Tag: Cook’s Slough
Fairytales Aren’t Just For Children
Every little girl’s fantasy. Unicorns. Princes and Princesses. Knights on a white horse. Castles. Happily ever after.
Every little girl’s fantasy. Unicorns. Princes and Princesses. Knights on a white horse. Castles. Happily ever after.
As we grow, the real supersedes the fantasy. The harsh realities of adulthood, parenthood, spouse-hood, employee-hood. Our lives in the ‘hood’ become the focus of every day. Am I doing what needs to be done for the well-being of my family? Am I doing enough? Am I good enough? Am I enough, period? The thoughts can turn dark much like the trail to the witch’s shack in the woods in every story ever read.
It is difficult not to let those dark thoughts come to the forefront in our daily routines. Keeping what is important at the forefront is a necessity. Yes, we have to be responsible adults. We have to go to work and take care of the laundry, and the shopping, and, and, and…. BUT, we have to take care of ourselves, too. We have to take time to do what we love, what feeds our souls. What brings that little slice of the fantasy back to you?
I took this photo at Cook’s Slough Nature Park here in Uvalde as Cash and I were on a nice hike looking for birds. It was a beautiful day and we set a leisurely pace with many stops to admire the scenery. The life around us was abundant and so beautiful! This scene caught my eye as we were looking for a path across the water covering the trail. It reminded me of an ethereal fairyland, that perhaps was the view of a princess traveling to a new land where wonderful adventure awaits! Gone were the worries of the day. Gone were the doubts and questioning of an insecure mind. I was in the fairytale. In the fantasy. It was Bliss….one big difference, though….I was walking in with my Prince already at my side.
Find your piece of the tale. Never let it go. Fairytales aren’t just for children.

—Diana
2020-10-24 Birding Report
Had a great day yesterday strolling through Cook’s Slough and added three new species to my Life List! (eBird Checklist)
Cook’s Slough ~ Uvalde, TX
Cook’s Slough Nature Park has an interesting history and for my fellow green initiative audience, I think you’ll find it particularly fascinating. The ground on which the park sits is the former site of the city’s landfill!
Location:
History:
“Built on the site of a former landfill by the city and the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the park is a man-made wetland that is part of the city’s sewage treatment facilities. Wastewater is cleaned through a natural multistep process of settling ponds and mud flats that break down bacteria and filter the water before it is reintroduced into the Leona River.” (Austin Chronicle;3DEC10)
“That’s when the city listened to Uvalde resident Ken Cave, owner of the Kenneth M. Cave and Associates environmental consulting firm. Cave’s vision was to develop constructed wetlands to improve water quality in Cook’s Slough and the Leona River, to insure a wetland water supply, and to provide waterfowl and wildlife habitat in an educational setting. “It took a long time to put all the pieces together, but we did it at a fraction of the cost of a new mechanical system that would have done the same job,” says Cave.” (Treatment Plant Operator;JUL13)
The local chapter of Texas Native Plant Society have done numerous projects around the park. This includes signage of native plants along the trails and guides that are available at the main trail head. I sincerely appreciate their work and will be watching for upcoming opportunities to join them on work events.
Personal Experience: