The beginning of August

Welcome August.
We saw our first buck in velvet close to home while having coffee in the morning. He was walking amongst several does who just stared at him as he walked through the neighbor's field and woods.

Something alarmed the gals and they took off to the west while the buck took off to the east. They look hazy because of the smoke and some fog.

I have 4 o'clocks blooming all over the place. Each year, I collect the seeds and then randomly drop them into different areas.

Some of them have grown to nearly 5 feet tall and others are being entwined with morning glories.

It's a mess in this spot, but I am enjoying the mess. I may chop it all down after a frost and see what comes up again next year.

Thankfully, Little Richard has been busy helping with the yard work. I put him in some spots that seemed to be growing faster than the rest of the yard and he did a nice job overnight.

Mornings are still the best to go look at things in the garden. The past few mornings are cool with fog and smoke.

The bees are really busy in the pumpkin plants I planted ... ahem, sort of ... by accident in front of the house.

Actually, having them so close is nice. I can see how the bees work the flowers and I can watch the funky pumpkins grow!

These pumpkins are a cross between some gnarly bumpy pumpkins I had last year and the original whitish-yellow pumpkins I had. So it will be interesting to see how large they get. 

I have several other pumpkins in another spot in the pasture that I fenced off. 

I have tossed pumpkins in for the mules to eat the past few years and it seems that they eat them and then stomp the seeds into the ground.

Here are some more flowers to enjoy. All of them taken early in the morning with dew drops on them.

I sure do love the morning glories!

 

Focus, focus, hocus pocus?

I have Little Richard doing some yard work. He can't get onto the porch, but he can crop the longer grass near the porch. Since he wasn't doing well on hay, I decided to move him around the yard spaces to crop up the long bits of grass growing up.

He is doing a pretty good job too.
[Photo taken in the late afternoon when it got sunny!]

During the morning sprinkles of rain yesterday, I headed out to the creek to check on a few things. I was pleased to see that the Ramps are poking up through the debris on the ground.

Each year, I only dig a few up in two different places on our land as they take so long to regenerate if you dig up most of the patch.

I like a challenge. So I decided to try and work with my Lensbaby lens. Everything has to be done in manual. Manual focus, manual ISO [unless you use Auto which some Lensbaby folks say works well]. It is frustrating because it looks in focus but...dang it, it isn't always in focus.

There is something called focus peaking in most modern cameras that can assist with that. But by golly I hadn't figured out exactly how to do that with this lens yet. Of course, here I was in the light rain sitting on rocks, trying to get a manual focus. It isn't easy when you are crouched down on wet rocks in dull light....but....

I missed slightly but still love how the photo turned out.

This is Hammie in the Hamster costume holding a fallen bud from a maple tree. He is overjoyed that spring may actually show up! I was pleased with the Lensbaby effect and that I got pretty close on the focus.

My other 'story' shots turned out miserably.

So before I left, I stopped and did one last try at the mossy log. It worked, I lucked out and got what I wanted in focus! 

I almost never climb over this log without stopping to see if the moss has something new to offer.

When I got back home, the rain turned to snow so after fixing Rich something to eat I started an internet search on how to get focus peaking on a vintage lens that doesn't communicate with the camera. Specifically for the camera I had. 

My Olympus E-M5 iii is my super lightweight camera that I take out on most hikes. I've never had a lens that didn't communicate with the camera before so this was a first for me.

The continual search eventually paid off. Olympus now OM is notorious for having sub-menus hidden in the menus. I fiddled with this and that while watching and stopping a video on this subject.

Eventually I landed on the solution! So I tossed on my coveralls and stocking cap.

I got down on the ground to look at my sad little crocus plants. They've been beaten on by snow, ice, and heavy rain. This was their last gasp.

But the daffodils near the house are getting ready to open their buds so I can go enjoy them in a few days.

I couldn't help but try a few more shots with focus peaking. The one below doesn't have any real importance, it was just a test shot. But the figures are in focus with an f stop of 11. The Sweet 50 allows one to change their f stop whereas the Sol 22 only shoots at f 3.5.

I swapped to the Sol 22 when I got indoors and thought I'd try a shot of Charlie [who is back to himself after his vaccinations 🙌].

I was really pleased with this. Now I can shoot...hopefully, with a bit more accuracy.

However ....

My vote for the day was the Hammie photo. That little figure's expression and happiness is infectious. Even in a drizzly, cold, day, I was able to make myself smile. That shot reminds me of Happiness....

Sometimes you can find it for just a moment anywhere if you look hard enough.

I also found a great use for the Sol 22. 

Portraits! Here is hubby looking out the window deep in thought? No not really, just watching not worrying, not thinking, just...being. Even though he has a nasal cannula on, I think this is a great little portrait of him.

Today is another day. More digging and transplanting is on the schedule after CrossFit. Maybe a quick walk into the forest to look for something interesting.

After all, I have some adventures in mind for my surprise minifigs for celebrating spring.

It looks like midweek will be rainy. I love rainy days too. How about you?

Uffdah

I was hoping to keep it simple this week... Hmmm.

Monday was hubby's annual wellness checkup and nothing has really changed from last year. His legs are swelling up so she had some hints for him to help him with that. Time was of the essence for the appointment as the highway department was getting ready to close a bridge because the Kickapoo River was rising rapidly.

Monday afternoon we got a visit from the Oxygen folks.

We received a portable oxygen concentrator which should give Rich more mobility. It is easier to carry a satchel type item than to drag around a tank. The VA Home Oxygen lady was a great educator. Much better than the person they had previously.

This afternoon, I'm getting a visit from a fellow named Dunnum. He runs a company that does tree trimming, brush hogging, landscaping, cleaning up old junk piles,...delivering hay...

well.... 
you name it, and his folks will do it apparently.

I'm looking to have some trees taken down and two pastures brush hogged along with some other clean up if the prices are right. IF I like his work, I'm gong to have him come twice a summer to brush hog down the weeds in my main pastures. It would save me so much time, frustration, and sweat!

The weather hasn't been conducive for activities outside for even healthy folks. I can get chores done easily, but I am wringing wet by the time I get inside. If I have to do anything for a length of time, I have to wear a gnat net over my hat.

By Wednesday the heat and humidity will come down enough for hubby to enjoy getting on his zero turn and do some mowing.

In other news, our gym now offers a class called Legends. It is for those over 50. The workouts are more personalized and less intense. I love the folks I am working out with. We have a range of ages and abilities. Plus, it is great to meet new people. [most of the folks are wayyy over the 50+ mark!]

One of the ladies just finished up her chemo and radiation, and is gently easing back into fitness and mobility. I have to hand it to her. She makes me feel as if anything is possible. 
We do the same workouts as the regular classes, but with more adjustments. I switched to this class because the scheduling works out much better for me.

I can monitor Rich's morning routine and go to class while he naps.

I still do a regular class once a week so I get 3 days in. It is a win win for me right now. Come winter, I may just stick with the smaller class for us older folks. I think none of us would come when we are sick? Fingers crossed.

Below:
Hummingbird Moth 

on Bee Balm.

Below:

Little Richard

doing yard work on

the hillside.

 If this Dunnum fella is easy to work with. I'll take some shots of what needs to get done so I can have some before and after shots for comparison. 

So many things have been let go since my husband's cancer and stroke that I feel I need to make an effort to get things back on track.

Wish me luck!

It was like a dance

with the sun and the clouds.

The sky was clear in the morning and the clouds swiftly moved in along with cold winds. I was going to go to the Reserve to watch the eclipse and enjoy some peaceful quite time. I decided that with the heavy clouds, I'd stay home.

After all, if the clouds were going to obscure a partial eclipse, so be it. At least I could go in the house and warm up.

I set one camera up to do a time lapse, it took shots every few minutes. It lasts all of 3 seconds. You can see the conditions for the big eclipse.

I started the time lapse at 12:30 our time and until about 2pm. These photos were taken 5 minutes apart.

The heavy clouds presented an issue in that only once in a while would the sun get momentarily bright enough to see through the camera. The NOAA reported our area with an 81% cloud cover, so it was a great challenge.

My Camera Assistant. Little Richard.

It was great when we caught a bit of a break.

This is what I saw through the flip screen on my OM-5. I used a solar filter I'd purchased years ago and unless the sun was peeking out, the screen was black. That is part of what made it so challenging. The other part was being able to twist like a pretzel to re-aim the camera to track the sun when it glimpsed at me.

These were the shots I picked out of the many I tried.

By this point I was just starting to get the hang of catching the sun with the camera. I had to search for a bright spot and then zoom out and zoom in. When I found the sun again, it was sometimes so breathtaking with the cloud movement that I nearly forgot to hit the shutter.

At times the clouds were moving so fast across the sun that the exposure was up to a few seconds. Then the clouds blurred. I felt like Mother Nature was doing a painting just for me.

By the time it reached its peak, I decided to bug out and go inside to warm up. I was SO cold! I had been wearing my heavy coveralls and a stocking cap. My hands were ice.

I was not disappointed at all though. The cloud cover made it a huge challenge and also made the event in my opinion much more beautiful than stark photos of a crescent in the sky.

When I got in the house, I grabbed a blanket and a pillow and headed for the bedroom for a warm up nap. 

I'm going to remember this day for a long time. The work at getting the shots was a bit brutal with the weather [cold and windy] and the clouds. I spent from noon to 2:15 when the moon was moving past the sun outside.

Yep, that dance was worth it!

Just stuff

This is our Mini horse crop out. We purchased him from a friend many years ago. His job while we were still breeding for mules was to tease the mare and get her ready.

He is an expert an not getting wrapped up in the tie out line. I've dubbed him my self propelled mower who also does fertilizing at the same time.

He may as well be out in the yard instead of his winter pen. You'd think after doing nearly 20 years of yard work, he'd pick up the pinecones for me and pile up the sticks.

Lazy pony! He just does his thing.

I took a short walk in the woods on the way to go pick up my mail. I'd ordered a skort to try out this summer. A skort is a skirt with shorts in them. My son's wife wears them and says they are super comfortable. I thought I'd give them a whirl.

I also ordered a new t shirt for myself. I thought the graphic was appropriate for me. The shirt features a compass with the words below it: "All who wander are not lost..." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

My youngest son and crew made a date to come and visit this weekend. Hmmm. More about that later or not. My eldest son predicted a Circus. He was right but I'd call it a Circus of Drama. It was not beautiful like the Cirque du Soleil but a train wreck of consequences.

It will be a very long time before I decide he and his crew can visit again.

'Nuff said.

We did take a hike and I got to see the wonderful Swans! They were so beautiful. I didn't bring my long long lens because I was herding kids like cats. But I did catch one pretty decent shot of the Swans.

A couple of my younger grand kids enjoyed floating a rubber ducky in a lazy little stream we found.

When the Duckie got stuck, they'd push him along with sticks.

The shot below is a photo of my second oldest grand daughter, Lily. She is carrying her puppy named Oakley in her jacket as he was tired and cold.

The kids enjoyed the hiking and adventures. 

Well. In other news, the weather turned frigid on Sunday and will warm up once again through Tuesday and then we are back to winter with a freezing mixture which is typical for March.

I have a 'date' to go hiking with another 19 yr old tomorrow. She was my neighbor for a few years. I've known her and her siblings and mom since she was 9 years old. I'm looking forward to that.

First I have to take some naps to get back to feeling human again after the circus came.

Little Saturday Funny

A Sheriff's car  pulled into the yard while I was gardening .

He was looking for my neighbor. 

He spotted our little pony grazing on his tether and asked if he could pet him. 

Deputy Roy walked over to Lil Richard and started to rub him on the neck. I explained that he was about 28 years old and was our summer trimmer in places that were hard to get to.

Lil Richard enjoyed the petting and then reached out and started to lick and nibble at Deputy Roy's Glock. I started to laugh and pulled Mr. Pony's head to the side.

I commented that the paperwork would definitely suck if Deputy Roy had to explain how an old pony disarmed an officer.

We had quite the laugh over that as he proceeded to wipe pony slobber off his Glock.

This week's Cliff Notes

Mornings...and whatnot.

We still have frost on some mornings which can produce fog and make things look magical.

Frosted Daffodil

Below is Sven in his hot wire pen next to Little Richard in his pen. 

I had to separate the two the other day as the pony thought it would be fun to chase Sven and bite him on the butt. 

Sven ran like the dickens and jumped through the hot wires to escape. Sven can't stand to be too far from the pony so he just grazed in the open lane until I caught him. 

Sitting on the bucket in the back pasture is calming. I can listen to the birds wake up and watch the day lighten while sipping coffee.

Redwing Black bird singing  his
morning songs.

I've seen Tom Turkeys displaying their feathers and strutting around in the meadow. They are so awkward looking yet so determined!

One morning before it was light, I surprised this group of deer.

Wow, can they ever leap! 

This week has been a whirlwind of activity. I had something going on every single day!

The best part-sss of this week have been that the new young Primary Care doctor for Rich is amazing. She actually listened to him and his concerns. She didn't tell him to 'buck up and get over it' like some other doctor had told him. She asked him if he had a goal for this summer. She asking for a referral for PT with Pulmonary Therapy. He is actually looking forward to going. Best part? She is local and we don't have to travel 2 hours to see her!

His goals are fairly simple. He would like to be able to walk out to the shed and get on his riding mower and mow the yard in bits.

The change in his attitude of seeing a doctor that actually showed empathy and CARING improved his mental well being.

Other great things. 
Great hike with friend Mr. Bill. [more on that later]
Young friend Molly is back in town! I have a mule riding partner again! And Rich has a young gal who visits often to talk horses!

More on Molly from 2019 in Meet Molly.

Happy Mother's Day tomorrow to all moms. The weather looks like it is finally changing so I'll be out and about enjoying it. 

Morning Dew