The Vs Are Here

It is with great excitement I write this post!

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.



It is shaping up to be a great day!

Iowa Deer Classic 2010

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...


Find out what happens at the Iowa Deer Classics



Iowa Events Center
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....;)

What a Difference

What a difference a year has made!

Last year we had a warming spell that gave us open ground on this same date. By the end of this week it appears we will be headed up into the  40's for highs so  the ground will once again be peeking out. Going to be a strange phenomena since we've had snow on the ground since December 9th.


Is it Spring yet? ;)

National Pheasant Fest

This weekend in Des Moines,IA the National Pheasant Fest is returning for another great time for the upland bird game hunter.






I haven't personally attended one of the gatherings,but from what I have heard they have a lot of things scheduled .

Weekend Agenda

Friday, February 26, 2010
12:45pm	Bird Dog Parade (immediately preceding Ribbon Cutting)	HyVee Hall Entrance
1:00pm	Ribbon Cutting - Show Opens	HyVee Hall Entrance
2:00pm	Seminars and Sessions Begin	HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
6:00pm	Friday Night Sportsman's Banquet - Boasting & Toasting	Polk County Convention Center
7:30pm	Friday Night Sportsman's Banquet - Dinner Served	Polk County Convention Center
8:00pm	Seminars and Sessions End	HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
9:00pm	Show Closes	HyVee Hall
Saturday, February 27, 2010
9:00am	Show Opens	HyVee Hall
10:00am	Seminars and Sessions Begin	HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
12:00pm	Conservation Lunch	Polk County Convention Center
5:00pm	Seminars and Sessions End	HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
6:00pm	Show Closes	HyVee Hall
6:00pm	Saturday Night Banquet - Boasting & Toasting	Polk County Convention Center
7:30pm	Saturday Night Banquet - Dinner Served	Polk County Convention Center
Sunday, February 28, 2010
8:00am	Church Service
10:00am	Show Opens	HyVee Hall
11:00am	Seminars and Sessions Begin	HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
4:00pm	Seminars and Sessions End	HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
5:00pm	Show Ends - Thank you for a great Pheasant Fest!	HyVee Hall

(weekend agenda subject to change)

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In taking a look at pictures,number #20 to be exact, from the last event held in Des Moines at the Iowa Events Center back in 2007, I saw a Springer Spaniel from the back that reminded me of my dog Sadie.

It is my understanding that Federal Premium Ammunition will be introducing a new pheasant shot called "Prairie Storm" at the Fest.  Click here to see a review by Anthony Hauck, outdoor writer for the Star Tribune  from Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN.

I have been checking out the website and ran across  some of the forage mixtures that Pheasants Forever have developed to supply the upland game birds and whitetail deer winter food sources. Dual purposes that could fit many situations.

It has been my personal observation that the pheasant population has had a huge decline in our local area and it wasn't by human hunting pressures.Sure would like to see the birds back to the same level of three to four years ago. ;)

The National convention is only a few days away and would make a great break in the monotonous winter weather that has been keeping us all with an eye to the sky. The forecast for the weekend in central Iowa is sun and temps in the 30's.  ;)

National Pheasant Fest
Mark your calendars:
Des Moines, IA

Friday, February 26th 1pm-9pm
Saturday, February 27th 9am-6pm
Sunday, February 28th 10am-5pm

Admission: $10/day

Framed

I know,I know. Blog titles can be deceiving. ;)

When the hard-drive of my old computer wouldn't click out of it's death knell a while back ,I got a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system on a new e-machine.

The Windows Live Mail Program has some really entertaining, positive additions for people who want to keep things changing with their communications. I have found adding pictures to be very easy and giving them character by framing quite  delightful. Yes, it sounds like I'm bored...doesn't it?

Certainly, the capabilities I've discovered maybe possible with other programs, but this is the first I have been aware of them  being associated with an e-mail program that I have had the opportunity to use.

At this point I can see a lot of interesting situations with e-mail and photo editing programs at my disposal. I am the click and learn type individual. Just hope I don't wipe something out in the process. I won't, tongue in cheek, had to throw that in there for good measure.

Here's sharing my take of the Windows 7 Home Premium Live Mail Program. I like it! I like it! ;)