8 March, 2011 -- Strollers

These jakes spent about two hours strolling in the neighbor's pasture,
lunching and just mall-walking.


This mob was milling around and showing off by the runway a few days ago,
and just faded away over the hill when I turned the airplane around.

4 March, 2011 -- Light show

Big 'un crashed right outside my window, but by the time
I had the camera set up, it was mostly gone, just some
cloud to cloud flashes.
The star is a yard light, the other "ufo" lights are water drops
on the lens.




These were blooming at the EAA hangar in Willow Springs.

1 March, 2011 -- I don't know how they do it

Earth movers...
How does the crocus always seems to know when it's almost spring,
push aside the dirt and debris and pop out clean and bright?
They don't have much greenery to store up energy for
the next season; I don't know how they do it.


Whoa! Now here's an earth mover!
Earthquake magnitude 4.7, centered at Greenbrier, AR on Feb., 27 at 11:00:50 p.m.
North of Little Rock, that's 130 miles south of Mtn. Grove.

At 11:03 p.m., I was sitting at my computer, and the mobile home swayed twice from side to side.
Two minutes to go 130 miles? Incredible.

It was just a gentle rocking motion, no shaking or rattling, and I wasn't even sure it was an earthquake. There were storms in the neighborhood, but that wasn't a thunderclap, for sure! My computer clock is 4 seconds off from my cell phone, so I guess that's pretty accurate.
I read on the Arkansas Geological Survey site that 6,926 people have responded to the quake.
There have been many little ones in late Feb., (see that chart), part of a "swarm", which is not uncommon.
http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-sunday-night-earthquake-felt-in-the-ozarks-20110227,0,5871890.story
http://www.geology.ar.gov/geohazards/earthquakes.htm

25 Feb., 2011 -- Planes. Pirate Ships. Submarines. Treasures

Look at that February sky... it didn't last long.


Launch that Pirate Ship, LAD!

Now, SINK that Pirate Ship! Aaaaargh, matey!


Cap'n LAD calls those bombs "submarines, 'cause they go unnerwater... aaaaargh, matey!

These photos are entitled "Kid in the House".

Just when I get used to the "dodge-em dance", he has to go home! Waaa.


Treasure hunt! Found a geocache with itty-bitty farm animals; found a big black truck box with lots of nails and screws in it (couldn't get into one side, it was locked... a REAL treasure for another day. I said real pirates would shoot off the lock; he said, pirates don't have guns, they would... uh... ); found Dad's pickup truck that he hadn't seen in about a year, the "Jelly Bean"; found the nerf rockets and had a war with G'ma Airplane (she lost); and the really neatest treasure, a set of WHEELS! Stashed them under the deck for the next adventure! Aaaaargh

Feb. 18, 2011 -- It's like spring this week! Flying!

Randy tested the engine installation on the Husky.
It's ready for the spring season.

Arnie and Ron used the new broadband internet,
checked weather and filed a flight plan for Illinois.




I ferried Sandy's Warrior from Springfield back to Willow after
its annual inspection. I finally figured out how to use the radio
on the 430 GPS. (Looked it up on the internet last week).

When I arrived at 1H5, Clint, Berlin, Tom, Ben and Phyllis
were next door putting the engine on Clint's Jenny fuselage.

It's a complicated project! How many triangles are there???

13 Feb., 2011 -- Winter work, and play

New engine. Simple, eh?
Drag it out into the sunshine...

Run 'er up...



Saturday, that Champ from Ava came by, didn't land. But then,
who would? Thanks for the pics, Cindy!


What better way to endure cold weather than...
Ice Cream!


LAD in Iowa... with his painted up snow- Twiggie.
And he's so graceful... (I want those snowshoes!!!)

Feb. 11, 2011 -- Two one one, two O one one

Bird book says the American Kestrel, a falcon, or sparrow hawk, mainly eats insects.
This time of year? Maybe smaller birds? He's not by the bird feeder, anyway. Scenery was nice today, temps warming up, snow getting wet and heavy. Probably will be gone tomorrow.

I upgraded my fashionable ski outfit today.
Mr. Nosy had to inspect the gear.


And breaking news from Jefferson City...

"Oh, No! They Found Us!"

"Eat Them, I'm Stale!"
(Grant just emailed me these exciting photos.)

10 Feb., 2011 -- Skiing in the Ozarks

I have my own private ski hill here in MOUNTAIN Grove, loosely based on the designs of Aspen Mountain, Vail and Steamboat Springs, which I frequented back in high school. When I graduated in 1961, lift ticket at Aspen was $8.00 a day. Today, day rate at Aspen is $96.00 a day, Vail's $105.00 a day. Aspen has a 56 inch base and 11 inches of new snow on 675 acres with 64 miles in 76 trails, 3 miles longest run, from 8,000 feet to 11,000 feet summit.
My MOUNTAIN is a little bit less extensive, designed on 10 acres, with 3 trails (one uphill, one downhill, one on the flats) in .7 miles, elevation varies from 1465 to 1505 feet summit. Preferred method to get to the summit, walking.
Wildlife abounds, and sometimes it's difficult to maneuver with Stinker-Cat milling around the boots. And while paused to enjoy the glorious silence and scenery, a hint of REAL stinker essence wafts from the bushes. (It gives real incentive to hustle back to the top of the run, and being armed is not discouraged).

There is a great thrill in making the first tracks in the fresh snow!

Aw, somebody beat me to it.

At the start of the big downhill run...

Scoot the critters out of the way, and push off!

Ooh, steep!

Wasn't that a rush???

No long lift-lines here!


I guess you know, I really don't want to be here...
I'm just a roadie, following along...


Always, always be fashionable.