Weekend Roundup

Well, not quite the whole weekend since it's a holiday. 

It's easy to lose track when you are retired. 

I spent Friday at the Ag Hall front desk... but I took the dogs out for a bit 

on Friday evening and saw this huge tree down on our daily route.  They had already topped it. 

It is still there today. 

The nest appeared to be empty that day... the young hawks are huge now.  

I really thought they had fledged.  

That faint line in the photo is the barbed wire I was shooting through. 

This big girl was in our front yard on Saturday morning.  

I did not want to help her... she is a snapper... because she was moving steadily along. (not because she was a snapper but because she was taking care of business!) 

Up the ditch she went... 

And off across the road.  She was actually moving quickly... and at the end of that cross street... is a large pasture with a pond.  She was very close, so I left her alone. 

I saw another just a little bigger than this today on a road, got out of the car to lift her over the curb there... and discovered that I had left my shovel out of my car when I went to the recycle station on Friday.  I could have screamed in frustration, she rounded on me and I had no way to help her over the curb... it was a paved street in farmland, and she was maybe four feet from a pasture that was perfect for babies.  She was too snappy to try to pick up. 

This boy crossed a gravel road ahead of me... and disappeared into the hay. 

That day I could make out maybe one hawklet through the treetops. 

I took this somewhat blurry picture to show you what the fields around parts of Tongie look like right now.  Stranger Creek is out of it's banks.  I did not have a way to take pictures on the levee... There are acres and acres under water.  

You know the beautiful bluffs I have showed you so often? 

These: 

If you look at the above picture and see where the water (the road) curves to the left... the bluffs are at the treeline in the distance.  It is ALL underwater, and of course, the road and bridge are closed.  (unless you are a duck). 

My favorite birds are going to have a feast when this all goes down. 

Today, we were to have a family Memorial Day breakfast. 

Jace and little Hayden were here... 

and middle brother Carson, who was not feeling so hot.  

Paiton and Jax had spent the night, but had already had breakfast and 

passed the boys coming in as they left. 

However, Grandpa was not feeling well and did not get to visit with 

his "boys"... but had to lay down, so we had a short visit and 

they promised to come back soon.  Amber and Jesse and the boys live 

50 miles from us, so we don't get together as often as we would like. 

I would show you Amber and Jesse but my pictures were HORRID. 

Jax had gone out to the deck early this morning... he loves to watch the hummingbirds come to the feeders.  Paiton loves them, too. 

He took this picture of his sister.  I know what I am getting him for Christmas now. (camera) 

I took the dogs to walk late this afternoon, but ... Lilly had a time getting back into the car. 

The time is coming when she is not going to be able to walk at the park. 

She loves to ride in the car, so maybe we will just do that. 

We saw this pretty little girl as we came around the corner for "home", and back to the car. 

She was in a large park with a running stream, near a deep creek.  She was in GOOD shape and I left her alone.  I say "little" but she was a decent size. 

The kids and I saw a big one there the other day, down in the water... we left her alone, she was doing great.   No picture of that one. 

Here's our buddy on our way home from the park tonight.  He no longer takes off when I stop the car... and he is so photogenic! 

Everyone please have a safe holiday! 

Love Those Quiet Sundays

Well, we had five of the grands here yesterday to 

decorate little trees for their bedrooms for the holidays. 

Papa 'Oder, Jace's name for Keith, held a very interested Hayden. 

While mother Amber helped two year old Carson choose his decorations. 

 Paiton, Jace and Jax all worked on their own trees. 

Brynn and Hailey were unable to come, as they were sick.  We missed them. 

We had potato soup (well, the adults did), cookies and chocolate milk, and an 

hour flew by. 

Church has changed to 4 PM for the winter, so coming home it is almost dark. 

The little pond filled a bit after the rain this week... it was very, very low. 

The dogs and I took the long way around today to go to the park for a walk. 

It was about 48 degrees as we drove, and the farm animals were loving it. 

Hawks were everywhere, but out of my camera range, mostly. 

That was a big 'un, and the colors on him are beautiful. 

The big ditch has filled up again, but I still don't see any traveling birds in it. 

The squirrels at the City Park in Basehor are busy filling their storerooms; they must know we have 

bad weather coming at the end of the week. 

Let's all have a peaceful Thanksgiving Week! 

A Long, Long Post

I have a fan-girl crush for the Fab Four Tribute Band, 

I admit it. 

Here they are, Paul, George, Ringo and John. 

They just played a song with pink guitars and drumsticks, 

as a benefit for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 

Foundation. 

Those guitars were auctioned off after this pose by 

"Ed Sullivan" who introduces them each show, and provides 

comedy relief.  (George Trullinger). 

"Ed" managed to get nearly $6000.00 for those 

instruments. 

We got to sit in the front row, but sadly, 

we missed the backstage "meet and greet" for 

which I had passes, as I did not remember the correct 

time. 

We were dead center, on top of it.  

While I wouldn't want to always sit in the front row, inches from the stage, it was 

a blast for one night. 

We were encouraged to stand for

about 4 songs.  Here's Chris (and everyone else) leaning on the edge of the stage, 

watching.  He was not familiar with Beatle's music, but recognized 3 songs. 

It was his first concert. 

Here's Doug Couture as George, during the Sgt. Pepper segment. 

Doug was subbing for Gavin Pring, who is the "regular" George, 

and was out for surgery. 

Doug was amazing. 

(fan girl sigh) 

My fave, Ron McNeil as John Lennon. 

Neil Candelora as Paul McCartney. 

Amazing Erik Fidel as Ringo Starr. 

As if the concert wasn't enough... I had put in a full day at the Ag Hall on Friday, 

and then we had THIS on Saturday morning: 

Oh. My. Gosh. 

They didn't stop for two hours.  That's birthday girl Paiton in the black shirt, and the cheetah pants, ever the fashionista. 

It was The Birthday Party.  It was at the Ag Hall. 

This is about it for pictures, I was so busy I did not get but about ten. 

Jax was in there somewhere, he was actually celebrating his birthday, and Paiton's is tomorrow, they were born one year apart, three days apart, and everyone thinks they are twins. 

We went to school in the Island Creek schoolhouse, and the kids learned about the Good Ole Days. 

Then we did chores the old way, fed the chickens, and learned about bees. 

We literally ran through the farmhouse (too risky!). 

Then it was time for a train ride.  Here I stop to pat myself on the 

back.  I got into the train, and tried to start it. 

HAHAHAHA. 

Nothing. 

I called Judy, who was there on a Saturday. 

She had just given two rides to the other birthday party that had been going on. 

There was a dead pause after I said 

"I can't get it started".  

Then a big laugh.

"I have the key!"

She jumped into our golf cart and ran it down to me, and 

off we went, no problem. 

My son rode around four times with me, at the back of the train... and told me 

yesterday that I went VERY slowly.  I laughed, because I know I slow to nothing on the trestle (scary) and going out of the tunnel now there is a new tie, and we were told to go slowly over it while it settles.  I err on the side of caution.

Anyway, the thing of which I am MOST proud is the fact that 

after the party, I managed to drive around and park the train in the tunnel 

ALL BY MYSELF.  

I got it centered and got the tunnel gates shut ALL BY MYSELF. 

First time. 

I don't even have ONE picture. 

My favorite song, Revolution. 

Sorry, had to put this in. 

The dogs were so glad to see Chris, they love him. 

They love ALL the grands. 

We did a TON of this, in between everything else. 

Chris took Lil, while I handled Jes. 

There are a ton more pictures from the weekend and today, so I'll save some 

for tomorrow... but I guess everyone is aware that KC is 

in Royals fever again, for the second October. 

Here's our Sheets boys (Keith's daughter, Amber, and Jesse)

Jace, Hayden and Carson

Go, Royals!!!

Trying to Finish the Move

Almost 18 months since we moved to our new house, and 

we are still trying to finish moving from the old! 

We still had lots of things... not LOTS but some things

in the shop that we needed to get out. 

Chris, oldest grandson, came up from Garnett (KS) to help on 

Monday morning. 

First item of the day was moving the hens from the old hen house to the hen spa. 

Oh, yes, Lilly was VERY interested. 

Two of the hens acted like we were KILLING them and screamed the whole way across the yard. 

This morning, they were settled in.  I left them in all day yesterday. 

I got four very nice eggs in the nest boxes. 

Then we went through the shop, dusty and dirty.  There were still things that needed to be moved here, and bless Chris, he is strong and knows how to do things.  Keith came out and we loaded up the truck, drove home, unloaded it, and went back for another load. 

Chris had to weed eat the hen spa yard on Monday, as it had overgrown all summer long, after the cochins were moved out in June.  Madame Argiope's web was disturbed, and she set to work repairing it immediately. 

This morning, I threw open the side door and the pophole, and the hens didn't move.  I was depending on Silver the Brahma to lead them out, this is the yard she and Goldie lived in until 6 weeks ago. 

Finally, after doing some other things in the shop, I came back to check on them. 

Silver had done her job. 

I am still thinking of bringing Silver and one other hen here to keep at our new house. 
However, the coop that Keith brought at Orschelns was destroyed by high winds last week, it is shattered in the back yard. 

So, Chris and I loaded a dog house up from the old house. 

I took one more picture of Chris as we were getting ready to go.  He helped me so much while we lived in the little house... I went to Garnett to get him regularly, and he was so good with the animals and figuring out how to do things.  I really appreciated his help.  He is the oldest of our grandkids. 

I could not believe my eyes this morning as we came up an oft-traveled road.  A turtle! 
In September!  I stopped... and carried it across the road, because I could see a truck coming fast. 

The funny thing was, out of the corner of my right eye, I thought I had seen a turtle on the verge on the highway on the way to Garnett. 

I put it in the grass beyond the road... it was headed for a wonderful wooded area, perfect for winter hibernation. 

So, I went to see Brother Pete today, and fed him his lunch. 
When I left the nursing home, I was running late for another appointment, and 
ended up having to reschedule it. 

I got home and admit I was stressed out from the drive and worry about the time. 

I was sitting in the recliner with Jes on my lap, and trying to rest and recoup. 

All of the sudden, I saw a bird fly crazily past the window, as fast as it could go... behind it was a HAWK.  I yelled HAWK to Keith and leapt out of the chair for the camera. 
Lilly ran for cover, she didn't know what was happening, and Jester ran to the couch. 

I ran in the spare bedroom to look down at my little pond in the side yard. 

It was hard to see in the high grass of my little pond. 

But he jumped up on the fence and I was able to get good pictures. 
It's a juvenile red tailed hawk.  Might be a female, it was so large. 

She jumped up and down, up and down, between pond and fence.  She stayed maybe five minutes, in all. 

My guess is, now that she knows where the feeder is (for prey) she will be back. 

It's hard for juveniles to feed themselves the first year, and I was glad to see she did not look in bad shape. 

Tonight, Keith had a very special evening. 

Daughter Amber, Son in law Jesse, and boys Jace, Carson and Hayden all came over to go 
fishing with Grandpa.  Troy kindly allowed them to fish the pond. 

Carson had a blast with the new Spiderman fishing rod Grandpa got him, seen without a hook on it here, since he was enthusiastic about flinging it around. 

He had already caught a fish! 

Jace caught his second bass when I got there, and threw it back. 

Someone went for her favorite swimming hole as soon as we got there. The pond is probably down four feet from our swimming days of mid-summer. 

Lilly took off for the woods at this point, and as you see on her head, came back covered with stick-tites. 

The sunset on the way home was gorgeous. 

We have a 40% chance of rain tomorrow, and we need it, at this point.