michael michael ~

It is with a heavy heart that I make this post today.  This morning my brother in law left his temporary home here on Earth.  He was called up to his Eternal Home to be with Our Heavenly Father and to be reunited with those who have passed before him.  His suffering is over. 

The following are a few scrapbook pages that I had compiled of him (and a few others) over the years ~ now they are treasured memories of some fantastic times spent with him and my sister.

... he was quite the character ~

... what a fun day this was ~

 ... our big fishing trip ... no big trophies; but LOTS of laughter and treasured moments ~

 ... our Texas Snow Angel ~

... yep ... that's what I called him ~

You'll be missed Mike.  Rest in Peace.

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel 

another check off ~

My mom, who is 83 years young was able to get another check off her bucket list.  She wanted to harvest a deer with the muzzleloader.

This was her first time ever muzzleloader hunting.  She was quite pleased with her 7 point buck :) ... even though she said it was pretty small.  "ahhh.... Mom, they all look small after you lucked out and put a 16 pointer on the wall already."

Mom has had a few health issues this past year and thought for sure that her deer hunting days were over.    As far back as I can remember she has always hunted ... helping to put meat on the table for her big family.  There were nine of us kids growing up and venison was always a staple on the Obernberger table.

Since my Dad passed away, five years ago, Mom has been talking about giving up hunting; but whenever the gun/deer season rolls around ~ she changes her mind. She bought a license again this year.

She didn't harvest a deer this year during the regular deer/rifle season because she ended up in the hospital during that time ... but then she got the idea in her head to try muzzleloader season ... something she had never tried before. 

Muzzleloader season runs for another week after the rifle season.   You see, the difference with the regular rifle season and the muzzleloader season is the type of gun used.  The rifle offers you more than one shot ~ the muzzleloader is a "one shot" only.  So your aim better be good the first time ~ because you have to reload the gun between firings ... many times missing the opportunity at another shot.

Now ... Mom said she's done hunting ... I don't believe her.  That crazy woman will be out there until she's 102!!

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

busy ~

I think I got my Bavarian on ~ getting busy for the holidays.  My German heritage seems to surface through the holiday season.  We like our sweets; but also our meats.

As far back as I can remember there has always been the smoked and pickled fish and meats during the seasons.  Every year I make my share of it.

 ~ pickled northern pike ~

We had a sink full of salmon that was waiting to be brined yesterday with salt and brown sugar ...

... then this morning into the fish smoker ...

... and this afternoon ... smoked salmon ...

Also yesterday I canned up 12 pints of venison ... 













.... and ....
cooked and pickled some beef hearts:

 ... also ...

I flipped the apple/cinnamon ornaments and painted the back sides of them (Grandlove Amanda helped with a few) ~ since both sides are visible when they are hanging.  They are now sitting on a rack  ~ on a dresser in my office.  I want to make super sure they are good and dry.  They seemed to soften just a tad while painting... but my oh my they sure do smell good :)

Today I made up six loaves of gumdrop bread ... another family tradition on Dear Hubby's side ... they are wrapped and packed in the cooler until Christmas ~

~image from the internet~

~ and I have five loaves of homemade bread rising and waiting to go into the oven within the hour.

While I was knocking it out in the kitchen ... Dear Hubby and Sam have been in the work shop building a sled to pull behind the snowmobile.  They needed something large enough to carry their beaver trapping supplies and to carry out beavers from the ponds when they get them.

When I went out to give it my inspection my first question was, "will that thing fit through the door or are you going to have to take out the removeable wall to get it out of here?"  To me it seems a tad bit wide ... but then again ... they claim to have measured it.  I wanted in the worse way to grab a tape measure and double check their work ... but I'm holding off for a bit.  Seriously, I think it's too wide.  Of course, Slim will blame Sam and Sam will blame Slim and I will be laughing on the side lines.

...
I just checked again a few minutes ago before coming on here to post ... they are now making a metal stabalizer tow-bar that hooks on to the front ... truth be told ... I'm impressed.  Still don't know about the door measurement.

oh well

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel