Rounding the Bend

King’s Creek area, starting to show signs of autumn …

KonzaKingsCreekOctober

Photo Challenge: Rounded

Last Bloom

Konza Prairie is full of wildflowers in spring and summer, but yesterday, this thistle was the only bloom I saw.

KonzaThistle

However, there was plenty of promise for abundant flowers next year!

 

KonzaAsterSeeds

KonzaRoseHips

KonzaDriedSumac

Wishing you a beautiful day!

 

Grasses & Hills

It was a beautiful day for enjoying the prairie on the Flint Hills of Kansas!

KonzaAutumnGrasses

KonzaPaath&Tree

KonzaHills&BrushAutumn2

Wishing you a lovely day!

 

Oztoberfest Fun

Oztoberfest is the Oz-themed Octoberfest held every year in nearby Wamego. It couldn’t be better weather for this weekend’s fun!

Check out the red slippers …

RedSlipperedBlondeDorothy

… and the green faces,

WickedWitch

the illustrations  …

MuralOzMuseum

and cheerful imitations,

Tinman

the “Toto’s” …

TotoFan

and Toto’s Tacoz!

TotosTacozStand

There’s chow (and a beer garden),

FoodTrucks

music,

SingerMusician

and motorcycles,

MotorcycleLookers

and various other fun for all ages!

Activities go into the evening (including a street dance) and continue tomorrow. View the schedule.

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

Relax

This week’s photo challenge is to post an image that is relaxing. This is a photo that I took on a hike through the woods back home. For many of us who grew up near forests, there is something very relaxing about being amongst trees. Living in the midwestern U.S., now, it is always a little strange to me when I hear someone comment about hating being someplace with too many trees.

opentreetrunks

For more on the relax challenge.

In-tree-guing

Out on the prairie the other day, I came across this unusual tree. Doesn’t it look like there should be a interesting story to go along with it?

intreeguing

Wishing you well…

 

Overcast Winter Morning On Konza

I realized recently that I haven’t been doing much photography lately. So I decided that I was just going to have to make a point to rectify that situation. An early riser, I decided to head out to the prairie to catch the sunrise this morning. (I hadn’t thought to consider the weather conditions first.) I got there just as the black of night was starting to lift. It was freezing cold and quiet, except for the sound of gravel crunching beneath my feet. As I headed uphill toward some of my favorite views, I was startled by a pair of does. It was exciting to be so close.

As the sky started to lighten, I could hear, but not see what I believe to have been a flock of turkeys, their calls so loud in the stillness.

 

darkmorningonkonza2

The morning decided not to treat me to the colorful sunrise I had hoped for, yet the gray sky and low clouds made what color there was seem all the more vibrant.

It was a challenge trying to get good photographs this morning. I don’t do much low light photography.

riverfog

lowcloudsoverkonza

 

 

This tree always strikes me when I pass it on the trail.  It reminds me of a rhinoceros.

rhinotree

 

A little bit of unexpected color … .

magentaberriesdriedgrasses

A few more hills to climb … .

windyhillykonzatrail

… and a bit of woods to pass.

couldntseeforest

Crossing the creek … and  then heading home to warm up before the rain.

treereflectionsincreek

Wishing you a lovely weekend and hoping that you get a chance to do something that you’ve been wanting to do too!