Life at Willis Creek Ranch: Reading Circle

Showing posts with label Reading Circle. Show all posts

Friday, June 30, 2023

Random June

Random photos that didn't make their way into any other posts this month. A friend said it best... June was a super long, busy, short month. :D

June 1

Marvin and I sat on the front porch this evening watching what we hoped was a storm with rain coming through. It poured down rain on the other side of town but we only got about 3 drops. We need rain soooo badly. We are already in drought conditions and this is only the first day of June. Wow.

It sure looked (and felt) like we were going to get rain... but it never came.

Things cleared off here and it kept to the northwest.

Jonathan would toss the ball to Goose and Goose would
bring it back about 60% of the time. :D

Better than he used to be. :)

Pretty Goose

June 2

Rain came! It was beautiful! It only lasted about 15 minutes, but it was rain. We will take it! So thankful to have at least some rain!

June 3

Jackson took this photo early the morning of June 3. Things look clean after the bit of rain the evening before. What a peaceful scene.

June 7

Daddy shared this photo from Julie and Aasha's visit with him. :)

June 8

Namuna got creative with the birdseed at Daddy's house. :D

This makes me sad, but it is not unexpected. This is my precious ash tree. We are noticing that it is finally starting to die. We imagine it is the dreaded emerald ash borer that has finally made its presence known. :( We consider ourselves lucky to have enjoyed this tree for as many years as we have. Ash trees are really becoming so rare now.

Many of those branches are dead in there.

Oh how I have loved this tree.

June 9

When you are in a drought but the weeds still grow - you set the mower high and go ahead. Boy it was a dusty mow for Marvin.

June 12

Jackson was riding Jo when he stopped by for a 'farm meeting' with Marvin, who was working on the pool deck. :D

I love the overall view of the new patio/deck

Dear Edwina came for a visit - always so glad to see her.

This was the evening of my Zoom Reading Circle patio gathering. Once a year my online book club plans an in person gathering for as many as are able to attend. Since we are spread out across the country, that number can really vary. But it is something I really look forward to. I enjoy this book club a lot and really appreciate the effort everyone makes to participate - and come for the patio gathering, too!

pretty good snacks - prepared by all!

Nancy, Janet, Peggie, Anita, Laura

I took the Reading Circle ladies down to meet Brooks, the new stud colt. HE was being especially playful for Janet - who shared these photos with me. :)

June 13

Marvin and Jonathan had already put in a full day working on building the new pool deck. When it came time for supper they really didn't want to have to come in and clean up so we ate supper on the patio so they could get right back to work. Daddy came up to join us. It was a beautiful evening to be on the patio.

sure do love my view from the patio

June 14

I like the view at night, too!

June 15

This was a lovely surprise! I received this photo with the message that Corey and Miriam were in town with Abby doing orientation at Truman! (How can Abby be college age already??) They were able to drop by briefly later that evening. I had a few friends over in the pool with me, so I am sure Abby wondered who this person was that their parents were determined to see. ha! But I was soooo glad they came by! We really look forward to getting to know Abby this year, and seeing a bit more of Corey and Miriam! :)

June 16

After opening day in the pool the day before with some friends, I enjoyed a bit of time in the pool alone - floating while Marvin continued to work on the deck. So thankful for that man who works so hard to make things nice for me.

June 17

Jackson and Brianna were heading out for a date night and the boys were staying with their Nana and Papa. Love this photo with Mav taken before they headed out.

June 25

It was another lovely day to climb in the pool. Marvin got the pool railing up and it looks really nice. He had just finished putting the railings up for the steps, too.

Got that new storage bench for the pool deck. It holds my exercise stuff and also has a cushion I can add to make it more comfortable to sit on.

THIS is relaxing...

June 26

The guys were still working around the clock to prepare the place for the family reunion. Goodness they worked so hard and long but boy, they got a lot done! This was Marvin using the big wheel trimmer under the fence rows at Daddy's house. Jonathan had to come behind him with the chain saw to cut out the really big stuff. There is a lot. The fencerows got in bad shape, indeed.

I went to town and ran errands and when I returned they were still at it! Further down the field, but still going strong. Good grief this man works hard!

And there is Jonathan following behind with the chain saw.
Fun fact - that huge bush in the fencerow that is blocking
this photo on the right is now gone! Thanks to Jonathan!!

Pulling in at home it is so evident how dry we are. This is the worst
drought for this time of year that I remember in 30 years. :(

I enjoyed a glass of wine on the patio after dinner. I sent this photo to Janet saying I was 'drinking like the Greeks'. Turns out she hadn't yet read that part of our book club book for this month so was totally confused. :D ha! The reference was about how Greeks thought it was truly gauche to drink wine without the addition of water. I had added ice cubes to my drink since it was so stinking hot outside... I was wondering if that would count as 'Greek'? :D

This was so neat! Jonathan pointed out that there was a doe and her THREE fawns in the field behind the new barn. I find it incredible that she had 3 babies! They are clearly the same size and age. Wow! I wish I had my zoom camera with me, but here are photos (and video) from my phone. The mama had jumped over the fence leaving the babies inside the field. Eventually they all went out the back way where there is an opening. But it was fun to watch them while they were close by.

you can see the three babies inside the fence enclosure

Goose was DEFINITELY interested. :D

June 27

Dear Namuna fixing the bird feeder for Daddy. We think a raccoon may be what keeps knocking his bird feeder (and birdbath) over.

June 29

So there was apparently quite a storm on this morning. Marvin and I were already on our way to Columbia so missed it completely. But I began to hear about it from various friends and then Jonathan let us know that the storage boxes on the north end of the porch had been pretty knocked around. Nothing really damaged, but clearly there was some good wind. Jonathan said at one point it sounded like lightning could have hit the house and then all the smoke detectors started going off. It only lasted about 30 seconds but it also caused the driveway alarm to go off. So something did happen... kind of unnerving. Poor Goose was really upset and was running through the house until Jonathan just grabbed him and held him tight - kind of like a human 'weighted blanket' for Goose. Poor baby.

June 26 - Mama deer and 3 fawns. It is not lost on me that this was on my Mama's birthday. :)

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Random April

Random photos from April that didn't make their way into any other post.

April 2, 2023

Sunday evening was initiation night for Jonathan into Ag Rho fraternity. He was told to wear a suit so he put on the one he bought for Mama's memorial service. It is not quite big enough through the shoulders now so he really needs a new one. But he sure looked sharp!

When he arrived back home he had his Ag Rho pin and was officially a member of the fraternity.

I hope he will enjoy being a member of Ag Rho.

April 4, 2023

You know it is official when you get the hoodie. :)

Dear Zac sent this photo and note on Tuesday night. It is so meaningful to us all. He mailed a hard copy to Daddy, as well. Basically, his message was that he keeps seeing both Harry Truman and Jack Magruder in the soft shadows wherever he walks. (wearing his Harry S Truman Stetson Open Road hat that Daddy gave him) I love this all so much!

April 6, 2023

Jonathan's Plant Ag lab class saw a drone demonstrated that can spray precisely on fields. Very cool! Jonathan shared these photos he took with me. I think he was quite interested in the whole process. I am, too!

Daddy received his copy of the photo from dear Zac - now in a place of honor on the refrigerator. :)

April 8, 2023

I knew I had a full day ahead of me trying to prep for Easter. I was hoping that I was up for it after being really sick all week long. Turned out I was - thank goodness! I just went slow and steady and worked methodically through my list of things to do. I made 2 hams, 2 jello salads, the prairie schooner beans, and a pan of brownies. I also everything ready that has to be done tomorrow... and did some cleaning of the house and tidying up. Felt good to be productive again!

That afternoon Marvin and I looked out and saw a truck and horse trailer had arrived. We weren't sure who it might be, then saw that it was Chester! What a wonderful surprise! So glad he dropped by - it had been a long time!! I went out with Marvin to greet him and got this nice photo. But he and Marvin visited for quite a long time. It sure was good to see him out here at our place again!

I took this photo of the back of the house just for the record... it will look much different when Marvin gets that covered patio built for me!

April 13, 2023

Jonathan brought home some lettuce they grew in Plant Ag. Very nice looking lettuce!

April 17, 2023

Some possible reads for next year...

April 19, 2023

Goodness! This was quite the adventure! Bob and Debbie were traveling to Texas for a family reunion and were able to stop and spend the night with Kerry, Candace and Susanna. However, their relaxing evening of visiting with friends turned into a night of tornadoes popping down all around them! They went not once, but twice, to the underground storm shelter that Kerry and Candace have. I am so thankful they have this shelter, but also know it would be a bit tough to climb in there... it feels like a bathtub (or a coffin) underground. Thankfully, no tornadoes touched down where they were, but there were many tornadoes that night all throughout their state and region. As my brother said, they gave Bod and Debbie the full Oklahoma experience (however unintentional that was!) :)

Sunday, April 23

This was lovely! One of the members of our Zoom Reading Circle, Joyce, was passing through town on a big vacation. She and her cousin, Barbara, another member of Zoom Reading Circle and a childhood friend of mine, met me and Janet for coffee at Scooter's. We really had a good time visiting - discussing books and everything else! So glad to get to meet Joyce in person (she lives in Connecticut!)

Janet, Laura, Joyce, Barbara

Came home to these two fellas that I love so much. :) Jonathan and Goose.

It is definitely springtime - all the critters are coming out again. We spotted this red fox in our back yard this evening. It has something in its mouth - thinking a bird.