Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings.
Ring-necked ducks.
Wood Duck.
Linking to Saturday Critters
This week's assignment is Starts with P, Favorite, and Plenty.
Starts with P: The Hartsville Nuclear PLANT PROJECT was cancelled by The Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1980s. It never opened. In 2016 the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center was constructed as a private, medium-security PRISON on the site.
When the leaves begin to fall, I know cold weather won't be far behind. To me winter calls for cozy indoor activities and nothing beats a good jigsaw puzzle. With a hot cup of coffee or cocoa, depending on the time of day, it's easy to lose track of time while piecing together those scattered fragments—pure therapy for gray skies.
The Devil's Tower puzzle, a thoughtful gift, brings memories of our wedding in Sundance, Wyoming. The moths, with its odd-shaped pieces, presented a challenge, and the farm scenes reminded me of home.
There's been a chill in the air, which means it's time to begin searching the shops for this year's fun.
Picture this, a gaudy little plastic ring, the kind that promises eternal sparkle for a single quarter from a dusty bubble gum machine. In 2012, grandson #3—back when he was all chubby cheeks and gap-toothed grins—plunked down his hard-earned coin and emerged victorious. "For you, Grandma!" he declared, thrusting it toward me like it was the Hope Diamond. I was supposed to be the wise one, but there I was, slipping it onto my pinky finger, feeling like the richest woman alive.
Thirteen years later, that same ring still rattles around in my jewelry box, nestled among the "real" gems—a little less sparkly but triumphant. It's a reminder that the treasures worth keeping aren't measured in carats, but in the pure, unfiltered love of a kid who thinks you deserve the world.
Knowing the nice days are numbered as the air carries the crisp bite of fall, we drove through the backroads again this weekend. Armed with my trusty camera, Gus in the backseat, and a thermos of coffee, we took off for parts unknown to us. After making sure no cars followed, we barely moved through the quiet spots where time slows and nature puts on a show. Below are a few pics from our ramble—captured moments that remind me why autumn is my favorite season for photography.
Crab Apple Tree
First up, this crabapple tree reminded me of days long ago when they made a wonderful addition to a mud pie meal. Look at those ruby-red fruits hanging like ornaments against the fading green leaves! I caught it in the late afternoon light, when the sun dips low and turns everything into a warm ember. There's something almost magical about crabapples in fall. They once held the promise of mom's jelly. Now I think of them solely as a feast for the wildlife. Don't try eating them off the tree, they're way too tart.
Willow Trees
Along a pond's edge, I couldn't resist this row of willow trees. Their slender branches sway gracefully, dancing with the breeze, often dipping toward the water. Willows always make me think of lazy summer days spent fishing in our pond with my brother. These trees are water lovers, thriving where land meets water. They're a haven for dragonflies and frogs, and on windy days like today, their whispers sound like secrets shared between old friends.
Milkweed
Finally, as rain clouds move in, we saw the star of the show, a milkweed pod, burst open and ready to send its fluffy seeds to parts unknown. I spotted it tucked among the tall grasses, the cottony strands glowing like dandelion wishes. Remember squeezing your eyes shut, making a wish, then blowing a mighty breath to send the dandelion seeds off on their quest to make it come true? Not an easy feat with milkweed pods. Monarch butterflies owe their epic migrations to these plants—each seed holds the potential for new growth, a lifeline for the next generation of pollinators.
Yesterday we were on a quest to find birds or a critter. We planned to get lost down new roads. We do this often, but usually end up finding our way home without help from Siri, and that's what happened.
Along the way we saw a deer. She ran into the middle of the road, saw us, put on the brakes, and made a u-turn. Sometimes they will stop and turn around to stare, so I had my camera ready. This one kept going, so no picture.
On another road, we saw a red-shouldered hawk sitting on the wire. While we watched, he swooped down and grabbed a praying mantis and took it up to his perch. I'm amazed he could see such a tiny thing from so high up. His eyesight is much better than mine. :)
A little farther along, we saw a herd of llamas.
From a distance, I thought this one had two heads. :)
Linking to Saturday Critters
Starts with O: Bard OWL starts with O. I went on a quest to find one of these last week. As usual, I didn't have any luck. This guy lives in Oklahoma, which is where I took this pic two years ago.
Favorite: More from the archives. This is OLE Red, Blake Shelton's restaurant/bar/entertainment venue in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. We went for all special occasions while living near Stonewall. It is named after one of the songs on his debut album.
Linking to Weekend Roundup
Went for a backroad ramble yesterday. It won't be long until the weather is too cold to drive with the windows down, so we took full advantage of the beautiful day. Unfortunately, we didn't find any birds, with the exception of a swallow flying overhead, or critters, although I did see what might have been a raccoon on the far side of a field, but he ducked into the bushes before I could raise my camera.
We did find lots of weeds and some color.
This is Floating Primrose-Willow according to the "Seek" app on my phone.
I tried to identify this with the same app and it kept saying Flowering Dogwood, but I think it might be Sumac.
Linking to Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday
Found this little guy while out on a walk. I didn't have my glasses on and he didn't stop for long, but I did get this really poor shot of a new lifer. Of course, I didn't know his identity until I uploaded the pics and checked with Merlin.
Pie has been around a long time. How long? A whole lot longer than I imagined. According to Wiki, as a food dish, they originated in ancient Egypt around 9500 BCE. Modern pastries, with their flaky, buttery layers and tasty fillings can be traced through France during the 17th and 18th centuries, spreading worldwide via colonialism and cafes in the 1800s.
I give Mom credit for my love of pie. As fourth in the line of fourteen children, she learned to make the perfect crust. She often used a 9X13 pan instead of a small round one. Most think this makes it a cobbler, but cobblers only have a top crust. Hers had both. Apple and blackberry with a scoop of vanilla ice cream are my favorites. Although, you won't find me turning down a slice no matter the flavor. I dare say this is my favorite dessert.
My daughter and I have tried to duplicate her crust. We watched and listened to her explain how it's done. Use the large bowl of flour kept in the pantry, add water, shortening, and work it with your hands until it "feels right." Somehow, I've never actually decided what that means, but Betty Crocker has provided the recipe I use. Not as good as Mom's, but it works.
The family's love of pie during the holidays is why the pie contest started. We even have a homemade trophy as seen in the picture below. These pies are from a few years ago. Now that the grands are old enough, we all participate. We're all currently trying to choose the winning recipe for this year's competition.
Do you have a favorite pie?
It's been a busy weekend, starting with brunch in the city on Saturday. We tried a new place called Le Cafe, which is part of Le Bakery. I could have tasted one of each, but after our meal, I didn't have enough room.
Today's Assignment: Starts with N, Favorite, and Neat.
Starts with N: NEST starts with N. We have been searching for an eagle's nest here in Illinois, but haven't found one yet. This is a throwback from Oklahoma. We watched Ozzie and Harriet raise their families for several years.
Neat - Cool: This is the bathroom faucet at a friend's barndaminium in Tennessee. It changes colors with the water temperature. Green is cold. Red is hot. Blue is warm. Yes, cool.