Supermoon/Total Lunar Eclipse: September 2015
9-21-15: September and allergies( hopefully) are winding down......thank goodness for allergy shots! While David played golf this morning, I got in over 8 miles of walking with only a little bit of vertigo! I could stand some consistently cooler temps, tho!
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| Love!! |
It's the little things when allergies are kicking butt! These are the best tissues ever! I love them!
9-22-15: Today we started back to work at Air Capital RV Park. Just love Frank and Sondra and really enjoy the work here! Keeps us active.
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| American Bittersweet Vine |
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| see how the orange berries split open to reveal the red berries? |
9-24-15: David, Rocky, and I headed out to El Dorado State Park this morning. Before ACRV was built about 3 years ago, this is where we'd regularly stay on our trips to Wichita. It's a little further from family, but we really do love it out there. There are some great trails and walking/biking paths. And an earthen dam to walk up when we really feel like that extra push of exercise. Today, however, I got about 7 miles in on the walking/biking path. David and Rocky did part of that with me til Rocky got too warm.
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| makes me sad to see these re: the ash borers |
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| Sumac |
Part of my walks here can be stop and go due to all the pix I "need" to take!
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| Pippa |
9-25-17: Greg and Linda Sue came out this afternoon. They've recently returned from their trip to Maine, so we loved hearing all about what they did and learned! Then we all walked up the path to town -- about 3 miles. Pippa is a statue in El Dorado that I posed by a few years ago.
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| "Little Pippa" |
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| earlier this summer |
This summer when the 4 of us toured the Frank Lloyd Wright home in Wichita, there was a small statue in the living room that reminded me of Pippa. Of course, Linda Sue and I re-enacted our "Little Pippa" pose today with "Big Pippa".
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| Greg and Linda Sue at one of my fave spots along the trail -- the trains come by one after another! |
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| monarchs are still migrating through |
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| they love the goldenrod |
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| they didn't even seem to notice that I was so close |
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| so beautiful |
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| they love the asters as well |
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| this one is a male -- dya know how to tell? |
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| Wonder how old this one is |
We were lucky enough to see several Monarchs on the trail. They were so absorbed in their Goldenrod and Asters that they didn't even care that I was just about on top of them snapping pix! I've read that their life expectancy is 3-5 weeks. For that reason, several generations occur during their migration to Mexico. Also, the way to tell a male from a female Monarch is by looking for the 2 black spots on it's wings -- one on either side of it's body. If it has those, it's a male.
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| this biplane circled the campground several time over the weekend |
9-26-15: Another beautiful day! Evidently, this pilot thought so, too. We watched this biplane circle around several times today!
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| Thistle going to seed |
I was able to get up early (not a regular thing for me) and get my 7 miles in on the path and through the camping loops.
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| grasshopper enjoying some thistle seed - see him? |
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| White Snakeroot |
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| Broomweed |
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| the pretty Common Sunflowers have gone to seed |
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| scatterings of sage were throughout the trails |
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| several Orb webs on my early morning walk |
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| busy |
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| got my nails did -- Brooke applied my Jamberries |
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| Andrew, Justin, Avery, Grammy, and Asher |
Justin and family came out this afternoon so we could celebrate his 33rd birthday and hang out a bit.
Brooke was awesome enough to do my nails while they were here!
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| Asher demonstrating what he's learning in karate class |
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| hiking one of the Walnut River trails |
Then the 6 of us hit one of the trails on the other side of the river. It was such a nice day to be in the woods. I guess Asher and I stopped to discuss too much Nature along the way because Brooke and Andrew booked it on back to the camper. When the rest of us eventually arrived, Brooke told us that Andrew said he prefers to hike with her because she walks and doesn't have discussions. Which is kinda why David doesn't like to walk for exercise with me -- I do like to stop and smell the roses. Asher is our little naturalist -- he notices so many things and asks so many questions as we walk. He helps us all to learn new stuff!
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| Asher is our little naturalist -- he loves to learn about everything he sees |
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| Teasel |
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| trying to catch a grasshopper on some thistle |
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| bull thistle |
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| Asher and Grammy having a discussion |
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What's rustling in this bush? Asher will get it with his hiking stick!
Turned out to be a big brother! |
Andrew did stop long enough to hide behind this bush to scare us when we caught up. Asher wasn't scared -- he was just going to get him with his hiking stick!
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| purple aster |
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| David's shot of White Snakeroot |
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| Buckbrush |
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| Green Antelope Horn? |
I learned on FB from a couple of my KS naturalist peeps, Rebecca and Amanda, that "I know it's a Green Antelope Horn because it looks like a Green Antelope Horn." Ok, I changed the subject, but you get the jest.
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| ground cherries |
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| ground cherries |
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| Garlic Mustard |
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| I believe we found a young PawPaw Patch (because it looks like a PawPaw Patch) |
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| note the long stem of white blooms on this one |
Cool stuff growing in the shade of the trees. I've posted some of these pix on inaturalist.com, hoping for some help with ID's. But if you know, lmk!
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| wrapping up a wonderful little hike in the woods |
Really enjoyed our day with them all on familiar stomping grounds!
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| Supermoon rising |
9-27-15: Today we simply chillaxed at the campsite. Tonite we got to watch a rare occurrence on a clear night under the Kansas skies -- The Supermoon/Blood Moon. July of 1982 was the last time we had a full lunar eclipse during a Supermoon.
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| skygazing with my fella |
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| this is the type of pic I got with my iphone |
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| David captured the Supermoon rising over the trees |
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| waiting for the full lunar eclipse to begin |
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| and, here we go |
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| a little at a time |
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| once it got started it seemed to progress quickly |
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| David's camera, along with a tripod captured some great shots |
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| we were lucky to have crisp, clear night |
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| it's getting there |
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| binoculars were all we needed to see it well |
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| now the show will really begin |
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| after the total lunar eclipse, the moon became blood red |
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| hence, Blood Moon |
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| Hence, Supermoon/Blood Moon |
See? We got mooned! After it waxed, then it waned. Or is it the other way around?
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| Meanwhile, about 30 miles away........... |
Justin and Brooke allowed the A's to stay up later than usual to see the show!
9-29-15: Returned to ACRV today and made a run to the Nifty Nuthouse to grab some yummies to take to Texarkana this weekend for friends and family --- and for Mac and cousin Sandy. Today is Mac's 85th bday and we're looking forward to a visit from David's cousin Sandy from Ohio in a couple of days.
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| hint |
9-30-15: Got the most exciting call today at work from Laura Lee!!
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| Wes, Sandy, and David |
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| Us |
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| Wes and Sandy in front of Granpa and Grandma McClintock's old homestead on Luellen St |
10-1-15: Had a wonderful visit with Wes and Sandy today. David and I drove them around a little while to show her some spots she remembered from her childhood visits. Sandy had fun memories of Cowtown. Our kids were also taken their a time or two when they visited Wichita. It's still kicking with a nice new museum and lots of events.
Then we drove over to let her take a look at where her grandparents used to live. Brought back lots of memories for David and her. We slipped over to the sidewalk and took a pic, As we were driving away, the next door neighbor came out and took a pic of us! Wish we had thought to take a pic of him taking a pic of us. LOL. Paranoid much?
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| our little gathering with Wes and Sandy |
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David/me, Wes/Sandy, Heather, Mac, Jeremy, Sheila/Doug
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| Jeremy is.....The Batman |
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| Wes and Sandy brought Mac a Reds shirt for his 85th. |
Later today Mac had everyone over for some bbq at his house.
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| Debbie Curtis, I told ya I could finish killing it for ya |
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| easily replaced, tho -- they'll be completely opened up in about a week |
10-2-15: Today was the day we were supposed to head to Texarkana to celebrate Gus' birthday. But since Laura will be getting married at the end of the month, we decided not to make 2 trips down there. Of course, we really don't have the space for all that candy we got at Nifty Nuthouse. So we started taking care of it ourselves! Yikes!
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| finally! |
10-3-15: Oh so happy for this break in the heat. Even though it's supposed to be short-lived!
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| Brooke rockin the "t'shirt turban" I made for her |
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| Asher, just simply rockin his cute self |
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| Andrew ready and waiting |
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| Andrew and Justin coming up with a plan |
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| he's got this! |
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| gotta love that form |
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| and that face! |
We got to go to Andrew's soccer game this morning since we scratched out trip to T-town.
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| a "cya later" lunch with Bill and Edna |
We also enjoyed a farewell lunch with Bill and Edna. We worked with them one of the years we were in Branson. Then they came to Wichita to work at ACRV this year.
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| October is breast cancer awareness month |
10-8-15: Mammo, lunch at Chili's with Greg and Linda, then began the "wedding shopping"! Fun and exciting stuff! Well, the mammo not so much. But important!
10-9-15: Enjoyed another great afternoon volunteering at the Great Plains Nature Center. Then I went out to pick up Andrew for an overnighter. He is going to help me tomorrow at the nature center for their Fall Workday.
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| ready for Litter Patrol at GPNC |
10-10-15: And help he did!! I've noticed several times that he has a heart for a clean environment! He'll pick up trash wherever he sees it.
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| Andrew and Heidi -- he's all smiles about Workday |
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| the trees are turning in the Heartland |
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| Andrew in the Tallgrass |
He tried to represent, by putting on sad faces in these pix for litterbugs. But he was too jazzed about helping to pull it off.
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| we found only a little trash here |
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| but thought the old combine was pretty cool |
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| our grabber broke, but who needs one when you have Andrew with ya? |
So he wanted to be on the Litter Patrol Team! We walked nearly 4 miles this morning grabbing trash......
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he caught this pretty green grasshopper
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| it was catch and release |
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| this one was a big one |
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| we identified these as deer tracks |
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| these were harder to ID |
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| Lucky enough to get up close and personal with this Great Blue Heron |
....seeing cool stuff, and learning new things about prairies.
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enjoyed stopping for a minute to watch the Logjam Team
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| GPNC treated us to some yummy dogs and chips |
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| Amanda, one of my new naturalist peeps |
The volunteers were treated to Hotdogs by Deb! Deb sure knows how to grill a dog!! Burned just right.
The next 5 pix I borrowed from Heidi. A lot was accomplished this morning at GPNC!
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| Before pic of the Logjam on Chisholm Creek |
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| After shot |
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| Wildflower Ball Team |
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| this team planted a donated Weeping Red Cedar |
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| and this team removed an overgrown Plum Thicket |
Even with all the prairie allegins, I do love the GPNC and its people! This would be a great place to workamp if they had a workamper program! Maybe one day...
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| impromptu stop at the kite fest |
10-11-15: David and I did a lot of "wedding shopping" today! So proud of Laura's efficiency and good taste in getting this together in 3 weeks! It'll be a joyous occasion for sure!
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| beautiful day to go fly a kite |
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| David heading out to get some shots |
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| of course you could buy one from anywhere from $10-$80 |
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| plenty of unique kites |
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| serpent (because it looks like a serpent) |
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| this guy was prob the largest out there |
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| penguin |
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| some tended to flock together |
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| nice event |
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| the bear was connected to theSnoopy, the Snoopy was connected to the parachute |
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| these little guys made a buzzing sound from the wind whipping them around |
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| what a treat |
On our way home on 135, we saw a neat sight off to the east. David figured out which exit to take and we ended up at Chapin Park for the "Go Fly A Kite" fest! As you can imagine, Kansas is the greatest place to go fly a kite!
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| Buffalo Berry bushes are all over the plains right now (because it looks like a Buffalo Berry Bush) |
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| Happy 32nd, Gus! |
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| Stearman Field Grill -- looking out the hanger door |
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| the inside of the restaurant |
10-12-15: Today is Gus' 32nd birthday! Where does the time go? We couldn't be with him today, so to celebrate David and I had lunch at the Stearman Airport in Benton. Yummy, fun spot to go for a quiet lunch. I walked it off with 7.25 miles at Derby High Park this evening. Oh, and remember the biplane? It came from this airport -- they give rides in it.
10-13-15: For another one of those rare occasions, I got up this morning at 6:00 and got in a little over 4 miles before work at ACRV. The sun doesn't come up til 7:35 and I was finished at 7:20. But I did get to see a great alignment of Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Regulus. I have no info about Regulus, but my star app told me what I was looking at.
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| my latest jams |
At work today, I checked in a "Bama fan. He immediately complimented my Alabama nails. Egad!! If I had only known! He said houndstooth is a 'Bama thang due to Bear Bryant's houndstooth hats of the past. Sigh. I made sure he knew I have Razorback jams, too. I'll be removing these Friday night.
We are loving the fall in Kansas. It's my fave season everywhere and the flatland is no exception. Better temps, great Nature, and lots of outdoor fun.
Enjoy your Autumn wherever you may be!
Much love and many hugs,
Carl Sagan, Grandma Gatewood, and Buffalo Berry
