The Boogie Woogie!

Wish I could dance like this now!  Love it!

50th Class Reunion Weekend

This weekend is Bob's 50th Class Reunion in Boys Town, Omaha, NE.  Sorry to say, we were not able to attend his reunion.  He had 94 classmates in his class and now one-third have already past away.  

He ended up in Boys Town after he ran away from home at the tender age of 14 from Detroit, MI.  He was fortunate that Monsignor Wegner of Boys Town took him in and gave him an education.  He went on to college at Memphis State in TN and got a degree in Business Administration.  When I met him he was Director of Labor Relations for Anderson-Tully Lumber Company, a mill here in Vicksburg in 1985.  

His first trip back to Boys Town since he gradated was his 40th Class Reunion and he was so excited to show me what building he slept in, the Dowd Memorial Chapel and the grounds.  It was a very emotional trip back home to Boys Town.  We really had a great visit with his classmates and until this day we have all stayed in touch either by phone, mail, email or Facebook with several of them.  There will be another reunion in 5 years and hopefully we will be able to make that one. 

I did make a blog for Bob a couple of years ago for his birthday and called it TWO DOGS TALL and posted some of his high school pictures and all his classmates photos.  I also posted a list of all the deceased as well and the four that are missing. 

Bob has a hobby now of making copper trees and he is also into painting and photography.  This keeps him very busy plus the fact he is still able to get in the woods and deer and hog hunt with our friends in the MS Delta.  We are truly blessed! 

"He ain't heavy Father, he's my brother"

Ole Man River Scenes

Yesterday we drove by the overlook and had just missed the Brimstone towboat with its empty load getting ready to make the big turn in the bend of the MS River.  

Brimstone towboat up close.

It's nice to see the sandbars again on the Louisiana side after we have just come through the worst flood here since the 1927 flood.  

Bob and I with the double bridges in the background.

Zoomed in to catch a train crossing the Mighty Mississippi.  Riverwalk Casino in background.

The temps were in the low 90's yesterday with a nice breeze blowing.  It's also one of our favorite places to go and sit, be lazy, reflect and watch ole man river roll on by with it's towboats pushing a load of goods to and from their destinations.  

The Flooded Timber

Here is another hunting story as told by my Facebook friend, Tim Elsey, who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He has written today about a goose hunt that he and his friend Greg took years ago. Tim recently started writing about his hunting adventures and sent me this story to share with everyone who hunts in our great wild outdoors.  

THE FLOODED TIMBER by Tim Elsey

I was hunting along a huge tree line near a creek in early October that bordered a sod farm that a friend of mine owned. As I pass by the sod fields, I would shoot geese as they were leaving. I would blast away at them as they sat on the tree tops :) Dropping some and missing lots LOL :). I was wondering why the geese always took this flight path because the marshland was five miles west of where they where going and they where heading north. I was tempted to follow the geese out of curiosity but it was getting pretty late in the evening and I was alone.

The next weekend I brought my friend Greg with me and asked him if he would like to follow the creek to see where it went.

He said, “you bet, sounds like an adventure to me!”

The next morning at 4:30 am we loaded up the old canoe, our guns and backpacks and off we went, down the creek. It wasn't long, maybe a half hour, when we came across a huge tree that blocked our path across the creek. We pulled the canoe out of the water and walked down the creek to see if it was any better. The further we went, the worse it became. The creek was impassible by canoe.

It was 7 am now, so we decided to have some breakfast and discuss what we would do next. As we were eating, flocks of geese where flying over our heads heading out to the sod fields to feed. I said, “Look, they must be coming from a large water source for that many geese to be in here.”

“I agree,” said Greg. “There's got to be a way in there.” We decided to walk down the creek. We hiked about 3 miles in. It was truly beautiful but creepy at the same time.  The further we ventured in, the trees around us were getting taller and the ground was getting wetter.

Finally, at 11:30 am, we came to this huge beaver dam. The largest one I have ever laid my eyes on. It was about a hundred yards across the creek and about 7 feet wide.  On either side were huge ponds like mini lakes. It had flooded the timber for miles. We could see and hear ducks flying through the trees. As we explored the area, there where huge deer and moose tracks like I have never seen before. The deer trails were like highways and the moose tracks were as big as grapefruit. It was awesome to find such a great spot. At that point, we both agreed we didn't even care if this was the place where the geese were coming from, we were tired.

As we had lunch, we were enjoying watching the ducks and listening to the sounds all around us. We could hear woodpeckers, squirrels, a cow moose calling in the distance, eagles screeching, ducks quacking and the sound of THUNDER as the ducks flew over head, lifting up from the flooded timber. Greg and I looked at each other and I said, WOW! THAT WAS AWESOME, BEAT THAT WALT DISNEY! :)

We both then started to cry out with uncontrollable laughter with tears of joy coming out of our eyes for at least few minutes. Greg then said, “we must be going bush crazy or super tired from getting here because that was pretty funny!

It was now just after 2pm and Greg said, Hey! Can you hear that?  I paused to listen and sure enough it was the sound of geese coming! :)

As the geese got closer the sound got louder and louder then they appeared overhead.  The geese started to spin like a tornado and started coming down. First on the other side of the beaver dam until it was getting full which took about ten minutes, then on this side where we were hiding. It was an amazing site of thousands of geese.  It was like we were being hypnotized watching the tornado spin.  It was so deafening coming down upon us that we could barely hear each other talk.

Greg then said,” what do you want to do?”  We will wait until they all land, then jump up and let them see us so they have a chance to fly, OK? ” Sounds good!” Greg said. “I am just going to shoot right into the flock as they lift and fire my three shots.” :)” Me too,” I replied. :)

We both jumped out as the geese flew up and we fired "BANG”! "BANG”! "BANG”! "BANG”! "BANG”! "BANG”! at the huge flock :).

After all, the mayhem was over! We both had our limit of five geese each! :).

We just could not believe how lucky we were.  As we were retrieving our geese, a huge bull moose came out of the woods. Showing no fear, after all those shots, he began to feed and swim right by our floating geese LOL! :)

We sat and watch him for about 10 minutes, then off he went. That was pretty cool to see!  By the time I realized he was gone, I was like, “man I had my camera in my backpack all this time and did not get a picture of that! :(

This was the easy part of the hunt as we had a rough time carrying those geese out of there LOL!  We could only go for about 500 feet at a time and had to stop and take a break but eventually we made it out at 8:45 pm LOL :).

This hunt took place 14 years ago and I have only been back there 3 times over the years and each time I went it was always a great hunt :).

I think this year it is time for another FLOODED TIMBER ADVENTURE!

Tim with his harvest.

What I Learned From Noah's Ark

1.  Don't miss the boat. 

2.  Remember that we are all in the same boat!


3.  Plan ahead.  It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.  


4.  Stay fit.  When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.


5.  Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.


6.  Build your future on high ground.


7.  For safety's sake, travel in pairs.


8.  Speed isn't always an advantage.  The snails were on board with the cheetahs.


9.  When you're stressed, float awhile.


10.  Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.


11.  No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.


Most people walk in and out of your life, but FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart.

Baby Otters

Who knew that baby otters had to be taught to swim?

Happy Birthday Little Emma!

Today is my youngest granddaughter, Emma's birthday.  She is 4 years old! This picture of us together was taken last month when she came with her parents from Virginia to visit family in the area.  I called this morning and sung Happy Birthday to her. She is so smart and can talk really good.  Wish I could be with her today but I can't and was so good to hear her voice and tell her how much I really love and miss her! Happy Birthday my little Emma!  Gran Gran 

How Did They Get There?

Help!

The Rainbow Bridge

~Katie~

December 31, 1998 ~ July 22, 2011

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.  

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.  There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.  There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.  

All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.  Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and time gone by.  The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.  His bright eyes are intent.  His eager body quivers.  Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.  

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.  The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.  Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...

~Author Unknown 

Dave's Nice Buck In Velvet

My Facebook friend Dave Quick, who lives in Indiana, yesterday braved  the woods in this terrible heat, and came away with an awesome video and also some pictures. He made a sixty second video and hope you enjoy watching the deer in velvet in our great wild outdoors as much as I did.  Thanks Dave!

D. Robert (Dave) Quick
I want to Finish Well
I want to end this race
Still leaning on His Amazing Grace  

Member: Community Christian Church
Member: Pilots 4 Christ
Member: Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America
MY WEBSITE:
HANDLOADING FOR HUNTING
MY DISCUSSION FORUM:
HFH DISCUSSION FORUMS

My New Bushnell Camo Binoculars

Last month I was announced as a first place winner in a Spring Into Summer Contest on Facebook's HuntingTrophy site. I received my new Bushnell Trophy 8x42 Camo Binoculars yesterday.  The Grand Prizes included 1 pair of Bushnell Trophy 8x42 Camo Binoculars to a Facebook Fan and another pair to a Twitter follower won by my friend on Facebook, Patrick Hallisey.  Additional prizes were a $25.00 gift card to a Facebook fan and another to a Twitter follower.  I simply entered my name, email and checked off how I heard of HuntingTrophy.com and entered.  I'm so glad I did.  I am so appreciative and I know I will enjoy using my new binoculars for many hunting seasons to come.

I want to thank Hunting TrophyExperts, Jeff Coppersmith for contacting me to let me know I had won.  The site HuntingTrophy can assist seasoned hunters or someone who is about to go on his very first hunt with answers about importing trophies. Videos are on the site as well where you can see what to do before, during and after your hunt is completed.  It also includes regulation changes before going on a first hunt, a gallery to post pictures of your hunt and a blog to give you an opportunity to asked questions.  With over 15 years of experience importing Hunting Trophies they are a very experienced and knowledgeable team of experts that are more than happy to answer your questions.  Beyond many years of experience with handling trophies, HuntingTrophy.com is a brand of Coppersmith Global Logistics that has 62 years of international trade experience with 10 offices located around the US to better serve customers.

Please go over and check out and join their site on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and visit them at HuntingTrophy.com.

Acute Observations!

A friend sent me this the other day and thought it was pretty interesting and wanted to share with you.

1.  The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Conference.  He acquired his size from too much pi.

2.  I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

3.  She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4.  A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5.  No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

6.  A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

7.  A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

8.  Two silk worms had a race.  They ended up in a tie.

9.  A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall.  The police are looking into it.

10.  Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

11.  Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway.  One hat said to the other, "You stay here, I'll go on a head."

12.  I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger.  Then it hit me.

13.  A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said, "Keep off the Grass."

14.  The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

15.  The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

16.  A backward poet writes inverse.

17.  In a democracy, it's your vote that counts.  In feudalism, it's your count that votes.

18.  When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.  Isn't the English language wonderful?

Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.
~ Unknown

The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.  ~ Calvin Coolidge

You Do What You Gotta Do!

Yesterday's River Traffic at Sunset

An Ergon towboat taking supplies to Jay Luhr!

As the Jay Luhr approaches the two bridge spans it slows down as supplies are loaded.

An Ergon towboat pushing Jay Luhr.  Must be having mechanical problems.

Finally moving again.

Ergon towboat leaving after dropping off supplies.

Getting ready to make the bend in the river as the Ergon towboat heads to port.

A beautiful sunset taking place.

As we head up the hill to leave I see where Jay Luhr and Ergon towboat makes the turn with another towboat in site.

What a beautiful sunset!

Jay Luhr moving the big mofo crane, Henry M. Shreve, own by the Corps of Engineers passing St. Louis, MO, last October.  It was film while standing on the Eads Bridge by analogsafari.  

It Happened Again!

The picture of my squirrel that shows up every morning while on my computer was published in The Vicksburg Post today.  

I sent it in last Monday and was happy to hear Bob say...you did it again!!!  

I posted about the squirrel last Friday week. Sometimes the paper may wait a month or two before publishing something you send in.  All and all, seven pictures were posted in the Classified Section of our Sunday's paper.  Showing in the section were two turtles, two caterpillars, a baby oriole and a humming sitting on a man's hand. They asked readers to give their best shot.  Also, photos should be current and of interest to the public, either because of their subject matter or their oddity, or the photographic skill shown.  You have to also summit a caption for your picture.  

Under my picture it read, Marian Love Phillips said this squirrel friend shows up nearly every day as she sits just inside the window.  Of course, I'm on my computer blogging away and it's so nice to not have to get up and go outside to photograph something.  

I will wait a couple of weeks and send in a picture of Allie Cat with her mouth wide open that I posted the other day sitting exactly where the squirrel was.  It may or may not go in the paper but you never know unless you try.  Not all of my pictures have been published but I'm so happy for the ones that have been.

Rainy Outing

Yesterday as we drove to town to pick up some medicine at the Corner Drug Store the bottom fell out.  Afterwards we drove by the waterfront to see what was going on. Saw a couple of guys coming in for a landing at the riverfront.  They may have been out site seeing or just fishing.  We really needed the rain and has rained off and on for the last couple of days.  The temps have come down some which is a good thing but after it rains it gets pretty muggy outside.  (Note: Grand Station Casino Boat in it's cofferdam)

Caught By Train

As we headed to the overlook yesterday coming from town we saw at the top of the hill that a train was passing by.  As I got closer noticed two birds sitting on a sign like they were also waiting for the train to go by.  It must have been a few minutes or so. Smart birds obeying the rules!    

Waiting...

...and waiting

...and waiting!  Finally, train gone, birds gone!

We just missed a big barge as he headed north after making a turn in the bend. Actually, while waiting for the train to go by we could see the pilot getting ready to execute his wide turn.  

A rotten tree and hill covered with Kudzu. 

A beautiful sky view of the bend in the river near DiamondJacks Casino.