4th of July BASH!

My very good friend Becky and her husband have a really beautiful piece of property here in Iowa.  Every 4th of July they host at their home a 4th of July Bash.  We and several other fun lovin' people were invited and it was such an awesome time.  


Let me just tell you all about it!


There was CAMPING!  Dave and I pulled our camper and camped in Becky's front yard!  YEAH!  
There was LIVE MUSIC!  Jen Hein's husband Steffen bought out his guitar and played a few songs for us.  Becky's dad even joined him for a few too!
There was tons of yummy FOOD!
There was HOOPING!  We hooped A LOT.  There were about 8 hoops out there!  Maggie even brought with her a LED hoop made by her man and my good friend John!  Talk about pretty!
There were GLOW STICKS!
There were FIREWORKS - and I mean FiReWoRkS!  Becky's bro-in-law is a licensed pyro-technician and put on an awesome display!  John got some awesome shots of the show.  Check it out here!


...does it get any better?  I think not.  THANKS!  Becky and family for putting on the most amazing evening.  
...I kid you not... there were several moments that I was pretty sure I was in heaven.  :)  





Becky!


Hooping!


Skye!




The campsite with my camper and friends all around.  :)


More hooping!




Skye!


Devil Sticks!  I haven't seen these since a Dead show in 1995!  Good times!


I LOVE I mean I L-O-V-E acoustic guitar played live.  LOVE IT.


Skye!


Fireworks before ignition.




Safety first!


Becky's round house!


My step-son Mike and my husband Dave.  :)

Muddin' with Becky!

Yesterday I took Skye and went up to visit my friend Becky at her home.  Just to hang, wedge some clay, throw some pots...  

It was so much fun!  Skye was such a good doggie.  

I threw a pot on the wheel - haven't done that in line 15+ years!  It turned out okay... It's usable anyway!  Hopefully it will make it through drying and firing... we shall see!  :)

I helped Becky wedge some grog into a whole mess of clay, which was quite a workout.  I really felt the clay-love this morning when I woke up... whoa!  

Here are some shots from the afternoon visit.  Can't wait to do it again!!!

Truckin'

Date:  April 22, 2010 (Earth Day!)
Location:  All over central Iowa!


So my friend Becky is a potter AND a trucker.  Yep...she's a trucker too!  Anyway, a while back when we were having hot pot together with friends, I asked if I could ride along with her.  So, last Thursday I went and it was FUN!


I wanted to insert a video of "Truckin'" from a 1972 Grateful Dead concert here, but I couldn't figure out how to put it in the blog, so you'll just have to go visit it here.


Anyway... it was a very fun and educational day.  I am a city-girl and don't know a whole lot about trucking much less farming.  You see, Becky drives a truck for her family's farm.  


I learned where she grew up - her house that she lives in now used to be located where an elementary school is now.  She showed me the tree still on the school grounds where her treehouse and tire swing used to be and I found out that some of the subdivisions near the school were named after her family since all that land used to be her family's farm. 


I learned why they put liquid nitrogen on the ground.  (Side note:  apparently this is not the same liquid nitrogen that will instantly freeze something.  This stuff is thick and sticky).  The nitrogen is sprayed into the dirt when they plow so that they can put nitrogen back into the soil - the corn just loves it and it makes it grow big and strong.  :)


I learned that Becky can drive a truck... and I mean a big ol' 80,000 lbs truck.  And she can back the sucker up, around a curve.  I have to say I was a bit nervous and tried not to close my eyes.  I for sure trust that girl driving.  She is careful as can be.  


I learned all kinds of stuff... some of it didn't stick.  LOL.  So, if you are reading this and a question strikes you... ask it in the comments!  I am sure Becky will answer you!




Becky on top of the truck filling it with nitrogen






I don't remember this person's name, but he is very nice.  He works at the place we loaded the nitrogen.


And yeah... Becky's truck weighed 79,280 lbs after it was loaded - whoa.


This is out a the fields.  Becky's cousin is on top of the tank loading the nitrogen so it can be sprayed on the fields.  (He's actually on his cell phone - heehee)


The fields.


These break up the dirt.


Becky on her truck - again.


Hi Becky!


BIG tractor.


Ok, so now they are planting the corn.  


Here's what the corn and fertilizer look like.


These put the corn in the dirt.


The put talc on the corn so it doesn't get clogged.


I had a FUN time hanging out with Becky.  I plan on doing it again in the fall for harvest!  THANKS BECKY!!  :)