Take a hike

Sunday afternoon was beautiful, so we took the opportunity to visit Glacial Lakes State Park- practically in our backyard!  It was beautiful, although I think one more week would have really heightened the fall colors.  We hiked about 4.7 miles total during our afternoon.  The kids were real troopers, and we only had to carry each of them part of the way.  Nora brought her baby with and carried her all afternoon!

 We made a stop at our favorite Starbuck (the name of a small nearby town, not the coffee company) Dairy Queen for a treat.  The biggest treat for the kids was calling Grandma from the pay phone.  What a novelty!!

A princess

 Nora loves dressing up like a princess, playing with her princess dolls, and playing farm. (I know, it's not really related, but it's cute!)

The road less travelled

It was an absolutely beautiful evening here. The smell of fall is in the air. During an evening run, I enjoyed concentrating on the many wonderful sounds: the crunch of damp gravel under my feet, the gentle breeze in my ears, the frogs and crickets singing, the flowing creek, the panting of (wo)man's best friend as he keeps me company, and the sound of him splashing through puddles from today's earlier rains.

Heading down a dirt trail.

Wildflowers frame our farm.



A nearby waterfowl preserve.



The soybean fields have turned golden after the recent frost.

Frost and a frog

 It certainly is starting to feel like fall here.  Some of the trees have started to change, and Wednesday night we got a good hard frost.  While I love fall, I'm not sure that I was done with summer yet! 

Once again, I couldn't resist snapping some pictures during my morning run.  I loved the look of the frost on these foxtails with the neighbor's frosty pasture in the background.

On Wednesday evening, after the kids were in bed, Mike called me to the kitchen to see something.  Apparently this little tree frog felt the cold setting in for the night and had somehow found its way into the house. We have seen him clinging to our patio door other evenings, but we're still not sure how he got in! Mike was a bit startled when he felt something hit him in the leg as he walked into the dim kitchen!  We put him in a jar overnight so the kids could see him in the morning.  After it warmed up a bit, I let him out into the sun and snapped these pictures before he hopped away.

This picture is unrelated, but I just love it and wanted to share it.  I snapped this picture the other afternoon as Dane was arriving home from school.  I love how Teddy has his tail up and is running to greet his buddy.  I wish I had a video of how cute Dane is as he's running home up the driveway to tell me excitedly all about his day.  So far he has adjusted very well to school and continues to love it.

 



This morning

A full moon set.

 The sun rose.

 The sky was beautiful.  It never ceases to amaze me...

A Retro Camera post

Wedding flowers I brought home and displayed in my own containers for a few days longer.

Making refrigerated dill green beans.

Our own little Fancy Nancy in Momma's boots.

Beautiful evening on the golf course.



Our scorekeeper.



Lovin' MN

I can honestly say that I have loved every place we have ever lived, but here are some of the reasons I'm so happy we're where we are...

Mike and Dane decided to pull out the old fishing boat and launch it in our creek because the water was high enough and just because they could.  Headed through the pasture to the creek.

The trolling motor doesn't work, but at least they weren't up a creek without a paddle!  Nora and I joined them later and enjoyed just sitting in the boat watching the world float by as we drifted through the pasture.

Beautiful hazy summer mornings.

Lovey kitties.  This is sweet daddy Sunny and two of the kittens (hard to tell them apart anymore!).  Most male cats aren't so loving of their young, but we are glad he is since our beloved momma Rosie disappeared without a trace about a month ago.

Amazing seasons.  The leaves are starting to hint of fall, and the September weather has been wonderful so far.

Clear. clean lakes in which we love to boat, swim, and wakeboard.

A scenic local golf course where we can head with the kids to play a few holes when the mood strikes.

Wildflowers that grow on the golf course and along the roadsides.

I could go on and on, but my pictures are depleted for now!