Trout Waters

Blue River is a class 2 trout stream in Grant and Iowa Counties near the Snow Bottoms Natural Area. The Blue River is a specifically named and codified as an Exceptional Resource Waters (ERW).

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Steil Road Sunset

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Tom Tracks

Yesterday I spent some time following the tracks of a huge, heavy turkey. When I'd circle around the low lying obstacles it was very easy to pick them back up. While I didn't see the bird it's tracks alone occupied my breathing as I made my way through the Sugar Bottom State Natural Area.

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Snow Bottom State Natural Area

I found myself with some truly alone time today and with no real direction. My wife & daughter are off with a small group of girls and one of the other mothers. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to be outside. Somewhere new to me. Randomly opening the map to the Driftless Area just west of my home I noticed a tiny little, lite green square. A leisurely trip down the winding "back way" took me to my new, favorite place! Snow Bottom State Natural Area is a "pine relicts forest" that dates back to the ice age when mammoths and giant sloths made their way through their evergreen boughs. The only sound was my footsteps, an occasional woodpecker, a slight murmuring of the stream, and the silent brooding of the stone overlooking the valley. It was exactly what I needed today.

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De la Riva

Learning some De la Riva techniques today.

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The Girl Of My Dreams

It seems to me that a part of being an artist is seeking validation of some sort. I find mine in the many ways I interact with my wife. Instead of gallery shows that only make me want to be elsewhere, I get to be with her. She loves and believes in my dreams and that is enough for me.

“Crow's Theology” - Ted Hughes

Crow realized God loved him-
Otherwise, he would have dropped dead.
So that was proved.
Crow reclined, marvelling, on his heart-beat.

And he realized that God spoke Crow-
Just existing was His revelation.


But what Loved the stones and spoke stone?
They seemed to exist too.
And what spoke that strange silence
After his clamour of caws faded?


And what loved the shot-pellets
That dribbled from those strung-up mummifying crows?
What spoke the silence of lead?


Crow realized there were two Gods-


One of them much bigger than the other
Loving his enemies
And having all the weapons.