~First Frost~

Ugh! It came too soon!!! I guess it always does! ~Frost!~ Next thing you know, the snow will be flying!!! --LKR

Cold Front Blowing In...

The sick and twisted side of me laughed each time one of my three children ran out the door to wait at the bus stop.

"Burrrr!"

"Ah! It's COLD out there!"

"Ugh!"

If they weren't totally awake before they reached for the door knob at 6:44 am, they sure were by the time they stepped out through the door!

Don't worry, I had my moment too while running out to bring poochie back inside. "Ahhhh!" I shrieked as unexpected freezing pellet raindrops blew at me horizontally in the fiercely blowing wind.

How I long for warmer days after this cold front blows through, but I don't think we'll get it. If only we could migrate along with the birds and butterflies to warmer winter dwellings!!! --LKR

Need A Laugh?

Need a laugh? Watch this short clip!

Retracing Steps For A Worthy Cause

This is a baby hognose snake playing dead. Two hours earlier, my friend and I found him in the middle of a narrow bike path. Something compelled me to go back and check for it. You know how it is when you get that nagging feeling. So after picking my son up from soccer two hours later, we drove on over to Lowes Creek County Park. Carefully, I retraced my steps.

The snake was almost in the same spot I had left him after moving him off of the narrow pine trail. I could tell now it had been bleeding as I carefully placed his tiny body onto a paper towel and brought him back to the van.

Sadly, every year we find several young snakes that have perished in their youth. Thankfully, this one has a fighting chance! --LKR

Update: This morning, he's all curled up and looks pretty normal. White Pine Wildlife Rehab Center is still going to take him in.

Update 9/26/09: White Pine called to tell us the snake didn't make it. :-{

Raspberries

Got bit up big time by mosquitoes while bees of all sorts flew all about us. But it was well worth it! These sweet, juicy, delectable berries were devoured in no time at all!

Soon, frost will be ruining any remaining, ripening fruit. I'm just hoping for a good loooong Indian summer to make up for the lack of usual warmth we normally have in June, July, and August! --LKR

Why Did They...?

A few days ago, in the middle of the road, a pancaked turkey lay sprawled out, feathers fanned out which covered up what must have been a gory scene beneath. The next day, a tiny snapping turtle lay at the side of the road, flattened.

Why did they cross that road? What made them do it? Obviously, the grass was not greener on the other side of the road--for either of them, at least!

Later, while walking with my neighbor that same afternoon, I spied two little wooly bears as they took off in a mad crawl across the hot, black pavement. Since these were not yet road kill..., I scooped them up and brought them home. Since then, these two have been eating my yard out of dandelion leaves--there just aren't that many left to pick due to the lack of rain in our area. Everything, including weeds, are drying up!

Maybe it was a lack or food, curiousity, or the search for a winter home that caused these critters to trek over treacherous turf. Who'll ever know? They aren't telling! --LKR

Quiche, Anyone?

It's been ages since I've made quiche, and since I couldn't think of anything else to make, decided on this for dinner. Okay, so maybe it was the two giant zucchinis and three tomatoes that needed to be used up that helped necessitate this meal.

Duplicating a dish I've made isn't easy since I improvise, often using recipes only as guidelines. By the way, this is a crustless version, so it is gluten-free.

Let's see, the zucchinis, tomatoes, and onion were sauteed; side pork (cooked) was "crumbled"; cheddar, havarti, and muenster were added to milk and eggs and mixed together. Oh, yes, some basil and oregano were also tossed in. Normally I like to use fresh herbs, but our basil is recovering from when we were away on our (2,827 mile) "road trip", and we haven't had oregano in our garden since we've lived here. Guess this was the only part of the recipe I actually followed: Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

The kids were fighting over who would get the largest pieces. None of them asked what they were eating until after all crumbs were consumed. The smiles quickly turned to shock and disbelief. I'm not exactly sure what they've heard about quiche, before, but it must not have measured up! --LKR

What Day Is It?

090909

I love dates like this!!! --LKR

Health Care Reform

Early Mornings, Once Again!

It's that time of the year, once again. Back to (very early) mornings! I'm not a morning person, so this can be quite an ordeal. Fortunately, the sun is up by the time the bus arrives at the beginning (and end) of the school year. Not true for the rest of the year!

The bus was early, today, which was expected since they are only picking up middle schoolers. Tomorrow, high schoolers will be joining them on their early morning journey.

One nice thing about getting up before dawn is the chance to witness beauty in early morning light.

Dew, mist, and fog are awesome, too!

There's something really cool about dew that can't quite compare with rain. If the kids didn't have to get up so early, this is something I would have missed! --LKR