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!
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.
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
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.
Linking to Weekend Roundup
Linking to Skywatch
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
Linking to The Weekend Roundup
Overcast, but not from a cloudy day. It's smoke from the wildfires in Canada.
Linking to Skywatch
I love sunflowers. I once planted them all along one side of the garden shed where we used to live. They brought lots of nature to the backyard, especially goldfinches and hummingbirds.
Someone planted an entire field of them down by the river access. This isn't them. I took this pic at Sam Parr State Park.
This is them. When we left for vacation, they were tall, I only saw one or two in bloom.
This horse followed Hubby as he walked along the fence, and I'm pretty sure he wondered if there might be a carrot in his future. :)
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
It's Thursday. Have a great day!
1. What's worth standing in line for? Not a fan of standing in line for anything, but I will at the DMV to renew my driver's license. Not by choice, but because I must. :) I suppose I would stand in line at the airport to board a plane or enter a concert venue to see someone like Paul McCartney.
2. Tell us about a favorite food related memory. It isn't my favorite, but it is a food memory. My dad required us to clean our plates at every meal. One day, when I felt so full I couldn't face eating another bite, my dad gave me the 'think about those starving children in other countries' lecture. Not sure what I was thinking, but I replied, "What do you want me to do? Mail it to them?" I don't remember much after that. :)
3. What are some things you find particularly peaceful or calming? Cottonwood tree leaves rustling in the wind, birds singing their morning songs, and the feel of a soft breeze on my face.
4. Is there something you do now that gets you just as excited as it did when you were a child? Walking inside a movie theater, greeted by the smell of freshly popped popcorn, and lots of candy to choose from.
5. To what degree are you in touch with friends from grade school? high school? college if you attended college? I am still great friends with two of them, one from first grade and another from third grade. I keep in touch with several others through social media, particularly Facebook and that's the only reason I'm still on there. We are below, A, me, and C.
6. Insert your own random thought here. We moved back to Illinois from Oklahoma last October. I miss the horses and cattle in ranch country. I'm not a fan of Illinois, but family and nearby doctors are the draw. I moved away from Illinois in 1973, back in 2005 for twelve years, and back again in 2024. In between I lived in Tennessee twice, North Carolina once, Texas twice, and Oklahoma once. My favorite state you ask. I love Texas, but we lived in Dallas and the traffic has become too much, so guess I would choose Oklahoma. Too bad we are getting old and it was nearly a two hour ride to the doctor. Otherwise, we might still be living there. Nah, I'd miss my family. Plus, it's only a fifteen minute drive to the farthest doc now.
Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge
From his perch on his favorite limb, Mr. Squirrel eyed a shiny new feeder brimming with seeds. He knew it was one of those newfangled "squirrel-proof" models. I bet I can break into that flimsy thing, he thought. He scampered down the tree and stood on his hind legs below the bright red feeder, assessing the situation. He circled, schemed, and when he had a plan in place, stretched tall, grabbed hold of the metal, and shinnied up the pole. He stopped to peek in the window, and his mouth watered in anticipation. He tugged at the tiny ports, but they snapped shut under his weight. Undeterred, he checked the roof, but when that didn't work, he looked down. It was then he discovered if he clung to the side of the feeder, he could lean down and eat his fill. The squirrel dined until his belly felt full, then called out to his brothers and sisters to come enjoy the feast.
The feeder lady watched from her seat on the deck. She shook her head, chuckled, and threw up her hands in defeat. "Well, Mr. Squirrel, you've won this round.
Linking to Tuesday Treasures
