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)

---

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! ;)

Timber Life Valentines

The  promise of more winter weather on Sunday the 14th, led Hubby and me to go shopping Friday evening after he got off work to prepare for our Valentine's celebration at home. Hubby and I had some ideas of what would be on the menu...so we headed to the fresh meat/seafood counter at our local store.


Timber Life Valentines Menu
                                 Salad splashed with Raspberry Vinaigrette
                                 New York Strip Steak
                                 Scallops (a la famous Boston Restaurant recipe)
                                 Mashed Potatoes with bacon and cheddar
                                 Mississippi Mud Pie Cheesecake

Hubby took over as Chef and everything was grilled, baked, and microwaved in time to catch the start of the Daytona 500. Go Bass Pro Shops Jamie McMurray !

Viewing the movie "Amelia" helped to fill in  time while we waited for the Daytona 500  track repair to cure and get the cars back onto the track.

Ah yes...I can't forget to share what Hubby brought  me this Happy Valentines Day. Recently, we acquired the Wii gaming system so we are starting to add accessories. Hubby and I took turns at being rookie game hunters. It is going to be interesting on how to get the response of the gun to mirror the response of the user better. Yes, probably needs some tweaking of the components. Sure is going to be fun working out the bugs.

OH! I can't forget the basket of sweet treats. Thanks to Hubby I have been supplied  with one of my favorite candies. I like cinnamon....HOT cinnamon. This little conveyor of sweet treats is sitting in a basketful of "Atomic Fireballs", not sure how long it will take me to munch my way through, but it should be well into the next year.

I thought is would be nice if Hubby could go flying at his Aero Club this year since he likes to get his feet off the ground whenever possible. So, the suggestion for him to go ahead and pay his full year of dues was met with a smile.

The snow stopping and the sun shining for a time made for a pleasant end
to the day.

Hope you all got a chance to celebrate with your special
person....;)

Birthday Wishes for a Blog Friend

Today, I want to send special Birthday Wishes to a Blog Friend, Marian Love Phillips, known to many of us from over at Marian's Hunting Stories, etc., etc., etc.

In the picture above she was posing with the car I won in a give-away over at the Deer Camp Blog last July.

My wish for her today is to Celebrate many more years in the great outdoors .... a Dixie Lady Hunter.

Slipping and Sliding

Yesterday brought another round of Mother Nature's whims through the heartland.

The buildup of ice came before Hubby was to leave for work and his foray to the end of the drive reinforced what officials were saying about "Travel not recommended".

Momentary electrical hic-cups occurred through the day...As 6:00 P.M. arrived evening news viewing and computer use came to a halt. The dreaded" no electricity" came to be a fact. We are fortunate,our electrical outage was relatively short compared to others in the state that lost power early in the morning and as of this writing not aware of when it will be restored for them.

We pulled out the candles and the little crank handled radio received as a gift a year ago Christmas. It provided some music to accompany my reading and Hubby's drawing of a new concept plane he hopes to build at some point in the future.


The house was beginning to chill around 9:30 so we decided it was time to head to bed to stay warm under the additional pile of blankets. I was roused as Hubby got up to turn off  the lights and TV in the living room at 10:30. Electricity had come flowing back into the house to make the surroundings comfortable once again .

As we plan for the future in our new home we know what will be included to keep events like this from being a concern...;)

Snow Blast from the Past

I am having a great time going through old family photos.These two have brought to mind how we still haven't overcome the wiles of "Old Man" Winter. The pictures don't have a clear indication of what year they were taken but from some of the others that seem to be from the same time period,1929 - 1930, looks about right.The pictures were taken in the very Southern part of Southwest Iowa, or Northern part of Northwest Missouri along the border of the states.

The work looks to be a bit laborious even with the machine in the background.

We think we have it bad sometimes with high drifts blocking the country roads in our day and age. The only difference in the method is a higher powered, sleeker road grader,a county truck, maybe even a neighboring Farmer with a snow blower attached to his tractor to get things moved aside. Can't imagine guys getting out with scoops...

The work has been completed and the side walls certainly do make the man in the picture look small.Sure looks like some great 4X4 terrain if you ask me... ;)

How Smart Is Your Right Foot

Okay folks! Are you tired of this winter weather yet? Need something to occupy your time? Got this little activity you might try if time at the computer has you wanting a change of pace.

HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?

You have to try this please, it takes 2 seconds. I could not believe this! It is from an orthopedic surgeon............ This will confuse your mind and you will keep trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It is preprogrammed in your brain!

1. While sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

 

So,  how did you do with control over your foot? ; )

Mason Loftus Timber Life Hunting Story

Mason Loftus, the Bow Hunter who was able to bring a nice doe out of the Timber Life timber sent me his story recently. Following is the story of his hunt on November 15th. 

I got into my stand that day at about 2 p.m. and it was a beautiful fall day.  There was a northeast wind that day, so I didn't expect to see much because the area that the deer bed was directly down wind.  But, after about an hour or so I started seeing some movement up wind of me.  The first deer that came over the hill was a small 4 point buck.  He acted like he was nervous of something, but it took me a few minutes to figure out what it was.  Shortly after that, a few does came from the same direction with a beautiful tall racked 10 pointer chasing them.  At first I thought the deer was a shooter, but after a few minutes of watching him I decided he needed one more year to really be a trophy.  He was a tough deer to pass on, but my hope is that he made it through the hunting seasons so I can get another chance at him when he is a year older, wiser, and bigger!  Well, he turned out to be a very fun deer to watch.  He was herding those does around like he was a trained cattle dog.  Eventually he ran the largest doe about 15 yards from my stand, and I decided it was time to fill the freezer.  I made a great shot and she only ran about 50 yards from my stand and expired.  Even though I knew where she was, I went back and got my dogs so they could practice following the blood trail.  It didn't take the dogs long and they were sitting by her side waiting for me to catch up with them. 

With the seasons winding down here and the weather being extremely cold it will be next Fall before the bowhunter will be back to sit in his stand. Again Congratulations to Mason! ;)

Way to Go Orange Bowl Champs Iowa Hawkeyes!

Congratulations to the Kirk Ferentz and his University of Iowa football team the Hawkeyes!




Highlights of the 2009-2010 Hawkeye Football Season

If you caught the Orange Bowl last night you witnessed another bowl win for the Hawkeyes. Last night they were the 10 point winners over Georgia Tech. Final score 24 -14... ;)

Flickr Fun

Flickr has been a fun place for me to put up some pictures that I want to share with others.

In December I was notified that the Nashville Schmap group put my Bass Pro Shop picture on a short list to
be considered for publication in their 10th edition.

Today, I received confirmation that they have used it. A very nice start to the New Year...

I will only be receiving exposure for my pictures, but I am thankful ...

Below is the  e-mail  I got today announcing my good fortune.

You've been sent a Flickr Mail from Emma J. Williams:

------------------------------------------------------------

:: Schmap Nashville Tenth Edition: Photo Inclusion


I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo
has been selected for inclusion in the newly released tenth
edition of our Schmap Nashville Guide:

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
http://www.schmap.com/nashville/shopping_markets/p=348726/i=348726_2.jpg

If you use an iPhone or iPod touch, then this same link
will take you directly to your photo in the iPhone version
of our guide. On a desktop computer, you can still see
exactly how your photo is displayed and credited in the
iPhone version of our guide at:

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
http://www.schmap.com/?m=iphone#uid=nashville&sid=shopping_markets&p=348726&i=348726_2

Thanks so much for letting us include your photo - please
enjoy the guide!

Best regards,

Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides

P.S. If you're a Twitter user, please check out our latest
release, a tool for sharing events, places, and local
reviews on Twitter:
www.schmap.it

We also have two Twitter accounts for Nashville, well worth
following:

Twitter-trending Nashville restaurants and bars:
www.twitter.com/nashvillepicks

Live music, parties and more happening right now in
Nashville:
www.twitter.com/nashvillenow

------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: The published picture will not be contributing to my income . It is an avenue for future exposure. ;)

Merry Christmas to One and All

The day has arrived for all of us to step back from out hurried schedules to share with our family and friends, food, fellowship and gifts from the heart.

I wish everyone safety during this holiday season with the weather that has been blanketing the country. A good time to snuggle in at home if you don't have to be out on the highways.

From us at Timber Life to all of you a  Blessed Merry CHRISTmas... ;)

Bowhunter's Success at Timber Life

This year the property owners of the area adjacent to Timber Life have made an alliance in an attempt to take control of outsiders hunting without permission.


Before bowhunting started we  granted permission to a young man named Mason Loftus, referred to us by a mutual friend ; he also has a working relationship with a neighbor to the East. Mason placed a stand for the Deer Bowhunting season in a secluded part of the timber where a couple of properties are within view of a common fenceline.


Sunday, November 15th ,Mason gave us a call to let us know he was going to be coming out , a request we made when we agreed to let him hunt. It helps us to know who will be where and when.


In the late afternoon Mason came to the house to show us what he shot to fill his doe tag. Before it gets to be ancient news I wanted to  Congratulate him on his harvest. We are hoping that he will return to fill his buck tag come the next Bow Season.... I am hoping he will write his own account of his experiences to post here in the future. ;)

Noah Biorkman Update

I would like to thank all of you who added a Christmas Card for Noah... The concerted effort brought  a million cards to Noah's family within a short amount of time.


Sadly, not long after the outpouring of  generosity of the readers on the World Wide Web, little Noah Biorkman was taken to heaven. God took his child to be with him on November 23,2009.


Now that Noah is gone, his parents have requested bloggers and Facebook posters to ask that the cards and gifts stop. They appreciated the effort to make his requesr a reality .


If you would still like to honor Noah, his mother has asked  that you direct your memorials to the hospital and charity that worked to care for Noah's medical and social needs in his days as a patient.


Please send donations to the following:


Department of Pediatrics and Oncology
University of Michigan
1500 East Medical Center Drive
D4202MPB
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5718
Checks payable to: The University of Michigan – Noah’s Pediatric Oncology Fund




OR


Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan
230 Huron View Blvd.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Checks payable to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan – Memo: Noah Biorkman

Dancing Eagles

Saturday brought some nice temperatures for spending time outside in the last days of November.

We have been gifted with seeing Bald Eagles using our vicinity as a feeding area for the last 17 years. Sightings are becoming more numerous and we have come to believe they may have set-up a nesting site not far away.

Friday morning I caught a single raptor sitting in a cottonwood after seeing two adults at tree top level on several occassions, as Hubby & me continue working on our Timber Life Lodge.

It never loses its AWE power when we see a creature God speaks of in his scripture. One of my favorties -

Isaiah 40:31. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint....

We listened and watched for the sounds and sighting of the eagles that had shown themselves the last little while. First seeing one, then another,eventually we saw 2 adults and two immature younsters darting and circling together enjoying the warm thermals above.

The adult to the right, left the dance earlier than the others to seek new territory to enjoy while the daylight still allowed for exploration....

Climate Change Development

It has been brought to my attention that a break in the untruths of the "Climate Change" theory have been exposed.


We all have opinions about the facts that were more or less being pushed forward as truth. However, all we needed to do is go outside in our seasons to know what they were trying to convince us as being global warming was bogus.


This video reveals some information that has yet to be completely sorted through but could be earth shaking if what is being insinuated remains true. That only a handful of scientists were manipulating environmental data to form false results and the world was going to be taxed to fulfill an agenda.



Questions at this early date that I have -

1.Will we still be passing the Cap and Trade bill in Congress?

2.Will our energy costs still skyrocket ?

3.Will our environmentalists allow more domestic oil to be pumped so we

   can become less dependent on foreign oil?

.All I know is that through the ages the earth passes through warm and cool  cycles ,as recorded by the earth istself in it's geological structures....Why would we think that would change? 

Ah, a lot of questions which only time will reveal what the next developments could be... ;)

Thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving is around the corner and as a woman who takes responsibilty for trying to make sure the holiday doesn't go by without the family having Turkey I bought one at the store.

Fall Wild Turkey season started here in Iowa on October 12th. I haven't bought a license,but have put some turkeys to flight when I interupted their soybean field dining experiences when driving into the otherside of our property. They get startled and take flight into the trees or run and hide in the high weeds.

Those old birds always find their way to the properties around us once the crops are out of the field  until after the season passes. My only draw back is that I limit myself to a "landowners tag"...It never fails, a few days after  Shotgun Deer starts and Turkey season ends they come back to wander the ravine just south of my house.

Not to worry though - this year as in the past my hunting mentor Merlin Klaas came through with a good looking  turkey for our holiday. He saw him feeding on some turnips planted in a food plot  to the East of our timber , getting his shotgun it only took one shot before the longbeard took an unexpected ride to my house.

The Tom had a beard measuring eleven inches and dressed out at 12 lbs.

It is my understanding that some people just use the breast meat, but here at Timber Life we consume the legs and edible organ meat as well. I have learned to cook the turkey in about an inch of chicken broth in the bottom of a covered pan, in a slow oven of 325 degrees. Checking frequently to see if the meat needs basted.

Grandchildren  Nick, and Alexa came to visit me that Friday,when their High School football team went to the State play-offs, so they got to witness the bird being cleaned. While Merlin was processing the bird I asked Nick when were we going to eat it. His answer was "for  Thanksgiving."

Nothing like having a Wild Turkey to serve up and thank God for the bounty he has set forth in nature.....;)

Christmas Cards for Noah Biorkman

This time of year brings us to Celebrations that bring joy and happiness when we share it with family. I would like to be apart of helping this little boy in getting one last wish...

In my travels on the internet a story of a 5 year old boy has come to my attention. His name is Noah Biorkman, he lives in Michigan. The last 2 1/2 years he has been treated for a cancer called neuroblastoma which his family now believes may take him before Christmas this year.




A request by Noah's family has gone out far and wide...One last request Noah has made is to receive bunches of Christmas cards for what could be his last celebration.

This weekend his family will be sharing Christmas with him because his illness may not allow him to be here later.

If you would like to join in helping give Noah a lot of cards here is an updated address.

Noah Biorkman
C/O Scott Biorkman
3840 Petroskey Way
Milford,MI 48380

Eureka LadyBug Sleeping Bag

In June I entered a drawing over at The Hunter's Wife.

Jody at The Hunter's Wife was sponsored by The Eureka Camping Tent Co. for the drawing, to celebrate the National Great Outdoors Month, and The Great American Backyard Campout.

I  had the opportunity to use the little sleeping bag this summer when my granddaughters came to spend the night on two different occassions.

Pictured above is oldest granddaughter in July  - she had a favorable opinion of the little Eureka Ladybug sleeping bag. She started out on the couch snuggled in the sleeping bag with her favorite blankie and stuffed animal, eventually ending up on the floor,still snuggled in the sleeping bag. When she woke up she said that she  found it comfy - cushy.

Youngest granddaughter came in August,she didn't spend all night in the sleeping bag. Changing her sleeping location from one room to another without Grandma knowing, leaving the sleeping bag in the original spot. So, to this point  she doesn't have a review to share.

Once again I would like to thank Jody and the Eureka Camping Tent Co. for having the drawing and providing a fantastic product. ;)

Disclaimer: In accordance with a new law being implemented soon, I would like to let it be known that in no way am I receiving financial reward for sharing my opinion or to use the product.

Hello All

I just wanted to drop by and let you all know that I haven't forgotten about you...

There are a lot of blogpost ideas that haven't gotten put to paper . Who knows they may not see the end of a pencil, or the screen of a computer.

My focus seems to be trying to knit neck scarves for my Grandkids, and to do what I can to get our new home enclosed before the snow starts to fly.




We started moving dirt for our home on July 20th

Hubby and I have  made great strides in our work towards the goal. We were able to get the first round of plywood put up in a couple days this past weekend. He tacked it on and I went back later and nailed it down.

We had help one Saturday from a friend of Hubby's a couple weeks ago and when we couldn't get the southwest section of wall raised by ourselves we called our son for five minutes to help. Otherwise after we got the dirtwork leveled everything that has been done has been accomplished by the Timber Life construction crew.

The house is going to be earth bermed when we are all done. Drainage tubes, pea gravel, dimple board to protect the surfaces that will be underground and then fill dirt to top it off.




We are working to get it enclosed before the weather takes a serious turn towards winter.

The projected occupation date will be by April 2010...Things may not all be finished but it will be far enough along to provide a place to sleep, cook and do dishes.

When we began working on our building plan I was concerned with good spots for Christmas Tree locations and I found several...As Christmas draws closer I will share them with you.

I'm glad to get to stop by and let you know what has been happening here in the backcountry of Iowa at Timber Life.;)

My Bass Pro Shops Gift Card Choices

The other day I spoke of my Hubby's decision to entertain my interest in gaining some "Stuff" for my outdoor activities. He gave me a very nice birthday card with a magnificent Whitetail Buck on the front. (who knows maybe the only one I will get up close and personal with this year...) In addition, a gift card to a positively huge sportsmans supply store just down the road about a half an hour.


I want to share the "Stuff" purchased with my gift card this time around. There were so many things I wanted, so I prioritized a list. The Thermacell had been recommended to me by Arthur,at Simply Outdoors,over a year ago when I talked about being attacked by mosquitoes everytime I walk outside in the summer. SimplyOutdoors said...

I've never berry hunted before, but sounds like a good time. You should try a thermacell to keep those mosquitos away. They even make a cool pouch so you can carry it along with you.

June 26, 2008 10:12 AM

I'll be giving the portable mosquito fogger a workout next summer for sure, but with the temps still being pretty warm it might get to work sooner.

As you can see I bought a Knight & Hale
Soft Grunter, a new tool in my arsenal to get the bucks to come closer.

It wasn't long after I got home I had the call out giving it a try to see what kind of sound it would make. I am going to have to listen to some expert callers to see what pattern of calling they use under what circumstances.

The only thing we didn't  do  this time was eat at  Uncle Buck's Fishbowl and Grill. We checked to see how long the wait would be...When we found out it would be an hour and a half until we were seated, it was a joint decision to seek an alternate eating establishment on this occassion. The next time we know we should put our names on the seating list before we begin shopping, to get everything accomplished while we are there.

Other excursions are planned so we can capitalize on all the offerrings made by our local Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World... ;)

Birthday Celebration

The clock reads 6:32 A.M., the calendar says September 21,2009, that makes me 52 years 37 minutes old... Friday, when Hubby and I were working on assembling a section of wall for our house/lodge, I played "100 Questions" to see if I could narrow down what he had planned for my birthday celebration. I asked about three different scenarios...A visit to Bass Pro Shops in Altoona was among them. Silly man ! He always gives himself away when I guess what he has planned. He gets a grin on his face, can't look me straight in the eye, and this time he turned his back to me to hide any further facial expression confirmations. He wouldn't verbally say at that point which one since he still wanted it to be a surprise. His comment when he turned away was that I hadn't been wrong about one of the guesses. Bass Pro Shops got the biggest reaction... ;) After 34 years of marriage you get to know how the other person thinks even if they don't think they are that transparent. Late Sunday afternoon I made my second visit to the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. This time I got into the picture to record my visit. I kind of blend into the surroundings because of my apparel color choices.

Congratulations Sara and Brian!

Saturday, August 29th,2009, turned out to be what you would call "A picture perfect day in Central Iowa". After what seemed a whirlwind courtship,click here to read about the two young people who decided it was time for them to make a life long committment before God, family and friends. Fellow Blogger, my niece Sara Butcher, of Warrior Princess Dream followed her heart down the aisle at the Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp Chapel, Story City,IA. Where Brian, her husband had been an employee of the camp in a multi-tasking position. It was a very peaceful and welcoming setting for the beginning of the next phase of their life together.

I would like to present Mr. Brian and Sara Burrier and wish them many years of wedded happiness. Congratulations!.. ;)

My Deer Food Plots are Growing

At the Iowa Deer Classic 2008,I had the opportunity to visit with representatives of several companies that provide their own seed blends for us to plant to provide increased nutrition for the deer we hunt. The company I chose is WHITETAIL INSTITUTE , because they provided small seed packets that plant 10'x 10' plots. In my need to know, I wanted to see what blend the deer in my neighborhood would show the most interest in eating. I have planted 6 of 7 packets I received. Last summer I staked out my plots and used my brushcutter/weedwhacker to keep the surface clean of weeds and grass. This summer I was able to get the ground tilled, fertilizer and lime added. The plots sat for several months so I could follow the suggested Fall planting schedule since I missed the Spring deadlines. I applied a quick lime since I didn't have a full season to let the regular lime sit and become an active ingredient immediately to make a difference in the health of the crop. The NO PLOW packet is the last one I have left to do...I am working on an area right off the yard, south of the new house we are building. I want to be able to watch the deer from the kitchen sink, patio, family and utility rooms. I plan to spend a lot of time in the family room in the winter since that is where the fireplace will be...NO television, but sitting arrangements strategically placed for enjoying the views,reading, or knitting. When I cultivated my present little plots, I didn't take into account the lack of windows I will have facing in that direction. Now,I will need to get my trail cameras working to catch whatever deer traffic passes by these little tasty treats. Pondering my dilemma, I mentioned it to hubby, and he said we could plant a big deer plot in the pasture to the West of our house if I wanted to next year. It was definitely a surprise to me! A much welcomed chance to see what kind of animals we have wandering the timber through the summer... ;) Next Post : Deer Plot Progress

Media Tour of New Bass Pro Shop in Altoona, IA

  The Channel 13 News in Des Moines,IA has opened up the Bass Pro Shop in Altoona, IA to it's viewers. Yes, they mentioned it was a media tour and everyone else would have to wait...Oh well. The Grand Opening for the new store will be in three weeks, a date already scratched off on my calendar. The time I have waited to go checkout the hunter's paradise will soon be rewarded. Another post will be forthcoming when I finally step foot in the huge retail outlet.

Multi-generational Whitetailed Doe Home Range

Recently, I queried a question to my blog readers to see if they may have seen a behavior that I have observed here . That of the returning year after year of a whitetailed doe to the same place to birth and raise her fawns. It took a little phrase manipulation in my GOOGLE searches to find exactly what I needed. Using the phrase "Whitetailed Doe Matriarchal Home Range" brought me to the pages that seemed to read my mind and provide the answers I sought. One site in particular that I came across gave a twenty year time-line. Researchers Michael E. Nelson and L. David Mech of the Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 - 37th St. SE, Jamestown, ND 58401-7317, U.S.A., provided in-depth generational dispersions. Table of Contents Introduction Methods Results Capture and Demography Home-range Dynamics Matriarch (M112) Daughter (D106) Granddaughters (G6381 and G6996) Great-Granddaughters (GG6974 and GG7000) Summer Range Relationships Table 1 -- Location data for six deer from the Gabbro Lake matriline. Discussion Acknowledgments References Figures Fig. 1 -- Genetic relationships, ages and years of first capture and end of radio-tracking interval for a 20-year white-tailed deer matriline. Fig. 2 -- Locations of M112 during March-November 1977 and D106 during April-June 1976. Fig. 3 -- Locations of M112 and D106 during April-November 1979. Fig. 4 -- Locations of D106, G6381, and GG6974 during (A) April-May; and (B) June-August 1988. Fig. 5 -- Locations of G6996 and GG7000 in April-August 1988. Fig. 6 -- Locations of G6996 and GG7000 in April-October 1990. If you happen to be interested in knowing the home-range tendencies of the whitetail doe, clicking on the whitetailed doe link will open up the documented findings of Researchers Michael E. Nelson and L. David Mech at the United States Geological Survey website. I found at that point going down to the links in the lower left corner right under the discussion article would get you back to the research. Another link I tried to provide has not been recently updated so it isn't available to get you directly to each segement. In my opinion to use a coined phrase "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" would absolutely fit the behaviors of the does. They may move a little further out with each generation. However, matriarchal bloodlines are still found within a defined area. As I reflect on the information it supports my own observations. Certainly I won't be going out and putting tracking collars on the does, or getting blood samples to verify relationships but I could get some pictures from year to year. The question has been adequately answered in my estimation and will go on from now into eternity...;)

Where to Live After Retirement

Yesterday, I received these little comical observations about the best places to live after you retire in an e-mail. Take a look and see what you think...do they fit? You can live in Phoenix , Arizona where..... 1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade. 2. You've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl. 3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town. 4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food. 5. You know that 'dry heat' is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door. 6. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??! You can Live in California where... 1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house. 2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway. 3. You know how to eat an artichoke. 4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party. 5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is. 6. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud, and Drought. You can Live in New York City where... 1. You say 'the city' and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan 2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map. 3. You think Central Park is 'nature,' 4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual. 5. You've worn out a car horn. 6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression. You can Live in Maine where... 1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco 2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas. 3. You have more than one recipe for moose. 4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons. 5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction. You can Live in the Deep South where... 1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store. 2. 'y'all' is singular and 'all y'all' is plural. 3. 'He needed killin'' is a valid defense. 4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Sue, Betty Jean, etc. You can live in Colorado where... 1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car. 2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and he stops at the day care center. 3. A pass does not involve a football or dating. 4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail. You can live in the Midwest where... 1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name. 2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor. 3. You have had to switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' on the same day. 4. You end sentences with a preposition: 'Where's my coat at?' 5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, 'It was different!' ( Goodness when I read this I thought, "They got it right!" ;) ) OR You can live in Florida where.. 1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon. 2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars. 3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist. 4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state. 5. Cars in front of you are often driven by headless people Have some fun already! Good day all!!! ;)

I'm a Lucky Winner!

Rex and the Crew at the famous Christmas Place Plantation Hunting Club , down in the Mississippi Delta,decided they would have a classic car give-away. The suspense was getting unbearable around here. Kept checking back to see who a lucky winner could possibly be over at Deer Camp Blog . Then when I wasn't looking I got this e-mail from my friend Marian - "Did you know that you just won the first of a 5 car give-a-way on Rex's site? You go girl!" Hugs, Marian :) WooHoo!!! So off I go to see what gem I have now become a proud owner. Ah a 1951 Plymouth Cambridge, probably a power machine in its earlier days...nice car! I have always been partial to Chrysler products. lol Can't wait to see what the other four classic cars are to be given away. Good luck to you. Oh yeah Rex... Hubby says "Tell 'em not to send it FedEx".

Thanks to Rex at Christmas Place Plantation and Marian ("Vanna")of Marian's Hunting Stories etc., etc., etc...for the picture of my new set of wheels. I love it! ;)

May I suggest that you head over to the Deer Camp Blog for your chance at winning the next classic beauty...

Wonderful Wild Raspberries

It is time for all the natural crafters to be out surveying the countryside again!The season is upon us to be gathering another natural resource here in Iowa. Hubby isn't a great fan of these little drupes because of their small size and abundant seeds, but I sure do like them. Keeping things really simple, I put about a cupful in a bowl and eat them with a sprinkling of sugar. I might put a few on top of a pancake, or cereal for breakfast if the urge strikes. There has been some discussion about wild raspberries and blackberries on the 'Net due to the season. I would like to pass along how you can determine the difference between the two. The North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association says when asked - How do you tell the difference between a blackberry and black raspberry? The most obvious difference is that a black raspberry is hollow -- the core of the fruit stays on the plant when it is picked, while the core stays in a blackberry. Black raspberry fruit are also smaller, less shiny. and have a bluish waxy coating between the sections of the berry. I stopped by Wandering Owl Outside and found a recipe to use for our summertime berry pickings. The pictures make a totally scrumptious experience. While joining all the other berry pickers in finding some delectable treats I ran across a nest with 4-little eggs. The wild raspberry brambles make a fantastic fortress, but the mother Robin wasn't anywhere to be seen. A little wren had come to enjoy the space when I went to the house to get the camera . Only to flit away before the camera would focus. The timber is pleasantly filled with a multitude of birds sharing their happy songs as they feast on nature's bounty. A great way to spend time in the great outdoors being serenaded by the little tweeters. Here's wishin' you all the best of a berry....be sure to stop by Wandering Owl Outside for a recipe, so you too can be ready for a tasty treat. ;)

God Bless America

We have come to a another day of celebrating freedom in the history of our great nation, The United States of America... I find inspiration in the song of Lee Greenwood, a song that you are probably able to vocalize, because of how familiar it has become in our times of opposition in recent years. Today, I would like to send out to all citizens of this great country a wish for God to Bless America, keep us united in thought and deed, remaining a strong unified body, protecting what belongs to us - The Home of the Free and the Brave.....

Eureka!

Thanks to Jody at The Hunter's Wife, who ran a blog contest from June 10th - June 16th, I have received a Lady Bug sleeping bag produced for the Eureka Tent Co. to fit the little girl campers in our lives. The sleeping bag arrived from Johnson Outdoors ,Racine,WI. by FedEx on Tuesday last week...a very speedy delivery. Now it is time to plan an occasion to use it . I wish to extend many thanks to the sponsor. ;)