Fergus Update

Fergus is getting bigger. He is now officially tall enough to leap up onto the bed. He likes comfort.

 Last weekend I took him to my daughter's house to meet his human sister and his niece and nephews. He gave them a run for their money. Now they are asking for a pup of their own. All kids need a dog, especially boys. Fergus got to meet their 2 cats. He wanted to play with them, but all they wanted to do was puff up to look like blimps and turn their tales into what looked like a wire brush. He tried to chase them, but they would either run down the basement stairs or upstairs to the bedrooms.  Fergus is afraid of those scary stairs.

 Fergus enjoyed taking the kids for a walk down the sidewalk, dragging them as far as the playground at the school.  He had tons of fun and is looking forward to his next visit.

Happy Tuesday!

Fergus Update

Fergus 11 weeks

After a week into this dog gig, we are considering changing Fergus's name to Tasmanian Devil or perhaps Whirling Dirvish. Although he looks like an angel in this photo, Mr. Innocence he is not! With all the new toys we bought for him, he much prefers a stick found outside while avoiding doing what he is supposed to be doing. His favorite thing to do with this stick is NOT fetch. He likes to peel the bark off and leave it all over the living room carpet.  Children!

Today is the Day!

If anyone actually purchases this book, I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Back in the Day

This is a picture of the movie theater in our town back in the day. I got my fix of Elvis Movies here. You could buy a movie ticket, have popcorn, and a drink for a buck. My how times have changed. This picture must have been taken around 1941, before my time, since the movie, Among the Living was released that year. Billed as a horror/crime thriller, it stared Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward, and Frances Farmer. I've never heard of it, but, just for fun, think I'll see if I can find it. Hopefully it still exists. The movie theatre was torn down in the late 60s or early 70s to make way for a parking lot. It's too bad, since the kids without concerned parents in our area have nothing at all to do on Saturday night except walk the streets and get into trouble. A sad song repeated in small towns around the country.

 Feeling nostalgic, I decided to add a little sepia to the post today.

 Above is the picture of a road I took. It was very sunny, which washed out the colors. Delete or sepia...sepia won out.

This is Bro O's cabin which is a nice hike to the west of his house. It sits in the woods beside a pond. Nice place to camp. If you look at the screen door and not the sliding window, it could be 1941.

Happy Monday!!!

Crawford County Nature Preserve

On my days off, instead of going into St. Louis for the zoo or arboretum, we decided to explore some of the Parks around here. This one is fairly new and certainly new to us. It is a nice place to visit and will be even better as time goes on. It is still a work in progress.

It has a very nice shelter, perfect for family events.

And a walking trail.

We passed several people fishing in the lake.

It also has a fountain. I took tons of pictures, but liked this one framed by the trees and...

 ...the one below. Hubby took several pictures, too.

 We didn't see a lot of flowers, but there were a few. There were several varieties of wildflowers along the path, but the sun was too bright where they were growing.

 Along with some lichen.

 Does anyone know what kind of tree grows these?

Hope you are having a wonderful Thursday!

Photoshop Fun, a Cat, and a Barn

While my rambunctious pup is napping, thought I would take the time to post. Fergus is doing fine. We are working on house training. Not an easy task. Must watch very fast dog run around and try to get into trouble at all times in case he darts behind something to do his business. He has figured out he gets a treat if he cooperates outside. Now if I can only get him to ask when he needs to go outside. I taught Willie to bark at the back door. I read about someone else tying a bell on the door knob. Any suggestions?

Hubby and Bro O were getting in a little target practice the other evening. I was bored when I thought about the picture below. I took this picture a while back and really like the little girl with the umbrella, but it has too much background clutter. I had been reading my Phtoshop for Dummies book, learning how to put a specific object into another background, so decided to take a landscape shot to give it a try. Since she was standing under a tree with dappled sunlight on the umbrella, I walked to the dam side of Bro O's pond and along the woods, taking several shots. 

This is the original picture.

This is Umbrella Girl transplanted onto the dam.

This one in front of the woods. I think it turned out the best. Now for the fun. I didn't tell Bro O about this project. I emailed the Dam shot to him and told him I took this picture near the pond when they were shooting guns, and low and behold an odd little girl showed up in the shot. I asked if he knew who she was. I got an email back stating they had no idea. Sis-n-law said looking at the pic gave her goosebumps, but they decided it must be one of the neighbor girls playing dress up, adding that she sure was wearing strange clothes. I emailed back with an explanation. It isn't perfect, but it was good enough for a prank. 

 A leftover from a photo club assignment, put a book in it. Liked the cat in a basket.

Lastly here is the barn. These folks sure to like red. I wish I would have had time to take a picture of the house, which was across the road from the barn. It had the same red metal roof. However, Hubby was driving and refused to stop. Just because there was a car behind him...

Hope everyone is having a wonderful labor day weekend.
Linking to Barn Charm

Fergus

Meet Fergus. 10 week old Border Collie. Full of vim and vinegar. Will keep me hopping for sure.

I'm in love! lol
Happy Sunday!
Linking to Camera Critter Sunday

Anniversay, Birds, Flowers and an Announcement

Today is our Anniversary.  Six years with no divorce on the horizon. Success!

Since Hubby had to work today, we spent the last two days celebrating. We planned to go to the zoo, arboretum, or Union Station in St. Louis, but ended up hitting 2 Nature Preserves, a lake, and a couple of State Parks. We had fun hiking while searching for birds and other photo ops. None of my birds turned out worthy of posting, but I'll post the best of the worst. Why do those critters fly every time I get close enough to actually get a focused shot?

 Blue Heron Hiding

Two Tufted Titmice or Titmouses? Drinking. Or, how about a Tufted Titmouse and friend Drinking? Much better.

 Hummer Humming



Bob White Quail Running

 One of the Zinnias from my garden doing nothing. 

Hyacinth Beans on a trellis by the front porch. Climbing.

 

And now for the announcement...drum roll please...we are getting a new pup! He will arrive today around 4:00 p.m. I'm counting the minutes. It has been two months since Willie crossed the rainbow bridge. I miss him. I feel a little disloyal, but the house is way too quiet without a furry critter running around, so the decision was made. I'll post a pic tomorrow.

 

Happy Saturday!

 



Friday Fence and Some News

One of my aunts invited us over for pizza and a bonfire last weekend. I found this little fellow peeking at us through the fence. He wanted a carrot, but alas I didn't know to bring one.

 Some of you, not many, may have noticed I haven't been blogging like I used to. Once a daily poster, I am now down to every now and then.  Well, here is one of the reasons why.

I have a story published in this book. The acceptance letter gave me a much needed kick start. I sometimes get lazy writing...tire of rejection...so go off into my other world of taking pictures. Since I received this news, I am back working on my tween series and writing more short stories.

The release date is September10th, so feel free to stop by your local bookstore and pick up a copy. My story is titled, Fountain of Youth and written by Betty J. Roan. That's me. I'll be posting about this again, I'm sure.

Have a great weekend!
Linking to Friday Fences

Class Reunion

Last Saturday night was my high school reunion. I wouldn't tell you how many years, but duh! I don't think it will take you long to figure it out since I'm posting a picture of the booklet cover. I was in charge of the invitations and the booklet, so immediately enlisted the aid of  my nephew, Sam Roan, who is a genius, to design the cover.

 The theme was Laugh-In. I refused to play the part of Ernestine. No way was I going to screw up my face and poke my finger between...well if you have ever seen her skits you will know where...in front of a group of people. Instead I read a poem called Class Reunion. As you can see, we had a nice wall with little doors for participants to open and tell jokes.  I was in charge of playing the Laugh-In theme over and over and over...

I hated, absolutely, hated school, but really have enjoyed going to the reunions. I went for the first time 5 years ago. Guess I'll go in another 5 years. If you have been avoiding yours, I wholeheartedly recommend you try at least one. I think you will find you enjoy the experience.

A Visit to Lincoln Log Cabin

The annual Bluegrass Festival was last weekend at Lincoln Log Cabin Historical Park. I enjoy listening to the old tunes I remember from back in the day.  Neighbor and what I refer to as my non-related "other brother" plays in one group. He's wearing the cap. We used to go over to his house on Saturday nights and listen to good music. His mom and dad were very talented musicians, too.

After the music, we took a walk. We go there all the time, but I always try to find something different to take pictures of. I have taken pictures of this old barn before, but this time there was a tree growing in front of it. Unless the park gets some additional funding, this building will soon be beyond repair.

Below is inside the cook house at the Sargent Farm. 

 The nursery.

 The kitchen....

 ...and weird rock critters hiding in the garden.

Crops, Dust, and a Really Fast Plane

I love watching airplanes of any kind. Last year Hubby and I went to an air show, a first for me. I loved every minute of it. Probably because my brother and I used to play airplane all the time. He was always the pilot, of course, and I the co-pilot. We drew all kinds of instruments on our blackboard and would sit in front of it for hours flying all over the world.

So, when Hubby and I spotted a crop duster as we were driving down the road, we pulled over so I could take some pictures.  

Oops! Missed it!

 

Crud! Tail!

A blur!

 Almost...

 More blurr!

 

Not quite as blurry as the others...this is the best I could do.  Man was he fast!

Friday Fences

On the outskirts of a tiny town called Jewett, I found this really high fence. It would have to be to keep the deer from jumping over.  I prefer to see them running free across the fields...but not in front of my car.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
Linking to Friday Fences