llzranch

Rush Before Leaving

Spring is out there somewhere south of Nebraska. I’m going in search of that elusive season on March 1st. There has been and continues to be a flurry of events to organize and/or attend, appointments to keep, and chores to do before I leave. I like to keep early morning set aside to work onContinue reading “Rush Before Leaving”

Antiques

I learned sad news about two of my favorite antiques stores when I met a friend for lunch recently. One store was already closed with all the merchandise gone, and another posted Going out of Business signs in the window. These stores had their heyday ten or fifteen years ago when everyone wanted toContinue reading “Antiques”

Valentine’s Day Dreams

This year for Valentine’s Day I’m dreaming of sunshine warm enough to melt the foot of snow covering everything, and the much taller drifts covering flower beds and breaking fences. I want the ice to melt to make walking easier for all of us. I want my frozen Nebraska backyard to turn into green grassContinue reading “Valentine’s Day Dreams”

Yellow Gold Has Fur

Yellow cats have been part of my life for forty years. One escorted me across half the country three times. Colonel Mustard (pictured) is the latest bit of sunshine in my life. His yellow fur flies in tiny helicopters when he shakes, covers chairs and tabletops. He offers kitty kisses to the tip my noseContinue reading “Yellow Gold Has Fur”

What’s Next?

The list below was conceived during a blue moon. It includes things to do to get ready for retirement and those that aren’t such a good idea. I’m in the party planning stage, but haven’t quite set a date. I’ve made several mistakes along the way and will probably make some more. Throw yourselfContinue reading “What’s Next?”

Winter Break

It’s nearly the end of my between-semesters break. I was in Arizona for the first week (when the weather in Nebraska was still mild), and back to Nebraska for the second week just as the weather turned cold. Arizona offers mountains, desert, and dams on the Colorado River. I visited the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, SedonaContinue reading “Winter Break”

Butterflies

Flowers are covered with Painted Ladies and Monarchs in August and September. They stop to drink their fill before moving south. Many linger through October’s warm afternoons, but are gone, like the flowers, before November’s chill. I envy them. I often wish I could migrate south during the cold months, too. Maybe someday…

Autumn is Turning

October’s last day started as a raw 19 this morning, and only warmed to 35 by trick-or-treat time late afternoon. Little witches and space rangers were wrapped in winter coats and stocking caps. The last of the autumn sun shone on falling leaves and porch swings. It’s the last day of employment for aContinue reading “Autumn is Turning”

Frost Expected

I harvested almost everything from the garden this past weekend. Beets, squash and onions are stored in the barn to dry. They can remain in the barn until the nights are consistently in the mid-twenties. One or two nights will not drain all the summer warmth from the building. My houseplants have summered outside forContinue reading “Frost Expected”

Peppered Peace

I’m not a religious person, but come from a long line of God-fearing folks, and often misquote, or half remember Bible verses. This year my bell pepper crop is outstanding. I harvested a five-gallon bucket of huge green and red peppers and spent several hours chopping them for the freezer. It seems only right toContinue reading “Peppered Peace”