Mud. I was not a fan and used to think of mud as dirty and a lot of work. But the first big winter storm of 2021/2022 in the books and I am now a fan. Mud means melting, temperatures warming, spring water mixing with red clay in the soil, and seeds and plants taking […]
For the Love of Mud and a Winter Storm Passed Read More »
Of the many features of seasonal changes in Missouri, birds have taken my attention in a way that I did not expect. It began last winter. As flowers and plants fade into the sometimes drab colors of fall and winter, or more starkly against bright snow, birds offer a rich palette of colors, and some
Winged Friends in Winter on the Hunt for Food Read More »
It certainly depends on weather and location, but walking has always been a passion of mine. When I was a teenager, I was walking off time, passing days and evenings around a country neighborhood. I liked waving to neighbors, having quiet to think, seeing the occasional deer. Over the years, I found among my friends
A Walk to Honor and to Explore Read More »
Driveway Etiquette People respect property lines in the countryside. When we moved in, the previous residents had “Private Property: No Trespassing” and “Beware of Dog” signs posted at the driveway entrance. Having come from a place where the property lines were a bit blurry, and not with our blessings, I thought, cool, leave the signs.
Rural Missouri Ways, Good to Downright Scary Read More »
There are over 40 geographic areas named Springfield in the United States; they are also all around the world, from Belize to Ireland. Springfield, Missouri, however, is the most populous city with that name in the U.S. It not only serves its own residents as a city of approximately 170,000, but so many surrounding, little
why i love and strongly dislike Springfield, Missouri Read More »
Not long after the last post, an overnight dip in degrees produced the exact treasures I was seeking and revealed themselves on the morning walk! And all but a few were gone again by evening.
eureka! plummeting temperatures yield a new crop of frost flowers Read More »
I have been thoroughly enjoying the change of seasons in our new yard on daily walks. While the number and variety of wildflowers has waned with winter approaching, we have seen some fall blooms. Early one November morning we noticed something. A bit of white fluff among the fallen leaves. Frost Flower, Ice Flower, Ice
Elusive Frost Flower Sighted Read More »
The first stop of the day was at Dog’s Bluff Access on the outskirts of Houston, Missouri (ironically, it’s in Texas County). It was just down from the main road (not too big or busy). The land area was small, but this park was all about the water, The Big Piney River. There was a
River and Beer Flowing -The Big Piney Read More »
Having lived in South Florida for over twenty years, heat was not a big deal to me. I was warned before buying an old concrete block home that the crawl space underneath would mean hot summers and chilly winters and indeed it did. On a cold winter’s day, I could walk into my backyard and
Crash Course in How to Get Firewood or How Not to Freeze Read More »
Having comfortably toured this Byway of America by car, in the heat of July, we headed back to Glade Top Trail to explore a bit more. We invited a friend who lived close to the trail and was happy happy to join in. Not only was she familiar with the trail, she grew up on
Have Friend, Will Explore, Return To Glade Top Read More »