First Ever North Louisianna gathering

The First-Ever North Louisiana Gathering was a big hit! We drove over from East Texas to exchange with some of the boxers from the Pelican State. Shreveport has been the site for many movie productions. The Red River meanders through the city and makes for a beautiful setting at night. The box count has gone up quite a bit in the last few months especially.








We had a great time! PsGuru, Stinky Monkey and I had a fun time stamping in and chatting with the other boxers. The food was tasty, just ask Psguru he says it’s his favorite part of the gathering! Stinky Monkey was very happy to find some new friends. Spidy J, Cowboy J and MouseMan. I really enjoyed the Traveling Event Stamps. It was nice to have images from several other states. JBanana gave out prizes for various milestones of the day.
I took a box and planted it in Columbia Park the site of our gathering. “On the Map” is the very first box I have carved and planted. Thanks to all who participated. We are looking forward to getting back over there soon!

Mixon Cemetery

A few weeks back, I JBkokopelli had planted her December series. I was excited to see one within close driving distance. JBK has done a great job of planting boxes every month this year for special days of that month. I am WAY behind but on my way to catching up with her. The September series was also close by so, I gathered up my gear and headed to an old cemetery in Mixon. Each time I have driven by this small community, I marvel at the fact there are two very large churches almost side by side. The very large cemetery dates back to the 1850’s. At one time besides the churches, there was a post office (opened in 1889) , and a school. The post office closed in 1907. I stamped in JBK’s box and took my time and enjoyed the early morning before continuing on my journey.
I am always amazed at the decorations on graves. Isn’t it sad that people will steal from a cemetery?
Here is a sign that was on one grave:




I moved on to Whitehouse where, I retrieved three more stamps. There are five in the series, but they will have to wait as there was too much going on for me to stamp in. It was beautiful day!

Brackenridge Park and Go Spurs Go!

I have been trying for several months to get back to San Antonio to replace my Go Spurs Go! Box. I finally had the oppertunity on Monday 11/05/07. It is now back in place and ready for new stamps to grace the logbook. I was able to place it near the original spot but a little safer (I hope). We attended an event inside The Alamo Dome the home of the Spurs!

Our time was limited, but I did get to stamp in a series by the Planecake family: A Rainy Day Series. Nice park and fun boxes. We even saw a deer that day.
It was nice to get away and enjoy Brackenridge Park.



Then, it was back to East Texas and work the next day.

Oh what a beautiful day!

Now that fall is here, it is much easier to get on the trail and stay a while. Saturday was the perfect day to head out early and find some boxes. I left for Jim Hogg Historical park in Rusk. JB kokopelli’s November Series was recently planted there. This is a nice park with great trails and very family friendly. There is a playground for the kids to take a break and several time period buildings to explore and take pictures. There is also a small family cemetery there with a historical marker that is a must read.



With clues in hand, I headed to the trail. It was so peaceful and quiet. The sun was streaming through the trees and was just the perfect day to be on the trail.







I hiked to the placement of the first box, trying to find the location. I searched for at least 30 to 40 minuets to no avail. I decided I had the right place just could not find the location of the box. I moved on down the trail to stamp in the other four boxes. I took my time just enjoying the day and the beauty of the outdoors. I was the only one on the trail, I was listening to the birds and rustling in the bushes knowing there were animals out and about enjoying the cool fresh morning also. I was on the trail about 2.5 hours. I did not intend to stay that long, but It was so nice and I took the wrong trail at one point which caused me time also, which was alright as I was not in a big hurry.

After finding my way back to the entrance, I took a few minuets to determine which direction to go next. I always print out more clues than I will have time for so, I decided to head north to Jacksonville to stamp in a box between Rusk and Jacksonville. I found the location of the box at the Cherokee County Airport, but there was too much activity there for me to feel good about getting the box. That one will have to wait for another day.

My goal was to box in Rusk, Jacksonville, Athens and Brownsboro. Monarchtrailer has placed several boxes that I have wanted to find. In Athens, I found :

TVCC Cardinal

We Remember

Hornets Hive

I tried for “Scuba Dude” but, again, I did not feel safe exposing the box. I will be back for that one!

Thomas the Tank Engine

A couple of weeks ago, Rusk Park (formerly known as Rusk State Park), had a special event: Thomas the Tank Engine was there. I decided it would be a good time to check out some of the changes that had been made at the park since it had been sold. I picked up Roarin' Lion and headed out to see what was going on at the park. The people were very friendly and helpful. but I found it kinda sad that this was no longer a state park. It was the site of the first gathering that I attended hosted by Silver Eagle and Baby Bear and somehow it just wasn't the same. Lucy Locket and I had been there a couple of weeks before that and checked on my "Crush" box which needed a new logbook. I hope they keep the trails open. Roarin' Lion had a good time, and was thrilled to see Thomas. I will say, the attraction brought a LOT of people to see the train and take a ride. Hopefully, our boxes will be safe for a while longer.



When we left The park , we headed over to Hogg Pek to pick up a box by Boots Tex titled "Native-Born:Texas Governor Series". We had fun finding the box and exploreing the creek while we were there.

Reasons I love Letterboxing

As I sat her this afternoon catching up on all the news in the world of letterboxing, I decided to check my email. Here is what started me thinking about how much I love this hobby and the memories it has created for me.

Message:
OMG!! We just found your letterbox! It's our first and we were soooooo
excited! It is still safe and sound. Thanks for the fun!!

It is really nice when someone finds your box and it is their very first find! I emailed them back with some web sites and a big thank-you.

Then I started thinking about some adventures I have had. First, Letterboxing takes me to some amazing places!



There is a scenic drive in Southeast Oklahoma through the Ouachita Mountains. Lucy Locket and I had driven this
highway before on a letterboxing trip but, this particular picture was taken when I took my special Aunt on a trip there. I knew she loved the mountains as much as I did and wanted to share this beautiful location with her. There are about 17 "Scenic Views" along the way, with historical markers and we stopped at everyone of them! She is a cancer survivor and I wanted to do something special for her for all that she has been though. She and I have talked a lot about letterboxing, so she wanted to experience it with me. We had fun finding a few boxes, and we both enjoyed the hikes and the time spent together.



There are many more reasons I love this hobby:
1. Spending time with Lucy Locket, Roarin' Lion and Stinky Monkey.
2. Boxing in a city of 2.14 million people, and finding a lovely manicured lawn on the banks of Buffalo Bayou (with a very special Llawnmower)
3. Finding my 100th box...The Texas Tour Bus.
4. On Christmas Eve, walking a Labyrinth on the grounds of a beautiful church with Lucy Locket.
5. Meeting people from all over the state of Texas who by far are the nicest people I have ever met.
There are so many more wonderful memories, but I will save some for another day. Sometimes a walk down memory lane puts things back in perspective. thanks for taking a walk with me today :)

Off to Oz

The Yellow Brick Trail Group Picture




Saturday arrived, and I was anxious to get to Memorial Park. I wanted to stamp in a few more boxes before we gathered to exchange and give answers to PT’s. We arrived early enough to find these boxes:

Cola Wars (3)
The Wicked Witch of the East

I normally will walk away from where I actually find a box, so if someone comes by, I’m not near the hiding place. I was glad I did this Saturday morning as PSGuru was taking pictures behind me, along came a hiker. She was talking on her cell. Suddenly she stopped and was waiting like she was waiting on someone. She spotted me in the edge of the woods and asked me if I was taking soil samples. Hhhmmmm never been asked that one before. I told her I was “coloring”!?!?! coloring? I was caught off guard and that’s all I could come up with. PsGuru had a BIG laugh out of that one!! (in my defense, I WAS coloring a stamp) She was waiting on her small dog to catch up with her. His name was Bandit and as soon as he spotted me sitting on the ground he came over and gave me a very nice hello and went on his way. (after saying hello to Psguru too)



These four boxes were easy finds which I was glad because it was time to make my way to the picnic area where the event was about to take place. We found the “green balloons”, pumpkins, familiar faces and fun all in one place. PSguru got his chair and a photo magazine and settled in for the duration. I got to meet a lot of new boxers and enjoyed their stories stamps they brought along. Thanks to Dewberry, Mother of Five and Sandibox (plus others who sent boxes) we had a great time. There is a lot of work that goes into an event, and my hat is off to those who take the time to put these together! We had to leave early, (we missed the rain) and get back home. I think PSGuru is even ready for another adventure!

Follow the Yellow Brick Trail

One of the best bonus’s of Letterboxing, is getting together with other Letterboxing fanatics at gatherings. My usual boxing partner, Lucy Locket, had a rather important place to be on Sat. Oct. 6th, so I talked my LSS into going to Houston with me to attend the “Follow the Yellow Brick Trail” event. We left on Friday morning. I had the clues to quite a few boxes with the hopes of at least stamping in a few on Friday and maybe one or two on Saturday before the event. We arrived in Houston around 11:00, found a Subway close to Memorial Park, and had an early lunch so we would not have to leave and eat. I was so ready to get to the park and begin my treasure hunt! There is one thing about boxing for me, I don’t even think about food and I have to remind myself to drink plenty of water. We started on the trail close to the Rugby Fields around 11:45 and started out with “Tossing Around the Pigskin” This is one of Dewberry’s that is easy to do following the instructions. My LSS helped me with the degrees on the compass and I was able to stamp in the box. We had fun with this one and can only imagine what we looked liked walking up and down the Rugby field!!
After replacing the box, we were off to find a few of the “Oz” boxes. We found :

The Blizzard of OZ
I’m Melting!
OZ: The Twinkies Retreat
The Cowardly Lion of OZ
A Texas Tornado
The Tinman’s Oil Can

Stamping in

These were all fun and a good hike. I was surprised how my LSS was very willing to keep going and find all of these. He had his trusty camera with him, which was great as I had left my camera case (with batteries) in the van. As I took my camera out to document my finds, I was disappointed that I needed batteries and they were back in the van. I love getting home and uploading pics that remind me of where I have been, and the adventure of the day. It’s not like me to leave the case in the van and only take the camera, but I guess I was too excited to think of everything. At least I had the clues .

Auntie Em's house after "A Texas Tornado"

I will have to say, the Texas Tornado Box location was one of my favorites. It was another view across Buffalo Bayou that I won’t forget! I wanted to get back to Llawnmower Llookout, but did not make it back there. Another good reason to go back!
One thing that my LSS commented on was the fact that ALL these boxes were still there! I informed him that one reason was because they were just planted a few days before we got there. He does not like it when boxes are missing. I know it’s part of letterboxing, but it is a part of the hobby he does not like. Wouldn’t it be great if ALL the boxes you look for or plant are ALWAYS where they are suppose to be? What a dream!
The Tinman’s Oil Can did elude us for a while but, we were determined, and our efforts were rewarded with a nice stamp. I always like boxes that share a part of history. Oz: The Winkies Retreat was such a box. I did not even know about Camp Logan until I read the clue for this box. I am always amazed to think and imagine what took place on the grounds of places such as this.
Drenched, tired and hungry, we headed to our hotel to check in and get ready for Saturday. What a great day it was!

Pink Ribbons

The Betty Virginia park in Shreveport, has a Pink Ribbon Garden. It is a small garden with memorials in stone. Just a reminder,October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and "Early detection saves lives"

Betty Virginia Park

While in Shreveport, I wanted to stamp in some of JBanana's boxes. She has found several of my boxes here in Texas and I was anxious to see what she had hidden. I was not dissappointed when we headed to Betty Virginia Park. Very nice park and very busy! I was in search of her series planted in this park. You do need to be careful in this park because there are so many people using it. I was able to stamp in Pumpkin Shine and Rocket. The third box was near a playground and they were having a birthday party very close to where the box was so, I opted not to even try for that one.
It was a really nice day. Leaving the park, we drove down to the Red River Revel and enjoyed the arts and crafts of all the vendors.

Centenary College Shreveport, LA.

PsGuru and I decided to travel over to Shreveport, LA. today to have a look around the RED RIVER REVEL Arts and Crafts Festival. It's an annual event that goes all week and is a lot of fun. I was so glad to get back to Shreveport because, there are a lot of new boxes there and I was hoping to stamp in a few of them. Unfortunately, JB kokopelli's have already gone missing. The Boxalots have a series called Forward, Forward Centenary. It is located on the Centenary College Campus. Established in 1825, It is a beautiful campus! We arrived about 8:15 to a quiet campus. I started the series in the middle instead of the beginning because of where we parked AND a security officer saw me and asked if I needed help. He was very nice and gave me directions to the Jack London Statue. Much to my dismay, I could not find this box. Here is a letter explaining the situation to The Boxalots:


Hi Boxalots,
Well, I have a story for you that is really strange. I found Drama Majorie Lyons with no problem. I could not find Jack London or Centenary Swimming. I attempted Centenary Gents, but there was a baseball game about to start so, I walked away from that one.
Now, here's the strange story, I did the walk a little different than the clue said because, I got ask by a security officer if I needed help. I asked him where the Jack London statue was and he was very nice and gave me directions. I had already stamped in Drama ML and attempted Singing Ambassadors. When I found the statue, we (my husband and I) headed to the garden to find the box. It was no where to be found, AND the bushes had been trimmed back a lot! We searched and searched to no avail and headed to Centenary Swimming. Could not find this one, but by this time it was getting very busy around the campus. We headed over to the Shehee stadium, but tried one more time to locate C.S. My husband said "What about that box right there" I looked and there in a single small tree was a box!!! I grabbed it to see what it was and read "Jack London!” He was down close to Cenetary blvd.(Across Campus) Unbelievable! I was shocked. I stamped in and took him back to the garden. We loved going around this campus. We were early and it was quiet, still and cool.

PSuguru spotted the box in a tree totally out in the open! I told him he could no longer say he was "not a letterboxer!"
We loved the location of these boxes and took a lot of pictures. This the Gazebo.


Here is PSguru doing what he does best :)

We left the college and headed to Betty Virginia park to stamp in Jbanana's Boxes.

A parade and letterboxing

I was a little apprehensive as I drove over to get Stinky Monkey and Roarin' Lion Saturday morning. I was also taking along another little package, SM and RL's baby sister. Now, RL and SM have been 'boxing with us from the beginning, Baby sister is only 7 1/2 months old. I knew there would not be any letterboxing unless it was a box very close to where we were. Baby Sister does not have a trail name as of yet, but she did attend her very first gathering Sat.
After attending a parade in Kerens, (which RL and SM had a blast and got LOTS of candy to take home), we headed to Eustace and Purtis Creek State Park (very family friendly park). We found our fellow boxers and were greeted as we made our way to the picnic table and lots of fun , new stamps to collect in our logbooks.
To the delight of RL amd SM, Katiefrog had a really nice box that was very special. She led us to her "favorite fishing "spot where we found a fishing pole and a very cool box. Katiefrog is a very nice, sweet little lady and was glad to let us stamp in her box. SM had a nice conversation with her and would have liked to hang out with Katie, but with the little one along, we just weren't able to hike and find boxes.

It was nice to meet for the first time, Cancan, Aymtx, Blue Squirrel, and Katiefrog. Also there were Barefootlucy, JbKokopelli and JR, Adam's Trail, Tx Dragonfly,Pawtrekker, Lightning, Atoy Adventurer's,and GG. We did not get to stay long, but we really enjoyed it.
All three of my little letterboxers we asleep most of the way home. I survived and so did they. Another great adventure in letterboxing!

TeamKing..we will miss you!

I was thinking today about the first gathering that Lucy Locket and I attended. We drove to Cypress, Tx. to an event that Dewberry had pulled together for mostly local boxers in Oct. 2005. Unfortunately, Dewberry was sick and Teamking had the honors of playing host to those who gathered to stamp in and exchange. What a great experience it was too!! TeamKing was the very first boxer we ever met as she arrived early to set the table up. Thanks for all the great boxes you planted (Gutenburg was one of my favorites) but I have to say, Texas Tour Bus will forever have a soft spot in my heart for all the great stories and adventures it created.
Hopefully you will be back from time to time to attend a gathering and tell us about some of your adventures across the pond.
We will miss you!!

South Texas Boxing

When I was planning this trip, I wanted so badly to get these two boxes: Mexico Flag by Silver Eagle and The Lost Moai by Monkeytoes. I believe Monkeytoes is now an inactive boxer, but The clues are still available. I saw that it had been last found Oct. 2006. I was hoping it was still there. To get these two boxes meant that I was getting stamps that had been around a very long time. I was pretty sure that Mexico Flag was still there. When we arrived at Goliad SP, it was beginning to rain. The rangers said there was a big storm headed our way. I had to hustle to find the Mexico Flag box and PsGuru had carved a stamp the night before so, I had a box all ready to place at the park. Holding onto my umbrella and stamping in without getting anything wet was a little tricky. I re-placed the box and walked further down the trail. I found a nice spot for Mission Espiritu Santo, wrote down the clues and left the trail. Hiking the rest of the trail and looking for the other boxes in that park was out of the question at this point. The rain was beginning to come down harder. I made my way back to the Mission, where I found PSGuru having a nice chat with the Ranger that in charge of the Mission. He told us the history of the Mission and the land around it, which was very interesting. These Rangers were the nicest I have encountered. The Mission is a beautiful building! I was told by the Rangers, that artist come there and paint and also draw the building. after touring the Mission, we left to drive down the road to tour Presidio La Bahía, the Ignacio Zaragoza Birthplace State Historic Site, Fannin Battleground State Historic Site. I found it very interesting that the church at Presidio La Bahia is still operated by Catholic Diocese of Victoria. What a great experience to walk into a church that has been in operation since 1749.
It was still raining when we left there and headed back to Victoria. Now it was time to look for The Lost Moai. We found the spot where the box was suppose to be and PsGuru was taking pictures of a hear of deer meandering around and eating grass. We were in a park several blocks behind a mall so, this was really unusual. To my great delight the box was still there!!! WOOHOO!! I hope it last a very long time.
I attempted another box that was suppose to be in the park, but to no avail. It was missing. On this trip, I stamped in six boxes and attempted nine. It was great trip and we had a blast!! I hope to go back to Goliad when it is not stormy so I can hike the trails there. It rained all the way back home. As I came through Houston, there was a tear in my eye as I did not get to box there. I'm not complaining, just love those boxes down there!

By the Sea

I LOVE the ocean. It just seems that the waves can just carry away all of your problems and for just a little while, it does. Besides having a birthday on July 14th, I was also married on the same day. PSGuru and I always try to take a few days off to enjoy ourselves and celebrate another year together. This year was our 29th anniversary. PSGuru isn't a boxer, but I think I am about to win him over. We decided, to my great delight to leave a day early on our trip so we could take in Galveston. I have been there many times, but he had not ever had the pleasure of walking the seawall and enjoying the view. We stopped in Kemah on the way down, but the rain was the rule of the day. I did attempt two boxes but it was not meant to be. With our fingers crossed, we headed to Galveston hoping the rain had passed through there. Driving on to the island was really nice and the sun was shining bright. I got my route ready for the next day to find some new boxes that had been placed since the last time I was there. Thanks to the Hoppers and 4Anglers, I collected some really nice stamps. PsGuru took some really nice pictures while I was stamping in. I now have three new stamps in my logbook. I also ventured out to the State Park where I located Lucy Locket's Box which was in great shape.
Tomorrow it's on to Goliad State Park where I hope to add some more stamps to my collection.

Birthday Boxes

A perfect day for boxing for me isn't all about the weather. Heck, I can have a perfect day boxing in the rain! For me it is having my boxing partners riding around with me looking for hidden treasures. Saturday July 14th was just that kind of day! It was my birthday and of course the best way to celebrate was to go letterboxing! There was the minor detail of a wedding shower and visiting with family who has NO IDEA what a letterbox is or why I do it. but that's alright. They still love me and I them. I was able to kidnap Stinky Monkey and Lucy Locket was able to come down and help me navigate the directions to some nice boxes. I was so glad to have a couple of boxes up in Wood and Upshur County to log into. I got dark before we were able to find all of the boxes up that way, but that just means I will get to go back and get them another day.

On a Mission

I was happy to see that Lone Star Quilter and Boots Tex, had planted a couple of boxes at Mission Tejas State Park. I have been there before and stamped in all the boxes and was thrilled that there were two more to find. I wasn't sure if I would be able to make it or not this week-end. I was contemplating if I could make plans to go when I got a call from Lucy Locket. Unfortunatly, she was not able to come home this week-end but, with her encouragement, and a sweet smile, I talked PSGuru into going along for the ride.
I was really, hoping to be first finder! It has been a long time since I was the first to stamp in a box and was hoping this was my chance, since there are not a lot of boxers in that area.
My Blue Butterfly was the first in BT's "Nabedache" box. There was already one stamp in LSQ's "Indian Trails" quilt block logbook. It was great fun and PsGuru enjoyed the hike as well. As we were hiking, we saw three deer trying as silently as possible get away from us. What a treat to see them!
The plants and trees were bright and clean after all the rain we have had. It was such a beautiful sight to see the sun streaming through the trees. I love morning time because it is always fresh and the slate is wiped clean as you start a new day.
If you are going to Mission Tejas State Park, make sure to print the clues for "The Sunflower" and "Wondering Hummingbird" by Jb Kokopelli. These two are nicely done and you will enjoy exploring Old Palastine Cemetery. Be sure to stop by the church and read it's history. It's quite a story.
We decided to make a circle by way of Nacodoghes and have lunch. I didn't get any boxes as I had not planned on Nac being part of the trip but, I did get lunch at Auntie's Pasta. Yummy!

Two Years and Counting

It was two years ago yesterday that I found my first letterbox. I was just thinking today how it seems only yesterday that I began this adventure. I will never forget the excitement I felt when I saw that box! Even though I live in Texas, I am originally from Vicksburg, MS. I was there on June 18, 2005 to take care of some personal business, and had taken a clue with me. I thought this would be a good time to at least look for a box. Lucy Locket and I had researched letterboxing and wanted to give it a try. We had our trail names and bought sig stamps to get started. I guess, knowing my way around Vicksburg was one of the deciding factors of finding my first box there. We made our way down to a park that is on the banks of the Mississippi River where "Gibraltar of the Confederacy" planted by Corazon was located. I attempted to look but, decided Lucy Locket might find it quicker. There were several people there and we did not want to give away the location of the box. Lucy Locket made her way to the box while I took some pictures. She brought the treasure to the car and we both were so excited!!! We were HOOKED!! I do love this hobby, and the one thing I like most about it is spending time with Lucy Locket, Stinky Monkey and Roarin' Lion. We have a new little boxer that I can't wait to introduce to my favorite pastime!! We are still working on her trail name, and can't wait for her experience the thrill of "finding Clues".

Lightning's Birthday

As I write this, I am hiding my head in shame as I should have posted this back in March. this post is to say "Happy Birthday" to one of my favorite East Texas Boxers....Lightning! From the first time I met him and Mom BarefootLucy, I knew they were going to be a team to look for at gatherings and on the trail. Barefootlucy made it possible for us to look for and stamp in some really nice boxes close to home. (She still owes me a cup of coffee!). Lighning is always polite and so much fun to be around. Thanks for sharing him with us Lucy and HAPPY BIRHTDAY Lightning! So sorry your box "Draggin' Around" went missing. I loved it!

Adventures in Jacksonville

The perfect day finally arrived! The weather here in East Texas has been cold and wet longer than usual. I was so ready to get out and stamp in some boxes and check on some of mine. First, I headed to Jacksonville to not only stamp in JB’s May Series, but to finally exchange with a family of boxers that I have been trying to meet for a while. The Martin Girls were going to be at a location in Jacksonville very close to a box I needed to get. Martin Girl #2 had answered my PT quite a while back (Jan. 2007) They were going to be at the Redoux Event but had a change of plans. We exchanged Emails and agreed on a time and place. I drove over and sure enough there they were just waiting for me! What a delight! MG # 2 and I went outside and set on the sidewalk to exchange and learn a little about each other. She had carved her Sig Stamp which was very good. I came away with a couple of new stamps and a new friend.
Leaving the Martin Girls to their chore, I headed to stamp in the rest of the May Series. I drove over to Joe Smith’s Plant Farm where I was greeted by a very nice young lady. I asked for “The Patriotic Plant in a Box” to which, I got the look of a lifetime!! She had no idea what I was talking about. I then (as the clue said) asked for Betty Lou (she is Joe‘s wife). She was on her way to errands. I then began to tell the young lady that I was a Letterboxer. Another strange look! She began to call Betty Lou on her cell phone which was, in my opinion, beyond the cal of duty. I was sitting there thinking, I am going to have to leave and come back at another time. Alas, Betty Lou could not be reached. I was told the other lady who had worked there for a long time was ahem…in the bathroom but would be right back. I waited. I asked the young lady if she knew what a letterbox was. This her direct quote answer: “No, I have only been working here about 6 weeks or so, but I am learning my plants” I had to turn my head to hide the smile that was quickly spreading across my face. I was about to explain it all to her when, here came the “other lady” who knew just what I was talking about. Apparently she and Betty Lou both had been there the day JBK placed the box. I gave the “young lady” a lesson in LB’ing which she thought was fascinating. Now, here is where the story should end, BUT we started talking about the other boxers that had stamped in. Grizzled Gryphon had beent here the day before. They thought he was a delight. I told them they had met a very famous Texas Letterboxer! That made their eyes light up! It was a very interesting encounter and this was only my second box of the day! I would like to go back there sometime and look at all the plants and other unique items they have.
Next up was Mother Goose. All I had to do was go to Country Charm Candles and ask for a “Mother Goose Candle” I have stopped many times at the Country Charm Candle Shop and bought their nice candles with no problem. This was a Saturday, and when I pulled into the parking lot, It was FULL! This is not a common event. They had chosen this Saturday , to hold a “Candle Making Camp”. There were Mother’s and Daughter’s everywhere. There was a long line to get in the shop, so I decided that another day would be better.
The Memorial Day Box was in a nice little park dedicated to the Veterans. Easy to get and a cool breeze was wafting thorough the branches of the Crepe Myrtle trees where the box was located. Leaving there I headed for Castle on the Lake which I did not even know was in Jacksonville. Nice and quite. Easy find.
Now, by this time, I was running out of time. I had to be at my Daughter-in-laws house with a cake and supplies by 2:oo for a baby shower she was giving. I also wanted to head to my favorite spot in Jacksonville…Love’s Lookout. There were three reasons I wanted to make my way there.
1. THE VIEW!!!
2. Stamp in Monarch B’s Box.
3. Put a new logbook in my box there.
I decided to try for the last box in the May Series. National Hamburger Day located at Gourmet Gardens. Now, at that time, the clue did not say how far it was. My stomach was growling, and I needed to get to Love’s, pick up a cake and get to my destination. I made a decision to try and find the box . I was too far to turn back when I realized, this was going to be farther than I anticipated. I made it to Gourmet Gardens and had two encounters. First, there was another lady there wanting to by a specialty item at the store. It was closed. She drove from Nacogdoches to get this certain item to take to North Carolina. We could not find the business hours anywhere so, she gave up. Whew! I thought now I can slip across the road and get that box and get on back to Love’s. NOT! Here comes the mail carrier who pulled up and asked me if I was waiting on her. No, I was wondering what the hours are for the Gourmet Gardens. She had an express letter for the business, and said it was only open M-F. She left and I pretended to get back in the van and use my sell phone as she stopped just a few yards from where I was. Finally victory was accomplished as I stamped in the box.
Back on the road as I headed North to Love’s Lookout. Stopped and got a sandwich at Subway. Pulled into the paring lot and got Monarch B’s box which was really nice, and made my way to the trail where my box is. For the first time ever, there was a family there grilling and relaxing! They had both tables covered with summer fun items and ere enjoying a lunch cooked by Dad. I made my way to a picnic table enjoyed the view and the sandwich. The good thing about the situation is, I will have to go back soon to place the new logbook. It’s worth the drive!

Arkansas!

Friday morning, we packed up the van and headed east to the home of the Razorbacks. Much to our surprise, the speed limit was 55! We drove a long way at this speed which, was pretty strange to us. After all, it was slowing down our progress! We had more boxes to stamp in. We made our way to Lake Catherine State Park to stamp in Baby Bear's "CHIP" Box. Much to our surprise, Barefootlucy pulled in just behind us. What a nice treat to have a fellow Texas Boxer to walk the trails and find the box. Really nice park with a lake of course (hence the name). The three of us made our way around the lake to the suspension bridge to where the box was. Easy find and nice stamp! After stamping in, Lucy Locket left BFL and I to chat while she hid her box. BFL had other pending obligations, so we parted and I made my way around the trail to find Lucy Locket and her clues for the newly planted box. Another nice stamp add to my collection.
One purpose of this trip was to attend The Arkansas Gathering put together by Shiloh. We checked our hotel, ate dinner and updated our finds. I am excited to meet some new boxers here in Arkansas. This is going to be a casual gathering and I can't wait to see the stamps I will get!

Another Great Day to Box

After getting a really good nights sleep, we packed once again for another day of boxing in beautiful Southeast Oklahoma. We headed north and I was hoping to ride along the Talimena Scenic Drive. This is a drive I highly recommend. Even if you are not boxing, there are great views and lots of Vistas to pull over and take in the granduer of the Kiamichi Mountains. I never tired of looking at them! We were diappointed that the Kerr Aboretum and Nature Center was unavailable at the time we were there. Silver Eagle has a box there that we were hoping to get but, alas, not on this trip. I also love arboretums so, this was also a disappointment for me. Just gives me another reason to venture back this way. It was a long drive but well worth it, as we headed to Antler's to pick up a stamp by Happydays. Nice little town and it also made me realize how important it was back in those days to find water. The box is at a historical sight where the indians found water and marked it with antlers.
It was getting late in the day by the time we left Antler's, so we headed back to get a bite to eat and rest for the next leg of our journey. It was a great adventure!

Spring Break Trip

Going to Beaver's Bend Ok. has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. When I was able to get off Spring Break week, Lucy Locket and I decided that we would venture up across the Red River. We left on Wed. morning and arrived in time to still get some boxes. I am not too thrilled with Daylight Savings Time, but, when
I have extra sunlight to find some more boxes, I forget how much I don't like it!
One of my favorites, was walking along the Mountain Fork River where there were lots of Dad's and Sons fishing. (Although, I never saw anybody actually catching anything). It was such an awesome place to walk along and watch the water flowing and seeing hopeful fisherman patiently waiting for the catch of the day.


We walked several trails and collected more stamps in our logbooks.At the end of the day when the sun was sinking into the west, we drove across the lake to discover a view that is grand! The mountains and the clouds were reflecting onto the
water and there was a soft haze over the mountains that just took my breathe away. I wish my camera would take the picture as I see it, but it will never fully get the actual beauty of what I see through the viewfinder. After taking lots of pictures, it was time to call it a day and head back to our hotel to log our finds and get some rest.

Rainy Day Fun!

Spring Break is a great time to round up your favorite boxers and head to a trail! Lucy Locket and I wanted to do just that this week. I picked up Stinky Monkey and Roarin' Lion Sunday evening so we could get out early. The weather was rainy (plus SM & RL sleep in) So we decided to head to the Discovery Science Place in Tyler. this a really cool place and there is something for kids of all ages. The boys always enjoy going there. If you are coming to East Texas, it would be anice place to let the kids have some fun for a hour or two. Here is their web site: www.discoveryscienceplace.com
After playing on every station available, it was time to go. The weather had cleared, so LL and I decided we could at least drive to jacksonville to see what the weather was like there. We were wanting to get JBK"s march series. By the time we got to Nicholas Green Park, the rain had stopped and we were able to find all of the series. They were located in places that were fairly easy to get from the sidewalk.It was very muddy of course, but as we all know, it takes a lot more than a little mud or water to keep us from retrieving a box!! After stamping in all the boxes, we were glad the rain had held off and were hoping to get one more.
We wanted to get Lightning's B-day box, so we made our way to Buckner Park. cool stamp! I have to say here, Lightning is one of my favorite boxer's. He is so polite and always makes me smile. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIGHTNING!
Tired and hungry, we made our way back home to get cleaned up, get a bite to eat and go see baby sister at SM & RL's house.

Millard's Crossing

What a beautiful day to go letterboxing! Actually, I started out with the Tyler Photo Club and my LSS who had an outing down at Nacogdoches to tour Millard's Crossing and take photos. For those who may not know, Millard's Crossing has several buildings that were rescued and placed on this property to perseve history. For more info, go to www.millardscrossing.com. If you are going to Nacogdoches to collect some new images, there is a box at Millard's Crossing which is really nicely done by Ashby. I was able to break away from the group just in time to get the box and hide it in my backpack until a better time to get it back in place, which I did without anyone even knowing what I was doing.
I had several clues with me and was excited about being able to get some of the newer boxes in NAC. After lunch, my Lss and I headed to Pioneer Park to retrieve a box for Lucy Locket. Mission accomplished, we headed to Lake Nacogdoches to get two more of Ashby's boxes. I had not been out to this area and wanted to see what it was like. It was a great view! "Dragon by the Lake" and "Peace Now" were fun finds. I would not recommend going there too late in the day, and be careful if you are going by yourself. There seems to be a lot of party activity in the area.
With other obligations pending, we headed home. It was great day and I have 3 new images added to my logbook.

Washington on the Brazos

We broke camp Sat. night, and headed for Brenham to spend the night and head to Washington-on-the-Brazos Sunday morning. It was such a nice day even thought he wind made the temperature feel very chilly! It was Texas Independence day and there were people everywhere, except ont he trails!!!! Of course that was where we wanted to be. We met Ginger Cat and Sky Bird on the trail and were happy to see them. We helped each other with some of the boxes. Silver Eagle, Baby Bear and Clueless Collector were also roaming about looking for boxes. I especially liked The Legend of the Blue Bonnet. Nice stamps Lone Star Quilter!! We stamped in all of the boxes in the park and headed to the visitors center where we saw Barefoot Lucy and lighting. We chatted with them for a bit and headed to the car to leave and have lunch. It was a wonderful week-end which I needed. Sometimes we just have to stop our busy lives and focus on other things just long enough to pause and get a fresh start. All the painting of the world cannot capture the pictures that God paints for us daily. These two state parks were pictures that will forever be imprinted on my mind and heart.

Lake Somerville Gathering Part 2

We jumped in the van with my tasty Vegetarian chili and headed to the pavilion. This was my first view of the lake and it was a great view! Pulling up, we saw our letterboxing friends. The event stamp by Baby Bear was really nice. The exchanging and stamping began! I was able to get some personal travelers from several boxers to add to my collections. We were also handed a clue to a GG box which Lucy Locket got pretty quick. Thanks Lucy Locket!!!
It was nice to meet Batty Girl, Dream Catchers, Adams Trails, Ginger Cat, Skye bird,and Dizzy Monkey. After lunch, Silver Eagle held a LB trivia game that gave us all knowledge of the history of LB"ing and how it got started in Texas. It was interesting to find out that Silver Eagle has boxes in 32 states. Quiet an accomplishment.
Lucy Locket and I decided it was time to add some stamps to our collection, so we headed out with Dizzy Monkey to find GG's WILD Flower. Cool stamp and location. After location Flowers for Alergon and Wildflower Friend (my personal favorite) It was back to the pavilion for another bowl of chili and conversation. Lucy Locket and I stayed after 9 PM talking and listening to the stories that made us laugh. I was in awe at how GG started boxing and the way he cleverly made himself known to the boxers at the JEN gathering. It was a wonderful day that I enjoyed so much, I hated for it to end. One note to myself net time I hide a box at a gathering, make extra copy for myself so I don't have to email other people for my own clues!!!

Lake Somerville Gathering

I had been looking forward to the 4th Annual Texas Gathering with great expectation. I had not been to Lake Somerville State Park, so I was really looking forward to what was in store for us there. I left Friday afternoon hoping against hope to make it before dark. The sun was just setting when I entered the park. I stopped at headquarters to get my campsite, when I looked over and there was Silver Eagle, Clueless collector and Baby Bear. How nice to see them again. After a little chat, they headed out to their camp site and I finished my paperwork.
The campsite we had was near the bathrooms and a really good spot. I loved this park. The campsites were really nice and the fishing pond was something I would like to go back to with Stinky Monkey and Roarin'Lion. I have decided that this year i will take them camping more and spend more time at the state parks. They are family friendly and clean which are two major selling points for me. I proceded to get all the equipment out and set up the tent. The tent was easy, but I have made a note to myself to take a 3 prong adaptor so I won;t have to work so hard to get air in the mattress. I worked up a sweat doing that little task. :) By the time Lucy Locket made it there, the tent was up, the chairs were out and the bed was made. We were ready for the night. I was especially glad to see LL drive up to our camp site. I was starting to get lonely since it was getting late and I was there by myself and no one was in the other campsites around me. I did have a radio and flashlight which helped a lot.
We sat out with blankets around us for a while talking and then decided we better get to bed. We were almost too excited to sleep. It got rather cold that night, but we were able to get some sleep. It had been a while since I had been camping and made some mental notes of what to do and not do the next time. I am planning a trip to Gander Mountain friday to check out some of their camping stuff. I am ready to do it again!
We woke with the daylight, and made our way out of the tent. With my backpack and boxes ready, I headed out to plant a couple of boxes. As I was walking to the trail, 4 deer crossed the road in front of me. There are a few advantages to getting out that early. What a treat to see them! I found the Family Fishing Pond, which I loved and hid A Little Lady's Blue Bonnet. I decided to plant Hat Trick there also. I had this one for a while and was glad to finally find a place to plant it. With the boxes in place, I headed back to camp to see what Lucy was doing. It was time to clean up and head to the gatherng.