Country Living Randomness

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with their family, friends, and other loved ones. I had a great time with my friend, Anne's family. It was nice to be able to monopolize the kitchen for coffee and conversation. We even went for a walk down a trail back behind her parents house, it was a little bit chilly but quite nice to walk, talk, and look at plants. I didn't take photos so I looked through my photos and found a few I hadn't shared yet. All of these photos were taken some time during the summer.

The below picture is a common scene out in the country but I like it all the same; I call it “birds on a wire” not very original, I admit but very descriptive.

I found this egg on the pavement, it looks almost perfect but it is cracked. It was quite a ways from a tree but I know some birds lay eggs in the grass and it wasn't too far from the ditch. I thought it was an odd shaped rock until I took a closer look- it certainly is well camouflaged.

This is the hibiscus plant that Anne left me since she had three. I love this picture, its in full bloom. I managed to get it to bloom three or four times over the summer and then I neglected it so it became way to dry. Fortunately, it is still alive but it is definitely in recovery phase.

One day, I was walking and saw this by the roadside. It startled me until I took a closer look.

Did you figure it out? It's a cow leg; I had the fortune of being able to see the hoof attached to the leg but initially I though it was a human leg and that I was going to have to call the police.

On one of my walks I found this fantastic tree.

Does the tree remind you of anything? Anything at all? Well, the first time I saw the tree my thought was “its a treeherder.” For those of you unfamiliar with that term, how about "ent?"

All right, I will put those of you who are unfamiliar with The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Tolkien out of your misery. The tree reminds me of the giant talking man-trees from the books and the movies. I have been waiting for snow so I could take a picture of it covered with snow but no such luck. Maybe this weekend, the weather people are threatening us with a chance of snow. Really? but it's 64 (yes, I said it) 64 degrees in Kansas, in December. Every time I think about the fact that we have a cold front moving in, I'm thinking Tornado in December (well I haven't seen one of those so maybe)!

Country Livin'

Originally I planned on writing about the odd places that my indoor cats sleep but then I had an interesting 24 hours so I thought I would blog about that and include some country livin' pictures.

My interesting 24 hours began on Friday evening. I drove with my friend Ju-lin to Cottonwood falls to attend a singles event (Singles in Agriculture). Ju-lin took some pictures of the beautiful countryside on our way there.



Once we arrived in Cottonwood falls , I spent about 20 minutes driving around because I didn't map quest the location of the Emma Chase Cafe. I successfully found the Cafe and we stretched out legs before looking in the window. All of the people were elderly (60+) but after some debate and general talking myself into it I thought I would attempt to meet these singles. We walked and were greeted by the owner of the cafe she asked what she could do for us and I said I was looking for Sue. She said, "I'm Sue," so I proceeded to talk to her like I had already talked to her. Turns out she wasn't the "SIA Sue" I had previously spoke to; the "SIA Sue" was literally sitting right next to me during my entire conversation with "Owner Sue" but never said a word (NOT ONE)! So we ordered some food and after some private investigation (looking around and being observant) I noticed the "SIA Sue" name tag as she was leaving the Cafe. We decided to try the Emma Chase Music Hall down the street and we enjoyed some bluegrass music by the local musicians. I attempted to talk to the "SIA Sue" but luck; she wouldn't make eye contact and every time I tried to say something to her she gathered her group around her and would start talking to them (I eventually gave up and drove Ju-lin back to Manhattan and did some late night work in the lab).

Here is a picture of the Cottonwood Falls Courthouse.

On my way home from Manhattan (1 am on Saturday), I saw two opossums, one raccoons, and one doe close to the road (all living). (I took the below picture Saturday night out by "my" house)

The following afternoon (around 3 pm) my rural mail carrier stopped by after her mail rounds and on her way home to ask me about a yellow lab that is two sections (approximately 2 miles) behind where I live. She stayed to talk about her horses and jerks traveling to fast down dirt roads (a UPS semi drove by her car and kicked up a rock and broke her back window).

After she left, I decided I should get myself together and drive to Council Grove to pick up some weatherization supplies from Adams Lumbar. Here is a picture of one of the steel-works on the 177 highway into Council Grove (Ju-Lin took this picture for me on Friday)

Before I left, I decided to stop at Dairy Queen and reward myself with breaded, fried mushrooms; a fish sandwich; and a moolate (cappuccino flavored). While, I was hanging out by the drinking station waiting for my order, a gentleman with a Kansas wildlife and parks hat on said "hello" to me. I responded and just when I turned around to ask him a question he spilled fluid down the front of his shirt and was trying to clean himself off and one of the DQ employees called my number so I decided to just take my food and go.

I finished my evening with a trash burning.

By using the flash, you can see the details (including two of Too Many's kittens; Can you find both of them?).

By the way, the kittens are starting to follow me around the property but a more detailed version of their exploits is scheduled for another blog so be on the look out for it.

Have you had an interesting 24 hours you would like to share?