Autumn 21 Months

A few more pictures on flickr.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Thanksgiving weekend we loaded up and headed for the hills in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Larry, Amy's step-dad spent part of the weekend with us so we had too much personnel to fit in the truck. So we took the Tercel, a Christmas tree haulin' machine if there ever was one. After much wandering around in the wet muskeg, we found just the right tree. Then after much lashing of ropes I realized I couldn't open the doors. Luckily everyone else was already inside. I slid in the window, Dukes of Hazard style. Upon our safe arrival at home (yep, those were some good knots), we all exited Dukes of Hazard style. A good red-neck start to the holiday season.

My New Hunting Partner

We didn't get a deer this time, but it wasn't for lack of enthusiasm.

Deer Rut 2010

It's been a couple months since I've been hunting. The deer hunting around here really slows down around mid-September and then kicks back into gear in November when the bucks thoughts turn to love and they get a little less cautious. It's been a busy month for me with work so I just finally made it back into the woods this week. Monday and Tuesday's hunts brought no luck and little deer sign. The wind was howling this morning at 4 am but I headed out anyway and I'm glad I did. It's always been a goal to take a mature buck by sneaking up on one in the timber. Nearly all my success has been on hunts where I see the animal from a long ways away and make a good stalk. The deer always seem to have the upper hand when I'm just blindly sneaking around. Not this guy. I was doing my best ninja work when I spotted him in his bed at 30 yards totally unaware of my presence.




People ask me why bucks on POW have orange antlers. Here's why. This rub was made in the vicinity of this hunt. Perhaps the buck I killed made this one.

Girl with a Gun

I've been looking forward to this for a long time. Autumn's first shooting lesson. She really liked it and is looking forward to a hunting trip with Dad real soon.

Autumn's interest in deer make me pretty proud. She can also correctly identify caribou, sheep, moose, elk, bears and wolves (and I must say she is getting to be an expert wolf howler).

For Halloween Autumn was a bumblebee. Actually she liked the costume so much she was a bumblebee on Halloween and for several days leading up to it.

Autumn and I had a great time carving a pumpkin together.

I've got few more pictures up on flickr.

The Faces of Autumn

Autumn has discovered her facial muscles and has been regaling us with some pretty hilarious faces.

Autumn 19 Months

More at Flickr.

D5

We have a freezer full of one pound packages of meat labeled D1, D2, etc. Meet D5.

Autumn's New Look - Pigtails!

Now that was a surprise to come home to the first time.

The blueberries and huckleberries are in season and I've been picking them every chance I get. It takes four cups to make a blueberry pie (well, for Amy to make one). We let Autumn have a bit of the pie and to say she enjoyed herself is a bit of an understatement. She lllllooovvveeesss blueberries. Or as she calls them "boobies."

Autumn looking fab in her jammies and scarf, all ready to go measure something.

For more, check out the newest pics on Flickr.

Buck Head Soup

It's what's for dinner...

Autumn 18 Months

Autumn just turned 18 months. Here are some of the highlights:

Autumn can be a huge help in the kitchen when Mom is baking.

Autumn rocking the '80s leg warmers and real faux pearl necklace.

She's into crayola, but so far more into eating them than coloring.

Xtratufs go with anything, even jammies.

For more pics check out the link to flickr.

2010 Bucks #3 & 4

Headed up a local mountain Friday evening to try to ease the pain of coming home from the sheep mountains empty handed (more about that later). I spotted this great buck about 500 vertical feet below me. From above he was easy to spot amongst the scattered meadows, but once I dropped in on him the trees swallowed up any hopes of keeping tabs on him. Luckily I had picked out a couple good land marks and was able to ease right in on him. One shot from 75 yards and I had my best buck ever.




Well I never quite made it to the top of the mountain so the next morning when I woke up I decided to hike on up and have a look-see. I had all day to pack my buck off the mountain. I had no intention of shooting another deer but took my rifle "just in case." I saw a bunch of deer, mostly does and a few forkies that I passed on. I just wanted to peek into one more basin before heading back to camp and packing up for the hike home. At the bottom of the basin was this awesome buck. I debated a long time whether or not to take him. I already had a lot of work in store for me, but after much consideration I decided I had the energy and stamina to shuttle both bucks off the mountain. Basically, he was too good to pass up. Another shot, this time from 125 yards and I had a double and my two best bucks to date.



I don't usually take my cell phone hunting with me but I was sure glad to have it this time. I was in one of those rare coverage spots. While butchering the second buck, my phone buzzed that I had a text from my buddy Isaac. So I gave him a call. When I told him how I'd fared he said the magic words, "You want help packing?" Yahoo! I knew I could and would have got those two bucks off the mountain by myself if I'd had to but I was sure glad for the help. I got both bucks shuttled to tree line where I met Isaac. He carried one bag of meat while I carried the other, the two heads and all my camping gear - still upwards of 100 pounds - down the last 1500 feet of elevation to the truck. Isaac saved me from having to climb all the way back up the mountain and all the way back down again. What a great friend.

Autumn 17 Months

First Road Rash

Ouch! But since she's related to me I'm sure there's a lot more where that came from.

Spaghetti Girl

Wants some fun? Give your 18 month old a bowl of spaghetti and a fork and sit back and watch the hilarity.