It's been a while since I've dropped a lyrical reference in a blog post title, so I thought I'd give a hat-tip to one of my favorite songs by They Might Be Giants. If you found yourself on the far eastern reaches of the capital city today, you probably spotted this flag flying high above the industrial park.
This is an enormous flag, flying high atop an enormous crane. But what was the event? Something I've been eagerly anticipating for quite some time: the Case Triple Threat Rodeo, held today at Titan Machinery in Bismarck.
I was lucky enough to come visit this event over my lunch break, and so were my little boys. What could be more fun than hot dogs, big machines, and a sunny day? We'll get to that in a moment.
There are multiple components to this rodeo contest: skidsteer, backhoe, and loader. Participants negotiate an obstacle course and perform skills of coordination while competing for the best time. The wind made it a challenge, I'm sure! At the end of the drill pictured above, the operator had to try to dump that little soccer ball into one of three waiting garbage cans.
As if watching big machines working wasn't enough fun for little boys, there was also a big inflatable skidsteer loader-shaped bouncing pen. Believe me, they got PLENTY of use out of this thing. They were still bouncing with Mommy when I left to return to work.
According to the schedule on the Case website, there will be an event in Fargo today and in Minot later this year. Click here to check it out. It's fun to watch. If you've got better loader skills than I have, you can register and participate!
One important thing I forgot to mention is that this event has also helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for Habitat for Humanity. You can click here to read more, and freewill donations are accepted at the event. Cool, huh?
[ add comment ] ( 27 views ) | permalink | Click a dot to rate this entry:
( 3.1 / 241 )
I saw these two hawks chummin' it up atop a row of hay bales the other day as sunrise approached. My 3 year old and I were out roaming in Daddy's truck, ready to find some mud and a sunset so we could use some cameras and four wheel drive.
It's not uncommon to see hawks sitting on bales like these; I imagine they're a great vantage point for scoping out some tasty rodents. What I thought was unique was the fact that two of these hawks were sitting facing each other. I tried to get a little closer for a tighter photo, but of course they soon departed.
On a side note, I once heard that these round bales are going to be banned by the USDA in the near future. Apparently the livestock can't get a "square meal" out of 'em!
[ add comment ] ( 16 views ) | permalink | Click a dot to rate this entry:
( 3 / 245 )
My eye caught something interesting while I was in the park a while back. While looking up at the trail of a passing jet, I couldn't help but notice a dark offset beneath it. Do you see it?
This jet was flying pretty high, much higher than the wispy clouds below. As a result, its contrail was casting a shadow on the clouds below it. In fact, the shadow was leading the plane by a long shot from my perspective.
The sky is always a good bet when you want to see something interesting and unique! Timing is a factor and you need to take the right perspective, but there's always something cool about God's creation to an attentive eye.
[ 1 comment ] ( 26 views ) | permalink | Click a dot to rate this entry:
( 3.1 / 202 )
I was among the many curious locals who traveled up and down along the Missouri River recently to investigate the notoriously high water level. I'd heard that the river was going to rise by approximately five feet, but wanted to see for myself what a difference that would make. The answer: significant.
The most dramatic illustration of the risen Big Muddy is at the Lewis & Clark Riverboat landing. Maybe they can come up with some sort of a "mini riverboat" to ferry passengers out to the real thing! The moorings for this boat are out quite a ways and now underwater, leaving no easy solution. I'm guessing a catapult or fast-line rope rig are out of the question.
[ add comment ] ( 3 views ) | permalink | Click a dot to rate this entry:
( 3.1 / 202 )
This was a last-minute find as I pointed the truck home from a photo trip. I was still throwin' mud off the wheels of the Monster Truck from a previous excursion when I spotted this scene and simply had to stop.
Boy, we sure could use some of those blue skies right about now, don't you think? This weather is a real bummer!
[ add comment ] ( 4 views ) | permalink | Click a dot to rate this entry:
( 3 / 247 )
Calendar
