Iowa Deer Classic 2017 in the Rearview Mirror

Iowa State Capitol off I-235

Welcome to Des Moines,IA, home of the Iowa Cubs baseball team , Iowa Barnstormers Arena League Football and the Iowa Wild Amateur Hockey League!

Iowa Proud?!? You Bet!

My husband Corey and I  headed past the State Capitol towards the Iowa Events Center on Saturday, March 4th, to walk the aisles of

Hy-Vee Hall to become one of the many hundreds to experience the Iowa Deer Classic 2017.

We came in from the Eastside so we are now Westbound I-235 to get the right street heading to the main parking lot north of Veteran's Auditorium. Taking 3rd St. to end up at the right spot.

Veteran's Auditorium-Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center and Wells Fargo Arena straight ahead!  For those of you who don't have any history of visits to Iowa's biggest city

I know! Go this way and then that way...then you end up HERE!

Parked outside the Hy-Vee Hall's north entrance was the team bus for Driven with Pat & Nicole.

Later, I found their booth #1 and stopped to listen to the end of one of their seminars downstairs. So many good seminars to attend, I didn't get a chance to hear all that was said...

I was out to take pictures! And that I did! Thanks to these willing souls ...their passion being the Iowa Morel with a little bit of Buck tine decoration to make things interesting.

A few more months and we will be out hunting for morels. Another one of those natural treats that has us out and about in the great outdoors.

AH! Look! Nicky Boy Charters at booth #843. Set-up and ready to share what they can do to provide a vacation on the waters of  Lake Michigan.

I've just gotten a good start but my blogging time for today has come to and end. Spring temperatures are calling before the snow arrives this coming weekend. See you tomorrow!

Song Day Sunday - God's Not Dead

                                        

                                            Let love explode and bring the dead to life

                                            A love so bold

                                            To seek a revolution somehow

                                            Let love explode and bring the dead to life

                                            A love so bold

                                            To bring a revolution somehow

                                            Now I'm lost in Your freedom

                                            In this world I'll overcome

                                            My God's not dead

                                            He's surely alive

                                            He's living on the inside

                                            Roaring like a lion

                                            God's not dead

                                            He's surely alive

                                            He's living on the inside

                                            Roaring like a lion

                                            Roaring, He's roaring, He's roaring like a lion

                                            Let hope arise and make the darkness hide

                                            My faith is dead I need resurrection somehow

                                            Now I'm lost in Your freedom

                                            In this world I'll overcome

                                            My God's not dead

                                            He's surely alive

                                            He's living on the inside

                                            Roaring like a lion

                                            God's not dead

                                            He's surely alive

                                            He's living on the inside

                                            Roaring like a lion

                                            Roaring, He's…

When we depend totally on ourselves we fall short of how we should treat our fellow men and women... Witness of  what God has done in other people's lives can build our faith from day to day. Come share your faith with us today. 

We are Corey and Dianna Butcher if you haven't already met us. We attend Collins Christian Church in Collins,IA - would love to invite you to come shake our hand and say hello any Sunday, but today we are honored to be the Greeters before morning worship service. Come for a visit and stay awhile...

Just so you know...Sunday School starts at 9:00 and Church starts at 10:00.

Iowa Deer Classic 2017

In just a few days one of the best  Midwest Hunting Extravaganzas is about to take place. The dates are March 3rd-5th, 2017. Need I say more? It's time for the Iowa Deer Classic!

Young Buck still showing signs of late season Rutting Activity

Since it's been more than a few years I last wandered the aisles at Hy-Vee Hall, or sat through seminars, to take away information to make my experiences better. This year my husband Corey and I will be spending Saturday, March 4th, rambling through Hy-Vee Hall and taking in a few seminars.

If you are interested in Deer Hunting or  maybe just want to checkout what's new for those that do, this would be a great weekend to be apart of the crowd in Des Moines,IA at the Iowa Deer Classic. 

Maybe we'll see you there!

                        

       For your convenience to locate The  Iowa Deer Classic 2017

The Voisin 35 Rises Again

     I said "YES!" and "AMEN!" when I heard Corey, my hubby say we are going to put on a new skin and do some structural modifications on the Voisin 35 to get her air worthy once again. She has been sitting collecting dust since a mishap brought her to rest.
    We are taking stock of what it will take to make the rebuild progress easier and hope to get that early tear down stage started within the next month. Please take a look around  http://www.voisin35.com/Home.html for more information and check back here for updates too!

Song Day Sunday

                                                      

It's been  a couple of weeks since I published a Song Day Sunday...

I have been sitting working on thoughts and experiences that I am going through in my own life. Not for publication, but for what can be gleaned out of  those hours,days, weeks - whatever time frame  it takes to learn to exercise  a Faith that will lead me beyond my human condition.

Sometimes the answers I seek don't come immediately. I must wait on the Lord but in the time between my requests, and the time the answers become evident it can make me uneasy. The only reason that is true is because for some reason I have to make sure everything is running smoothly.

I continue to seek resting in the Lord because he has placed all things in subjection to the Believer...

  "We Believe"

In this time of desperation
When all we know is doubt and fear
There is only one foundation
We believe, we believe
In this broken generation
When all is dark, You help us see
There is only one salvation
We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection
And He's comin' back again, we believe

So, let our faith be more than anthems
Greater than the songs we sing
And in our weakness and temptations
We believe, we believe!

We believe in God the Father!
We believe in Jesus Christ!
We believe in the Holy Spirit!
And He's given us new life!
We believe in the crucifixion!
We believe that He conquered death!
We believe in the resurrection!
And He's comin' back again!

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised!
In the here and now, let love invade!
Let the church live loud our God we'll say
We believe, we believe!
And the gates of hell will not prevail!
For the power of God, has torn the veil!
Now we know Your love will never fail!
We believe, we believe!

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life!
We believe in the crucifixion!
We believe that He conquered death!
We believe in the resurrection!
And He's comin' back,
He's comin' back again!
He's comin' back again!
We believe!
We believe 

Thought for the Day... 

   
                                             Psalm 46:10New King James Version (NKJV) 

                                                                  ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
                                                     I will be exalted among the nations, 

                                                     I will be exalted in the earth!

Song Day Sunday

One of the songs that became important to me as a Junior in High School was "There's Just Something About That Name" by Bill and Gloria Gaither. I had heard it on the radio prior to being asked to accompany a visiting vocalist at our small country church where I was a member at the time. I wasn't a great piano player in public, no confidence when it comes to being in front of everyone. I haven't played the piano for years now. However, one Sunday evening before Church when only a few people had begun to arrive I did find a simple version of this song in the piano bench and touched every note written. Made my heart smile.

Ah,the memories of trying to perform after only one time through with the vocalist herself. True to form I muddled to completion...I felt I did an injustice to the vocalist but to this day the words still come flowing out of my memory. A comforting memory. Music always seems to bring my thoughts back to focus.

As we enter this week - a holy week, in remembrance of the events leading up to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ I want to share this song . A song that I still hold dear to my heart...


                                               There's Something About That Name

 By William J. & Gloria Gaither

                    Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name. 
                    Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain.
                   Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim! Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, But there's something about that name.

                                                              (Spoken Words)
Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child. At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turn to love and forgiveness; arguments cease.

I've heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious from fever, and I've watched that little body grow quiet and the fevered brow cool.

I've sat beside a dying saint, her body racked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength to whisper earth's sweetest name - Jesus, Jesus ....

Emperors have tried to destroy it; philosophies have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet still it stands!

And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound, every voice of Adam's race shall raise in one great mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus for in that day "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!"

Ah, so you see, it was not mere chance that caused the angel one night long ago to say to a virgin maiden,"His name shall be called JESUS." Jesus Jesus Jesus. You know, there is something about that name...

                     Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name. 
                     Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. 
                     Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim! Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,But there's something about that name. 
But there's something about that name. Jesus, Jesus, Je-sus. 

                                                  Thought for the Day... 
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

May this Palm Sunday be one that leads us to the Joy of the Lord!

Fall Catch at Hendrickson Marsh

Fall is a wonderful season on Hendrickson Marsh...A place where I've spent minutes and some-days hours watching different types of life in motion, or setting suns. This particular post is focused on November 11,2015.

My plans are to write many posts in retrospect because of so much I have missed - telling a story and sharing pictures that might add maybe a bit of wonder to an  existence that goes by so fast you can't get out there on your own to see...

Ah! You say...a disturbed circle of water on the edge of a Marsh?!?

How interesting!

Well, I guess it's time to start telling you just why there happens to be a disturbed circle of water on the Edge of the Marsh.

What do you suppose could be riling up the water so much?
                                                                                                                  Out of the middle of the roiling water rose up a waterfowl - One of many Pied-billed Grebes taking shelter for a brief time and feeding before moving south for the winter.

 I would go out on a ripple and say they had decided to do a little catch and release fishing.

You know that little Blue Gill just kept trying to roll away with every wiggle it could muster to escape the jaws of the persistent,hungry birds

In the words of the dueling Grebes...Don't forget me! I know you caught the fish but for heavens sakes keep a hold  of the wiggler or I will certainly have lunch.

A back and forth chase across the marsh continued for a considerable amount of time in the life of a dangling fish.                                                            
Pursuit was futile - control remained with the darker of the two Grebes.                                                                  

It made me wonder what type of relationship the two birds might have minus the obvious draw.

The afternoon sun was coming to an end and I didn't see other birds so clearly embroiled with a task at beak.

I will have to say the weather was certainly warm for November, allowing for an enjoyable viewing experience on my part.

As the controlling Grebe turned tail to head in the opposite direction the follower was heard to say...Let's play  some more!

NO ...Got to go!

The Grebe was so compelled to make a run for it at this point - I lost sight of  whether or not it actually was able to swallow any part of the Blue Gill that had created such a feeding frenzy.

 Olly, Olly Oxen Free was not going to  work in this situation...



Thank you for your visit today! All photos posted here are the property of Timber Life.

Risen

Risen , a movie now playing throughout the United States during Lent  is about the crucifixion and investigation of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the experiences of Tribune Clavius,a non-believer. He was given the task by the Roman Ruler Pontius Pilate to expose the perpetrators of the lie of a  Risen Messiah.  To find those who could tell him about the tomb he had sealed, now opened and empty...

My husband and I had the pleasure of spending the last two weekends viewing the movie on Sunday afternoons.  Both weekends  we, my hubby and I visited the new Cinemark XD Theater located in Altoona, IA to see the movie.

Cinemark XD Altoona,IA

We felt the content of the movie followed the scripture and would  like to suggest to those seeking a different point of view on a life changing event to stop by your local theater.


I wanted to share the movie experience with my older brother while he was available...

which happened to coincide with the second Sunday afternoon.

I would like to address the new seating arrangements that we found quite appealing. A new amenity in the theater going experience.

On our first visit we discovered that you could select your seating. They show you a diagram at the ticketing counter  for you choose the available lounges. Cinemark offers online ticket purchases with two ticket dispensers available at the Altoona location.Once inside your particular theater the aisles are lettered and the seats numbered for identification, simple and easy.

As you can see in the picture, the young woman is reclining on a lounger, much like you would get to do at home. The middle arm that includes a cup holder will fold up if you need more room and are sharing the chair with a familiar individual. It looks as though she is enjoying some tasty concession snacks.

Getting back to the movie Risen... My simple recommendation when you take time out of your busy schedule is to stop, look, and listen, to what God is trying to share through the eyes of a Roman Tribune - in search of the truth...

The Sciuridae Family

Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel

I want to pickup on a topic I spoke of rather briefly in the second part of the post on Talkative Thursday.

The Sciuridae Family and my experiences with at least 6 of them, 4 of which are apart of the Timber Life family.

The only member of the family that isn't a ground dweller is the Foxtail Squirrel showing off in the third picture below. I truly have fun watching all these little critters running here and there...

Chipmunk

Groundhog

Foxtail Squirrel

Prairie Dog

However, a downside to these ground shifting rodents - unexpected holes to fall into when walking or driving around the farm and timber. After falling into holes created in the hard packed drive ,one will want to reconsider how fast the travel speed should be to complete the trip.

Soft soils are excellent medium to start a new tunnel and living quarters for most of  the cousins who live here in Iowa.                                           


The larger Groundhogs find no difficulty in expanding  their tunnels from between 8 - 66 feet with multiple rooms and exits.In the construction of their den it has been found to contain a room specifically associated to the bodily function of defecation. They usually have more than one den to keep them close to the best sources of food and protection. My observations have them building dens under wood piles, at bases of trees and in the slope of a hill in the timber floor.


I have been privileged to watch them scamper up trees and freeze in place so they won't be detected.



The Foxtail Squirrel is very industrious when it comes to distributing the Black Walnut seeds found in abundance here in our timber.

I would prefer they go about planting more acorns and hickory nuts instead of eating them...One of those human traits I would like to pass along - eat some, plant some and save some . The only problem with the last theory is the number of rodents and birds that feast on the same resources, there doesn't seem to be enough to save some.


                                                                          



In  September 2007, middle afternoon sun we found several Prairie Dog colonies in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Hubby and I hadn't seen these little creatures in the wild before this trip. It created a curiosity about their habits due to the problems they were said to be causing for the cattlemen and the destruction of the grazing lands over vast areas.

At the time of our visit to the Badlands they were beginning to test Blackfooted Ferrets as a means of biological control.

Yellow-bellied Marmot

This past summer during June, I had the great privilege of visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park outside Estes Park , CO., with my family.

On one of the Tourist Pull-off areas at Forest Canyon Overlook , we came across this chubby little Marmot out enjoying the late afternoon sun.

Please click the captions to find more information about each of the members of the squirrel family or previous posts here at Timber Life...


My hope is that the next time you see a member of the Sciuridae Family you'll have time to watch a little bit of nature in action in the great outdoors.


Thank you for your visit today! All pictures posted here are the property of Timber Life Wildscapes.