Celebrating Another Birthday

Today is a Mile Marking Birthday for me. I'm adding a Zero to the sum total of all the time I've been a citizen of this planet.

Thank you God for the years you've given me to be a light to someone elses path.I have to thank my husband Corey for sharing this vocal artist and his songs of praise early in our relationship. They meet my needs at different stages in my life.

Thank you for joining me today to celebrate my birthday!

You have a Great Day!

Fourth Annual Marshalltown Fly-in

I want to invite those that have  Saturday, September 16,2017 from 7A.M. - 11 A.M. open on your schedule...It's a come and visit for a little while and then you can take off to fulfill the rest of the schedule for the day. Maybe even come and have some breakfast if you don't want to pull out the griddle...give yourself a weekend break.

                                                       Hope to see you there!

                                                                 Have a Great Day!

Solar Eclipse 2017

A week ago Corey and I  had one of the greatest opportunities of our lifetime together.

Along with many other die-hard astronomy  hobbyist we ventured  to a point in the United States easily accessible to us and other family members.

Our trek took us to Kirksville,Mo. on Sunday afternoon. A way point between where we could decide early the next morning,August 21st, what direction to go to find the clearest sky.

All weather reports at 4:00 A.M. on Monday had rain in the western section of  the Eclipse Path in Missouri...So, we headed off towards two other potential locations in the St. Louis area to get as much sun - camera exposure as possible.

At Columbia, where cloud cover was encircling our travel corridor we headed East towards our destination of Washington,Mo. to meet family, before deciding whether to seek the first planned destination at Saint Clair, to get an additional 11 seconds added to our documentation experience.

 The State of Missouri prepared  those who may not been aware already of the heavenly changes about to take place during the daytime travel time.

We came across this warning twice from Columbia to Warrenton.

It truly would be a shock if the skies grew dark at noon.Which they did!

I'm hiding in plain sight to the back left by the open car door.

One of our candid family moments at the Waters/Yoest home as we chose to stay with our larger family group for the total Eclipse.

It definitely was a blessing to witness one of God's magnificent natural events with others who waited expectantly for the appointed time....

Corey was able to get some fantastic eclipse stages starting at the right and working your way to the left. We had both Corey's camera and my camera in operation with Corey manning them both...His brother Bryan was able to coach him into great results with a 5-minute primer on my camera settings.

Here's a Great Big Thank You for Family, Food, and Fellowship!

Have a Great Day!

Crop Duster

We go through the summer season here at Timber Life with our eyes to the sky.

Actually, I guess we could say that about anytime of the year. Life gives us so many wonderful things to focus upon. 

The other day I heard a familiar sound floating about the neighborhood. My curiosity got the best of me.Just had to look!

I knew it could be a Crop Duster beginning the task of blanketing the corn, to protect it from the damage caused by unchecked insect populations. So, of course I grabbed my camera and headed outside!

This was a turn around trip to get headed back over an adjacent field. There were a few of them to cover the area.

A few times while I watched the plane,I smiled due to the proximity of the plane to the trees.

I knew the pilot had experience from the way he was darting and dipping, up and over the terrain.

After the first couple of trips over the field pictured above I took refuge inside the backdoor to continue shooting pictures.

I wish I could have gotten an under belly shot of the aircraft passing directly over the Ridge of the roof.

As you may have gathered already, I like taking aerial shots of flying objects from a ground elevation.

This was a finishing shot ...Time for the plane to pass on to another section,to supply a film of protection for the investment already planted.

Have a Great Day !

Garden of Eatin'

Last year I had a great year for garden produce in the Garden of Eatin' ,after not seriously planting a garden for years it was a wonderful reward.

Although a challenge  came in July, when I came down with a Pneumonia like respiratory ailment, I continued to harvest and share what the garden provided.

The planting season of 2016 allowed me to have most of my harvesting done  by early  September...I had bunches of pumpkins,and varied squashes as the year of plenty came to a close.

This year, I've had somewhat of a setback for getting things accomplished. Timing  and the determination to get things haven't always gone hand-in-hand.

I did find some great looking tomatoes and a calibrachoa to plant at Victorian Acres  south of Adventureland in Altoona.

Pictured to our left is an Heirloom Tomato variety called Mortgage Lifter.

It is a Beefsteak variety that can reach up to 2 lbs. per fruit, an indeterminate plant that sprawls to nine feet.

The developer of the breed is said to be Willam Estler of Barboursville, West Virginia, in 1922, but not register by him until 1932.

Questions have been raised about whether, or not Mr. Estler was  actually the developer, since some sources of information attribute  development to M.C. "Radiator Charlie" Byles in Logan, West Virginia in the early 1930's. I've heard it became a form of income during the Depression. Possibly another questionable fact passed through the generations?

I'll have to let you know at a later time if I get a harvest.

This year I bought Burpee's Better Boy plants for the cages

 I planted 6 tomatoes in the garden,4 in cages and 2 left to sprawl,all of them have constant prunings that will probably continue as the new growth emerges.

Then planted to the right of the caged tomatoes were 3 - Eggplants, and 8 Pepper plants. Yesterday, 1 Eggplant and 4 Pepper plants still are rooted.

To the back of the garden I planted green beans.The green beans have been nibbled down to the junction under the first set of leaves after reaching what appeared to be a promising future. Harvest not expected....

Many years ago I manufactured my own tomato cages from concrete reinforcing wire. I had been disappointed by the ones provided in the retail establishments. Now, I can have healthy TOMATO PLANTS.

 One of my favorite tomatoes now is the Russian Black Krim.
It's one of those items that was introduced to me by another person who found it to be tasty. My Mom always was trying things...I saw it advertised in the Heirloom  sections of the seed catalogs, but of course taking that step to try it only came after some produce sampling and encouragement from one who couldn't grow it on her own.

It is a dark fleshed, firm, sweet fruit and well worth a try if you aren't familiar with it already.

 I continue to look for a possible tomato harvest from the interior of the tomato cages and as a backup, a potted plant. 

Not to give total authority to the denizen of the Timber I planted two pepper plants in pots as well.

Here's wishing you all, "Have a Great Day!"

Part of My 2017 Denizen of Timber Life...Aren't they cute?!?!?

Iowa Falls July 4th Fly-in

The morning came early for me, so I bided my time by checking the weather, and watching conditions out the backdoor as the sun rose.

The plans to attend the Iowa Falls July 4th Fly-in were in a brief holding pattern due to developing fog in the area. Pulling up the AWC Aviation weather we plotted our course for ground travel since the Voisin 35 is still in the shop .

The wind generators along HWY 65 were shrouded with fog on our way north.

There were two planes that stopped the show for me...

The Jet in center stage is called the Milleneum Phenom, made alot of  us  take time to snap some pictures.

Interesting to know that it hails from Mason City. Awesome Plane!!!

Then the second plane that made waves for me was the amphibian version of the Cessna 182T plane,also flying in from Mason City.

Due to the weather there wasn't a large number of aircraft while we were at the airport, but I've shared the ones that caught my eye. A few even attended the EAA 675 Fly-in on September 16,2016 Checkout my Facebook page to see my collection there...please click here

Here's hoping you had a safe 4th as well.

Have a Great Day!

Our Celebration

We found ourselves back in river country to celebrate our Anniversary...

The Saylorville Dam park system is a favorite spot for almost any special occasion in our book. They have some really nice shelters that provide grills on the inside,  put a fire in the Barbecue for ambiance on a cool day, or if you like the outdoor grilling experience you can find that too.

Eyes to the Sky were key words for the after barbecue festivities.We kept our eyes scanning all sides of the river and the airspace around us...
 

Blue Herons - Photo by Corey Butcher

Blue Heron - Photo by Dianna Butcher

Blue Heron - Photo by Dianna Butcher

 

If it isn't one kind of bird it's another! Photo by Dianna Butcher

 We found ourselves  beginning to have some competition with strong breezes and developing clouds. It was a surprise to see this little Cirrus circling Ankeny airspace in the pattern it had chosen.

Photo by Dianna Butcher

If you've reached some years of  life experiences,do you ever go back to see your first home? Whether it be where you lived as a child growing up, or maybe after the schooling and onto the becoming Man and Wife part of life.

You've heard the word "We" used multiple times in this post; of course that was the subject for the day.

We decided to check-out our humble beginning.

As a young married couple we lived south of  Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. We didn't attend but had the opportunity to meet some fine individuals that were apart of the Music Ministry studies at the time. I was invited to play their piano that occupied a great deal of space within their apartment. My knowledge of the keyboard wasn't as great as theirs but was told my sight reading ability was good. I smiled and said "Thank you"...

Well, it's time to close this little post and wish everyone a "Have a Great Day!"

We Celebrate Today

What a Wonderful day the Lord gave us to become Man and Wife! On June 28,1975, at Noble Center United Methodist Church, we stood before God,our officiating Pastor ,friends and family.

We shared our vows 42 years ago with the people that were/are important to us in our lives. Our paths with some haven't been crossed since that time. However, the memories still remain.

Our family is grown now...We have just experienced the High School Graduation of our oldest Grandchild. All of our life events continue to add to our relationship.

I'm honored to share with you and to still call him my Husband and Helpmate given to me by God...Corey Butcher.