While I was out taking morning photos, I came around the bottom of a hill and snapped a pic and when I happened to look up, I noticed the buck in the fence line watching me. We didn’t watch each other long; think he was trying to figure out if I was something he needed to worry about before he took off.
But there was definitely something off about him. His head and neck have issues, but I couldn’t tell you what. Deer season is in a few months so it’s hard telling if he will make it through that or whatever issue he has going on will get him.
No matter what though, it’s always cool when your able to see them.
Today we have another blog from Guest Blogger Tracey and their Canada Trip.
My husband and I took an 8-minute ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Talk about breathtaking views, they really were. The air was chilly and was drizzling a bit, but it was worth every minute. Everywhere you looked you could see Banff, mountains, rivers, just beautiful scenery in every direction.
At the top of the mountain you could grab a bite to eat at one of the three restaurants or take a walk around the boardwalk.
But These have quickly become one of my favorites this fall. I love the color, especially against the blue sky. I think these are either Pink Flamingo or Flamingo Feather. If someone knows please correct me..
Ok so I dont show the fountain, but these are at Waterworks Park at the Fountain.
I enjoyed this park the last time I was there and wanted to see it and all the gorgeous flowers again. I figured why not before the season completely ended and they were all gone. Does give me ideas for my own garden next year, maybe. Looks like an awful lot of work lol.. It would be worth it tho if I did it correctly.
But if you are ever in Des Moines during this time of year definitely visit Water Works Park. It’s a beautiful 1500-acre park with loads of trails for biking, walking, hiking or even go for a drive through the park. And across the street is Grays Lake, another place to visit and go for a walk.
The parks are connected by a tunnel that goes under the street. It’s made getting from one place to the other alot easier if you dont feel like trying to drive from one to the other..
Now that the weather is getting cooler it is time to get out the casserole, soups and all the comfort go to recipes you usually don’t eat during the summer months. Either cause it’s to warm or your just not in the mood for them.
Here lately it’s been getting chilly in the evenings and in another week or so it looks like the High for the day will only be in the 40’s. To me that just yells chili weather. And I am sure I will be making alot of that over the winter. But I also like Chicken and Noodles or Chicken Pot Pies. So i’m always trying to find a good pot pie recipe.
I managed to find one that I really like. It’s everything you would put in a pot pie but in a casserole with biscuits on top. There’s not alot of ingredients and it’s quick and takes very little time to put together.
First pic is after I have mixed it all up and before I put the biscuits on. Second is after it’s done. It taste even better than it looks. I did add a few things just to put my spin on it. But I will put the recipe below the photos for those interested.
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
2 cans mixed vegetables (any brand)
1 to 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup (i use 2 otherwise it can be a bit dry once it cooks up and cools, it does thicken up)
1/4 cup milk ( i just put some milk in the cans to clean out the soup, but don’t overdo the milk)
Cooked chicken cut into bite size. (I used Rotisserie chicken and just shredded it, as much or as little as you like)
salt and pepper to taste or whatever other seasonings you want to use.
And biscuit mix, you can use any biscuits you want. I used the package biscuit mix on these. Just follow mix directions. Bisquick mix is also a good choice
Drain veggies and mix with the soup, chicken and seasonings. Place in sprayed casserole dish of your choice and place drop biscuits on top. Cook 25-30 minutes or til biscuits are done and everything is cooked and bubbly.
OPTIONS
I add some sharp cheddar just to kind of make it a cheesy chicken casserole. But you can doctor this up anyway you want and use any combo of veggies you would like. I accidentally opened a can of beans so this batch did have green beans and it tasted fine.. There is never a right or wrong way. It is a rich casserole but good and so simple and easy.
Took these this morning with my little Panasonic FZ18. Did not turn out to horrible but would have been better if I had been a bit steadier in holding the camera or used a tripod. In my defense it is chilly and windy out this morning…lol
It’s the month for all things spooky, where things like to go bump in the night. But Who knew Iowa had so many scary or haunted places, or places claiming to be haunted? Some places you can spend the night or take part in ghost hunting or just a quick look and run.
I will spread this out in 2 blogs and if you have visited any of these or do visit any of the places mentioned let me know if you had any experiences with the spooky. I have tried to include links if possible or a little information if it could be found on locations etc.
Haunting at Farrah
Haunted school house where you can see shadowy people, hearvoices, slamming doors, orbs. Can take a tour or spend the night.
Tragic tale of a young woman jumping off a cliff because her intended who she was meeting up with never showed. Drivers near where she jumped say they have seen her and others say if you go to where she jumped and say her name she will appear. Motorist tend to avoid this area at night.
Reports of muffled laughs or men yelling, some report the sounds of wagon wheels crossing the bridge, dogs hackles being raised and refusal to enter bridge and colds spots at the center where something can be seen..
Theres a few tales of men being possibly murdered and disappearing on the bridge upon entering. One was an escaped convict who was trapped on the bridge, the other was a younger man being meeting his girlfriend but was met by the disaproving father and his friends instead. The young man never made it off the bridge.
Believed to have been the first funeral home in Iowa. And I guess some say its so haunted you have to sign a waiver to stay. And they offer events such as a Murder and Mystery, which could be fun and ghost hunts.
People have reported dolls moving or watching them, seeing ghosts, feelings of someone sitting on beds, humming, footsteps. The website from the Manor, which I will include has videos. I didnt watch lol, but the place sounds cool. Does have a funeral home theme tho.
Caught this guy, or girl, fishing for lunch. I was very lucky to get the shots I did, he didnt seem bothered I was watching. I even managed to get a shot of it catching a fish. I kept waiting for it to fly away but thankfully it stayed where it was. So yeah I was a bit happy to be able to sit and watch it for a bit.
Who knew that cats could get Asthma? I sure didn’t, but then it shouldn’t have surprised me. Our fur babies get a lot of the same things we do. So why shouldn’t this be any different? It’s an issue though that causes him problems and all I can do is try my best to help him.
Simon is my trash can baby lol. I can say that cause he was really born in a trash can along with his sister. His mom was a feral kitten who showed up during a storm one night and ended up staying. As she, Laney got older, I was determined to tame her. Once she ended up pregnant it was easier to do, I think she wanted to be taken in and cared for. So, after she had her kittens, I got her in the house and went from there. The babies were easy to love on and pet compared to momma at first. She was a handful but worth it all.
Simon is around 7 or 8 now, and of Course couldnt let Brady get all the attention. He is the needy boy that craves attention and has no boundaries. He is not shy about demanding affection or letting you know it is Simon time and will lay all over you to get it. He is also the sweetest and loves to cuddle and give his version of hugs.
But Simon started coughing and throwing up, not alot but enough, and not all the time. I figured it was allergies, hairballs or maybe a bit of a cold and sometimes certain foods upset his tummy. But the cough never went away. Some days he would cough maybe once, other days it was a few times a day.
Took him to vet they took x-rays and saw spotting on his lungs, they said It was Asthma. Was the last thing I wanted or expected to hear. But not much I could do except do what needed to be done for him.
Right now, he’s on a steroid shot every few months depending on how bad he is or once cough starts back up he gets one. He goes back in before long to see if he needs a new treatment plan. So they will do bloodwork to see if the shots are having any damaging side effects and to make sure everything else is ok. There are other options besides the shot but all are expensive up to $300 monthly from what I understand. I have purchased air purifiers to hopefully help with any nasty in the air and I have noticed when it’s going he seems to have less issues.
You just never know what sets him to coughing. Change in weather can set him off, stress or anxiety. Sometimes you just dont know but all you can do is watch and be prepared.
I joined a facebook group and have learned alot. He can be basically treated with the same type of meds that we use depending on the severity. And people suggest changing liters, not using air freshners, changing foods etc. The list goes on.
Between Simon and Brady it can be overwhelming at times.
So please wish us luck in our Asthma journey and a few prayers wouldnt hurt either!
This is my boy Brady. He is the oldest at 13 and was recently diagnosed with kidney disease. He had been not eating well, peeing in a box that was not his liter box, sleeping all the time, was not coming to me to sleep where he normally would or acting right. So off to the vet we went. Not great news.
The above is a good site to visit that explains what Feline Kidney Disease is, causes, treatments, signs etc.
It’s generally seen in cats older than 7 and is a progressive disease. Depending on the progression rate, he could be with me for years to come or just a few more months. It is heartbreaking and every day I have with him i’m thankful. But I am determined to have years left with him!
Sadly there is really not alot that can be done, change of his diet which will help, make sure he is eating, drinking, normal potty habits. and I have joined a support group on Facebook to get advice and support from others dealing with the same thing. They have provided alot of info, especially on food that is K/D friendly.
He is having good days right now, he is eating, he is interacting with me like normal, he has been more energetic and awake alot more.. He is eating Hills K/D Mobility dry which he loves but does not like their can food so we will be trying different ones and he was on an antibiotic for about 10 days.
He can just be picky when it comes to can food so that will be alot of process of elimination and hopefully find some he likes. Bad thing is the food is not easy on the pocket book, its all prescription.
He will be going back to the vet for a full bloodwork panel so we can check and see if theres any changes and to check his phosphorous levels as those need to be watched. Still hoping he just had an infection and the diagnosis wad wrong. But no matter what he is still getting older and his care has to change a bit.
So Please keep us, especially Brady in your prayers…..It would be appreciated, Thanks. And if your pets are acting off in any way, dont hesitate in getting them help.
Welcome to another blog from Guest blogger Tracey and her trip to Canada.
While my husband and I never take tours on vacation, we booked two on our trip to Banff and we were not disappointed in either one.
On a beautiful evening we took a 2 1/2-hour private safari. We were not lucky enough to see any bears or a ton of other animals but we did see a lot of Elk, deer, birds and of course beautiful scenery. We learned alot and had the nicest guide who made the tour so much fun.
Our second tour was a bike/hike tour starting in Banff. We hit the trails headed to the Bow Valley Parkway onto Johnston Canyon. The park closes the parkway to vehicles twice a year in the month of May and September.
We saw breathtaking views and rode over 20 miles one way. We then walked the Johnston Canyon to the waterfalls. And they were gorgeous.
If you have ever thought about a guided tour but wasn’t sure you wanted to take the risk, we highly recommend it. You will not regret it.
Overall, it was a fantastic adventure one we were definitely glad we did.
Went to the farmers market, was a bit early so I could avoid the crowds and get a few pics before everyone crowded around looking at everything. Some were still setting up, but I was able to see what they had and could smell the goodness that was coming from the food trucks and the homemade goodies. There was going to be live music later on in the evening, but I didn’t stick around for that, but I can usually hear it at the house if the windows are open.
There weren’t as many vendors as I thought there would be, there were still quite a few and there was a wide selection to choose from depending on what you wanted, but still worth a trip. The vegetables looked amazing and were huge. The bread smelled good and ok, so I did get some bread. I couldn’t resist, and I was correct, it was delicious and so fresh. Much better than any store or what I could make. There were several food trucks to choose from, Asian, Mexican, tenderloins, which in Iowa thats like a staple and more. And something called Bubble Tea that I had never heard of before. The lady tried explaining but ended up saying it had lots of bubbles.
I am glad I went though, especially since I had been telling myself all summer I should. It was a good time, the weather was almost perfect, got some bread, chatted with some vendors, had a few samples, which the coffee cakes, tastes even better than they look.
Pumpkins, Mums and other fall flowers , they just go together. Ok maybe the lumpy pumpkins are something I can live without seeing again, but they were interesting. lol
Even though I am happy summer is over I will miss seeing all the pretty flowers. I took a last trip to see the flowers before they were gone, I couldn’t resist that last look.
I love a blue blue sky with white clouds. Took puppy dog to the park and spent a little time walking around and enjoying the day. The leaves were just starting to turn.
Hi, this will be my first guest blog from Tracey, you will probably see a few from her this month, I am hoping to convince her to start up one of her own….Thanks Tracey for letting me rope you in!
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Recently my husband and I returned from Banff, Alberta Canada. It was our second trip there and hopefully not our last to the area. Its a gorgeous place to visit and we would recommend everyone visit Banff.
While there, we stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, a wonderful place to stay with amazing views. We found plenty to do in our 5 day stay. Hiking, biking, private safari tour, a bike tour, walking around town and even went on a gondola ride. We also found time to visit a farmers market in Canmore. Needless to say there was alot packed in those 5 days.
Blogtober has arrived. This will be my first year trying it, which I have been looking forward to, so hopefully it goes as planned.. I will be stepping away from my normal on occasion and will blog about things I am dealing with as a pet owner and of course there will be plenty of photos. I will even have a guest blogger posting at different times on their trip to Canada.
I am looking forward to my first ever Blogtober so hopefully it works out and, and if you can send a bit of luck my way that might be needed.
These are from previous years but going out this week to start snapping away. I am looking forward to it thats for sure. Was out running an errand today and kept noticing the changing leaves. It looks like it might be a colorful year. Fingers crossed!
And what a perfect way to start. Cool temps, crispness to the air and that earthy fall smell. Fall, followed by Spring is by far my favorite time of year. I mean the colors alone, but the cooler temps after a long hot summer, everything pumpkin, the smells, the great sleeping weather. And finally being able to open the windows and not be blasted by hot air.
I just love Fall and everything it brings with it.
Just walked outside and actually went brr, its a bit chilly. Its been rainy and it cooled things down alot. Felt good tho, especially after yesterday being so hot. Im hoping yesterday was the last of the heat, I am ready for more weather like this. And it just might be time to break out the cocoa..
Clipart courtesy of not me, but will get name soon..
Recently I came across blogs mentioning a thing called Blogtober, I was like what is that? So i started looking around and found out it was an “Event” for the month of October where you post a blog EVERY DAY for the ENTIRE MONTH.
Well we all know how much of a challenge that can be at times. But one thing that everyone seems to agree on, is plan plan plan. I think I am a bit behind in the planning department, but thats ok. Blogs can be anything it seems, fall related, spooky related, anything related or a combination of things.
So I am going to take the plunge and do my first ever Blogtober. I already have some ideas, and they may be outside my normal post, so we will see how that goes.
If you havent ever tried Blogtober, join me and if you have please feel free to share any tkps or give advice. Either way, starting October 1st I will be (fingers crossed) posting a blog every day for the entire month.
And did I mention theres a Blogmas also?? More to come later on that…So please join me and check in regularly to see whats going on..
Stormy Day here, we have had thunderstorms off and on since this morning with heavy rains and a bit of hail thrown in. Im ok with the day, its not exactly chilly, but its a good day to curl up with a book and hot chocolate. Which is what I plan to do later along with having a dog glued to me. She is not a fan of storms. But the leaves are slowly turning, I saw a tree this morning that was showing signs of turning orange, I cant wait for the rest to start turning.
Hope everyone is having a good Saturday…stay safe and be happy!
Caught these two flying so sat and watched awhile. Didn’t have my Nikons so I didn’t get as good of shots as I would have liked. But it was a beautiful day for flying and just being out enjoying the day. I just wouldn’t have been hanging over the edge like these guys were. Nope.
Not? Thats the question of the day. Im just trying to decide if I should weed out a few, and figure out which ones I will use and which ones I doubt I will use again.
Today I used a Panasonic FZ18. I had been on the fence about this one, last time I turned it on it kept telling me to remove the lens cap, which was not on. Today I turned it on and it was fine so I charged the battery put it back in and ugh same message. Did a bit of research and got that figured out so all is well with it.
I loved this camera, it was used regularly forever ago when I first got it. And it was always reliable and I never had any issues with it til the lens cap thing which I did figure out.
So I am posting a few pics from today, mostly unedited, did a few edits on a couple to take some people out, Other wise they are untouched.
What do you think? Is image quality still good enough to justify keeping the camera or culling it from use? I am leaning towards keeping it to use for blog photos.
This area is right before you arrive in the mountain town of Cloudcroft. It’s a great place for hiking and taking in the views. There are all sorts of trails and some will definetly give you a workout depending on where you go. There is a building by the parking area that was always lined with hummingbird feeders and you could hear them zipping through the trees. Also provided a place you could take a break before or after your hike to watch them feed.
Hot weather does not make me giddy with excitement or joy. Instead i dread it…The heat, the humidity, hair plastered to your neck or forehead. That feeling of needing a shower the second you walk about the door. Whats to love about that?!? lol
I always think every time I drive by this little grove, how cool and refreshing and inviting it looks. I don’t know why I think that but do, especially in the fall. But I think today I would even boil in there…
So yesterday I ran my errands, stocked up on fruit and cool fruity drinks and today I am going to hide in the AC and the dogs will just have to survive not going to a park for a walk.
So stay cool, take care of any outdoor pets or animals with plenty of water and lets hope that August doesn’t give us more days like today..
Nope, it’s Kansas. I get a lot of grief for liking the back roads, and this view is one of the reasons why. You can’t stop and take a picture on the interstate, you don’t always notice the beauty of the state your driving through and you never know what you might find in some off the beaten path or some hole in the wall town you never heard of if you always choose the fastest route.
So once in awhile, it just might be worth it to take a back road…..Who knows what you will find..
A mix of different years of White Sands. It is always a favorite place to visit, any time of the year. Unless there is a dust storm moving through then you might not want to be there. Worth a visit and stop at the gift shop at the entrance if you are ever in the area..
It was a bit overcast and dreary but went to a location I hadn’t been in awhile. Looks like they have done alot of cleaning up and it looks good. Plenty of trails for hiking, biking and walking with the family. And I did see a few people fishing. Definetly be a good place for fall photos if we have a good season this year.
This was my first attempt, forever ago, at trying to photograph jumping or dressage. This shoot was a total fail for the most part, I was trying to figure out settings etc and with action you know you just can’t say excuse me can you do that over for me, or wait a second while I figure out what I am doing. lol. So I was pretty clueless.
I love horses and would like to find events close by where I can go and try it again. And hopefully have better luck at it. This was somewhere in Germany, I came across them alot, but not so much in Iowa.
But the horses were gorgeous so it was worth it just being able to see them all in action doing what they love to do.
I have been going through, finally, some of my photos and looking for ones that I knew I had but just was not sure as to their location. Some are still on an old hard drive that I need to go through. But I will be putting up some new and old photos.
Winters in New Mexico were fairly decent where I lived. We got snow but it generally never lasted for very long. When it did snow it was always a treat. Behind my house it was open desert so the dogs and I would go out for our walks. They loved it and enjoyed exploring and by the time we were done we were all usually tired.
The desert was full of critters and creatures that thankfully we never ran across. But at night we could hear the coyotes singing their songs.
Took a quick pic while I was out this morning, so ignore the power lines….But it was a pretty morning that started out cool but then a brief shower moved thru and took the dew point up to 70. Ugh
“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”
—John Paul II
“Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue”
“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
MY CREATIVE SELF 