Mother's Day Rainbow and More

May in Christian County, KY

I saw this beautiful, full rainbow on Mother's Day about

6:30 pm. On the left side, a double rainbow is slightly visible.

The farm buildings here (and those in the rainbow photo)

are Mennonite-built. Their distinctive, consistent

building style is easy to recognize, once you know it.

This crow was perched on one of the big lights in the

mall parking lot in Hopkinsville. If this photo had

sound effects, you'd quickly turn down the volume.

 He was very noisy! When he saw me paying
 attention to him, he flew over to the highest point

of the mall's roofline and sat there -- still cawing!

Sweet peas in a cemetery fence row, and

overhead, branches and cones of Virginia pine.

I took this photo of our neighbor's field in early May.

Now, many wheatfields are nearly ready for harvest.

We are happy for recent rains because we've had a dry.

spring. But heavy storms right now could lay the wheat

plants down, making harvest difficult and reducing yield.

Most of our wild roses are pink, but this one is very white.

There might be a very slight hint of pink in the buds.

"O, the month of May, the merry month of May,
So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green..."

--Thomas Dekker (c. 1572 – 1632))

Down in the Ditch

Where the mower doesn't go

Our Mennonite neighbor has several small businesses and dealerships in addition to his farming operations. Along the highway beside our two mailboxes, he has several signs advertising these enterprises.

Every Saturday, one of his sons mows both sides of our shared lane, from their house, past our house, down to the highway, around the mailboxes and signs, and along the highway for fifty feet or more in both directions. One of our neighbor's sidelines is lawn mower repair, so he probably thinks that keeping the grass cut short is a good business practice.

But down by the mailbox, on the banks of the ditch, where the lawn mower doesn't go, all the plants are growing wildly. I enjoy seeing them.

And I like the little pool of water that stands in the ditch in the springtime. It's interesting. When I stop to get the mail or go for a walk down our road, I stand at the end of the culvert and peer down into the shady depths. Sometimes I see a frog or a turtle or a crawdad enjoying the water.

But even when I see something interesting, I don't go any closer. I like to look at all that vegetation on the ditch banks, but I don't want to wade through it.  There's too much poison ivy!

The Easter Blizzard of 1873

Deadly April snowstorm on the prairie

I found this account of the terrible Easter Blizzard of 1873 in a history of Seward County, Nebraska that was published in 1920. This account is part of a longer passage that was reprinted from W. W. Cox's earlier history of Seward County.

Seward County in Nebraska

I have edited Mr. Cox's prose a little, breaking the very long paragraphs-- and in some cases, the very long sentences-- to make them easier to read. In doing this, I changed some words and punctuation. Please see the original if you want to quote something from this account.

Nebraska in the United States

The spring of 1873 was very pleasant, and people had made gardens. Prospects were so fair for an early summer that the ordinary straw stables for stock had been neglected and permitted to become open, the sides having been blown away. In fact, all precatution and care for the protection of man and beast from the cold blasts of a winter storm had been forgotten.

On the tenth of April, a rain commenced to fall, the wind blowing mildly from the south-east, both continuing until the night of the twelfth. The clouds, thickening at times, were accompanied by lightning and thunder.

We were living in our twelve foot pioneer residence with two windows. On that memorable night of the twelfth of April, we were awakened by an unusual roaring of the wind. Glancing at the windows, we thought the moon was shining, but soon recalled the fact that there was no moon.

We got up and opened the door, and were almost instantly made aware of the source from which the disturbance and the light in the windows came. The wind had veered to the north-west and seemed to have the force of a cyclone, and the air was so full of snow as to produce a moonlight appearance.

In fact, the most terrifying blizzard we had ever witnessed was before our drowsey eyes in all the horrors that could be depicted. We did not tarry long to enjoy the panarama as the ruling elements seemed to suggest that we retire and shut the door.

This blizzard continued three days and nights without abatement for an instant. The doleful tones, ever present in our ears during that time, scarcely left us even when in the refreshing embrace of slumber.

And there was scarcely a minute during the seventy-two hours that an object of any dimension could be discerned ten steps distant. Two minutes exposure to the full force of the storm would cause the vacant places in a person's clothing to fill full of the celebrated (but not appreciated) "beautiful snow."

Several of our neighbors saved their cows, horses, and mules by taking them into their houses. We saved three out of four small hogs and about thirty hens by dividing our twelve-foot space with them. We did not bring these animals in until the second day, and one of the hogs died in fifteen minutes, after being brought in.

Charles Emerson, living is a sod house on a hill in L precinct, kept his horses in a dugout stable at the foot of the hill, perhaps six or eight rods from his house. The storm was so blinding and severe that he did not venture to go and attend to them during the three days.

After the storm abated, his heart almost failed him when he went to his stable and opened the door that he had carelessly left only half-closed. He found the interior packed full of snow and not the least sign that his faithful horses were alive.

He secured a shovel, and after digging a while, came upon the horses, both standing up. The snow had filled in so close around them that they could not lay down. The warmth of their bodies melted the snow sufficiently to give them breathing room, and both were alive.

This terrible storm raged during the 13th, 14th, and 15th of April, the latter being Easter Sunday, and would justly pass to history as the greatest Easter storm on record.

Source: Pages 24-26, General History of Seward County, Nebraska, by John Henry Waterman. Published in 1920 in Beaver Crossing, Seward County, Nebraska.

Other histories tell of blizzard winds that tore the roofs off flimsy homesteader shacks, exposing the occupants to the elements. Other settlers froze to death because they didn't have enough firewood on hand. Some lost their way between house and barn and wandered off into the blizzard. Others were caught traveling or hunting on the prairies and either froze to death or smothered under the snow. Thousands of livestock died, and a great deal of wildlife perished as well. 

After the storm, snowdrifts were fifteen and twenty feet tall.  Some settlers who lived in dugouts had to burrow through deep snowdrifts.  Hilltops were swept bare, but the draws were full of deep, hard-packed snow. The best of the spring grass, which the surviving livestock really needed, was buried under the snow for a long time afterward. Many bodies of both man and beast were not found until the snowdrifts finally melted.

Read more:
Text of a Nebraska historical marker for the Easter Blizzard of 1873
Out of Old Nebraska: April Blizzard of 1873
The Easter Storm of 1873
Google Books search for "Easter Storm of 1873"

Spring Days

Fresh and beautiful

Seen in Clarksville, TN

At the edge of a Hopkinsville parking lot where country meets town

Overgrown garden at an old house, long abandoned.

We've had plenty of bluster, but little damage from storms.

Angel with Snails

Winter shelter

I don't know when this little angel fell from the rock where he's supposed to sit. I found him with his nose in the dirt a few days ago when I was raking leaves off a flowerbed. When I picked him up and set him back on his perch, I was surprised to see that a dozen snails were sheltering under his wing. It reminded me that I should be careful about picking up rocks, etc., this time of the year, because sometimes there are surprises under them. Snakes, for example.

Daffodils in the Pasture

Boy with buttercups

Here in Christian County, Kentucky, it's not unusual to see places where old-time, single-bloom daffodils have naturalized. In this case, I speculate that a few bulbs were planted many years ago, near a house or cabin that doesn't exist anymore.

I call these flowers "daffodils", but people around here often call them "buttercups." Maybe this little Mennonite boy calls them "Osterglocken" as they do in Germany -- literally, "Easter bells."

Related:
Another place where daffodils have gone wild

Looks Like Spring

Feels like spring!

Early February

We've hardly had any winter weather this year. With temperatures in the 50s or higher every day, the daffodils have been blooming for a couple of weeks.

Now, we're getting a reminder that it's still February. Tonight, the temperature will fall to around 13°F, and the high on Saturday will be about 27°F -- a whole day below the freezing point. Then, on Monday night, we may get some ice and/or snow. I would prefer snow.

Early Spring

Sunshine and shadow in a greening landscape

High Water in Christian County, KY

Heavy rains cause flooding in low areas

South Fork of Little River, east of Hopkinsville

Here in Christian County, KY, we've had 24 hours of rain and thunderstorms, and we're expecting more of the same for another 24 hours.

High winds last night snapped off one of our hybrid poplars about six feet above the ground and tore several branches out of other trees. About 4:00 AM we had a tornado warning for our immediate area, so I got out of bed and sat in the hallway until that storm passed over. Twice, the wind took on a frightening volume, and the house shuddered under its force. I suppose the tree broke during one of those episodes.

I heard on the radio that Hopkinsville has received about 5 inches of rain. Fort Campbell is reporting about 4.3 inches of rain. I don't know how much rain has fallen in our part of the county, but all our little streams are very full of water.

The photo above was taken about 5:00 PM today, just west of the Little River Church of Christ on Highway 68/80 east of Hopkinsville. The vehicle in the distance (center left) is at the bridge on the Little River Church Road.  The South Fork is running over the bridge and road there. Backed-up water is threatening the Little River Church and parsonage. Those buildings have endured many floods.

The flooded ditch at our mailbox

On the Little River/Vaughn Grove Road, the water was very nearly over the Warrens Fork bridge. I called Isaac and warned him to use a different route when he came home later.

We saw several wild turkeys feeding at the edge of a cornfield. At first, I thought that they might be picking corn seeds out of the ground. Then I realized that they were probably feasting on earthworms that had come to the surface.

Right now, Fort Campbell's radar shows a big, fast-moving mass of intense weather coming into Christian County from the southwest. Currently, we have a tornado watch and a flash flood warning. A mighty blast of wind and hail passed through here a few minutes ago. I read on the Weather Underground for Hopkinsville that golf-ball sized hail was reported on a road about a mile from us. We will see in the morning if any damage was done.

UPDATE: WKDZ Radio's photos of flooding in Christian and Trigg counties

Beautiful Weeds

Maybe they're flowers?

God made dandelions for little children. They needed a flower they could pick without anyone scolding them!

I think the small, purple flowers are henbit. The plant seems to thrive in fields where the ground was worked during the previous year.  This time of the year, some fields are purple with masses of the tiny flowers. It grows during cold weather, blooms in early spring, and makes its seeds fast. By the time the field is worked, henbit (if that is indeed its name) has already accomplished its life mission.

Daffodils are Blooming

Spring glories

13 Reasons I'm Sure It's Spring

The power of positive thinking :)

1. The high temperature today in Hopkinsville, KY, was 70°. The skies were blue, and the sun was shining.

2. Farmers are spreading lime on their fields.

3. I saw a dozen buzzards swarming over a high hill.

4. The neighbor's horses were kicking up their heels in the pasture, pretending to buck and fight.

5. The animal control officer in Hopkinsville was called to remove five or six garter snakes from someone's back yard.

6. Our cats Casper and Skittles spent the entire day outside.

7. Rain, not snow, is in the forecast for the next few days.

8. Tiny buds of future blossoms are forming on the forsythias.

9. A single clump of daffodils is blooming on the south bank above the old road.

10. I put away my winter gloves today.

11. We have too many blankets on the bed.

12. It occurred to me that I could plant some lettuce, and light frost probably wouldn't hurt it.

13. I noticed that the windows and many other things around here could use a spring cleaning!

Find more Thursday Thirteens listed on the homepage.

Wheatfield

Nearly ready for harvest

Wheatfield in Christian County, KY

Spring Wildflowers

"They toil not, neither do they spin."

These wildflowers are blooming along the backroads of Christian County right now. I saw them in several wooded areas today. This clump is growing on a high bank above a creek. The blooms are violet in color, but the plants aren't violets. I think they might be a type of phlox.

Stormy Weather

Another day of tornado season

Today (Palm Sunday): Tornado watch.
Tomorrow (Monday): Rain mixed with snow and a stiff northwest wind.
Monday and Tuesday nights: Temperatures in the upper 20s and a freeze watch.

I suppose the lilacs won't get to bloom, or the redbuds or the dogwoods. I hope the winter wheat isn't far enough along to be damaged.

No tornados came out of the bad cloud in the photo as it passed over us this afternoon. I don't know what it did after it left our area.

The View From the Hilltop

Early spring in Christian County, KY

I went with Dennis this afternoon to haul some wood he had cut and split. He's been working on a huge  hickory tree that Hurricane Isaac took down in September, 2008.

Now, two long sections of the tree's thick trunk are left. Dennis says that he probably won't cut and split much more of it because the slices of trunk are just too heavy to manhandle. He's going to look into selling the logs.

We stopped at the landowner's house for a few minutes.  I took this photo of the view he enjoys, while he and Dennis were talking. The landowner is retired and he lives alone. He has a small herd of cattle, a horse, and a dog.

The tree Dennis has been cutting up is in the horse's pasture. The horse doesn't like the noisy chainsaw and log splitter, and he stays as far away as possible. The commotion doesn't bother the dog, though; he always comes down to say hello and see what's happening.

Spring Snow

Lady Spring wore white and green.

Sleet and snow with a sharp wind -- it felt like winter this afternoon. The roads were wet but not slick when I came home. Now the temperature has dropped to 30°, and we have about an inch of snow on the ground. Tomorrow's high will be in the 40s, so the snow won't last long. It won't hurt the winter wheat in the photo above. This was taken along Edwards Mill Road, east of Hopkinsville, KY. Little River is just behind the trees at left.

Sandhill Crane Cam 2009

Watch the Sandhill cranes at Rowe Sanctuary

Rowe Sanctuary's Sandhill Crane Cam is on the internet again this year, March 7 through April 8. Via the webcam, you can see and hear the great flocks of Sandhill cranes on Nebraska's Platte River as they rest and feed in preparation for the next leg of their migration.

Carolyn Hall, a retired lady who lives in my old hometown, Bassett, Nebraska, goes to Rowe Sanctuary every year as a volunteer guide for the Audubon Society. Hundreds of visitors come to observe the cranes from blinds at the river's edge.

In the morning, great flocks of cranes rise up from the river and fly out to the fields in the area to feed, and in the evening, they come back to the river for the night. It is a spectacle of nature.

Carolyn described the return of the Sandhill cranes this evening: "Great pink/orange sunset with thousands of cranes flying and it looked like landing on the meadows north of the river. The river is iced over except for a narrow ice filled channel."

Sleet, icy roads, and cold temperatures caused many people to cancel their tour reservations today, but the volunteers still kept the webcam going.

Carolyn will be running the camera on Thursday morning (March 12). She says that by 8:00 AM (CDT), there is enough light to get a good view of the river and the cranes. This morning in the cold and sleet, the cranes didn't leave the river until after 10:00 AM.

Ducks in a Row

Natural order

I saw these colorful ducks at Target last weekend. I like them, but I don't need them. I can't accumulate a big collection of spring decorations. The shed is already full of Christmas decorations. Besides, I already have the fireplace mantel ready for Easter with a cute little family of white ceramic rabbits.

The expression "get your ducks in a row" has a solid basis in duck behavior. Little ducks will follow their parent in a fairly orderly fashion, whether waddling through the grass or gliding through the water. It's a fascinating thing to see.

It's common to see even adult ducks swimming in a line or perched in a row. The same instinct for formation helps ducks fly with the flock in migration.

Herding ducks is another matter altogether, as any herd dog in competition would tell you.

In English, we mean "getting organized" when we speak of "getting our ducks in a row". Personally, I don't have a strong natural herding instinct. My ducks are usually all over the place, despite my barking at them. While I'm busy getting a couple of ducks in line, the rest of the flock wanders away.