16 July, 2009 -- Storm, turmoil, agitation...

Looks like rain..... (Oh, Puleeeeeeze don't take our roof again...)

Yup, it's rain, all rightey.....



But all that storm was "nuthin" compared to the turmoil at our MPA meeting this evening!
Well, it's all for show, there's a running practical joke, a prank, and Ray's the instigator of course. (President Jerry doesn't stand a chance).

14 July, 2009 -- Taxi service

Drove to Marshall this afternoon, picked up Randy, drove home, almost 4 hours each way. He will put the new prop on the Ag Truck, then fly back to Marshall. They are still spraying corn in MO, haven't got the call to go to Iowa yet. (Didn't fly up to get him, the weather was crappy here and there when I left at 3; an hour later, and it was vfr. Who-da-thunk-it, so much rain in July).

Editing the photos, and I don't have Photoshop on this computer, so am using GIMP, freeware. It's supposed to be simple, but the menus are all different. "Paint" on steroids.
Anyway, it was a pretty sunset after eating supper with Lloyd and Lloyd.
It's really the 15th, and Happy Birthday Fonda. Won't tell how old. After all, it's not official until 4 pm.

12 July, 2009 -- JT & Kim

At the great social meeting place, visited with JT and Kim, Jan and Jamie and Jared.
JT is in the Army, pilots those unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, and is home for a short visit before deployment again. He's a sergeant now.
Once upon a time JT would stay at the airport with us, sleep on the floor under the kitchen table (it was a little place). He had a few adventures with me in Toby, the Aeronca Chief, and he and Roy went with me to Harrison, AR for the airshow in the Archer.
Happy Anniversary, JT & Kim! One year July 4.

11 July, 2009 -- not enough rain

Tornado warning tonight... so what do I do, go outside and photograph the storm going by. We got a sprinkle, lucky I guess. Had my laptop bagged up to run for cover, so am working on the old HP pc, don't have Pshop, using freeware GIMP. Learning all over again!
More tomorrow... I missed the best pic of the day, Mikey under the instrument panel of the 180, fixing an electrical problem (hopefully fixing). I was the tool go-fer, and the 5 gallon fuel-B for the racing crowd.
Then mowed the runway, after John landed in the 180.

10 July, 2009 -- Crossing the active

Taxiing to the north, crossing midfield, runway 08/26, she wasn't in any hurry to clear the active.

I guess the morning half inch of rain encouraged her to come out of hiding.

9 July, 2009 -- Classic

Cub Coupe... 1940's era, it was here a few days ago.

Roy's mowing hay again.

7 July, 2009 -- Reached in to get a tomato...

Well, I didn't reach in too far for that tomato. Just a garter snake, and right next to the fake snake. Ah, romance...

Flew to Kansas this morning to start the MU corn survey. Battery going down again, so I came back home. 'Twas clouding up, anyhow. No wind, sure was a pretty day to fly!

Waiting for the work crew.

Waiting for no one... this guy from Florida was headed for the backwoods of Idaho to spend his vacation fishing in the mountain streams.

July 5, 2009 -- Life back to normal

Air Tractor heading for Des Moines.
I suppose our guys will be heading to Iowa, too.

4 July, 2009 -- Fireworks

Shoot for the moon! (composite of four photos, a little "moonwriting").

These were city fireworks.

Neighbors on their pond bank. I couldn't figure out that green thing, it was an out-of-focus blob in some of the pics... a light stick around the kid's neck. I used the 300 mm lens, and had to enlarge quite a bit, they were about 500 feet away. Sort of Halloweenish, I did quite a bit of playing around with the time exposures, and zooming and wiggling the camera, some are straight anchored shots.


Vehicle headlights and taillights leaving the area, just a jiggly time exposure.

OK, Fonda... let's see what you shot on the fourth!

July 4, 2009 -- Flying, let's talk about flying

Cub Cadet, about 1940's, in for the class reunion at Mtn. Grove.

John in his RV4, in from the 4th of July parade flyover at Willow Springs.

Don, in the Skybolt, in from his aerobatic routine for the alumni celebration in Mtn. Grove.

Sonny and Wayne, talking about flying. They came out to greet Don before he left for home at Everton. The wind had picked up after a rain shower, and it was a blustery afternoon.


Later, BBQ at the house, fireworks displays all around... City big ones, neighbors little ones... boom boom pop pop sizzle fizzle... Great evening to celebrate being an American with friends!