On to North Dakota

Sunday,September 23rd, time to pack up the cavalier again, heading out from the cozy little town of Keystone. During our stay we caught this impressive mountain top home over looking all the goings on in the valley below. It is said to be a private residence presently. Speculation has it that the owners may turn it into a resort in the future.(click for larger image) Heading up to Rapid City to reach I-90 west came before sunrise. The route took us from Sturgis up Highway 79. We found the landscape switching from wide open prairie to farming,to combination. My eyes pealed as we traveled; scanning the territory for wildlife. Caught wild turkey feeding in the backyard of a homestead north of Sturgis. Previously we had seen some groups of turkey down by Rockerville and in the Custer State Park. Saw antelope grazing on the range by themselves, with the sheep,in the cow herds and became one of the horses running in the wind. ;) They seemed to be everywhere!(click for larger image) The prairie dogs haven't moved this far north yet...Thank goodness. (click for larger image) If you decide to travel this route, be prepared for lack of services and facilities close to the highway. Getting closer to the southwestern border of North Dakota we began to see road ornaments that were unfamiliar. Learned that the most frequent one was called Prairie Grouse,either sharptail or prairie chicken. At one point in our travels we almost had the opportunity to bag our own via the "Prairie Chicken crossing the road." ;) A group of 6 thought they needed to fly in front of us. Onward to Jamestown,ND...

What's the "Have to DO"?!?

In the Rapid City, South Dakota area there are so many things that could lead one to sensory over load. What was so pressing in my case? Let us digress for a moment... Head over to the new Rapid City Visitors Center. Had to get some verification of locations for future building plans for Cabela's in 2008 and Scheels new free standing retail outlet come 2009. According to the official Cabela's website, Rapid City will be home to an 80,000 square foot retail store. They also said"construction is expected to begin fall 2007, with stores anticipated opening by summer of 2008." I am here to show you that indeed construction has begun and the clock starts for the upcoming opening next year.(click for larger image) Guess where I will be taking my vacation again next year?!? Looking forward to getting the finished - stocked store on camera to share with the Outdoor/Hunting Communities...

Last Day in "The Hills"

The decision to limit time on the road was made this morning,Saturday, September 22nd. What was necessary a trip to Rushmore Mall.(click for larger image) Specifically to the Scheels store to checkout prices for some comparison shopping to get ready for the seasons I will be hunting here in Iowa. ;)(click for larger image) After gathering a few costs Hubby and I were off to the hair boutique to get his name put on the list. Supposed to have been a 20 minute wait. Well, an 1 3/4 later he got his turn to get his sparsely populated locks evened up. Next on the list - Time to visit a store we stumbled upon called "All Wild and Western". Picked up some postcards , birthday card, and checked out some timber furniture. Really neat furniture! Those events scratched off the "To Do" list we headed out for the last planned "Have To Do" diversion in Rapid City. Come on back to see what the "Have To Do" diversion happened to be...

Day 2 - Trek to the Hills

Friday morning ,it was decided that we would take off up route 16A from Keystone to meet highway 44 East out of Rapid City. Do you know where we were headed? Yeah, off to the Badlands and a trip to Wounded Knee. Took off through the hills down to PineRidge over to Hot Springs up to Custer State Park ,then back to Keystone. We went 249 miles around the hills to see what we could see. I needed to get over to the Wounded Knee Memorial because of a movie I have. It came out in 1992 and is called "Thunderheart". Had to checkout the arch to the entrance of the cemetery to see if it was the same. By the way, it was. Hot Springs was a very nice little town to see from the road. A place I had visited as a teenager and will put it on my list to get back to for a longer stay in the future. Magnificent old architecture. ;) Custer State Park, what a scenic,restful drive...if you aren't behind the steering wheel that is!We paid an entrance fee that would have lasted us for a week if we would have been in the area that long. The roads get kind'a curvey here and there. We found some stately creatures of interest during our brief venture. Had we been there starting Sept. 29th - October 1st we could have witnessed the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Round-Up. After traveling the Needles Highway back to Keystone we headed to a local eating establishment "The Ruby House". Discovered it had been relocated from one side of street to the other when their previous building burnt down. We found the food very good and the coffee had just the right flavor for me...one of the few places that I can say the coffee was "Good". Although, I only bought coffee once a day when we had our large meal of the day. After "The Ruby House" we headed back to Super 8 to lax out for the rest of the day. Checked e-mail and did some internet searches thanks to Hubby's new lap top computer. One more full day in the hills. Check in to see where it took us....

Trek to the Hills

On the road...Time to get out of Iowa for a change of pace. Turning 50, decided it would be great to wake-up in a place to which I have grown fond. The Black Hills of South Dakota - an awesome area to hangout for a few days. Thursday morning September 20th before 7:00 A.M. we tucked in Hubby's Voisin 3/5 airplane. Since there isn't going to be any flying accomplished for at least 6 days we needed to make the wing tips less desirable to the mouse population. They have become ardent fans of the new apartment complex since the plane has been hangared here at home. Passing road side water holes, ponds, and lakes through Iowa,southern Minnesota, and middle South Dakota brought to view all the different types of waterfowl still taking refuge for food and rest. In northern Iowa along Interstate 35 we saw one of the big birds of flight not regularly seen. However, we did know what was rising off the pond, winging its way upward... a banded Trumpeter Swan. It was exciting for me to see. Another sight becoming more frequent are the big Wind Generator farms being created to provide the country with more energy. We saw trucks hauling sections of the generators everyday we were on our trip. A total of 2,926 miles. What could this mean for our migrating bird populations? Getting back to the end of our day on Thursday the 20th, we reached our destination at the Super 8,Keystone,SouthDakota. Albeit a tourist destination but a very peaceful place. It is at the end of their peak summer season - still found it to be bustling during business hours. Will be sharing more of what we experienced in our few days in the hills. Stay tuned...

Ground Hog Hilton Update....

Friday afternoon, AHHHH the start of the weekend. After a hectic week of running from shotgun blasts it is time to relax. Hmmm, wondering about the sanity of that woman that lives here?!? One minute she's trying to send me across to the final acorn patch. The next minute she has me posing to the left and right, up and down, for two different cameras....a couple of short movies no less.(for private viewing only; internet connection to slow) ; ) Man! Who does she think I am?!? I'll be having to call in my stunt double here pretty soon! Well folks, after a nibble or two of those tastey morsels among the greens, I found myself headed for the balcony. Taking a load off my feet - giving me time to plan the next feast before heading off to bed for the night. Sure am glad it won't be long 'til I get a good long nap. One way or the other ; ) P.S. Hope to catch you next spring in the on going saga of the "Ground Hog Hilton".

Great Question

Recently, I was asked about the firearms that Iowa allows in the hunt for the white-tailed deer. Myself, I have only used a 20 guage shotgun for the deer, pheasant, and turkey hunts. Following is a synopsis of what I found posted on the Iowa DNR website: http://www.iowadnr.com/law/files/07huntingregs.pdf Pages- 5, 21-29, 36 Page 5- gives us a chart of the different 2007 seasons and 2007 Anterless Quotas for Resident Hunters. Page 36- tells about the Nonresident Deer Hunting Zones and allowed Nonresident Anterless-only license Quotas if you are able to get one. So, what I have found is that the only exception allowed to use a crossbow or handgun is if you have some disability making it impossible to use a shotgun, muzzleloader, or compound bow. It is possible to use a center-fire rifle,.24 guage or larger in certain circumstances. The special January Anterless-only season in the following lower tier counties gives you a chance to use higher powered equipment. The following counties are eligible for this special waiver: Mills, Fremont, Montgomery,Page, Adams, Taylor, Union, Ringgold,Clarke, Decatur, Lucas,Wayne,Monroe, Appanoose, Wapello, Davis, Jefferson, Van Buren, Henry, Lee, and DesMoines.The map on Page 36 gives you location information if you should have an interest to explore the possibilities ... ; )

Marsh Count

Hmmm, 1-2-3-4-5-6 Canadian Geese, 1-10-25 American White Pelicans. Today is rainy and cool. Only supposed to get to be a high in the middle 50's. I'd send some cooler temps south to our friends there if I could so the hunts wouldn't be so steamy... Passed the Marsh going into town , decided to take a bird count after going home to get the binoculars and a couple of my Bird Identification books. Really nothing spectacular to see. Didn't stick around for hours to see if the population would change. The pelicans did seem to tuck their heads more as the rain fell more briskly. Later today I am planning another check to see if the waterfowl have taken the chance to head off or will stay to wait out the weather...

Iowa's Waterfowl Opening Dates

A week ago I saw a Goose/Duck hunter attaching some prairie grass camouflage on the side of his boat in preparation for opening day...I was thinking"YES, not that far away from my seasons now!" In doing a little research here on Waterfowl Hunting - My what I am finding! Not usually a focus of mine since I elect to stick to the home property. Classifications are in order here when it comes to season dates,zones and limits in the state. Following I have included a link to specific information of interest to steer those resident and non-resident hunters to the right water hole ; ) - http://www.iowadnr.com/law/files/07waterfowlregs.pdf There is a marsh located to the north of us. It won't be much use this year for waterfowl hunting. It used to be a wake up call when the guns started going off on the opening day of the seasons. The IDNR decided to drain it to remove some big bottom feeding fish so the vegetation would have a chance to re-establish. So far they haven't closed the dam yet to fill the pool. They believe it will improve the food source for our migratory birds to remove the fish. However, the Pelicans have used it as a stop in their migrations ever since we have lived in the area. Probably because of what had been an abundant source of fish. Time will prove or disprove the kind of habitat most accepted by the species traveling through to the north/south. Best be getting the camera out here to start catching all the "V's" overhead...

Flight of the Monarchs

The Monarch butterfly, a member of the Endangered Species List, has once again begun its semi-annual migration. My first sighting of the orange and black beauties this May 9th, but their northern trek started from central Mexico the second week of March. It seems that the longer day light hours in the spring trigger the butterfly to get the yearly cycle going. In turn the same goes in the Fall when the daylight hours get shorter - means it's time to head south for warmer climates from the border of Canada. There seems to be three separate populations of Monarchs. One that lives on the west side of the Rockies and winters in California, then those on the east side of the Rockies that migrate to central Mexico ,with the third group along the eastern seaboard finding winter quarters in Florida. One of the reasons our decision to buy our timber property was the time of year we first started looking at it. The Monarchs were hanging in bunches on the tips of the oak tree branches, we discovered that it is one of the favorite perches for resting butterflies. September 8 - 20th is the time Iowa usually sees winged wonders pass through. However, as we sat down to enjoy a community picnic on Labor Day several miles to the west the Sycamore tree tips were alive with movement. Monarchs jockeying for their own space to rest before they embarked on their next leg of the journey...

"Brothers of the Rack"

The rush of having sited some good looking White-tail bucks in the yard brings on the desire to once again try my hand at getting to the outback come December 1st-5th (first) or December 8th-16th (second) shotgun seasons here in Iowa. Bow seasons are from Ocotber 1st-November 30th and then again December 17th,2007 - January 10th,2008 Yes, there are some antlerless hunts later but you have to get in early since the license availabilty is determined by county --whatever the IDNR decides is a target number. First special anterless season falls from November 23rd - 25th and the second comes after the new year January 11th - 27th,2008, both being Iowa residents only. As you can see the season change is starting to become evident in the color change of the deer hair. Here at this link you will find some great information about the specifics that come as apart of getting to know them better. The why it is the way it is - http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=MA0046 Hope to see you around later. Have a great day!

GroundHog Hilton

Are you feeling those summertime varmint blues? Boy, sometimes you wish you could just push the wildlife back into the timber... for a little while.;) We have had increased groundhog activity for the last three or four years in and around the yard; there are at least 6-7 dens that I personally know exist. Acorns have drawn the attention of one (?) marmota monax to the driveway.The oak tree providing the delicious snack has a hallow about three feet off the ground that has become an "INN" of note. When a leisurely feast is interrupted by the resident Homo Sapiens it is a quick trip to the spa. Sharing an episode that happened here in July will show the comic side of the groundhogs character...I had nursed some plants dug up from my daughter's yard for a month in black poly-pots. The decision was made to get these plants into the ground to get established before cold fall and frigid winter temperatures arrive. Putting bone meal in the bottom of the hole may have been a factor - can't prove it, but the holes were hollowed out of the soil in which the amendment had been incorporated. It all started one forenoon . I had to leave to make a trip to town, a 20 minute excursion. Upon my return there was no doubt some digging animal was either trying to take advantage of the soft, disturbed soil ,or wanted to have a tender root salad; tucked the plant back in a couple more times in the next few days. Then all the plants - one by the front door deck, one in the backyard flower garden and 2 plants down the drive a half mile succumbed to the marauding varmint. In my disappointment I discovered the animal had a penchant to redistribute our grand children's bubble pipes and water-guns. It kept moving things every time it dropped in for a visit. Maybe it is my imagination, but I think those little animals are pretty intelligent. Have I spent too much time by myself ?

Did you see IT?

Hmmm,see what??? The Lunar Eclipse of course.... It was an awesome event. Started watching around 3:51 A.M. and finished viewing at 5:37 A.M. from my location in central Iowa. Kept running between the computer and the sliding glass doors facing the southern sky. Woke my husband up to see what things looked like at 4:47; just a little before it was totally to the full coverage point. He tottered back to bed, but I am up for the day having had my first cup of coffee already...Another cup isn't far off. So, how many early risers were able to catch the eclipse this morning???? Have a great Day!

Scratch,Scratch,Scratch....

Now is that an itch, or is that somebody at my back door ? As I sat here at the computer pre-dawn. The rain had encouraged one of the four little raccoons to "Seek Shelter in a Sturdy Building." Namely my house. Turning on the light , making noise, and opening the door only scattered away the 3 not on the steps. The one that was perched on the steps persisted with his/her scratching. De ja vue - brought back memories of almost a year ago when a pair of raccoon children had the same thought. ------------------------------ To Be Continued ------------------------------ Here it is another day - way before sunrise ,4:00 A.M. to be exact...I hear some activity on the steps to the sliding glass door. Curiosity has me searching for the source of the "scratch,scratch,scratch" which seems overly loud to be coming from the outside. Turning on the kitchen light . I see a pointy nosed, black masked, four legged critter looking back. It was working furiously at the screen, which can no longer be considered a barrier to keep out the insects; it wasn't detered until I began shining a small flashlight beam into its eyes. Drove the first culprit away for a few minutes. Wasn't to long until more grating sounds could be heard. Yes, now the WHOLE crew, count them! 1-2-3-4 are trying to find a way in out of the wet... No success - time to be off to the next project ; ) Sure glad they lost interest .... But as Arnold Schwarzenegger would say "I'll Be BACK"...can be heard as they scurry off to get into mischeif somewhere else...

Meeting Like Minds

Last month I found an internet community over at MyBlogLog. Then I typed in "Deer Hunting" in the search box. WooHoo! Hit the jackpot! Certainly many types of blogs on the same topic, different styles of writing. All had the general consensus from women and men that hunting is one avenue to get back to nature - a clan activity. Hunters go off to bring home the prey and have a story to relate of their experiences. Love it! ; ) We all like to have success stories of hitting the target whether it be big game or the little varmints that can make life a system of potholes. Be it by handgun,shotgun, rifle, bow, or trap in the case of our trapping cohorts. I will continue to be mult-faceted at "Timber Life", but this is a favorite topic of conversation. Wrapping things up for this post I would like to mention some of the new contacts I have made...If I don't get them all please keep checking back to the links list - you will see them posted there. Please take time to go over and check out these websites. I have found some instruction on hunting as well as some giggles. Thanks for stopping by! New Links http://www.bodocktimes.blogspot.com/ http://www.huntinglife.com/ http://www.huntingjunky.com/ http://www.hunting-secrets.com/ http://www.mariandeer.blogspot.com/

When will it cool off?

Oh the summer heat! When will it end? Sounds like relief will be on the way in a few days. Had to drop by to let you know about the activity happening around here. I have had to laugh several times about the antics of our 4 legged friends that roam the timber . Lets see...the deer fawns, does (as in deer moms ; ) ), and raccoons. Our twins here have showed their playful side as they grow up. One can be grazing while the other acts as though they are possessed. Jumping,jostling and kicking up their heels to instigate the"Tag You're It" reflex. Funny creatures they are...They exhibit behavior much like our human children when they interact with one another. Sunday morning as I sat looking out into the back yard I observed a doe feeding in a spot where we often see them visiting as of late. From another direction came a mother raccoon and trailing up behind her were four clones all in a line. The deer looked up to see what was coming her way....the mother raccoon looked up to see what was standing in front of them. It ended up the raccoon didn't want to get any closer to the deer so she did a u-turn into the timber and all of them waddled off to find more suitable hunting conditions. Sure, it would have been more fun for you to see yourself but this is the best I can do for you at the moment. Are you beginning to see any changes that might indicate fall is fast approaching? I have started to see the Cottonwood and Burning Bush leaves changing color... The oaks and hickories are beginning to shed some of this year's nut crop,the walnut trees seem to be filled with huge amounts of squirrel food as well. Some of you might already be aware but the acorn is used by more than squirrels as a source of food. The deer and turkey find them a tastey treat too. Boy ! It looks like this edition of Timber Life has gotten a bit longer than usual. Been away awhile and I'm in the sharing mood ; ) Time to send you off to find your own "neck of the woods"...

Time to Consider

As the summer months swiftly pass -- my mind wanders again to past hunting experiences. What can I draw from them to make each new season produce evident success? I don't know about you but I find myself reading and looking for other people's point of view; what may or may not have worked for them. Some names /websites come to mind when looking for information and supplies. The wish list as it were... P.K. Jacobson for deer hunting at http://www.hunting-secrets.com/. He published an interview DVD with Cabela's in April of this year. Helping to expose all the items needed to make our outdoor life a little more enjoyable; available both in their retail establishment and online. Another deer hunting research source can be found here -- "Discover the breakthrough hunting system guaranteed to increase your trophy buck harvests regardless of your level of hunting knowledge!" http://momdoter.deersecret.hop.clickbank.net/ Click Here! Then there are the the guys over at http://www.huntingnet.com/ that bring together some personal, first hand experiences. Some good reading and links to help locate everything you would want to camp and hunt. Even have an Iowa connection there from what I understand. ; ) Are you looking for a buck that everybody would envy? Maybe you should check out the "Deerseeker", written by Cory German. To find out more about how this young man can help you reach your goal check it out... http://momdoter.deerseeker.hop.clickbank.net/Click Here! Turning the focus back to my personal desire to become a better hunter- continues to lead me to examine the possibility of adding a hunting companion. Not the two legged kind in this instance... I have been looking into the English Springer Spaniel and Weimaraner breeds for having more success with my desire to bring home the Pheasant. Really have found some great information on websites of breeder/trainers here in Iowa. Just one site that I will share with you at the moment is http://www.crosswindkennels.com/. A local source of Labrador puppies and trained bird dogs in central Iowa. Take a look... Being in the field with a dog would be a whole new aspect for me. How about you? Tell me what you think. The positive and negatives of how it has affected your outcomes.

Bambi and a Half

A month ago I reported seeing a new fawn not many days old at first sighting.

July 4th , I was able to catch two little deer sauntering around with their mom in and around the front yard.

They had been enjoying a nibble at the honeysuckle shrub when I first decided to try to get their picture. Wouldn't you know it...I didn't move fast enough and my camera didn't want to take pictures when it was finally in position. You got it ! The first attempt at photographer was not a success. Patience my dear woman, P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E ....

It wan't very long of a wait for them to begin grazing on the grass in the front yard after making a full circle through the pasture, into the timber, and then to the front yard.

Certainly, they have found their way around. Loving the corn that is now tasseling and silking out. My the damage they can do. Lots of nitrogen though. Just what they are looking for in these summer months to feed babies , as well as bulk up for the fall and winter seasons.

No new squirrel babies to report yet.

Raccoon babies were seen one twilight trailing behind their mother. What a crew. No wonder ground dwelling birds sometimes have a hard time getting established since the eggs become food if not well hidden.

Goodness how this year is passing so quickly. Won't be to long until we start looking for the hunting licenses to try our hand once more at putting food into the freezer.

Until next month enjoy this weather. Get out the fishing pole, go on a picnic, sit in the shade, or on the front porch and watch the sunset. ; ) Take some time to watch nature going on around you. Have Fun !

Bambi Alert ...

The wonder of motherhood has hit the timber. It has been a time filled with expectation. There was a pregnant doe staying close to my yard; feeding and bedding down. Continuing to watch for signs of life on the outside my observation was met with a confirmation last week when I was mowing an extended section of my front yard. The doe had been sticking close - watching where I went. I became suspicious so I "watched where I went". The little darling came bounding out of the tall grass when it felt panicked. Distress was seen on its expression. I couldn't hear it because of the noise of the brush mower but could read its reactions. Watching the doe at the same time it was clear she was calling to her baby as well. A short time passed before the baby decided to go in the direction of safety. ; ) Since then I have seen them traipsing through the growing corn more than once. Mother by herself and occasionally baby in tow - trying to nurse on the run. Other births of note - the ground hog has produced two new babies again this year. The bunny families have young almost a month old with more on the way...Mother squirrels with large paunches will be in labor soon, they haven't made nests yet. They still have hair on their tails. Heard some turkeys last night . Have been wondering how many new babies have hatched this year. A neighbor had a nest by his pond but the mother didn't return when the farmer came to cultivate the field a month or so ago - lost 13 eggs in that clutch. The coyotes have been actively calling to the kids to round them up in the evenings. What a clamourous event! Have you seen "New Life"? What an awesome time of year! So, is the perpetuation of the generations that continue to populate the Timber I call home...

Lovin' IT !

How do you do?!? Sure enjoying this weather we have been getting lately, at least I have. The wind is shaking things up today and sounds like maybe tomorrow as well. Let me list all the nature that has made it's appearance in the last 4 weeks. Migratory birds - Turkey Vultures, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Orioles,Wood Ducks , Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush and more. The timber has come to life again the trees are filling out with the leaf covering of the season. Last Wednesday,May 9th, I saw my first Monarch Butterfly of the year. All these things confirm Spring has sprung here. Some other events we have had are the awakening of the mosquito population, spiders, rabbits are busy chewing off my tender plants that haven't found a place in the ground yet. The plants were placed inside my fenced garden; still not a deterrent to those lithe little creatures. My 1996, Belarus model 572 tractor has been keeping busy moving some logs, dirt and rocks. So much more to do but with the price of diesel currently it might be awhile before anything else will be attempted. The DR Brushmower that has been apart of our family since the latter 1990's, almost ten years if memory serves me correctly, has been getting a workout after it's refreshing oil change. The pasture calls...actually mowing off the rosebrush before the summer baling season about the middle of June is what needs to be accomplished. Then down at my husband's grass airplane runway so we can keep it under control... Clouds are coming in from the developing severe thunderstorms due later tonight. The cold front is going to bring us some cooler temperatures for a few days; more conducive to being outside for longer intervals. Going to stop here. Wishin' you some good weather fishing , picnicing and enjoying life.

Can I say "Is it Spring yet?"

Are you still recovering from the latest round of winter\spring weather? Monday evening, April 9th, I had a group of the local deer population visit my backyard while some of the local neighbor ladies were here for a visit. They marveled at how close they, the deer, had come to the house. Things I take for granted. All the deer, young and old, need a good dose of the fresh spring green grasses that will boost their nitrogen. The winter has put a strain on food sources; weight loss is evident. Wednesday, April 11th, Iowa was among several states getting another covering of snow. Maybe not the higher amounts seen in Minnesota eastward; still enough to cover the ground with several inches in the central section to 5" and above up at our northern border. Before going to bed Wednesday night, we checked out the shadows lurking outside our sliding glass doors, several deer were scratching away the snow in my flowerbed. The daffodils are missing top foliage which had been damaged by lower than normal temperatures. Glad somebody was able to enjoy them -- one way or another ; ) Thursday, April 12th, snapped a picture of our melting snow with animal tracks before they disappeared with rising temperatures. The sun came out from behind the clouds... The sun promises to warm up this little section of Iowa today. I know it will work on doing the same for you. Later!

Wild Honey Bees Waking Up

How are things going for you this fine first week of April? Today it appears the weather will be wonderful. The change is coming later today, back down to the more typical temperatures for this time of year, maybe a little cooler than normal. Last week I didn't stop in for a chat because the outdoors was calling...Working on getting fallen wood from our ice storms of February moved out of the way for the farmer who rents our ground. The hay baler may not function properly with limbs in its path. The yard looks better without the extra twigs etc. Amazingly after picking up underneath two trees I filled a quarter of the bed of a long box ,full sized, Ford pickup. It has been fun to see the animals enjoying the changes of the season. The wild honeybees are out looking around for some nourishment. They come to investigate when I am out working around the house. They live in a tree, in a hollow part, not far away. Seven years ago this May we experienced an awesome sight. Apparently the hive was getting to big to support itself. We watched the bees gather on the side of the birdbath. Later the Queen led the way of a large contingent away into the timber. After watching that event I looked for the new home that I expected them to make. What I found was lost bees, they were lifeless only a few days later, clinging to plants or foliage within line of sight. Since the mass movement seven years ago we haven't witnessed anything of that magnitude. In the summer we do treat the bees with respect. When it is hot and dry they do become more agitated in the heat of the day so we mow around their tree in the cool of the day - either in the morning, or late afternoon. We are looking for the Hummingbirds and Orioles to return very soon. A whole list of other birds have come back to be apart of the woodland and open ground population. Last week there were some wood ducks making their presence known. What a joy to see the "New Beginnings" for another year...

Top of the Morning to you!

Did you get out to celebrate the" Luck of the Irish" on Saturday? I went to the little grocery store in my local little town...bought some corned beef, cabbage and carrots. The original plan for the day was to go to my daughter's house to help do some yard work. When I got out of bed before sunrise on Saturday we were getting some white stuff; canceled the plans. By the afternoon the snow had disappeared. My husband went to take a lesson in a different plane. He is getting a wide range of experience in his quest to get his Sport Pilot's Certificate. The present plane,an Ercoupe, continues to have more mechanical problems so his hopes of another lesson will be put off until the mechanic gets the bugs out. I have voiced my opinion. It seems that every plane he has tried to get his certificate in has problems . Is he supposed to get it??? Ah, we all know the answer to that one. For SURE! ; ) We are looking for some warmer conditions this week. Although, with warmer temperatures it looks like we are in for moisture. Just what I am not looking forward to...with the melting snow of last week the ground around here is more than wet. Trying to keep the mud outside of the house is a challenge since we are sans cement. You heard me, no concrete drive-way or sidewalks. It is fine when the weather is dry . Didn't want to have to break up concrete when and if I get to build a house . Still dark outside at 6:20 A.M.. Saw the "Big Dipper" as I peered out the door to check on the sound of a vehicle in the area. Sunrise comes at 7:19 today, I think I saw. Planted some seeds in my window nursery last Wednesday and Thursday. Had some cosmos flowers germinate in just a couple of days. Looking forward to getting some more seeds and maybe some plants for the garden this year. The weather is giving me the itch to plant some lettuce, radishes, spinach etc...How about you? Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

Spring is SPRINGING

Good Morning All! I am so excited about this week...bet you can guess why. Time to get some work done outside. The yard needs to be picked up after the storm damage of the last couple of weeks. The snow is melting . The migratory birds are making their way over our airspace, going north. What a sight to see! Recently, I have started receiving e-mails from a guy named P.K. Jacobsen he has an information site associated with Deer Hunting. Some of you may have heard of him; I know I have before now....Read his sales letter. Trying to get me ready for next season. His suggestions sound great. I appreciate what he is trying to do. You can read and read, which I have done, but actually putting to use what we have read enhances our experiences. As I sit here writing the deer are beginning to come home to the timber to go to eat and go to bed. This group I see were born last summer and will be parents next year. What a number I expect will be produced! Sorry, I interrupted the train of thought. Just wanted to comment on current activity. The snow covering of the last two weeks brought about a lot more extended stays in the yard around the house by both turkey and deer. Almost greater than your imagination. OK, back to business. ; ) However, there may some extenuating circumstances that directly determine success of a hunter. In my case it has come to my attention may be the type of shot I have chosen to use. Another possibility is the the gun itself. The next seasons will be better for me. My Christmas present, a Remington 870 Youth Express, will improve reliability of shot aimed in the direction of my target. This summer will be a learning time to see how well I can get to know the firearm before actually putting it to use. Spring Turkey season isn't far away here in Iowa. Just might get my landowners license and give the "new gun" a workout. Saw some rooster pheasants scampering across the fields. Hope their nesting spots will be safe from the over flow of melting snow. All of us who want a chance to bag our limit this fall wish them good conditions this spring for a good breeding season. Time to start getting activities of daily living underway here for today. Later folks ....have a super week!

Home Again

Thank you Lord! We returned home to our farmstead after a week away. My husband and I did have a nice stay with our daughter, her husband, and our grandchildren. Plus their little papillion doggie "wiggles". Thanks for the hospitality . ; ) We kept in contact with our neighbors across the road from us to see when we would be able to get back into the neighborhood. The water returned the same evening we left last week, but the electricity didn't come back on until Thursday , March 1st, late in the afternoon. As was forecast for Iowa we did get a replay of the bad weather starting earlier in the day on Thursday. It seemed to me though that the weather was worse for stranding motorists this time around. We weren't able to come home until Sunday after the majority of the storm finished Friday night. The wind was a big cause in our part of Iowa , it made the snow take on a more ominous character. When we heard that the snowplow came through to get the huge drifts reduced for vehicle traffic on our road we packed up our satchels and headed home. Once we got here we used the neighbors drive to park our car until we were able to walk our 1/2 mile drive to get the tractor. My husband had to move snow to allow us access in and out. Won't be long now. The days are getting longer and all of us will be headed outside again to enjoy our surroundings. Until next week then...Have fun!

Been awhile...

How have you been fairing these February days? Here in Iowa we have finally gotten what you call a "storm". Parts of the state have gotten a little snow, others have gotten freezing rain /snow, still others have received lots and lots of snow. Many people are without electricity and water. My husband and I fall into that category. Saturday noon , February 24th we were sitting down to lunch and the electricity blinked a couple of times and went totally out. In an effort to keep our water from freezing we kept the taps open a little bit through the night, again around noon on Sunday we lost another important means of existence, water. We had our propane left to cook with and to heat the area around the stove for a short time. The cold was becoming more prominent and starting to make leaving home a little easier. As we sat eating lunch Sunday, our breathe became visible when we exhaled. The telephone service was being taxed as well. Either by everybody trying to find alternate living arrangements or contacting loved ones in the affected areas. Our neighbor's tried to contact us via phone to invite us to share their basement with them, which they were able to keep at a balmy 50 degrees with the help of a kerosene heater. They also had wanted to have us share some stew made over a wood fueled open grill...What a kind gesture. However, we had already prepared our own, and had only become aware of their idea when my husband took our tractor down the drive to check on our exodus from the home front. We have taken up temporary quarters with our daughter and her family 32 miles from home. My husband plans on an excursion home after he leaves work this evening to make sure all is well in our absence. Iowa is on the list of states that are expecting more winter weather by mid-week. Guess we should get ready for the new round of "patience trying" extremes. Last week we saw temperatures in the upper 30's, 40's and I believe even into the 50's. Why couldn't it have lasted until Spring finally made it's appearance ? ; ) Time to wish everyone well...Hope you are safe and warm- with family, friends or in a hotel to escape the elements. Later!

Sad News

The past week began a new chapter in the lives of my husband and his brother. They were notified by a neighbor that their mother hadn't been seen by anyone, or wasn't answering her phone for the period of two days. It was discovered that she had gone on to meet Jesus, her elder brother, and can now stand with the saints in the presence of God. Lucy will be missed by all her family and friends.

It's a Remington

My husband and I did exchange gifts last Wednesday night , January 10th. The speculation that I was getting a shotgun had been laid to rest. It is a fact that he took counsel with our neighbor and returned to the local gun shop. The shotgun is a Remington, Model 870 Youth Express, Pump Action,21" barrel,20 gauge, Rem Choke. Otherwise known as a "Lady's Gun" as well... Because of my short stature other full sized shotguns are a bit hard for me to handle. Having control when it comes to aiming at a moving animal is a high priority. I am looking forward to the opening of the hunting seasons next fall...After a summer of practice with my gift I should be able to provide food for our table, harvested from our land. Thanks Honey !

Snow or Ice ?

What was the weather at your house? Snow or the ice that has caused a lot of damage through the south and Midwest ? Here in Iowa we had some freezing rain but not any huge accumulations like our neighbors around us have had to contend with. Then the snow arrived. The meteorologist had given a time frame for expected arrival - they were only an hour off. Maybe, because they were forecasting for the metro area not 35 miles into the boonies. We do have some beautiful white ground cover. Last night, at the "deer hour", they came to feed. The snow blowing, they chose to stay in the timber rather than to venture out to the bean field. I had to chase a year old buck away from chewing on the yew shrub out in front of the house. Before the snow began to pile up I chased a deer away from my flowerbed. Where a sweet william plant had greened up from our unseasonably warm temperatures. It had been sniffing the air , smelling the essence of nitrogen . I opened the back door and told it to find other things to eat. The skies have cleared, now the wind has picked up. We have some small drifts in the driveway within view of the window by my desk. Time to wrap this entry up ...Everybody stay warm!

Checkin' Back In

Did you have a good holiday ? We had a nice visit to North Dakota at the New Year. Got to experience some winter weather the day after our arrival . We woke up to falling snow on Saturday December 30th. It was accumulating on everything before our outing to Fargo . As we traveled to Fargo the weather had several changes. There was the mix between snow/rain, sleet/ice, freezing rain then to all liquid by the time we got to our destination at the "Fargo Air Museum". Spending not more than three hours in Fargo was a good idea! Our return to Valley City was really interesting as we retraced our tracks westward the weather had become more intense in our absence. Visibility declined even more just a mile west of Valley City where our family continued on their trek to reach home to the delight of their three doggie kids; Kahlua, Peaches and Peaches' son Champ. The Pheasant season has not concluded here in Iowa yet. By Wednesday the 10th it will be time to allow the population to have a chance to re-coup. I don't know of anyone who took any roosters from the adjacent area, not to say there wasn't success. Had to laugh this morning as I viewed the bean field outside my house. The rooster pheasant that comes at 8:20 to feed daily, more or less was running from his entrance point to the cover of longer foliage in the pasture on the other side. He was trying to avoid the attention he had received from the gun the last three days. Yes , It's true! He still lives to run the neighborhood... Haven't opened my Christmas present from my husband yet but I do know that it is a shotgun...Others have openly asked me how I like my "new shotgun"? I just smile and tell them " don't know I haven't opened it yet ; )" It isn't as if I won't get to use it this year...just not for another 9 1/2 months.