lakes Archives • Into the Light Adventures

Inks Lake State Park Texas, after our stay at the last park I found this state park that was only an hours drive away. We really like not driving more than a couple of hours between parks when possible and we are only staying at this park for 2 nights.

The Colorado river runs through this area and it is the largest river within the state of Texas. It travels 862 miles, almost 600 billion gallons of water flow in a typical year.

Back in the day the river was as much a danger as a blessing for the residents around this area. So they decided to build a dam, a series of six dams to try and control the Colorado river and Inks Lake Dam was the second one built in the series.

In 1940 the state acquired about 1200 acres to make this park here. It has colorful rocks all around the lake, lots of hiking and really good fishing they say.

I love to learn the history of all these places we are visiting. It isn’t about just camping, I find this trip we are on is a walk down the real history of this country. How did all of these places come about? We have been finding a lot of these parks have great museums near by as well and we try to stop at all of them.

So much better than reading it in a book, to get out there and see how everything has changed over the years is quite remarkable to me.

Inks Lake State Park Texas

by Sandra J

One of My Favorite Spots

By Sandra | August 12, 2021

One of My Favorite Spots, This is a small hill made out of sand, I love this spot along Lake Superior. From the parking lot you can not see what the water looks like until you walk up this little hill. I love places like this. It is like opening a door not knowing for sure what I might see, but the anticipation is exciting and the view always takes my breath away.

It is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

One of My Favorite Spots

by Sandra J

Sun Glitter on Water

By Sandra | November 18, 2020

Sun Glitter on Water, no matter how plain the scenery may be getting around us this time of year. The one thing I like to see and makes me smile is Sun Glitter. When sun light sparkles on a lake or river, I can just sit there and watch the light dance in front of my eyes.

Well, I like glitter of all kinds. Sparkling lights at Christmas time, my Grandfather always put tinsel on our Christmas tree. That really made my eyes big as a child looking up at that tree with tinsel glistening in the evening light. Must be where it all started for me.

We went camping a few weeks ago and there was still some last bits of color hanging on in the forest.

Some lavender flowers that were like ground cover, low to the ground and very delicate.

To the last of some green leaves spread out on the forest floor amongst the dry leaves and twigs. Even though I love flowers and all the vibrant colors. I still get excited to see snow at the beginning of winter. But by February, I am ready for spring again.

Sun Glitter on Water

by Sandra J

Narrowing the Field of Vision

By Sandra | October 19, 2020

Narrowing the Field of Vision, this is a beach along Lake Superior. I have been walking this beach for many, many years. Even back when I was 6 years old with my Grandparents. My grandfather loved walking the beach and looking for gem stones, quartz rocks.

He was very crafty, he could make anything out of drift wood, or picking up just the right rocks and making jewelry for my sister and I. I have many pictures of my grandfather walking this beach with his head down looking for little treasures.

From a distance the beaches can look plain and no color at all, but when you start to look a little closer, the colors just start to pop all around you.

All of a sudden the rocks in the water start to look like gold and diamonds to me.

I barely saw this little guy as he blended in with his surroundings.

I am fascinated with the sand on this beach, from shiny rocks to tiny little pebble that are so colorful and washed over and over by the clear water creating a natural beauty that outshines everything around it.

Like the saying, A diamond in the rough, Something that is in poor condition but that is likely to become valuable with appropriate care and attention.

You may not know it at first. His hands are molding us, taking the rough exterior and shinning it to the point of Beauty that our minds could never imagine.

Narrowing the Field of Vision

by Sandra J

Bond Falls September 2020

By Sandra | October 4, 2020

Bond Falls September 2020, I have been hiking this area for years now. This is my last trip for this year. There is just something about waterfalls, especially in the middle of a forest that I just love to visit. For me, it is quite something to stop and sit for awhile near a waterfall and just watch and listen to the rushing of the water.

The water is like life, it has a beginning, we are not sure exactly where that is. It travels through many twist and turns, rocks and sand. And it is all heading somewhere, to a larger body of water where it becomes one as like the seas.

I’ve noticed that over the years, there have been patterns in the choices I have made. A pattern of thoughts and visions. Every choice I made good or bad, every twist and turn of the path of my life has led me to where I am today.

When I was younger I could not understand why I had to go through all the troubles, as many people have had to do. For me, now that I am at the young age of 59 years old. I can honestly say the pains of the past are in the past.

Life is about learning, love and laughter and helping others the best we can. Even if it is through our abilities to get through the hard times, that is what makes us who we are. I learned to let go and trust in the Light that surrounds me.

Lean not unto your own understanding and He shall direct thy paths.

Finding my purpose has been the journey, the end will just be the beginning.

Bond Falls September 2020

by Sandra J

Forced Perspective Photography

By Sandra | September 23, 2020

Forced Perspective Photography involves two points of interest , These work together to create an illusion. There would be one subject in the foreground, and another in the background. I have been doing this for a few years now, I just did not know there was a term for it.

For example this first photo is just a tree stump by the water. But, having the camera right next to it makes it actually look bigger than it really is.

The rest of these photos I took at the end of August, there was only the one tree with some color.

I find the color blue is a very relaxing color for me. One of the reasons I am drawn to lakes in the early mornings where the water is reflecting the blue sky’s above. I can spend all day at places like this.

You can see my video portion of this location Here; Landscape Photography

Forced Perspective Photography

by Sandra J

Picnics in September

By Sandra | September 22, 2020

Picnics in September, I don’t know about you. But, I love a picnic anytime of year. We have even gone to parks in the winter with snow on the ground. Parked next to a picnic table and have a wonderful lunch after a hike in the snow.

Time goes by so fast sometimes. Mainly as I get older I guess. I will be turning 59 years old soon. I don’t remember a lot of my younger years. But what I do know now is that these are the best years for me. I have more understanding of life and of death.

There was always a fear of both when I was younger. I think, for me anyway, that wisdom comes with getting older and when I was ready to hear the truth, it really did set me free. Free to live the life that was given to me and not listening to the world and how it told me I should live.