Walking Ditches

We drove down to the cities this weekend. It was time for our annual road cleaning. We've got 2 miles of road dedicated to Eric and, along with some great friends, clean it every year. It's not allowed to rain when we pick up trash, and the rain did hold off until the last few minutes of our walk.
So, on behalf of Johnny, Marcy and myself, I want to thank Blase, Kurt, Uwe, Mike, Sue and Tommy for taking the time to pick up trash, and more importantly, not forgetting us.
An old farmer told me a few years ago, "life goes on". I never did like that farmer...

Fishin' With Mikey

Mike is technically my brother-in-law, but more like a brother. About 30 or so years ago, I asked him if he wanted to do some fishing. He's been in the bow of my boat ever since.

We almost exclusively fish crappies. We like constant action, setting the hook and ripping lips. I have no idea how many fish we've boated but that really doesn't matter. We've had a million laughs and have told so many stories that the boys around the campfire roll their eyes when we get started. We don't care...we'll keep telling them forever!

We no longer get up at 5:00am to fish as we have discovered that crappies don't wear wrist watches and seem to bite whenever we are in the boat. Same goes for that late pm bite and fishing for 8 hours at a crack. Maybe that's just age setting in or maybe we're just getting really, really smart.

No matter for as long as we can still push that boat off the trailer, we'll keep fishing together.

Thanks for the memories Mike!!!

May 11th

E - You would have been 39 today.... Love you, Dad

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