The Iowan Path

[iowabow]

Yep the temp has dropped off a bit.  The rc stands for radio control. Isaac and I went out and checked the pond last night on the way home I climbed an old stand that needed the straps replaced.  I am a little stiff this morning but in no pain so I think things a getting much better. 

[mullet]

John, hope your back gets better and the pond looks great. That was a lot of work. Did I tell you the company I work for designs and builds earthen dams?

[iowabow]

John, hope your back gets better and the pond looks great. That was a lot of work. Did I tell you the company I work for designs and builds earthen dams?

Thanks Eddie. That's cool how big are the dams?

[mullet]

Real big. Some inpoundment areas are over 100 ' deep and 3 square miles. In some of the phosphate mining areas they are made out of all sand.

[iowabow]

Real big. Some inpoundment areas are over 100 ' deep and 3 square miles. In some of the phosphate mining areas they are made out of all sand.

Wow those are huge! No wonder you travel everwhere for work.

[JW_Halverson]

What the heck do you do for overflow release with an earthen dam made of sand? 

[Billinthedesert]

John, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading this 31-page thread this morning. I wanted to learn something more about Iowa, as my daughter is working on her Ph.D. in genetics at ISU in Ames.
So many things to absorb here. First off, I found your art pieces fascinating and very lovely. Are you an art professor?
The pond work is most impressive. Until a year ago, I had five acres of pasture and timber land, and even with my little diesel Mahendra, cutting and processing oak and Pacific madrone was exhausting -- especially for an old get with two lumbar fusions. So I have great respect for all that you accomplished cutting, moving and processing timber near the dam.
Really look forward to seeing how your pond responds. I hope you bring it into balance much sooner than later.
As far as bowyering, you guys are so fortunate to be in osage country. Wow there are some nice staves and bows in this thread -- and some very, very fine knapping.
I am not much good at either, but hope to get back into it. Here in Oregon, we of course have our wonderful Pacific yew -- and hazel and vine maple as well. I cut a vine maple stave just a week or two ago -- first stave I have harvested in years.
I am also a two-hour drive from the Glass Buttes, which provide obsidian in a number of colors and which are the location for the annual Glass Buttes Knap-Ins in March.
Anyway, enough gab. Suffice it to say I will keep my eye on this thread and your fine bunch of friends.
Bill

[Chad]

Came across this thread and very happy I did, awesome stuff. I wish I had something like this! Good luck to you!

[iowabow]

I am really glad you enjoyed the post. I have a lot of great help bringing  this club together.
I am an Art Instructor so it fits well with whole primitive making part of this adventure. Thank you for the complements on my work I never know if people are going to really get the ideas or not.
It really  is so interesting to see the wide range of people who take the primitive path to archery. I have meet a lot of really great people on here.
Genetics wow what a great career for these times that is a very interesting and expanding career field!

[iowabow]

Here is a picture of the first fish caught at the new pond. I had caught a bunch of fish from my small pond and put the in the new one. This is a great way to end the summer.

[Pat B]

John, is that a small mouth? nice one if it is.

[Parnell]

Haven't caught up on here in awhile, John.  Sorry to read about your back, hope you will be mending quickly now.
Fun to see the progress.  Looks like you've accomplished a lot, none the less.

Hope to see some nice fall pictures on here!

[Knoll]

What a wonderful environment you've created!  Catch looks enticing too.

[chamookman]

That would be a Largemouth Bass. Bob

[Pappy]

Very nice catch,love to have a pond like that on my place. I got one but much smaller.
  Pappy