This old caterpillar bulldozer looks a little sad, maybe because it is the start of a new week or because he wasn’t used today.
It is not certain who invented the first bulldozer, however, the bulldozer blade was in use before the invention of any tractor, which mules pushed. Course that meant the mules had to back up for the next push!
Sad Dozer
Some sunsets don’t have a variety of color, sometimes they just have one color!
Red Sunset
While meandering down the White Pathway for Art on the Kinni today, colorful artwork wasn’t the only thing that was along the Kinnickinnic River. The river played host to a number of geese and ducks and they were very happy when some kids shared their bread with them.
Duck Enjoying a Swim
The sun has been peeking and out of the clouds today, with a few sprinkles thrown in. I wonder how many rain showers and storms this old barn has weathered over the years.
Weathered Barn
While walking around the fields the other day, I noticed most of the wildflowers were gone. There were some black-eyed susans, a few stray daises, some asters and a few hawkweeds scattered around, although there is a lot of goldenrod around.
Goldenrod is often unfairly blamed for causing hay fever but the blame should be placed on ragweed instead, which blooms at the same time as the goldenrod. Goldenrod pollen is too heavy and sticky to be blown far from the flowers, and is thus mainly pollinated by insects and is attractive sources of nectar for bees, flies, wasps, and butterflies.
Thomas Edison made tires for his Model T ford that was given to him by his friend Henry Ford using rubber from the Goldenrod plant. Some Goldenrod species are used in making medicines. Its scientific name “Solidago” means to make whole or heal.
In the Midwest, it was said that when the goldenrod bloomed, it would soon be time to go back to school and it is a sure sign that the first frosts of winter are not long away.
And goldenrod is an international plant since there are a few species native to Mexico, South America, and Eurasia. Some American species have also been introduced into Europe and other parts of the world.
“International” Goldenrod
The woods are bustling with squirrels, collecting acorns and bitternuts. And while most will scramble up a tree if I get too close, my new little red squirrel comes towards me and gives me a royal chewing out. The gray and black squirrels aren’t the only victims of this tiny little spit ball who fiercely guards the bitternut tree.
He is small enough that he claimed one of the chipmunk holes in an old oak tree so a family of chipmunks has been dislodged too due to this new arrival. I wonder what will happen if the red squirrel tangles with my cat. I think the squirrel will win!
Little Feisty Red Squirrel
They say Labor Day marks the end of summer as the kids go back to school, summer vacations ends and the daylight gets shorter. Apparently the trees looked at the calendar too since the maples are making it look like fall instead of summer. And while I won’t miss the heat of summer, fall never seems to last long and soon we will be complaining about the cold snow.
End of Summer
Happy Labor Day to Everyone!
Growing up on a farm, Labor Day meant just that – a labor day. Since dad would be off work and we kids had no school, it was a time to catch up on the outdoor projects before the snowflakes started flying.
This year a brief rain shower this morning might prevent baling hay but there are plenty of other projects to do but I don’t think old ‘Bud’ will be helping this year as the old truck hasn’t outrun the wild cucumber vines and seems to be in retirement.
Old ‘Bud’ in Retirement
Since it is Sunday, a picture of a rural church just might be the appropriate picture for today. The sunset the other night wasn’t very speculator but instead the clouds to east collected the pink glow from the setting sun. I always love the hue the setting sun puts on the landscape and fields.
Rural Church on Pink Evening
Since yesterday was the blue moon picture, I figured today needed to be a bright, sunny picture. Well it’s not actually a sun picture but it’s not blue. It almost looks like the retina of an eye, but it’s not. Instead it is the center of a zucchini blossom, the only thing that the deer did not eat. (Maybe zucchini is not as good for you as one might think if the deer doesn’t touch them! )
The Dreaded Zucchini Blossom
