Being out and about looking for the unusual Raptor that stopped by Timber Life recently, I decided to catch the morning sounds that had been giving me a treat as I work in my garden, trying to get it back in working order.
The video skill isn't super but will bring back memories for a peaceful retreat come the dead of next winter, when I need a boost into the new season once again. ;)
Early morning has arrived at Oil Rig 23 located in Stanley, North Dakota. The morning shift reported at 5:30 A.M. to start their day.
Son-in-law Justin has taken a job with a company called Bronco Drilling. His first assignment is on rig 23...
In the words of his wife," He is a floor hand, which is a grunt that helps where needed.
Tuesday, he was scrubbing buildings, helping rebuild motors, and working chains.
He works 7 days on and 7 days off. Justin stays at a catered camp with everything being provided for free."
Stanley, North Dakota, is about 45 miles West of Minot, and has become a very active area for oil drilling developments since 2007. They are presently hiring new recruits to fill the vacancies.
Justin's cell phone self-portrait to let us all know his job isn't going to be one of working in a spotless environment. Oh the joy of laundry when he goes home!
The Rig Crew is able to request the types of food provided for their daily requirements. Quite a perk for these busy guys.
The work day ended at 6:00 P.M. and a new perspective of the oil derrick was visualized as the shadows at the other end of the day were starting to get long... :)
I would like to send this out to all the hunters that visit my site. Maybe you have heard of TalkHunting.com , but if you haven't, an introduction by one of the companies I frequent has caught my attention, and I wanted to pass along the information .
It appears there is presently some outdoor product suppliers that are donating items to this family oriented hunting website for monthly drawings.
Please read further to find out what products could possibly become apart of your must haves simply by registering to become a member if you aren't already. Thanks for taking a look! ;)
Direct from the desk of Ray Scott
...
From:
Ray Scott - The Whitetail Institute of North America
...
Dear Fellow Hunters,
I'm writing to let you know about a website a friend of mine started called TalkHunting.com. This site is a lot like a real hunting camp. It's a great place for the whole family to talk about hunting and learn from each other in a clean, fun & family friendly atmosphere. And best of all, it's free!
There are lots of hunting-related sites on the web. I have decided to help get TalkHunting.com more recognition, though, for one main reason: I believe in what they're doing. It is designed to be educational and fun for hunters of all ages. And, it does it in a family atmosphere - foul language and other inappropriate things are not allowed at any time. In a nutshell, TalkHunting.com is a place where the whole family can learn about hunting, take advantage of all the tips and tactics used by hunters across the country, and most important - have fun together.
I mentioned that I have decided to help TalkHunting.com get more recognition because I believe in what they're doing. That's why my company, The Whitetail Institute, and other industry leading companies such as Hunter Safety Systems, Dead Down Wind, American Broadhead Company, Kolpin Powersports, Peep Eliminator, Bowie Outfitters, The Placita Ranch and many, many others, are donating products for them to give away free every month! To be eligible for free products, all you have to do is register at Talkhunting.com. That's all!
To make this announcement even more exciting, we are going to allow everyone that responds to this email, and who is not already a member of TalkHunting, to enter into a drawing for some great prizes, even you decide not to register at TalkHunting.com. However, if you do register, we will add your name into the drawing FOUR times as a thank you for registering!
Iowa highway 330 went from two to four lane several years back. This marsh was one among several created during road construction. Increasing the number and quality of water bodies for our feathered friends has certainly helped them to stay around longer locally.
I usually pass by this marsh once a week and say to myself - "Now why didn't you bring the camera?" Well,today was the day,there are always birds of interest in or around the water. The weather was fantastic! So, I stopped to catch some varied waterfowl species.
I am not an expert in waterfowl identification. I have tried to locate information on a couple of the birds seen bobbing in the water,but at this writing I am unable to name them. My lack of foresight in bringing binoculars has left me without sharp definition of the two sitting mid-picture. I assume one is a male duck because of his bright colors. The other partially covered by upright vegetation, appears to be in the duck family, sitting on a nest?
This little goose was sitting away from the more populated island, in the company of a Red-Winged Blackbird, who was also enjoying the wetland experience.
It was interesting that for the most part life went on while I was there...My presence wasn't that disturbing. I suppose with cars and trucks going by at all hours they have developed a tolerance for outside stimulus.
I plan to keep an eye on things to see if baby ducks and goslings will become an addition to this serene setting in the future. ;)
Last year, I did a small study of deer home ranges, because of some behaviors that became apparent to me having seen it repeated over many years.
One reason I have made an effort to take pictures is to use the images to follow from year to year the passing along of some traits...Making me wonder if it could be the animal I caught years before that exists in my digital archive when they were just a fawn.
The picture above is a family group I observed frequently in my backyard the summer of 2007. It consisted of a mature doe to the left, her twins, and I believe the daughter from the previous year nuzzling with the little red buck.
Taking a picture November 3rd,2009, of the buck below, because of his unique coloration, brought back memories of the "KoffeeKlatch" and the question - "Is this the little buck whose family raided my Cosmos?"
What a handsome creature he has developed into if in fact he is one and the same. Others have seen him and commented on his color too. My hope is he survived the winter so I might see him once again. ;)
We all have different reasons why today is special...
The reason that Easter is a special Celebration for me is because it brings to remembrance what God has done in order for us to become a part of his Heavenly Family when our earthly bodies become to tired or sick to carry-on.
According to the scriptures today is the third day from his crucifixion...The day he arose after triumphing over Sin,and the Grave.
I found one of my favorite movies and a song by two vocal artists that I have enjoyed for years put together in one production. Following is an excerpt from the Franco Zeffirelli production of "Jesus of Nazareth" with the angelic voices of Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patti in duet singing "I've Just Seen Jesus".
Lyrics to I've Just Seen Jesus :
We knew he was dead
It is finished, he said
We had watched as his life ebbed away
Then we all stood around
Till the guards took him down
Joseph begged for his body that day
It was late afternoon
When we got to the tomb
Wrapped his body and sealed up the grave
So i know how you feel
His death was so real
But please listen and hear what i say
I've just seen Jesus
I tell you he's alive
I've just seen Jesus
Our precious Lord alive
And i knew, he really saw me too
As if till now, i'd never lived
All that i'd done before
Won't matter anymore
I've just seen Jesus
And i'll never be the same again
It was his voice she first heard
Those kind gentle words
Asking what was her reason for tears
And i sobbed in despair
My Lord is not there
He said, child! it is i, i am here!
I've just seen Jesus
I tell you he's alive
I've just seen Jesus
Our precious lord alive
And i knew, he really saw me too
As if till now, i'd never lived
All that i'd done before
Won't matter anymore
I've just seen Jesus
I've just seen Jesus
I've just seen Jesus
All that i'd done before
Won't matter anymore
I've just seen jesus
And i'll never be the same again
I've just seen Jesus!
This video has touched my heart I hope you enjoy it too... Blessed Easter! ;)
The Posting content is wide and varied here at Timber Life...
Today, I will share about two ladies who have seen over a century of changes pass by in their daily lives.
Our family recently gathered in Maryville,Mo. to celebrate the 102nd Birthday of my Great Aunt Roberta. She is seated on the right, by the edge of the table. Seated beside her is her 104 year old sister, Great Aunt Ethel, who made the trip from North of Council Bluffs,IA on a very dreary start to the day.
My Mom's Aunt Roberta lived most of her life in and around the small town where she was born Northwest of Maryville. In the last few years she has had some physical ailments that have required a bit more attention to keep her going; she has joined some other folks in a local Care Center.
104 year old Great Aunt Ethel lived independently until last October. She has since moved into an Assisted Living arrangement where she can get help if there is something she can't get accomplished on her own. She still enjoys reading the news paper daily for herself.
It was good medicine to the heart to see them greet one another! Unsteady legs on the part of Great Aunt Roberta gave rise to a little nudge from willing hands.
There were 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys, from the Union of Samuel Edgar Livengood and Pearl Edith Harvey Livengood. Most of the siblings made it into their 80's, still a long full life.
These two remaining centenarians are an inspiration to all of us young whipper snappers who have yet to learn a thing or two....;)
Please be informed this Post may include a picture that could be disturbing to some people.
This winter we have been treated to Eagles flying over almost daily. March 5th, gave me the opportunity to see more Eagles in one place than I had ever seen until that day. There was a positive count of 13 between two different locations. Others were spotted; I didn't stop driving again to see how many more...
This particular Bald Eagle was sitting across from a pasture watching its comrades.
Even yesterday,the 19th ,I caught two magnificent birds visiting in the neighborhood when I returned home from watching a couple of grand-kids before school. Both Eagles were doing what they do to fill their niche in nature.
I had been seeing deer gathering in some fields close to our county blacktop. The scarcity of food has brought about hunger,starvation and even death to many four hoofed brothers of the Timber. Falling from exhaustion wherever their bodies give way to solemn slumber. It truly brings sadness...
Then I checked out a story over at the Iowa DNR site after I heard that someone shot and killed a Bald Eagle in a county south of here. It was doing what raptors do to help cleanse the landscape.
This was one of three deer that fell visibly close to traveled paths by both man and wildlife.
It is one thing when animals become victims of their habitat.A happening that has repeated itself over and over this season.
However, you wonder what the story is of the person who felt it was their right to end the life of America's National symbol a Bald Eagle?....
In a comment left yesterday The Hunter's Wife said...Great pictures. We are having great weather. Saw a Robin last week...spring is here!
I wasn't able to say that I had seen a Robin until this morning when a bunch came through - traveling with some Blackbirds and Bluebirds. The Robin males had made their visible return to the Des Moines area Southwest of Timber Life some three weeks ago. They must have decided it was to early at that point to hit the countryscape.
There was a group of Blubirds darting through the air from perches to the ground looking for food.
This little Cardinal male looked a bit ruffled by all the outsiders stopping by to sit in his tree and eat his food on the ground. He was having a bad feather day...
As time goes on I know all of us will be able to add daily the evidence towards the impending calendar date called Spring a week from Saturday. ;)
Sadie and I were on our almost daily trek to the mailbox this morning. I had gone back into the house to grab the camera because I had caught two tall standing whitetails in the pasture watching our every move. I knew we would be seeing wild life today...Well, of course the deer weren't there when I got back outside!
Found some raccoon tracks going the full length of our half mile drive.Hubby saw the black eyed bandit going out last night on his way into the house after dark.
Heard Red Winged Blackbirds, water birds, and the not so pretty crow was being raucous.
The Cardinals have been doing a fantastic job of calling in the sunrise as of late, just a very positive time of the morning to be out and around.
Got a picture of our melting mountains of snow and perennial plants that are showing new life.
The Lavendar is starting to green up at the tips.
The sedum has started new growth which seems to have become food for ground hugging animals.
Then there were Vs and Vs of geese flying by.
Caught the undersides of these guys going over when I stopped to snap some shots by the airplane hangars on my way back from retrieving the mail.
We are reaching that time of year when all the Whitetail deer hunters in Iowa have a place to get together to show off their trophy Bucks,shed antlers, and their talents with the Bow.
In the two years that I have visited this event, I have gotten some really great ideas to put on my to-do list in an effort to improve conditions at Timber Life for the deer that call this property home.
So,what am I talking about? The annual Iowa Deer Classic of course!
Checkout the video taken at last year's event...A great introduction to what you will find if you get a chance to attend.
I know I had a great time finding out about all kinds of products available for the hunter in general...
Show Hours
Friday - March 5,2010 - 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday - March 6,2010 - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday - March 7,2010 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
General Admission
Adult $10
Youth (7 to 12) $5
Kids under 7 free
Big Buck Contest Ticket $20
Family Pack $25 (includes Two Adult tickets, Two Youth tickets, Two Soft Drinks)
Friday Night is Ladies Night! All ladies are admitted FREE!
Event Registration
Big Buck Contest: Fri 3pm thru Sun 11am
Shed Antler Contest: Fri 3pm thru Sun 11am
Classic 300 Archery Tournament: Fri 3pm thru Sun 11:30am
Door Prizes!
Daily Winners - Delta Targets
Grand Prize - Thompson-Center Muzzleloader
This is a great way to get the whole family involved in activities of the outdoors....;)
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