Monday Hike

We hiked to this waterfall on Monday.  It was about 2 miles round trip.  Very peaceful because Mike, Mary, Don and I were the only ones on this trail...if you call listening to the 13 year cacadas peaceful!

This is a moth that I saw on the Hideout Hollow. 

All in all, a great Memorial Day weekend!

Hiking Sunday

We are hiking around the Buffalo River with M & M for the weekend and a much needed get away.  The two hikes we did were Hawk's Bill Crag.... and Twin Falls, (which was a triple falls today..)

Tornado clean up

We are home and tired... and a bit over whelmed by what we saw... first was seeing the slab where the house was... how did they make it out alive??? There was nothing left but the foundation..second, was the people there to help.. probbably about 100 or so workers doing many types of jobs... girls handing out water and snacks, people providing lunch, and the worker bees who were picking up all the debris all over the place.  It takes many people working together to do something like this.  Lastly.... the power of the storm..... cars, motorcycles, and other big items thrown all over the field..

Saturday Morning....

Saturday morning...... one of my favorite mornings of the week.  It is not that I sleep late (when I can sleep late, I can't).  But I get up to a quiet house, get a cup of coffee, read, write, or sit on the porch and listen to the nature sounds.  Just the idea of not having to jump out of bed and get ready for the day is most relaxing.

A little later, Don and I are going to help one of his Masonic Brother's whose house was destroyed by a tornado on Sunday night.  This one was in a small Missouri town, Southwest City and actually hit after the one in Joplin.  The plan is for us to work in fields clearing the debris from the pasture.  I am sure we will be tired, but it is something we can do. 

Sunday and Monday we are taking a break and going hiking in the buffalo river area with Mike and Mary.  The plan is that we will hike looking for the waterfalls that should be going with all the rain we have had.  Looking forward to getting away for a couple of days.  (the real count down for the end of the school has begun.  only six days with kids left.... )
Then a short, but full summer begins..............

 

A stormy/rainy start to the week.....

Looks like we are in for another rainy/stormy week..... Tornado tore up the town of Joplin which is only about an hour up the highway in Missouri.. Many people killed and homeless.. A lot of people from here have family there or know someone who lives there... Hour hearts go out to these families.  One of Kelly's Benton friends live in Joplin with his wife.  He has reported that he and his family are all ok.. we don't know if they suffered any damage to their home.   We were up half of the night listening to the storm sirens and going to our "safe spot".  It as also rained pretty much all day.  As I sit writing this, I am listening to the thunder rattle the windows.  I hope tonight is not as rough as last night.  I would like to get some sleep... At least I have my roof over my head and my bed to sleep in.

Owl Concert

The owls were really singing last night.  It was after dark and I am reading in the living room with the back door open.  I like to do that because it is  almost like being outside.  I can sit there and listen to the quiet or other outside noises.  It started with one owl, not too far out side from the porch.  Then came the echo of another owl.... finally I counted 4 different owls singing to each other.  This went on for quite some time, those dueling owls.  For some reason, listening to the owls, makes me smile..  One of the many reasons I love living out here.  This was the first time I heard 4 at one time.  Usually it is one, or maybe two.  A few times, I have even caught sight of an owl, but they are pretty good at keeping themselves hidden.  So I sit and enjoy the Owl Concert going on just outside my door.

Finally some sunshine

What a beautiful weekend!  Sunny and warm all weekend.  Good to get outside and enjoy.  Don and I enjoy sitting on the back porch and looking at the nature just outside our house.  The deer have been walking back and forth through the woods where we can see them.  Lots of times, it is so quiet, we can't hear anything.  We just sit and soak in the stillness.  After a stressful day at work, there is nothing better than going out there and sitting and taking in the peace and quiet.  I plan to end my day today doing just that!

Rainy Monday, but I think there is a light (sunlight) at the end of the tunnel.

We did have a rainy Monday, but there was slivers of sunlight to the west.  Also, after a cool night tonight, we will begin a warming trend several day.  Yea!!!  I hope to get out and do some running if the weather does indeed straighten up.  I have started doing a little running.... just for fun and exercise.  I have run in a couple of races, but what I really enjoy doing is going out for a 1-3 mile runs by myself at my own pace.  This seems to really clear my head and my body gets a good work out on top of it all.  Another thing I like to do when the weather premitts, is to ride my bike all over town.. This is another time I like to be by myself, with my own thoughts and go where I want to go.  Sometimes I ride for only an hour and others I will ride all morning!  I am trying to come up with a route from our house to Tillery for a couple of workshops I will be going to in June.  I will probably need to allow at least an hour for the one way trip.  Should be interesting!!!
It will be wonderfun to get outside!!!!

Rafting weekend

I just got home from a fun, if rainy, weekend of camping and rafting.  Friday was sunny, but we were not on the river!  We got to camp and got set up and other things done to get ready for a Saturday float.  Kelly and Lyndsay came for the float getting there about 9:00pm.  We had a great float even thought it rained a little on the trip, and sadly we did not have any sun:(..... however, the rapids were good and everyone seemed to have a good time.  K & L seemed to enjoy it and we will have them go again with up hopefully on a sunny trip.  After we got  back to camp, they helped us fold up the raft etc. before they left and went on back to Little Rock.  The forcast was for rain and since they were in a tent, they wanted get home.  Good choice.  The wind blew off and on all night, some guys partied late, and by 9:00am it was raining and cold.  They wouldn't have liked that, not that I did either.  However any day in the outdoors and on the river is a good day!!!