Evening music

Evening Sky
Crawford County

This evening I set out to hike up past my pasture as I was drawn to the sounds of geese over the hill. Behind my pasture is a large hay pasture my neighbor keeps in good shape. In the center of it is a small low area probably 10 acres in size that holds water and so is a nice place for geese to stop as they move through. Ive seen literally a thousand snow geese in this field. I have not seen any this year, yet I know they have been North of here a hundred miles or so a few weeks ago. I am thinking I missed them or the storm we had this week has delayed them. The sound I was investigating was the familiar calls of Canadian Geese, we have some here most of the fall and a few that stay. But tonight I could hear many more than that. As I approached I saw about a hundred Canadians take off and head east. I didn't get close enough to get a decent photo of them as they lifted but was treated to some wonderful music. As I am typing this I hear coyotes over that way, creating some music of their own.

Ice Sculptures

These photos were taken several days ago as the ice began to melt.
Almost all of the ice is gone today, temperatures got into the 50s.

Ice Storm part 2

The ice storm was pretty bad it lasted three days, we had periods of freezing rain-ice-sleet-ice and then it warmed up a little, just enough to get out and start cleaning up. In town there are streets that were closed because of fallen trees, large trees. I was surprised our trees didn't do as bad as others, we had a pretty large cottonwood split right in two, one of our maples lost significant limbs and our willows probably were hit the hardest. Our county was declared a disaster area. The nearby town of Columbus even had a curfew. Folks just one mile east of us across the Missouri line will be out of power for another five days they have been told. My students all were excited to get back to school, they all buzzed with stories of no power, and families coming together to help one another clear trees and check on neighbors.

Sitting out the ice storm

Southeast Kansas was hit by a major ice storm this weekend. We were without power several times the last three days, the longest stretch around 12 hours . I'm really grateful for those electric company guys and gals out in this mess working overtime to keep the lights on and heat going for thousands of us. We were lucky some folks over in Missouri and down in North East Oklahoma could be that way for a few more days. For the most part we were ready, my wife and I sat it out in front of a warm fire playing cards and reading. What really struck me was just how quiet it was around here without the sounds of electrical devices.

Short walk

Its a wet gray morning here in SE Kansas. Needed to get out so after I loaded up fresh straw for the outside animals and carried in some wood to dry out. I went for a short walk .
On days like this I think you have to look a little closer, walk a little slower and you find interesting things coming out at you.

Early December

Early December Sunset
Crawford County

Sunrise in Atchison

Sunrise on Amelia Earhart House
Atchison County