Scavenger Hunt: April, 2015 ~ Changes

April is a changeable month 
on the High Plains next to the Rockies;
and this year it seems that change is everywhere:
weather, landscapes, life style.

Flowers

With Terry's retiring, 
the schizophrenic weather, 
and my rapidly changing neighborhood,
it's been so unsettled that I hunted down 
all the photos for February instead of April.

I thought the categories had a familiar ring!
LOL!

Fresh Snow on New Leaves 

A Corner of My Home

So now, with the end of the month bearing down,
it has been raining for several days.

A Gentle Spring Rain

Welcome Rain in a Dry Land

So I'll have to see what I can find 
in the photos I've already taken this month!
And share some major changes taking place around me.


For almost a year now, 
whenever I walked on the prairie,
I've been playing a game.

I've been carefully averting my eyes
and looking from selected angles,
so I can pretend that what was still is.


 

New Growth

I can walk on the prairie and see the first flush
of color in the bushes and new leaves on the cottonwoods.

But, like it or not, change is coming
with a different form of growth.

A Starkly Beautiful and Haunting Landscape
With a Hint of What is Coming

Feet

These feet
may be gentle ...

But these are not.







My prairie world has literally been turned upside down.

Upside Down

Almost everywhere I look,
from horizon to horizon,
the high plains' prairie is
being transformed into housing.

Clouds above.  

Earthmovers below.

Along the tributaries of Piney Creek,
you can still find pockets of unripped ground.

The Sweet Green of Baby Leaves

Along the banks in reeds

and among the prairie grasses

you can still hear the chuck-trill of the redwings 

and the sweet song of the meadowlarks.

Sweet
 Birds

I've spent time sitting in this chair this month

watching the big machines work.

Chair

I'm thankful that the economy is improving,
and I'm thankful that well-paying 
construction jobs are coming back.

Whenever I walk by the sites
and watch the men at work,
they wave at me through their glass windows.

Hot under Glass

Childhood Bedroom Classic
goodreads

When I was a small child,
I loved the story of Mike Mulligan 
and His Steam Shovel, Mary Anne.

At least one copy of this
classic children's book
was in a bookcase in
one of our bedrooms
during my childhood.







It's hard to resist watching a big shovel at work!

With each shovel bite and bulldozer load,

infrastructure for future homes is laid.

A development takes shape step by step.

   

A Rain of Dirt Covers Pipe for New Homes

Despite my sadness at the disappearing prairie,
I can't resist returning over and over to watch.

Some things make me laugh, 
like this bright collection of honey pots on a trailer
waiting to be placed for the convenience
of the construction workers;
just imagine bumping and banging around
in that heavy machinery all day!

The honey pots on a trailer make me think
of an Easter basket filled with bright eggs.



One item left on my changes scavenger hunt:
Whatever You Want.

Here are some of those February items,
I collected thinking they were for April!

A new road takes shape along a walking trail.

On the Road

That cool tap I was so excited to find!

Tap

A new sign advertises one of the several developments

underway in my neighborhood.

Price

Fortunately in this area, land along the creek beds 

is being left in a semi-natural state and 

links up with parks, open space, and regional trails.

So we have wetlands and wildlife corridors for animals.

It's not the same, but it's something.

We shall see.

May's List:
Blue,  Crystal,  Vintage,  Fluff,  Global,  Mask,  Bus,
Frame,  Collection,  Poster,  Ribbon,  Whatever you want.