“The Weight I Set Down” 🌹 I set down the weight of yesterday’s fear, The words I swallowed, the tears I hid here. I set it down by the edge of my bed, Let peace sit where worry once lived in my head.

Going back to July for common milkweed

From last summer

Bad day in Minnesota today. 💔

I photographed a lot of yellow wildflowers thinking they would later be identified as dandelions. So far they have always turned out to be something else, like this perennial sowthistle.

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This was the only compass plant at the park last summer.

Prairie blazing star from August

We're only 2 weeks into winter, so there is time to catch up on the daily tulip posts. I look forward to seeing these every day.

Last summer I took hundreds of pictures of wildflowers, so I will keep posting them for a while. Susans and bindweed will come up the most often because they were more abundant and they bloomed longer. The one for today is a false sunflower (or smooth oxeye).

This wildflower is a creeping thistle.

Who wants a caramel popcorn ball? #foodonFriday

Here are some wildflowers for the new year.

Ending 2025 with a wildflower. Happy New Year!

After the blizzard on Sunday and the horrible road conditions the past 2 days, all I want to do is look at wildflowers.

This past week was very overcast and foggy, but this was peaceful compared to the blizzard we're having right now. Still have over 12 hours of snow and wind before it stops. We might see the sun tomorrow for the first time in a week.

The top section of this tree came down 5 months ago, but all of the leaves are still attached. Brown leaves are better than no leaves this time of year.

Blizzard warning? Say it ain't so!

This is a version of peanut blossom with chocolate in the cookie, as well as on top. #foodonFriday #cookieparty

Merry Christmas from the park. (Of course it was cloudy and misty!)

It wouldn't be Christmas without frosted sugar cookies. I respect the bakers who decorate them with a lot of detail, but I keep it simple when I make them. #cookieparty

This was a shocker - today at work I received a "thank you" bouquet from an unknown person or department. Please help me identify these flowers. I think the small ones at the bottom are sweet williams.

I like to think all the trees at the park are my Christmas trees.

Haven't been to the park since late November. Hopefully that will change this week.

Thank you for the reposts on treats pictures for the salted peanut chews and the brownie @coastclark.bsky.social, @saintlyred88.bsky.social, @debbiecrochets.bsky.social and @snagzsongs.bsky.social

Gingerbread is mandatory for Christmas. These have a Hershey's hug on top. #cookieparty #foodonFriday

September variety

Just need a football and we could practice kicking field goals.

This is a nannyberry leaf. Last summer I started refreshing my memory about wildflowers, but I don't remember seeing a bloom on this. Something to look for next year.

A celebration of yellow

In late November there were still some green leaves on the trees, but I'm sure they have fallen by now with all the snow we've had.

This looks especially appealing when tonight's forecasted low temp is 19 below zero, then add in the windchill.

White Sands New Mexico

Happy Friday

One of my besties is a coconut junkie, so the first Christmas cookies I made this season were Macaroon Kiss cookies. #foodonFriday #cookieparty

Looking back to October

Thank you for the repost @hyperionpsn.bsky.social, @naturemusicart.bsky.social, @6babypeanut.bsky.social, @pierpaolo.bsky.social, @skinskintainan.bsky.social, @fernandoluissp.bsky.social, @coastclark.bsky.social, @tegeacorymb.bsky.social, @debbiecrochets.bsky.social, @shortcreek.bsky.social

Photobomb, prairie style

For day 9 of #ArtAdventCalendar , my #oilpainting of a young girl. #art #painting #artist #ArtYear #portraiture #BlueTue #BlueSkyArt

It's always good to find something green when there is snow on the ground.

The day was wet and very windy, but this maple leaf was holding on.

I hope you had a peaceful Sunday.

Milkweed in the snow

Thank you for the reposts on the gingerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies @arik-2.bsky.social, @magpiemiller.bsky.social, @coastclark.bsky.social, @debbiecrochets.bsky.social, @zenobiam.bsky.social and @saintlyred88.bsky.social

I have shoveled snow 3 of the past 6 days, with more on the way tomorrow. Time for a break.

Carpet of color

No longer green, but still beautiful

My favorite somersault tree is acting as a frame for autumn leaves.

Red sumac is nice to see when the rest of the park is brown and grey.

Just like the yellow wildflower that kept going a couple months ago against all odds, this little red oak is doing the same thing.