First Planting March came in like a lamb with several warm days in the high 60's, tempting all the gardeners to put something (anything) in the ground. As usual, March has a little something for everyone, and it went out roaring like a lion, ending with several blustery days in the 30's. Oh well, it … Continue reading Spring Planting
Tag: Nebraska
Scottsbluff National Monument - Nebraska The first conestoga wagon was built in Conestoga, Pennsylvania in 1750. The covered wagons were solidly built out of heavy oak, with high axles to clear rocks, brush and tree stumps. It could haul six tons of cargo and was covered with heavy canvas. Covered wagons were common place during … Continue reading Conestoga
Lavender - San Juan Island In temperate climates all over the world, you will find Lavender. Its history dates back to the Romans who used it in bathwater. Its versatility comes from 47 different varieties used in flower gardens, cooking, cosmentics and therapeutic oils. There are lavender fields within a short drive of my home … Continue reading Lavender
Vitalva River - Prague, 2009 The winter solstice, shortest day of the year, is on December 21st, at the height of the Christmas celebrations. Too many things are going on to notice how short the days are. Now that the holidays are behind us we soon realize how short the days are, how frigid they … Continue reading Long Nights
2010 The Christmas tree at the Durham Museum in Omaha, NE is a traditional favorite. The tradition started in the early 1930's when Union Pacific set up a tree in their railroad terminal. This year's tree stands over 45' tall. Now, that's a Christmas Tree! Thought for the Day: A love of tradition has never … Continue reading Christmas Tree
Curling Olympic trials for the U.S. Curling Team are now taking place in Omaha, NE. Results of these trials will select the team to represent the United States in the 2022 Winter Olympics. It's not the kind of action sport that puts you on the edge of your seat; i.e. high drama with "last minute … Continue reading Curling
Mother Nature has a way of keeping you on your toes. In Nebraska, you never get bored with the weather -- it's always changing. Just when you think the weather is perfect, (relative to what?), the weather changes ... drastically. After several days of unseasonaly balmy weather (60's), the weather turned drastically to 3-4 days … Continue reading Frosty Morning
DUI I came across this crash scene in a small Nebraska town. Too much "brew" for this witch. Still hung over from Halloween. Thought for the Day: Give my people plenty of beer, good beer, and cheap beer, and you will have no revolution among them.Queen Victoria
Mystery Flower I found this flower blooming in mid summer in a pasture near Niobrara, NE. It looked at home among the tall prairie grass, rolling hills and cattle. Can you identify it? Please let me know. Thought for the Day: It is the sweet, simple things of life that are the real ones after … Continue reading Prairie Flower
This is an artistic and creative way to control pedestrian traffic. It gets your attention, and politely asks you to "Keep Off The Grass". Where did I find it? Outside the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, Nebraksa. Where else? Thought for the Day:If you're in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you're still in … Continue reading Traffic Cone
Corn Harvest, 2021 With perfect weather, the farmers are working dawn to dusk to bring in the harvest. Thought for the Day: Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.Theodore Roosevelt
NE State Fair I attended the Nebraska State Fair last week. It was the first time I've been to the fair since it moved to Grand Island in 2010. Ho hum. Thought for the Day: The secret to happiness is having low expectations.Warren Buffett
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant This strange plant showed up in my new wildflower garden. I contacted the source where I bought the "Pollinator Mix" to identify it, and was informed it is a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant. Hmmm, I thought the mix was native Nebraskan wildflowers. (Who cares!?) The wildflowers I planted this spring to … Continue reading New Flower
Mud Volley Ball The Beat Breast Cancer Mud Volleyball Tournament is Pink Bandana’s signature event and major fund raiser for the organization. For the tenth straight year it was held in Prague, Nebraska. Over 100 teams participated. So much fun! Thought for the Day: It always seems impossible, until it's done.Nelson Mandela
6 lb. catfish As instructed by his uncle, the 9 year old was out of bed at 0700 to check the trot lines they had set the night before. The tension on his line turned out to be a 5-6 lb. catfish. Getting the fish over the gunwales was a struggle, but what a thrill! … Continue reading Whopper!
Cedar Creek, NE The volunteer fire department of Cedar Creek, NE. always leads the Fourth of July parade. The route is the same every year: the road that encircles the four lakes, with cornfields on the right and spectators on the left. Everyone is welcome to join the parade; anything that rolls: bicycles, golf carts, … Continue reading Americana
Breakfast is Served The pelicans were very active at mid-morning at the Wildlife Safari near Ashland, NE. Thought for the Day: A wonderful bird is a pelican,His bill will hold more than his belican.He can take in his beakFood enough for a week;But I'm damned if I see how the helican.Dixon Lanier Merritt
Winter - 2021 Today's temperature will read in triple digits. Predicted to be at least 104, it will definitely break the record for June 17th in Omaha, NE. If you don't like the heat, just think about last winter when the temperature never got above zero in three days. Less than four months ago, February … Continue reading Triple Digits
3 weeks old The Bison calf kept close to its mother, and both were in the middle of the herd. The herd's constant movement allowed occasional glimpses of the calf, but typically it was lying down in the tall vegetation. With a little patience I was able to get this shot from the safety of … Continue reading Bison Calf
Rest Area The sculpture of Willa Cather welcomes visitors to take a seat, take a rest, catch your breath, etc. The sleepy little town of Elkhorn, NE, just a few miles west of downtown Omaha, has been swallowed up by Omaha's urban sprawl and is now part of Omaha. But the two-block stretch of Elkhorn's … Continue reading Olde Towne Elkhorn