Tallgrass Prairie Wonders

I just got home a bit ago and wanted to share a few photos that I've taken on my way to, from, and at work this week...

Butterfly Weed

This plant is an important food source for butterflies

such as monarchs and the regal fritillary.

Monarch Butterfly on Purple Coneflower

Photo Credit

Regal Fritillary Butterfly

Photo Credit

Dickcissel

I so look forward to the return of these

little birds each year. Their sweet song 

brings me much joy!

Take a listen for yourself...

Pale Purple Coneflower

Baby Bison

We have four new ones this year

and they are absolutely adorable!

Bull (or Horse) Nettle

I hope you've had a terrific Friday and that you have a great weekend ahead!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - May 9, 2022

Good morning! It's Monday! 💗

Did you all have a good Mother's Day weekend? I had a great one here! 

I worked a special event (Truman Days) at the Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri on Saturday. My job, along with a couple of other ladies, was to make, and teach others how to make, corn husk dolls. My helpers and I made (and helped make) dozens of the dolls and, even though our fingers were sore afterwards, we had a great time doing it! We had a lot of proud and happy attendees, as well! It was a great experience for all! 

On Sunday, I heard from all my children, saw most of them, and received many sweet offerings of love and honor throughout the day. Mother's Day 2022 was a great one!

Granddaughters Ruth and Hannah Observing

Tadpoles In The Pond Sunday Afternoon

I've got a full day and a busy week ahead, so, I'm not going to tarry. Today's post will be short, sweet, and to the point! Let's get started, shall we?

 Dickcissel

(Laura Ingalls Wilder's unforgettable "dickie bird"

of Little House on the Prairie fame)

This week's master to-do list...

- clean house

- do laundry 

- get the air conditioners uncovered and ready (it's supposed to be 🔥 HOT 🔥 this week!)

- weed-eat and do some yard work

- tend the garden

- wash car and check fluids

- answer a few cards and letters

- go to Springfield with friends

- go to a special presentation on put on by Mobile Museum of Earth History

- work (school group)

- get together with friends from back home

- get together with my youngest daughter and her family for lunch and a short visit

Grassland Bird Nest and Eggs

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Beef and bean tostados

Tuesday - out

Wednesday - Ground turkey and sweet potato skillet with brown rice

Thursday -  Oven-roasted chicken with baked potato and fresh asparagus

Friday - Broiled salmon, baked sweet potato, and fresh asparagus

Saturday - Turkey burger and oven fries

Sunday - Leftovers

An American Toad Caught By One Of The Grandgirls

(Look at that sweet little face!)

That's it for today! You all have a nice day and a great week ahead and I'll see you again soon!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser - A Book Review and More

Prairie Fires - The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

I was raised on the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My mother read them aloud to me when I was very young; then, when I learned to read, I read them for myself...over and over again. I felt that Laura had written the books just for me. I had put Laura Ingalls Wilder up on a pedestal that she was about to be knocked off of.

The first blow came when visiting Rocky Ridge (Laura and Almanzo's home and museum in Mansfield, Missouri) for the first time. It was there that I discovered there was a whole world of people out there that knew about Laura's books and that they loved her just as much as I did! I felt betrayed! 😳 (I think I was eight...maybe nine-years-old.)

It didn't detour me though. I was still fascinated with Laura's stories and I hung on to every word of them. I never tired of reading the series and I read them and re-read them over and over again with my own children. Our youngest and I used the series as the basis of our literature one year using The Prairie Primer by Margie Gray which fell out into all kinds of unit studies. 

My fascination with Laura Ingalls Wilder continued until my husband bought me the book Little House in the Ozarks - A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler - The Rediscovered Writings edited by Stephen W. Hines. It was then that I discovered that there was more to Laura Ingalls Wilder than was revealed in the Little House series and, somehow, her life just didn't seem as pleasant. The image was tarnished and it frightened me. In fact, I never finished the book. The truth is, I barely started it. 😞

And I never did like Rose (Laura's daughter). I couldn't tell you why though. I just didn't. I remember checking out Let The Hurricane Roar by Rose Wilder Lane at the school library as and I couldn't read it. It was like I sensed that there was something wrong and that somehow Rose had used it to hurt Laura. Isn't that strange? 😲

Anyway, after all these crazy mixed up feelings about a woman...an author...a total stranger...that died before I was even born and was someone that I would never know, Prairie Fires - The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser has finally brought me middle of the road and helped me to accept the truth that Laura Ingalls Wilder was a real person, with real feelings, and real life stuff happened to her on every front. 

I'm convinced that Prairie Fires is the most in-depth look into the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder that has been (or ever will be) written and I am totally fascinated by it!

Not only does the book tell us more of Laura's story, but it also delves into a bit more of her family history and into the history of the characters that made the Little House series come alive.

Drawing on unpublished manuscripts, letters, diaries, and land and financial records, Caroline Fraser (the editor of the Library of America edition of the Little House series) fills in the gaps in Laura's biography. She reveals the grown-up story behind the most influential childhood epic of pioneer life and chronicles Laura's tumultuous relationship with her journalist daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.

Today I love Laura Ingalls Wilder more than ever and, after reading Prairie Fires, I have a new found respect for this dear lady whose life spanned nearly a century of change, from the Indian Wars to the Dust Bowl, providing us a unique perspective on American history and a lesson in self-reliance.

At 640 pages (hardcover) Prairie Fires isn't a fast read, but it's a read that I highly recommend for anyone who is a fan of, or has been touched by, Laura Ingalls Wilder's life in any way. 💗

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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31 Days of the Joys of Autumn - Working The Bison

Bison in One of the Holding Pens Awaiting Their Turns Through the Chute

When the month of October arrives at Prairie State Park it's time to work the bison. That means that it's time to move the herd into a pen and through the corral where, on a certain day, the animals will have their annual vet checks. 

Bison in one of the Holding Pens

The animals are moved from the big pen into smaller holding pens. Here they await their turn at moving through the chute.

A Bull Awaiting His Turn Through The Chute

As each animal moves through the process, it makes its way through a series of gated holding pens and into the chute. One-by-one each animal moves through the chute until it is its turn to see the vet. Upon arrival at the final stop in the chute, each animal is looked over by the vet and his assistants. Blood is drawn for testing and notes are made as to the animal's general appearance, as to whether it's a male or a female, if there are any distinguishing marks or features, etc. and the animal's tag numbers are noted. If there is no tag, a new tag is issued. This helps those of us who work with the animals to know and keep track of the general history of each individual animal that resides within the park. It is at this time, too, that the decision is made as whether to keep each animal or to sell it. A small number of animals are sold each year at a public auction in order to keep the number of animals on the park in check.

A Bull Bison Coming Out of the Chute

As each animal's turn is complete, the animal is released back into one of two pens. The larger group of animals are held in the bigger pen until blood tests come back. Once the animals are given a clean bill of health from the veterinarian, they are released back out onto the prairie. The smaller second group of animals remain in the smaller pen until the date of the public auction when they are sold.

I don't know if working the bison can really be considered one of the "joys" of autumn, but it certainly is an annual event that I look forward to in the sense that it is a really neat time to observe these magnificent animals up close and personal. I'm always glad when it's over, too, and the animals are once again released out onto their prairie home.

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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April 2017 - Part 3 - It's All In A Day's Work

I will soon be celebrating my third year anniversary as a naturalist at Prairie State Park in southwest Missouri. I didn't start off as a naturalist there, but have been in that position now for the past two years.

One of the things that I do as a naturalist at Prairie State Park is to teach children and adults about life on the tallgrass prairie. With spring, comes school groups...lots and lots of school groups...public, private, homeschool, and preschool.

Here are a few of the classes that I have taught, or took part in teaching during the month of April at Prairie State Park...


We had several public school groups visit in April. Every one of them had their own dynamic. The teachers and children were a lot of fun to be with and we shared some great learning moments together.

Our preschool program in April was about life cycles. We talked about many animals, but our focus was on the life cycle of the monarch butterfly.

With the help of myself, parents, and siblings, and using a variety of craft materials, each preschooler created their very own butterfly life cycle wheel. 

The theme for April's homeschool class was nature photography. For this one, I sought the help of someone a little more knowledgeable on the subject than myself. Homeschool graduate and our youngest son, James Anthony! He came as our guest speaker and taught the class the basics of photography. I sat in on this class as a class participant! 

After class we got to go out and practice some of what we learned. It was a  very wet and rainy day, so we couldn't go outside. This is my attempt at a panoramic shot in the auditorium.

Here's a crazy shot that I took of one of the stuffed bison in the nature center. I think he looks rather handsome...don't you?

James answered lots of questions and guided each of us in use of our own personal and specific devices. Some of us had digital cameras, others had an Ipod, Ipad, or a phone. I don't know that any two of us had the same type of device, but James was pretty knowledgeable in the workings of every one of them.

The diorama made a great place to search out tiny plant and animal life and capture them in photos.

After being involved at Prairie State Park for over 20 years, and working there for three, it was like I was seeing some of this stuff for the first time. Here is a coyote that is in the mural on the wall. 

And here is a meadowlark that is in the same mural. I mean...I've seen this stuff before...but I had never really looked at it until this class. It was awesome!

This was a great bunch of children from a private school. We had a lot of fun together and I so enjoyed having them! They were a real joy to work with! 

And, last, but not least, nature bingo! Playing nature bingo is a monthly occurrence at Prairie State Park. It's a fun game that teaches children and adults alike about many of Missouri's unique plant and animal life and, the best part is, everyone wins a prize! 

Well, that concludes my three part series on happenings in my life in April. I hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into my life as much as I enjoyed sitting down and sharing it with you. I hope to visit with you again soon.

Until next time...
~Rebecca

For Part 1 of this series - April 2017 - Part 1 - Trip To Branson - click here.
For Part 2 of this series - April 2017 - Part 2 - Spring on the Hearth and Home - click here. 

Five Minute Friday: Frost

Today's Five Minute Friday assignment was a little different than most weeks. For the final Five Minute Friday of 2015 Kate Motaung let everyone pick their own one-word prompt and the word I chose is frost.

Here's why...

Frost On The Windshield

Upon going out to warm up my van this morning before work, I discovered that, overnight, Jack Frost had completely covered my van windows in an intricate frosty pattern. A few minutes of heat on high and the beautiful artwork of nature gave way to nothing but water droplets that rolled away with a swish of the wiper blades and a rush of wind as I drove out onto the highway.

Frosty-Backed Bison At Prairie State Park

At the park (I work at Prairie State Park in Mindenmines, Missouri), I was greeted by four great beasts, their brown backs white with frost, against a backdrop of white-frosted prairie grasses. Over the crest of the hill and the whole herd of white-backed bison encircled the nature center where I work.

Bison Dot The Landscape At Prairie State Park

As I pulled into the parking lot, the morning sun spilled across the tall grasses, instantly melting the guazy frostiness that only moments before had grasped them in misty whiteness. The massive beasts (bison) that dotted the prairie landscape separated lazily and made their way around and behind the building. With each grunt and snort, the chilly air made their hot breath come out in billowy puffs of icy whiteness.

Frost Flowers At Prairie State Park

As I made my way to the building I noticed that frost flowers were in great abundance in the wildflower garden out front...

Mullin Outlined And Covered In Frost

...and that every plant was outlined and covered, sparkling, and glistening white, with frost.

I love frosty mornings on the prairie and wish that I could share one with YOU! They are soooo beautiful! <3

All My Love,
~Rebecca

For more information about Life On The Tallgrass Prairie click: HERE!

For more information about Frost Flowers click: HERE!

Five Minute Friday - a free write, which means, as our hostess, Kate Motaung, says, "...no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation. Just write."