Different downtowns that i have been to.
•April 20, 2023 • Leave a Comment
Daily writing prompt
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.
I think every decision helps us learn or grow, whether it is the right ones or not. So I couldn’t just pick one.
Small Town Iowa
•April 14, 2023 • 2 CommentsHard to believe that at one time this town was active and had thriving businesses. Sad that our small towns are disappearing.
We Need
•April 12, 2023 • 2 CommentsMore Tulips and flowers in the World…Can not wait for flower season to start!
Sit For a Spell
•April 6, 2023 • Leave a CommentTime to sit back after a long day with your favorite drink and enjoy some quiet time..
Columbus Museum Gardens…Georgia
•April 5, 2023 • 2 CommentsBeautiful place to spend time walking the paths, finding a spot to sit for a spell or both. But worth a visit.
A Bit Rusty
•March 27, 2023 • 7 CommentsBeen awhile since I have tried drawing a tree, I def need to keep at it and not slack..
Road Trip
•March 20, 2023 • 2 CommentsYou’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?
Driving the truck, taking as many backroads as possible seeing as much as I can. Although going by train might be fun once. Just to see what its like..
Hello Spring…..
•March 20, 2023 • Leave a CommentYour finally here!
You know how some songs just make you happy or sad or make you want to dance? Well the song I can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff is one of those songs for me. Every time I hear it, just makes me happy and makes me want to do a happy dance. So enjoy the day and enjoy a little Jimmy!
💕💘 Heart Day ❤💞
•February 14, 2023 • 4 CommentsHappy Valentines Day! Hope everyone has a wonderful day..
For those that usually go out and buy premade Heart cookies my sister shared a quick and easy alternative.
Easy Valentines Desert
1 Heart shape baking pan (could use any size)
1 Premade refrigerated chocolate cookie dough (or your favorite or mix and match)
Frosting (favorite one)
Sprinkles
Break apart cookie dough and place around heart shaped pan leaving a little space in between each one. Bake according to package.
Let cool, once cooled add your frosting and sprinkles..
Enjoy!
Eagles Have Landed
•February 10, 2023 • 2 CommentsI wasn’t as close as I would have liked to been but felt lucky enough to get the few shots I did. There were other young ones flying but stayed clear. I think they were after something in the field. But I love the sounds they make and the older one was rather vocal..
Squirrel For a Day
•February 8, 2023 • 5 CommentsI love watching these little ones. They are so full of life and are a source of endless amusement..
One of My Favorite Views
•January 27, 2023 • Leave a CommentI always love this view when especially when it is snowy. Like walking into Narnia..
One Day Later
•January 5, 2023 • Leave a CommentOne day fog and dreary mist, next day wind and snow. And no I was not driving while taking photos…Im not that crazy…lol
More Fog
•January 4, 2023 • Leave a CommentIt stuck around most of the morning, once it lifted left behind that fine mist and wind that chills you and doesnt go away.
Hello 2023!
•January 1, 2023 • 1 CommentHappy New Year!
Hard to imagine another year has gone by. Seems like the older I get the faster time goes by. And each year I tell myself the next one will be better. Sometimes it is and sometimes not so much.
But I hope this year is a healthy and happy one, filled with love and laughter. And we all achieve whatever goals we have set forth.
So Make the most of this year, dont look back, look forward, embrace all the good and truly do live life to the fullest….
Walking Time
•December 29, 2022 • Leave a CommentThe trail I go on was a bit snowy. But its above freezing finally and just nice to get out.
Merry Christmas
•December 25, 2022 • 2 CommentsHope everyone has a wonderful Holiday spent with those you love!
Before the Artic Blast
•December 24, 2022 • Leave a CommentValley Junction. Wanted to get some with snow but it’s just been way to cold.
Fall in Des Moines
•November 28, 2022 • Leave a CommentVisited Des Moines in late fall to get a few shots of the city from different parks around the city. Some I had been to before and one was a new park. Great views though.
Last Tree for Fall
•November 25, 2022 • 2 CommentsFound this tree when I was cleaning memory card. I remember taking it but kept forgetting to retrieve it..
Happy Thanksgiving
•November 24, 2022 • Leave a CommentI hope everyone has a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time with family and friends. Hopefully plenty of good food. If not order pizza!
Reflections Are..
•November 23, 2022 • Leave a CommentSpent a little bit of time trying to take photos of water reflections. Some I like, some I’m on fence about and there are always some I’m not impressed with at all. But that’s ok, always room for improvement.
Moon
•November 21, 2022 • 2 CommentsTook these the night before the eclipse or the night of. Sadly I missed the eclipse thanks to this thing called sleeping.. But I did get these atleast, and I did have this plan of waking up for the eclipse but that didn’t work out so well.
I didn’t notice the visitor in the tree til later when I was going over the photos…
First Snow Part 2
•November 16, 2022 • 2 CommentsBeautiful snow fall, first one of the season and probably not the last. I always like the first snow fall but then I’m over it. I have been on these trails before and never had an issue, but the snow did hide a few tripping hazards. I won’t say if they did me in or not. haha!
First Snow of the Season Pt 1
•November 15, 2022 • Leave a CommentWent out early this morning to check out the snow. Was beautiful to wander the woods, It was so silent and peaceful. More to come..
City Pond
•November 14, 2022 • 2 CommentsI see alot of people fishing here, but not sure if they ever catch anything.
So Long
•November 7, 2022 • 4 CommentsI think after this wet and rainy weekend the pretty fall colors will definetly be gone. And the trees will be bare..
Happy Halloween
•October 31, 2022 • 2 CommentsHappy Halloween Everyone!
Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31. It started with the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward of ghosts. Pope Gregory the III made November 1 the time when all the Saints would be honored, Eventually All Saints Day as it was called combined some of the traditions of Samhain, and the night before became known as All Hollows Eve which later turned into Halloween.
Eventually Halloween turned into this big deal which included things like trick or treating, carving pumpkins, wearing costumes etc. Today it is very commerciaized to a point and is celebrated more for the costumes and candy eating I think. Oh and scaring the crap out of everyone…lol But thats just my opinion. I love Halloween.
The Celts who lived 2000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the UK and parts of France, celebrated their new year on November 1. It marked the end of summer and the Harvest and the beginning of Winter, a time they associated with death.
The Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, which meant that the ghosts of the dead could return to earth and everyone could interact together. This was the night of October 31 and celebrated as Samhain, a pagan religious festival. https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
The following link gives you a look at Samhain, it’s history and myths associated with it. It includes tales of headless woman chasing people along with her pig. And headless men called Dullahan, simliar to what we think of when we talk about the Headless Horsemen. Remember him and Ichabod Crane, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? I do, it’s one of my favorite Halloween shows. The cartoon Disney version, not the movie one.. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain
Another interesting read is about Jack o Lanterns and Stingy Jack. https://www.history.com/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins
When we look at the history of our celebrations today, where they came from and how they were originally celebrated it really is rather fascinating. But Halloween is a favorite and always will be.
So how ever you choose to celebrate this day, or not. I hope you have a wonderfully Spooky Halloween. stay safe, dont eat to much candy and stay to the light..
Happy Halloween!
Swamp Things Second Home
•October 30, 2022 • 2 CommentsI didn’t linger very long…. Saw footprints going in but none coming out…
Day of The Pelican
•October 26, 2022 • 2 CommentsFor the last couple of years I have watched the Pelicans hanging out at Saylorville Lake. I kept telling myself I was going to make it to the other side of the lake where the majority of them would be whenever I was in the area. Finally made it there and got a few photos.
Not sure what the black ones are but see them alot with the Pelicans..
Wishful Thinking…
•October 25, 2022 • 2 CommentsWould be a great place for a little cabin surrounded by woods and a view of the pond. The area is full of wildlife, which would be amazing to see sitting out on the front porch.
Out with the Old
•October 24, 2022 • 5 CommentsShow me a farm that doesn’t have atleast 1 or 2 “retired” farm implements or farm related items somewhere around. But my dad asked me why I was taking pics of those old things. I’m thinking why not..lol. The first pic is probably my favorite of the two though.
Lake Louise
•October 23, 2022 • 4 CommentsWelcome to another blog from Guest Tracey and her trip to Canada.
One morning we decided to get up early (4:50 early) to drive 45 minutes to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It was recommended we leave early if we wanted to find a parking spot as the parking lots tend to fill up early. It’s a favorite spot for photographers to take sunrise photos at Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. We took a few shots but were eager to start hiking so we didn’t linger long.
We hiked the trails along the shores of Lake Louise, which is next to the Fairmont Chateau Hotel, and hiked 2.2 miles. We passed Mirror Lake and waterfalls on our way to the Agnes Tea House. The hike was amazing, and we were happy to make it to the tea house.
We did have to laugh though. Agnes Tea House is NOT Starbucks and a gentleman in front of us tried to order a fancy coffee for his girlfriend as the waitress looked at me like can’t he read the menu. The place is cash only with no running water. The workers stay in a cabin behind the tea house for 4 days hiking up the mountain carrying what supplies are needed and then returning.
The hike was not an easy one, but it was worth every minute.
Scarecrow Tree
•October 22, 2022 • Leave a CommentA few skeletons hanging from the branches and vultures perched on the limbs watching an waiting would complete this picture. But no such luck this day…Still a cool tree.
Big Creek
•October 21, 2022 • Leave a CommentStarted out cloudy but sun came out a bit by the time I left. But the lake was beautiful and the trees on one side of the lake were really colorful but not so much on the other. But it’s a good place to take a drive and check out some fall foliage or take a walk and have a picnic before it gets to much colder.
This park is located right out Polk City..
Beautiful Canadian Scenery
•October 20, 2022 • 2 CommentsFrom Guest blogger Tracey and their Canada Trip.
The views and surrounding area around Banff are beautiful, and we had an amazing time exploring and taking it all in.
Fall at the Farm
•October 20, 2022 • Leave a CommentIt was still early in the season when I took these shots, the trees were starting to turn, and the grass had changed in some areas but not others.. Was still beautiful though. And I love going to the farm anyway whether it’s fall or spring.
MY CREATIVE SELF 