Tiny Critters

 I had to look closely to find these tiny things.  I only noticed them because I saw them move.  They are all in the middle of the pictures.

That slender stick next to the tree is a lizard.

Toad

Grasshopper

Spider

It's called camouflage for a reason!

Louise and Duane 

2019

One year ago today we were visiting Old World Wisconsin, a living history complex that shows the development of Wisconsin 

from the first log cabins 

to permanent stone houses.

Different areas depicted the growth of the state from the first settlement in the 1880's  to farms, villages and towns as late as 1910.

Essential to each village and town was the blacksmith shop,

an inn/general store

and a church.

It was hot then too!

Louise and Duane

Mail Run

Recently we went to our son's house in Kilgore TX to pick up our mail.  Guess who has taken over the front porch!

That's Texas y'all!

Louise and Duane

Requiem

"That's life, I suppose.  You go along, and then suddenly....Poof!"

Poof!

Louise and Duane

Time Travelers

Ok we confess. We love seeing all the luscious green that the Piney Woods of East Texas offers, but we are really homesick for the desert. Since we can't leave our job here just yet, we took a visual trip back to Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle.   

I still remember riding the bike down into the canyon

We parked at the Visitors' Center and took a hike along the beautiful red walls.

We picked up the bike for the ride home and were slightly delayed by several wild turkeys crossing the road.

Hmmm maybe we'll head that way after our 3 months are up here.

Sounds like a great plan!

Louise and Duane

My Pix Picks

Today I was impressed by the bright greenness of this moss,

by the fact that the Black-eyed Susans are still blooming,

that I actually took a bee picture that isn't blurred,

that this plant could be severely bug eaten and still look good,

and that I was finally able to get a really good picture of a funnel spider.

Tomorrow--we go traveling.

Louise and Duane

Roots

Wild stuff on the trails!

Louise and Duane

WOW!

On our hike today we saw this trash a bit off the trail.

I was totally surprised to fine a giant stem fungus!  This beauty measures a whopping 10 inches across!

It was so large that it had to be supported by another one growing under it!

We're always discovering treasures.

Louise and Duane

Beaver Tales

That's all of that story!

Louise and Duane

Weirdness

Duane wanted a long walk today and took a different loop.  I opted for the shorted C loop.  He saw s, a jogger, and a bicyclists.  I saw no one and nothing except a couple of horseflies that died trying to inflict pain onto my legs.  We usually see someone on whatever trail we hike.

I did see this odd funnel spider web.  It's the only one I have ever seen facing downward.

Together again at home,

Louise and Duane

Bubble Popped

We were anxious to see our kids and grandkids in Trenton, TX and to visit the twins on their birthday.  Since the large kids' party was last night we felt it would be ok to visit this afternoon for a few hours.  

We found lots of  improvements since our visit last March.  The red brick was painted a nice white.

The carport was cleaned of all tools and equipment.

A new pool joined the playground equipment brought from the old place.

The jungle of brush was cleaned from the far side of the house.

The temporary dog shed had been shored up and sided and was now the workshop.

The corral to the left of the workshop was cleaned of brush and extended.

This fence line was cleaned of another jungle of brush.

 The tractor tire garden was producing vegetables.

Our outside tour left the girls time to get out of the pool and dressed so that we could give them their cards and gift.  They also opened this gift from their other grandparents.

We spent a pleasant afternoon goofing around the house playing with the little ones and visiting with the rest of the family.

Home before dark.

Louise and Duane