Hi, and thanks for stopping by.  I'm happy to be back in the blogroll after a short sebbatical. This week's photographic challenge was "RURAL".  Having grown up surrounded by cornfields in the Midwest, "RURAL" is where I feel most comfortable. In our accelerating world, I have an insatiable craving for wide open spaces and communion with nature.  Oreo is my faithful companion on long walks at dusk across our rural lanscapes. We have nice conversations while chasing the last few golden rays of the day.  Even with his crippled back legs, he always leads the way, alert to the wonders along our path and ever-conscious of my presence a few paces behind.  This is the view ...