Fabulous Fishing in the Famous Flint Hills with Friends

The day, Monday August 30th, dawned cloudy and cool. My friend, Curtis Drevets, a retired physician had invited me to accompany him and his carver friend Don, to a day of fishing at  Kimbell Ranch. The ranch has about 30,000 acres of grassland with numerous ponds and lakes. Ed Kimbell, the owner, is a third generation rancher. His grandfather homesteaded in the late 1800's. They provide their grasslands for hundreds of heads of cattle. At this time most of them have gained the requisite 800 pounds and are on their way to feed yards to finish the fattening process prior to slaughter.

We arrived at the ranch about 8 AM. We went into the ranch house to pay our respects and visit with Mr. Kimbell and his foreman, Clint. After coffee and discussions involving cattle and fishing we were off to the first pond where we caught only a few bass. Then we moved on to the larger lake ringed with oak trees. It has a barbed wire fence gate, that requires a ranchers knack to open.

Fishing was better at this lake, with Curt catching the most as usual. We were ready to leave in the early  afternoon. Reporting back to the ranch house and fileting the catch was next. Three happy and tired fishermen arrived back in Wichita about 4 o'clock.

Bird Bias Behavior on Bordeulac

I used to think the saying "birds of a feather flock together" was in the bible somewhere, but my research has found that the saying didn't appear until around 1599.

Anyhow, on the lake that is adjoining our property, and which is the source of much of my ramblings, provides some interesting events. The event I am describing is not new, but today I got a picture. I am also enclosing a picture of one of the winter goose gatherings, which the swans were not able to control.

There are two resident swans on the lake. No one is for sure about their gender but they have been seen attempting to mate, unsuccessfully. One has a lesion on it's back that a vet has said was malignant. Anyhow, they are very possessive of their water territory, especially when it comes to the Canada goose. They don't seem to mind the Mallard ducks.We have seen more than 200 geese on the lake in the winter. Most of them are up north for the summer but a few always stay around. When they fly in, the swans go on the prowl and chase them off the water. It's OK to be on the grass, but when they try to get in the water the swan fluffs the wings and swims quickly after them. The geese meekly surrender and sometimes just fly away. I'm not sure about any human application here but you, the reader, can come up with a multitude of circumstances I'm sure.

Fish

Our home borders a small lake that has a reputation for some large fish. A neighbor's grandson broke the fishing pole trying to land a large catfish. My grandson Nate, had a large fish break the line last week. Today, a largemouth bass gave me a tussle until I was able to land it even though the line broke as it neared the bank. The line that is on the reel is a 6# test. My fish scale showed it weighed 6 pounds. After the obligatory pictures, the large fish was returned to the water, to perhaps excite another fisherman some day.

More Sunsets

Seasons of Life

Songs and stories about the seasons of life, i.e. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter appear occasionally. While I am definitely in the Fall season of life, this blog is about the sunsets of life. I have a number of the iconic sunsets that sit around unobserved, but by virtue of the wonders of the computer I am able to display some that I have kept around.

58

What does 58 mean? Lots of different things of course. For example the infamous Nero was Emperor of Rome in 58 A.D. In the old testament, Psalm 58 speaks of punishment but also reward for the righteous. But, to Bettylou and Joe, it means the 58th year of marriage. What happened on that day, May 24, 1952?

As I was walking into the church, Hough Avenue Baptist on Hough Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, a lightning flash was followed by a tremendous clap of thunder. Did that have any ominous portent of things to come? Not really. It did release a colossal downpour of rain. Jane Bennet told Bettylou later that her shoes were soaked! The wedding attendants were all there, some a little damp. Gretchen Milner Hurst was the pretty young junior maid of honor. Her father, Bob, was the unofficial photographer. Donald McDonald (father of Gordon) was the officiating minister. Ken Grigsby sang. Janet Lewis Woods was the organist. My best man, Jim Mahoy, a classmate from high school and roommate from college, commented on the large crowd in attendance. My attendant, Kermit Heidt, a classmate from Ohio State veterinary college, tied my shoelaces together. Bettylou's cousin, Martha Sprout Metz, from Parkersburg, WV was the matron of honor. Her husband Elzie, was very busy dashing around Cleveland picking up various last minute necessities. Carol Bergen, friend of Bettylou was a bridesmaid.

The reception was a wedding gift from good friends Gretchen and Bob Milner. It was held at the charming Chagrin Falls home of George Milner, where his granddaughter Gretchen Milner Hurst and her husband, Dr. Bud, now reside. We drove off in our new 1951 Ford, with tin cans attached to the bumper banging away. We had dinner at the Aurora Inn and later spent the night at the Milner home where the reception had been held. Then it was off to a brief honeymoon to Cook's forest in northern Pennsylvania.

Our first residence was to be in a new apartment complex in Euclid, OH where I carried BL over the threshold. It was the second attempt because the first time a nosy neighbor across the hall came out to see what was going on!

Wreck of The Robin's Nest

Sadly, yesterday morning, Tuesday, the nest was empty, at least a week early. There were a few small feathers on the railing next to the nest. A critter, raccoon, fox, or similar creature found the nest and emptied the contents. Mother robin was on the roof with food in her mouth but there was nothing to feed. We don't think it was a cat because we never see any in the neighborhood. In hind sight it was not a good location because of access to the nest via the railing. Today the nest was partially torn as if a returnee came to see if there was anything else. The lesson from this is that it is a tough world and we will need to overcome many unseen obstacles to survive. The prophet Isaiah speaks of fleeing birds and scattered nestlings and it would appear that is what we have here. I have no doubt that this robin family will regroup and rebuild in a safer place. Let us hope that is the case. Many of us humans have done so and will continue to build again, much like what the Israelites said about the wall at Jerusalem. "Let us arise and build", they said. The birds survived a terrific hail and wind storm the previous night-we saw mother robin sitting on the nest. Many in Oklahoma and Kansas did not survive and encountered severe property destruction and death in some cases from parts of the same storm.

New Life

Most of us have seen evidence of new birth, including new puppies, new calves and newborn colts (for farmers), the new baby as it comes home with it's mother, maybe even in the delivery room as a proud concerned father, being there for the blessed event.

What ever the case, each time the miracle occurs (yes miracle), it is reassurance from the God of this universe of His omniscience and eternal power.

So it was in a previous blog that we saw four beautiful robins-egg blue eggs in a nest belonging to a concerned mother robin. Two days ago, Sunday, that day arrived. It was their birthday! The night was contentious, rain, lightning, and strong winds rocking the holly tree. Through it all, there she sat, covering her precious brood with her wings. Psalm 91:4, He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings shalt thou trust. What a wonderful example once again of our loving, caring Heavenly Father. He made the universe and all the creatures in it. Genesis 1:20, 21,22 Then God said,"Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let the birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens. And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind,and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth

That is an admonition that continues to this day, mostly with out much ado. But it is a thrilling sight to witness first hand, so I am sharing it with you today.

The launching of the Ducklings May 2, 2010

Our house is in a community that borders on a small lake. We are seldom disappointed to have a lack of events happening on the water. May 2nd was eventful. In the early morning, Bettylou, called out "Duck alert", and there they were. Mother Mallard was leading her brood of six down the back yard, through the fence and toward the water. We are told that there are no swim lessons for the ducklings or other preparation except to jump in and go for it. And so it was. A brief stop on the bank, Momma looks back and as if to say "OK guys jump in", away they went. We wish them well. There are hazards ahead, turtles in the lake, foxes on the bank and hawks overhead. Most will survive and return some day to their hatching place, which we never saw.

Ralston Rambling's Robin Redbreast's Rapturous Reward

Two weeks ago, I was watching a robin on our roof with some straws in his beak. As long as I watched, he never moved. Later, I discovered the nest in a holly bush next to the front steps. Great, I thought. We can be observers of a robin's blessed event! The very next day pandemonium broke loose in front of the house. A cement mixer pulled in front and stopped with the mixer thingee running non-stop. The neighbor next door was having work done in the back yard. The mixer ran all day. Across the street, there was another small cement mixer mixing away for the work they were having done in their back yard! This commotion went on for two days. The next day, Mr. Le, the yard man for us, pulled up with his aerator and de-thatcher to work on the yard. Photographers were on the sidewalk along the lake in the back of the house taking pictures of kids going to the prom that night. I never saw a feather of a robin during that time. Periodically, from that time, a robin would act interested again, probably waiting to see if all hell was going to break loose again. Thankfully, for the robin and us, everything has come together and the results are in the attached picture. The blog will keep updates as indicated.

More Botanica

More Botanica

Botanica, The Wichita Gardens in Bloom

Mid-April brings out the best in blooms in Botanica. There are pink, blue, purple and white lilacs, dogwoods, 50,000 tulips, (that's right), creeping phlox, daffodils, pansies, redbud trees and other colorful blooms. See what they look like on a rainy day in April, 2010

Cindy's Hysterical Wisteria!!

Truly a remarkable effussion of wisteria!

Labels to previous blog

The pictures are labeled starting at the top-Viburnum, Dogwood, Chanticleer pear, Tulips and Daffodils, Lilac, Crab tree, Montmorenci cherry.

What's in bloom at 237 Bordeulac

Spring in Kansas

Today is March 20, 2010, the first day of Spring. Yesterday in Wichita, Kansas, the temperature was 69*, sunny, although a wee bit windy. It is usually windy in Kansas. Like the proverbial lion of March, here it came last night with teeth bared and blowing ice crystals. At 7:30 AM today it was a literal blizzard and almost a whiteout-blowing horizontally-and the lake had whitecaps. Not a good day for a walk, but rather one to peruse the situation from afar along with a hot cup of coffee and sitting by the fireplace. It was reassuring to see the birds of Spring on the ground and in the tree getting their share of nourishment. Tomorrow, we are greeters at the church. We will prepare for the task by wearing our winter finery and telling everyone "Good morning and isn't this a fine day?" By then the temperature may be a modest 40*. But there is hope! Next week it will be in the 70's!

The birds of spring (and winter) March 20, 2010