Herbie stalked this little mudman as we were walking down the far north side of the neighbourhood. He didn't know whether to bark or eat it, so I urged him to get over the fright of a snowman in October. I wonder who is the creative child dreaming of winter and building with overabundant local materials?

Heralding the coming of winter, welcome the abominable little snowman!

The blue sky. So many clouds it has to drape over it like scarves billowing in the wind. Breaths and gusts of wind sweep the heavy dust into soft piles of sand in the gutters of the road, soft for dog paws, a record of all the wild strays who like waifs wander from field to brushy fence line. The sky's eye oversees both the city dog and the stray.

Spider watching is a long underrated sport for the pilgrim of South Texas. Given the diversity of species, one may find much diversion in noting the different colours, shapes and textures of the native arachnids. This very morning, I observed the new web of a large black and yellow spider, who hung patiently in the center of her carefully spun universe, awaiting her dinner.