Foto Friday 17 ~ Flashback

The sky was gorgeous when we got home from the 

concert last night. 

A rare southern glimpse of the Northern Lights. 

 Sooooo pretty. You could even see the reddish tinge 

without the phone camera. I can't imagine getting 

to see this all the time up north.

Another rare (to us anyway) sight...a yacht used as a camper. 

To each his own.  :) 

My beautiful granddaughter- she's going to have a BIG baby. 

 He's already 5 pounds and she is only 30 weeks here. 

We went on a small leaf-peeping tour to Albert Pike last weekend. 

 The leaves were just starting to turn.  Camping is not allowed here anymore 

(that I know of) since lives were lost in a flash flood. 

 It sure is a beautiful place. 

Last, but not least, Happy Veteran's Day to my dad- twenty years in 

the Air Force and I could not be prouder of him. 

I am thankful for all branches of our military, and 

especially thankful that there are still men and women who are 

brave enough to serve and protect our country.

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday,  Yogi for Skywatch Friday, and  James for Weekend Reflections

Foto Friday 16 ~ Let's Talk About Orange

 

For those that wanted to see the change- some of the flowers are turning orange.

I thought it would put out new flowers, but instead they just changed colors, backwards from what the nursery said, but I'll take it.   I thought I knew what I was talking about when I said it put out new flowers.  Obviously I know nothing about mums, y'all.  :)

Walmart parking lot putting on a show.  I knew I wouldn't make it home in time for a better shot. People were just driving right on by, and I thought you all need to slow down and check out this sky! 

We had a blast last night at the trunk or treat.  I got to hold my newest great grand Jillynne, while her siblings rode the train and the hay ride.  This is my only (so far) gg boy, Bo.  He  was busy collecting candy and riding with his dad on the hay ride.  

I spent a couple of hours at a cemetery this week, trying to find a man that someone else said was buried in a different cemetery.  Anyways, I found him, on the back of his wife's stone.  Also found footstones, which as you can see, are embedded in a pile of the  devil's own insect, the nasty fire ant.  By the time I finished walking around the whole cemetery I had a total of eleventy- seven bites.  (Actually just 7 on one foot.)  But it FELT like many, many more.  I'm thankful I got out of there with my feet still attached.  They were everywhere. My husband said they sure do like this cemetery! Actually, they just love the rain, because that's when they surface. 

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.  I'm thankful that I can turn off the tv and make my blood pressure go down.  I'm thankful for my church and my community and most of all, I am thankful for my family.  Don't forget to set your clocks back tonight.  (I sure wish we could do away with that!) 

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday, Yogi for Skywatch Friday,  Betty  for My Corner of the World, Mersad for Through my Lens  

Foto Friday ~ 13

The summer heat is wrecking havoc on my redbud tree.  Several lichen and fungus have made themselves at home.  The top one is Old Man's Beard, but I don't know what the bottom ones are.  Either way, I need to get it off of my tree.  Any ideas, besides scraping?  I tried that and the bark comes off with it.  

Little Man is wondering if anyone is ever going to bushhog the field.  I think it's so high it is tickling his belly. Foreground is what's left of an old fence, and it reminded me of an meme that some of us long time bloggers used to participate in...Good Fences!, y'all remember that one?   There was one with barns to that I really enjoyed.  Ahh, the good old days!  

Back indoors, where the A/C is blasting, this is our supper.  Keto, as good as it gets- to not have a hamburger bun.  Yummy!  I love the pizza bowls too. 

I sure have enjoyed our martins this year.  I am thankful that they have multiplied, and survived.  Sadly, they have all left and even the fly-bys and stop-overs have stopped coming by.  It's time to head south. 

The dragonflies made haste to return in full force, and flock around me while I mow. It's funny how they know it's safe to come around again! 

I guess that is enough for this week's photo dump. I hope everyone is having a good week!

haring with Michelle for Thankful Thursday,  Yogi for Skywatch Friday,  Eileen for Saturday's Critters,  Betty  for My Corner of the World, Mersad for Through my Lens

Foto Friday 12 ~ Photo Dump, Since I've Been Gone

Rare peaceful moment (no fighting) 

April 2024 Solar Eclipse

Little Man

We lost Dakota earlier this summer.  Man is finding his way as the last horse on the land.  I thought he would be lonely, but so far he seems quite content.  We've lost three since I have been blogging- Dakota, Grady and Jack.  

First crop in the new greenhouse my husband built.

The extreme heat we had this summer was a real menace, but most of the vegetables he planted did great! 

Finally got to see the Northern Lights, but only with the camera, not with the naked eye. 

Don't really understand that, but wow, they were pretty. 

Six weeks ago, I fractured my leg trying to get out of the boat.  Ruined a camping trip and it is  definitely one of the most painful injuries I have ever had.

I can finally walk without crutches, but the pain has not gone away.  I'm guessing after Christmas, maybe...I hope. 

A surprise visit this morning from an eagle.  Could possibly be the same one who has come around before, but it's like a yearly visit, so probably not.  Oh, gosh, I wish I had a better zoom lens!  

and finally...

I didn't realize I had been gone so long.  I've missed all of your blog posts and hopefully I can check back in.  

Have a great Thanksgiving week! 

Thankful for my family, and especially my husband who has gone above

 and beyond, taking care of me these last six weeks.  

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday, and James for Weekend Reflections,

 Yogi for Skywatch Friday,  Eileen for Saturday's Critters,  Betty  for My Corner of the World, Mersad for Through my Lens

Foto Friday 11 ~ Oh Deer Me

 

My son Michael sent some critter photos that he has taken recently around his place. 

Outsmarted by a raccoon!

Sometimes in the chaos of life, we overlook the simple things, the store door held open, the thank you, and have a good day from the checkers, the person who lets us cut in line if we only have one item.  A grandbaby's hug, a text from an old friend...there is always something to be thankful for. 

I wish you all a happy holiday and/or a Merry Christmas. 

Just for the week, may we all be able to leave the stresses of our world outside our doors. 

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday, Yogi for Skywatch Friday, Eileen for Saturday's Critters

Hands Full of Gold

 

Stormy day pic from May. It was awesome to see.  

The gold was a brilliant gold..almost bright orange.

We've had a long mostly dry summer since our early heavy spring rains.  My pond is about to be a puddle, but I am hoping that relief is on the way. 

It's down about 6-8 feet.  I think we must have a slow leak :) 

But it is raining this morning, so maybe we are on the way out of this drought. 

Much happier news: 

My granddaughter's wedding went off without a hitch.  

I wanted to share with you my sweet great granddaughters 

Hadleigh Jo 

Olivia Grace-

who would not stand still for photos.  Someone got this shot 

and sent it to me, but you can see she has been running and playing!  

and my granddaughter with her husband Josh

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and thank you for stopping by my blog.

sharing with  Yogi for Skywatch Friday

Foto Friday 10 ~ Peep the Leaves

Southwestern Colorado Vacation

I immediately fell in love with this one spot.  The huge stand of aspen trees is a wonder to behold.  I've never seen anything like it and we have been all over Colorado.  This was our goal last year but had to turn back because my cat died back at home and I couldn't keep going. 

West Elk Scenic Loop

Kebler Pass, Colorado

Bucket List-

On the way to Crested Butte we were stopped by cows, horses and cowboys.  They were transferring the moos to pasture on the other side of the road.  We waited, as did everyone else except for  some dude in a company truck who decided he needed to go go go, so he plowed right through them.  I guess he was in a big hurry. 

Next was the Gunnison-Taylor Park Loop 

Click  on map

 Kebler was just so beautiful we thought this scenic byway would be too.  HA HA HA HA We could not take our eyes off of the boulders in the road.  From Pitkin to Tin Cup was a solid nightmare.  Click on photo to view map. See that jeep?  It was a clue!  Don't attempt this in a car!  Argh, live and learn, I guess.  

We made the pass (Cumberland) in my Dodge Journey.  I wanted to give it an award for not dying on me on top of the mountain.  We went 28 miles in 3 hours  We were very thankful my tires did not blow on the mini boulders in the road. Top speed was 5 mph with an occasional 6 or 7.   Never, ever, ever! again!!! Just thankful to be alive after that drive over. 

 I'm sure the scenery was fantastic but I didn't see it because I couldn't take my eyes off the road.  The other side of the loop was really beautiful though.  

Close to Tin Cup after the pass. We saw a couple of beaver dams in these meadow sloughs.  So, if you want that adventure, ride a 4x4 up and over, or if not, go up the other side to Tin Cup.  That's where all the beautiful scenery is anyway.  (My opinion). 

Telluride

On the way in. 

Gondola Ride to the top 

The lady who rode with us said there was some kind of water 

leak and this was the crew working on it.  

Burgers if you please.  Pretty good when you are starving.

 Million Dollar Highway

Southwest Colorado has some major construction going on.  Hwy 50, and 550, and the route to Telluride.  Not really any huge holdups, but there were just so many places.   On the Million Dollar Highway there were several delays.  We saw military repelling of the side of one turn, and three fire trucks coming up the other side. (They were for the fire, which we never saw, but there were wildfires and controlled burns in several places that were on our route.)   

Traffic was really slow on the MDH, but considering the sheer drop offs and twisting turns...I felt safer than all the other times we have gone on this route.  Slowing down is a good thing on this road, and it gives you time to enjoy the scenery.  

and here is more...

 sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday, Yogi for Skywatch Friday, Eileen for Saturday's Critters

thanks for stopping by, I love to hear from you, so please leave a comment. 

Ready for Some Football

 

Friday night football

the clouds were the prettiest orange. 

My grandson Avry at center. They won that night. but I don't know 

how they can play well when it is 5000 degrees.  Not good fall ball weather! 

sharing with Yogi for Skywatch Friday &  Around Town for City Daily

Foto Friday 9 ~Once in A Blue Moon

   

I was bound and determined to get a good shot of the "blue moon" a couple of weeks ago. 

My camera would not cooperate and  I ended up with a few spooky looking shots, but I am happy with them.

Sharing with  Yogi

Skywatch Friday