James Pool

Sunday walk about the yard and garden. Gotta love this time of year! Asparagus, spiderwort, yarrow, rose of sharon.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
March is a time of contradictions,. Cold and warmth, sunshine and storms, and the slow creep of color returning. Random pictures of the week from eastern Oklahoma.

Woke up early to see the eclipse. Clouds were problematic, but my daughter got a few pictures.

“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.”
Theodore Roethke
The calendar might not agree, but it’s sure beginning to feel like spring. Random pictures of the week from eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.

Walk around the yard and garden. Beginning to look a lot like spring.

Walking the trails at Brushy Lake with the Bear-Dog. Warming up quick today, but still a great day to be out there.

Trying my hand at origami at the ‘Tubbs After Hours’ library craft class. Lotsa fun, but I am definitely not a natural.

“Nature's music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions.”
Mary Webb
More signs of spring popping up every day. Random pictures of the week from eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.

I’m a big fan of Aldo Leopold, re-read ‘A Sand County Almanac’ last year, and it still gets to me.

It’s pretty simple, and you can modify it according to your materials. I just eyeballed this one, but there are plans to give you a general idea.

shop.iastate.edu/extension/co...

Oh yeah, take it when you can

Grilling up some yardbird this evening. Drumsticks and breasts with the secret Lavallee sauce, and of course the Ranch Style Beans. ‘Tater salad in the fridge. Cold drinks, good tunes, and the woman I love beside me. Life is good.

It was definitely time to do something about the Leopold bench. The seat and backrest were still sound, so just had to redo the legs. I guess seven years or ain’t bad. With old Aldo in mind, just used scrap lumber I’ve come across. No plans, just a circular saw, cordless drill, and framing square.

Sunday walk around the yard and garden. Started out as a grey day, but the sun came out and the first signs of spring are showing up.

Nicest weekend we’ve had in a spell, so I finally get to drag out the dutch ovens. Nothing like a pot of venison chili slow cooked over an open fire. Cold beer, warm fire, good music, and the woman I love beside me. Life is good.

“And finally Winter, with its bitin', whinin' wind, and all the land will be mantled with snow.”
Roy Bean
Well, that’s enough of that, looks like we got some decent weather coming. Random pictures of the week from eastern Oklahoma.

“But in real life, most all of the extraordinary things happen with no more loudness than a whisper.”
Silas House
Hope y’all are staying warm out there. Random pictures of the week, from before the snow.

Snow day pics. The dogs are loving it much more than me, but I did shovel a path to the propane grill to cook some teriyaki chicken and Ranch Styles. More coming, y’all stay safe out there.

And here in Oklahoma we seem to be going backwards

My traditional birthday in a tree picture on my 64th. Y’all stay warm out there.

“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?”
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Chilling back down , yall stay warm. Random pictures of the week (and a couple from last week) from eastern Oklahoma.

And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before
The Tavern shouted -- "Open then the Door!
"You know how little while we have to stay,
"And, once departed, may return no more."

Same here, but not quite over it. Take care

One of my favorite winter sights is snow on the magnolia trees. The combination of green and white always takes my breath away. Hoping all is well with y’all as well.

Beautiful! I love those trees, we have several in our neighborhood.

Got around to making a few things that have been in the back of my mind for a while.

Nothing I love better than dragging out the dutch ovens and and cooking my black-eyed peas over an open fire. Especially when a good friend stops by to shoot the breeze while they cook. Serrano/cheddar cornbread turned out well. All in all, a great start to the new year.

Beautiful

Started the year by hitting the trails at Brushy Lake with the Bear-Dog. Beautiful morning for it.

Looks like this might be the last day of the warm weather, so decided to get outside for a bit. Walking the trails at Vian Lake always helps us recharge.