Risen

Risen , a movie now playing throughout the United States during Lent  is about the crucifixion and investigation of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the experiences of Tribune Clavius,a non-believer. He was given the task by the Roman Ruler Pontius Pilate to expose the perpetrators of the lie of a  Risen Messiah.  To find those who could tell him about the tomb he had sealed, now opened and empty...

My husband and I had the pleasure of spending the last two weekends viewing the movie on Sunday afternoons.  Both weekends  we, my hubby and I visited the new Cinemark XD Theater located in Altoona, IA to see the movie.

Cinemark XD Altoona,IA

We felt the content of the movie followed the scripture and would  like to suggest to those seeking a different point of view on a life changing event to stop by your local theater.


I wanted to share the movie experience with my older brother while he was available...

which happened to coincide with the second Sunday afternoon.

I would like to address the new seating arrangements that we found quite appealing. A new amenity in the theater going experience.

On our first visit we discovered that you could select your seating. They show you a diagram at the ticketing counter  for you choose the available lounges. Cinemark offers online ticket purchases with two ticket dispensers available at the Altoona location.Once inside your particular theater the aisles are lettered and the seats numbered for identification, simple and easy.

As you can see in the picture, the young woman is reclining on a lounger, much like you would get to do at home. The middle arm that includes a cup holder will fold up if you need more room and are sharing the chair with a familiar individual. It looks as though she is enjoying some tasty concession snacks.

Getting back to the movie Risen... My simple recommendation when you take time out of your busy schedule is to stop, look, and listen, to what God is trying to share through the eyes of a Roman Tribune - in search of the truth...

The Sciuridae Family

Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel

I want to pickup on a topic I spoke of rather briefly in the second part of the post on Talkative Thursday.

The Sciuridae Family and my experiences with at least 6 of them, 4 of which are apart of the Timber Life family.

The only member of the family that isn't a ground dweller is the Foxtail Squirrel showing off in the third picture below. I truly have fun watching all these little critters running here and there...

Chipmunk

Groundhog

Foxtail Squirrel

Prairie Dog

However, a downside to these ground shifting rodents - unexpected holes to fall into when walking or driving around the farm and timber. After falling into holes created in the hard packed drive ,one will want to reconsider how fast the travel speed should be to complete the trip.

Soft soils are excellent medium to start a new tunnel and living quarters for most of  the cousins who live here in Iowa.                                           


The larger Groundhogs find no difficulty in expanding  their tunnels from between 8 - 66 feet with multiple rooms and exits.In the construction of their den it has been found to contain a room specifically associated to the bodily function of defecation. They usually have more than one den to keep them close to the best sources of food and protection. My observations have them building dens under wood piles, at bases of trees and in the slope of a hill in the timber floor.


I have been privileged to watch them scamper up trees and freeze in place so they won't be detected.



The Foxtail Squirrel is very industrious when it comes to distributing the Black Walnut seeds found in abundance here in our timber.

I would prefer they go about planting more acorns and hickory nuts instead of eating them...One of those human traits I would like to pass along - eat some, plant some and save some . The only problem with the last theory is the number of rodents and birds that feast on the same resources, there doesn't seem to be enough to save some.


                                                                          



In  September 2007, middle afternoon sun we found several Prairie Dog colonies in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Hubby and I hadn't seen these little creatures in the wild before this trip. It created a curiosity about their habits due to the problems they were said to be causing for the cattlemen and the destruction of the grazing lands over vast areas.

At the time of our visit to the Badlands they were beginning to test Blackfooted Ferrets as a means of biological control.

Yellow-bellied Marmot

This past summer during June, I had the great privilege of visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park outside Estes Park , CO., with my family.

On one of the Tourist Pull-off areas at Forest Canyon Overlook , we came across this chubby little Marmot out enjoying the late afternoon sun.

Please click the captions to find more information about each of the members of the squirrel family or previous posts here at Timber Life...


My hope is that the next time you see a member of the Sciuridae Family you'll have time to watch a little bit of nature in action in the great outdoors.


Thank you for your visit today! All pictures posted here are the property of Timber Life Wildscapes.