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