Turkey day 09'

Well, yesterday being thanksgiving, found me watching Kai, while being thankfull he was feeling better than the day before. He'd had a super high fever the day before and a modest one most of Thanksgiving. Soooo ....it was decided that he could hang with dad while the rest of the family headed out to the Benders (Nicole's sister) house for the elusive DOUBLE turkey dinner. There were promises of food brought back, so that was good enough for me.
Kai followed me around as i cleaned a little house and did some more dishes. At some point i must have gone to the bathroom and come back out.......it took a couple minutes for me to realize the little guy wasn't right beside me. So i called for him and he answered.......inheredaddainheredadda.....translation...."in Here".....So i peared into the bathroom and here he was. Practicing his "Peee". I laughed so hard i had tears, and was pleased a boy and his Dad were able to share such a special moment!

He just has to figure out how to get that darn diaper off, and he'll be pee'en like the big boys!

Well, with all that being said, i had to have some time with Isa, so she helped me bake a blueberry pie. I'd told here during our blueberry picking outings that she'd get to help me bake a pie.....And she did. So here is the outcome. A pie from pickings to pan. Have to say it was a little runny, but darn tasty!

So from the North...Where men bake, cook, and clean......Little girls bake pies.....and little boys know what to do too.....which is nice.

Mark...."The Iron Skillet"

Duck 2009, Trip 2...The Season Really Starts

Well, as the title says. I found myself in trip number 2 of 2009/2010 duck season. This one had been planned for the last few weeks, with a former co-worker. He's been hitten the duck grounds hard, and has managed 70 ducks already this season, with many a trip under his belt. For me, today was the first serious day of the season. Unfortunatly, the ducks didn't want to coperate. None the less, it was good to hit the "corn", try the new duck cart out, and get back into swing of things.

Here are a couple pictures of our set up. I know it doesn't show it all, but we've got 5 "Wind ducks" this year, along with a cart that'll carry 48 ducks, along with the dozen field decoy's i can carry, for a total of 60 decoy's. Needless to say, we've got a pretty good spread this year, only time will tell on how well it pays off.

When we arrived in the dark this morning this little puddle had 200 + ducks roosting in it. Pretty cool to hear that whirrrrrrr of wings, with inadvertant quack's as they take off.

Unfortuantly, the weather didn't turn nasty like it was supposed to, and the roosting ducks didn't return, like they have in past hunts. Way it goes i guess.


Of course we have to have a picture of the "hide out" in the "corn". Man, that cart was nice and i think we really "upped our game" this year. Chase give'n the high sign......to bad it didn't bring in any more ducks!


And, last a picture of me with the only duck of the morning that was dropped, a small bull pintail.
By 11 we called it a day with little flyer's and clearing skys. Still, a good day to re-aquaint ourselve's with the corn, and for me to get back into the swing of things.



so, signing off from the north. Where ducks sometimes fly, seasons blend from one to the next, and we still have fun too....which is nice!


Mark...."the Iron Skillet"

Another Season Starts

Yesterday found myself at home. I worked around the house, wrapped Nicole's birthday presents and finished most of my list of "To-Do's" by about 1:30. It was kind of rainy and nasty (like it's been for the last few weeks) so i decided that it would be a good day to start duck season of 2009. Nothing special mind, just a good hike and see if i couldn't puddle jump a bird.

So.....that's what i did. Walked a few miles, just enough to get a good sweat going and just about where i normally turn around up popped this nice drake mallard.

A couple quick bursts from the trusty stoger shotgun, and down he went. I nice way to end a good hike, and to start a duck season. (Sorry about the picture, doesn't really do this guy justice, but he'd been stuffed in a coat pocket for awhile before i got a chance to snap a photo)

So, there you have it the start of duck 2009. Whith the last day of deer season on Sunday, i'll be full swing into ducks by Thanksgiving.

Like i've said before we live in a pretty cool place if you like the outdoors. There is always something to do!


So, from the North......Where birds fly south......we shoot to the North........and get ducks too......which is nice.


Mark...."The Iron Skillet"

The End of a Season

Well, this last Sunday we came to the end of a hunting season for me. Bear season is now officially closed. This was a season of many a logged mile, and i enjoyed every footstep. In total I'm not sure how many trips i did, but it was a heck of a lot more than last year. In total i think we saw 5 or 6 bears for the season, with me missing the only shot taken for the season.


So as i awoke this morning thinking of the places i've been this year i thought i'd share a few of my favorite pictures with everyone once again. (you can click on the picture to make it bigger)




A picture of early in the season......"The Secret Bowl"

Another early season shot......."Lupin on the divide"


End of September.........."Early snow in the high country"

This last Sunday, the last day........"C-man.......a.k.a. HardCore"

Last day, in deep snow..........."Snowshoes for the end"

The last day found us in deep snow, and lower down than we normally hunt, so we strapped on the snow shoes and went for a hike. What a fun way to end the season. Although, i found myself thinking................

WHAT?....WHAT??????? I've got to wait another year to do this again! I think my face says it all

"WHAT?"

So, From the North,

Where one season ends and another begins.....Things are both lost and found on the mountians......and, we look forward to next year too.....which is nice!

Mark....."The Iron Skillet"

SNOW WHITEY'

Well, as some of you already know, i aquired a "new" car this last weekend! I should say a "new" to me car. What i aquired was a 1988 Subaru dl, two door, hatchback. Everything about her say's "SPORTY"! Even the amount of miles on the car say "drive me more". So with Approx. 239,000 miles "snow whitey" became mine! She's not filled with a lot of luxuray, as you can see in my nice blury picture. Even the radio is missing! The picture is blury cause the door fell off as i was snapping the photo! (just kidding)

So, now for a few glamor shots. I just love the no grill, no hub caps, and a font wheel so caked in oil that it's saturated forever. Speaking of oil, might have to buy a little stock in oil now, after driveing this old gal. Seems she has somewhat of a leak.....or two or three!

Now for the head on shot......could you imagine seeing this pull up in your rearview mirror on I-5 doing 75 mph.? Nothin but RAW POWER there!

So, some may ask....how much does one pay for a 1988 subaru with 240,000 miles on it? For me NOTHING! Yep, this car was free! We all know i can never say NO to free! In fact when we drug it home on Saturday it didn't even run! With a little of this, a little of that.......some duct tape......bailing wire.......even a few shot of wd40.......and we had this P.O.S. running once again!

Turns out, that even with the oil sheen it produces in the driveway (take into acount i don't have to kill any more weeds in our gravel driveway) and the gear oil i have to add once in awhile to the tranny, she gets close to 30 mpg.! Factor that with $25 a month insurance and i've got an around town communter that beats the old dodge hands down!

So, from the north......where cars with 240k are just broken in, and we buy stock in oil too!

Mark.......the leaky iron skillet!