Meriam-Webster dictionary says the idiom meansto be very sure and definite about (something). Yesterday, Valentine’s Day was absolutely wonderful day, make no bones about it. As I mentioned in the previous post, no flowers were involved. However, it was a road trip and there was some chocolate.
First stop, lunch! For sure it was healthy! The name Health Camp says it right. And we believe everything we see in print. LOL This is where my healthy chocolate comes in to play. I had a delicious chocolate malt shake. Healthy, yes? As a matter of fact, the malt part has a slightly higher amount of nutrients owing to the barley in the malt powder. So just stick that in your back pocket for the future. 😉
However, this was the real reason for the road trip. It had been on my bucket list for sometime now. And my Valentine yesterday, said let’s do it! Of course, I was all in!
If you scan either of these QR codes, it will take you to the websites for the Waco Mammoth NM. Of course, seeing it in person is best!
.
This way to the mammoths! Obviously, lead on!
Almost there! Without delay we headed in.
This sign was on the bridge that crossed to the dig shelter. Below sixteen mammoths were discovered in the dry creek. Those are now stored at the Mayborn Museum Complex on the Baylor campus.
Indeed we now had reached the good stuff! Nine feet below were the bones/fossils. The bones were not actually totally fossilized yet.
Next to Mammoth Q was a juvie. Definitely, a smaller pile of bones.
In fact, these teeth looked worn down just like the deer’ teeth in my post “Had to“.
The whiter fragments are from a Giant Tortoise (Testudinidae) shell. So the orange marker was one grid point that was used in mapping the site.
All the bones were labeled. Remember I said we were nine feet above the fossils/bones. So I had brought my binoculars for just that reason. Certainly was glad I did!
Several columns of dirt were left in place. The ranger called them witness towers.
The tusks grew as the mammoth aged. Perhaps you can see the rings in this broken one? Looking just to the left of the tusk, do you see the teeth? Indeed, they sorta looked like my boots, eh. LOL
What were the holes in the dirt? The ranger said some were roots, but others were mud daubers or potter wasps. However, to me they looked more like Miner Bees (Andreninae) homes like I have found on the ravine banks on the grasslands. The bees or wasps made these when the site was in the open air. Currently the shelter is temperature and humidity controlled.
Finally, a life sized painting of Columbian Mammoth!
So make no bones about it, this certainly was a Valentine’s Day I won’t forget!
On another note from the post “Whitlow-wort“, Suzanne brought to my attention common names and how confusing they can be. She wrote “I’ve always heard the common name of this plant as whitlow-grass or wedgeleaf draba. Whitlow-wort is the fall-blooming barrens Paronychia virginica. But maybe this is also a wort. Common names, aarrgghh!!!”
Well, I have always called both plants Whitlow-wort. They are both listed in FNTC as both having the same common names in the lists of names. Thus it is very important to know the scientific name to avoid any confusion. For this reason in the future I will try to refer to Draba cuneifolia as simply Draba. Indeed, that might help, eh. Of course, now I need to remember that.
To sum it up, common names, definitely aarrgghh!!! Thank you so much Suzanne!
What a great Valentines Day trip! Bones fossils and chocolate!
Indeed it was perfect!
Great day for you. Perfect gift.
True romance right there! What a great trip.
Thank you for the photographs. What a neat place!
It’s a great place to visit! So well done! I’m glad you have such a sweet Valentine.
Thanks again for bringing up the Draba!
You’re welcome! 👍🌻