Saturday Critters - Cows and Deer

Resting in the cool grass.

In the shadows.

Behind you!

 Linking to Saturday Critters

Weekend Roundup - K

 This week's assignment: Starts with K, Favorite, and Kind.

Starts with K: This is Sonny Boy's KITCHEN. The lighting changes colors, but this is my favorite.

Favorite: This picture has two of my favorites, Grandson #4 and a stray KITTEN he wanted to take home. Of course, it wasn't really a stray, it belonged to a neighbor.

                      

Kind: And this is Grandson #4 again, being KIND to Findley who wanted to play. Then Grandson #1 was KIND enough to volunteer to pick Grandma's peaches high up in the tree.

It was only a sunny smile,

and little it cost 

in the giving,

but like morning light

it scattered the night

and made the day

worth living.

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

Linking to Weekend Roundup

Skywatch Friday

Over the Illinois River

Linking to Skywatch

Wordless Wednesday - Wildflowers

 

Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Treasures - Benches

 The older I get the more I appreciate a nice place to rest. Here are a few I've taken advantage of in the past. Not only do they provide a nice place to catch your breath, but they're also great places to watch for critters. Since I no long have a back porch in ranch country, these are my happy places. :)

Overlooking Old Hickory Lake

Overlooking the Mackinaw River

Overlooking the Illinois River

On a bench by the river's edge,

Waves and wind whisper secrets.

Fish splash, birds take flight,

Bunnies hop, squirrels scold.

Nature's rhythm hums in my ears, 

Bringing peace to a chaotic day.

 

Linking to Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesday

Monday Musings - Ampersand

 I checked the National Day Calendar to help me decide what to muse about and discovered today is National Ampersand Day. You know that cute little character that stands for "and" in most things I/we write to save time. So, I researched its beginnings, and this is what I found.

        

Did you know the ampersand used to be the last letter of the alphabet? Me either! According to the description on the National Day Calendar, it is a ligature of the letters E & T, and the word "et"  in Latin, means "and."  Got that? 

It's more than a fancy way to say "and." Its roots go back to Ancient Rome, where the scribes mashed the letters E and T from the Latin word et to save space. This ligature evolved over the centuries, taking on the curvy, stylized form we see today. 

The ampersand is everywhere, hiding in plain sight. We are so used to seeing it, we rarely pay attention. It will show up on a coffee shop sign, a book cover, or even the keyboard I'm typing on. 

So here's to the small, mighty, and endlessly useful ampersand!

Sunday Best - Clydesdales

 For my best/favorite shot of the week, I must choose one of the Clydesdales from our visit to the park Friday.

Linking to Sunday Best

The Barn Collective

 It's Barn Day and I'm running out of barn pics. Guess it's time for a backroad ramble. 

Beyond the foxtails.

Through the Canadian smoke.

Linking to The Barn Collective

Saturday Critters - Clydesdales

Friday evening in the park. First there were trucks.

Then a wagon.

 One horse ...                 

Then two horses.

They were all decked out in their Sunday best.

Which included their tales.

Then there were eight horses all ready to go.

So the pup and the drivers climbed aboard.

And off they go ... 

Linking to Saturday Critters and Nature Notes

Weekend Roundup - J

This week's assignment: Starts with J, Favorite, and Juxtaposed.

Starts with J: JAMBALAYA starts with J. It is one of my favorite foods, but this restaurant sure served it up in a unique way.

Favorite: Okay, so I had to post this favorite picture of JUBE from a couple of years ago. 

But also posted a newer picture of the JIGSAW puzzle we recently finished. 

Juxtaposed: Now Tom is trying to trip us up during this round of Weekend Roundup, and this was an especially tough one. I kind of knew what JUXTAPOSED meant, but to be sure I picked the right picture to post, I researched. This is what I found: Put two objects next to each other, side-by-side, to emphasize their contrast. An art exhibit might have the paintings of one period JUXTAPOSED with those from another to emphasize how different the two periods were.  

After researching, a light bulb went off! I have the perfect shot, I thought. It's a photo from last summer when Stonewall, Oklahoma got a new water tower. Aced it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Linking to Weekend Roundup

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.