They Call Him "Drake"

He's a hunter in training.  Start'em young!

If that isn't the cutest little duck hunter I ever saw!  And yup...it runs in the family!  Well the duck hunter part, not so much the 'cute'!     BURN! :o)

My brother sent me these photos and I just had to share them with you.  Drake goes to watch and carry a duck occasionally, but he has accomplished the art of breakfast very well!

Lip Licking!

Breakfast of course is what duck hunters do when the birds aren't flying.  Personally, I think it's an excuse to eat lots of bacon...

Drake and Papa

And BS with good friends (translation: hide from the wives)...

Enjoy your weekend friends!

A Sweet Shot

Over the summer, Pig Pen's buddy, Lloyd, from work went on a vacation and we kept an eye on his pooch.  Now, Pig Pen tells me this the day the dogger is supposed to show up.  Was it a planned sneak attack?  I think so.

Yet Boomer came!  And ya know what?  He was such a good dogger that we were sad to see Missy's best friend go. 

For those of you who have never seen the difference between a Chocolate Lab and a Silver Lab, maybe this will help:

Our silver is on the left, Lloyd's chocolate on the right.  They look guilty as sin!  The nose prints on the door are never ending...

Last night, Lloyd brought one of his two-legged critters over for a visit too.  She's much cuter and drools much less...

Here she is after Dad tucked her in his truck with a 1 oz honey bear:

Yup, she was drinking it! 

A Sweet Shot in more ways then one.  :o)

The Winter Spread

This time of year, some of us put on "the winter spread".  Nothing like sitting in a good chair helps that along.

And by chair, I mean this one:

We did some rearranging of our tiny house.  The small corner I claimed as my sewing area has been moved to the front bedroom and I did a little spreading out of my own.  

I love it!

It's a work in progress.  There are still many bugs to work out as I go.  Part of the process is actually sitting down to sew.

Which I did a little of.  Not much, but it's a start to the winter sporting season!

Mama Pea insisted that she see these photos.  I thought a bright, sunny morning would be great, but seeing as how shades of grey are the norm lately...this is as good as it gets.

My MIL gave me a table from her 'old' sewing room.  I finally have enough space to use my little iron for piecing and my folding Omni mat is perfect for that trick!  It is so handy!

And I still wouldn't trade my SewEZ table for nothin'!

Here is my "Cutting Station".  Above it, I have a now secondary design board.  Also recycled from my MILs house.  As you can see, not much designing, more like...pin some crap here.  :o)

Tucked in the corner is my cabinet where I store a few bigger pieces of fabric and another design/crap board.  Like I said, I will eventually tidy it up with some good use.

And of course...you HAVE to have puppy beds.  Otherwise they stand at your feet and whine. 

Now the "white dog" is the worst perp  (that's what we call her so she doesn't know we are talking about her). 

She even got a throw to lay down on...this other one makes her butt look big or err, ya know...spread out!

So there you have it so far...my spread.

What are you all planning to do for that winter spread?  Any great projects brewing?

Rib Rackin' 2011

It's that time of year again when the hunters hope to fill their freezer for the year.  I have been in touch with Jody and I know he is hoping for the same!  Best of luck, Jody!!  Above all, be safe!  I know you will be.

Around here, the season is pretty narrow for shotgun.  No rifle allowed.  However, if you bow hunt, the season is pretty long.  Luckily, Pig Pen bow hunts too, so we have our first of the year.  Neither of us "caught" a deer as my MIL says during first shotgun season down in Southern IL.

Well, I did shoot...but those dang eyes shut on me!  I could have kicked myself!  That's how we learn though, right?

Here's the part where some of you may want to close your eyes...ooook...I warned you!

As you will see, several others had a great season!

My nephew won the "Big Buck, Big Doe" for his 101 lbs doe.  He was pretty excited about that!  Great Job Kid!

My brother came in second with his buck.  I am pretty darn sure he wont go hungry this year!

We were joined again by a friend who couldn't make it to last years Rib Rackers Deer Camp because he was deployed in Afghanistan with the Army Reserves for a year.  He got a nice buck his first trip back!

Great job, Joe!  Most importantly, thank you for your service!  Glad you made it home safely!

It was a great season and even though 'the girls' are still waiting for their first deer, it's alright!  We sure do enjoy just being out there!

Thanksgiving quickly followed and since we do things a bit different around here, some of you might enjoy this little clip:

She may not have gotten her first deer, but she sure hit that target!

After we got done horsing around, my little brother (ya...the big guy) exclaims "Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!".  Soon thereafter, AL the-neighbor-dude texted Pig Pen asking what the heck we were up to now!?

Ya just never know!

I hope all your Thanksgiving and family visits were wonderful and that Christmas is off to a good season as well!

Been seeing some pretty darn nice aprons coming from that challenge Susan put out there!  You guys are awesome!  And seeing as how Erin did a post on her sewing area deluxe, I am going to have to do a little sharing on my new area as well! 

Eventually ;)

Sighted and Saggy

No, this is not my target:

My niece sighted in her new gun.  My brother, Pig Pen and I got it for her Birthday.  I would say she did very well!

She sent the picture via text, to which I responded that it must have been her Dad's target (hehehe)!  I added that she did very well, and better than I did with my new gun and scope.

I also told her that she did better because I was older and have poorer eyesight.

She laughed at me and said "Haha, I did better than U!"

To which I responded, "Yeah, well, well, my boobs are bigger!"

And she said......

"But like you said, u r old, so they are saggy!"

WHAT?!  Can you believe these PUNK kids these days?

Ahhh, who am I kidding...I was proud of her for the quick and lethal comeback!

She's still sleeping outside at deer camp!

I Remember Liver Pills and Jelly Beans

Did you ever wonder the who, what, where, when and why of your (don't even know what to call it really, so will just throw it out there) "political mind"?

I pretty well remember little tidbits of each President throughout my younger life and of course, what the history books taught me in school.  But did you ever wonder what shaped you?

Is it our parents?  Our faith?  A certain issue?  What is it?  Was there a point in your life that you realized it matters?

I think the natural evolution of 'growing up' may have something to do with it.  The older I get, the more it seems to matter.  Yes, for me...there was a catalyst that popped my eyes wide.  I think her name was Mona or Veronica or ooooh yeah...Monica.  Just sayin'.  From there on out, I paid much better attention.

For the record, here, it doesn't matters which party you lean or candidate you support.  I think there is -or can be- something good in most of them.  And that sorta irks me too...because sometimes, voting for the lesser of the evils is aggravating!

So yup - I remember Liver Pills, Jelly Beans and Monica.  How 'bout you?

If ya can't find at least one good thing in your every day, then ya ain't lookin' hard enough.

The Funk

So, what are we going to do about this "funk"?  You know it's there.

Everyone feels it, some have admitted it, others have embraced it.  I am of the later. 

And that's not a good thing.  At all.  It's like a smelly room full of cabbage/kraut.  Blech!

I need a:  Swift kick.  Slap upside the head.  Spanking. 

Can you believe those are all things my Mom used to ask me if I wanted?  Really.  Yet here I am, actually volunteering.  *Sigh*


Here's the deal - When you fall off the horse, you feel like a yutz trying to get back on.  Apparently, I am a lazy yutz on top of it all.  And I have no right to be.    

Have I been wasting my time?  Nope.  Heck, I've even enjoyed a little.

I have amazing family and friends who deserve better of me.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

I do try to make up for it when I can.  Even when it nearly hurts me :o}  This cake is so not me, but she really deserved it this year!

Last year it was Christmas wrapping paper, this year...freezer paper.  Pig Pen, gotta love him!

Maybe another decade has brought me low and I just don't want to admit it?  I don't think so, but at this point, I need a good excuse.

Funny how it all cycles...

Even the doggies played along.

Am I wallowing in some undescribed something'er other?  Yup.

Someone needs to point me in the right direction.  Cuz I seem to be lost.  Hello!!  Even the dang signs are confusing!

You know it's bad when you label a picture "Garden Crap" and you think nothing of it.  But alas, the garden is done and the chickens are finishing it up for us.  Just as we finished these beauties...

We are ready for the great Carrot Famine.

There are more on the shelf and the other half is packed in sand.

And of ALL THINGS, I found the most gorgeous, luscious pea plant that I have never planted...

Stupid Peas

Does anyone care to battle this funk together?  I could sure use a hand.  Along with suggestions of course.

Now pardon me while I go pull that damn pea out of the ground and feed it to the chickens...

Tar Heel Love

Note: To all of my blog friends who have sent emails or left comments for which I am most thankful and adore you for, and to my family and friends (some of whom tell me that I stink as a blogger even!)...I am really sorry that I haven't been around much lately! Things can only get better, right?



Maybe it's not the most glamorous of names ~ The "Tar Heel" State.  But I sure did love North Carolina!  I had to look up the meaning of it's nickname.  As with anything, there are several theories with the most notable being pine tar derived from it's vast forest being used to seal up the Navy ships from leaks, worms etc.  Later, during the Civil War, many would go on to say it was because North Carolina held their ground; as if they had "tar on their heels".  Held their ground in bloody battles, held their rank, held out on secession further gaining them the name, "The Reluctant State". 

Knobby tree at Aunt Diane and Uncle Richard's.  Can you see the heart shape?

Regardless of it's true origin, as you are about to see, it's no wonder they love their land:

Pasture leading up the road to their house.

Remember when I said their home/land/utopia was the most beautiful piece of property I have ever had the privilege of touring?

Riding in style!  OK, not the most flattering of photos!

I am a sucker for streams and creeks.  These next few are just part of "Puzzle Creek" which runs thru their property like a puzzle.  It's here, it's there...I wouldn't use it to find your way out.  A bag of bread crumbs probably wouldn't help with all the critters around, but Pig Pen didn't seem to have the same problem.

Flower growing in the stream.  Rhododendron???

Aunt Diane said there are mornings they take coffee out to walk and listen.

They also like to imagine things that "once were".  Tales of the original homesteaders carrying rock to build small walls to avoid wash out (true actually), Indians, love stories etc.  I found a rhinoceros:

Uncle Richard and Pig Pen discussed what "we" might do with a place like this, seeing as how we are a bit younger (his words, not mine!).  I think the better question would be, what wouldn't we do -that you haven't already done???  And by the way Unc...you are never too old.  Especially you guys!

The joke was that we needed to "write the check" and buy the place.  A very bad check, nonetheless!  Panning for gold in Puzzle Creek didn't get us very far either.  :(

Livestock waterer...never seen these before!

The debate...would they fit my brother????

The other joke during our stay was that Aunt Diane fed us sooooo much because she was trying to get Pig Pen to grow into his nose...Uncle Richard finally has!  :o}

It's no wonder that Aunt Diane and Uncle Richard love The Tar Heel State...we sure did!!  Thank you for having us and showing us around!  We can't wait to come back!  Uninvited or not, you are stuck now!!