Partial Eclipse of the Sun

Last night Hubby and I pulled out our lawn chairs to become witnesses to the partial eclipse visible to us here in central Iowa. The moon moved over 2/3 of the sun starting at 7:23pm and we stopped watching at 8:17pm, when the sun went out of clear viewing below the horizon.

We had forgotten to look for the UV filter to go on the camera earlier, so Hubby figured out an alternative solution. He wears glasses and uses non-prescription clip-ons. Well, in a pinch they made for a good camera filter.

The suggested method for safely viewing the eclipse - poking a hole in a piece of cardboard, and focusing on another, was the first used since the sun was still too bright to look at directly.

Miss Kitty made herself right at home when we brought out the lawn chairs taking over my place. Sadie sat for a little while until her nose took over and scents were there to be explored.

Good News! We get to do this again in two years...

Northeast Iowa Bear Sighting 2012

This past week, Tuesday, May 15th, Northeast Iowa, specifically Ridgeway ,11 miles east of Decorah, found themselves hosts to another uncommon sight.

You ask what sight that might be??? Well,it happens to be another Black Bear sighting.

Picture owned by: Terry Hovden       Black Bear leaving  Ridgeway, IA

In the last three years Iowa seems to be witnessing an increase in transient Black Bear visits. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources have stated that verified statistics list 30 Black Bear visits since the 1960's,or should we be increasing that number?

Another bear was seen wandering north of West Union early Friday morning, it was believed to be the same bear first seen at Rideway earlier in the week.

Later Friday, after the Fayette County Sheriff's department searched the area, they located the bear not far from the North Fayette County High School. The officials locked down the school until the Law Enforcement people escorted the bear to a wooded area northwest of town.

The warning remains to Northeast Iowa citizens by the Iowa DNR - if you should see a bear leave them alone and they will usually exit the area without incident...

Alcoa Eagle Cam - Davenport,IA

The Alcoa Company in Davenport,IA, is helping the to promote a safe environment for our a nesting couple of our national birds, south of the more familiar Decorah Eagle cam. 

In finding out more about the second Eagle couple they have been nesting together at the Alcoa plant for the last three years, but have only become nest cam stars in the last two. 

The Company is asking public assistance to name the three eaglets for this season...joining their parents Liberty and Justice. 

Stop over to watch the little eaglets too and add your suggestion for names...

Burial of the Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew

In the ninth hour Jesus yielded up the ghost. The evening was approaching, the Jewish Sabbath was about to begin...

La Via Dolorosa

Mark Chapter 15: 16 - 21 (King James Version)

16. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium: and they call together the whole band.
17. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head.
18. And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
19. And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshiped him.
20. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
21. And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian,who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander Rufus, to bear his cross...



Sandi Patti - La Via Dolorosa - The Passion of the Christ

Mark 15: 25-26, 33-39

25. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
26. And the subscription of his accusations was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
33. And when the sixth hour was come, there was a darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35. And some of them stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
36. And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
37. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
39. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

In remebrance of my Christian heritage I want to share with you the events of the Lord's death, burial and Resurrection....


To be continued...

Tulips Arrive 1 Month Early In Pella - Video - KCCI Des Moines

Pella. Iowa will be experiencing their tulips a month earlier than usual. Pella Tulip Time scheduled for May 3rd - 5th will have a different perspective...Even though the blooms will probably be faded by then, you can still count on lots of Dutch heritage activities to keep you busy.


Tulips Arrive 1 Month Early In Pella - Video - KCCI Des Moines

Earl Wagner - Sprint Car Racer

While out exploring in a little Iowa town recently. I came across a mural painted on the side of a main-street building, just across the alley from the United States Post Office.

After seeing the mural in passing on another occasion this was the day I got the chance for a closer examination.

                A tribute to a  local legendary individual in Midwest car racing named Earl Wagner

Significant Career Accomplishments from 1958 - 1973

 

A beautiful tribute to Earl from the community where he was a longtime resident and public servant...

My Favorite Coffee Bean Provider

Smokey Row Coffee Company

 Last Saturday, I was out and about in the South Central part of Iowa, Pleasantville to be more specific.

Having some time to fill before attending a family Bridal Shower, I drove around town looking for a few things to capture on camera.

Ah,yes! And to stop by a coffee shop  for which I had become familiar through a retail grocery store in Des Moines, and then online. 

I like grinding my own beans fresh every morning, mid-morning, and um yes...just after noon. You could call me a caffeine junky.

I am not into the sweet coffee mixtures,except maybe a splash of cream, and some stevia occasionally - brew it for me mild roast, please!

My Preferences at the Moment
 

From left to right: Peace Organic Blend, Ethiopia Yergacheffe, Organic Green Truck and Tanzania.

There is one other I have used, but need to wait to bring it back into the cupboard. It is also another organic blend called "Blue Truck".

So, if you enjoy trying new coffee, stop by the shop, or visit them online.


This is simply my take on a product I enjoy...

Afternoon Timber Walk

Today turned out to be another beautiful day! Extremely windy, but temperature wise we had another absolutely gorgeous day!!!

This morning I removed the memory card from my trail camera to check the activity and  took some pictures on my other camera before reaching the trail camera.So I ended up bringing both cards home before lunch to transfer pictures to the computer.

This afternoon before the day got totally gone I headed back to get the memory card situated in the trail camera for the night.

Thinking back to a couple of my trips last week I saw turkeys in fields to the south and got some distance shots - might decide to share them later. It probably would be a good idea for me to put more time in between visits to pick-up the memory card. Too much traffic might be causing the turkeys to seek more privacy elsewhere, because I haven't seen them for a few days. All is quiet where they are concerned.

Trout Lily

Last week I saw the mottled leaves for the White Trout Lily erupting out of the ground and remembered a post by Casey Harn at Wandering Owl Outside. He has moved over to The Countryside Round now...still enjoy his posts when he has time to publish.

Turkey Vulture

The Turkey Vultures came back a couple of weeks ago. I told you I would keep you informed of their return, they seem to be one of indicators that the weather should remain good.

I didn't have my camera in hand this morning, or I would have had a picture of one riding low on a thermal over the house.

Last year I had some good photo ops with one that I will post some time in the future.

On my walk this afternoon I caught an extremely sweet scent wafting on the stiff winds - I would prefer the poetic lilt of gentle breezes, but that wouldn't describe the West winds at 18 gusting to 26.

The trees have been rocking all day - The Ides of March?

Timber Violet

Antler Shed

Kneeling on a deer trail to get pictures of the two White Trout Lillies, I wasn't concentrating on anything else. Sadie came up beside me, that is when I looked to my right. Another shed! Wouldn't you just know it, after I had quit looking for them. This one is really a victim of chewing.

I brought it back to the house to see if it matched anything I already had in my inventory. No, it doesn't seem to correspond to those already in my possession...

The trail camera should prove a valuable tool this summer. Maybe, I will get to see the owners of the sheds left behind.

Virginia Bluebell

All the flowers in bloom now are leading up to another yearly event, that of morel mushroom hunting. The only flower yet to open up is the Mayapple. I am told that is another flower that helps indicate the right conditions for the search to begin.

We need more rain to get the mushrooms to pop. The heat is already here...