July Honey: Hot, Sticky and Sweet.

 Uncap frames

 

 extract honey

 Sweet liquid gold.

Side note:  as I write this post about two dozen canadian geese dropped down into the field to pick up any loose oats lying around.  As I heard the honking and saw the rise of geese, I spotted theyoung coyote that had flushed the flock from their morning feeding
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Rocking at the Hairball with BoB!

 After a morning of trout fishing with my brothers .  I hooked with the Ragbrai crew and my adopted brother  B0b.

First stop.  Joe and Vicky Price for a little taste of the Blues.

 The first of several bike rides past the Campanile on the UNI campus.

Several traditions are associated with the Campanile.  First, tradition has it that because there were formerly so few men on campus, a male student would call a woman student at random and ask her to meet him at the Campanile at a particular time.  He would then wait in the bushes.  If he did not like her appearance, he would leave her waiting, go back to his room, and set up a similar date with someone else.According to another tradition, a woman did not become a full-fledged co-ed until she had been kissed at midnight under the Campanile.

 The catholic student center sits at the former location of the BEE HIVE.  I like to think of it as a shrine in honor of our years spent growing up at the campus.

 I hooked up with Bob down on the hill for a beverage and pizza at the "Other Place".

 As the evening rolled in the bikers rolled in as well and they were ready to rock!

 Hairball is a Rock & Roll experience you won't forget. A band puts on a concert - Hairball puts on an event! The lights, sound, video screens, smoke, fire, blood, bombs, confetti, spiders, snakes & monsters (oh my) and the screaming hoards of rabid Hairball fans create an event - an event that hits you so hard!

  Rock & Roll will NEVER die!!!

 Odey and I photo bombed by a few hundred of the Ragbrai Hair Ball fans

Trout Fishing In North Eastern Iowa.

 My two brothers and I got together to fish and camp for a couple a days in North Eastern Iowa.

 First stop was Backbone State Park a place we all spent lots of time fishing with our father years ago.

 I was feeling bad for Steve and Greg as I caught several small  pan fish and they hadn't even had a bump.  Then I hooked into a nice trout in the deep cool, clear waters at the upper end of the lake.  But, as I went to land it, it shook off the hook.

 It wasn't long before both of them landed several trout. 

I caught several more crappies and missed another trout and that was it for me.

Back at the campground we met up with the park ranger who was one of Greg's buddies and the attendant who was a former student of mine.

I got to try out the Tsunami for sleeping and realized the bed needs a little more cushion to make things more comfortable. 

 Good night Steve.

 Up early the next day.  I got the fire rekindled and cooked up a hardy breakfast before we took off for another fishing trip.

We caravaned  over the Elk creek for some more trout fishing.

 I had a little better success but still got out fished by both Steve and Greg.

But, that really didn't matter.  We had a great time and we'll be hitting another stream again soon.

Out With The Old In With The New

 Well it's time for an upgrade.  I sold my 71 with the great interior and now I've got "Tsunami" a 76 with all kinds of great up grades.

 Howard got the job of driving the 71 to it's new home north of town.  But, I'm sure I will be seeing it out and about in Jackson Co.

 Here's something new...
Susie and I have been milking goats for our friends from down the road, Kyle and Alishia.  So, they can get away for the weekend.

 Susie took right to it. 

 Each girl was different and had her own personality.

 Good stream of fresh goat milk.

 You've got to do something with all that milk.  
Susie made awesome hot lattes and stretching the mozzarella curds.

   Alisha made some great hunami cheese too

 Nothing could be betta than Susie's Fetta.

 Cheese for friends.

 But not this guy.  A young skink. Five-lined skinks also exhibit antipredation behavior. In evasion of various predators including snakes, crows, hawks, shrews, moles, opossums, skunks, raccoons, and domestic cats, skinks may disconnect their entire tail or a small segment. Skinks run to shelter to escape their distracted predators as the disconnected tail continues to twitch. Skinks may also utilize biting as a defensive strategy

 Or this little black rat snake. They are skillful climbers.   They will climb high into trees to capture prey or lie and wait in a tree cavity for an unsuspecting bird.













I myself prefer a cool Crank Yanker

Bring on the Fun!

 We had a great little picnic with Beau at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science before we hit the road for home.

 Thirteen hours later, we're back home safe and sound with a couple of happy hounds.

 Scout and Jill had us over for the Heritage Day Parade.  The girls were looking good with their colorful drinks. 

 Jose' as Uncle Sam, walking tall.  

 Vets

 Tractors

 Families

 Horses

 And  F U N ! ! !