How's about some humble patriotism this morning, hmmm?

Halloween is on its way. Enjoy spookiness...

Caddo Lake, October 9-11, 2009 Stacy and I "enjoy" camping. Well, we like to go camping, anyway--how do you claim to enjoy doing something that you do maybe once each year? We like to camp and canoe and wander through the woods, but maybe we just WISH we really enjoyed it.

Check out that crazy spider web....

Anyway, we joined the Woodruffs (Mark, Leah and Morgan) and the Warners (Jen and Clint) at Caddo Lake State Park this past weekend. It never stopped drizzling, really, and we took Mia with us this time, partly from guilt at leaving her while the Woodruffs brought Morgan, and partly in the hopes that she would take to camping. Mia did have an alright time--Mia ALWAYS has an alright time!--but she got bored sitting around the campfire and wanted to run around like Morgan can; she tried during daylight hours, but I discouraged her when the light faded because she falls down on level ground. Stumpy trails are not a special-needs girl's best friend.... She also put up with canoeing, but really wanted to go home where cartoons come on TV, until we turned the canoe around and started singing silly songs (then, she was a trooper!).

Cuties on the ride up to the Rangers' Station

Whatever the weather, Caddo Lake is one of the most picturesque places I have been--it is no Grand Canyon, but it is a spooky, beautiful swamp, with bald cypress trees everywhere. Once the leaves turn (in another few weeks) the cypress boughs will be bright orange, and with the moss covering the limbs, they are haunting.

Take your camera, rent a canoe, and go enjoy an afternoon in swampy paradise.