Jamestown, ND Flooding

(Thanks to Justin Schnackenberg for catching this helicopter in action) While we were enjoying our visit to Jamestown,ND. last weekend we were keeping an eye to the sky,the sandbag walls,and earthen dikes. Flooding has been a very serious concern in Jamestown as well as the whole State of North Dakota. In good times the Jamestown Dam and Pipestem Reservoir are great fishing spots. However, this year with large amounts of snow and ice,now rain, the ground is saturated with nowhere for the extra water to go except overland. The clean-up at Pipestem is already being planned to get it opened for all the anglers wanting to get back to the important business of fishing. "First time" records are being set for the Jamestown Dam.

Gun&Reel Sports

115 1st Street West Jamestown, ND 58401 701-252-2850 800-427-2850 www.gunandreelsports.com My visits to Jamestown, ND. have taken me past this outdoor sports supplier many times. I kept telling myself the next time I came to town that I would go see what they had in their inventory. This past weekend became that opportunity. I would like to thank Gary Docktor, son of one of the original owners, for his time in sharing how Gun & Reel has come to be an outdoor sports supplier for the residents of central North Dakota and those like me who stop by when they are passing through. When I asked Mr. Docktor how things began, this is what I learned - Gerome Docktor and Bob Brastrup returned to Jamestown from their tour of service in different branches of the military. They each had different careers until a common interest in hunting and fishing brought them together. In 1953 they decided to become partners in a business to help meet the needs of those of like interest. In 1987, Bob passed away and Gerome incorporated to sell shares to his employees. Presently there are three partners, two of them are interested in retiring soon and Gary would like to keep the business in the family. He will be buying out those shares with hopes that eventually his son may decide to join him in running the store after his graduation from college with a business degree. The same route that Gary took after he graduated from high school. The original business began two doors to the east of their present location. As time went on the business evolved and moved to the vacant Montgomery Ward building, with more space came an expanded inventory to cover a wider range of needs. Present inventory covers hunting,fishing,athletic apparel,ATVs,motorcycles, lawnmowers and generators to name a few catergories. Gary said he enjoys mainly bird hunting( ducks,geese,and pheasant). There are enough of his friends that take larger game that he receives their extra to supply his table. Gary's son was mentored by his grandfather in the full range of outdoor experiences and shares the love of hunting the bigger game. I really enjoyed the family owned - hometown atmosphere that Gun & Reel Sports gives to those who enter their doors. It will be a place for me to stop again when I visit Jamestown. Stop by and take a tour through pictures, or maybe even onsite the next time you are passing through central North Dakota off Interstate 94.

Tripping to North Dakota

Time for a trip to North Dakota...We added a side event to our route to visit our daughter and her husband in Jamestown. Hubby wanted to visit a man in rural Barney who was building a couple of planes by a design/builder from Missouri named Bob Bosley. Hubby and Tex belong to a discussion forum that hooks people up to share current aircraft building projects. Those who belong gain knowledge from others who have built and may, or may not, make choices of what planes could be a part of the next project in the hangar. We ended up finding a very deep soft spot in Tex's drive as the frost is just coming out of the ground from the winter . The driver's side front wheel was lodged soundly in a hole...Tex was able to get us out with his bobcat. It could have happened here at home just as easily. Tex said in jest"Welcome to North Dakota." All of us broke out in a laugh. Sadie and I spent our time in the car which became a sauna due to the warmer temperatures that accompanied us northward. Although we weren't alone, we too ended up having a visitor. There was a BIG dog running around the farm, not knowing her temperment for sure we,Sadie and I stayed put. Eventually it was discovered that the BIG dog whose name was Piper(yes after a plane "Piper Cub")was a BIG teddybear. Definitely a sweet GreatDane-Mastiff mix. After Hubby spent some time with Tex getting aquainted and snapping some pictures we were back on the road again. There was a building I saw when we turned to go to Tex's place that caught my attention. Before we left the area I took a picture to keep it in the same condition forever in my memory. Today we don't see many one roomed schoolhouses still in this shape. In our west-northwest trek towards Jamestown we saw other one roomed buildings but not in the same condition as this one. You never know when there won't be anymore to mark the passing of our past generations and the community gatherings that happened there...

Good Morning World!

Good Morning World! The crisp air at sunrise gave the perfect setting for all the birds to erupt in song. What a perfect greeting for the day to begin! Later in the day hubby took advantage of some smooth air to get off the ground for a short hop around the patch before the sunset. Clouds had moved in to set the stage for future moisture. It has been a wonderful day with forays into the timber to see what flora is erupting with the warmer temperatures. Time lapse photography would have been fun today. The Mayapples are erupting swiftly from the ground. It won't be long until they are blooming,an indicator for us to be looking for the coveted Morel Mushroom. Gooseberry,Wild Raspberry, Honeysuckle and Multi-flora rosebrush are among the plants putting on new leaves preparing for fruiting blooms. The Wild Honeybees have been awake and buzzing for almost three weeks. They would invite themselves into the house when I opened the back door during some of the cold snaps. It didn't take them long to find there wasn't anything they needed andwould head back out the other direction. It wasn't very long ago there were cooler temps. I was wondering if it would ever end. True Spring has arrived at Timber Life and the hope to see new life begins anew. Hope things are improving in your neck of the woods too! ;)

Shed Hunting

The weather has been absolutely wonderful for Shed Hunting. I have spent portions of three days looking through the pastures and timber areas. Sadie accompanied me yesterday. Then she went with hubby and I to take a look around the southside of the property today. Our goal was to find a match to get a pair for #4. I found that particular shed sticking out from under pasture grass, bent from the winter snow,in the north pasture yesterday before noon. It looks like it has already gone through a whole year of weathering to me. Number 3 was the first shed I found yesterday in a very conspicuous location just feet from the fence line between the pasture and the infamous corn field of last Fall and Winter. Shed #2 was found in a totally different direction. Close to a fence line too...This time along the ravine south of the house. The chewed shed, #1 , was found last year, behind my big garden. I left it outside on the front deck for decoration. As you can see, the little creatures came to reclaim what they considered to be theirs. The squirrels came to file down their teeth. They were the only ones caught in the act of wittling, but the groundhog tracks left yet another clue to the ever shrinking antler. If it should be that I don't locate another antler this Spring I will be happy...The collection is starting to grow. ;)

Sadie Says - A Year Old and Counting

My goodness of all the days that have past since I started exploring the big old wide world. Yes, on March 18th, mom and dad gave me a little party to celebrate my 1st Birthday. Just to think it won't be until May 15th, that we will pass another milestone, a year since I made the trip from Madison,SD., to Central Iowa. Mom met Dorothy Sanborn from South Dakota's Countryside Kennels at the Sioux Falls, SD., Pilot to bring me home. Mom and I have had some growing pains, but we are getting to know each other real well. There is a very strong mutual admiration society happening here. A real plus is that I was house broken by the time I was 5 1/2 months old. Mom has heard it is hard to get a Springer Spaniel potty trained...not at my house it wasn't. I am a smart girl. My favorite new tricks are to twirl and roll-over,for a treat of course. Mom has started trusting me to run off my leash when we go into the timber. How very happy that has made me! We get to go together now. There are a couple of small creeks with water running, you should see the M-U-D up to my shoulders. Can't possibly avoid it don't you know?!? All I would like to say in closing is that this is turning out to be heaven in my book. Just a chance to live the Timber Life... ;)

Dancing with the Stars - Shawn Johnson

It is fun to see Miss Shawn Johnson, a fellow Iowan, and 2008 Olympic gymnastic medalist, sharing her bubbly 17 year old character with the world once again. When she smiles and laughs it is hard to keep a straight face. I wish her well in her new endeavour in Dancing with the Stars...

Surprise!

After the whole of last week without rain,or snow... The weekend arrived,giving us some honest to goodness thunder, and lightening starting off at 1:40 A.M. on Saturday. I sat down to the computer to do some blog reading around 11:30 A.M. today, it was just raining. I turned around at 11:55 A.M. to go into the kitchen, looking out the sliding glass door, I was Surprised that it gotten cold enough to allow snow to fall for a few hours. Tonight all the snow has gone, but while it lasted, the white, huge, heavy flakes filled the air with beauty as they rushed to cover the ground...;)

2009 Iowa Deer Classic

The trip to the Iowa Deer Classic this year came on the second day, March 7th. Hubby and I arrived around 10:00 A.M. to get our tickets and get down to the show floor to see what was available.
My check list this year included getting information on the Shadow Hunter elevated blinds. Given the opportunity that would be the brand I would invest my money on. The other things on my check list included a ground blind,a bow,some trail cameras, to checkout the deer heads and sheds. I wanted to see the antlers rated from 180-200. I didn't take the time to see every deer head there, but I did find one that was impressivly scored at 227 1/2. It was taken in a county just to the southeast of us. Hope some day his offspring will find it's way in our direction. The crowd developed while we were looking things over,to the point trying to move from place to place became a challenge. A good indicator of the interest of the huntresses and hunters in Iowa. ;)

Out and About

Wednesday turned out to be a positively delightful respite weather wise. Even the morning temperatures were warm enough only to need a sweatshirt on an outing to check out all the noise from Hendrickson Marsh three quarters of a mile away. Timber Life gained a different set of 4x4 wheels on January 24th, to help traverse the terrain . Sure do appreciate what a machine can do. ;) This year proved to be a challenge, even with a tractor to maintain our travel route. The diesel fuel, for the first time in 6 1/2 years of tractor ownership, had a problem providing sure performance, even with winter additives. We were not the only ones to fall victim to the evil malady of "gelling". It is just hard to tolerate when things are so awful cold and the tractor quits working a quarter of a mile from the nearest stationary plug-in. You would think with the piece of iron coming out of Russia it would start in all kinds of cold, but it isn't to be. It sat until a day got up to 25 and the portable generator turned over to get the block heated up so the oil would move. Encouragement comes now that we can see the end of the drifts that had us driving through the field to gain access to home from forays to the outside world. Things are looking a bit rutty still, but there are signs this week of warmer temperatures. Maybe some wind to give us some drying. Then the Belarus 572 can once again "Spring" into action to create a smoother ride...;)

2009 Iowa Deer Classic

Many of you have already had the chance to get together and share fantastic times at your state hunting exhibitions. Deer heads hanging from makeshift walls,shed antlers lining tables to be judged, put out there for all the other huntresses and hunters to gander at...Made to wonder what the other part of the animal might have looked like. Next weekend March 6th - 8th,at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. It is Iowa's turn to go check out the displays, attend seminars,and find out what new products they can't possibly experience the outdoors without. There seems to be a lot of good event deals on this and that to give us the edge when it comes to getting a wild animal to put on the dinner table. Last year was my first time to attend and I found it to be exciting to see people I had seen on television, or read about while searching Google for "Deer Hunting" and all that goes with it. Byron Ferguson Seminar

Altoona,IA Bass Pro Shop Updates

This picture I posted on July 18,2008, heralded in the public advertisement of the intent for the Bass Pro Shop chain to become an anchor store of the new Shoppes at Prairie Crossing Mall that is being developed at the corner of U.S. Highway 65 by-pass loop and Interstate 80. An article in The Des Moines Register on February 9, 2009, reported that the man behind the development, Mike Whalen, felt good about the progress that had been achieved during one of the coldest winters Iowa had experienced in the last seven years. Yesterday gave me the opportunity to check on the building myself. The picture to the left is the view presently seen from the U.S 65 by-pass as you travel to the on ramp to Interstate 80 East. Traveling further, another angle presented itself overlooking a water feature. I am sure it will be developed to add peace and serenity to what will be a very busy location. Familiar markers are seen in the picture to the left - the Bass Pro Shop sign, and the Altoona water tower, along with the east edge of the building. This building is impressive in size,3 1/2 football fields worth of merchandise will fill it when completed. Could take days to see it ALL. ;)

Hungry Deer

The deer have been populating open areas to feed. They are hungry and continue to search for food at all hours of the day now. Timber floors still being covered with layers of snow, takes the deer out where the sun has opened ground in the thawing spells of last weekend. These deer are only a sampling of what I saw and what has been seen. Notice all the young ones...that number continues to grow because of the capability of 6 month old does to conceive and become mothers. I continue to see a very small deer,which I assume was born at the end of last summer, running with the herd. Too much attention sent them off to look just over the fence for somewhere else to enjoy a nibble...

Iowa Youngster on the Hunt

In The Des Moines Sunday Register, out of Des Moines, IA. last weekend. This little 7 year old hunter's story from last April's season inspires all of us to keep trying... With the support of his family Andrew took his first turkey on the second day of the Iowa's 2008 Spring youth season. The weather was less than ideal, winds ranged between 30-40 miles per hour, mixed rain, sleet and snow . His dad said they had practiced for shots at 15 -20 yards,nothing over 30. However, if Andrew was to get a bird that day, before the two turkeys that came into view disappeared, Andrew would need to take a long shot of 41 yards. Andrew drew his Remington 870, positioned it in the shooting sticks as his dad called in the birds, his mom was catching the event on video. Success! He got a 20 pound gobbler with an 8-inch beard with 10 additional bristles that created another 2-inch beard. What a wonderful way to get a "First" turkey. In the presence of mom, dad, sister and brother, a family affair... ;)

January Projects

January was somewhat of a rough month for me weather wise. Oh yes...I am not alone in this, not at all! However, I decided that I would work on things I could see change from time to time. I went to the Michael's Arts and Crafts store after Christmas and found some good deals on pound skeins of yarn. One skein down...two to go. Looking online for patterns I keep finding and saving things I want to do, but that would mean another trip to the store. Some day I will take my list if I can find another good sale. My favorite way to shop and find exactly what I am looking for is online.

These scarves were made for a specific person. The same person I made this Christmas scarf for.I have found a way to keep occupied on top of keeping Sadie happy and working on my schoolwork. What are you doing on top of your responsibilities to help chase the winter blues away? ;)

Survival Aides

There are times in our lives when we wish we had ways of hearing the news,or possibly break the monotony with a little music. They would certainly come in handy in the areas struck by the ice storm last week. Having gone through an ice storm ourselves a couple of years ago... We know how important having a distraction to the constant quiet can be. News of the outside. Oh yes! They would be great to add to the kit for the car if you should have to travel long distances. No matter what time of year. Today, I will be telling you about two emergency devices produced by a company called Emergency Essentials. Hubby and I received them from a friend for Christmas. Both independent of batteries that need to be changed,no need for a direct electrical connection. Nothing more than a way to crank the crank is necessary to power either the solar radio, or the emergency flashlight. Just 5 hours of full sunlight will provide 30 minutes of listening time. However, if you are able to fully charge the NiMH battery,which takes 35 to 40 hours,listening time increases to 7 hours. Another attribute for energy production in case the sun isn't available is the hand crank.Cranking for one minute will power the battery for 20 minutes or more of continuous radio play. An additional positive characteristic for this little radio is it's capability to pickup AM/FM and Weather band stations. We haven't taken it out of the house yet,but were impressed after taking it out of the wrapping. Maybe even a little extra light on the subject wouldn't be a bad idea either. As you can see we haven't tried the flashlight as of this date. Better get it out of the package before we need it. I am always looking for ways to have some normalcy when things are in survival mode. One of my thoughts presently is "How will extreme cold effect performance?" Do any of you have experiences with these products or others similar to them? ;)

Inauguration Day Blessing

It is You - by the Newsboys

As we lift up our hands Will you meet us here? As we call on your name Will you meet us here? We have come to this place To worship you God of mercy and grace It is you We adore It is you Praises are for Only you The heaven's declare It is you It is you Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone It is you We adore It is you Only you As we lift up our hands Will you meet us here? As we call on your name Will you meet us here? We have come to this place To worship you God of mercy and grace It is you We adore It is you Praises are for Only you The heaven's declare It is you It is you Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone As we lift up our hands As we call on your name Will you visit this place By your mercy and grace As we lift up our hands As we call on your name Will you visit this place By your mercy and grace It is you We adore It is you It is you Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone Holy, holy is our God Almighty Holy, holy is his name alone It is you We adore It is you Only you I would like to honor God for giving us another Inauguration Day. Another day in a Free America which we must continue to guard - not take for granted. Be on guard that this freedom may be taken from us within our own borders... The thought comes you will see me as an alarmist. What I will say is that things happen, because we sweep little changes under the rug, and then when they all add up it is too late. The rug rises to encircle and smother. We may not agree on the direction our Country is going,but for this day let us join with others in lifting our hands to our hearts. Pledge allegiance to this great nation and the leaders we are placing in office to stand as a mind United.

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