Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

--John Muir


Sometimes, whilst residing in Iowa, I remember that I haven't lived in California for over a year, and I miss it.

Old Crow Medicine Show

I saw one of my favorite bands in Des Moines on Friday. It was amazing. The seating was general admission and the crowd was pretty laid back, so even though we didn't show up very early we got seats about four rows from the front. We stood there for the first half, but after intermission we joined the crowd up at the stage so we were extra close. I could go on and on about how awesome the music was, but that would be boring. Instead, here are a few pictures I stole from my friend Anna, since I didn't take my camera. Hopefully she doesn't mind.

Best part: When they performed my favorite OCMS song, I Hear Them All.

Second best part: When Willie Watson threw his broken guitar string right to me!

Hallo-weenie

We went to see Paranormal Activity last night. I didn't sleep very well after that! Because I'm a weenie. Get it?!

Also, here are our lovely carved pumpkins:
**Please note, the one on the left is a scary face and the one on the right is a hummingbird!

Today.

It's like this.

Thanks for the video, skradepa.

Whiterock Conservancy

Two weekends ago, David and I visited Whiterock Conservancy, a land trust in west-central Iowa. The area is comprised of a 4300-acre central tract of land that ranges from restored savanna to soybean fields to pastures to woodland. The land is a gift from the Garst family of Iowa, and the Conservancy, established in 2004, is working to simultaneously practice conservation, sustainable land management and agriculture production, and recreation on the land.

We originally signed up to participate in a volunteer work day to help cut down trees and burn brush for savanna restoration, but unfortunately the work day was canceled because it was too wet. We were all ready to go though, so we still went and enjoyed some trails and good birding (48 species, including 14 species of sparrows).

The soybeans weren't my favorite feature of the landscape, but the trees around them were lovely.

Lots of honeylocust trees.

Giant thorns!

The Middle Raccoon River, along which most of the Conservancy land runs.

A chilly Western Chorus Frog found by a stream.

The Garst Home Farm, a 1940s era house (with much of its
furnishings and decor preserved) built by the Garst family.

Savanna-ish splendor.

Dave spending some quality time with Sibley's Field Guide to Birds.

Riverhouse Barn, constructed in the early 1900s. I liked it.

I took this picture for you, Lisa.

Delicious, scrumptious, amazing sweet tater fries.

I find that sweet potato fries taste even better when:
1. You know who grew them.
2. You helped dig them up yourself.
3. You eat them with homemade Mayo Ketchup (a fine Puerto Rican delicacy).

More BBC.

Maybe THIS is why the kakapo is so endangered.