Circle B Winter

I have been terribly remiss in updating my Matters and Musings page these past few months, and I do apologize for that.  Sometimes I sort of wait for inspiration to strike, and obviously, looking at the last few posts, I have become smitten by the seasonal moods of the Midwest.  As a native Californian, real seasons are a mystery and a wonder to me.  I am so fascinated by the almost abrupt shifts from one climate to another, and the visual changes that accompny them.  Spring is nothing short of breathtaking as you probably noticed from my previous posts, but right now I am in awe of winter and the beauty and sometimes starkness of the land around us.  So the following are a few photos that I have taken after our most recent snow...

A couple of weeks ago, I heard voices outside, and when I looked to see what was going on, I found 3 of my grandkids out there sledding.  I watched them for awhile, snapped some photos, and shaking my head, had to say "who gets to have this life?"  I'm so glad I do....

I've come to realize that those who have lived here all of their lives are not quite so enamored of the snow and often brutal winter temperatures as I am.  Perhaps in time I will become as impatient with winter as the natives, but I sincerely hope not.

Tom's Bison Burger

Perhaps one of the best burgers I've ever had....  Unbelievable.  Thanks, Tom!  How the heck did we actually eat those??!

Another Day in the Garden

As I mentioned in my last post, it's been an absolutely incredible spring in the garden.  The weather has been such that we've seen things grow and bloom as we never have before and may never again.  So I've taken to the garden with my camera in the hopes of capturing some of this oh so fleeting beauty.  Here is a little taste of spring in our Midwest garden...

There are several large shrubs just full of these beautiful little berries hanging like Christmas decorations.  So pretty.

I loved the contrast of the armor-like body of this dragonfly and his/her gorgeously delicate, transluscent wings.

We must have 6 or 7 mulberry trees dotted about the property.  These tiny little berries mostly end up on the ground as snacks for the deer, birds and squirrels, but when The Husband gets hungry for a cobbler, he gets out and picks a couple quarts of the little guys.  Here's what I do with them.

This is the first year that our hollyhocks have bloomed and they're just gorgeous.  We have several varieties and each one is incredibly pretty...

Most mornings this young buck wanders through and snacks on the mulberries.  We had a bit of a stare-down.  He won.

Frogs in the Garden

I was out working in the garden a couple of weeks ago and looked down at this iris and there sat this very cute, very contented little frog.  I couldn't believe how perfect he was and ran to get the camera. After I got this shot, I turned around, and you guessed it...

This little guy was happily sunning himself nearby.  Evidently, iris are the perfect spot for a froggy mid-morning nap.

Bugs in the Garden

I have no idea what the heck this little guy is.  I saw him flying around in the garden the other day and tried to get him to hold still for a photo, but to no avail.  I've never once seen a critter like this and haven't seen one since.  He seemed like a cross between a hummingbird and some super cool bug.  I love his little antennae. Here are a few more shots of him... his wings NEVER stopped.  Not once, so this is the best I could do.  

 

And there was this cute little butterfly who was enjoying the chive flowers. We've had an influx of moths/butterflies since the big storms in March and April blew them all up here from the south.