05/24/26

 It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog!  A few weeks ago I traveled to the newly revamped and refreshed Kansas Museum of History in Topeka Kansas.  The museum contains the oldest surviving steam locomotive from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, Number 132.  It is a 2-8-0, Consolidation type locomotive that was built in 1880.  It was used for service on the steep grades of Raton Pass in New Mexico.  It was donated to the museum in 1983 and the current museum was built around it.  It was restored to it's original appearance when donated to the museum as well.  It's a gorgeous locomotive.

05/23/26

 It's not Wednesday but wanted to share this image.  😉😊  I have an area in the backyard where i have some Ox-eye Daisies that have kind of taken over.  I enjoy it in the Spring as it is like a small field of them and quite lovely.  I have tried to transplant some but I never seem to have much success.  They like this spot by my small pond and a raised garden bed.  I made the beginning comment because Ox-eyes are technically a wildflower.  The image is a bit different in size because it is a phone photo and I changed the format it takes photos in to a more cinematic style.

05/22/26

 It's Friday, TGIF!  The Iris were not as abundant this year due to a very late very cold snap.  It hurt a lot of Spring flowers in the area.  This is one of my lovely ones from beside the Gazebo pond.  This photo is actually from last year, none of them in this area bloomed.  Hopefully they can come back and bloom next year.  This image has my favorite bubbly bokeh so sharing for today because Friday's Are Bokehlicious here on the Blog!

05/21/26

 Today's image is a fun one I was able to capture on the evening of the storms that rolled through the area, Monday.  I was biking by this pasture and saw these birds that looked like Egrets and the cattle were unusually close up against the fence, I guess because of the weather.  I did not have my actual camera with me at the time and my phone ones did not come out great so when I got home I drove back and the birds were still there.  This is my first time of capturing Cattle Egrets!  They apparently feed off the bugs that get stirred up by the cattle.  This one looked like he was trying to kiss the cow but I missed getting a shot when he was even closer to it's face. 😄

05/20/26

 It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog!  The Russian Olive trees have been blooming like crazy this year.  They smell quite nice when you ride or walk by them.  They usually bloom in May and June.  It spreads by root suckers and can be invasive.  Birds eat the fruits it produces.  They are drought hardy.

05/19/26

 This is an image I took quite a while ago now but never shared, I have a bird photo stockpile.  LOL  This is a Blue-jay I was able to capture while it was sitting in the Walnut tree.

05/18/26

 Happy Monday and happy new week!  The Lilacs are, unfortunately, finished blooming for the year.  They did not do as well as past years, only produced a few blooms.  I think it was due to the late extreme cold that we had.  I was able to get a few images and this is one.  I wish the flowers lasted longer as well as they smell so lovely.