tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29644671777627463142024-03-13T08:20:32.687-04:00Our NatureS N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.comBlogger1685125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-49558983074485340092016-03-09T06:00:00.000-05:002016-03-09T06:00:19.874-05:00Temporarily Homeless, But RelocatingWe had four sizable trees taken down recently. There were three water oaks and one huge hickory. It was quite a noisy undertaking.<br />
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When the last one was down, we discovered a three and a half foot gray rat snake in our back yard, all but still. It had really good camouflage. It finally slithered into a perennial bed that has plenty of cover.</div>
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If you click on the pictures, you can see how emaciated it was. Hope it has found some food since spring has begun.</div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-43000143582942317932016-03-08T20:52:00.002-05:002016-03-08T20:52:50.232-05:00The Late BloomerLate in the fall, a parent at school brought in two chrysalids of giant swallowtails butterflies that she had discovered on her very thorny citrus tree. One hatched within a reasonable time. The other appeared dead for weeks. And then one day in February, we had a butterfly!<br />
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The top and the underside are so very different. </div>
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Our patience paid off.</div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-83316617685291011322016-03-06T06:00:00.000-05:002016-03-06T06:00:03.661-05:00The Boy Visits Our GardenWe took the boy out to see the vegetable garden. He liked pulling up carrots, cutting broccoli and breaking off collard leaves.<br />
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Love this picture below of the guys sharing the load of the bounty.</div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-55658686536498110832016-03-05T06:00:00.000-05:002016-03-05T06:00:19.582-05:00More Training<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That same trip to St. Marks, we hiked down the dike in front of the lighthouse. At low tide there are always discoveries to be made.</div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-47771471736061846282016-03-04T20:30:00.000-05:002016-03-04T20:30:34.404-05:00Training Up the Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There had been a recent prescribed burn down at the lighthouse when we were last there. We took the little hike around the visitors' center.</div>
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The new grass was already breaking through the charred ground. </div>
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A nice snake skin was a great find.</div>
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But we also came upon a nice, medium-sized gator, that was the king of his very own, tiny sinkhole.</div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-16713143068252182762016-03-02T06:00:00.000-05:002016-03-02T06:00:19.766-05:00One For the Life List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
On a recent trip to St. Marks, B and I added a bird to our life-list. Now to say we <i>have</i> a life-list sounds like we are much more serious birdwatchers than we actually are!</div>
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It was B who spotted the bright little vermillion flycatcher as it fed on tiny insects above the wetlands.</div>
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S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-24201208871260593642016-03-01T21:04:00.000-05:002016-03-01T21:04:35.267-05:00Posing Peacocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
One morning on my country drive to school, my eye was drawn to the top of a high oak, where the sun had already begun to warm the frosty morning. There, perched, was a snow-white albino peacock. It is all of six feet in length. </div>
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Since that time, I have seen it and its colorful friends roosting many mornings. One Saturday morning, I made the drive specifically to photograph this unique sight. This time, they were in a pine. Because this is across the pasture, I brought along the tripod so that I could zoom in with more clarity.</div>
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I am not altogether sure if the bird below is a female (peahen) or if it is a guinea. </div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-22187605396867249092016-02-29T20:54:00.000-05:002016-02-29T20:54:28.442-05:00A Pair of Bobcats!A week ago, our grandson who is almost four, said we should all go down to St. Marks for the afternoon. It never takes much to get us on board with a trip to the lighthouse. This time, our son took their big SUV that will hold all of us. It is so nice to be able to go together and talk about the same things we are seeing.<br />
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It was a pleasant afternoon but we had no idea of the thrill in store for us on the return trip. We always check the sand spits off the side of the road where we have seen single bobcats before. This time, it was our daughter-in-law who spotted the spotted cats first. And, my goodness! There were TWO of them together!<br />
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If you click on each picture it will enlarge and you can see much more clearly.<br />
This first kitty is much more spotty.<br />
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In the one picture below, both bobcats are in the same shot.</div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-35885312150286421592016-02-15T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-15T06:00:08.322-05:00Mailbox Monday: Old Ironsides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a serious mailbox. I particularly like the tin roof. I wonder how many snakes or bats have found their way in the slot. </div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-63915263012802282512016-02-08T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-08T06:00:05.582-05:00Mailbox Monday: Texas A & M Fans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhOIGwJ301Y/Vq6xS7YOe2I/AAAAAAAAT-M/PNGwRhyHNBI/s1600/IMG_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhOIGwJ301Y/Vq6xS7YOe2I/AAAAAAAAT-M/PNGwRhyHNBI/s320/IMG_0370.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I got the decoration and missed the mailbox!</div>
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Reveille is a collie and the mascot for Texas A & M.</div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-27584700455486863252016-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-03T06:00:24.041-05:00The 100th Day of School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WovEL68eeUA/Vq60TEKO2hI/AAAAAAAAT-g/7PMlkA93A60/s1600/IMG_0322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WovEL68eeUA/Vq60TEKO2hI/AAAAAAAAT-g/7PMlkA93A60/s400/IMG_0322.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Last Thursday was the 100th Day of School. Primary grades really get into such things and use it as a teaching theme to learn about numbers 1-100. I decided I wanted to do something different this year. I stopped by Dollar Tree and picked up packages of 9" balloons. B helped me blow up (with our air!) all but 14 of them and put them in leaf bags and stuff them into my car. The next morning, I attached most of them to the wall with push pins and blew up the rest. Each student made a hat that read "100 Days Smarter." I took individual pictures with the balloons as the background and emailed them to their parents. At the end of the day, each child could choose one to take home. </div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-71433419694613499902016-02-02T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-02T06:00:01.627-05:00Donating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5voFslmcQo/Vq6zRF19MHI/AAAAAAAAT-Y/HYNYKBGMCmU/s1600/IMG_0343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5voFslmcQo/Vq6zRF19MHI/AAAAAAAAT-Y/HYNYKBGMCmU/s400/IMG_0343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For Goodwill?</div>
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Good grief!</div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-89274136230856734592016-02-01T06:00:00.000-05:002016-02-01T06:00:13.390-05:00Mailbox Monday: Octobox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySHmkyDXxLg/VqFyWFOiPQI/AAAAAAAAT9E/i2dTovqj-5c/s1600/IMG_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySHmkyDXxLg/VqFyWFOiPQI/AAAAAAAAT9E/i2dTovqj-5c/s400/IMG_0234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-28044864085204127462016-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-25T06:00:00.907-05:00Mailbox Monday: Friendly Folks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EckDBrcQ-jQ/VqFx3SztzhI/AAAAAAAAT88/sBosVIrIMAI/s1600/IMG_0155%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EckDBrcQ-jQ/VqFx3SztzhI/AAAAAAAAT88/sBosVIrIMAI/s400/IMG_0155%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-25356971456472330772016-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-24T06:00:10.575-05:00My Kind of Guy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
While shopping recently, I noticed this mannequin that had been posed leaning. They had him leaning to the right. I actually lean to the left--something I am attempting to correct by thinking about it during the day and trying to straighten myself. It is a complicated hip-spine thing.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0MzI0mjiJ4/VqF1hjsmq0I/AAAAAAAAT9Y/RRkwj84jKqA/s1600/IMG_5441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0MzI0mjiJ4/VqF1hjsmq0I/AAAAAAAAT9Y/RRkwj84jKqA/s400/IMG_5441.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Please understand my leaning cannot accurately describe my politics.</div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-28301734748515568952016-01-23T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-23T06:00:16.608-05:00Emu on the Loose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One morning in December, I was driving my usual country roads to school when I spotted an emu walking down the side of the road. This is a picture of terrible quality. A little video is somewhat better, but I don't post videos here. We travelled along together for further than I expected and then cars came up behind me and I had to be on my way.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YLFrexNbOas/VqFyy_sGQLI/AAAAAAAAT9M/GnWK_ghh7hs/s1600/IMG_5437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YLFrexNbOas/VqFyy_sGQLI/AAAAAAAAT9M/GnWK_ghh7hs/s400/IMG_5437.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Once at school, I shared this picture and the video with the folks in the office. One of the workers said she had heard that there was an emu on the loose and efforts to catch it had resulted in a broken arm! She notified the sheriff's office and they were able to catch it that morning.</div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-43824271772812230102016-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-22T06:00:04.416-05:00Tea LineB and I recently had lunch in the tiny town of Monticello, Florida, located east of Tallahassee. First, it is not Jefferson's Monticello. The c is pronounced as an s, as in cellophane. On this Saturday, the lunch cafe was crowded, popular and more than adequate on a cool day.<br />
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I was amused by the line on the plastic glass:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWbxVCh--wE/Vp17vnc_B-I/AAAAAAAAT7k/YPrl-pvq2rc/s1600/IMG_5583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWbxVCh--wE/Vp17vnc_B-I/AAAAAAAAT7k/YPrl-pvq2rc/s400/IMG_5583.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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It'll Get Cha Goin'</div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-50786638689546894772016-01-21T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-21T06:00:01.750-05:00A Quiet Place to Think<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We visited one of the main libraries on the Missou campus. It was a place our son had used when he really needed to focus without distractions. </div>
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This part of the library was where you could expect complete silence. </div>
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<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABRqA3vBoFA/Vp1_gZ_VYcI/AAAAAAAAT78/cwdCYjyfhDI/s1600/IMG_5456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABRqA3vBoFA/Vp1_gZ_VYcI/AAAAAAAAT78/cwdCYjyfhDI/s400/IMG_5456.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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In the lobby, was a unique vending machine that offered all kinds of study supplies.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FM_XG-47bi8/Vp1_iSDdj9I/AAAAAAAAT8E/gYwxPYBeBjI/s1600/IMG_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FM_XG-47bi8/Vp1_iSDdj9I/AAAAAAAAT8E/gYwxPYBeBjI/s400/IMG_0082.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8qt8p9Mgwk/Vp1_kZgUPeI/AAAAAAAAT8M/aYtJya5p_Ww/s1600/IMG_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8qt8p9Mgwk/Vp1_kZgUPeI/AAAAAAAAT8M/aYtJya5p_Ww/s400/IMG_0083.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have never seen anything similar. </div>
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<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-26775255259098106472016-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-20T06:00:14.746-05:00Shakespearean GroceryI came across this sign in a grocery in Columbia, Missouri. As a lover of cheese, it spoke to me.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMs208orEi4/Vp19SSFS6kI/AAAAAAAAT7w/sRzSPYkDvCo/s1600/IMG_5475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMs208orEi4/Vp19SSFS6kI/AAAAAAAAT7w/sRzSPYkDvCo/s400/IMG_5475.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-60839093794824621982016-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-19T06:00:04.259-05:00Harold's Doughnuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H1I_cV2D6NA/VpwK12v5c8I/AAAAAAAAT68/OQmRLywEBEA/s1600/IMG_5493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H1I_cV2D6NA/VpwK12v5c8I/AAAAAAAAT68/OQmRLywEBEA/s400/IMG_5493.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Our last morning in Columbia, Missouri, our son took us to Harold's, a local doughnut bakery. What a treat! The fresh doughnuts were wonderful.</div>
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One long wall inside was a chalkboard. I encourage you to click on the picture below and examine the donut flow chart. It is a hoot.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LK_bA4_vZBU/VpwK2koXW5I/AAAAAAAAT7A/dn8T3RCnpQ0/s1600/IMG_5491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LK_bA4_vZBU/VpwK2koXW5I/AAAAAAAAT7A/dn8T3RCnpQ0/s400/IMG_5491.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRvRzFVBsXA/VpwK2JbCJSI/AAAAAAAAT6s/SCKpjYXmdok/s1600/IMG_5492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRvRzFVBsXA/VpwK2JbCJSI/AAAAAAAAT6s/SCKpjYXmdok/s400/IMG_5492.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The bakery was having a fundraiser for some charity and had invited local businesses to create gingerbread houses that were being voted on for the best. Here are some:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNDtaf26-Tc/VpwK1JfhFZI/AAAAAAAAT6Y/xZBu3xyTKUc/s1600/IMG_5487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNDtaf26-Tc/VpwK1JfhFZI/AAAAAAAAT6Y/xZBu3xyTKUc/s400/IMG_5487.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R1Zx-tl3WRo/VpwKyFJsGnI/AAAAAAAAT54/rwfL0Q6gsPU/s1600/IMG_5486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R1Zx-tl3WRo/VpwKyFJsGnI/AAAAAAAAT54/rwfL0Q6gsPU/s400/IMG_5486.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1on1OR4yak/VpwKy7C_kfI/AAAAAAAAT6A/UeoQe71dgAA/s1600/IMG_5489.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1on1OR4yak/VpwKy7C_kfI/AAAAAAAAT6A/UeoQe71dgAA/s400/IMG_5489.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-resCv5-kQ/VpwK0y4enNI/AAAAAAAAT6U/73W-14GL5_8/s1600/IMG_5485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1-resCv5-kQ/VpwK0y4enNI/AAAAAAAAT6U/73W-14GL5_8/s400/IMG_5485.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx9BKR7u7K4/VpwK14WZK_I/AAAAAAAAT6w/iiXAk272_lc/s1600/IMG_5488.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx9BKR7u7K4/VpwK14WZK_I/AAAAAAAAT6w/iiXAk272_lc/s400/IMG_5488.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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Chances are rather slim that I will ever return to Columbia now that our son has his PhD and has moved to Colorado to live and work. But if I do, you can be sure I will look for Harold's.S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-87688022389791810832016-01-18T18:38:00.000-05:002016-01-18T18:38:06.303-05:00Mailbox Monday: Box For an Off-Road Track <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clyzVHqc_CY/Vp13FPqrJkI/AAAAAAAAT7Y/yXSQN3my2_8/s1600/IMG_0276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clyzVHqc_CY/Vp13FPqrJkI/AAAAAAAAT7Y/yXSQN3my2_8/s400/IMG_0276.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-52776262340241801462016-01-16T17:57:00.001-05:002016-01-16T17:57:25.543-05:00Charming Rocheport, Missouri Has Lots of HistoryWhen we were in Columbia before Christmas, we enjoyed a drive around the countryside. Some of the areas we visited have recently flooded. This little statuary was barely within sight of the river that day.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDLI5xJGn0c/Vo78zj9KALI/AAAAAAAAT24/OL4j-Od8sAU/s1600/IMG_0157.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDLI5xJGn0c/Vo78zj9KALI/AAAAAAAAT24/OL4j-Od8sAU/s400/IMG_0157.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
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When I did a search of flooding in this little village of Rocheport, I did not find recent information, so perhaps it was spared this time. It was a charming place that has made its latest dollar on tourism generated by the Katy Trail, a walking-bike trail that runs the old MKT (Missouri-Kansas-Texas) rail line across the state of Missouri. The Katy Trail is the longest rail trail in the country at 240 miles.<br />
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This bridge and tunnel are part of the trail.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zA7U1M_tA3U/Vo7_S_9PNbI/AAAAAAAAT3Q/eIBNOs8rYkU/s1600/IMG_0158.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zA7U1M_tA3U/Vo7_S_9PNbI/AAAAAAAAT3Q/eIBNOs8rYkU/s400/IMG_0158.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kt6jgkB_wnU/Vo8IUxkD6zI/AAAAAAAAT4o/hpj5XDLaYfw/s1600/IMG_5474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kt6jgkB_wnU/Vo8IUxkD6zI/AAAAAAAAT4o/hpj5XDLaYfw/s400/IMG_5474.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The sign shown above tells of Indian pictographs that Lewis and Clark observed and recorded here. When the railroad created the tunnel, they blasted the pictographs and all that are left are the records.<br />
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The pole in the rock above the tunnel appeared to be a telegraph pole.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-74_EVnMnOkg/Vo8HdZiuUuI/AAAAAAAAT4Q/q0dMBjmZHPs/s1600/IMG_5471.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-74_EVnMnOkg/Vo8HdZiuUuI/AAAAAAAAT4Q/q0dMBjmZHPs/s400/IMG_5471.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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Further along the river bank, was the site of the old train station. It has been rebuilt to provide rest rooms and signage.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQZQ3AwPuE4/Vo8HwipayjI/AAAAAAAAT4c/tw-OCOTr-wA/s1600/IMG_5473.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQZQ3AwPuE4/Vo8HwipayjI/AAAAAAAAT4c/tw-OCOTr-wA/s400/IMG_5473.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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There was information about steamboats on the Missouri. Check out the Western Engineer!<br />
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I read that the design was specifically made to strike fear in the hearts of the natives, known to attack the boats. Major Stephen H. Long was commissioned by the Secretary of War in March of 1819 to explore the country between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. One report said that they were the first expedition of scientists and artists into the area and that they brought back east samples and at least 270 drawings of indigenous alpine flora, new species of wolf and coyote, fossils, insects and geographical information. Long named Long's Peak for himself in Colorado.<br />
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S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-80796356613111962742016-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-11T06:00:00.815-05:00Mailbox Monday: Polka-Dots<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YxEXHazadDc/VocTjFTligI/AAAAAAAAT0Q/eJZ8lkEsahA/s1600/IMG_0100.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YxEXHazadDc/VocTjFTligI/AAAAAAAAT0Q/eJZ8lkEsahA/s400/IMG_0100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I wonder if it is glow-in-the -dark paint.</div>
S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-55825650536316440602016-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-09T06:00:14.316-05:00Gray Missouri DayIn Missouri, there was ice on the ground in low, shady spots. Native Floridians get excited over such sights.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MnYeywPhe8/VosQVAcnZnI/AAAAAAAAT2Y/62kzz-T6VgY/s1600/IMG_0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MnYeywPhe8/VosQVAcnZnI/AAAAAAAAT2Y/62kzz-T6VgY/s400/IMG_0122.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On our country drive, we noticed this large bottle tree in a yard. It provided a lovely hue in an otherwise colorless setting.<br />
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I also admired this little metal sculpture in the same yard.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eovbk3SkzmE/VosQPt_8eMI/AAAAAAAAT2A/H06gDMTnRPc/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eovbk3SkzmE/VosQPt_8eMI/AAAAAAAAT2A/H06gDMTnRPc/s400/IMG_0152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964467177762746314.post-63596691800644272512016-01-08T06:00:00.000-05:002016-01-08T06:00:12.691-05:00The Big Bur OakThree years ago, we made a summer trip to Columbia, Missouri to see where our son was in graduate school. At that time, he took us on a little driving tour of the area and out to see the big champion oak.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2oIXV25vMQ/VosIOkzxLrI/AAAAAAAAT1g/9fBQgibIqck/s1600/IMG_0871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2oIXV25vMQ/VosIOkzxLrI/AAAAAAAAT1g/9fBQgibIqck/s400/IMG_0871.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On this last trip out for graduation, we were able to take a similar drive to show his brother the area. This time, it was December and the tree was bare and each limb was defined on this gray day.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XeOxHG_Syec/VosIOnABjKI/AAAAAAAAT1c/hG5lzJQjbRQ/s1600/IMG_9964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XeOxHG_Syec/VosIOnABjKI/AAAAAAAAT1c/hG5lzJQjbRQ/s400/IMG_9964.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the only good way I know to get a sense of the proportion of the tree.</div>
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The tree is reported to be over 300 years old. That means the settlers in the covered wagons headed west may have also seen this same tree. They probably were not the ones who sprayed it with graffiti.</div>
<br />S N Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882273260388749748noreply@blogger.com0