By-Tor and the Snow Dog

It has been a real winter this year. Cold and snowy like winter should.  Really, if you ain't bitchin' about it, it really ain't winter. So another snow didn't stop me and Bub for taking tour of the neighbor hood. As soon as we left I realized it showing harder than I though. But we pushed on and relished the beauty. Nothing as pure as fresh snow. Need to get back to the cabin and finished getting ready for an Alabama hog hunt. Tawny got me some gravel for Christmas, so I thought I'd get her a wild boar for Valentines Day. Screw chocolate,  unless it's wild boar bacon cover in chocolate. Mmmmm. I'll update next week with a pile of hogs.

Happy Holidays

I can say this has been a happy holiday for us. I've been off since the 20th of December and still don't have to be back until the 7th. So been getting some stuff done. Tawny got me 14 ton of gravel for the drive which we extended, yeah. Replaced the front piece on my truck I busted running into Tawny's truck over deer season. Been playing my new dulcimer I got 3 weeks ago. Super sweet and smooth action on a ebony fret board and extra fancy cherry bottom, with Fishburn EQ pick ups. We even made a short IN trip, even got to see our dear old friends Ivan & Vivian. It was so good to sit and talk as the're closest thing I've got to parents. Memories of Mom and Dad with them were warm and not sad. I got cold chills looking at the sidewalk in front of their house and vividly remembering riding bike without training wheels down that very sidewalk. Tawny got a t shirt that says "yantalay" which is a Cherokee word that she used from calling the cat to telling me to shut up. Not sure really what it means, because Tawny really won't tell, just a wry grin.

 It was a big laugh and a good look with her "Ted" hat, though Bub looks good in it. Speaking of that, I want to shout out to everyone on Bub's 14th birthday yesterday. Can't do steps well, little more grumpy, and more deaf, but he couldn't be happier. Lets shoot for 15. I hope everyone has had a good of holidays as us. For the ones we missed, I miss you all and hope to see you on the next trip to IN. For those who depend on others, always be prepared to be let down.

Another deer season

Has come and gone. Another fat doe makes my total 62, but that big buck has still eluded me. I did see a big buck at Hoberts getting his ass kicked by one on his mules. We even got snow, which for me hunting deer in the snow is the best, nothing more beautiful to me is  newly fallen snow. I should of had 2 more does, but my gun was sighted in high as I expected some farther shots and overshot both times at close range. Oh well, still got meat in the freezer. The Ranger was a big help and fun too.

Otway, Then & Now

While researching the history of Otway and the railroad, I found these 2 old pictures of town. I even found a Utube video of the last steam train to come by the house in 1990. It was cool. Our little store called "The Depot" is were the old depot use to be in town. I was torn down in the 80's and store built on the same spot. New county bridge is done, ready for traffic, now just get the covered bridge ready. The county got the bridge from an other they abandoned. Painted it, new concrete abutments, and road deck, lot of money for a bridge to nowhere. The railroad access road lets use run the Ranger to town and the bridge without have to go in the road and then deal with Johnny Law.

Where's Waldo

On our way to Wayne NF to go riding again this little doe walks across the road and stop on the side for nice fall picture. But after downloading I looked at it said "Where's the deer". It's right there but you got to believe.

New Bridge

Standing on the deck enjoying the warm sun, I noticed a silver gleam  at the cover bridge. I woke up Bub and we went to investigate. We got a new used bridge from the county somehow. I guess the historical society want to totally restore the bridge to vehicle traffic. We'll see. Just another day in Otway.

Hanging Rock

One of the reasons I like where we live is the abundance of state and federal lands. Today we took advantage of that by taking the Ranger the Wayne National Forest for ATV trail riding. Which is cool as most lands don't welcome ATV riding. Taunya and I weren't disappointed. A crisp clear 50 degree was all one could ask for. It was our first time putting the Ranger through its paces on REAL trails. It did everything I asked of it, with not inkling of being top heavy. Some of the trails were prey steep too. No problem. I think Taunya was a little leery at first, but soon

she was behind the wheel all I could see were teeth. We only did 14 miles on our first trip, but we want to more. Can't wait till the next trip. We didn't even see Hanging Rock, or really is one, but if there is we'll find it.