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Monday, August 31, 2009

The Offutt Air Show

We headed north Friday, Ken had read in his AAA book about Council Bluffs Railroad Museums so we checked them out before checking in our motel in Bellevue, NE.
In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln created Union Pacific Railroad, and directed Union Pacific and Central Pacific to construct America's first transcontinental railroad from Council Bluffs, IA to Sacramento, CA. The route was completed in 1869.
The Union Pacific Railroad Museum is filled with information, photos, artifacts and it is free.We checked into the Rodeway Motel and low and behold we hear this roar, the Blue Angels were practicing over head, awesome!
Sat. we catch the shuttle out to Offutt Air Force base, we spend the day til 5:30 on our feet watching and walking thru some of planes and just trying to seeing everything.
Time to catch the shuttle back, lines are long and we stand for another hour and a half waiting to get on our shuttle....
but it was worth it, the show was none stop with WWII Japanese Zero and P-51 fighting demonstration complete with pyrotechnics, Cargo plane heritage flight, P-51 Heritage flight, F-16 Viper, B-2 Spirit flyover, MiG 17-F, A-26b Invader, U.S. Army Golden Knights, several stunt flyer's and of course the Blue Angels.
There was just too much to watch and see.
Sunday, we caught the first shuttle over to set up our chairs in the front so we could see what we missed Sat. We ended up sitting next to a photographer who used to work for an Air Show trade magazine, so he and Ken had a good visit.



The line for the shuttle Sunday was longer but they added more buses so we waited only an hour to get on the shuttle. We then headed home.
We had a great time.

Click on my collages to enlarge to see some of the photos I took.
I took over 400 and Ken took over 1200, digital cameras are great.




Thursday, August 27, 2009

Weekend Trip

This butterfly is trying to stay dry.
It doesn't feel like August, feels like October.
I'll have to dig out my jeans, long sleeves and a sweater.
We are heading north to see an airshow in Omaha.
Have a good weekend.







Wednesday, August 26, 2009

? Caterpillar ???

Saw this caterpillar on my walk today,
have never seen one like it.
Does anyway know what it is?
I looked through my books, closest is maybe a hairstreak.Tigger being coy
Finished sewing up a silk blouse
it's fitted, so it's tight.


It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled,
but it is a calamity not to dream.
Benjamin Mays



Sunday, August 23, 2009

back to airshow

We watched K.C. Airshow from the cheap seats today (free)
up on the hill over looking the airport.
You'll have to click to enlarge to see the red plane in this pic, it is a Soviet Mig
here's an F-16

here's an interested spectator



Other spectators
many with picnic baskets (the smart ones)


and a T-6 Texan WWII trainer over the city.
It was hard for me to get photos today, they were further away.
Remember, I'm using a point and shoot but it is nice to have the city as a background.





Trails West Festival

Sat. we tried something new, went up to St. Joe's Trails West Festival.
It's held in a beautiful park setting downtown.
There was lots of food.Some art
some crafts


a large area for kids to have fun






entertainment of all sorts
(I even got my certificate in organ grinding)





great music
(this is Flannigan's Right Hook)
we enjoyed them so much we took in both of their shows






we watched country star Heidi Newfield warm up
for her 8 pm concert
(we didn't stay for it)




St. Joe has some really beautiful old homes and churches






We need to go back and do a museum tour one of these days.









Friday, August 21, 2009

Airshow

Spent the day watching the planes practise for
this weekends airshow.Beautiful day, here are a few photos.

Going up

Upside down

Criss Crossing




Formation




Harrier hovering





Thursday, August 20, 2009

Oh What a Beautiful Day

The sun was out and temp around 60 degrees this am.Perfect temp to go for a morning walk
and an afternoon visit to a nature center

where this Satyr was taking a sun bath



and the frogs enjoying the sun, too


back at home a hairstreak enjoys some sedum nector.




I also finished my jacket and pants this morning, have my vest to make now.
Summer afternoon - summer afternoon;
to me those have always been the two most beautiful
words in the English language.
Henry James






Wednesday, August 19, 2009

A couple of photos

Ken took this shot with my camera today.
We didn't get much rain today most of it went south.I got one chance and one shot of this Clearwing moth,
this is the first one I've seen this year.
Your world is as big as you make it. Georgia Douglas Johnson


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

A day without rain

We have had about 4 inches of rain in a 48 hour period but today was dry, unfortunately more
rain is predicted for the next couple of days. The Giant Swallowtail caterpillar has grown.
The leaves on our maple are beginning to turn,
where has the summer gone?
We went to town and picked up a couple of things,
I decided to treat myself to a magazine the 40% off coupon helped.
I've been needing a little art therapy!
Although, I have been enjoying working on a couple of sewing projects.
I just may have a new outfit finished for my neice's wedding in Sept.


Saturday, August 15, 2009

BBQ contest and fly in weekend

This weekend our little town is hosting a fly in at the airport and a BBQ contest down on our main street. Last night the ReMax balloon was back giving rides and
an Apache helicopter was on display as well as
entertainment on the street and refreshment vendors.Here is a pic of our Mayor taking ride in the balloon, it's tendered so you don't
go up to far. We did it when the balloon was giving rides
during Waterfest.
Ken went to the airport to check out the fly in, not many there as
rain was predicted for today.
(So far only a sprinkle.)
Maybe tomorrow will have a better showing.

This Goldfinch was helping itself to our coneflower seed heads.
Nice to be able to look out our back door and watch the birds and
every now and then get a photo.
Yesterday, we saw the movie Julie and Julia, it was very good.
I cried and laughed at the same time!
Today, I sewed up a knit outfit, pants and vest.
The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time.
Richard Cecil


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Caught up

Ken found a Monarch caterpillar in the garden this morning,
it looks like it's near it's time to change to a chrysalis.We have been seeing more Monarch butterflies
so we can tell it's the start of their migration.
Did anyone see the Perseids Meteor shower?
We couldn't get ourselves up at that hour to go look, maybe
tonight. Ha!
I've been watching our hummingbird feeder,
it's time for juveniles to visit the feeders, not that I could tell if they
were juvenile or not.
August is the start of their migration too, so I'm watching
the feeder in case a Rofus stops in for a drink.
Hey, it could happen.
Happy Birthday, Bruce!

Monday, August 10, 2009

back to watching nature

This Summer Tanager posed for me this morning as I walked the campground. In our garden, we found some Black Swallowtail cats on our dill,
and this Giant Swallowtail cat on our roe
we haven't spotted any Monarch caterpillars yet.


I got the RV unloaded and did 4 loads of laundry today,
I just have to do some cleaning in the RV now.
We had a nice thunderstorm last night which helped the yard and garden and
cool us down some for a while.
Katie has joined us now for some lap time.



Sunday, August 9, 2009

Back home

We enjoyed the closing fireworks last night, they did put up one balloon to glow and give an opportunity for people to go out and take pics of it .We visited Buxton Park this morning while waiting to the sweetcorn people to set up, Ken wanted to get more of the Grimes corn.
The flowers are gorgeous, so many through out town too, they have some of the prettiest yards.
A storm is approaching Central IA so we decide to head home.
We know our street will be hard to get through much less try to park the RV on during the weekend, so we are spending tonight at Watkins State Park, needed to dump our tanks here anyway.
We checked on the cats, freshened up their food and water, Boo was the happiest to see us home as he meowed welcome and desired some lap time.
We won't see Katie for a day or so she has to play who are you guys to leave me here alone with these nasty cats.
I believe I will enjoy a glass of IA wine.



Saturday, August 8, 2009

Classic Cars

The last day of the Balloon Festival is too windy for the balloons to fly.
There still is the Wine Festival, music and fireworks tonight.
We read about this car show in Ankeny, The Albaugh Classic, and decided to see it.
Well, it is a big car show at Albaugh headquarters and on his golf course.
Here is a sample of the cars brought there.

Dennis Albaugh has a collection of 130 cars.



Here's his Vette's.




Ken enjoying himself!!!





Dennis' collection of old Chevy's.




He also has a collection of manuals and other car related memorabilia.





100% of the proceeds today went to Ankeny High School, I believe they did very well.