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CTST: Summer time harvest
Celebrate the Small Things: Taking stock of life’s summer harvest It’s the end of August, which is a month that marks for many the beginning of school, the end of vacations and an end to summer, which has breezed past us in a humid fog. I ran across this photo from last year and it reminded me of summer’s progress. I’ve accomplished some of my goals (indicated by the harvested area of the field) but there is still time to water, weed and harvest healthy crops. There’s still time to celebrate what’s left of summer. And, I’m trying really hard not to rush into fall, which is my favorite time of…
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A to Z Challenge: “U”pside down, over and under
Roller coasters have been a part of my life since I was little. I am terrified of them, at least the large ones that flip you upside down with no respect for what you had for breakfast or lunch! My family went to Elitch Gardens amusement park in Denver. When I was small, I loved the boats that I could captain around the pond, the train that circled the park, the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Haunted House and many other rides. I have such fond memories of it. One of the country’s top 10 roller coasters was Mister Twister which opened at Elitch Gardens in 1964. It was a 96-foot-tall wooden coaster…
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A to Z Challenge: “T”ree trunk tombstones
Until I moved to the Midwest, I’d never seen a tree trunk tombstone. I’ve visited a few older cemeteries in Indiana and have noticed gravestones in the shape of a tree trunk, with intricate carvings to depict facts and graphical elements reminiscent of the person’s life. They are unusual looking and make an impression. They also are more hearty than regular in-the-ground tombstones. I had to Google the story behind them. They were popular from the 1880s to the 1920s. Joseph Cullen Root was the founder of Modern Woodmen of America (MWA, 1883) and Woodmen of the World (WOW, 1890), both fraternal insurance benefit societies. The goal was to make…
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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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A to Z Challenge: “N”ame this plant…
At the end of last summer, I found three plants whose tags said they were good in shade and partial sun. They were also on sale, which meant if they didn’t make it to next spring, I wouldn’t be out a fortune. I do take it personally when plants die on me but that’s another story. To my great surprise, all three survived the winter and are now flourishing. The problem is, I can’t remember for the life of me what they are. I’m hoping that a kind, knowledgeable A to Z Challenger will help me identify the plant. Here’s what I remember: it is a perennial that stays low…
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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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“T”horoughfare
It’s been raining a lot in the Midwest! And, we’re not unique. There has been flooding throughout the United States this season. There is actually an area of Terre Haute that floods regularly when it rains heavily. People live near the Wabash River and their houses are on stilts. When the street floods leading up to their neighborhood, and their homes, they actually have to park on a nearby street and take a boat the rest of the way home. I’m wondering how the “For Sale” description reads for these houses! “During periods of heavy rain, house is accessible by boat. However, no fishing license required.” I’ve actually driven down…
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Rustling of leaves
I can’t imagine living in a part of the country that doesn’t have four seasons. I love the greenery and freshness of spring flowers and budding trees. Although I’m in the minority, I enjoy the snowy wonderland of winter with its stillness and beauty. I like the sunny, longer days of summer where I have energy long into the evening. I admit, however, that the autumn season and all that it entails, is my favorite time of year. There is something for all five senses. Sight – The beautiful fall colored leaves, in a variety of sizes and shapes, that dance across the road, get caught under my windshield wipers…
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“L”ife in the country
I appreciate where I live, in Terre Haute, Ind. Recently I saw an episode of TNT’s Cold Justice where the prosecutor and detective reopened an old murder case and proceeded to solve the mystery, from our town. During the episode, they referred to us as a small town. Hmmm, I’d never considered Terre Haute a small town, even though I used to live in Denver, Colo., and knew it was quite different. The more I pondered this fact, the more I began thinking about those things that happen “in the country” that you don’t experience in a bigger city. These are just a few of my thoughts: 1. Roadside food.…
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“C”amera
Bales of hay are common around the midwest. They do remind me of Tootsie Rolls. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner It seems like I’ve always had a camera. Of course my first was a Ricoh film camera. I traipsed around Europe with 28 rolls of film and swapped them out as they filled up with memories. I then had to save up money in order to get them developed after I returned to the States. When I did finally have the money, and the gumption to fill out all those film envelopes, six months later, it was exciting. Through those developed photos, I relived the highlights of my vacation all…
