Christmas Cactus

I have a lovely Christmas Cactus that is  probably over 10 years old. 

It started off as a tiny plant and turned into a monster.

However, it never blooms at Christmas! Only around Halloween and again at Easter!

And only if I put it outside for the summer.....
if not, 
it grudgingly gives me only a few blooms.
What a brat, right?
but what a lovely brat.

Sandhill Cranes

Illinois is a migratory path for Sandhill Cranes and I saw them for the first time this month.

They were in a baseball field of all places on a road I cut down to get home occasionally.

 I have lived here for many many years and just when I think I have seen 

everything there is to see in my neck of the woods I am proved wrong.

I happened to be in the right place at the right time….

Front Porch Gift

Dear Kindle DIL showed up with this a couple weeks ago. What a treat to walk up to my front door everyday and be greeted by something so beautiful and Autumn-ish!