The Unexpected Delights of Rural Iowa

I ran a few errands earlier today.

 

I'm on my way home

- maybe three miles from the house -

when I crest a hill and looking

forward to the bottom

  see the unmistakable
white heads of two

- count 'em 2 -

bald eagles in the middle of the road

worrying a bit of roadkill.

 

They lifted away as the car came nearer

and I watched their shadows

circle past me to turn and land again.
There was no traffic from either direction
so I took my time
and enjoyed the sight.

 

 

Did I have a camera!?

Of course not, so I'll close with this image

courtesy of Google.

 

 



357/365 January's Yield

Springtime’s fertile fields

Lay barren and snow-swept by

Winter’s bitter winds.

Oh the thinks I had thought!

Today was filled

with shiny expectation!

My list had fun entries

sprinkled among the laundry and dishes

and normal getting-ready-for-the-week items.

 

I was going to post a couple recent outfits

- and then I went to edit the photos -

so that's not going to happen this week.

 

But I'll give myself credit

(take it where you can)

for actually having taken photos!

They are an afterthought, at best.

 

I was also going to activate a new gadget

but it requires information

from my current service provider

so that means business hours tomorrow.

 

Downtown Abbey is still ahead.

 

Here's a sop

as the planned pictures

were a flop:

 

 

Naphtali and I had our nails "done" the

Monday before Christmas.

She opted for a pedicure in preparation

for her trip to Haiti.

I had my first shellac manicure.

It will be three weeks tomorrow and

they still look like we just left the salon.

Growth is evident at the base of the nails but

tips and color are intact

and still vibrant.

What do they use to remove this stuff!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



356/365 Where Friends Gather

Warm eyes and knowing

Smiles offset the brutal cold

Of winter’s icy touch.

355/365 Heft

Wool socks, either plain

Or bright, add comfort when faced

With bitter cold days.

354/365 Fronts

Banshee winds assail

My senses creating cold

In the midst of warmth.

Granola

My sister-in-law gave us

homemade granola for Christmas.

 

It was delicious and didn't

last very long.

 

I asked for the recipe.

She obliged.

A batch has already been made and enjoyed.

Here's how it works: 

 gather ingredients and equipment

 

stir together

 

 bake in 10 minute increments

 

add almonds and back in the oven

 

mmm - golden and delicious.

 

This is the recipe as I made it:

 

3 C. rolled oats

1 generous tsp. cinnamon

1/3 C ground flaxseed

3 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. oil

1/4 C honey

1/4 C brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 C whole almonds

1/3 C sunflower nuts

 

Preheat the oven to 325F. 

Toss the oats, flaxseed and cinnamon together.

Mix honey, oil, sugar, and vanilla in a separate bowl.

Pour over oat mixture and

mix well.

Spread on cookie sheet covered with

parchment paper.

Bake 10 minutes. Stir.

Add almonds.

Bake 10 minutes.  Stir.

Add sunflower nuts.

Bake 10 minutes. 

Turn oven off but leave in oven

another 5 minutes.

 

My SIL used 2 cups of oats,

no flaxseed,

1/3 C almonds

 and added

pistachios(rather than sunflower nuts)

 and 2/3 C craisins

 (after cooling for several minutes). 

 

Tasty by the handful

or with milk and blueberries!

 

 

 

353/365 Preparation

Words cannot prevent

The pain of loss though they may

Help soften the blow.

352/365 Clockwork

Daily routines dance

Around the clock’s face setting

Rhythms for my day

351/365 Last Sunset - 2013

Pink cotton candy

Wisps surround the setting sun

As the cold day ends.

350/365 Insurance

How can a price be

Assigned to value a life

Of interactions?

Monday Evening

It was snowing

- unexpectedly -

this morning as I got ready to

 leave for the gym.

It snowed most of the day.

 

I ran errands in the snow.

Found some bargains

shoveled the driveway

checked the mail

brought in garbage cans

made granola

did laundry

brought in firewood

created new Pinterest boards

put away the Christmas dishes

surfed for beret patterns

shuffled stuff for the new shelves

and a surprising number of

other things

while it snowed.

 



349/365 This Morning at Saylorville

Tire tracks crisscross the

Frozen lake as howling winds

Redistribute snow.

348/365 Hope

At bay we draw our

Truest breath, the touchstone of

Our humanity.

and so it goes...

This was the view on December 5:

 

Decorating for Christmas had begun. 

 

Tim decided it was time to tackle a project

that we had been discussing all summer.

I told him he could have 2 weeks.

If it couldn't be finished in

2 weeks - don't start.

He started.

 

 December 12

 

 December 16

 

December 19

 



December 21

 

 

December 22



347/365 Changes

Adventure or black

Hole new facets of life come

As they will to all.

346/365 Grace

Let’s acknowledge that

To “meet in the middle” both

Poise and pride must bow.

345/365 December Dusk

Countryside trees stand

In crisp relief against the

Dark’ning western sky.

Christmas Eve 2013

Mailbox disaster.

Laughter.  Carols.  Long, slow train.

Snow.  And dear children.

343/365 Dog Tired

Poor Charlie, grabbing

Sleep as best he can, between

Holiday visits.