LUNKER LURKING

It's out there in the fishing hole. Oh yes. About 8 inches long. And hungry.

CAPTURED! AND RELEASED!

This is where the trap was set. Catfood bait.


I'll bet the beast weighs maybe 15-20 pounds!



I only hope THIS is the one which has been digging up our lawn and planting beds.

Until now, I can't recall ever seeing one up close. I have seen them occasionally on the roadside, with little Xs where the eyes would be.

The Texas armadillo is about the size of a large cat; its overall length is about 2½ feet, and adults weigh from twelve to seventeen pounds. The shell is really bone.

I drove this big fat one about 7 miles away and released it, somewhere where it hopefully will stay far from here. I let it go and it ran behind a fenced in property, once I shook it out of the trap.

POOL SPLASHES

The Lodge was buzzing as the pool opened to bright blue skies for Memorial Day after two days of rain (historically the rainiest weekend of the year.)

We missed the Chick-Fil-A Cow jumping into the pool.

But with the grill going full blast, lots of kids enjoying the fun, it was a great day.

POOL GLORIOUS POOL

Pam Chandler writes:

Spanish Oaks Lodge and Pool Memorial Day Celebration!

Join us on Memorial Day as we introduce our new swim program provided by Aqua Tots Swim School. Instructors will be providing free introductory swim lessons and games from 11:00am – 1:00pm and again from 5:00-7:00pm. Enjoy our complimentary smoothie bar and order lunch from the Grill. Aqua Tots will determine your child’s level of expertise (programs start at 6 months old and up) as you sign them up for summer lessons. Private and adult swim training programs will also be available. The full schedule and sign-up sheets will be available at the pool on Memorial Day.

We're very excited to have found AquaTots, as they have a great program for children from infant water safety through age 12. Should you have any questions please contact Pam Chandler at 533-2365, or Liza Bachelder at 533-2363.

Below for your convenience are the summer hours for the Fish Camp, Pool, and Lodge Grill.



Fish Camp Open Daily from 8:00am – Dusk

Lodge & Pool
May 23, Saturday 10:00am to 9:00pm
May 24, Sunday Noon to 9:00pm
May 25 (Monday, Memorial Day) 10:00am to 9:00pm
May 26 to end of season Tues.-Sat., 10:00am-9:00pm
Sunday, Noon-9:00pm
(Closed Monday)

Pool Grill
May 25 (Monday, Memorial Day) 11:00am to 7:00pm
May 26 – June 4 5:00pm to 7:00pm
June 5 to end of season Tues.-Sat., 11:00am-7:00pm
Sunday, Noon-7:00pm
(Closed Monday)

WE ARE THE US IN USPS

A reader writes:

I met the current USPS carrier today and was encouraged by what he had to say about service to our community.

You may have experienced repetitive misdelivered mail and delivery delays of up to three years. Yes, three years. Seems that misdelivered mail had remained in Spanish Oaks mail kiosk boxes after the respective homeowner had moved from the community.

Eddie, the new carrier, informed me that this route, formerly an auxiliary route, has become a permanent route, for which he has been assigned. This means that we should not experience further carrier turnover with inexperienced personnel.

I had to resort to writing the Postmaster General in Washington as well as the Regional Office in San Antonio since dealing with the Lakeway branch was not responsive to my numerous complaints. Perhaps the USPS does give serious attention to customer complaints, albeit slowly.

If you have the opportunity say hello to Eddie and thank him for his service. He does care.

SNAKE

Sometimes I am too cautious. It's a side effect of a good imagination - I imagine things going wrong... so when I take our dog out for her final pee in the dark, I always use a flashlight, especially at this time of the year, when snakes are said to be active. You never know.

Last night I swept the concrete with my spotlight, like a guard at a maximum security institution of incarceration. I noticed what appeared to be a branch, which had fallen onto the driveway.

But wait, the branch... was moving. A closer look - a snake! (And scarily, pointed away from the house, as if it lives there or close-by!)

Jessie did her business and I retreated to the house for tools - in this case a pickaxe, which I dropped on its side to immobilize the reptile, while I got the shovel for a beheading.

Yeah yeah, I know, they eat flies or something. I don't care.

Apparently I need a sharper shovel.



I thought it might be a baby copperhead but am not sure. Similar, to be sure.

I took a valium to sleep without snakey dreams as I had some adrenaline to overcome. Woke 45 minutes past my normal wakeup, with no bad dreams. I put the carcass out for the vultures.

USTABE RABBIT

We found this against the house in a planting bed. We wonder: How it died? What dragged it there? What ate it?

STREET REPAIR?

Land-A-Goshen! Or whatever you prefer as an appropriate expression of amazement... there are markings on several of the street "issues" we've had for, oh, years, as if they are really going to DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM! Don't know about you, but the bump at east entrance exit gate just galls me every time I thump over it. I mumble something about "premiere community" to myself and grind my teeth.

No word or markings on the eaten-up curb on S.O. Blvd.

The other day a sod-carrying truck came across the east entrance bridge far over into the oncoming lanes. And that striping plan is...?

Remember we are a development that doesn't have maintenance in the budget. So all the above may be a miracle. If so, Sunday services will be at the top of Musket Rim - just follow the dirt because they apparently don't clean the streets anymore either.