There is new evidence on the crime scene! But this time the burglars failed to make entry to the planned rime scene. We gave up on the bird feeders moe than a month ago, but late last night I woke to noises like someone bumpping the motorhome. I very quietly got out of bed and sneaked to the bedroom window. I could hear that someone or something was moving about very near to our home.
Carefully I eased the widow open.... I peaked out and could only see a darker spot below me that was clearly moving about, examining the edges of my storage bay. Quietly and cautiously, I retrieved my large flashlight and slipped it through the slightly open window, pointing it in the direction of the intruder. I snapped it on and the thief was startled so much that he ran rapidly off into the timber. All 10-15# or so of him! We now know for sure that the perpetrator was a ring tail cat.The chief ranger here says that there is no point in filing any charges since I didn't get photographic evidence, even though prints were clearly left at the scene.
It turns out, he was looking for a way into the area where we store the extra dog food! The biologist says that the fingers are too short and the print too small to be raccoon, and agrees that this clear evidence against the ring tail, but not nearly enough to convict.
This was the only bay that he showed any interest in.
Make that "Back on the mower, again!" I spent about three hours this afternoon finishing up the mowing in preparation for the weekend. We had cloudy weather this morning with just a few sprinkles. By noon the sun was breaking through and the showers were so slight that it didn't even make the grass wet, so I went back to the mowing as there was just a bit more to do for all to be ready.
We had a great lunch on Wednesday with our friends and the did a little touring around the area, mostly to look at the wildflowers that are really outstanding this year. It was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. 
In the evening I was printing some things from the computer when we ran out of ink. We had talked of upgrading to a wireless printer so figured that with the cost of ink cartridges running nearly half of what a new printer would cost, this might just be the time to do an upgrade. We made a trip to Sam's Club store and found exactly what we were looking for. We purchased a new HP, Photosmart Plus with all of the features we wanted for $100. It is one of the "all in one" units with scanner, printer and copy functions and it will print from our camera memory cards, should we ever want to do so. It also has photo print capabilities that I guess we will need to experiment with as we seldom make prints but it might be nice.
One of the greatest features to me was the very simple install! Much to my surprise, I did not have to configure it to find and connect to our router, but just connected the USB cable between it and the laptop when asked in the install of the software and it loaded all of the configuration from the computer. It could not have been more easily done and everything worked first try! If it serves as well as our last one, we should be quite happy with it.
With a big crowd expected next weekend, the staff were hard at work this week in preparation for busy days. The weather forecast is for good weather and has been cooperative as well. On Thursday i spent about six hours mowing the lawn areas in our parking lots and visitor center. It was a beautiful day and the weather could not have been much nicer. I enjoy being outdoors so this was a good way to help out and enjoy the day as well. I spent about six hours in this work.
Today we are off to Cracker Barrel to meet our friends, John & Libby, from Bracketville,TX. I ate a small breakfast this morning in preparation as they feed very well! Gotta watch that waist line as it is just a month until I have to see my doctor again. One bad thing about this doctor is that he works out and looks that way and so seems to think that all of us should! One day he will discover that it gets more difficult to look great as the years go by!
On Saturday Pam & I were working with the interpretation department for a kid's program. We had a low turnout, but it was still fun. There were several 
different activities for the children using plant materials much as the native Americans did in the earliest days of Texas.There were also some educational activities and they even made some items to take home with them.
The weather has been really great of late. We have begun mowing in the public areas and construction of the primitive campsites is ongoing. Spring is a very busy season for this area, being so very close to the city of San Antonio. We get many hikers and mountain bikers, some birders and numerous wildflower enthusiasts.
One of the most special things about this area is the many wild flowers that show up each spring. This year is starting out to be an exceptionally good one 
because the winter weather pattern was as nearly perfect for wild flowers as one ever gets. The needed winter is a colder then usual one with above average rain. January and February were some of the wettest in recent years with March getting rain at about weekly intervals, just right to keep things on track. Already there are areas where flowers are about all that one can see and the season is still very early.
Having arrived in February, we were getting really tired of the constant rain, but now that the flowers are starting to bloom, that is the reward for all of the poor weather. And since March arrived the weather has been good for the 
most part, but with rain just frequently enough. The hiking trails in the front part of the natural area are aglow with flowers, some of the earliest now past their prime and some nearing their peak, while still others have only begun or in some cases are just starting to put out buds. I have never been a flower expert, but I do enjoy taking pictures of them and trying to learn just a little about them as well as identifying them. One of the staff here with the state park is pretty expert on native wild flowers and there are also several master gardeners who are part of the Friends of Government Canyon.
This has been a busy work cycle as both Pam & I have become involved in interpretive programs for school groups. With spring break came several special 
programs for the schools. We did have one cancellation on Tuesday due to rain, but since that was the day for the monthly staff meeting, we were still busy 
in the morning. Most weeks we put in about 20 hours each, even though the requirement is only 25 hours total for the two of us, but this was a fun, but long week with about 30 hours each over six straight days. Even though we were very ready for some days off, it was well worth the effort and the kids all seemed to enjoy the programs and learn from them.
Many readers may think that 60 hours total in one week with only a campsite and utilities as payment is just too much, but there is far more reward in all of this beyond the material things. One of those was evident last Sunday when Pam & I happened to be in the visitor center and one of the students who had been in the class on Thursday came running up to ask us to meet her parents and family! Now that is the kind of reason that we volunteer here, and hope to leave behind as our mark. It is a reward far greater than any other and something that only a volunteer can understand.
The past three days we have been working, but doing things that we enjoy. On Thursday, we were both involved in a program for a group of school children who were here to learn about the aquifer. There were two groups of about 15 kids and chaperons. Each half were in different programs with Pam assisting
the teacher who put on an educational program in the pavilion and I assisted in taking the other group out on a hike of about two miles. In the afternoon, we traded groups and did it again.
Then on Friday, we had a different group, with a very similar program. On Saturday, Pam was working in the fee booth while I helped to lead a hike that covered about 7 1/2 miles, round trip and took about 2 1/2 hours. We also climbed about 500' in altitude at the distant point of this hike. In the afternoon, I helped Pam our and tried to rest my tired legs. The hike leader was a lady who I think is older than I, but she could have walked my hinney off!
Today was a beautiful day and there was not much to do, so Pam & I took Muffie with us and walked one of the easier trails here as "Trail Patrol" an then finished our day with a security patrol of our parking areas. The days have been truly beautiful here with temperatures in the mid 70's with only a few light 
puffy clouds. The flowers are starting to really come on now so spring is upon us. So far the trees are just starting to leaf out, and the peak flower season is still several weeks away, but it was a beautiful way to put in our hours of volunteer service!
It has been a cold and wet winter but the reward is upon us in the form of flowers. Only the early ones are out as yet, but it is only just starting. All of the staff here is expecting a near record year for wildflowers. As I write this, I am sitting out in a lawn chair, and it is now 7 pm. How much better can life get than this?