The wild cry of a pissed-off bobcat was a bit un-nerving even in daylight.  The beautifully marked sleek coated cat strode across the road just in front of us like he owned the place.  His short curled tail was tipped with bright white.  He was in no hurry and seemed unconcerned with us humans standing statue-still wanting to make the encounter last as long as possible.  He disappeared into the thicket of live oaks.  Encounter over, we thought.  Surprise.   A loud, wild cry leapt out of the thicket.  A half dozen paired howls/screams left no doubt that we had seen a wild animal that many a creature had reason to fear.  I was glad it was daylight and that we spend the night inside solid walls.

Fire trucks, police cars, motorcycles, and the corvette club led the way in the lighted float parade in Port Arthur.  It was classic small town with decorated wagons and pickup trucks for clubs, the elementary school, and churches.  Everyone threw candy and the kids scrambled everywhere.  I even ended up with a few tootsie rolls.  Middle school and high school bands made a showing as did Santa, The Grinch, a Dino Santa and Blue Santa and Mrs. Santa.  Not the fanciest display but the locals showed up in great numbers even on this cool, windy evening.

We shared the day with Buzz LightYear, a giant fire ant, pilgrims, the tooth fairy, hilarious rake and broom people, Scary Poly Potter (lady made of flower pots) and a whole lot more.  There were 64 wonderfully creative entries in a scarecrow contest at the Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange, Texas.   The manicured gardens are beautiful but so is the moss draped tupelo/cypress swamp along Adams Bayou.  It was a perfect day to be out and about.