Skywatch

It's Friday. Time to look up.

At dawn, it wakes in blushing hue,

At noon, a vast and simple blue.

And when the night arrives with grace,

It wears a diamond-dusted face. ~ Author Unknown

Linking to Skywatch

Thankful Thursday - Sunrise/Sunset

 Sunrise

Sunset

Linking to Thankful Thursday

Hummingbird

 I haven't seen many hummingbirds this year, even though the feeders empty. Guess I haven't been outside at the proper times. I did see one here and there, but never when I had my camera in hand until yesterday. Finally got a pic of this guy. I thought by now only females would be left in our area, so I got a surprise when I saw this male. 

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday and My Corner of the World

Tuesday Treasures - Gus

We've had beautiful patio sittin' weather lately. I hope this doesn't mean we are going to have an early, ferocious winter. Gus doesn't have as many critters to chase in the city, but the squirrels are plentiful. He wasn't disappointed last evening. 

On alert. Searching for his nemesis.

Aha! Spotted one by the neighbor's fence.

The squirrel spotted him.

And quickly run along the fence to the neighbor's tall tree, thwarting Gus's fun.

Linking to Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesday

Nature Notes - Before Fall

Gus wanted to go for a backroad ramble yesterday, so we loaded up the car and took off toward the river access. 

The bright colors of summer wildflowers are gone, now all are a muted yellow. The light greens of spring and deep greens of summer are tinged with brown. Still beautiful.

The river, where we often saw kayakers, is in dire need of a good rain.

The corn is starting to turn. Now is the time for farmers to get their equipment ready for harvest.

At the access, Hubs took Gus for a walk while I made my way to this awesome birdwatching bench ... a new addition this summer.

I'm happy Mr. Thompson enjoyed this area. I do, too. And I appreciate his family's tribute.

As I sat there, a cottonwood leaf settled down beside me. When I looked up, I saw another, then another. A sure sign fall is on its way. This tall tree is officially calling it a season.

I heard the sweet song of a warbling vireo. I'm sure he wanted to have his picture taken, but he was high overhead and refused to land on a branch with a better view for my camera, so I took the shot anyway. 

Gus has discovered a love for 'pup cups' at the local ice cream shop. He insisted. :)

Then back home for burgers on the gill courtesy of Chef Grandson.

Today, will be for enjoying a walk outside in this beautiful weather—sunny and 78°—and a good movie later in the day. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day holiday.

Linking to Nature Notes

Monday Musings

As a friend on Facebook wrote, these are the ABCs. Anne, Betty, and Carolyn. My two best and longest friends. 

I've known Carolyn since my aunt married her uncle in the mid 1950s. We got to know each other at a shivaree shower at her grandparent's house. 

I've known Anne since third grade. I moved to a new school in 1958. A was a shy girl not good at making friends. She befriended me and I will be forever grateful to her.

This is us albeit a few years back.

Today is Carolyn's birthday, which made me think about being a friend. I don't often call or text either of them. I'm always afraid I'm interrupting their day. So I decided to remind myself as to why friends are important. This is what my research found:

Good friends are the unsung heroes of a fulfilling life. They lift you up when you’re down, challenge you to be better, and make mundane moments sparkle with laughter and connection. In a chaotic world, the value of true friendship is immeasurable. 

They provide a safe space to share joys, fears, and everything in between, listening without judgment. Studies, like those from the American Psychological Association, show strong social connections reduce stress and boost mental health. A friend who checks in during tough times or celebrates your wins as their own is priceless.

Beyond support, good friends spark growth. They call you out when you’re slacking, inspire you with their ambitions, and cheer your goals. Whether it’s a late-night talk about dreams or a nudge to step out of your comfort zone, they’re mirrors reflecting your potential and compasses guiding you forward.

Shared experiences with friends amplify joy. A 2023 study from the Journal of Happiness Studies found that moments like spontaneous road trips or cozy movie nights create lasting memories. Good friends turn the ordinary into extraordinary, whether laughing over bad puns or dancing like nobody’s watching.

In crises—job loss, heartbreak, or illness—good friends are lifelines. They bring soup when you’re sick or sit silently when words aren’t enough, building a sense of security that you’re never alone.

Cultivating these friendships takes effort: showing up, being authentic, and investing time. Small gestures, like a thoughtful text or remembering a friend’s big day, matter. Quality trumps quantity—a few deep connections outweigh countless shallow ones.

Good friends are the glue that holds life together, making the journey richer, lighter, and infinitely meaningful. So, reach out to a friend today—tell them what they mean to you. In a world of fleeting moments, good friends are forever.

What did I learn? To be better at communication and tell them how important they are in my life. 

The Barn Collective - Over the Corn

In the heart of farm country, a barn stands proudly against the horizon. This timeless symbol of rural life, with its faded paint, tells stories of seasons past. Useful for farmers, fun for climbing on hay bales and playing pretend on the tractors and wagons parked inside. 

Nearby, rows of corn stretch toward the sky, their vibrant green leaves rustling in the breeze reminds me of my younger days playing hide-and-seek in the tall stalks, and the quiet stress-free days of summer.

Happy Sunday!

Sunday Best - Asiatic Lily

Asiatic Lily - one of my all time favorite flower pics.

 Linking to Sunday Best

Movie - The Roses

 What better way to spend a quiet Saturday afternoon than going to the actual movie theater with my daughter? Since COVID, we rarely go, so this was a special treat. Especially since in our younger days, we went almost every weekend and this felt a little like going back in time. 

We saw The Roses with Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. This 2025 movie isn't considered a remake, but a reimagining of the 1989 file, The War of the Roses. Both films are based on Warren Adler's 1981 novel and feature a couple whose love turns into a bitter, destructive divorce. 

My daughter enjoyed The Roses more than I did. The film dives into a marriage falling apart spectacularly, with both hiring divorce lawyers, leading to relentless bickering. I prefer stories with more peace, so the constant conflict wore on me. That said, the humor woven throughout was a saving grace, keeping things lively. My favorite part? The brilliant, unexpected ending. I won't spoil it, but it's worth watching for. Go see it and decide for yourself. 

Saturday Critters

I've often wondered why these birds are called cattle egrets, so this morning I decided to look up the answer. It's because they are often found foraging near cattle. Duh! :) In other parts of the world, if they are around elephants, they would be called elephant egrets or rhinoceros egrets. It depends on the animal. 

Cattle egrets benefit cows by acting as a pest control service, feeding on parasites and insects such as flies and ticks that are on or near cattle as they graze. This is a mutually beneficial relationship. It helps reduce the insect-related problems for the cows and provides the egrets with a food source. 

Linking to Saturday Critters

Weekend Roundup - I

 This week's assignment: Starts with I, Favorite, and Ice.

Starts with I: Remember this song from your early school years? "The ITSY Bitsy Spider, climbed up the water spout, down came the rain, and washed the spider out, out came the sun, and dried up all the rain, and the ITSY Bitsy Spider, climbed up the spout again."

Favorite: IRIS is a pretty "I". Love this one I found growing beside a fence.

Ice: What better way to drink a margarita-on-the-rocks than ICE cold.

This ICEY picture is from one of the worst winters we had while living in Oklahoma.

Linking to Weekend Roundup

Skywatch Friday - Gull

A single gull on high,
A painted streak against the blue,
Drifts on the wind without a sound,
And finds its freedom in the view. ~ author unknown

Linking to Skywatch

Thursday Fences

I like old rustic fences, but today I'll post a modern one. This gate is the entrance of former Dallas Cowboy's player Walt Garrison's home.

 Argyle, Texas. 

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Thankful Thursday - Sunsets

There’s something quietly magical about a sunset. As the sky changes from gold to crimson to deep indigo, it allows us to pause and savor its beauty if only for a moment. Sunsets don't ask for anything. They don’t rush. They simply unfold, offering a gentle close to the day.

Whether you’re on a beach, a balcony, or stuck in traffic, taking a few seconds to watch the sky change can reset your mood and slow your thoughts. It’s a daily masterpiece — free and fleeting. 

Over the Ohio River.

Over the Florida Panhandle

Linking to Thankful Thursday

 

Wordless Wednesday - Florida

Happy Wednesday

 Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

It's a gorgeous morning here. 61° temperature gave Gus the zooms. 

Black and White Warbler

Eastern Kingbird

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday
 

Tuesday Treasures - Duck

Answering the food lady's call, Gus pranced into the living room to find her holding a surprise behind her back. He heard the squeaker before she held out a plush yellow and orange duck. He wagged his tail and perked up his ears, his eyes locked onto his new toy with the intensity of a herding dog sizing up a flock ... waiting ,,, knowing she planned to toss it his way. 

           

"Look what I got you, Gus!" his lady said, throwing the duck high up into the air.

Gus grabbed it mid-flight. The duck squeaked with his enthusiastic chomp, and the pup paraded it around the house, proudly showing it off to the couch, the coffee table, and even the cat who gave a disinterested yawn. The toy was perfect—vibrant, and gloriously intact.

At first, Gus gently held his new friend. He often dropped it at the food lady's feet, begging for a game of fetch. Of course, she happily complied. 

Gus loved his new duck. But red heelers are not known for restraint. By day two, the playful nibbles became determine chomps. During a particularly wild zoom through the house, he shook his friend like a rogue animal, and a seam gave way. A puff of white stuffing floated out. Gus's eyes widened ... a game-changer.

The room became a battlefield. He tore into the duck with surgical precision, tugging out clumps of stuffing with gleeful abandon until he found the squeaker. The shrill noise added to the chaos. 

The food lady walked in to find a snowstorm of fluff scattered across the floor, Gus standing triumphantly amid the mess, and the duck's once-proud form now a limp, shredded shell. He dropped his former friend at her feet, tail wagging, as if to say, "Look! I found the squeaker!"

His food lady sighed and grabbed her camera to capture the carnage. "Gus, you're a menace," she said but her smile betrayed her words. The pup's joy was worth every shred of stuffing on the floor.  

Happy National Dog Day!

Linking to Tuesday Treasures

Monday Musings - Pumpkin

A vast majority of the world's canned pumpkin is processed in Morton, Illinois at the Libby's plant, earning the town the title of "Pumpkin Capital of the World".

The first Pumpkin Festival was held in 1967 to celebrate the beginning of the pumpkin harvest and canning season. 

The party is held in September, so almost time! And guess what? I think Cinderella is planning to attend. I found her coach!

Nature Notes - Deer

 Scratching an itch.

Linking to Nature Notes

Barn Day

Similar, yet different. Both are for grain storage.

Happy Sunday!

Sunday Best - Ducks

Upside down - Right side up.

Linking to Sunday Best

Weekend Roundup - H

This week's assignment: Starts with H, Favorite, and High.

Starts with H: We found this HOUSE in Tennessee. I don't often take pictures of houses, but this one caught my eye. Not only do I like the stone, but the owner built it on a beautiful piece of property.

Of course, HAY also starts with H. I like the colorful netting protecting these round bails.

 Favorite: If you have stopped by this blog before or actually know me, you won't be surprised to see a HORSE as my favorite. Of course, this is one of Whiskey from my archives. He still lives in Oklahoma. Sure miss him.

High: Devil's Tower is one of our favorite places to visit. It could be because we were married in the nearby town of Sundance, Wyoming, or it could be because it's impressive.

Climbers seem to like scaling the massive rock. If you click on the picture and enlarge it, you might be able to find someone in this shot. 

But if not, I cropped it for you. See him on the far left side?

I zoomed in from the ground for this shot.

Watching him through the camera made my toes tingle. Not a fan of heights.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Linking to The Weekend Roundup