Marion Fly-In 2013 Part 1

[Getting back to blogging.] On Sunday June 30, 2013, the Marion, Iowa airport stages a fly-in for pilots and the general public. Each year the event grows with more participating aircraft, some for static display and some to give rides for $10 a person. The short flights circle the Marion-Cedar Rapids area and typically last for about 15 minutes. This year the weather was prefect as people enjoyed the lead up to the Independance Day celebrations in the area known as Freedomfest.

Airplane rides are offered in a variety of private aircraft. The Iowa corn crop looked pretty darn good in the background. It would be nearly two months later when substantial rains returned.

This girl wanted her photo taken as she peered out of a Humvee. I suspect that her dad was the driver.

The local Civil Air Patrol manages the flight line and parking for aircraft and cars. The older kids help the younger ones learn what to do while the adult members oversee the entire event. The commander (with his back turned to the camera) generally signaled the planes to park nearby while maintaining high levels of safety. He made sure his troop knew exactly what to do, when to do it and where to do it.

A line of planes wait for passengers to load and unload. As you can imagine the need for safety around these fast moving propellers and taxiing planes are major priorities.

Marion Fly-in photos can be seen here: Part 2, Part 3.

Eastern Iowa Corn Crop Growing Status

Earlier this year (May 2013) the Iowa corn crop struggled in many places due to wet and cold conditions. We experienced snow the first week of May (which is not typical) but by the end of the month we received non-stop buckets of rain. The top portion of photos are from May 26 and shows young corn emerging in wet conditions. The bottom row is from last week of that same location. I tried to match the tree line in both photos for comparison. Many farmers say everything looks good and have turned their attention to potential early frost concerns for September.

Haying Time in Ioway

Don't know if this is the first or third or tenth hay cutting of the 2013 season. Plentiful rains this year created several opportunities for harvesting hay and other forage plantings. What is visible in this photo from south of Lisbon, Iowa is the baled hay, the growth of the next round of hay, knee high corn (dark green) and tall grasses in the field's waterway and in a roadside ditch (foreground.) Last year at this time, fields were so parched that hay was stiff, crunchie and yellow in color. Quite the opposite this year.

Iowa's 2013 Corn Crop Emerging Despite Wet Conditions

Iowa's 2013 corn planting is a lively topic on the radio this spring. Last season we experienced state-wide drought that persisted through most of the year. Since February moisture has fallen steadily and erased the drought for two-thirds of the state but has shifted concerns to flooding. 

Farmers this spring have had short windows of opportunities to get pasture crops, corn and soybeans in the ground. This particular field is located just west of Mount Vernon, Iowa on the Lincoln Highway (old Hwy 30) and is typical of many acres found in eastern Iowa.

This view looks west of the top photo. The Lincoln Highway is on the left. Everything is green and growing but standing water or rising creeks are a concern. Of course time will tell whether this crop matures on time and is harvested later in the fall. I can't imagine being a farmer and having to deal with weather swings like this year to year.  

The Many Faces of Amana's Maifest 2013 Part 1

Maifest, the annual celebration of Spring was held rain or shine (we had both) in the German heritage village of Amana, Iowa today. The highlight of the two day festival is the maipole dance which is performed several times throughout the two day event. Young women dressed in traditional costume dance and sing (in German) around two maipoles as hundreds of festival goers watch. Today bus loads of tourists from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin were on hand to watch. Many people came to Amana after some events of the annual tulip festival in Pella, Iowa was cancelled due to snow received on Friday.

If you are not watching the maipole dancers most likely you are eating German food or shopping. These two antique shoppers found a Dewars Scotch wooden box that they plan to decorate. Inside the wooden crate were four blue glass mason jars. 

Face painting is always a hit with the young. This girl's face was a canvas for an intricate design. Her younger sister had already smeared half her face paint off and refused to be photographed.

By the end of Saturday, Mr. Christmas came by to say hello. Actually his name is Dave. His white beard helps him to play Kris Kringle throughout eastern Iowa. Santa's presence helped to bring snow to western, central and northern Iowa yesterday but only rain to Maifest - this time.

SaPaDaPaSo 2013 - Many Faces of Irish Celebration

Cedar Rapids' annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Society (SaPaDaPaSo) stages an hour and a half parade each March 17th regardless of weather conditions. Last year the unseasonable weather provided 82 F temps. This year the parade began with temps at 28 F. That didn't diminish the number of participants or number of watchers (candy gatherers) from coming out to have a good time.

LaSheila Yates, Mrs. Iowa International braved cold temps to wave to the assembled masses, as all queens should. LaSheila will compete in the Mrs. International pageant later this year. Her platform is to encourage young people to study more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM.)

Any excuse to have a good time.

For more SaPaDaPaSo 2013 photos click here.