Tuesday, April

Walker County Press-Page 12

Lifestyle

Thursday March 31 , 2022

Back in the late ‘60s and early 1970s, I was part of an adventurous crew. We were canoe jockeys. Some called us canoe-freaks. Except when the Hill Country streams dried up from drought, we were either on a river or planning the next jaunt. We paddled the Guadalupe, Llano, San Marcos, Colorado – even several times on the Rio Grande --and other streams. But other folks did, too. A few trespassed onto private or county-restricted land or bridges to launch or take out. Once, an entire Boy Scout Troop was arrested for taking out their canoes on a county bridge at the end of a float on the Blanco. And, on another trip, shots were fired from the bank. Some considered us “hippies.” But our bunch was law-abiding, and passionate about the rivers, private property rights and the environment. The Travis County Judge was one of our organizers. The Texas Land Commissioner occasionally accompanied us. Others were lawyers, state employees, and friends. An 80mile float through the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande included

a State Senator, the Secretary of the Senate, and other officials. About the worst thing anybody ever did was plant a Texas flag on the south bank I write often about of an international the perks of aging. boundary. He took The downsides. The the flag with us when happy and the sad. we left the following But can we talk about convenience??? In the process of morning to avoid an international incident and a second war with Mexico. mom moving in We also floated the with me, I have most photographed found myself a lot part of the river – more conscientious Santa Elena Canyon. to things that may be Water conditions proeasy for me but more hibited our passing difficult for her. Just through the infamous like we look for and dangerous “Rocktripping hazards, the slide”, however. We outlook shifts to can chose a two-hour porwe find another way to do this yet easier. tage over and around the rock pile, instead. The National Park

She also does these logical things I think is silly. Like hook up ice makers…. More on that in a second. Well with age seems the ability to grow plants emerges. I swear this woman couldn’t grow a silk plant when I was in school. Suddenly I’m growing a forest over here. So that led me to looking for hoses to water with that may be more light weight. That led me to

expandable hoses. I’ve seen them. I thought they would be junk. I researched because they are not cheap. I asked my brother, he already has two. See he’s smarter than me. Insert eye rolls. So I bit the bullet Sunday Observations by Christy in my bliss of an easy water hose. She also wanted the ice maker hooked up to the fridge on the porch. I said why, I’ve not had an ice maker for the 25 years I lived here. It would be fine. But alas, she’s paying, we hooked it up. and bought a 100 ft expandable hose. Hooked it up this morning and y’all…… that’s the coolest thing EVER! First it only weighed 5 lbs and that included the free sprayer that came with it. I hook it up and go to water the plants and it literally grows as you walk. No tugging No fighting just a lightweight hose that kind of follows you. Can I add when you turn it off….. it automatically draws back up??? YEP no rolling it up, cranking a case to hold it, dragging it anywhere. It was simple!!!! Now look, don’t be a killjoy. Don’t tell me how yours was awful. At the moment let me live Guess who is the only one who has used said ice maker this week? THIS GIRL. Happy Sunday peeps….. here’s what I got. Spend the money to buy the easy hose. Let your loved ones have their ice maker.

Because you just may want a glass of ice water, after using the hose you bought for them, to water the plants they wanted. You just may find you benefit in the long run, from doing for, and listening to, your parents.

WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE A PLACE TO LAUNCH

By John Jefferson