Weekend Roundup - Q

Today's assignment: Starts with Q, Favorite, Quantity.

Starts with Q: My favorite time of day is sunrise. When the weather allows, I like to have morning coffee on the porch and watch the day unfold. It's my QUIET time.

Favorite: Oklahoma and Texas had 20+ tornadoes this week. This was my view from the front porch while the sirens were going off. The poor horses stood out in the pouring rain and wind. Not sure why. They looked miserable. Fortunately, no tornadoes touched down at our place.

Quantity: A large QUANTITY of pelicans stopped by the lake during migration.

Linking to The Weekend Roundup

Saturday Ramble

In keeping with social distancing while trying to get out and enjoy the beautiful day, we went for a drive. We drove from home, down to Tishomingo, up through Wapanuka, and back home. Our short road trip took us by the eagle's nest. I couldn't see the babies, but either mama or papa was standing guard.

We also drove by the lake where we saw 2 great egrets, a blue heron, and a flock of double-crested cormorants.  I got one pic of three, although I think there are actually four...

...but when I tried to get a pic of the whole flock, they flew.

Hope everyone is finding fun things to do while social distancing. Stay well!

Linking to Saturday Critters

The Weekend Roundup - P

Today's assignment is P: Starts with P, Favorite, and Pair.

Starts with P: PIANO starts with P. This one is at my granddaughter's university. 

Favorite: Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love to take pics of critters and especially birds. Yesterday, we were driving one of our favorite back roads which goes by a small lake. On the far side were hundreds of American White PELICANS. They are only here during migration. Sadly, they were all on the far side, so had to rely on my zoom to get a few decent pics.

Pair: This is one fine-looking PAIR of mules pulling this wagon. 

Just Because: Since we are all social distancing and the restaurants are closed, I'm posting a bucket of PEANUTS from our favorite steak house. Looking forward to another visit when we are all back to normal.

And Finally: Happy to have found this PIED-billed Grebe enjoying this sunny day. 

Linking to The Weekend Roundup

Randomosity

The Good: When I lived near my daughter, we used to have cooking contests. Gumbo was the subject of one. The gumbo recipe I used required the rice to be added to the pot, which I did. The designated time for daughter to show up with her version came and went. Her late arrival caused my rice to swell up and turn into a thick mess, while hers was perfectly fine. I say, not fair! 

I haven't made gumbo since until this past weekend. This recipe called for the gumbo to be spooned over the rice on the plate. I like this version much better. Since we are social distancing, I made do with what I had in the pantry and freezer. Instead of andouille sausage, I only had boudin. It is spicier and I think tasted much better. I also had a chicken breast that needed to be used, so added it in with the sausage and shrimp. It was very tasty! Hubby even ate leftovers, which he doesn't normally enjoy. 

The Random: In order to get out of the house and still stay away from people, we often go for drives in the country on nice days. Yesterday was a warm and sunny day. However, as we drove out of the drive, I noticed clouds gathering. We decided to go anyway. But, by the time we came back, it was pouring down rain. This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, except we have horses in front of our house and 2 gates to get through between the road and home. Guess who wasn't driving and thus required to open gates? Yep, me. 

The Fun: There is nothing better than watching the horses being playful, unless it is colts running around the pasture. Sadly, we don't have colts, but enjoy the horses' antics. Yesterday morning they were having a little fun out by the pond.

Linking to Random-osity

Back Road Rambles

It's been a while since I've posted anything on this blog. Last fall Hubs had a serious health issue that took us into February and then RA came knocking on my door. My dad's sister had RA. Sure wish I knew then how painful it was, I would have tried to help her. At least my hands are not hurting too much to type now, so I'm going to try to post more of my pics.

I hope everyone is well and practicing social distancing. We are both high risk, so we are doing our best. In order to get out of the house, Hubs has been accompanying me on my back road hunt for critters. 

A couple of months ago, a friend called to tell me about an eagle's nest he found. The pics are not very good since it is so far off the road, and I don't trespass, but they are good enough to see the eagles and now eaglets. This pic is from a couple of days ago. 

The road to the nest takes us past a lake. On this particular day, we saw a trio of double-crested cormorants, one of which didn't seem to mind sharing his spot with a turtle.

Another enjoyed a swim. 

A blue heron landed on the far side of the lake. He stayed long enough for one quick pic before taking off again. 

On the drive home, Hubs happened to see this colt in the pasture. 

Linking to  Saturday Critters   and The Bird D-Pot

The Weekend Roundup - W

This week's assignment: Starts with W, Favorite, and Water.

Starts with W: Winter starts with W.  We had a little snow at my daughter's house during Thanksgiving. Ole Red looks kind of nice with snow highlights. We had a WONDERFUL visit, but it sure was nice to get back to Oklahoma where the WEATHER is a little better.

Favorite: Of course, I found a way to get a horse in the post. They are always a favorite of mine. I believe this WHITE horse would be considered a flea bit roan, but still WHITE to me.

Water: Part of the fun at the Chickasaw Cultural Center is feeding the turtles and catfish. They had the WATER churning.

This WATER fountain is also located at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Just Because: I found this replica of a WOODEN WATER WHEEL in Tishomingo, OK.

And Finally: This WAGON was being sold at the mule sale in Ada, OK. 

Linking to The Weekend Roundup 

The Barn Collective

I found this barn on a recent back-road-ramble. At least I think it's a barn. There seem to be curtains in the window, so could be a house. Or, could be a barn/house. Whatever it is, it sure is big.

This is a barn from my spring trip to Illinois. Sure am missing spring. 

Linking to The Barn Collective

Weekend Roundup - T

This week's assignment is: Starts with T, Favorite, and Two

Starts with T: TIARA starts with T. This rodeo queen wears her TIARA over her hat.

Favorite: I love TRUCKS. I drive a Chevrolet Silverado, but it isn't as awesome as this older model. I'm not sure of the year. Anyone know?

Two: I drove by TWO deer down by our gate. I stopped to warn them about the hunter down in the woods. I think they are small enough they will make it through hunting season.

Just Because: I had money on this number TEN horse. Stepson is the TRAINER. 

He won. We got to be in the winner's circle pic. Fun evening.

And Finally: I'm going to be out of town for the next TWO weeks, so thought I would wish everyone an early Happy THANKSGIVING. For a TABLECLOTH, my daughter covers the TABLE with brown paper. She supplies markers and we all draw a picture and say what we are THANKFUL for. I have a lot to be THANKFUL for this year. What about you? Have a wonderful THANKSGIVING!

Linking to The Weekend Roundup

Duck, Duck, Deer, Barn

Since we moved last spring, it has been difficult to get nature pictures. Our lawn doesn't have any trees and it is huge. outside the fence, there is a pond and lots of trees, but I can't sneak up on the critters. They have a clear view of me inching toward them. I'm reduced to extremely long shots, which doesn't make for very good pics. But I try.

I have seen ducks on the pond the last few days, but Gus likes to bark and scare them away. This morning I was able to get one halfway decent shot before they flew. Wood ducks.

First thing this morning, before it was light enough for pics, there were 5 deer over by the garden. Later, this deer came out of the woods. He was a little closer than the ducks on the pond, but not much. He seems to have had an altercation with another buck or perhaps a tree—one antler and a stub.

I found this fine old barn on one of my back-road-rambles in October. 

 Linking to The Barn Collective

Weekend Roundup - S

Today's assignment: Starts with S, Favorite, and Single.

Starts with S: I took Gus for a STROLL this afternoon. After a few days of rain, it was nice to see this beautiful SKY. 

Favorite: Hubs took me down to Ole Red in Tishomingo, OK for lunch on the 4th. Since we were celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary, we ordered the BS Bloody Mary. BS is short for a couple of not-so-nice words, but I choose to believe it is named after the owner, Blake SHELTON. It has a STRAW, Mr. Shelton's own SMITHWORKS vodka, and a SLIM Jim, among numerous other items. We could have called lunch over after finishing all the goodies. But, of course, we didn't. The drink wasn't very STRONG. No buzz. I would know since I'm not much of a drinker. Two mixed drinks would put me under the table. After a walk around downtown Tish, we drove by the original Chickasaw National Capitol Building, and checked out a nature reserve. SADLY, we didn't see any birds.

Single: Last evening on the local news, they were talking about this wildflower. Seems scientists believe it may have medicinal uses. It is called SNOW on the Mountain. This is a SINGLE bloom.

A few more blooms.

And this is SEVERAL blooms. They sure are pretty scattered around in pastures. 

Just Because: This is one fine looking SADDLE. 

And Finally: While visiting Tishomingo, OK, happened to look down and see this STAR in the sidewalk.

What? No horse? I surely can't have a post without a horse: This is Dylan, Romeo, and SOCKS the Mule on a frosty morning.

Linking to The Weekend Roundup 

Weekend Roundup - R

This week's assignment: Starts with R, Favorite, and Red.

Starts with R: Meet Tatum. He is a RED ROAN and a gentle riding horse. 

Favorite: READING is one of my favorite things to do on cold RAINY days, like the ones we recently suffered through. I shouldn't complain, since we didn't get snow or ice. The ROSE bookmark was a present from my granddaughter. A reminder of her European tour with her high school band.

Red: I like RED. It isn't my favorite color, but it was my mother's. I certainly do enjoy a RED barn though. I found this one last spring while visiting my daughter in Illinois. 

Linking to The Weekend Roundup