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

Friday Fences and a Tree

I've decided I'm not having a very good year. I've always heard bad things come in threes, well my three is up so hoping for a better 'rest of the year'. The dryer kicked off, as did my computers-plural, and now it's the dishwasher. I'm re-learning how to hand wash dishes. My brilliant, philosophical Hubby told me, "It's just like riding a bike." Okay, so he was right. I didn't forget.  I do remember how much I hated washing the utensils and I cringe every time I stick the dishcloth down inside a glass. I almost cut off my thumb back in the 70s when a glass broke with my hand twirling around inside.  Not good. To be honest, I'm kind of enjoying dish washing. It gives me some quiet time. Especially since hubby runs like a scared rabbit the minute I get out a dishwashing liquid. And there is the water saving factor. All good intentions aside, I'll be appliance shopping this weekend.

I found this fence on my drive through the country a couple of weeks ago. 

 

I enjoy seeing the amazing trees Texwisgirl over at The Run Around Ranch finds, so I'm always on the lookout for an interesting tree—of the dead variety. I found this one along the road just before I got to the fence above.



HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
Linking to Friday Fences

Friday Fences

Today's fence has historical significance. The first courthouse in Cumberland County, in which Abraham Lincoln once lost a case and then pardoned the man after he became Governor, burned on 11/5/1885.  It is widely believed to have been arson. The courthouse was rebuilt and is still conducting business to this day.  It sits in the center of town square.

There is a photo of the old building hanging in the entry hall of the current courthouse, which shows a fence encompassing the courthouse lawn.  It isn't there anymore, guess I assumed it was taken down during re-building. But what happened to that fence? I recently found out it was moved to the cemetery.  It separates the property line to the south. 

Last weekend I took some pictures of that really old fence.

Linking to Friday Fences
Happy Friday!

Barn Charm

I took a drive Sunday, looking for barns and fences. I didn't find many barns, but did find this one in Walla Walla, which is an unincorporated community.  Having heard of Walla Walla all my life, I was expecting a town. Basically it is an intersection with a few houses.

Linking to Barn Charm

No Meme Just Me Me

I clicked on my meme list tab and tried to find a meme to post for today.  Some are no more—guess that's what I get for going missing for so long—so decided to post some random pictures from my day today.

Hubs came out of retirement to work at Home Depot part-time which means he works most weekends. He worked today.  After pacing around the house wondering what I could do to keep my mind off missing Willie, I turned to a sewing project that should have been finished weeks ago. For those who may not know Willie, he was my 14 year old lab mix. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge 12 days ago.

A work-mate is having twins and today is the day she goes to the hospital, so dragged out the unfinished baby quilts and finished them.  One is pink and the other is purple with some bright colors tossed in for good measure. Personally, I like the one without the extra colors better. Wish I had the energy to tear out and re-do, but no way!  I finally finished both and dropped them off on her front porch. Project finished.

 Then I went about trying to get a decent shot for July's camera club assignment. The picture must have a book in it somewhere.  I came up with the following three shots. Not happy with any of them. Which do you think is the lesser of 3 evils?

Then I took a drive. This is Cameo Winery in a nearby town. The wine bottle in the camera club offering is from this winery.

 Hubs is back home now, so maybe he has something exciting we can do. I'm off...Happy Sunday!