Yes! There and back.

 We made it safely!

Funny how this trip was much harder to plan for but also much nicer to do. 

The back seat driver never showed up. In fact he just spent time napping and pointing out how things had changed since the last time he could recall going into that area. Since his last trip to K-town, there have been some major road changes.

The bypass around two of the towns we used to drive through were major changes and hubby commented about them.

It had been about 20 years since Hubby has taken a trip to Kenosha. 

Charlie and I enjoyed early morning walks through the neighborhoods and even met up with other friendly dog folks. 

What a pleasant way to start a Saturday morning.

I also found a Road Runner car in someone's driveway and stopped to admire it. [Hubby used to have a Road Runner of the same vintage.]

The highlight and purpose of the trip was to see Rory [aka Aurora]. Of course she absolutely kidnapped Rich's heart. Let's just call him smitten with Rory.

Spending time with the Grands are always wonderful. But when a little one is around, something extra special happens. You know, hugs, snuggles, and more snuggles. 
As many snuggles as you can manage.

Poor Charlie, he felt like odd man out. However, he did get to steal a toy from Twila who is my son's dog.

Here he is acting as if he has no idea how the Sloth Toy ended up next to him.

The dogs played and Rory stole everyone's attention. And why not? Wasn't that the purpose of the visit?

I have to say that Megan is a master cook. Our evening meal was beyond delicious.

Thank you to the best host and hostess around [and let's not forget the cutest baby ever!]

So we did it. It was a trip that was hard to plan and execute, but it all came together nicely.

Rich's company on drive was a real bonus. 

We are tired but very content and Rich keeps talking about that Rory!

We did it!

There and back....

 

Sunday afternoon I took off for a drive to the other side of the state into the Kenosha area to see and meet Aurora [Rory] for the first time. 

The trip takes me at least 4 hours. But it is always so worth it to walk into Megan and Eddie's welcoming arms.

Of course this time, I got to snuggle a new grand baby! You will just have to imagine the joy and love that glowed through my body as I got to hold Aurora....Rory for the first time.

It was purely magical and breathtaking. We women [and many men for that matter], absolutely melt in the presence of cooing baby. 

I can't post photos until I ask permission from the parents, but there was a few of me holding her and looking like I'd just entered baby wonderland.

My whirlwind ended after lunch on Monday and I drove back home straight through. I was trying to beat the storms that were whipping up on this strange odd March day!

By evening just north of us had hail and sleet which covered the roads in ice when the temps dropped to 33 degrees.

At our house, we had lightening, thunder, and then small hail.

What a crazy two days!

The crocus flowers are in my yard.

These snow drops were in my son's yard.

And...there...

I was there and back....

I got out!

The weather was nice Saturday morning, so I arranged for my neighbors to be available if hubby needed something and hurried out the door before anyone could change their minds.

I was bound and determined to find some cool birds and explore an area at KVR that led to backwater Kickapoo River ponds that take a lot more effort to get to than just walking on old 131 Trail. I wanted to see some ducks and not just the Canada Geese.

My job is 24/7, so I cherish that time when I can get off the farm and explore.

I found a mowed trail that the duck, turkey, and pheasant hunters use. It isn't marked but in the fall, the Reserve mows a path around the marshy area and near the ponds. This is a hot spot for bird hunters. I saw the trail on the Satellite map and thought it would be cool to check it out.

I was SO tickled to follow my ears to this little marshy spot and listen to the chorus of spring peepers and frogs. I sat on a log and ate my snacks.

16 seconds of Peepers!

I did some more listening and found another pond that I could get to. No Swans, no cool ducks, but a lot of Canada Geese. Overhead several Turkey Buzzards were circling.

I imagine I could never nap like this! What balance!

I found this goose laying on her nest. I am curious if the eggs will hatch. It looks like the pond level must have risen with the rainfall? Or she wasn't a very good nest builder. I didn't notice this until I got home, but the arrow points to a turtle!!!

I just did a mini happy dance.

The rest of the day was spent digging in dirt and I got an email and a text from my youngest son. I won't go into our history, but I don't hear from him very often unless he needs something. Let's leave it at that.

He wanted to come by and say hello. He had his girlfriend and her daughter who was just a year old. 

We stood on the porch and watched the sun go down while we did some much needed catching up. Oh gosh, this little girl was absolutely adorable. 

Charlie adored her too, each time she screeched or laughed he was right there. It was so fun to hold a baby and play with her!

I threatened to keep her. But her diaper needed changing and they had a long drive to get home. 

I guess I'd forgotten how fun it is to have little ones around. 

What a wonderful day. I got off the farm and had visitors.

It sure refreshed my mood so I can face next week's weather and doctor appointments.

Have a great Sunday.

Babies, Blood Moon, and such like...

Welcome Sterling Edward to this life.  He had a bit of a rough start with an emergency C-section on September 30th.

There I am holding Sterling, next to me is Samantha the proud mom... step sister Lily, and Sterling's sister Elena!

It was a whirlwind few days of lots of emotion and happiness.

~~~~~~~

It was all over the news, the last lunar eclipse of the year was Wednesday morning.
I checked the NASA site for estimated times and set my alarm for 4am.  At 4:15, I could see the shadow beginning so I made coffee and made the decision to await until the shadow had nearly covered the moon.

I drove to the ridge top and parked on the gravel road with the moon now turning orange.
So I kept trying exposures until finally I nailed a keeper.

It was still well before dawn.  I think this shot was taken about 5:15AM.

Worth the wait and the nearly frozen hands!  The moon was dim enough that it did not blot out all of the surrounding stars.

I patiently waited until the glow in the east started.

As the sun rose the moon dropped and returned to its normal color with the lower half still either in shadow or in atmospheric haze.

I finished up by jumping into the car and going to a higher viewpoint to watch the moon sink into the trees and out of sight.

Last night I made an attempt to catch yet another full moon after it peered down into our hollow.

It turned out more like a Halloween Shot instead.  Of course, I didn't use a tripod and the clouds were not exactly cooperating.

Today is supposed to be in the 50's.  Perfect for poking about in the woods to find colors.

Perhaps Morris, my assistant will come along and we can start photographing the new book in his series of adventures with toys....

It should be fun!