The Simple Things – Around The Burg

I have always loved nature. The wildlife especially. I love to look at images from around the world and feast my eyes on creatures I’ve never see. I love the diversity in this beautiful world.

I watched a series on Netflix that took place in Scotland. It wasn’t a nature series but a drama with comedy interlaced within. In one of the episodes there were cattle. Beautiful, hairy cattle that were vastly different from your typical American cattle. I learned they were Highland Cattle.

Always loving most anything Scottish, I had to google to see if by some chance a rancher in the state of Missouri was raising these fine specimens. I found some not very close by and even in some surrounding states. I mentally put it on my list of road trips in the future.

image from a google search - Highland Cattle
image from a google search – Highland Cattle
image from a google search - Highland Cattle
image from a google search – Highland Cattle
image from a google search - Highland Cattle
image from a google search – Highland Cattle

One day, a couple of weeks ago when the weather was warmer and no ice or snow in sight, my husband and I took off on a local country drive. We ended up on a highway that took us back toward our main highway. Nothing but farmland. It was brown and beautiful.

All of a sudden we saw some cattle lying in their pasture just chilling’ and enjoying the winter sun. I remember seeing their hairdo between some hefty horns and remarked that they were not your common beef seen in these here parts.

We turned around. Missouri is fond of no shoulders on these country roads and only ditches. Fortunately, there were no other vehicles on the road so we stopped. I expressed to my husband that they could possible be Highland Cattle from the bonnie banks of Scotland. I quickly shot some images from my husbands iPhone.

I couldn’t stop thinking about those cattle. I just love Highland Cattle and wanted to see them in person! It just makes me happy beyond words to feast my eyes on creation. Could they be? I asked a friend who happens to be a cattle person…..and he knew immediately that they were the ones I was looking for! As a matter of fact, he told me that his neighbor has a few Highland Cattle and I could come take pics of them.

Well, as soon as the cold weather that is now full of ice passes I will be out there!

Am I the only one who gets excited over things like this? The little things in life that come at the right moment. I call them gifts. Little gifts from above that make my heart glad. The simple gifts in life that let me know there is someone who knows me more than I know me. That someone who watches over me and cares enough to lead us down a country road so I can see cattle!

Such love.

Missouri Highland Cattle
Missouri Highland Cattle

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Enjoy!

Cate B

Spring Time Around The Burg 2016

We are having a lovely Spring in The Middle this year. Perfect temperatures. Not quite enough rain but a bit here and there.

We enjoyed a drive yesterday in the country toward a town called Calhoun and onward to Warsaw, Missouri located on a portion of Truman Lake. We had a late breakfast at The Rusty Skillet.

Here are some pics – taken from my iPhone6 but recognizable. 😀

Enjoy! Cate B

Around The Burg – Again…….

As I have posted before, The Burg is a small town in the mid-west.  It happens to be the county seat.  One of the treasures in this area are the other towns surrounding us.  Some are in the same county and some are not.  But most are only between eight and 30 miles away.

I went to Leeton, MO a week ago and went back the other day with my camera.  Leeton is quite small with a population of a little over five hundred people.  The buildings from down town are awesome, but sadly, vacant or used as housing, I think.  I always feel sad when small town America is no more.

I’ll let the images talk.  Please know that the last photos are something I do not understand totally or agree with.  I’m sure (hopeful) that the resident is not totally aware of how this affects others.  Especially when you read some history of the town and how the founder served in the Union Army for several years.  Also, given the recent occurrences of racial tension in our nation (or should I say ongoing?) I can’t help but think this is a problem……

Enough of that.  Enjoy the photos.  I love this area of our country.

cate b

Early Morning Drive

The first day of a new semester at UCM  means my first day back with the girls.  Love the adventure.  So, while it was still dark this morning the hubby and I set off for The Burg.  Here is what we saw:

great clouds on the horizon
great clouds on the horizon

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you know you are in the mid west when.....
you know you are in the mid west when…..

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Enjoy!

cate b

Old Drum and a Change of Scenery

DSCF7468Yesterday my husband and I took off into the wilds of the mid-west.  Well, took off on some country roads and drove east into the wilds of Missouri.  Yes, you guessed it, farms.  And yes, sky.  It really is beautiful and peaceful.  Some of you look into the vast oceans we look into the vast sky and rolling hills and the food that you all eat.

These pictures of the farmland were taken from the open window of our non-air conditioned jeep wrangler while going highway speed.  And not from my iPhone!  I used an actual camera!  Dry mid-west breezes reaching temperatures into the low 90s.  It was great.

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We had a long needed get away that day.  Our destination?  The lovely town of Warrensburg, MO, home of University of Central Missouri – the Mules.

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Home of the Whiteman Air Force Base.  Home of Java Junction incredibly good coffee! Home of J & J – two friends of ours that met us in town and had a great time together!

And most importantly – home of Old Drum.  The dog that was shot and a court case took place in the old courthouse and the phrase “Man’s best friend” came to life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Graham_Vest

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DSCF7494DSCF7510Myself and Old Drum together on the courthouse corner.

 

 

 

 

 

Who says we don’t have fun in the Heartland?  We had a great time.  Came home feeling rested and hot and rested…..and hot.

It is so good to get away from the daily grind.  Even if it’s just going to a nearby park and doing nothing.  A change of scenery can clear your mind and give you a better perspective of your life.  You begin to see things differently.  Really. Try it.

Life is short so get out there and smell the roses  or the corn and soy beans.

Enjoy!

cate b

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