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Hunkered Down Hawk!
We got this sudden string of thunderstorms come up this afternoon in eastern Iowa and it blew pretty hard briefly for a short while. We got barely pea-sized hail. It buffeted the Red-tail Hawk around so much I couldn’t really tell which end of it was up. And then it quickly calmed down. If you…
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Red-tailed Hawk Fixing Nest
This is a follow up video of the Red-tailed hawks nesting in the outlet beyond our back yard. This time it seems to be fixing up the nest. We can’t tell whether they have eggs in it or not. It was pretty windy today, so the view is even more challenging.
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Sena Finds a Red-tailed Hawk Sitting on a Nest
Sena found a Red-tailed hawk on a nest in the outlot beyond our back yard. At first, I thought it was too early for that sort of thing. Sure enough, today we went for a walk and both saw it. This has been a common theme for us. Over 20 years ago she saw a…
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“Life is Beautiful”
We heard the song “Life is Beautiful” by Keb’ Mo’ last night on the Big Mo Blues Show. It was released 20 years ago. Big Mo said it helped him get through a difficult time. We think the song is beautiful and so do hundreds of other people on the YouTube video posted 16 years…
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Spring Flowers Photo Quiz!
Sena’s daffodil and crocus are coming up in the garden, so I took 3 snapshots, each with a different camera: my iPhone 17 pro; a Canon point and shoot; and a Nikon D3400. Pick which one you think is best and comment. Happy Easter!
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We Heard a Barred Owl Last Night
We both heard a barred owl last night. This was a line of thunderstorms rolled through the area. Sena thought it was in the front yard, but there are no trees out there and it’s more likely it was in the back yard. I searched my photo files and couldn’t find one of a barred…
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Current Kratom and Psilocybin Legislative Action in Iowa
I just saw an excellent post from Dr. George Dawson, MD, DFAPA on Kratom. His emphasis that the risk for harm from this substance should be “…remembered at every policy debate.” I agree. This reminds me of what happened in the Iowa Legislature this term at the second funnel regarding substances with the potential for…
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Saw What Might Be a Red-tail Hawk in Our Back Yard
We saw some kind of raptor today in our back yard and I couldn’t tell for sure if it was a Red-tail hawk or not. I got the video with an old Canon point-and-shoot through a window at 7:45 in the morning and she sky was overcast. It had a dark spot below its eye,…
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Notable Song “Magnolia Road” on Big Mo Blues Show Last Night
The Big Mo Blues Show was recorded last night. I’ve got a shout-out for a song I’ve heard a couple of times now in the last few weeks. It’s “Magnolia Road” by the Allman Betts Band. I have a couple of interesting observations about it. I don’t know anything really about the Allman brothers, except…
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Iowa Ivermectin Bill is Funnel Proof and Apparently is Still Alive and Other Anti-Vaccination Bills (Updated 5:45 PM today)
According to a Des Moines Register story today “Which bills in the Iowa Legislature lived and died after 2nd funnel?” by Steven Gruber-Miller and Marissa Payne March 20, 2026: “Other bills remain in play, including legislation restricting the governor’s emergency powers, allowing Iowans to buy ivermectin over the counter without a prescription and limiting tuition…
Go Retire Psychiatrist 