Brothers in arms

Been on vacation this week and still trying to get over Dad.You know the hero isn't supposed to die in the movie. Somehow my hero did. So I thought a week of turkey hunting near the house would be the ticket to renew the soul. So I called my little brother Rob to see if he'd be interested in seeing the cabin and get some turkey huntin' in. Well before we new it, it turned into  a brother weekend, I couldn't have asked for anything more.   Rob and I didn't get a turkey, saw some and had a good hunt anyway, as we don't get to hunt together as much as we would like. Mike and I got caught up and had some good laughs, and Dennis and I got to do 2 canoe trips 6 miles downstream past the swinging bridge and 8 upstream to the house. The upstream stretch had a lot of

 ugly log jams we had to navigate, but nothing we've haven't overcome before. I also got to cook up the kitchen sink of wild game. Alligator,bear,wild boar, buffalo,pheasant,and deer. It was a pleasure to cook up all my wild game specialties for my brothers to enjoy and appreciate where their food comes from. There is nothing more natural. Just got my carport converted to a garage by a  local Mennonite fellow. I now have a SHOP to officially do stuff. Having all my  brothers here to just hang out at my new digs with no pressure or distractions was something we rarely get and will rightly cherish. Being able to do next weekend would not be soon enough. I think for me was the most and best healing medicine I could get. And I guess Dad would have said it best. " Get over it." I'm trying Dad.

Back to normal ?

A few months before Dad passed away he was insistant that I take an old double barrel shotgun. I felt funny about it, but he was determinded. So I took it home, cleaned it up and found it was made between 1902-12. Now what, I know take it hunting. So my friend from work Chris and I went pheasant hunting. It was cold and snowy, perfect for hunting birds. When the first bird flushed and I smoked it with a 100yr old gun, I new Dad would be proud. I know I was. 8 birds fell to the old girl. Life is much more different now that Dad's gone. That crutch to able to call for anything is not there. Not being able to ask how to fix something or tell him about something I made or fixed is maybe what I miss the most. That's what Dad was, making something or fixing it. But I seem to have a different confidence about things, and I've never felt closer to my 3 wonderful brothers. Maybe because the pool of people you can count on for anything is growing smaller. I not sure. I guess time will tell. But hunting on that cold snowy I felt like Dad was right there with me, and I guess as long I never forget he always will.

New Year's Day

It's been a tough couple week, holidays, my emotional rollercoaster, watching the days pass wondering? Have I done enough? Said enough? Too much? For a person who prided himself in having answers only seems to have questions. I am rattled to the core. I do want to send out a happiest birthday for my best friend Bub who turn 13 today. He's getting stiff and gray like a few more of us. He seems healthly and happy. We was quite happy to see it snow too. Made the mountians look even better. Happy New Year everyone.

Christmas

Notice I didn't say merry, well thats because we lost Dad to his battle with cancer on Thurday the 20th. Now Christmas to me was never a religious time for religion has never done anything for me, but my family has. That's what this time of the year is about for me. Dads battle was long, hard and valiant,as with most things in life. A little before he died he got to go flying which was one his greater joys. He even got to see a WWII  German ME 109, he was thrilled. As a man who loved to build and fix things. Thats what I'll miss the most. Showing him something that I built or telling how I fixed something. Maybe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. First Mom, then Pat, now Dad, it seems that the list is growing. Give a man fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man fish, feed him for life. Went fishing yesterday, didn't catch anything. Need to lose some weight anyway. Miss you Dad.

Deer season

I just finished  my 1st deer season in Ohio. Not quite what I expected, now it wasn't the area, so much as the property. I did a semi-guided hunt with Pike-Adams deer hunts at a price cheaper than a lease. It is a good property just the landowner wouldn't quit logging why season was on. Anyway saw a few deer, no bucks other than a spike. A huge 15 pt buck was taken a nice 10pt lost, but I managed to kill 2 anterless deer, which puts me at 60 taken during my tenure.Not sure if I'll do it again, but I will for turkey season. Good thing, bought a new smoker before season and my freezer died during. The last thing I wanted a new freezer empty, and a non smoking smoker. Not a problem now. Got my first taste of how fast the river comes up and then goes down 8 to 10' a couple weeks ago. No sweat this time,but I bet my times coming. Trimmed the dinning room out 2by rough saw cedar, had some leftover so decided to make a TV stand which I am very proud of. The little cabin is coming along and couldn't think a more peaceful place to grow old. Bub loves his fenced yard and he thinks he's top dog being able to let himself in and out.

Breaking News "Fat boy can still ride"

It's been at least 7 years since I was on a horse, but today I got my wish to ride once again. My new friend Sam Sais said he and his girls were going to check the area I will deer hunting this year and asked if I'd like to go along. A quick 30 minute drive and I was there and there she was, Jenny. Jenny the mule, as I said it's been awhile and I've noticed a girth expansion, but I've never ridden a mule. She was a delight, surefooted and whatelse, muleheaded. Riding through the mountain on this incrediable fall day brought back a wave of emotions that overtook me. I was brought to tears. All the memoirs and joys I had with the horses, the southern rides in Hoosier NF and around the farm. Southern Ohio is just as beautiful. We saw a bunch of deer and turkeys. I had the realization how the  twist and turns in life are part of the fun. As I gaze out the kitchen window at the river, I never would I have guess 5 years ago that I would be living in cabin,on the river in southern Ohio, in a state forest, riding around the woods with a 300 lb retired cop on a borrowed mule. I can't wait see were I'm at in 5 more years

Settling In

Been busy settling in Otway. Scott and Marsha came down over Labor Day and helped install a set of steps down to the river. Cooked some good food, like armadillo eggs, which are japelenos with cream cheese covered with sausage wrapped in bacon, then grilled. Decided to paint some native american signs on my concrete pump house. And doing alot of fishing. Got a couple farms I'm going to hunt during deer season which is closing in fast. Got a new stove installed, log siding sealed, windows caulked, and checking into some spray foam insulation for the underside of the house. Fall colors are started to pop and the view from the deck ought peak in a week or 2. The best thing is that Dad even came down a couple weeks ago. He's so tough to hang in there like he has and to make that trip all the way over to our little cabin was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. Even got to play the dulcimer and piano for him. Even install a door board like out at the farm so Bubby can let himself in and out.