Photography = Happiness

Photography makes me happy. I have not been able to do as much this year as I would like. Here are a few pictures that I have taken that make me happy.

We don't see these too often anymore, but I remember seeing them when traveling to see my great grandma when I was pint-sized.

We watched fireworks this year from atop of a 6+ foot hay bale.

Even though this water lily is not native, it was a lot of fun to photograph.

 
A goal for myself is to take time to relax through the camera lens. I prefer nature photography, but do enjoy taking pictures of the kiddos.

Do you have any goals that you are working on?

Have a great day!

Beginnings and Endings

The seasons are changing! 

Woohoo!

Spring is just around the corner! 

Isn't this a beautiful sunrise?

The Canada Geese flew over just in time

for this glorious picture yesterday morning.

Winter will soon be a fading memory! 

 This picture was taken the morning of March 2. 

Prairie! What a beautiful sight!

With the heralding of spring I am looking forward to the hepatica, bloodroot, iris, tulip, trout lily, spring beauty, jack-in-the-pulpit, toothwort, violet, crocus, hyacinth, phlox treasures that await.

Winter Beauty

Winter can be magical.

Winter can be beautiful.

Winter can be comforting.

Winter can shine a light.

 Winter can be colorful.

Winter can inspire awe.

Winter can be calming.

Winter can be fun.

Winter can hold dreams.

Have a wonderful & blessed day my friends!

Duck, Duck, Goose!

The most tenacious creatures we have in our yard are the Canada geese.  

They are here in the summer.

They are here in the fall.

They are here in the winter.

They are here in the spring.

The only time they leave is when the pond is iced over.

They will fly right over our heads when on approach to the pond and when exiting the pond.

Right before dark, they fly east to spend on the night on the local lake.

In the morning, they return.

It is interesting to watch a goose fight.

The geese like to stand on top of our house and garage, then honk until they are honked out.

They like to walk down the driveway, then walk up the sidewalk towards the stoplight.

They will not hurry if they are standing in the driveway and you are attempting to drive on the driveway.

They leave green squishy goose droppings everywhere.

One pair of geese has had their nest on top of the neighbor's porch overhang for the last two years.

They will chase you if you get too close to their young.

There was once a goose that we called War Goose.  He would not let anyone cross the bridge to the other side of the pond, unless you carried a really big stick and even then you never turned your back.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

It has been an interesting week. . . . below are just a few pictures of our week.

Photos by me

Barred Owl in the country

 Big Brown Bat on the house

Northern Shoveler in our pond 

Crawdad (crayfish) from our pond

 Kids and Daddy looking at the crawdad

Princess

Pumpkin

Photos by Daddy

Northern Water Snake in our pond

Painted Turtle in our pond

Mommy

Gray Fox in the yard

Spring is Around the Corner

We have been keeping ourselves busy lately.

Blessings
- Pumpkin's class had achievement testing last week, so as a result an entire week of NO homework.  Yay!!!!!
- We have spent quality time with family and friends.
- I received an amazing and uplifting letter this week.
- We splurged and went out to eat at a nearby restaurant and were surprised that it was a kids eat free night. 
- The days are getting warmer!

Projects
- Hubby put the kids' birthday presents from grandpa together this past week.
- I cleaned the homework table off this week and have been trying to keep it clear.
- I would like to try to tackle and organize the great room during the month of April.

Wildlife
- We have seen sholvers, mallard ducks, great blue heron, kingfisher, grey fox, white tailed deer, cardinals, dark eyed juncos, Canada geese, raccoon, and green sunfish in the yard this week.
- Pumpkin and Princess encountered a crawdad (crayfish) in the creek today.  Unfortunately it gave them quite a fright and they had to be rescued by Daddy.
-  Out and about, I have seen green winged teal, turkeys, red bellied woodpecker, cooper's hawk, red eared slider, turkey vulture, sea gulls, and so much more.

Reading
- Pumpkin has been enjoying listening to Roscoe Riley Rules: Don't Swap Your Sweater for a Dog by Katherine Applegate.
- Hubby just finished reading Watchers at the Pond by Franklin Russell.
- I have been reading Unmending The Veil by Lisa Heaton on the Kindle.  I just started reading The Get Yourself Organized Project by Kathi Lipp yesterday. 
- Princess has been listening to a variety of books too.

Cooking
- The brussel sprouts were yummy!  

Garlic Parmesan Brussel Sprouts

Ingredients
fresh brussel sprouts
sea salt
cracked pepper
garlic salt
2 tablespoons light olive oil
fresh parmesan

Instructions
Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Wash and quarter brussel sprouts.  Toss with olive oil and spread on baking sheet.  Season with sea salt, cracked pepper, and garlic salt to taste.  Bake for 15-18 minutes.  Add parmesan and bake for additional 2 minutes.

- Tonight we tried garlic butter asparagus.  Yum again!  Can you tell that we like garlic?!?

Garlic Butter Asparagus

Ingredients
1 bunch asparagus
4 garlic cloves
1/2 stick butter

Instructions
Dice garlic cloves and cube butter add to a skillet on medium high heat.  Add cleaned asparagus spears (I removed the bottom 1/2 inch of the stalk) to the skillet once the butter is melted.  Saute for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

By Land and By Sky

I was hoping to be well by now, but I am on week three of being sick. Ugh!  If I am not better by the middle of the week, I will go back to the doctor for a fourth appointment to see if I have walking pneumonia.  Anyway when I have felt up to it, I have snapped some nature pictures.  Enjoy!

The kids made a "Frozen" castle with ice from the pond

Snow plastered tree

Finally a sign of spring- iris leaves

Morning mist

 Colorful sunrise

Painted turtle out of hibernation; spring is on its way

Almost full moon; how enchanting

Cabin Fever

February is suppose to be the shortest month, but this month is seeming to last FOREVER.  Winter is nice.  We need winter so nature can rest before all of the beautiful colors burst forth.  I usually do not mind it much, but this winter.  There are just no words for it.  It could be the cabin fever talking by now.  

I dream of going outside wearing shorts and t-shirts.  I dream of the prairie sway in the warm breeze.  I dream of spring time irises and jack-in-the pulpit.  I dream of burgers on the grill.  I look forward to visiting the zoo and chasing butterflies.  I look forward to walking around the pond and watching lightening bugs.  I look forward to warmer temperatures.  

Instead . . . we have had snow.  We have had three weeks of sickness and high fevers.  We have had two days of sick homework to make up for Pumpkin.  Oh boy!  Homework is always a battle.  Today, we have freezing rain and snow.  As the ice thickens outside the odds are increasing that we will lose power before day is out.  

Ice is the part of winter that I like the least.  Ice causes broken toes.  Ice causes broken trees.  Ice causes explosions as power lines fall.  Ice causes sirens to sound.  Ice causes those blasted sweet gum balls to fall.  Did you know that they sound like rocks hitting the house?  

Ice brings back memories of the ice storm seven years ago.  The ice storm that left at least 80% without power.  The ice storm that splintered the power pole that supplied electricity to our house and our neighbor's.  That pole crashed into the ground just feet from our bedroom, spilling the contents of the transformer container into the ground.  The ice storm that sent electrical workers from across the United States and Canada to our area to fix the damage.  I would see convoys of 10 to15 power trucks at a time traveling along the roads in our area.  The ice storm that send the National Guard from door to door to check on the welfare of others.  The ice storm that took months and months to clean up.  The ice storm that still gives me nightmares.  I hope and that pray that this storm is not to that magnitude. 

Here are some pictures from that storm:

We have been listening to the tinking of the ice crystals against the windows today.  We have heard limbs breaking and crashing today.  We have watched the ice grow thicker and thicker today.  The streets are flooding with the freezing rain because the storm drains are plugged with ice and snow.  We have been listening to the sounds of ambulances and fire trucks.  It has been snowing for the last few hours.  That is sure to add extra excitement to the day.  I hope that we do not receive too much snow.  The weight of the snow may cause even more damage and destruction to the already ice covered trees and power lines.

In the midst of all that is going on, here are a few blessings.  Princess is fully recovered.  Pumpkin is on the mend.  Hubby and I have yet to succumb to any sickness that has plagued the family.  We have been enjoying playing a birthday gift game- Don't Break The Ice.  We have been warm and have not hungered this winter. Grandma has completed my long awaited quilt top.  Thank goodness for the gift of PBS and Downton Abbey.  Last but not least, I am very happy for the blessing of President's Day, so the kids and I did not need to travel in this icky weather.

Well I better go check on my two tornadoes.  Stay warm and safe! 

First Snow

Earlier this week we had the first measurable snowfall of the season.  Most likely it was only about 1/4 an inch.  With the fall leaves as a backdrop the snowfall was quite beautiful.  I have a feeling that we are in store for a LONG and SNOWY winter.  The persimmon seeds even agree with me.  We have been seeing spoons this year, so get your shovels ready.

Enjoy the snowy pictures from our yard. 

Below is a stop light that I encountered on my way to work.  It was really hard to figure out what color it was, so I used traffic at the other stop lights as my indicator on how to proceed through the intersection.  It is never boring around here.