Duchess of Weaselskin

Bayfield, Colorado - For the past few weeks we have been awaken by the "Kaplunk" of pine cones being harvested from the tall pines here in southwest Colorado. You ask, "Who harvests the pine cones?" The answer, "The squirrels!"

Each morning just before dawn you do not need an alarm clock if that is when you need to arise! The squirrels harvesting the pine cones will be your alarm clock as they toss the cones down from the tall pines and the cones "kaplunk" in the pickup truck parked beneath.

I was wondering where the squirrels stored all those harvested cones until a few days ago when we found these pile of cones gathered to the edge of the creek. Are the squirrels soften, washing the cones for later storage to another place?

We hear that Oklahoma got some much needed rain this last week, but was it enough to fill the small stock ponds and replace the lost moisture in the fields and pastures?

How's the rodeo going in your neck of the Woods? Don't forget Freedom's Old Cowhand and Rodeo this coming weekend!

Good Night & Good Luck! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

This Day In History (August 15)

America - On this day, 15 August 1947, India and pakistan became independent after some 200 years of British rule. SEE New York Times Article.

On August 15, 1879, Ethel Barrymore, who was considered the "first lady" of the American theatre, was born. Following her death on June 18, 1959, her obituary appeared in The Times. SEE Obituary.

• 1057 Macbeth, the King of Scotland, was slain by the son of King Duncan.
• 1769 - Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the island of Corsica.
• 1935 - Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska.
• 1939 - "The Wizard of Oz" premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
• 1944 - Allied forces landed in southern France during World War II.
• 1945 - The Allies proclaimed V-J Day, one day after Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally.
• 1947 - India became independent after some 200 years of British rule.
• 1948 - The Republic of Korea (South Korea) was proclaimed.

NW Okie's Corner

Bayfield, Colorado - I have been reading up on the feeding frenzy of hummingbirds because of the feeding frenzy that has been going on around here in the Rocky mountains of Southwest Colorado.

Did you realize the Rufus & Ruby-Throated hummingbirds are the travelers? Did you know the reasons for their feeding frenzy right now is the hummingbirds are entering into a phase called hyperphagia (polyphagia) to ingest nectar and insects for their Winter migratory exertion. The Hummingbirds need to feed even more before migrating to their wintering grounds?

The length of daylight hours triggers their hormones to put on the extra weight necessary to sustain them for their long journey. Before migrating, hummingbirds enter a phase called hyperphagia. This is like a feeding frenzy as they spend more time than usual ingesting nectar and insects. They add 50% to 100% of their normal body weight for fuel for the migratory exertion. Read more about hummingbirds.

Good Night & Good Luck in searching your ancestors! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Hummingbird Physiology

As we research our Ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), we find that many migrant birds, go through hyperphagia prior to migration. they eat continuously, while consuming tiny insects that are full of fats and proteins. They use up the sugar almost instantly during everyday activities, including hyperpahaic frenzies. The protein is applied toward strengthening their flight muscles.

The hummingbirds store surprising amounts of energy-rich yellow fat that will burn off efficiently during migration. This fat is laid down primarily in the wishbone region, but also forms at other locations of the body, including along the flanks where the legs attach to the body. The fat deposits tend to stretch the skin and probably cause the feathers to stand up a bit, making the hummingbird to look even fatter than it already is. The male Ruby throated hummingbird may put on 2 to 2.5g of fat during the hyperphagia frenzy, doubling its mass before migrating across the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatani. READ More View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Summer of 1935 Airplane Crash - Will Rogers & Wily Post

Oklahoma - During the Summer of 1935, 15 August, humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska. This is the newsreel from 1935 when Will Rogers and famed aviator Wiley Post were killed in a plane crash in Alaska.



On August 15, Rogers and Post were flying from Fairbanks to Barrow when they encountered fog and low-visibility. The two friends located a hole in the fog at Walakpa Bay, landed, spent some time with a small party of Alaska Natives and received directions for the short distance remaining to fog-shrouded Barrow. The final flight was barely airborne--perhaps 50 feet--when the motor failed. The aircraft plummeted into the lagoon and overturned. The Post-Rogers crash was the first fatal air accident Barrow had known.

The airplane that Post and Rogers were flying in 1935 was an advanced version of the Winnie May, designed by Post. It was a low wing cantilever monoplane of wood and fabric construction using a 55-horse power, pratt and Whitney Wasp Engine. The fuselage was Lockheed Orion and the wing Sirius. In addition to landing wheels, it carried interchangeable skis and pontoons, and was described by the Army Signal Corps radio out of Barrow to Seattle as a "Red, Arctic Sky Crusier." CLICK HERE for more information. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Wiley Post & The Winnie Mae of Oklahoma

Oklahoma - Wiley Hardeman Post was born in Grand Saline, Van Zandt county, Texas, November 22, 1898, to farmer parents William Francis and Mae Quinlan Post. His family moved to Oklahoma when he was five. It was on July 22, 1933, Wiley Post flew solo around the world and set a record of 8 days 15 hours and 51 minutes. The famed American aviator, Wiley Hardeman Post, came from a humble upbringing in Oklahoma.

In the 1930 National Air Race from Los Angeles to California, Post received international recognition following his unexpected win as an unknown. Wiley Post, holder of two around-the-world aviation flight records, had contributed prominently to the advance of international aviation, including the study of the sub-stratosphere.



Wiley Post was the first pilot to fly solo around the world and known for his work in high altitude flying. Post helped develop one of the first pressure suits. Post's Lockheed Vega aircraft, the Winnie Mae is on display at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Post's pressure suit is being prepared for display at the same location. Wiley Post's aviation career began at age 26 as a parachutist for a flying circus, Burrell Tibbs and His Texas Topnotch Fliers, and he became well known on the barnstorming circuit.

On October 1, 1926, an oil field accident cost him his left eye, but he used the settlement money to buy his first aircraft. It was around this time, Post met fellow Oklahoman Will Rogers when he flew Rogers to a rodeo, and the two eventually became close friends.

Wiley Post was the personal pilot of wealthy Oklahoma oilmen Powell Briscoe and F.C. Hall in 1930 when Hall bought a high-wing, single-engine Lockheed Vega, one of the most famous record-breaking aircraft of the early 1930s. The oilman nicknamed it, the Winnie Mae, after his daughter, and Post achieved his first national prominence in it by winning the National Air Race Derby, from Los Angeles to Chicago. The fuselage was inscribed: "Los Angeles to Chicago 9 hrs. 8 min. 2 sec. August 27, 1930." Adam Charles Williams finished second with a time of 9 hrs. 9 min. 4 sec. For more information on Wiley Hardeman Post. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1800's Old West Sod Houses

America - We found this video on Youtube concerning old 1800's photos of Old West Sod Houses that was put to music. It is not the high priced mansions of today, but it is the mansions of the prairies. Can you imagine living in a pioneer sod house with all kinds of insects, snakes and wild animals that invaded the pioneers prairie mansion of those days long ago?

View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe