Fishing Anyone?? Uffda!

I had a big fishing weekend planned. Me and Mike hit the water Thursday afternoon in seach of crappies. All we got was cold.

Friday morning, with Kurt along, we launched in the rain. All we got was wet. I returned home only to discover a flat tire on one of the trucks. At least that gave us something to occupy our time in the afternoon.

Johnny and the boys showed up Friday afternoon and the plan was to hit two different lakes Saturday. This is what we woke up to Saturday morning. Snow, however, does not stop intrepid fishermen. We put on our deer hunting clothes and hit the water. We picked up 4 smallies and a northern. The boys caught 4 northerns. Uffda.....

Turkey - Wisconsin Style

I've shot enough turkeys but this is my first one in my new state. The Eastern strain is what lives in both Minnesota and Wisconsin but I think the "Sconnie" birds might be a little bit heavier due to all the cheese they eat...
Nevertheless, I got this guy opening morning. I called him in and ruined his morning. He weighed 21 pounds and had a 10 1/2" beard.
I sat with my buddy for the next three days but he didn't have an opportunity to bag one.
We have a permit for our land that starts this next Wednesday. Not too many turkeys up here but a few have been gobbling. It's fun to just get out. Not much else to hunt in the spring.
Then it's time to get the boat ready for the guys coming up the week after next. Time to wet a line. First time for me since last June. We're hungry for some fish.

Dewey - The Bow Hunter???

I've got this good friend who I turned on to deer hunting almost 30 years ago. He now hunts most everything and is quite proficient. At any rate, he says he is indebted to me for starting him hunting and that his debt to me won't be repaid until I arrow a deer. There's only one problem....I've never shot a bow.
So, since I can't live with this hanging over my head, I've decided to learn to bow hunt. I didn't want to go out and spend a grand on equipment right away so I borrowed his old bow. We outfitted it with sights, I got arrows, a quiver and all that good stuff. Only cost me $183.00 so far so that wasn't too bad. Of course, I'll need more arrows but I'll cover that later in this story.
So, Monday he had me shoot at a target. I shot probably 60 arrows and didn't do too bad. I decided, however that I needed to shoot every day. Well, Tuesday, my shoulder was so sore I had to take the day off. Wednesday I had to get black dirt and lay paving stones. Then it rained. Thursday I had to give blood so that got me to this morning.....
Though it was windy as all get out, I had stalled long enough. I took my 6 arrows (remember that number) and set up my target. My first shot from 20 yards landed in the dirt in front of the target. I figured my sights were off so move 10 yards closer and fired the second arrow... do not know where that arrow went - still don't. I realized I had forgotten to use my peep sights, so muttering to myself I shot the rest of my arrows. I did pretty good with the 5 remaining arrows, pulled them out of the target and shot them again. I did real well. The next time I fired, the last arrow made a "thwock" sound. That sounded like arrow hitting the wood below the target and indeed that is what had happened. Though I was finally able to get the arrow out, the head was shot so I was down to 4 useable arrows. It was really getting windy but I decided to shoot again. After the first arrow hit the target, the wind blew my target over. I went out, picked up the target, pulled my arrow out and debated whether or not I should hang it up. I decided to shoot one last round...unfortunately. The first 3 arrows were a little low so I made a mental adjustment, aimed higher and fired. To my knowledge, that arrow is still flying. I looked and looked but to no avail. I did find a nice patch of daffodils and a pile of junk, but no arrows. So, I now have 4 arrows but only 3 heads....Gonna have to go buy more I guess as for some reason, I don't think I'm out of the woods with this bow hunting yet.
Next week it's time to hunt turkeys. Though you can legally shoot them with a bow, my trusty borrowed bow is staying home. It's time for the old Remington 1100....

March 27, 2001

Eric - I can't believe it's been 9 years since you have been gone. Sometimes I try not to think because it makes me crazy, yet I have to because I have to remember AND I WILL NEVER FORGET! Does that make any sense? Who knows and who really cares....

I had a dream last night about you and me. Your old Ford Bronco broke down and we had to fix it. Well, you were going to fix it cuz I'm just a klutz at that kind of stuff anyway.

I hate it when I have those dreams...but I can't stop them.

Your son is growing up so fast and looks like you. We've done some fishing and will do more this year. Hopefully, someday he will want to hunt. Your shotgun will be ready for him and we'll talk about the man that used to carry it.

Eric, you were, and are and always will be my hero... Love, Dad

Sammy - The Big Dog With The Even Bigger Heart.....

We had to put our friend down this morning. Though his hips had continued to deteriorate, his will to live never diminshed.
At 1:00 this morning, he had a seizure. We sat up with him and got him to rest at about 2:30. At 8:00 this morning, I got up and let him outside. I looked out a couple of minutes later and he was having another seizure in the driveway. We knew it was time.
I sat with him all the way to the vet's office and we both held him as he took his last breath....
A friend of Eric's sent me an email last December. I've been saving the words for this moment.
A Pet's Ten Commandments
1) My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2) Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3) Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4) Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5) Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6) Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget.
7) Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8) Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or week.
9) Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10) On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
Sammy would have been 12 on Thursday. I love you Sammy!! Dad

Took a Drive Last Week.....

I got an email last week from "The Great Indoorsman" His mother-in-law had passed away after a long illness. She was a nice old lady. She always brought me turkey jerky from Frazee and made trail mix for our annual memorial fishing weekend. I thought it was worth the 4 1/2 hour drive to pay my respects.
While I was heading out that way, I took the opportunity to stop in and see the folks where I worked before my retirement. I'm glad I stopped in. I worked with a great bunch of people and although I don't miss the long hours, I do miss the give and take and even the arguements we used to have.
The young guys that worked for me knew nothing about the music I grew up with so I made it my mission to enlighten them on the great music of the 60's. The three hours I was there went so fast and I had so many people to talk to that I never got to test them on how much of my music knowledge they still remember.
I may have to go back there again some time.....
.

The old treadmill, and other stuff......

I bought this treadmill four years ago. Running on gravel in the winter just became too much and though running indoors gets boring, I have my tv to watch. By nine o'clock in the morning, I've put in 4-5 miles and have all the latest news from CNN, Fox and HLN. When I get too much info, I switch over and watch country videos.

I decided to adjust the tread tension this weekend so pulled out the book on the machine. I come to discover that it stores all the miles and hours I've put on it. Guess I should have read that book before. At any rate, I pushed a bunch of buttons and discovered that I've put 1,756 miles on it. Uffda, that's a lot more than I thought I'd run. It made me so tired I just walked today.....

Some good friends were up this weekend. We walked all over the place and made plans for a couple of new deer stands. I've become so knowledgeable on stand placement that the deer have no chance this fall. Stands will be built this spring before the leaves (and ticks) come out so the deer have time to get used to them. See how smart I am?

Turkey hunting happens in late April and plans have been made for a big fishing weekend up here in early May. Like the deer, the fish will now be in trouble. I've even got my "Sconnie" license numbers for my boat. Hopefully Johnny will let me have my boat back.

I know that winter ain't over yet but you gotta plan and dream. Oh yeah, and then there's that yardwork.....