Snap, Crackle, and Clues

On October 22, BB and I got up and headed to Memorial Park to participate in the SNAP, CRACKLE, AND CLUES Event. As we arrived, we saw that the fun had already begun and we were super-excited to join in the stamping frenzy. Dewberry had plenty of cereal for everyone, as this event was "powered by sugar". She even passed out key chains with that motto on them.

We stamped into the event stamp and made a few exchanges as well as earning one more LT from Batty B. Then, we looked over Dewberry's clues for her day-only boxes and, of course, had a puzzle to solve. Blue Butterfly and I solved the puzzle, then hit the trail. As we were about 32 steps from our first mystery box, we saw the BusyBees family and Severalsons family sitting and stamping in. All of a sudden, then children run down to us and start telling us knock-knock jokes. They'd been sent by their parents to distract us while Batty B re-hid the mystery box.....good thinking parents! We enjoyed exchanging knock-knock jokes, then found our prize as their gang headed on down the trail to find some more sugary goodness.

After stamping in to SILLY RABBIT!, we headed for the monster loop where we met Wanda and Pete. These two are really nice people and I enjoyed visiting with them on the trail. As we got to the end of our monster loop, BB noticed that we were very close to LLAWNMOWER LLOOKOUT. This is a box that she really highly suggested I try to get today. As we got closer, we saw that Wanda and Pete were already stamping in, so we waited until they were finished and headed in for the kill. At the lookout, we were fortunate enough to see a Shetlin pony and a beautiful llama in the homeowner's back yard.

Our trail took us to the TWO CRAZY BIRDS, KINGS AND CAPTAINS, AND COLORFUL CHARACTERS. We had a great deal of fun with all this sugary goodness. By the time we were finished with the breakfast loops, we were hungry and decided to take a break for lunch. We went back to the picnic tables, where we said goodbye to Batty B, and enjoyed our sack lunch.

Next, it was time for us to head out again and find some mystery boxes.....but I can't tell you which ones!!

Stamps I earned today:

The Busy Bees LT-we found the answer online that very morning before leaving the hotel!

SandiBox-Exchange

Ahab's Quest-Event Box

Snap, Crackle, and Clues Event Box

Armadillo Girl-exchanged with her new stamp...thanks AG!

The Great Gatsby-Event Stamp

Severalsons and Cowabunga Kid-exchange

Silly Rabbit!

Llawnmower Llookout-met Wanda and Pete on the trail BEFORE we stamped into this one, then met Dewberry, Eyeman, Mother of 5, and Armadillo Girl on the trail as we were finishing up!

Eyeman-Exchange
Eyeman's LT

Monster Cereal Loop-Count Chocula, Frankenberry, BooBerry

Those Crazy Birds-Sonny and Toucan Sam

The Trail of Colorful Characters-Quisp and Lucky the Leprachaun

Kings and Captain-King Vitaman and Cap'n Crunch

Two mystery boxes and one mystery bonus box-Thanks to BB for finding the yellow trail to lead us to our first mystery of the day!

Boxin' in Nac

I didn't get to go out and box today, but Blue Butterfly took Roarin' Lion and Stinky Monkey out to Nacogdoches to find a box or two and to meet up with Ashby and her gang. A couple of weeks ago, Ashby had written me saying that my EAST TEXAS BLOOD CENTER box was dangerously close to some new trail construction. She was nice enough to rescue my box and hand it over to Blue Butterfly.

Blue Butterfly also checked on my VIVALDI: SPRING box and my VIVA! MOZART box. Both of these boxes are officially missing now. I'm a little disappointed, but that's part of the game.

Chicken Fried Chatter

After leaving Burroughs Park, Blue Butterfly and I decided to head to the hotel and check in. After such a long day, we decided to get showers and rest for a few minutes before heading over to Goodson's for the Chicken Fried Chatter Event. On the way over, we had an extra-long delay as we waited for a train to pass by, so we got there at about 6:30. We arrived to meet some more 'boxers that we hadn't met face to face. We FINALLY met Boots Texas, LSQ, Blooming Flowers, and The Peas. We were the last to arrive, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. The stamps I earned at this event were:

Blooming Flowers-Exchange

The Peas-Exchange
Peas #3 Literary Traveler
The Littlest Peas' LT
Peas #2 LT
Peas Literary Traveler

We enjoyed the good food and company at Goodson's, but then it was time to call it a day. We'd been just like the energizer bunny that day....and now it was time to head back to the hotel...figure out a few more LT's before the next day....and get some rest.

The Great Book Adventure!

After leaving my work obligations at about 10:30 Saturday morning, I rushed down to Tomball for the GBA event. I arrived at Burroughs Park at about 2 and the stamping frenzy began! I stamped into the event poster, then started making my way around to meet and greet new and old friends. It was also very important that I mention their personal and literary travelers so that I could also get those stamps.

After having exchanged with a few folks and passing secret greetings, I wanted to get a few boxes. Many of the boxers recommended the storybook walk, which had great stamps and was also full of day-only boxes. I started out my eye-spy game by opening the bird cage, then continued down the trail. This walk was intended for the children, but I don't mind saying I enjoyed it, too! I can only imagine what some of the non-boxers thought when they saw the rather large pair of undewear hanging from the tree that contained a Captain Underpants LB provided by Mother of Five!

Stamps I earned at the GBA include:

The Great Book Adventure Event Stamp

Queen Beeloved-exchange
I Speak for the Trees LT
Pleasantness and Peace LT

Butterfly B-exchange
Butterfly B is a young member of the Busy Bee's family. She designed and created her own signature stamp! She did a great job of it and I was very proud of her carving. I even made Blue Butterfly jealous that evening by showing her this stamp. Blue Butterfly made a point of exchanging with the young Butterfly B the next day so her collection would be complete.

The Bible Event Stamp

Daisy and Onslow-exchange
Osnlow's PT
Daisy's LT
Daisy's PT-This pair of boxers has introduced me to an intriguing British TV show that I feel is a must watch. I just have to figure out where I can rent it to watch it at home!

Lionsmane63-exchange
Lionsmane63 PT
Lionsmane63 LT-I really enjoyed visiting with this boxer, who came all the way from Santa Fe, NM to attend our Gathering. He gave me some new carving tips, which (hopefully), I'll be able to try out soon. His LT was one of my favorites as it has to do with a novel that was turned into a fabulous musical.

Marley the Frog-This was a box that Barefoot Lucy created for her grand-frog, Marley!

Baby Bear's LT-another amazing work of art by this long-time TX boxer

A Gryzzled LT-How can I NOT take advantage of the Gryzzled One's LT? I only regret that I didn't have the opportunity to find the box he planted during the gathering.

Itchy I Cootie-I don't know who planted this on me, but now I have hives....THANKS A LOT!

The Polka Dots-Exchange-I enjoyed visiting with this family. They were more than happy to tell me the clues to their travelers, since I couldn't find my clues at the time. Thimble Cat also told me that she thinks about my PT when she is volunteering at the library where her child attends school.....what an honor!
Thimble Cat Exchange
E-Bug Exchange
6foot9 Exchange
Thimble Cat LT-I really enjoyed this LT, as I fan of the books AND the television show.
6foot9 LT-Now I have a micro-box and an LT of the same name!
E-Bug LT

TeamKing's PT-A Scoutdog Dachsund
This is a lovely memorial to a beloved pet.

TeamKing's Agatha Raisin LT

TeamKing's Outlander LT

Will's World-Exchange

Cattitude-Exchange

Wanda and Pete-Exchange I FINALLY was able to exchange with the famous Wanda and Pete from Rhode Island! I didn't get to visit with them much that day, but BB and I ended up stamping into a few boxes with them the next day at the Snap Crackle and Clues event. I was trying not to seem star struck every time I talked to them...I hope it worked!

Storybook Walk Stamps
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
The Phantom Tollbooth
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Charlotte's Web-This stamp looks JUST like the cover artwork!
Captain Underpants
Amelia Badelia
Junie B. Jones, Toothless Wonder - this stamp was securely tucked inside a pillow!
Island of the Blue Dolphin

Lightning's LT-Thanks Lightning for sharing your stamp with me! It's a fun stamp that I'm THRILLED I got!

Arrenurus Water Mite of the Microscopic Cooties-Mother of 5 suddenly and unexpectedly planted this one on me as I was leaving.....revenge is mine!!!!

Strawberry Shortcake Fan of the Atoy Adventurers-She'd just carved her Signature stamp the night before and did a good job of it.

As you can see, even though I was only at this gathering for a couple of hours, I used my time wisely! This was a great deal of fun, but it was only the first of THREE events I'd attend over the next 24 hours. Thanks to all who shared their stamps, letterboxing stories, and carving tips with me.

3 Events....2 Days...1 Happy Camper

I'm happy to report that I made it to the Great Book Adventure at about 2:00 on Saturday, then had a lot of fun at the Chicken Fried Chatter Gathering, and finally...got powered by sugar at the Snap, Crackle, and Clues Event. I'm a bit worn out from all the excitement, secret words, clue deciphering, driving, stamping, and logging, but I'll definitely update with more details later!

On the Road....

In a few more days, it will be time for the Letterboxing Social Events of the Fall...three in one weekend! Blue Butterfly is going down to Tomball early Saturday morning to participate in the Great Book Adventure. I'm hoping to be finished with work obligations by about noon, so that I can make it down for at least the last hour or so of festivities. For the evening, we'll be joining the Chicken Fried Chatter Gathering at a local restaurant. I'm very excited about the possibility of meeting some famous boxers, including the legendary Wanda & Pete. I'll also finally get to meet some that I have corresponded with, such as BootsTex, LoneStarQuilter, Ashby, and many others who have found my boxes and vice versa. If I don't get to meet and reunite with everyone on Saturday, I'll be ready to go for the Snap, Crackle, and Clues Event on Sunday morning.....talk about a full weekend.....but it's all in good fun and I can't hardly wait!!

Cleburne and Joshua

Blue Butterfly and I took another weekend mini-excursion last weekend. We had some things to take care of in Burleson, but we left the afternoon open for a little letterboxing.

We started out by checking on BB's SCREECHIN' OWLS box. As we combed through the log book, we realized that this box has been in place for over a year! I don't think BB expected it to last that long...especially in such a high traffic area! Anyway, BB replaced the container and re-hid it back in it's place.

Next, we went to an historic cemetery that is part of the Chisholm Trail and logged into THE JEWEL OF JOSHUA. We even got an extra little surprise here as we picked up a hitch hiker.

Next, we made our way to Cleburne State Park, where two of our favorite carver/planters had placed boxes in December. We started out by looking for Baby Bear's Box, but somehow missed one of the land marks and ended up right where we needed to be to stamp into Silver Eagle's CLEBURNE CATFISH. We made our way back out, put the clues and the landmarks together, and found NORTHERN EXPOSURE. We had a great laugh as we opened up this stamp. I'm once again enjoying Baby Bear's sense of humor.

That was our boxing day on Saturday. I have obligations this coming weekend, so nothing for me....but hopefully I'll get to do some heavy boxing at the SNAP, CRACKLE, AND CLUES Event. I'm almost too excited to sleep!

Back into Boxing!

This weekend, Blue Butterfly and I decided to go for a letterboxing jaunt. We met in Fairfield SP. Even though I'd already found the three boxes there, I wanted to check on the one I'd planted, Click and Clack. BB hadn't had a chance to find any of them, so it would be a great opportunity for her to knock 'em all out.

When we started looking for them, however, we found all of them to be missing. It was quite sad, but I was glad that I'd found them all so that I could confirm that they were missing.

After we'd mourned the losses of the boxes, BB and I were on the trail again. We headed to find the BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON box in Wortham. When we got there, a man was parked in the middle of the driveway and he was doing some sort of work at the gate. We passed the gate, turned around, and waited just far enough away for him to disappear so that he couldn't see us. When it looked like he was packing up, we went for it. We made our way to the grave site, honored Jefferson, and found the box. This was a great stamp and the weather was perfect! We were both glad that our Texas summer is over!

Next, we headed to a state historical site to snatch Baby Bear's VAL VERDE CANNON. We only had about an hour before the campground closed, so we didn't get to enjoy the site too much, but OFCOURSE we loved the box.

After this, on the way home, we stopped in Jacksonville and stamped into Barefoot Lucy's GIRL SCOUT SERIES. Another job well done by the Barefooted one!