Different Stuff

After literally a YEAR without seeing an owl... I was on my way to church 

last Sunday morning, and came across this guy, where I had seen owls several times before. 

Mass is at eight, I try to leave by seven so I can go up and down country roads, and it paid off. 

He/she is a beaut, huh? 

They. Are. So. Hard. To. Capture. 

I was telling Friend Jill at lunch today that I have three 

"pet" crows at the Ag.  As soon as they see me pull up, they fly from where ever they are. 

They wait until I put out a treat for them (Chicken Delight), and then come down to eat. 

They literally wait until I turn my back. 

I was waiting for one to turn into the sun today to get a good picture. 

I pay for all the feed at the Ag, both Chicken Delight and Protein pellets, so... I don't mind 

putting some out for the wildings.  

The other day, I was at Marshall's.  I found this little 

Le Creuset baking pan for 7.99.  If you know 

how much they retail for, you would realize this was a good deal. 

I needed it just for small dishes for myself. 

You can see it's perfect for two servings. 

This is what I fixed in it.  "Funeral Potatoes". 

Two weeks ago, I helped serve a funeral lunch at church. 

The lady cooking put a HUGE pan of whole canned potatoes... yes, I said
CANNED potatoes, in a big baking pan.  She poured melted butter over them, 

and then salted and peppered them. 

Then she sprinkled onion soup mix on them. 

This was covered, and baked at 350 for one hour. 

When she took it out, she sprinkled parsley over it, and then 

put cheese on top, sprinkling it across, then popped it back 

in the oven for five minutes, uncovered. 

Here is my horrid picture in bad lighting. 

My gosh, it was good.  

I used a cheese I got at Dillons, it is a Cheese with 

Parsley and Chives in it.  

Delish! 

I used one can of sliced white potatoes. 

Sister loves to lay in the deck door window in the morning, and watch Bird TV on the deck. 

Someone brought this to the same door, and wanted to bring it in. 

This would be the someone. 

I took the dogs to the Ag on Tuesday.  I can't let them loose to run while I do 

the chickens.  I can trust Jes, but not Lilly. 

This cracked me up as I finished spreading feed for the crows. 

He obviously didn't think it was that funny. 

We found a trail of feathers on the ground by the pond, that went back towards the railroad bridge. 

I took pictures there, which appeared to be where the kill was made. 

(they were too dark). 

Jester was having a BLAST off-leash. 

Remember, the Ag is closed this time of year, so there was 

no one there for him to bother, and I always carry plastic bags 

"just in case". 

He always goes to the edge of the pond, but rarely gets his 

feet wet.  Lilly, on the other hand, would wade right in. 

He finally wore himself out. 

Lilly was okay walking on her leash, it's a fairly long one.  

Sometimes I just can't get them to the park, so we substituted on Tuesday. 

I spent Wednesday in court.  About a year ago, Keith and I 

decided to sue a neighbor here, which we thought about 

before we did.  We had been bothered with him coming to the 

house repeated times, demanding that we move a 

discharge pipe from our sump pump in our back yard, 

that carried harmless water from our heater/air conditioner. 

It was finally rectified yesterday, to my satisfaction, at least, 

though I think Keith would have been mightily disappointed. 

It was the court's opinion that our pipe (MY pipe, now) is 

entirely legal, is separated from the property line by the 

correct distance, and is not causing him harm. 

He, on the other hand, is allowed to keep a dike he made, 

backing up water into a small pond on our land. 

I love the pond, so it was okay with me. 

No money will be exchanged, but 

our/my legal fees came to $9,000.00.  Yes, I said $9,000.00.

The important thing is that should I ever decide to move, 

this can be disclosed as a matter that has been resolved. 

I was able to sleep last night, for the first time 

in several nights because I confess to you, I am 

afraid of the man.  He intimidated me at 

our door four times, and finally, I got Keith out of 

his sick bed one day to deal with him, and he never 

came back after that.  He appeared to be belligerant in court, sitting with arms folded all day, and I was scared the whole time I was there.... not of the court, but of him. 

It took huge joy from our beautiful house, because to sit on 

the deck meant we look down on his house.  Keith only sat there 

maybe four times. 

I guess everyone is assuming where I am leading with this, 

but I am not there yet. 

I managed to get an Iphone cheaply from a family member, 

and I have been using it for pictures here and there. 

I took some of the pictures on this blog post with it. 

It has been two months today since I fell and broke my wrist. 

It is not only not healed, I have many more weeks of 

therapy and strengthening. 

I am trying very hard not to re-injure it. 

I leave you tonight with a short video from the Ag: 

Some More Cool Pictures!

I took them, but I still think they are cool. 

I also have a bunch of videos taken at the Ag. 

This is my dining room, today.  Do you see it?  One of the 

volunteer tomato plants from last summer is blooming!  

In fact, I am going to support it this afternoon. 

I can't believe it! 

The geranium is blooming, too. 

49 days or so from spring, I think. 

Wow! 

Hope this is the sweet one from last summer, I can't remember. 

Two days ago, I had to run something to Leavenworth, and took the dogs. 

We stopped here on the way back, it was 60 degrees. 

This trail is hidden behind St. Francis de Sales church in Lansing, 

Kansas.... it happened to be the feast day of St. Francis when we walked. 

It was good to visit the creek again. 

Though a little hot on the pavement. 

We are standing on the bridge here. 

Even though we have not had a lot of snow this summer, the creek is flowing well. 

Turn the sound up so you can hear the water falling. 

Elk cows, on our way home from the park the next day. 

She and the bunny are not afraid of the camera any more. 

I often see her going back and forth. 

And the other little creatures. 

Still seeing lots of geese on all the farm ponds. 

Look at the buds swelling on the Bartlett pear! 

I.Love.Crows. 

Okay, I love just about any bird. 

The night of the 31st.  The next video actually showed two more does coming from the west side of the pond. 

There is our friend again. 

I have no clue why, but my camera has a rose cast to the pictures during the day, I have never had that

happen with a Moultrie before. 

I wrote them, they told me to ship it to them. 

Haven't done it yet.  Probably will. 

I have started spring house cleaning early, and I am in "getting rid of " and "donating" mode... I'm thinking lots of things are going to start moving out of here soon! 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! 

Interesting Pictures

First, I need to make an announcement about my 

right wrist/hand. 

You all know I broke the wrist on December 9, in a fall. 

Not on ice... clumsy. 

My brothers called me "Grace" while I was growing up. 

Anyway.... tomorrow I go for my first therapy 

assessment.  I have had the cast off a week, but a brace on, 

except for a bit four times a day.  I sleep in it, it feels better

with support.  I was stunned to know that the hand was very weak, and 

the wrist even weaker, and I still have some swelling. 

So, therapy next week and the following two, it appears.  

All of this is by way of explanation for the lack of 

posts and the lack of pictures.  I can't hold the big camera up 

for any length of time.  That will come back with time. 

Here are some pictures from the game camera.  I have always enjoyed using a game 

camera, whether in our pasture, or now, at the Ag. 

These were taken two nights ago, and last night. 

I had just had a conversation with the education director 

yesterday, and told him I never saw deer, even when I came early or late. 

Cracks me up, because I found this on the camera when I got 

home that day.  What I do is leave the camera there, and change 

out cards.  Then I reset the camera, moving it around from day to day. 

I had seen their tracks, but had never actually seen one. 

The beautiful fox came soon on her tail. 

Then a raccoon. 

A possum, running fast somewhere. 

A skunk. 

And then the fox again. 

This was early this morning. 

He checked out the woodchuck's holes very carefully, 

and I could tell this morning that he had dug at those holes, there 

was fresh earth outside.  Maybe it's a vixen, looking for a den. 

PLEASE DON'T PICK THERE. 

This bunny is EVERYWHERE.  I see it almost every night. 

It's no longer afraid of the camera eye going off. 

We have had clouds for days, I am thoroughly tired of them. 

This juvenile eagle was at Wyandotte County Lake 

yesterday.  I could not get a good picture of him, but he 

was dive-bombing the ducks bobbing on the choppy water. 

This little flock of coots was rocking and rolling. 

You know I love my geese. 

A Whopping Surprise!

I decided to take a drive late this afternoon, while Keith slept. 

He had a hard day. 

Bees, flies and butterflies were still working sunflowers along the road. 

The goldenrod is so pretty, but Keith is so allergic to it! 

The creeks are high and flowing fast... we had 8 - 9 inches of rain in the last two days, and 

expect more tomorrow. 

Fall colors are everywhere. 

I saw these three girls as I drove up a gravel road. 

They did not like me stopping. 

I wish I had had the longer lens on, but I had put the medium on for a purpose. 

Don't look now, but THIS is where the Big Ditch WAS. 

The rock wall.... is right up to the discharge pipe at the edge of the road.  The ditch was behind it. 

Look what they have created. 

Saturday when I went to church, there were hundreds of kildeer there.  There were still many tonight. 

It is not deep, but wide. 

And to the east side is this.... it's like a place for water to come off Stranger Creek and fill the basin. 

There is a rock channel in the middle... and birds were perched all over it, they 

were not kildeer, but I could not see with that lens.  I'm going back tomorrow with the long lens. 

There were kildeer everywhere. 

On my way back, I saw four deer in the meadow again, but the second I stopped, all hit the woods. 

I did not see a turkey anywhere. 

I like these changes in the Big Ditch!