This Year's Hunting Story

i have been on countless adventures in the past week since i've written, though many of which i am not at liberty to disclose. Sufficient to say, I have found my share of them. Its been another one of those weeks that, as usual, i've been given 3x as many things to do as I have time to accomplish. One of which involves Advanced Cardiac Life Support Classes tomorrow. I decided that I would take a break from studying and set my mind free with a little blogging.
We had a guest here for a few days in a liberating process. That took a share of my energies as well, though I wouldn't have changed it for the world. This morning, before the person left, we gathered around and prayed for Gods plan and for freedom. May God hold the person in the palm of His hands and may His angels remain charge of destiny.
I slipped out yesterday long enough for a refreshing 4 mile run and also for a hunt with The Archer. He, The Archer, was rather persistent. At 6:30 or 7am he poked his head in my bedroom door reminding me that I needed to get my deer. This was not his first morning invitation and I knew I couldn't pass up another. With the Archer on my case, I'd have no peace until a buck was hanging. I slipped on the silliest looking odds and ends of clean warm clothing and frowned at the growing piles of dirty laundry. After reading a "Sparkling Gem" to the kids, making some unsightly breakfast, I moped out the door to the truck.
Archer thought that I should drive around in the warmth of the truck with an eye for road side bucks, but I figured I should do it the old fashioned hard work way. Just kidding, it was the other way around ;-) So, as I was saying, we hiked, and hiked, and hiked. Finally, we arrived at a satisfactory spot of Archers choice and he set up a "rest" for my borrowed rifle. After that he commenced to "rattling" a couple of dead deer horns together, stomping his feet and pretending to be a buck in "the rut". This was all rather amusing, but the most amusing thing was when I noticed that my gun was sitting on the rest upside down. I stifled a laugh and flipped it up. After that, I just sat in the cold shifting position as motionless and soundless as I could. Suddenly, The Archer said "its time to be moving". As we got up, we shortly saw a doe we had rattled in. With his scope on 6x, it was revealed to be a tiny tiny spike. Overjoyed, he wanted me to take the shot. Just kidding, I was tempted, but Archer wanted me to hold out for a bigger buck. As it happens to be, some of the local women recently shot 1x2s and 2x2s. Because of this, the men of my family determined I must shoot something bigger.
After walking slowly and stealthily, like a native, in his very tracks for near unto eternity, he made his special deer sign. Noiselessly, we dropped to the ground and began crawling and scooting. He had me scoot from tree to tree, careful not to crack a single stick. Several times, he pointed out an unseen buck. Finally, after having me create a rest using my arm, balanced on the side of a tree, he again pointed out a couple of bucks ambling by. He said "wait till it stops". I studied a 3x3 through my scope as he walked along, aiming at his lungs. Archer blew a grunt call and the buck momentarily paused. At the same time, I fired off a shot which nailed both lungs instantaneously. The buck instantly dropped right where he stood. Archer seemed pleased. The other buck, a smaller one, stood around watching. I feared he might charge us, but after several minutes, he exited in a disgruntled manner. Sure enough, down there, in the clearing, was my buck dead as dead could be. I HATE killing things, but if I need to, for food, that's the best way. I was happy. Archer gallantly offered to let me "gut" him, and politely, I refused. After a long hike back to the vehicle and then back to the deer, I was SHOCKED when Archer threw the buck over his shoulders and carried it out of the woods. I guess he's really a man's man. Blood dripping down off him, immense weight shouldered, the kid smiles proudly as he makes his way the mile back out of the woods. I thought to myself, well, this really isn't my thing, but if my 19 year old wants to take me out to do anything I should count it as doing well :-)
Much busyness seems to plague me, but I continue to find refuge in my hot tub and at the computer. To read about my latest fitness and eating exploits see my other blog :

Hold On!

Working Mom Blues and "Operation Hawaii"

Until next time, may you find freedom, peace and joy in your life, but most of all The Liberator.

Back to the Drawingboard with My Bad Boy.....

Today we had a Home School "Theme Day". We looked up Bible verses about sowing and reaping, gardens, seed time and harvest, etc.. We talked about how the seeds we plant in our lives produce a harvest just like the seeds we plant in the ground. For instance, if you were to eat lots of high fat foods, sit on your bum and be chummy for many hours a day with the tele, then you would have to expect your harvest would be a wide derriere and probably eventual health problems. If you are unfriendly and grumpy to everybody around, you're not going to reap a bumper crop of friends. Proverbs tells us that we have to "show ourselves friendly" if we want friends. Do a slovenly job on your school work, and you're gonna have to redo it, wasting time in the process. In fact, most everything we do, brings a harvest in some form or another. After the Bible verses, we wrote some poems along that theme, drew and colored pictures and then planted a huge host of seeds to put in the window sill. It was a fun and refreshing break from a regular day.
I went running with Mist and Elasta Woman, their dogs and one baby in a stroller. It was a bit of an obstacle course and I found myself avoiding moving "hurdles". It kept me on my toes, but I wouldn't trade the visit with the girls for a groomed track in solitude any day. We did the now routine 3.7 miles of running and 2 mile walk. After I got over the initial pain of the first mile, it got a lot better. I used to look at people funny when they said "everything is easy after the first mile", but I'm starting to understand.
The other day, I decided to finally try and wear my Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag. Its my "bear gun". It seemed "big and clunky" to carry, but my husband bought me a shoulder holster to try it with. After spending half an hour adjusting the straps, I finally got it to sort of do what it was supposed to do. Honestly, I love wearing my .38 Taurus with a belly band. That's so comfortable I hardly know I'm wearing it, and great for running with because it doesn't flop around. Anyway, I wore the Ruger Super Blackhawk twice now and it was OK. OK, well it was a little bit cumbersome. Actually, the straps pulled on my belt causing my pants to ride way too high. It reminded me of the old fashioned "traction" machines at the hospital we used to put on people with back troubles. It was still a little bit off centered too. My husband says some of them put magazines on the other side. That's OK. I'm not Rambo or anything. Just want to wear it in the back country where bears are likely to be a threat. I've hiked probably 7 or more miles with it now and I don't think it would work on a backpacking trip, or day long hike. I guess it's back to the drawing board with this bad boy........