Pictures Of Thanks

            This Thanksgiving Break has been a series of good times with family; both our immediate family as well as the extended.  I decided to take pictures of a few of the various meals that we had, to capture some of the moments that happened in and around those good times.  We were blessed indeed for the food, but the obvious focus was with the people that we spent time with.

            Todd came home late Tuesday night.  On Wednesday morning, Jodi and I ran in a slight drizzle and then we relaxed and took care of a few errands.  Each fall, for the last five years, we’ve taken a drive into Southern Wisconsin, and eventually ended up at a hometown restaurant where we could get a good, solid burger.  This year we took an afternoon drive up to check out Gibbs Lake, and then drove the small, back country roads over to the outlet for Lake Koshkonong.  We ate at the newly renovated grill named “The Anchor.”  We had eaten there back in 2012 during an outing up along the Rock River, a few years before a fire had damaged it.  Now rebuilt, it’s a great little setting along the water, and one we’d like to check out sometime in the summer when I’m sure it’s hopping with boaters stopping by.

Gibbs Lake

Family at "The Anchor"

            On Thursday we began the day with a breakfast casserole that Cindy made.  We ate it while watching the news and parade.  I called and caught up with my friends Travis & Chris; a tradition on Thanksgiving Day for many years now.  Todd and I headed out afterwards to cut up a tree that had fallen into a nearby field so that we would have quality firewood going into the winter months.  He took a picture of the two of us afterwards in front of our Jeep full of wood, but it was on one of those blasted (yes I said blasted) social media sites that disappears after 24 hours.  So it exists out there somewhere in cyberspace, I just don’t know where.  We did, however, fill our wood rack and so I enjoyed having his help and company.  That Thursday afternoon we drove to my parents house where we visited, ate a meal Mom whipped up, looked at old pictures, and spent the night.  My Dad and I came as close to “Black Friday Shopping” as we’ve ever been, as we went out trying to find someplace that was open where we could get evaporated milk.  My Mom needed it so she could finish her pumpkin pies.  It was touch and go, but we found a Walmart in Lake Delevan that was open and managed to get in and out through the crowds that were already starting to form.  When we returned, I was able to talk on the phone to my sister who lives down south, and then I went to bed.

            On Friday we continued looking at some old pictures, and then together with my parents, drove over to my youngest sister’s house to have Thanksgiving with her family.  We played games, snoozed, and enjoyed a great afternoon together.  We had brought along our dogs, Kati and Kora, who are always up for what they deem as an exciting trip with the family.  In unison we meet my sister’s new puppies.  Bella and Bear were soft, roly-poly, and cute.  Although reserved at first, in the end all of the dogs were romping around (both inside and out) and fun to watch as they played.  We drove home late that evening.

My nephew with all of the "pups"

            On Saturday morning, Jodi and I ran 7 miles in preparation for an upcoming race.  As we ran, the sun came out and it gradually warmed up.  I don’t usually like to waste a day sitting, and watching an entire football game anymore, as I typically like to spend it actually doing something.  I will occasionally watch excerpts of a game if I pass through the living-room, or a majority of a night game if the teams interest me.  On this day, however, I did watch the whole Michigan-Ohio State game.  It was a great game, but it really didn’t end as I had hoped, and so I went out afterwards to take advantage of the fading sunlight.  I raked the leaves from around the fence line, and then edged by pushing my mower around the outside.  I was just about to jump on the riding mower to mulch up any leaves left in the interior of the lawn, when Cindy told me it was time to get ready.  I hate when I can’t finish a project, but I dragged myself away and got cleaned up.  As a family we went down to Rockford’s “Stroll on State” festival.  We parked and walked downtown to watch the lighting of the Christmas tree, and listen to the music being performed.  We also got something to eat.  Jodi and I had tacos, Todd had a burrito, and Cindy got a quesadilla.  The meal hit the spot in the crisp air, and we ended the evening by walking along the waterfront and looking at the lights.

            On Sunday I got up early, and ran four miles with my friend Scott before coming home and getting ready for church.  The service had some great music that helped me align my perspective, and the message was centered on how our spiritual growth is driven by an informed knowledge of God.  Afterwards we went to Cindy’s parent’s house for a Thanksgiving gathering with her family.  Her brother and his family was not able to make it, as they now live out west, but her sister and her family were there.  We enjoyed a delicious meal, good conversation, and games.  My brother-in-law and I moved a few things in and out of the garage, and then we all sat and relaxed.  The house is small, but very cozy and comfortable.  

Once back home, I decided to go over to school to work on my lesson plans for the week, while Jodi dove into some of her homework.  When I returned, the kids decided to go to a movie together; a final outing as siblings before everyone is back in the routine of daily life.  It’s been a nice closure to a great couple of days together, and for that I give thanks.

            See you along The Way…

A Day In The Woods

                It was an early start for Chuck and me.  He drove north to our house, and by 6:00 we were headed west toward Jo Daviess County.  We were in the woods and sitting by 8:00.  On the hike in, Chuck spotted a white tailed deer slowly walking up the hollow toward us.  With the wind blowing up through the hills, the four to six point buck could not smell us, and as a result, he literally walked within just a few yards of us.  He glanced our way a few times, but as we stood frozen and with no scent to warn him, he registered zero fear; rightfully so, as we were there to hunt bushy-tailed squirrels.  I made the “meep” sound of a bleating doe, as he was about to go over the ridge to freeze him, and then after a few seconds, whistled at him like a buck in warning and he lifted his tail and bounded out of sight.

Chuck and I sat a couple of hundred feet apart, as the sun came up over the top of the ridge behind us.  Slowly it began to warm up, but a hat and gloves were still necessary.  With the rising sun came an increase in the wind as well, however, and so you had to hunker down to ward off the chill.  We scanned the treetops and ground for any movement.  The only animal of note was a pileated woodpecker as it called, and flew from tree to tree along the ridge.  They truly are a big sized bird, and it’s a unique opportunity to see them in our area of Northern Illinois.

After a little less than an hour, we worked our way down into the hollow, and up over another ridge that was rimmed by exposed limestone.  We hunkered down, as a flock of turkeys moved through the ensuing valley below us.  Again, the scenery was great, and the chance to simply sit was relaxing, but there just weren’t any squirrels to be seen or heard.  Time stood still, and then Chuck and I rose, and side stepped our way down into the valley, and to the border of the property we were hunting.  We decided to sit once more to see if there would be any activity in this section as it began to near noontime.  Later, Chuck said he began to doze at about that time, and I was tempted, but I finally heard a squirrel barking.  Unfortunately as I looked up the hillside, from where the sound came from, I was looking directly into the sun and could not locate it specifically.  I stood and began to slowly work my way up the steep incline.  Chuck saw me move, and began to walk in the same direction; flanking me by a hundred feet or so.  As we neared the top, we motioned to each other as to the direction we were going to move, when I heard what sounded like a couple of bounding leaps in the leaves up ahead.  We walked in that direction and circled a couple of trees, when Chuck finally saw the gray squirrel I had been hearing.  It dodged among some brambles, and then went out onto a branch on my side, presenting me with an open lane.  I took the shot, and brought it down.  

Chuck and I talked a bit, and then I cleaned it, and bagged it.  Sometime soon I’ll make a meal from it.  The thought of the dark meat wrapped in bacon, and then cooked in a slow cooker with some cream of mushroom soup and sour cream made my mouth water.  As I mentioned this to Chuck, and that I would like to serve it over a bed of wild rice, he said, “You had me at bacon.”  That was pretty funny.

Scouting

"Maiden Hair" Ferns Going Dormant

We tried one more area on a beautiful and slightly open ridge surrounded by red and white oaks, but it was to no avail.  The squirrels, other than the one that I shot, simply were holed up and not coming out.  Perhaps it was the bright sun.  Perhaps it was the wind.  No matter; it was great to get out, enjoy the autumn season, talk as we drove country roads through the small towns of classic Americana, and spend a day in the woods.

See you along The Way…