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A to Z Challenge: “Q”uite the hardworkers!
I am fascinated by squirrels. First, they are one of the hardest working animals I know. You never see a squirrel kickin’ back on a Chaise lounge, drinking a fruity drink with a little umbrella sticking out of it. They are always running hither and yon, finding nuts, burying nuts, unearthing nuts, chasing each other (usually over nuts), harassing my dog, attacking our bird feeders (you guessed it – for nuts!) Second, they have incredible memories. How do they remember where they planted their nuts? I can’t remember where I put my keys and my brain is larger (at least I think it is!) In the spring, it’s like they…
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“W”here did the summer go?
Can you believe it’s July?! Where did the summer go? I had knee replacement surgery in April, recuperated in May, fell twice and began recuperation again in June. I’ve noticed the seasons change and have been outside some to enjoy it. We’ve had a lot of rain, too, so it’s made the corn tall, the rivers full and the greenery lush. Before we know it, it will be August, then September, then fall, my favorite time of year. I know, for a lot of people in the midwest, they prefer summer to other seasons so I’m trying not to look too far ahead. I thought I’d list my 10 favorite…
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“V”agabond or victor?
Photo by Diane Weidenbenner. There is something romantic and mysterious about old barns. It’s amazing to me that many of them are still standing after time and weather have taken their toll. They were built by human hands and simple materials. Their designs are unique and functional. And, they housed prized possessions at one time – whether it be livestock, hay or equipment. No two are the same. No two stand up to the test of time in the same way. Some are painted while others exhibit the natural beauty of the wood grain. Oh, what stories those wooden walls could weave! I’d like to think that these stately warriors…
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Blogging A to Z: F-arms
It’s happened. I’ve become one of those weekend drivers who likes to wander the countryside, aimlessly looking for something: an old barn; a herd of sheep; a cool flower garden; any type of unique farm animals (miniature horses, goats, etc.); tractors (the older the better). I happen to think farms are cool! I drag my friend Sandy with me, along with my Canon Rebel, just in case there is a neat composition. It may be the silos or the worn wood of the barn that attracts me. It could be the Tootsie roll-shaped bales of hay. Or, it might be a rusted-out tractor in an overgrown field of grass. It…
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“W”abash Valley Life
This photo of a farmer filling up his tractor at the gas pump is just one image that portrays life in the Wabash Valley, which I have truly come to appreciate. Obviously, we’re not all farmers. However, there is a practicality and down-to-earth nature among the residents that make it a comfortable place to live. Neighborhoods truly support each other as the people who work at Big Lots, Baesler’s grocery store and Family Video, also live in the area. In these tough economic times, things are definitely not “slower” in a smaller town. In fact, many people I know work two jobs or have both parents in a household employed…
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“V”ulture
Photo by Sally King Husband Joe is the grill-meister. He makes an enviable grilled Bourbon salmon, barbecued chicken, and melt-in-your-mouth T-bone (and I’m not a steak-lover). Even his blackened hot dogs are incredible – my mom was Joe’s biggest grilled hot dog fan! There is literally nothing that he can’t grill to perfection. Just ask the vultures! One evening after we’d sat down to enjoy our dinner, we looked out on the deck to see a large (they all look large up close, don’t they?) turkey vulture sitting on our deck, right next to the grill. At this time, we had an outside kitty named O.C. and I was worried…
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Maine or Rac-coon? – Blogging from A to Z
Shortly after moving to Terre Haute in 2005, we lost one of our two cats to bladder cancer. Two months later, a Maine Coon kitten showed up at my friends’ backdoor with a terrible respiratory infection and she took it to the vet for treatment. My husband Joe and I adopted it as a playmate for our remaining orange Manx cat, Oliver. Lil’ Tyke, as he became known, came to live with us in October. Tyke darted out of the house one Saturday evening in May 2006 while I was out of town and Joe didn’t notice his absence until the following morning. When I returned home, we looked in…
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Simply for the birds
Having moved from a Denver townhome to a small-town Indiana house with almost an acre of land, it was imperative that my husband, Joe, and I have a bird feeder so we could become avid bird watchers. And, what’s a new home without a pigeon poo christening? Bird feeders were also automatic cat entertainment so it seemed like a no-brainer. I trotted off to Menards, our local hardware emporium, and browsed through the bird feeders only to find cute, country-painted bird feeders shaped like southern plantations, quaint cabins and rustic lighthouses. However, they also would require almost daily filling. I then passed by the ultimate in bird feeders – the…
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Hostas with the most-est
What an amazing season spring is! One day the grass, trees, bushes and other plants are brown, dry and easily crunched between your fingers. And, the next day it rains and thunders a bit and voila! Everything is green. It’s like all the plants have gotten together and decided to cooperate. It’s a symbol of the best team spirit I’ve ever witnessed. Everything has sprouted overnight. Our house backs up to Lost Creek and in the winter, although hundreds of trees and bushes line the creek bed and shelter us from our neighbors’ prying eyes and the roaring traffic of 13th Street, they are leafless. We can see AutoZone from…
