And Then The Rains Came

Much of the work at Lake McKinley has been completed. Dredging is done, the new spillway is in place and the roads around the lake are now open.

We've had a lot of rain the past few days, time to take a look at what the lake looks like.

I knew there would be some water, but wow! It looks like a lake again.

This is the new spillway. Instead of going over the dam as the old spillway did, it now goes under the dam.

No more driving through shallow water in the old spillway or not being able to go around the lake at all when the water was too high.

I'd like to walk the path below the dam to see what it looks like now. Maybe when it is a little drier. 

I was surprised to see this new house on the southwest side of the lake.

Apparently it was built during the time the road around the lake was closed.

The first photo of the lake was from the SE side looking North.

This one is from the west side looking SE.

There is still work to be done on the jetties and I believe there is to be a pier for fishing and swimming. Waiting to see what that looks like.

It's good to have the all the improvements - including new blacktop on the road on the east side.

A Green Heron

 

Watching WHO-13 early this a.m. meteorologist Megan shared this photo of a green heron sent in by a viewer.

She commented that she had never seen nor heard of a green heron. I could understand her reaction because I had the same experience.

The herons I was familiar with were the Great Blue Herons.

On July 9, 2021 we went to Mormon Trail Park and Lake near Bridgewater. I was standing on a dock, looking around when I saw a large bird in a tree about 30 feet away. 

I tried taking a picture so I could identify it but I was aiming into the sun so this silhouette was all I had to go by.

It was a long time before I learned that the bird I saw that morning was a green heron.

Now I know them when I see them.

Where there's smoke......the view out my window yesterday afternoon. There is an area which stays too wet to mow with the big riding mower. The grass gets tall, then turns brown over winter, so they burn it off in the spring.

Rinse. Repeat

Yesterday morning Bud said he was going to Bomgaars for something. Did I want to go along to look for plants. Did I?

Even though I hadn't made up my mind whether or not to get plants this year, it didn't take me long to say yes.

I only got four, 4-packs of annuals (Snapdragons, Moss Rose, and two Verbenas) and this one larger pot of Dianthus Bank's Pink. This is the first time I've seen fringed Dianthus and could not pass them by.

By Friday I'll have them all potted and set around the deck and patio. (And probably gone back for more.) 

In the Merry Month of May

 

An early morning shot of the full moon shortly after five this morning.

For the first time since 1988, the Full Flower Moon has coincided with Beltane.

This month there will also be a Blue Moon when the second full moon of the month occurs May 31.

It's also the day for May baskets. I don't remember the last time I received a May basket but Bud gave me one this year. I commented that I had gotten a May basket from my sweetie, Budbo, a nickname for him I have used over the years. Then it hit me, it should be Budbeau. Why had I never thought of that before?

Going May basketing was a big deal when I was young. I tried to make it a part of my children's lives when they were young. I wonder how many of my great-grands go May basketing.

A few days ago I heard a personality of one of the Des Moines TV stations say that she didn't know about May basketing until she moved to Iowa - that it wasn't something they did in Missouri. I really don't think it is "just an Iowa thing".

Big Blue even flew in to mark the first day of May and spent part of the day at the pond.

He did a lot of stalking along the bank but I never did see him catch anything.

In ancient Rome, May Day was celebrated with the Festival of Flora to honor the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.

I have always wondered if my great-grandmother, Flora Richardson Duncan was named for her.

This photo of Flora is part of the 1st Century fresco from the Villa di Arianna in Stabiae. There are many more versions.

April ended with a very colorful sunset.

It also ended with a tie between me and Hubby Dearest.

Bud and I are both competitive and both cribbage players. He began playing in grade school and I began as a teen.

We played our first game on our first date 45 years ago. We now play a game every day during lunch and we keep track of who wins.

After yesterday's game, the 120th of this year, we were tied 60 to 60. A sign that we're evenly matched? He is the better player. I'm just glad I give him some competition.