A Rural Journal

Why, hello there.

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 17:41:00 +0000


President Harry Truman, Hemingway House, Key West, Florida (Photo by Jesse K.)

Firstly, (in the 1700's, Noah Webster didn’t even have an entry for firstly, though the word has been used since the 1300s... anyway, I like it, so you will see it used here, as here on this blog, liberally... Such as rebel.)

I'm back. A Rural Journal is back.

But not exactly the same. Because I have changed. Thus, the blog will change. Just sayin'.

Some of you who followed before may not be able to hang in there. And that's okay.

My purpose, my view of the Big Picture as it were, has shifted. (Hey, change is a good thing, nes pas?)

But, one thing hasn't changed. I'm still yearning to take photographs again. Make no mistake, this blog will center around photography.

And, I'm still an edgy, rural country-gal at heart. So that will be a major theme. If you like that sort of thing. I know I do.

But let me make clear, in so many words, after some high hurdles and must consternation, I am preparing to enter the Catholic Church come next Easter (my RCIA classes begin in late September) and some of what you see here will be loosely (or tightly) related to this fact.

But wait -- before you "unfollow" let me say this, there will be no preaching, no judging, no holier-than-thou sermons from the soap box...

Sooo, although you might feel a different tone to my posts from here on out... please know there is a purpose to my steps along this narrow path.

And I pray you will walk with me.

God bless you all.

**Thanks for visiting. Comments have been disabled. Have a blessed day!**

Happy Memorial Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Sat, 28 May 2016 16:46:00 +0000

Wanted to take a moment to thank all of our veterans for their service to our country.

God Bless them!

Also, I'll be taking a break from blogging for awhile. See you when I do.

~Nancy

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 27 May 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

where you share 5 random facts about you, your day,
your pets, your kids, whatever!

The Random 5 Friday Meme post will be available at 12:00 am CST every Friday.

I'm looking forward to seeing your submissions.

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. Since the passing of el nino and the entrance of la nina, we are having thunderstorms most every day. Mowing has gotten to be my main activity lately.

2. Our iris have done beautifully this year. I will replant some of them in the fall so they are all located around the flag pole. Right now, they are scattered hither and yon.

3. Buck brought me a present yesterday morning -- a live opossum. He dropped it on the back porch before coming inside (thank the Lord!) -- after about 2 minutes of, well -- playing 'possum, it slowly got up and lumbered away.

4. Speaking of lumber, our old Ponderosa Pines in the front yard are dying (as most pines are in Nebraska from pine wilt,) and Shane will be taking them down sometime this summer. That ought to be exciting...

5. And speaking of Shane, he's about done with the new shed he is building to store his trapping bait -- he needs one "unrainy" day for me to help him roof it.

Now it's your turn...and Happy Memorial Day!

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 20 May 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. Shane and I made a large enclosure for the geese last weekend in the peach orchard -- they were getting too friendly with our neighbor's soybean seedlings.

They are able to go into the coop area if necessary. Seems to be working okay for now...

2. except the guinea escapes from Alcatraz on a daily basis.

3. I planted marigold seeds (saved from last year) around the "little red house" and the outhouse this morning.

4. Not sure what Jack found so interesting about the hollyhock leaves. Must be a cat thing.

5. Our lilacs did not do very well this year due to a late freeze, but some managed to bloom despite the cold weather.

Now it's your turn:

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 13 May 2016 05:00:00 +0000

I said no swimming without your life jackets!

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. I broke out the macro lens on Monday after a rain shower... raindrops on flower petals in macro are always a winner!

2. Have you seen this commercial? I loved the song so much (or maybe it was the little pig,) I made it my new ringtone...

3. Our church gave out long-stemmed red roses to all "the moms" last Sunday. Such a nice surprise.

4. We were seeing a few little ants in our kitchen last week. I found a DIY ant killer recipe online that uses a mixture of 20 Mule Team Borax, water and sugar. Worked like a charm.

5. I'm seriously hooked on Jolly Time Microwave Kettle Popcorn (the low-calorie type.) 100 calories a bag. Of course, the bags are smaller than the regular size, but it's so good!

Now it's your turn:

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 06 May 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. So when has Mother's Day EVER been on the first Sunday of May? Totally caught me off-guard.

2. Buck's stitches (see last week's post) were removed, but with much growling and teeth-gnashing. The Doc had to administer an anesthetic to calm him down, then another shot to bring him out of it. He's never acted this way before -- I think a muzzle is in order for the next visit, just in case.

3. The wrens, orioles and brown thrasher have made their way back to the farm. The air is filled with their songs of Spring.... so enjoyable.

4. We have decided to cut the cord on the satellite dish and get an antenna for UHF-VHF channels (ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS.) Will miss MSNBC, but I will not miss that $100+ bill every month. (We can't use any streaming product due to our limited data with Verizon.)

5. I overwintered my mother's pink geranium and plan to give it back to her for Mother's Day after I re-pot it. It's grown twice as big and is blooming like crazy.

Now it's your turn...

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 09:41:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. I shared these goose-baby photos on my Facebook page last week. Since then, there have been 7 more goslings hatched with one last goose momma setting on her nest.

2. My mother-in-law, Mary, just left to go back home after a 3-week visit. It went by so fast. Lots of coffee, great conversations and a few Walmart shopping adventures. I will miss her (until next time...)

3. I really wish I better understood the whole delegate/super delegate process involved in the U.S. Presidential General Election. Not sure my little vote counts for much these days.

4. Speaking of geese, they are the only ones around here enjoying the 50 F degree wet weather we are having today. Cloudy and windy too. Looking forward to warmer weather and some sun (and cleaning out the wood stove for the last time this season.)

5. I wish all pills came in gummy form.

Now it's your turn:

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. Due to extenuating circumstances, I was not able to visit participants of R5F last week -- and I am sorry for that. I do appreciate you and hope to be able to touch base this week.

2. Our tulips suffered a late freeze this year, thus lowering the numbers of blooms available for cutting. Always a possibility in the spring here in Nebraska.

3. Buck has had a dangling dew claw since he was a pup (the doctor missed it) and injured it last Sunday. I took him to the same vet Tuesday and he removed it surgically at no charge (my suggestion.) The patient is doing just fine.

4. When you live on an acreage or farm, the obvious answer to accumulating too much stuff is to build yet another storage shed.

5. Combining a box of Walmart Peanut Butter Cookie Mix with a box of Walmart Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix is nothing short of genius.

Now it's your turn ---

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. The State of Nebraska is redesigning the new 2016 license plate after much complaining about this original concept:

2. We are down to two outdoor cats at the present time. Fortunately, Poppy, our best mouser, is still at it. And yes, she is as grumpy as she looks.

3. One of my sons is house-hunting and we joined him last weekend to visit an old (foreclosed) Victorian home that unfortunately needed more improvements than he was willing to commit to -- and the location was not quite right.

But I did take a few photos of the word-work, which was in excellent condition:

4. My Christmas cacti (all 3) are currently blooming.

5. Speaking of improvements, this bird house could use three more walls!

Now it's your turn:

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. I would like to wish my younger sister, Jan, a very Happy Birthday -- which occurred yesterday, April 7.

Also born on April 7 -- Jackie Chan, Russell Crowe, Billie Holiday, James Garner, Francis Ford Coppola, Wayne Rogers (MASH), John Oates of Hall and Oates, California Governor Jerry Brown and Tony Dorsett (Dallas Cowboys.)

2. I noticed one of our chickens was acting listless last week (with runny diarrhea) and according to Google, plain yogurt may be fed as a remedy. After about 4 days of adding yogurt to her diet, she's much better.

3. Why do our property and Federal/State income taxes have to be due in the same month?

4. I discovered a website called Early Bird Books that emails weekly offers for discounted and free ebooks. I downloaded Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Essays" for free this week. You might want to give it a try.

5. The above photo is a poplar tree that grows close to my husband's trapping shed. Any tree within a 10-foot range of this structure is likely to be used as a storage hanger for his ~~junk~~ treasures.

Also sharing with Willy Nilly Friday Five with Tanya, Five on Friday with Amy,

Cath's Friday Fun Favorites

Now it's your turn...

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 05:00:00 +0000

"Cheese"

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are mine for this week:

1. I had my first tick of the season (in my hair) this past Monday.

2. I have been enjoying reading in my rocker in front of the wood stove this winter and will be a little sad when it's shut down for spring/summer.

3. Why is it as soon as I clear off the kitchen table and put the items in "their proper place," I usually can't find half of it when I need it?

4. I've been eating Jolly Time Kettle Corn popcorn for breakfast.

5. I always feel somewhat guilty when I have to call an insurance agent to tell him/her we've switched coverage and are cancelling their policy because it's become too expensive. It's like breaking up with an old boyfriend who didn't see it coming.

Also sharing with Willy Nilly Friday Five with Tanya, Five on Friday with Amy,

Cath's Friday Fun Favorites

Now it's your turn...

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 12:55:00 +0000

1. My (86 year-old) mom is having her last physical therapy treatment today for a fall accident that occurred just before Christmas. She's is such an inspiration to me and has come a long way since dislocating her right arm on that fateful day.

2. I have been on a cookie-baking jag for a few weeks now, with iced sugar cookies being the house favorite.

3. We had a smidgen of snow, ice and rain yesterday morning, but thankfully the spring blooms do not appear to have suffered any.

4. One of our geese has taken up residence in one of the old dog houses on the property, as she did last year. She's built her nest and I imagine a few eggs have been laid. Though we do not need any more geese, I do wish her well.

5. I received a live beaver from my husband for my birthday this year. She was released into our pond before I could get a photo. Not sure if she decided to stay -- I'll keep you updated. (I named her Agnes after St. Agnes of Bohemia.)

(I did not attach any meme link to this post for Random Five Friday, as I imagine there are quite a few similar memes out there now in which you participate. If anyone has an interest in my reviving R5F, however, let me know and I'll start it back up again. In the meantime, I'm just doing my own on Fridays as I am able.)

Sharing with Eileen at Saturday's Critters.

Blessings to all on this Good Friday

Nancy

Please excuse me....

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:23:00 +0000

if I've used this photo before.

After a thorough search of my blog, I'm fairly confident I have not.

It's an image from 2013, but if you would look out our window this morning, you would find a very similar situation. A little snow, gray skies and brisk winds.

Happy to be able to participate in Good Fences and Little Things Thursday again.

Please have a blessed Holy Thursday,

Nancy

Lucky.

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:27:00 +0000

Old outhouse, crooked rusty horse shoe and peeling paint...

a friend's e-card today that made me think of you.

Thank you Sandra.

: : :

God bless,

Nancy

Sharing with Wednesdays Around The World

Test Post

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:07:00 +0000

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

where you share 5 random facts about you, your day,
your pets, your kids, whatever!

The Random 5 Friday Meme post will be available at 12:00 am every Friday.

I'm looking forward to seeing your submissions.

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are my Random 5 for this week:

1. I dropped my Samsung Note 3 phone in a cup of coffee last week. Fried it. Fortunately, I had insurance on it and have my replacement already.

2. For those of you who could not see the Youtube player on the blog last week for the hymn, God of Mercy, here is a direct link.

3. Jack (the mostly indoor cat) ran inside the house this morning with a sparrow. I "saved" it and took it back outside but don't know if it survived.

4. Sioux received an A+ report from the vet on Monday. She weighs 77 pounds, which he says is a perfect weight for her breed (GSD) and age (eight years.)

5. I'd like to wish everyone a blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter.

Now it's your turn!

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are my Random 5 for this week:

1. My youngest son is working in Alaska this week.

2. The Nebraska NRD (Natural Resource District) no longer offers seed planters for rent, so we are in the market for a 3 point seed spreader to replant our conservation acres. Yet another scavenger hunt for inexpensive used farm equipment. Yippee.

3. An annual spring occurrence -- throwing away all of the cheap doormats and hearth rugs I bought last fall. Enough of the dog hair, mud and burn holes already!

4. Waiting for a warm day to rake up the dead pine needles in the yard.

5. My favorite hymn this Lenten season:

Sharing with

Now it's your turn:

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are my Random 5 for this week:

1. Did you know that St. Patrick was not Irish by birth? According to the Confessio of Patrick, when he was about 16, he was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Britain, and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping. (Wikipedia.)

2. I have several pairs of old prescription glasses I no longer can wear, so I'm donating them to the Lions Club. Here is their address to send your old glasses if you don't have a drop off location near you: Lions Club International Headquarters, Attn: Receiving Department, 300 W. 22 St., Oak Brook, IL 60523.

3. "We" are in the process of reseeding our conservation acres with the following: Blackeyed Susan, Greyhead Prairie Coneflower, Maximillian Sunflower, Purple Coneflower, Purple Prairie Clover, Partridge Pea, Upright Prairie Coneflower, White Prairie Clover.

4. It was 82 degrees F here this past Monday.

5. I just noticed my tulips are pushing out of the ground.

Now it's your turn...

Due to data restrictions with Verizon -- I am not currently able to visit blogs or comment, but will try to keep Random 5 Friday going as best as I can.

Thanks for understanding.

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Buck

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are my Random 5 for this week:

1. The "kids" and I took a long walk around the property Wednesday morning. I wore Shane's Cabela's camouflage hunting jacket as it was still rather chilly and windy. (Yes, I made quite the fashion statement.)

2. This barn belongs to our neighbors to the north. It sits way away from the main house and I don't think it sees much use these days.

3. "We" managed to rustle a few of these out of the brush. Obviously I had the wrong lens that day. Rats.

4. Sioux says "I didn't do it" (regarding aforementioned deer-rustling.)

5. Home Sweet Home.

Now it's your turn:

Calvary

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 11:47:00 +0000

Sharing with Little Things Thursday.

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Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 06:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are my Random 5 for this week:

1. Rather excited that this is the year I will begin to collect my work pension, even though all of the proceeds are headed to the savings account.

2. Little did I know -- when I took this photo of Immanual Lutheran Church in Orum, Nebraska, in October, 2012, -- that I would become a member some 2 1/2 years later. Cool, huh?

3. I've been spending many hours this week getting our taxes ready for HR Block. It's finally done and ready to go. Is it 100% correct? Have not a clue. But it's done!

4. My sister gave me this coffee mug for my birthday.

5. Looking at a good possibility of temperatures in the 50s and 60s beginning today. Yes and yes please.

(Photos edited with Befunky.com)

Also sharing with

Now it's your turn...

Good Fences

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:10:00 +0000

Obviously, I dug into the archives for this one... September 27, 2012 to be exact.

I took 199 photos that gorgeous, late fall day.

Happy to have this one to share with you -- while most of us in the U.S. await warmer weather.

Random 5 Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 06:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Random 5 Friday --

Guidelines:

1. Link up a blog post with 5 random facts
about you, your day, your pets, your kids, whatever!

2. Posts not containing 5 random facts may be deleted

(sorry, but I don't ask much!)

3. Visit a few other participants if you are able.

Here are my Random 5 for this week:

1. I have no specific reason for starting up my blog again... other than it was an itch I could no longer ignore.

2. Our 18 year-old cat Maggie passed away a couple of weeks ago in her sleep. Never was a very affectionate cat, but she had a good life with us.

3. Speaking of pets, we are down to about 5 chickens due to a predator attack last summer. Honestly, that's about a perfect number for two people. We can consume a couple of dozen eggs a week. But 4 or 5 dozen? Not so much.

4. Our weather has been up and down all winter. It was in the 40s a couple of days ago and now it's in the teens with snow on the ground. Spring can make an appearance at any time now. Just sayin.'

5. My youngest son returned from Afghanistan last October and is now working for a company that replaces computer hardware for the Air Force weather satellite network (something like that.) Lots of travel, but he doesn't seem to mind.

Now it's your turn.

Good Fences.

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 16:59:00 +0000

Our backdoor arbor gate which is usually left open.

Sioux in the background enjoying the 1" - 2" of snow we received yesterday.

Sharing with

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A Grain of Sand

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy ) — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 13:59:00 +0000

It isn’t the mountains ahead that wear you out, it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.

~Amish Proverb

For those of you who have been faithful friends for the past few months -- and even years,

I thank you all very sincerely for following along with me,

encouraging me and most of all,

your kinship.

However, it is time to close the book on A Rural Journal

-- and a most difficult decision it has been.

But the right decision -- for me.

Everything is just fine -- nothing "bad" prompted this.
Mostly, I have some things I want and need to do and the blogging routine
no longer fits into the overall equation.

I wish you well and will think of you often.

May God bless you all.

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