Happy 4th of July

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I would like to thank our founding fathers for Declaring our Independence and creating a place where we can be free to express our political views...

Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July! ;)

Happy 35th Anniversary

Today,  Hubby and  I are celebrating our 35th Wedding Anniversary...These are two songs popular in the mid 70's that we decided would be apart of our forever after story...

Mr. and Mrs. Corey Butcher

June 28, 1975

Now and into the Future

Pictured right to left front row:Millie Koenig - Mother of the Bride, Dianna Koenig Butcher, Corey Butcher, Lucille Butcher - Mother of the Groom.

back row right to left: Donna Jones - friend and soloist, Janet Koenig Huff - Sister and Bridesmaid, Brothers of the Bride Dale Koenig, Ed Koenig, Brother of the Groom and guitar accompanist/soloist Bryan Butcher, Father of the Groom Don Butcher

Time is not the only thing that will keep slipping into the future,so will we as long as God allows... ;)

The Wild Berries Ripen

As I was looking through the way some one arrived at my blog over at the BlogLog I saw the query "When do Wild Raspberries ripen in Iowa?" I would like to respond to that question.

It is very likely that there are some Wild Raspberries being picked in the southern tier counties of Iowa as we speak.

Here is what the Wild Raspberries are doing here at Timber Life today. This afternoon you can see a red tinge beginning in the middle of the group.

They are pretty predictable in that they usually begin to ripen by the end of the third week of June. The  middle black cap starts off blushing red. I begin to pick them when they turn black and shiny with juice filled pockets.

I usually eat them plain, as a garnish to several different foods or topped with Reddi-wip. Maybe, this year I will put them in some sort of dessert.


Last summer Wandering Owl Outside gave us an idea how the berries could be made into a tasty treat. Check it out.

Another berry that is making a splash in the timber is the  messy Mulberry. However, when it comes to  right off the tree sweet treats they rank pretty highly.   
The birds seem to have a homing beacon when the berries are at their best.

One of the bad things about the Mulberry is its ability to reproduce prolifically. Guess I will just have to take the good  with the bad.

Gooseberries, the first fruit that I pick of the summer season, can be picked starting the last of May, the first part of June, it is one many find to create a pucker in its early green stage.

If the gooseberry stays on the bush  and gets to the wine colored stage it is very mellow and even  becomes sweet.

Whatever wild fruit that fits your taste bud you should be heading to the woods  soon



So, to answer the question of  "When do Wild Raspberries ripen in Iowa?"
Now is the time to keep an eye on your favorite patches....

One Week and Counting in the Rest of Their Lives

One week ago and counting, Hubby and I  headed South to the Des Moines, IA Botanical Center. A fantastic destination to learn more about plants of the World with seasonal additions to add color.

The day turned off like one you might experience in July, or August, but certainly not the last of May! Temps reached 90 degrees with high humidity to match.


The reason for this visit was because our family was adding a new member to it's ranks and the gazebo in the herb garden happened to be the chosen location for this happy occasion .

The winding paths,blooming plants and garden statuary made a very lovely setting for a springtime wedding.






Hubby's brother Bryan and  his daughter,our niece Lexee, as they prepare to meet her intended, Jacob, in the gazebo.

The wedding party came a short distance from the main building to a circular path. The two people would go opposite directions on the circular path...meeting once again on the other side, Once everyone gathered the couple exchanged self-written vows.

                      Jacob and Lexee's Story  

Jacob and Lexee met in 1990 when Jacob moved in across the street from Lexee's family. They became fast friends and developed a close, long lasting friendship, that survived teenage angst, college, and even other relationships. Throughout it all, Lexee and Jacob came out together and, in 2005, decided to stop searching for the wrong people and started dating. Three and a half years later, in October of 2008, Jacob popped the question.

 So, after all their years together, on May 30,2010, they took their vows to become Man and Wife.
Truly,a joyous event.

A popular Des Moines night spot was the next stop. Closed to the public,the evening went to the next level.

Family and friends  came to celebrate with the happy couple...Dining,Toasts,Dancing and laughter filled the air.

Such a beautiful wedding cake ! It was an all in the family creation. Lexee's sister is the artist who helped get  the plan visualized to paper , then my daughter, Lexee's cousin, baked and decorated. What a wonderful team they made!

I  believe my S-IN-L (son-in-law) even helped out on the base frosting application.  ; )






Congratulations to the happy couple! May your lives continue be filled with Love, Laughter and Understanding... ;)

Honoring Family Veterans

Today, I would like to take the time to honor family Veterans for Memorial Day.

The first two both saw action during the Korean War.

It is my honor to introduce to you  my Dad, John Koenig, who was inducted into the service on May 5,1952 and exited with the rank of Corporal on March 24,1954 at Camp Carson Colorado. His time was spent on Japan and eventually he moved over to South Korea to take up his post. According to his discharge papers he was a mechanic/ truck driver in the 74th Engineer Heavy Equipment CO APO 301.

We have pictures Dad sent to my Grandmother while he voyaged on ships, toured the streets and countrysides of foreign countries. Research has opened up some general information about the pictures which didn't include any identifying information.

One of the stories we have heard is that when he was delivering a repaired truck back to a squad in the early morning hours he got lost just over the North Korean border because he didn't have a compass to give him direction. Topping it all off he fell asleep at the wheel and over turned in a ditch.

He returned to the States, had a family, and was taken to be with the Lord in his 39th year due to a truck accident. That was 40 years ago when I was 13.

Another person I would like to honor is my Mother's brother, Kenneth Livengood, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War from March 1951-1955,stationed in Japan.

My Mother said," That while he was in the service he was apart of a group of men providing special intelligence information. His missions
would have him attached to a briefcase with handcuffs." She mentioned that you never knew exactly where he was at any given time.

Like my Father, he too has passed on.








Another Army man, my brother Dale Koenig worked as a mechanic and served in Germany for several years in the early 1980's.

A story we have heard from him is that while in Germany he had a traffic mishap transporting a truck and because of our German name they didn't pursue any traffic violation charges. It sounded as though it happened on one of their narrow mountain passes where travel was extremely precarious. Thankfully everything turned out okay.










John and Christopher Koenig

The next generation now serving our country at home and soon to be abroad, our nephews, John and Chris, sons of Dale and Joy Koenig.

John entered the Air Force after High School graduation in 1999. He is trained as a Satellite Wideband and Telemetry technician. He traveled the world during his two tours of duty and is now working at the 133rd Test Squadron in Fort Dodge, IA.

Chris became a member of the Iowa Army National Guard in January. He will be joining others in the President's planned upsurge of troops to Afghanistan in the war against the Taliban.  Maybe he will get a chance to meet our fellow blogger Albert Rasch from The Rasch  Outdoor Chronicles.

I speak of men who lived through their tours of duty and who are yet to complete time in the field...

Our families have many not mentioned here that have added their time in War and Peace time service, to them Thank You.

However, now I would like to thank those families who have  lost loved ones in the service to this country, for what they have given for the security and freedom we still experience.

Thank You for what you have sacrificed for the freedoms of others...

How Sweet it IS !

Last week I bought a new Hummingbird feeder because the I had the feeling we would be having our timber mates back home soon. I boiled up some sugar water and put it outside...

The Baltimore Orioles seemed a bit late in their return, but they knew when it was okay to come back. I heard them in the trees on Friday last week and caught a picture of one Saturday night.

I wanted to bring them closer for viewing this season. As you can tell, they have found the feeder on the deck. I am extremely pleased that they haven't been shy about coming to visit.
Hello There!!!! A female Oriole checked me out as I peeked around the drapes to get a picture to put in my 2010 Oriole file.The streak - stage left, finally came to rest after checking out the feeder. I kept seeing something flash by and surmised I was apart of a reconnaissance mission . A Ruby-throated male has found some a sweet treat. The feeder is now fulfilling its purpose. ;)

I really must fly...


Later!  ; )

Flannel Wearing Tomato

Oh yeah! Tomato wearing flannel...I am one of these gardeners that like to  push plants to their limits. I started my plants on March 1st . Sorting  three tomatoes out,putting them in pots to give them space to get a bigger root system... Heading me to the next level when it became apparent how good that decision was working. I wanted to risk one to the elements in an effort to get that first home-grown red juicy tomato at the earliest possible date.

We started getting whipped with extreme wind and the forecast for frost. I needed to find a solution so the tomato plant wouldn't become a victim of the elements lasting only a couple days.

I was feeling good about the steps I had taken to provide protection with an old flannel sheet - until a little while later, when I discovered the whole cage plastered up against the fence. My home-made,concrete reinforcing wire cage needed some anchoring to keep it from flying away...The cage got a tilt like the leaning Tower of Pisa, but couldn't get enough lift to take off, or fall completely over once I got the stakes in place.

The rain is here again! However, I believe it is time to shed the sheet and let the light in,what light is available. Temps are more acceptable, the sunshine is going to break-out come Friday,once more brightening the landscape for plant and human-kind. ;)

Timber Life Spring Fungus Review

The mighty Morel has finally arrived at Timber Life. The Morel season always seems to get a late start here in our timber. No matter where I look on our property during the prime hunting seasons elsewhere, not one little morsel becomes evident to the eye.

I have searched on different occasions, in different locations, at different times of the day...The way I became aware that the mushrooms were in waiting was mowing my yard, I found three. One was at the foot of an Oak tree and two at the foot of a big old Red Elm tree. That was my "AHA!" moment.

Silly me! I didn't stop mowing then and go search like I should have. Instead I continued my work. Once I decided to go look, I located them in a spot where most of our finds occur once they start popping. If I had gone earlier in the day I may have been able to catch them in an edible condition.



Hubby took his turn looking for some tasty treats after work once he discovered I had started finding them. In addition he pulled a brown oyster mushroom from it's hiding place. Again the morels were beyond edible so today maybe close to our last hope of finding some to saute.

This is one example of what I found a while back for the Brown Oyster mushroom just getting a colony started. Other colonies exist but we haven't harvested them for food, just getting more interested in seeing what is available in our little eco-system.

The weather was fantastic today - the garden called after some more mowing was done.

If anymore Morels popped I didn't see them after my mid-morning search. Maybe next year... ;)