Dwight! (or Doyle, depending on your point of view)

What a Sunday night!  We saw Dwight Yoakam at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, IL.  We have wanted to see him for years and he did. not. disappoint.  Our friend Will was talking with Mark and mentioned he was in town and thought he could get a couple of tickets for us.  Mark said yes! get some.

I brought my camera and a couple of lenses with me and checked the PCCC website before hand to see if cameras were allowed.  Apparently the only restrictions for entry are inappropriate or offensive clothing.  When we arrived, we were able to park on the street, right in front of the convention center.  There is absolutely nothing going on in Springfield on a Sunday.  We got our tickets, went to the door, our tickets were checked and in we walked.  No questions asked, no giant purse containing photo equipment checked.  It could not have been easier.  We proceeded to our seats in the 4th row and I was shocked how close we were.

The show started on time and the opening act, Sturgill Simpson, was excellent.  Then Dwight and his band came on and they were awesome!  This is the fourth time Will and his mom have seen Dwight and they both said this was one of his best shows and that he was never this chatty with the audience and he just seemed very relaxed.

                   Now for some pictures!

                                     The spangly, sparkly, Manuel jackets were on display.

This one especially caught Mark's eye and he is headed to Nashville.

It will look quite fetching on the golf course.

Morning Traffic

Ducks left to right: mallard, green-winged teal and wood duck

Beaver Pond

It was a busy morning at the beaver pond.  I was down here the other day without my camera and saw a number of ducks floating around.  The way they were splashing and zipping around I was reminded of the duck game at a carnival.  You picked a duck, checked the number on the bottom and won a prize.  I'm not sure if that was the game at Lake Forest Day where some of the prizes were, t-shirts, bricks of gum or cartons of cigarettes.  And we thought nothing of it.  Oh, well.

I did bring my camera this morning and was not disappointed.  Until I got back to the house later and realized I had not zipped my coat pocket and discovered my phone had fallen out.  Luckily, there was only one spot I had been sitting on the ground and I found it safe and most importantly, dry.  As you can see the grass is starting to turn green.  At night when we let the dog out we can hear the frogs croaking.  Spring is finally thisclose! 

The New Robin

When I arrived home from my Pilates class the other day, I was greeted by this large turkey vulture strolling across the road. His companion had flown up into one of the hedge trees but this one was rather bold and I was able to get quite close.  One of our steers is not doing well and I was a bit worried as to what his presence might indicate. Fortunately, (or unfortunately) they tolled for a squirrel who was in the ditch.

Turkey Vulture

It's Spring..?

We're having a late winter/early spring snow.  It's hard to believe tomorrow is supposed to be close to 40 degrees.  We'll definately have to fix the fence around the yard soon so the cattle don't come in and tear up the soft ground.  There is nothing worse than spending the summer mowing over bumpy ground where their hooves sunk in.

*gasp*.... OUCH!

I had to drive my self to the hospital yesterday.

The culprit

The minute I felt my finger hit the blade, I immediately clenched my fists.  I was too afraid to unclench my right hand and see what happened to my finger so I managed to get on jeans and socks with one hand and drive to the hospital.  I parked the car out side the emergency room and with a towel and a box of bandages by my side (in case it wasn't bad enough to go in), I finally opened my fist to see how much damage was done.  Not horrible, but definately could not be contained with a few bandages.

I think instead of small print strongly advising the use of the "finger guard," they should use graphic imagery.  The two nurses who assisted me in the ER each had their own mandolin story.  One nurse assured me my finger would grow back in about 6 months.  Disturbing, yet reassuring.  It is forcing a rather delicate flourish to all that I do with my right hand, so there's that.

New Beginnings

Well, after a lot of time and hard work my website, www.juliebrownleephotography.com, and blog are finally up and running! I hope you enjoy my pictures and my posts from around our farm and our travels.

I recently returned from a trip to southern California to visit my sister Colleen and her family.  We had a wonderful time!  There will be pictures from the trip in a few days, some will eventually be making their way to my website.

Our weather is still a little on the cool side to spend much time outside, although I did notice my daffodils are beginning to poke their way up from the ground.  Soon I'll be weeding and mowing and playing golf and wondering how I ever spent so much time in a down coat!