25 July, 2009 -- Katydid didn't, but the kitties did... ow ow ow ow

Ow, ow ow ow owwwww ow


Raining this morning, so the kitties were milling around in the hangar. I had been tormenting Briggs by tickling his belly, he had been swatting back at me. Then he spotted black Bitty, and he abandoned me to give her a couple of swipes, bap slap smack... and the war was ON!

Foraging for tomatoes and green beans for my supper, I spotted this tomato plant that has been chewed. I know the katydid didn't do it. I'll find the tobacco hornworm in the morning, maybe.
And, it isn't a katydid, it's a praying mantis. But the "mantis didn't do it, but the kitties did" doesn't make as good a headline.

Went across the road to feed Roy's kitties while they (Roy & Loretta, not the kitties) are in OK, and this flower got in my way, so I shot it.

24 July, 2009 -- Not Oshkosh traffic, yet

Just locals. Scott M rented the 140 Cherokee at Bolivar. Newt in the Cessna 172 was giving his grandson Nate a ride, and Mac fueled up his Bonanza for a trip to OSH (both Mansfield based). The drag race car is a beauty!

The city sent out a brush-hog to trim the new seeding along the runway. Tim got the east end finished, and made a couple of passes along the south side.

The day was a beauty! That's the only cloud, it appeared late in the day. And the sun just seemed to melt out of that cloud, or was it a space ship...

And then I went back outside later ...

It ain't over 'til it's over...

23 July, 2009 -- Chips, Ahoy

I spotted this truck this morning, looks like the doors are open!

This is what Fonda spotted in Iowa.


Passion flowers

22 July, 2009 -- That was then, this is now (or, this afternoon)

Fog, drizzle... heading out for Marshall this morning.

At Marshall, who???? Yes, it's Line Boy Lloyd, complete with white straw hat! His ears were getting sunburned, wearing his usual ball cap.

That's the new pilot, Roland from St. Louis area, flying the Ag Truck. Randy was in and out with the Ag Husky, but I didn't get his picture.

21 July, 2009 -- Ten wheeler ready to roll

In the morning, transporting the van to Marshall, then dragging the tow dolly home with the VW. We just shuffle, shuffle shuffle.
Rained almost all day, only recorded 3/4 inch. I think it was more. But since the new roof drains off in front of the hangar now, maybe it just seems like it rained more. Sure was cool, I'm not sure it really is late July! 58 degrees tonight

21 July, 2009 -- Rainwater, and water under the bridge

My rainwater collection system. Well, it works.


Mike Hall's flight jacket. He'd like this drizzly humid night... can't fly, but can go barefoot in the summer night. Mike lived in Las Vegas, flew a 172, never saw humidity higher than 10 percent, except in LA occasionally. I'll bet he never saw fog. Mike and cousin Jody flew me over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, and got me hooked on flying. The scenery was spectacular, with the Grand Canyon; can the Ozarks compete with that... yeah, I think so.
Jody gave me Mike's leather flight jacket... I think Alaska would be a good place for Mike's jacket to be flying. Randy will be flying in Yakutat in September! Perfect!

It's not the moon, just a random raindrop caught by the flash. Serendipity!

Grack

20 July, 2009 -- Happy Birthday to my babies

Fonda, July 15

Grant, July 20

19 July, 2009 -- Almost Grant's birthday

Wouldn't want to embarass Grack by posting this on his birthday...
so I'll put it up a day early. Do you think I should call him at
4 a.m on Monday morning to wish him a happy 39th birthday?????
Aw, let him sleep... it was really 6 a.m. Just because I woke up at 4 a.m.,
should we punish him for that...


Ben and Dave and Hailey took a late evening joyride...
the air up there was "buttery smooth"!

Wonder what this wildflower might be called...
Juanita's on an Alaska cruise, so can't ask expert...