds, Birds, Wind, and a Happy Hound

Outside my office door this morning

This weekend I was pedaling down an alley and spotted my first robin of 2024. I remembered years ago sitting in a summer Spanish class and learning that robins are called primaveras in Spanish. Primavera is also the Spanish word for spring. I've been watching the signs of spring becoming more evident for a few weeks, but the robin cemented the deal in my mind. Spring is here, people!

Patches of green here and there

I've seen several bird changes lately. Lots of cormorants have arrived. They've become much more numerous in our local parks as the Canadian geese have flown away. There were white-crowned sparrows and some unfamiliar larks in the mesquites at Mae Simmons Park on Saturday. Great blue herons are much more numerous this week. The egrets haven't started showing up, but I'm watching for them. Northern shovelers are still hanging out in most of the playa lakes. I'm seeing (and hearing) more mockingbirds, and the starlings are starting to display their breeding plumage. This time of year makes me want bigger lenses and more patience for photography.

The little brown dots on the elms will soon be leaves.

I am spending more time outside, more time riding, and more time picking up trash. Yesterday the jeans got to skip the dryer. The little black Ford never left the house. I am so very thankful for time outside.

Click the pic to see a little Lubbock, Texas breeze.

This morning I did not need a coat or anything to keep my ears warm as I rode to work. It was almost sixty when I left the house this morning. It'll be a little tougher on the ride home - a forecast of 87 and 25 mile per hour winds. (And I'll be smiling the whole way!)

All those little yellow flowers at Mae Simmons

This pic has nothing to do with spring, but Phoebe loves free publicity.

May you be enthralled with the beauty around you, may you be delighted with all the seasonal changes, and may you nap like a hound!

I pray you are joyful and well, and I sincerely thank you for checking in.

The First Lizard of 2023 plus Birds, Bugs, and Peace

We've hit that time when it is too darn hot. As I type this, it's 103 degrees outside. Yeesh! So I decided to adjust my schedule a bit.

After coffee this morning with los gringos viejos y locos, I headed out to Mae Simmons with a bike, a couple of cameras, and some bug repellant the flies really enjoyed.

Morning light

RWBB

Agile mallard hens foraging 

unknown songbird (updated: Red-breasted meadowlark)

I have no taste but I'm quite tasty.

Dam grackle

Old Faithful

Spoiler alert: unlike most years, the first lizard I spotted was not a Mediterranean gecko...

I've not done enough of this lately. I've been too worried about bills, work, keeping machines working, maintaining my stupid pride, and mourning those who've passed. Just a few miles from home I found God's glory where I usually find it - just a little further than the pavement.

I hope you're smarter than me and know when it's time to get out of your head and into the places that feed you.

Be well, friends, and take care of one another!

(One other note, the night after I posted this, I spotted a Mediterranean gecko on our mailbox. Better and better!)