Kitesurfing on the Lake

A few times this year, we have seen someone "Kitesurfing" on the lake. I have to admit -- this looks like a LOT of fun!

(I'm not sure if it's called Kitesailing or Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding as all of these terms describe about the same thing. But since Kitesurfing is what Wikipedia brought up, I'm going with that.) 

This is the description given: "Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding and gymnastics into one extreme sport."

I was so excited when he was close by our house and I was able to stand on my deck and watch him and take photos. 

Kitesurfer circling the boat his friends are in.

Catching a 'running start' towards the boat.

Getting closer to the boat...

And OVER the boat he flies!

He is able to control the direction he wants to go and turns around quite easily. 

Zoomed in to show the board he is riding.

Another zoomed in shot.

And OVER the boat once again!

He seriously makes this look so easy but this takes a lot of talent!

Occasionally the kite just lifts him right up out of the water.

Hubby and I enjoyed watching him in front of our house.

Thanks for visiting!



I am joining Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I love rainy days!

Then when the sun peeks out in the afternoon... beautiful things happen.

Thanks for visiting!

The attack of the cottonwood trees

Ever heard of a cottonwood tree? I had not heard of them (or I just wasn't aware of them) until we moved to Iowa. Since the time I learned about cottonwoods, I have developed a serious love/hate relationship with these trees.

Some of the things I love about them is how huge they are. And the sound that the leaves make when the wind blows. And the great shade they provide. And the way they look leaning over the water...

Awhile back, I looked up information about the tree and discovered a lot of history behind it!

Here are a few things regarding the cottonwood:

• It is the State Tree of Kansas and Nebraska. 
• There are many legends and mysteries and love stories involving cottonwoods.
• They can grow over 100 feet high.
• There are male and female trees.
• Cottonwoods can become rotten and it is unnoticeable -- until the tree falls.
• They prefer to grow by water.
• They were a sight for sore eyes back in the pioneer days on the plains. They provided shade and wood for fires. And because they like to be wet -- water was usually found nearby.
• If you cut a branch from a cottonwood tree, there is a shape of a star inside. There is an old Native American legend that the stars from the skies were hiding inside the trees because they liked to be near people on earth.

On the lake where we live, there are thousands of cottonwood trees! At certain times of the year when the cotton seeds open and release into the air, it looks like a heavy snowstorm as they blow around. It is a beautiful sight to behold! The cotton will land on the ground in large clumps resembling a pile of snow.

I love seeing the cotton in the air.

But on the flip side, I loathe seeing the cotton in the air. It makes a mess and sticks to everything and worst of all, I am apparently allergic to the cute little fluffs that float around.

It happens quite a few times throughout the spring, summer and fall. Sigh... 

Cottonwood trees along the shore of the lake.

You can see the cottonwood seeds against the house -- looks like snow! This was a very light amount.

A branch with the seeds attached.

Cottonwood in the water. See how it clumps?

This cottonwood tree came down during a storm a few years ago and crashed through our neighbor's house (two doors down). They rebuilt after this!

As much as I dislike them sometimes, they are truly beautiful trees! As I am writing this blog, the late afternoon sun is shining through the trees -- and combined with a nice breeze blowing, they are making the leaves shimmer and I can hear the very distinctive rustle of the leaves.

Thanks for visiting!

No More Ice Ice Baby!

Awww... poor bear. This is what I look like when trying to walk on ice.


Happily, the ice on the lake is completely melted! I think the "official ice out day" was Sunday, April 2. We literally watched it disappear that day.

There are already docks and boat lifts in the water -- and today a few boats were out and about on the lake.

Summer is coming!

In the morning, the ice is starting to recede

Moving along quickly as the day progresses

Moving out to center of lake

Moving, moving...

The ice is gone! Gorgeous day outside!

Looking to the southwest from our patio

Looking towards the northeast

The water was so still in the afternoon.
I took this photo of a Loon and his mirror image is below him in the water.

Thanks for visiting!!