Home from the lake and time to water, clean, and run errands...ugh! And what's with all the grasshoppers? I thought they were gone, but they came back and stripped my brugmansias over the weekend.

Daughter and grandson take maiden voyage on tube. Starts off cautiously, but DGS warms to being a bit braver and takes his hands off the grips.... Was a nice weekend of cool mornings, followed by scorching afternoons. The "Dish" guys came to give us TV choices, instead of the one lonely channel we were getting. Had so much fun, we barely watched the TV, but I'm sure we will once football season is in full swing. Roofers came to give estimates too. Guess we'll be giving each other shingles for Christmas...!

those "fun times" y'all had.....far surpasses any pleasure "we" get from the tv...I'd say!

Seein' your pictures...takes me back to the times my family spent on Lake Houston (LH) and its shorelines....back when the beautiful, flowing artesian well water....surged a good 2 - 3 ft above the open end of the pipe that extended above the well head,...(I guess that's what it's called)....there in the middle of Humble,Tx........(in route to LH).
We rode tubes and skis behind various types of boats....fishin' was outstanding...when it was "good".........and good..........when it "wasn't so good".

We had a joyous time exploring the woods that surrounded the area of the shorelines (LOTS of exploring there, too!).....within the boundaries of the Atascocito Country Club(sp?) during the late 50's - early 60's. Water was .......clean.........San Jacinto River water..........collected within LH.......all fish were healthy,... fat & sassy. Bullfrogs 2 1/2 ft long,...(legs as big around as a good sized chicken)....we're not uncommon. We caught them by hand and gig
We'd camp out and enjoy it all....runnin' trot lines at night....(in between Pinochle hands).....play in the lake all day......the wonderful aromas of "wildness"........the fresh scent of oaks and willow trees...the magnolias in the summer....most notable though,...is .....the pleasing smell of natural water....something our complete line of ancestors throughout time....and us......have enjoyed. The wild life "encountered"..........is another story...another time!

A lake is a special environment that's good for our souls

Your description of growing up on the lake is vivid. I could almost visualize the fun you had. Hope you post more stories of growing up in a safer, more idyllic time. Enjoyed it....

Your memories sparked those of mine growing up on the MS Gulf Coast. We lived within walking distance of the beach and would carry crab nets down to the piers with "stinky'' chicken necks tied in the nets. 'Catch a bucket full and take turns carrying the bucket and nets home. The tourists from the Buena Vista Hotel would always gather around us and ask questions about the crabs, etc. We also could ride our bikes to the Back Bay. There were usually some kids with boats that would take us skiing. Never gave a thought to calling home. We knew everyone, and everyone's mother knew us... and would "tell" our mothers if we did anything stupid! Such a safer time....

When we first bought this lake house, I had a trout line out nearly every weekend, and I'd catch huge catfish overnight. Now our cove is so mucked up from all the fertilizer run-off (IMO), we rarely see them anymore. There's still fish because neighbor two docks down has a feeder on the end of his dock. Just not the same, tho.

Yeah,....it's not the same...........I'm doin' my best not to "obsess" over that fact...........especially after the great disaster in the Gulf

I've loved the Gulf Coast environment....all my life. How wonderful it was for you to be within walking distance of the beach.

Dee & I lived in Corpus Christi for a couple of years during our 1st few years of marriage......and it was a naturalist's dream....especially at night,...with a lantern to illuminate the crystal clear water....exposing so many different types of animals not seen during the day. Many times,... I 've stood thigh/waist deep in that beautiful water....wade fishing....as the 1st light of morning slowly revealed all the surrounding beauties....above & below the surface of the water.....it was like standing in an aquarium..........schools of different types of fish would glide by.....some would come up to me....curious. I've seen speckled trout slowly swim around me....at the surface....so much so that their pectoral fins would be sticking out of the water.....undulating as they were suspended there......examining me....as I examined them.

I've been blessed to have been able to explore the entire Texas coastline....from Sabine Pass down to Port Isabel....all points in between.

I can only imagine that the Miss. coastline had the same to offer.....if one were so inclined to explore

You do have a gift for writing...I hope you'll continue to share your experiences of the Coast and just stories of growing up....without a cell phone and a computer!

Yes, I had a great time growing up by the water. We'd go soft shelling at 11 PM when the tide went out, and walk for hours picking up the shedding crabs. My dad had a kerosene Coleman lantern that I was afraid of, but it sure threw the light. I only had to clean crabs once.... My dad thought I should learn and I cried so hard when I had to "kill' them, that he let me off that life experience.
I sailed a lot with friends at the local Yacht Club in early teens. My parents weren't that 'socially connected', but there was a junior sailing program. To get in, you had to "interview" with the caretakers of the Club....an old couple who didn't take any stuff off anyone's kids and would throw them out for misbehaving. All summer, practically every day, I'd be with my friends sailing....or crewing for the adults (mostly as dead weight). A few times, we'd get someone to sail us to Deer Island, right off the Coast, and swim back to the Club. It wasn't very far, believe me.