Day Trip to Lake Ray Roberts

Lake Ray Roberts is our default destination for outdoor activities for Memorial Day weekend (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017) if we don't go to other places. The Lake Ray Roberts trip is always a multi-family event, include hiking, BBQ,  swimming or wading water, and frequently camping. 

Last Sunday we went to Lake Ray Roberts with 4 other families.

The first surprise of the day was the long line at the park entrance on Sunday morning, after 10am. We have been to the park so many times, had never waited in the long line to get in! Looking back, we always went to the park on Saturdays.  It could be the hot weather, or our arrival after 10am ....another reason could be related to the majority of park goers on this day, more than 60%  of the park goers are Mexican families, many of which work in landscaping, construction and they work on Saturdays.

After setting up tent, all kids went fishing with two dads. The rest eight adults went hiking.

We hiked, as usual, on the Randy Bell Scenic Trail, the paved 4 km (2.5 miles)  long loop trail. A good portion of the trail is shaded. I thought about changing the trail to Jordan trail, but decided against it due to longer round (4 miles), and uncertainty about if the trail is shaded or not.

The sky was so blue, the cloud was so white. The landscape is so much greener than past years, due to good rain and controlled burns in Spring. Flowers were here and there. Birds were chirping in the woods, and there were many deer running around -  I saw three groups of deer, total of 8 deer!

It was a very pleasant hike despite the high temperature. 

After the hike and fishing, we feasted on ice-cold watermelon before having a late BBQ lunch. The last action of the day after BBQ was swimming and wade water. I was the only one who swam, the rest only waded water by the edge of the water. I swam to the floating boundary and rested on the floating line for a few minutes enjoying the cool water. It was quiet out there, except the faded boisterous noise from children playing in the water near the shore - full of energy and excitement. 

No plan of camping this time, we packed up and left for home at ~ 4:30pm.

Home Cooked Food

Home cooking is economical, more importantly home cooking makes healthy diet easier.

Not the best cook at home, but  a few dishes I cook are welcomed by everyone in the family.

1) Grilled Salmon - I seasoned it, and use over to grill it at 400F for 20 - 25 minutes depending on the weight of the piece. Seasoning is critical for the flavor, and leave the foil open to allow some moisture leave. 

2) Chive with scrambled egg and sliced pork - cook each ingredient separately and then mixed them all together. This is Nicholas' most favorite dish from my cooking

3) Cabbage with Chinese sausage or Cabbage with smoked pork. 

4) Salad made of iceberg lettuce, cucumber and tomato is my own favorite  even without any dressing

5) Scrambled egg, bacon or ham, avocado  - is the best breakfast for me. But it is a bit time consuming. 

6) Dumpling is our favorite food for family cooking together. Everyone works together, off computer or cellphone, focus on making the dumpling and have some real conversation!

Glimpse of Spring in North Texas

Dormant lawns turned green. New leafs take over the tree branches. Birds chirp and make calls ...

Spring has arrived.

We have had a pretty normal spring. 

There are many water fowls in the the area's ponds and creeks - Egrets are most eye catching. Ducks are the second - due to their numbers and the adorable ducklings.  Yesterday evening we walked around the pond behind Davis library, and we saw a line of tiny ducklings swimming in the pond very close to the shore, a mommy duck was on shore. One by one the ducklings walked to their mom and surrounded her in the twilight.

Being normal in N Texas Spring means rapid changing weather, thunder storms, Hails and Tornadoes. We had severe weather a few weeks ago, and hails rained down, making loud noise upon hitting roofs and windows.

Change of colors of trees, grasses and plants in Spring might be the most mundane happening in the nature.  It brings hope and expectation, uplifts my spirit. It is amazing to me.

An egret at Russell Creek

Oak Point Prairie 

A family of duck 

Duck family at Dusk at the pond behind Davis Library

Hails rained down in my backyard

Hails in my backyard were not too big to cause severe damage

Hails in my backyard

A heavily trimmed tree in my front yard

full of life

right after "hair cut"