Hare, Foot, and a Fly

When we got to the garden last week, we saw this rabbit giving us the eye. 

He looks guilty, don't you think? When I took the picture I thought we only had one cute little rabbit looking for a garden snack. When I uploaded pictures to the computer I saw another pesky rabbit peeking out of the weeds. Little nibblers!

We also found evidence of another intruder. Mr. Raccoon was long gone, but he left easily identifiable footprints.

While Hubs runs the tiller, I get to scour the area for photo ops. I found this Damsel Fly resting on a leaf...

...and this Dragonfly hanging out on a weed next to the pond.

Linking to  Saturday's Critters

Reflection and Reflective

This is yet another shot of Bro O's pond. My go to place for reflections. On this particular evening, it was cooling down. It was a nice evening for gardening.

Linking to Weekend Reflections

1. Somewhere between 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. last Saturday morning, we had an uninvited visitor. Someone kicked in our front screen door and tried to shoulder his way inside the house. I called 9-1-1. Thankfully the police responded within 3 minutes, before he got inside. The Sheriff's Department is 1/2 mile away.  It turns out he was probably just a very drunk guy who lost his way after a party next door, but we didn't know that at the time. It was a very scary experience.

2. It's been a long week for a short one. I'm supposed to have today off, but due to too much work, will be spending the afternoon in the office. We had our 4th of July celebration last weekend. Four of my five grands came for the fireworks. Fergus was extremely happy to see them. He seems to have a special love for the littlest one. Not a good shot in the evening light with lots of movement. But it's the only one I have where you can't see his face. Can you see the love? Those two are on the move constantly when they are together.

3. Dogs and Firworks. My beloved dog, Willie, was terrified of fireworks. I couldn't have him outside, so I would give the poor boy a vet-approved tranquilizer and leave him inside the house where he vibrated in the bathtub until his food lady came to rescue him. Fergus, had a totally different reaction. I could tell he was a bit concerned as to what was going on, since he backed up against my legs and stayed there, but he watched the whole show. I'm one happy food lady. Thanks Anni for the story about your dog. I leashed Fergus, just in case.

4. I decided not to take any pictures of fireworks this year. After all, how many pictures of fireworks do you really need anyway? Usually I'm messing with the camera or cameras and only see the show through the viewfinder. This time I ooed and ahhed with everyone else. 

5. Hubs has to work this holiday weekend, so after I get back from the office, I'm going to spend time with Fergus. He has been sorely neglected this week. We will go for walks, toss his favorite ball, and throw frisbees until he hasn't any breath left, or I keel over—whichever comes first. I'm betting on the latter.

Happy 4th!

Linking to Willy Nilly Friday Five

Good Fences

I posted a picture of this fence by the covered bridge before, but it was evening and coming a storm. 

 Everyone thought the fence was purple, so thought I would post it again in better light. See, not purple.

 This is a fence around the observation deck at the same covered bridge. 

 This one is a bit more like a Rubbish fence. Looks like it needs a lot of TLC.

One of the more common fences around here. 

Linking to Good Fences

A Bird and a Podge

Pigeon on Beale Street

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday


And now for the Podge...

1.  Speaking of 180...when was the last time you 'did a 180' on something?

With regard to decisions, I can't think of the last time. I normally stand by my initial reaction. However, when it comes to taking pictures while driving. I do 180s all the time. 

2. It's Independence Week in the US of A! What's your favorite thing about America right this very minute? Favorites only! Let's hear what you love about America.

Spacious skies, amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties, and those fruited plains.

If you're playing along today, and you're not an American but have been to America, what do/did you like best about this country? If you've never been to America, do you have any desire to visit? What's the number one thing you'd like to see?

N/A

3. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Watermelon, homemade vanilla ice cream, or blueberry pie?

The stars at night are big and bright! Oops guess I lived in Texas too long.  Blue as in my daughter's and my son's eyes. Watermelon, but would readily enjoy my share of the other two.

4. When did you last see stars, figuratively speaking?

I equate 'seeing stars' with injuries, so guess it was 3 years ago when I fell down the steps and broke both ankles. 

5.  'Clear as a bell', 'with bells on',  'lots of bells and whistles', 'saved by the bell'...which phrase 'rings' truest for you lately?  Have you ever seen The Liberty Bell?

I have seen the Liberty Bell. I actually used the phrase "with bells on" yesterday. Hubs asked if I was going with him to work in the garden. I responded, "of course, with bells on!" Now go back and read it with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

6. Are you caught up in World Cup fever? Have you watched a lot or a little or none at all?

At first, yes. Now, not so much.

7. Bid farewell to June in 10 words or less.

Goodbye June. See you next year.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So, I got to thinking about the word HODGEPODGE. Does anyone remember Orthography? Okay, so I'm aging myself. It's the study of language. It was one of my favorite subjects in Junior High. Anyway I looked up hodge which means "an English Rustic or farm laborer" and thenI looked up podge which means "a short fat person". Hmm Hodgepodge, a short fat farmer? No, when you stick the two words together, you get "a mixture of different things".  Okay, so my brain is a little skewed in its thinking sometimes. But, hey that was my random thought.

Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge

Rubbish Tuesday #9

Our local town had their fireworks display Saturday night. Daughter and family always come down and watch with us. I was on my way to the nearest Dollar Store to look for a festive tablecloth for outside when I saw a likely candidate for Rubbish Tuesday.

 I saw this wheel leaning up against a tree at the edge of a lawn. The building in the background is an old log cabin that was once an antique store. Sadly, it is no longer in business.

 I didn't find a tablecloth, so took a drive out past the covered bridge in hopes of a colorful bird landing in front of my camera lens. No luck there, but I did see this old grain wagon rusting away at the edge of a field. I remember playing in the soybeans in a wagon just like this one, only it was still orange.

Up  a hill from the wagon, I spied this old barn. It wasn't a productive errand, but it was a productive drive home.

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.

The Bird D'Pot

So why is it the only birds I can get a halfway decent picture of are red-winged blackbirds! I guess it's because they don't mind getting close enough to yell at me. Here she is, at it again!

This same evening, I saw a Scarlett Tanager in the mulberry tree, but of course, no proof!

Linking to the Bird D'pot

Chipmunk

I pulled into the parking lot at the covered bridge and this is what I saw peeking out from a hole in the stone wall.

Mr. Chipmunk!

Linking to Saturday's Critters

Willy-Nilly 5

Wow! A new photo theme. This one is called Willy-Nilly Friday Five. Yay! Rules? Well the rules are— there are no rules. Well except for the directive to post 5, count them 5 random thoughts, link up, and visit some blogs. According to our head guru, Tanya,wil·ly-nil·ly is an adverb—without direction or planning; haphazardly. That's the way I live life, haphazardly. So here are my five: 

In case you haven't read my blog before, this is Fergus. He is celebrating his 1st Barkday, today, Thursday, while I write this post. He has filled the void left when Willie crossed the rainbow bridge. Willie was a much calmer sort. Fergus is a bundle of energy and keeps us old folks on the go. Not a bad thing. Fergus can destroy a dog toy in seconds, well, unless it is made by Kong. This red dumbell is made by Kong and he is obsessed with it. We gave him two more balls and a squeez toy for his birthday. He is in doggie heaven.

Fergus is also obsessed with his Pop. I will do in a pinch, but Pop is the bestest human ever. Pop was busy filling a watering can to water the window boxes. Fergus is busy watching his pop from the confines of our screened in porch. Note the tongue hanging out gathering lots of slimey saliva to smear on his red dumbell before begging you to throw it. And if you don't readily accept it, he keeps nudging you with it, thus wiping all the slime on his humans.

As I posted earlier in the week, I went to granddaughter's dance recital last Saturday. I did find one other picture I can post without showing her face and this is it. It's the final pose of her hip hop dance. Did I mention she was a wonderful dancer? Oh, and I'm not biased at all.

One of my favorite things to do is look for deer while out driving on the country roads. We often see them when coming home in the evening from our garden on Bro O's farm. This is one we saw a couple of nights ago. She was all alone eating some of Mr. Farmer's new soybeans. Mr. Farmer won't be happy, but I enjoyed seeing this doe.

Small towns really don't provide much entertainment for the kids, so I was happy to see what was advertised as 'Family Day'. I drove by in the early afternoon and it looked like everyone was having a good time. I hope it becomes an annual event. We need more fun for the kids.


Linking to Willy Nilly 5

Good Fences

 My lillies have bloomed.

 A fence leading up to the covered bridge in Greenup, IL

I found this fence along a country road.

Linking to Good Fences

A Bird and Words

Are you ready for one more of my bad bird shots?

Is this a Martin? A Swallow?

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

1. What summer activity most takes you back to your own childhood?
Picking blackberries. My mom would get my brother and me up before dawn, dress us in long pants and long sleeved shirts (during the heat of summer), and walk us out to the wild blackberry patch between the field and the woods. Sweat bees would sting, briars would scratch, and by bedtime chiggers had taken up residence all over our bodies. (A time before Off was invented.) It isn't exactly a fond memory, that is until you get to the blackberry pie and ice cream part. Yum!

2. What's your favorite summer smell?
The wind right before rain.

3. It's beach season in the US of A...so how do you feel about sand? 
It's hot. Must have beach shoes. 

4. Sun tea, SunChips, sunflower seeds, Capri Sun, Sunny Delight, Sun-Maid raisins, sun-dried tomatoes...your favorite food or beverage with sun in its name?
Sun tea. Love iced tea with lemon slices. No sugar and especially none of those poisonous artificial sweeteners.

5. What's your favorite way to cool off on a hot summer day?
Air conditioning. 

6. Share a favorite song with the word sun or sunshine in it's title.
Cheap Sunglasses ZZ Top

7. Tell us about a time you had an exceedingly good or truly awful customer service experience. If it was awful, did you report it? Ever go back there again?
I know I have experienced both during my lifetime, but can't think of anything in particular, good or bad. Before I retired from my real job, I had to travel and work out of town a lot. I went out for dinner at a nice restaurant every night, alone. The waiters and waitresses used to come sit with me and keep me company. I know they were trying to be nice, but I was somewhat offended. I don't recall seeing any of them sit down with men dining alone. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Blank mind here. Think, think, think! Aha! I thought of something. This saturday night is our Freedom Day celebration. Our town always has a fireworks display the Saturday before the 4th. Daughter and family come every year. We have a cookout and plenty of junk food for the kids. We put lawn chairs in the backyard and have an excellent view of the show, which is only 1 block away. My last beloved dog, Willie, was horribly frightened and used to hide in the bathtub. I'm wondering how Fergus will deal with all the noise. 

Rubbish Tuesday #8

It's time for Rubbish Tuesday again. I can't believe this is number 8 already. I'm having fun, hope you are enjoying the old stuff, too.

 This is an old barn that caught my eye while on a ramble. I liked the way the side looks like it has stripes. I don't know why, but it has strips of wood nailed to the side. While looking at this shot on the computer, I saw a flag on the front side of the barn.

This is a crop of the old barn when I saw the flag that led to the winning entry in the camera club contest. If you missed my brag post, click HERE. I liked TexWisGirl's comment on that post. She commented that the flag is a mixture of a Texas and American flag. I agree.

 Most people around here are avid Cardinals fans. Me? I'm a die-hard Texas Ranger fan, but root for the Cubbies up here. So what if they never win? On the same road I saw this storage shed. That's a great old bike, gate, and hand cultivator leaning up against the side. I didn't get a very good angle. There was a wedding going on in the back yard of the house, so sneakily stopped where the guests couldn't see me. I'm a bit timid about taking pictures when people are looking. I guess I'm afraid they will come running out and yell at me. Are you timid when it comes to getting a good shot?

This is the side of an old church turned antique shop. I really like the 'stuff' shown here. One day I'm going to stop and go inside.

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.

A Bird and a Dance

Friday night was garden night. Happily Bro O's mulberry tree was a hot item with the birds.

  Of course, I couldn't get close enough to get any good shots, but I finally got a Brown Thrush to stand still long enough to get a bad shot.

I can't see this bird good enough to tell what it is. Does anyone have psychic capabilities?

Linking to the Bird D'pot

I've been off to visit granddaughter. Her dance recital was last evening.

This is the closest thing to a picture I will be able to post since I'm not allowed to post pictures of her face on my blog. We were told not to take pictures during the show, so I didn't take my good camera. Since everyone else was breaking the rule with their handy dandy phones, I dug out my little point and shoot and got a couple of really bad pics. Such as the one above. This was her ballet routine. She also had 2 hip hop dances. She is an awesome dancer!

Writing Blog Hop

A writer friend of mine, Nancy Kopp, has tagged me in a Blog Hop,  #MyWriting Process. The object is to answer 4 questions, tag others to do the same, and link this post back to Nancy at her blog, Writer Granny’s World. Nancy asked my permission to tag me prior to posting, and I agreed. However, I didn't realize it would be so difficult to find writers who are not already involved in the hop. 

One of my first choices was a new acquaintance via blogland, but she wasn't able to take the time. Another choice was the author of The Pecan Man, Cassie Dandridge Selleck. She was already working on a post for the blog hop. The rest of the writers I know were either already involved or just didn't have the time. So I will post without tagging. However, if anyone wants to play along, please do so and link back to this post.

Questions and Answers

1. What are you working on?

I recently finished choosing and editing thirty fictional short stories for a compilation book tentatively titled, Stranger on the Shore. For the past couple of years I have been writing a memoir in the form of short stories. To date the count is up to eighty-two stories and one poem. I am currently writing a memoir piece about my maternal grandmother. I am also continuing to write what I hope to become a series of tween books titled The Dirt Foot Gang. The title and first story were inspired by one of my husband's many childhood adventures. I also have two complete, full length novels. When I say complete, I mean the first draft is done. Both remain in the editing stages.  

2. How does your work differ from others of its genre?

I really enjoy writing romantic suspense. I get lost in the storyline and time vanishes. I often have to set an alarm clock so I will remember to go to work on time. I think my work may differ from others in that I don't always stick to the black and white of the genre. Sometimes other genres bleed over into the romantic suspense. I try to stick to the perceived guidelines, but if the story decides to cross the line, who am I to stop it? After all, the main reason I write is for my writing enjoyment.

3.  Why do you write what you do?

I have been writing a lot of creative non-fiction and memoir pieces recently. I started writing memoir pieces and sharing on a website called Our Echo. It was then I decided to preserve what history I remember about my family and my childhood for the generations to come. I would like to introduce my grandchildren to my mother through these stories. As far as romantic suspense, it's the genre I most enjoy reading. I write what I enjoy.

4.  How does your writing process work? 

It starts with an idea. For instance, one of my novels is titled Blackthorn Cove.  I was in the Starbuck's drive-thru lane, waiting for my Grande Cappuccino, when I saw an apartment complex called—Blackthorn Cove. The name seemed to be calling out to me as if it were important in some manner. I dug in my purse and tore a deposit slip from my checkbook and wrote down the name. Weeks later, after I discovered the piece of paper at the bottom of my purse, I sat down in front of the computer and typed out Blackthorn Cove. The name turned into a street where an older lady lived. The woman's estranged daughter was brutally murdered, leaving her son alone. The boy, the woman's grandson she had never met, moved to the house on Blackthorn Cove. Each day I sat down in front of the computer and waited to see where the story would go next. It was like my brain was reading a book while my fingers typed the words. This is the way every fictional story I write is born. I have tried outlining, but I find guidelines stop the creative flow.

If anyone wants to join in the hop, feel free. It has been interesting reading how others write and approach the writing process.

Stop by Nancy Kopp's blog, Writer Granny’s World. Her posts are packed full of useful information for writers. It's a blog I read on a daily basis. I have never failed to learn something or be encouraged by her words.

Blue Skies and Trains

Mural in downtown Mattoon, Illinois. A mix of old and new.

Linking to Skywatch Friday

I'm terribly behind on visiting and commenting. It has been a long week both work days and evenings. Plus, Wednesday night I had no sleep. Autistic grandson went missing. I've never been so frightened in my life. The police were wonderful. He was found about 3 hours later. Seems he decided to go for a late night jog without telling anyone. He couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

Have a great day!

Tattered and Torn

Last night was our local Camera Club meeting. The assignment was American Flag - tattered and torn.
Neither Hubs nor I were inspired by the topic. We have done flags, patriotic, or a similar topic many times before. We decided to go to the meeting, but not bring a picture for the contest, unless we found something we liked. I mean how many angles can you take a picture of a flag and make it interesting? Not many. They all end up looking like—you got it flags.

During last week's ramble, I saw a cool looking barn. Of course I slowed and took a few shots out the car window. Later when I downloaded my pics, I saw somehting amazing. There was a metal flag hanging on the side of the barn—tattered and torn. Now I was excited. So, I jumped in the car and drove back to the barn. I walked up to the house and knocked on the door to ask permission to get a closer shot, but no one was home. So, I had to settle for a long distant shot or risk getting arrested for trespassing. Which wouldn't look good for the Criminal Court Clerk. Below is the pic I entered in the contest.

It doesn't have quite enough stars, but I would consider it an American Flag, wouldn't you?

After I found the barn I got excited and located a couple of tattered flags for Hubs. After some convincing he drove off with his camera, after work, the night of camera club. Below is the pic he entered in the contest.

Of course there wasn't a breath of wind, but he got it printed in the nick of time. I really like the way he positioned the flag with the sky for background and the trees to the side.

How did we fare you ask?

The barn flag took 1st place. The limp flag took 3rd. I'm thinking everyone else might be a little tired of flags, too.

Next month is sunrise/sunset.

Happy Friday!

Good Fences

Linking to Good Fences

Wednesday, Yay!

The Red-Wings start yelling at me the minute I get out of the truck at the garden. The only difference this day was that Mr. was nowhere to be seen, this time it was just Mrs.

Guess she was distracted by an itch.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

and

Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Since you weren't Hodgepodging last Wednesday, how did you pass the time?
Working extra hours at my day job. Missed the Hodge, though. 

2. What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? Yes, one word.
Compromise.

3. Summer officially arrives in the Northern hemishpere later this week. Does it feel like summer where you live? Describe your idea of the perfect summer day. 
Yesterday is the first day we turned on the air conditioner. Now it feels like summer. My idea of a perfect summer day is a cold glass of ice tea, a good book, and a rocking chair on the front porch.

4. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."(Sam Keen) Is laziness ever respectable? Do you have a lazy summer planned, or something semi-ambitious?
See above. 

 5. Past or present, who's your favorite television dad? Why is he a favorite? Is he anything like your own dad?
Andy Taylor. He was an understanding father who knew how to guide his son with kindness. No comparison.

 6. June 18th is International Picnic Day...share a favorite picnic memory.
Not too long after we moved from the frigid north to Dallas, we loaded up the picnic basket and drove out to the lake. It was December. 

 7. The travel site Trip Advisor lists the top five islands in the world for 2014 as- Ambergris Caye in Belize Cayes, Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Marco Island Florida, and Lewis and Harris in The Outer Hebrides (Scotland). Have you been to any of these? Of those listed (and if price were not a factor) which would you most like to book for a holiday?
I would have to pick Marco Island Florida. Why? It would be a shorter flight. Even though I logged a lot of air time during my last job, I no longer like to spend time on airplanes.

 8. Insert your own random thought here.
I woke up at 4:15 this morning. I'm too tired for random thoughts about anything other than my pillow, which is currently calling my name. Can you hear it?