Posts from the ‘Nature’ category

Friday in Iowa

I was up at just before 4 a.m. this morning, sitting quietly with Karl at my feet, when the motorhome rocked slightly…a couple of times. I lived in California for 13 years and experienced a number of earthquakes – they don’t all “feel” the same. Some were sharp jolts accompanied by a loud crack of noise. Some were a rolling sensation, not unlike being on a boat in a long swell. Some were actualy shaking that went on for some time.

So, this morning, the rocking – and no wind, it was very still – “Earthquake!”, I thought…”But I’m in Iowa???” It was an earthquake – 5.2 according to the last thing I read – centered in Illinois 3 miles underground and approximately 350 miles from where I sit parked. It never fails to astound me to think how much force, energy and movement it takes for so much of the earth and the stuff sitting on the earth to move – even slightly…a scary, awesome, incredible force of nature.

A bit anti-climatic but Karl and I took a walk shortly after, even though it was very early. Thunderstorms rolled through early last evening and Karl decided the evening walk was unnecessary. It was quiet and NOT raining at 5 a.m. The weather map and forecast looked like it wasn’t going to stay that way for long, so I coaxed Karl out with me for a walk. All was accomplished in short order and we returned just in time.

Rain

No sunrise photos today! A good day to sit and work. We roll tomorrow for Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

a Country mile

So, just after I posted about how cold it was here in Ohio, we had the most beautiful “spring-like” weekend with temps in the 60’s and sunshine and I was back in shorts!

Overnight, the grass looks a little greener, there are buds on some of the bushes and LOOK!

Daffodil Buds

Daffodil Buds

Daffodils poking their heads up! And the air feels soft with that hint of warm that feels like spring morning.

Too nice to be inside and considering the amount of food and wine consumed – between friends of many years duration (I am not supposed to say “old” friends…) – anyway, we decided long walks were in order. We have been walking around the “block”.

Country

…I’d like to say a country mile – except it is a country “square mile”. Not that exactly either as part of the “block” winds around and would be more like 5 miles so we cut short the 3rd mile leg and walk back along the railroad tracks.

Country

There is something that feels adventurous about walking on the railroad tracks – like we are being a bit “bad” – breaking some rule…

On the road, we walk in the middle as there is very little traffic – not that many houses and the fields are too wet for the farmers to be working so it is mostly just the two of us.

Barn and Tractor

Sunset

Sunset night before last…I have relied on photos recently and I will again – a tough, rough, sad evening last night… As always, playing with light and color … helps.

rural Ohio sunset:

Rural OH Sunset

Rural OH Sunset

Rural OH Sunset

Rural OH Sunset

Rural OH Sunset

Summers in Somers

Somers, MT is located on the northwest corner of Flathead Lake in Flathead County, Montana.  Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.  I had not even heard of it before coming to Northwest Montana. 

Flathead Lake is beautiful – surrounded by mountains, longer north to south than it is wide east to west.  It is not really developed on its shores which is nice.  There is, however, plenty of public access and much of that via state parks that are wooded and very natural.  I grew up on Lake Erie which is not the most beautiful of the Great Lakes – but I did learn to sail on that lake and on the Maumee River in Ohio.  But I’ve sailed on Flathead Lake and it is incredible – the vistas, the water, the wind and the waves – big lake sailing at its best.

Late this summer on a not too smoky day, I took Karl to Lakeside, MT which is across Somers Bay from Somers, MT and took these photos.  Somers is home to a nice little marina – I’ve sailed from there and also from Dayton, MT which is further south along the west shore of the lake.  But Somers is a bit unique – itty-bitty town mostly on a hill overlooking the lake.  It reminds me of parts of San Francisco in that the houses are small footprint houses that step up the hill with beautiful vistas of the water.

Somers Bay

Tower

Sailboats

Karl

Boys in the ‘hood

Boys 1Karl and Bob… I often describe their “relationship” as similar to brothers.  They tolerate each other, occasionally play which usually degenerates into someone being a bit too rough with the other so ending up in a skirmish with Bob usually drawing blood… Karl will certainly defend himself but he never seems to get that Bob is getting serious and Bob does not hesitate to use his claws when he’s had enough.  One of the funniest things that happens is Bob will be sitting quietly outside intent on watching something and Karl will decide to start the play and run full steam towards Bob and just roll him over.  Bob comes up fighting – Karl walks away with a pleased look and I swear he’s laughing!  Bob pouts for a bit and no one can do a mad pout like Bob – purses his lips and looks extremly put upon.

The walks – funny also.  Bob decides to come along every once in awhile.  The first we know that he is along is a pitiful meow as we are further ahead of him than he likes – I tell him to hurry up and he does although he tends to always stay back a bit.  He doesn’t follow the entire walk – he’ll come part way not too far off the exact property line – then he’ll be waiting at the point we return to the property.  He’s usually pretty cautious about Karl … Karl loves if other people or dogs walk with us but I think he believes that cats should not be part of the walk… On the rare occasion, though, they are “nice” to each other and even seem to act like family…

Boys 2

Boys3

Boys3