Still a Beauty

My favorite thing to do at the fair is to walk through the horse barns. At one time we owned three horses. One was a quarter horse. He was a lot of work, but worth it.  It isn't often I get to be up close and personal these days, so I took advantage of the opportunity to rub a few velvety noses. 

This older lady wasn't competing. She was brought along to keep another horse company. 

Her neighbor was a noisy sort.


Linking to Saturday's Critters

A Little Willy and a Lot of Nilly

1. I took a day off work yesterday, Thursday, to take a day trip with JD. I suggested Heron Park. Hubs saw an ad on tv for the state fair. Guess where we went? My opinion—you've seen one fair, you've seen them all. But I let him make the final decision. After all, the whole point was to spend the day together and I do enjoy seeing the horses.

2. The problem with having a pup that gets car sick is not being able to take him along on day trips. Otherwise I might have been saved from the fair. We could have taken him with us to Heron Park if not for his weak tummy. Since we were going to be gone so long, Fergus got to have an adventure, too. He is experiencing boarding for the first time in his young life. JD wouldn't take him inside, he asked me to do it. I started thinking. Hmm. Wonder why JD doesn't want to drop him off. I think I have it figured out. If Fergus isn't having a good time, he will blame me and not his Pop for his incarceration! JD readily offered to pick him up today, which means Fergus will be eternally grateful to his Pop for rescuing him. 

3. Unidentified callers. Lately they are political surveys. I don't answer. Do you? I let the answering machine pick up and yes I do still have one of those.

4. While enjoying a cold drink at the fair, a reporter from the Chicago Sun Times approached us. He asked if he could interview us about the upcoming gubernatorial candidates. I told him I didn't want to be interviewed. JD concurred. My mama always said if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it.

5. It's Friday! I don't have any weekend plans. I'm NOT working. I think I'll go for a ramble in the country looking for old things to post for Rubbish Tuesday.


Linking to Willy Nilly Friday Five

Good Fences

It's Thursday! One more day and it's the weekend. I used to like my job so much I no longer felt Friday Euphoria, but I've been so stressed lately I'm starting to feel it again.

I like the idea of birdhouses on the fence posts.

This fence doesn't look like it would keep much in or out, but it looks nice behind those blooms.

Linking to Good Fences

A Bird and More Podge

Another female red-winged blackbird.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday


And now on to Wednesday Hodgepodge...

1. The best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup! Black silk that is! And speaking of coffee. I ran Mr. Coffee's cleaning cycle twice last evening and it worked fine this morning. I think we need to invest in a water softener. 

2.  Given a choice, which animal interaction would you most like to experience (or for those non-adventurers...which would you dislike the least?)- Swim with the dolphins at one of several locations in the Florida Keys, a lion encounter ten minutes from Victoria Falls (Africa), or a day at a remote base camp high in the Big Sur wilderness via the Ventana Wildlife Society helping track California condors?

I'm not a good swimmer and the thought of being eaten by a lion isn't my cup of tea either, but tracking condors would be right up my alley!

3. What is something you fear about 'old age'? What is something you look forward to?

I fear the possibility of dimentia, not being unable to care for myself, and becoming a burden to my family. I look forward to retirement.

4. Hot sauce...are you a fan? If you answered yes, what's something you make/eat that must have hot sauce? On a scale of 1-10 how hot is too hot?

I'm a fan! I like hot sauce on a lot of things, but especially scrambled eggs. I'm good at around 8. Any hotter and I'm ready for a glass of milk.

5. It's been said that children learn what they live. What do you think children learn at your house?

That you can have fun without computer games. 

6. What's your favorite movie with a number in it's title?

The Sixth Sense. It scared me and I don't scare easily in movies.

7. Saturday (August 16th) is National Tell a Joke Day...share one here.


Q: "What's the difference between a guitar and a fish?" 
A: "You can't tuna fish." 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Bro O has always tried new varieties of plants in his garden. This year he has grown what is called a 'peach tomato'.

Garden Peach Tomatoes are native South American fruit. It is a small, bright yellow fruit with the globe shape of a tomato. In addition to the yellow color, it has a slight pink mottling when very ripe. It also has fuzzy skin. If you enlarge the photo you can see the fuzz. It does actually resemble a peach. 

Plus it's good for you as it is rich in iron and vitamin B5. Apparently it also helps lower cholesteral.

I can't quite end my random thoughts without saying how sad it is to lose Robin Williams. I don't understand depression of that magnitude and hopefully never will. His struggle is over now. He is at peace and I'm sure in a happier place. R.I.P.

Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge

Rubbish Tuesday #15

Another Monday morning. Mr. Coffee is dripping slower than normal. Gramps might need to be replaced with a newer model. He's been a good 'ol boy, but it may be time to lay him to rest in the rubbish bin. I better hurry and get this post finished so I can run down to the local convenience store for a cup of Joe.

Everything is looking spring green again after our nearly three days of rain. I've taken many pictures of this old barn, but it was looking especially nice with the flowers in bloom.

This truck has been parked along the road to Bro O's for several years now. The property owner keeps the area mowed, but time is taking its toll on this old abandoned fella.

This old Ford tractor is gathering its share of rust. It is sitting in a lot near a mechanics garage, just off the town square. Not sure if it is there because it is for sale or perhaps merely for decoration.

Another old barn I've posted before. You can tell from the haze how humid it was. 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will join in the fun.

My idea was to have a place to post 'old things'.  Anything old and/or deteriorating such as old houses, barns, outbuildings, old cars, rusty things, antiques, interesting junk, or it can be something in pristine condition, but just old. 

1. Link to a post featuring photos of something old.

2. Link back to Rubbish by Roan in your post.

3. As time allows, visit other participants and comment on their posts.

Sunflowers and Birds

The rain finally stopped, but it has been cloudy and cool the past couple of days. Today looks to be more of the same. I'm not complaining, I like the cooler temperatures.

The sunflowers out back next to our storage shed are getting tall (see largest photo), but they haven't started blooming yet. We were late getting them planted this year.

We did plant a variety in our garden and as you can see they are in full bloom.

I finally got a hummer to stop by the feeder yesterday. I changed from the mix to making my own out of sugar and water. They seem to like the homemade variety best. I took this shot through the window, which has a screen. I need to take that darn screen off!

The goldfinches were busy working on Bro O's sunflowers last evening. 

On the way down to the garden we saw a red-bellied woodpecker and an indigo bunting, but they were too fast for me.

We had a visitor while working in the garden. This guy lives about a mile from Bro O's house. He stopped by for a visit. He was very friendly. Here he comes for a pet after sitting in the pond for a while.

Needless to say, I didn't hang around to get soaked...

Happy Sunday!

Linking to the Bird D'pot