country road

The Annual Migration

/ Rebecca / 14 Comments

The Sandhill cranes have once again returned to a small nearby refuge.  The refuge is closed to the public at this time of year, but if you drive around the surrounding land, you can often see flocks flying in the sky or eating waste corn and insects from the harvested corn fields.  The cranes have been making their way back to these same farm fields for many years. What a joy to see and hear them as they winter at this stopover place.

This fond attachment to the well-known place
Whence first we started into life’s long race,
Maintains its hold with such unfailing sway,
We feel it e’en in age, and at our latest day.
~William Cowper

Autumn Sunsets

/ Rebecca / 28 Comments

This past week, the sunsets were magnificent in the November sky. What a treat to see the beauty that our Creator planned for each new day.

“Art gallery?  Who needs it?  Look up at the swirling silver-lined clouds in the magnificent blue sky or at the silently blazing stars at midnight.  How could indoor art be anymore masterfully created than God’s museum of nature?” ~ Grey Livingston

“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”  ~Christopher McCandless

“I find it incredibly amazing how at every sunset, the sky is a different shade.  No cloud is ever in the same place.  Each day is a new masterpiece.  A new wonder.  A new memory.”  ~Sanober Khan

“The sunsets are mad orange fools raging in the gloom.” ~Jack Kerouac

It was November – the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines.” ~Lucy Maud Montgomery

“Peering from some high window, at the gold of November sunset and feeling that if day has to become night, this is a beautiful way.” ~E. E. Cummings

“They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.” ~Psalms 65:8

White-tailed Deer

/ Rebecca / 9 Comments

Deer feeding on dropped corn in harvested cornfields shortly before sunset.

“When every day seems the same, it is because we have stopped noticing the good things that appear in our lives.” ~Paulo Coelho

Breathtaking

/ Rebecca / 11 Comments

We purposefully walk in the evening, a little before sunset, hoping for a breathtaking view. Quite often, we are not disappointed.

Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing, and listen as Heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.” ~Max Lucado

Looking Out Over Cornfields

/ Rebecca / 13 Comments

Our daily walk takes us by several cornfields, so from spring to autumn, we enjoy watching the daily activities and changes that take place from planting time until harvest and after.  To commemorate corn harvest time and the Corn/Harvest Moon which occurs during that season, I wanted to share photos of cornfields, corn stalks and corn cobs that are part of our country road walks.

How mesmerizing to observe a swarm of dragonflies congregating over a cornfield. They were beautiful to watch, and hopefully helped out with the mosquito population.

“It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn.” ~B. C. Forbes

Nine-banded Armadillo

/ Rebecca / 17 Comments

It was a surprise to discover this mostly nocturnal mammal wandering along beside our country road in the late afternoon.  It seemed, at first, to be oblivious to our presence as it foraged in the vegetation, using its pointy snout to root around for insects and other small creatures.  Eventually, it became curious and wandered out to take a closer look at us before continuing on its way.

“Don’t just exist, wander and explore.”  ~Unknown

Outside the Door

/ Rebecca / 13 Comments

After looking out the door at the same maple tree for many years, I have come to appreciate the various seasonal changes, lighting, and moods associated with the scene.

I enjoy watching the squirrels as they chase each other among the branches and the birds as they flit about. I’ve grown to appreciate the way, especially in autumn, that the afternoon sun lights up the leaves from different angles as it slowly sinks in the western sky.

What a joy to watch a swarm of midges gather in a sunny spot under the branches.  Looking like little fairies, with their dainty wings and little legs, they seem to dance magically in the afternoon sunlight.

We can receive joy from taking note of and appreciating simple, familiar things that are a part of our daily lives.

“Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.” ~Brene Brown

Crossing the Road

/ Rebecca / 13 Comments

What is a turtle who has taken up photography called? Snapping turtle. 🙂

This past summer, on two different occasions, we came upon snapping turtles as they cautiously emerged from the cover of green grass and made the trek from one side of the country road to the other.

The first turtle stopped to bask in the sun for a while before continuing its journey across. Then it strolled through the grass, took a dive into a water-filled ditch, and disappeared.

The second turtle strolled down the road for a short time and then headed for a ditch and into a wooded area.

Later in the summer, while out walking, we found a baby snapping turtle that was sitting in the middle of the road.  Afraid that it might not make it to its destination safely, we carefully helped it across the road in the direction that it was headed.

Snapping turtles are fascinating and always fun to watch from a distance.

Once you’ve committed yourself to something, pace yourself to the finish line. ~Meb Keflezighi

Crossing Paths With Guinea Fowls

/ Rebecca / 9 Comments

While out driving in the country, we were surprised to see three guinea fowls scuttle across a roadside ditch and up into a yard. 

Also surprised by our unexpected presence, they let out a unique and rather loud bunch of screeches as they quickly headed in the opposite direction. 

Being a native of Africa, and previously only having seen them at a zoo, they were one of the last birds that we had expected to come upon. 

This raised my curiosity about why guinea fowls would be roaming around in a yard way out in such a rural area.  It turns out that raising guineas is becoming more common and has several benefits.  They roam free in yards and gardens and are persistent in their pursuit of pesky insects (including fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes), spiders and small animals such as rodents.  They are also excellent at sounding the alarm if predators such as snakes, foxes or raptors or intruders such as unexpected humans are about.  And, of course, they are a good source of eggs and meat. While raising guineas has many positive benefits, it’s also a good idea to keep in mind that these birds tend to be very noisy, are not very domesticated and can harass smaller birds and chickens which also live on the property.

“I’ll see you when the road decides it’s time for our paths to cross again.” ~Ben Maxfield