I can feel it coming in the air....

Yes, this is from this year...and it was taken a couple weeks ago...we keep seeing a few more touches of color here and there.

Of course, poison ivy is always one of the first things to change...you just have to admit it is beautiful when it is changing.  If it wasn't for the itch factor, it would be tempting to have it for its autumn colors.

We have been having such beautiful weather....and sitting out late of the evening or stepping outside after dark, it really feels and sounds like fall.  Next week, though, we are supposed to have temps in the 90's with a heat index maybe reaching 100º.  I don't suppose we will enjoy that.
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I am in the process of pin basting one of my quilts together...just had to take a break.  Crawling around on the floor on my knees for so long really gets to me.  At least if it is too hot, I will have that to work on next week.

Cumberland County Covered Bridge in Illinois

We were headed to Effingham, Illinois the other day when I spied this covered bridge.  We crossed the Embarass and there was a place to park and walk on over to see the bridge...

I only had my 70-300 mm lense with me, so could not get the whole thing in one shot from close up.

It has no weight limit, and even though it is only one lane, it can withstand the weight of semis.

The trusses and beams were made of laminated 2 x ?s.

And there were uses of other modern things:

Of course it was the middle of a hot, muggy day that we were there.  I am hoping we can go back in more favorable conditions.  It is a beautiful bridge and these shots just do not do it justice.

Starting school

Our little munchkin started preschool today....she was scheduled to start on Tuesday but had a nasty cold and had to go to the doctor.  She was so sick that day that she didn't even mind not going.  By yesterday, she was feeling better and was upset because she couldn't go.  Remember she has been wanting to go to school forever...over a year at least, and maybe two.

This morn I got a call about 8:30...and I heard this 'MAMAW!'  She was so excited I could hardly understand a word she was saying.  They had left early to get there because they did not know how the traffic would be that time of morning, so it gave them time to chat with me a few minutes.

Sarah says shes been so wound up since she got home that she cannot get much out of her except that her teacher likes hugs....she had asked Sarah if her teacher would like them before she ever went in the school.  She did not mind Sarah leaving her at all.  Just happy as a clam.  I just hope she always enjoys school and looks forward to going.
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We got a little shower of rain, but not enough to help anything.  This is the driest August we have had in years.  But things don't look bad...grass is still green, cornfields and beans are fine.  The creeks are getting low, but then they always do.
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Roger's computer finally came today...I have spent the entire afternoon making recovery disks and putting on antivirus of my choice, etc.  While doing that I did some baking....just of box mixes.  I couldn't have kept my head together enough to bake from scratch.