Photo 365 #291: Memorial Edition

May 25, 2015May 24, 20152 Comments

My hometown does something pretty special for Memorial Day every year. In addition to putting out the usual rows of flags along the lanes, they also put out smaller flags next to all the veterans’ graves. But on top of that, they put up white crosses with the names of local veterans and the wars in which they served.

I spent some time out in the cemetery a few years ago photographing some of the crosses. I knew we’d sent many people to war over the years, but I was surprised to find out just how far back some of the veterans had served. For instance, we have a veteran from the War of 1812. Iowa wasn’t even a state in 1812!

We have a veteran of the Civil War, too, and of course there are plenty of veterans from both World Wars, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. Someday, there will be other crosses from the current conflict to join them – I can’t count how many of my classmates joined the service after 9/11.

I’m proud to be from a place where veterans are accorded such respect. They certainly deserve it – without those who would fight and die for our freedoms, we would be a much different country than we are today.

Photo 365 #290

May 24, 201526 Comments

So yesterday was busy. Like, crazy busy. I didn’t get done anything I wanted to in terms of writing, but I did get my latest rhubarb harvest out of my fridge, so there’s that. I made two huge pots of rhubarb sauce, which I now have to get out of my fridge and into some freezer bags, and I started putting together a strawberry rhubarb pie, but stopped short of getting the pie assembled and baked. I thought perhaps I’d do that today, since it was meant for tonight, but between a wicked headache and supper plans going awry, it hasn’t happened.

At least, not yet.

I haven’t accomplished anything at all today except…

Photo 365 #289

May 23, 20158 Comments

I’ve been cleaning and chopping and cooking and freezing and washing all day long and I am exhausted.

I’m so tired I can’t even come up with a decent caption for this lovely picture of dandelion seeds preparing for flight, like a dream upon the wind.

Here’s hoping tomorrow is more restful.

Photo Friday time!

May 22, 2015May 23, 2015Leave a comment

In honor of Memorial Day on Monday, today’s throwback photo is from a Memorial Day service four years ago.

All gave some. Some gave all. Some stood through for the red, white and blue, and some had to fall. And if you ever think of me, think of all your liberties and recall some gave all.
Photo by Kay Kauffman

Have a great weekend, folks, and don’t forget to remember those who went before.

Photo 365 #288

May 22, 20154 Comments

Cricket sat down to keep Buddy company this morning on our way to the car. I tried to snap a picture quick, but he got up and moved before I could get my phone out of my purse.

Luckily, Buddy wouldn’t leave him alone, so he sat back down and I was able to capture this shot. I’m not sure which I love more, the look on Buddy’s face or Thumper sticking up between the two. (Thumper goes everywhere with us lately.)

Happy Friday, everybody! 🙂

Photo 365 #287

May 21, 20157 Comments

I find the prettiest little scenes in my yard. Last year it was a couple of tree roots sticking up out of the ground, and this year it’s a stick and a flower:

There is beauty everywhere, even under a half-dead pine tree, if only we take the time to look.

Photo 365 #286

May 20, 201512 Comments

2015-05-19 12.57.59 I still can’t get over how beautiful it was yesterday. It was a little chilly, but not bad. Sweatshirt weather.

I love sweatshirt weather.

But today? Today we’re back in the cold, gray dumps. It’s wet, but not windy (for the first time in a good week and a half). I woke up exhausted, which makes the grayness seem even more dreary, somehow.

So today I’m sharing another of the beauties I captured yesterday. It fairly screams spring. It’s cheery and bright and just the thing to chase away the gray.

How do you chase away the gray?

Photo 365 #285

May 19, 20153 Comments

White coral bells, upon a slender stalk…

Despite the forecast, it’s a lovely day outside. After running some errands this noon, the boys and I came back home and spent some time in the yard playing. They played with each other, and I played with my camera. 🙂

We’ve got some beautiful lily of the valley coming up along the north side of our house and as I stretched out in the grass to capture it, Shadow and Opal stopped by to keep me company. Turns out Shadow just wanted to laze about on my lap in the sun. If I hadn’t had other things to do (and others to keep track of), that would have been a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

Cricket finally tired of the wind and decided he was ready to go back inside. “Do you have just one more picture to take, Mom?” he asked me. I assured him that I only had just one more, but after about ten just-one-mores, there was no more putting off the inevitable and we all headed inside.

Except Buddy. Despite the puppy-dog eyes, he stayed parked outside in the shade. 😉

Do your cats demand your attention while you’re trying to work? How do you handle it?

Photo 365 #284

May 18, 20155 Comments

Prior to this spring, I don’t think I’d ever seen a baby pine cone before. Imagine my surprise, then, to see what looked like bright red berries on the pine trees outside my bedroom window.

2015-05-03 16.29.43

I found this on the ground a few days later. With all the wind we’ve had lately, they’re all over the place now, but this first one intrigued me to no end.

Ain’t nature grand? 🙂

Photo 365 #283

May 17, 201518 Comments

Yesterday morning, I hit the streets with my mother-in-law to go garage saleing. It was time for city-wide garage sales in the neighboring town, and we had a ball. The city publishes a map of the town with a list of all the sales and puts them out at the local grocery and convenience stores, so we grabbed our copy and headed out.

There were 31 sales on the list and a whole bunch more besides (it costs five bucks to have your name on the list), and we hit a ton of them. We went to half the sales on the list and I don’t know how many that weren’t. We saw all sorts of things, from a solid wood rolling pin that could really do some damage if used as a weapon to a stock tank someone had used for a kids’ swimming pool. There were a couple of estate sales, a couple of plant sales, and several people selling baked goods in addition to other stuff.

We even saw a couple places selling everything including the kitchen sink. 🙂

I lucked out and found…