The Cabin is Getting Smaller

I discovered the Denniston Family Cabin when I discovered Tom.  Well, in actuality, I think Tom discovered me.  It has been in the family since the 1950s and many a youngster has learned to love the outdoors up there.  Our children loved it and brought friends and now our grandchildren are loving it and bringing friends.

Our daughter, Karyn, has 3 boys with another child on the way.  It won't matter if the baby is boy or girls s/he will learn to love the outdoors.  The whole family hasn't been to the cabin for awhile so this year they made the trek from Nebraska and brought along one friend and one extended family member.  Boppa and Grandma tried to stay - (we did have obligations but once those obligations were finished we high-tailed it up to the cabin).  Karyn and Rick longed to be "grown-ups" at the cabin.  I remembered when I longed to have the cabin all to ourselves, too.  I tried to remember that and stay away but those grandsons are so darn cute!

Karyn's family arrived Sunday evening.  By all reports, there was fishing, boating, fort building, hiking, exploring, running in and out galore.  I can just hear the screen door slamming.  I can almost here Grandma Denniston (the original cabin owner) yelling "Quit slamming the screen door!"  We arrived around 4 or 5 on Tuesday afternoon.  As we pulled up, Karyn and James were walking towards us, until James saw me - then he was on the run.  See?  How can a person resist a toddler running down a mountain path with a big smile on his face, yelling, "Grandma!"  Not me.  Hugs and kisses ensued - then we entered the cabin.  Tom (Boppa) and I were happy we made accomodations to sleep elsewhere the cabin is getting smaller!  At one time, I think it could about 11 - but I don't think it ever did.  Now I know why.

Timmy, Daniel, and friend Christian showed up shortly after.  Daniel grabbed me and off we went to see the Big Bam.  It was behind the cabin and in a cluster of trees.  The forest floor had been cleaned and each room claimed by a boy.  A bit of furniture was taking shape.  From many accounts, this took a good portion of the day.  Timmy and Christian had spent some of the day "oaring" the rowboat out on the lake.  The lake is deeper than I've ever seen it - maybe that's why the "seaweed" is growing up to the top of the water.  Timmy has been on the boat by himself before but I think this was a first for Christian.  They had fun, until they floated over the seaweed bed - rowing through solid ground is kind of tough.  I think the wind helped them a bit but then started pushing them towards the outlet.  Generally the outlet ends at a pretty shallow gravely shore but because the lake is deep that shallow area was gone.  The water leaving the outlet sounded pretty loud, especially to a couple of boys who couldn't control the boat because of the wind and exhaustion.  According to Karyn they were terrified they were going over the raging rapids.  I'm not saying the outlet isn't dangerous but I'm pretty sure the boat would've stopped before going over any ledge.  And that's what happened.  Karyn managed to rescue them when they hit shore and it was all a fun adventure in the end.

Those were the stories we heard while we settled in.  Timmy, Christian and Daniel had decided to explore the direction of the inlet.  When they returned they announced that they had seen a moose.  I was a little concerned but they stated they were pretty far from it.  Just as they finished that statement, I looked out the cabin window and here came a gangly-legged, young bull moose.  He barely had his paddle horns.  He looked over his shoulder at us, like he was hoping we'd invite him in for a muffin or something.  It's always fun to see moose at the cabin!

In short order, Rick was busy cooking up a fish feast. Almost anyone can catch fish at this lake.  Christian caught his first fish, James caught his first lake trout, Timmy and Daniel added to the catch.  Not sure who had the license on Tuesday but there was enough trout for an actual feast.  I'm not sure I've ever seen so many fish cooked up there at one time.  The platter was piled high.  These trout may be small but they are tasty.  Our standard is to make anyone who catches a fish to at least try it.  We have had some argument with younger ones - we didn't with Christian.  We showed him how to eat it like "corn on the cob".  That was a mistake.  He loved it, and started eating fish after fish.  After the 3rd or 4th one, he slowed down. Rick told him there was one more.  He looked around the table.  We were all stuffed - he finished the last trout.

Since Boppa and I were "guests" we relaxed, played with the boys, chatted, walked to the lake and Rick cleaned up the kitchen.  I was hoping we'd get all the boys to bed so we could play bridge but that wasn't going to happen.  Thin air, a full day of sun and fun makes everyone tired.  Tom and I retired to a nearby cabin we had begged to use.

Wednesday morning dawned a bit cooler than usual this time of year.  Tom and I made it over to the Denniston Cabin.  Tom made coffee.  It was pretty quiet when I arrived.  I thought everyone must be at the lake fishing.  I peeked into the bedroom and James spotted me.  Everyone else was still sawing logs.  "Grandma!  Look, mama, it's grandma!"  It sure is fun having that kid around.  He got up, jumped into my arms and we went to the living room and rocked in the wicker rocking chair.  James promptly fell asleep and I got my snuggle time in.  Eventually everyone stirred - breakfast was casual.  I'm not sure who devised it but either Timmy or Christian started a cribbage bracket.  Christian learned Cribbage on this trip.  I was surprised how well Daniel and Timmy were playing.  The tournament on throughout the day.  I got to play Timmy and he beat me!  I ended up in the loser bracket along with Daniel.  Daniel doesn't lose games very often and he beat me, too!  It's a good thing I can still beat Boppa regularly or I'd have to find a new game.  Oh, Timmy and Christian decided to make another cribbage board to speed things up.  They used the battery operated drill until the battery ran out of juice, they used the hand drill until they broke several bits.  We never played on that board as it had about 20 more holes to make it complete.  I think they must have packed it away to complete it at home though because I couldn't find it after they left.

Between games, there were some lake visits.  Karyn, James and I went to find the close by spring.  It was running pretty fast with a little streamlet of water entering the lake.  We found a sitting spot and James had great fun throwing leaves into the water and watching them race down the stream.  Water, leaves, and grandma make a great time and much of it was spent watching leaf races!

Rick's brother, Tom, joined us about noon.  He got the tour of the place, a boat ride, caught some fish, got educated on cribbage and helped with fish feast #2.  Karyn has a favorite waterfall she likes to find so she convinced the boys and I to help her find it.  We left the big boys alone while the figured out what to cook with fish feast #2.  I thought we could get to the falls by the road and turning at the first cabin.  The first cabin has a lovely setting even if it isn't on the lake. It looks out over a pretty dense willow field.  We worked our way through the willows.  James finally ended up on Mom's shoulders.  Thus she was carrying two babies - one inside and one outside (but don't tell James he is a baby!)   We came to a "raging rapid" and thought we needed to cross over as less willows were along the opposite bank.  We found a downed tree to cross on.  The boys had crossed over higher up but we'd have to negotiate more willows so Karyn and I elected to cross on the log we found.  I made it across - then it was up to us to get James across.  He was having none of it!  James gets very stubborn so it took some convincing.  I was on one side reaching over and getting ready to pull, Karyn was on the other side getting ready to push.  James took a step, then another, let go of his mom's hand, grabbed mine, took a couple more steps and he was over.  "I did it!"  fist pumping in the air,  "I crossed the bridge, mama!"  Indeed, what a trouper.

It was easier going until Karyn discovered we'd gone to far.  We re-grouped and turned around - except James.  He was having none of it!  We left him. I stayed behind, waiting for him to come our way.  He started to cry, I peeked out and asked if he wanted to come with me.  He did - only he wanted me to carry him.  I did for a little bit then I had to put him down.  Somehow I enticed him to keep walking.  We caught up with the others navigating another willow patch but could see the falls!

James wasn't going to make it through the willows, so he ended up on my shoulders.  He enjoyed that immensely.  We found out that we should've turned at the first cabin on our way out not our way in - the falls were right there.  That's a lesson I won't forget.  We got pictures, tried to find away across.  Daniel got stuck in the willows.  Karyn got him out.  I found a fairly shallow place to cross with only some rushing water.  I stood in the rushing water with my hand out as everyone crossed the water - except James.  He wasn't having anything to do with getting his feet wet.  Karyn kept urging him and we finally all made it across.

On the climb back up tot he road, I found some sunglasses.  One ear ban was broken but they still fit James okay.  He called them his soccer glasses.  The sky is getting very dark - thunder is booming and we need to get back.  Soon we hear Boppa's truck.  He came to rescue us.  Thank you, Boppa, we were ready for a ride.  Dinner was waiting when we arrived.  We also had steak but the trout were again the hit of the evening even though we also had corn on the cob.

While the cribbage tournament raged on, I offered to do kitchen detail.  Thank goodness for paper plates!  Again, I was hoping for bridge, but cribbage took precident and after I lost to Timmy - cards didn't sound fun anymore.  Haha, just kidding, it was great fun watching Timmy's face glow when he won.  He has the most beautiful genuine smile.  It was worth it.

On Thursday morning, Tom (uncle) was sleeping in the living room but people were up and having coffee.  Rick was going to cook us a mountain man breakfast and Boppa was helping.  Uncle Tom slept through most of the chatter.  It was windier and fishing on the boat while tried earlier was more work than it was worth.  We enjoyed our pancackes, sausage and eggs.  Karyn did kitchen detail - boys got dressed, cribbage tournament continued.  The champion round was down to Boppa and Christian.  It was neck and neck.  Christian won.  I think that boy just might come back to the cabin when invited again.

Karyn and family were planning on leaving around noon - I think they made it by three.  The boys all got along really well.  Timmy would go off and do something by himself, Christian would go fish.  Daniel would be included sometimes or hang around with one of us.  It all worked pretty well mostly.
Some fishing was tried, the boat was tried again.  Mixed success.  Karyn and Boppa made tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.  A watched pot never boils but an unwatched one boils over.  Karyn had put the big soup pot on low to keep it warm and turned around to do something else.  The soup boiled over.  Boppa got clean up detail after lunch.  Our new cooktop cleaned up fairly easily - easier than if the same thing had happened to the old Coleman campstove.

While Boppa was kitchen cleaning, Karyn shooed us all outdoors.  I took the boys to the road and convinced them that beavers might be at the inlet again.  James went along for awhile then put on his brakes.  We left him.  He started crying, I went to get him - I carried him for a little while.  I put him down and then did the grandma underpass.  It's great fun to run between my legs with me peeking through them to encourage stubborn toddlers to keep going.  Then to add to the adventure, I put my hands down as the monster crunching gadget, toddles have to run past in order to not get eaten.  Don't laugh - it got him up the hill!  Walking along the road wasn't quite as difficult and a few peeks showed us that no beavers were building dams - but that inspired James to remember to go potty.  He peed on the rock and was quite proud of the feat.  I was quite happy he did it on the rock and not on my neck while carrying him!

James discovered a small "New Testament" in the bookshelf at the cabin.  It came his favorite book and went everywhere with him.  As we headed back to the cabin.  He wanted me to carry him.  I told him I would carry his book.  He put it in my pocket.  The he "found" a "key".  Took me awhile to figure out it was an imaginary key but when I did, we put it in my pocket, too.  Then we'd walk for awhile.  He'd want his book, then his key.  He'd carry then about 5 steps then want me to carry them.  This went on all the way down the road but I didn't have to carry him!  Meanwhile Timmy and Christian "invented" a language.  They were carrying on quite a conversation.  Not to be outdone, Daniel joined in.  Only it was the right language - Timmy and Christian pretended not to understand him.  Daniel was quite upset that they weren't including him.  I told Daniel they were just pretending and hadn't really invented a new language that we could do it, too.  So we started talking gibberish and pretending to have quite a conversation.  We met up with the older boys and language chaos ensued.  Daniel wasn't convinced that they didn't really have a secret language going on and I couldn't convince him otherwise.  By this time, I'm tired and maybe James is, too.  He should be.  I sit down on a rock and James stands staring at me and refusing to budge.  In my very firm secret language I tell him to get his butt over to the rock and sit down.  He doesn't seem to know what to do but he slowly comes over and sits down.  When he does, I praise him very happily in my new secret language and he smiles and gives me a thumbs up.

We rest for awhile then I head back towards the cabin.  James is sitting on the rock.  I look over my shoulder and invitingly ask him to join me in my secret language.  He grins, nods his head and follows me.  I keep looking over my shoulder and say some pleasant secret language stuff, he continues to grin and nods his head.  He does this about 4 times until finally he says something back to me in his secret language!  I laugh.  Later, I decide he's probably just happy that someone finally understands what he has been trying to say for the last 18 months.

We arrive at the cabin - try to play horseshoes in our respective secret language but just like the tower of Babel directions are too confusing.  The best thing out of it is James is now bilingual.  He can call a horseshoe a horseshoe or he can call it Bompawho.  And I know what he is saying!

Oh the JOY of Boys!

Our Christmas of 2013 was supposed to start early.  This year Thanksgiving was near the end of November and that means Advent starts immediately.  Advent for Lutherans is very precious and we begin it with the first Sunday in December.  It is a time of reflection and waiting and repentance as we look forward to our Savior's birth.  It also means that the secular Christmas preparation begins in earnest.  I have managed through the years to weave these two ways of approaching Christmas into a fabric that can, on occasion be confusing, but still warm and fuzzy.  However, as I age, I long to put the CHRIST into Christmas in a more prominent way.  If I had my way, we'd celebrate the secular Christmas on New Year's Day and focus on worshiping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  This year I was almost getting my way.

Tom found some out-of-state deer licenses that Karyn, Rick, and David could afford in an area where we own a little bit of property.  They put their heads together and agreed that hunting together would be a fun family event.  I (grandma) would be more than happy to watch the three grand boys while the adults hunted first thing in the morning and last thing late in the day.  The best time for this would be the the first full weekend in December - the second Sunday in Advent.  Tom and I scurried home from a Thanksgiving visit at my mom's house.  We also practiced.  In the past, our children have been less than amused with our form of communication.  We decided we would have a code phrase to remind us to tone it down during the frustration of going from 2 to 8.  "My Love" was well used during our time together.

The plan might have been to hunt but it seemed appropriate to make it Christmas, too.  I unpacked my Christmas boxes, put together my Christmas tree, wrapped presents, made a menu, decorated the house, washed bedding, dusted vacuumed and prepared for the coming of boys!  It looked nice and festive!  Alas, a north arctic wind plummeted the countryside in below zero weather.  Nobody wanted to hunt so the trip was postponed.

To the third full weekend in December aka the fourth Sunday in Advent.  It was cold, it was windy, but on they came anyway.  Karyn and family arrived very early Saturday morning.  I had stayed up to welcome them and sort them out into their various sleeping arrangement.  Then I crawled into bed.  All, too soon, I had a couple of grand boys joining me and the sun was peeking in the window.  There is something about this early morning time for us.  The boys are happy to see me and share some of their thoughts with me.  This morning though, they wanted me to help them make a marionette just like great grandma makes.  I thought they meant Rick's grandma.  I know my mom wasn't into puppets, dolls for sure, but not puppets.  Timmy reminded me of the gooney bird puppet that cousin, Sara, had played with at Great Grandma's 80th birthday party.  OHho, that marionette.  Most of the morning was spent trying to figure out how to make a pompom marionette when there isn't a craft store in town to help with the supplies.  Eventually, Daniel made a rather cute dragon marionette out of cardboard tube.  Timmy, however, had his sight set on pompoms so didn't make one.

After lunch, the hunters left to sight in their rifles and check out some hunting areas    while waiting for David to arrive.  I  spent the day with the boys and figured out our meal.  I asked that we have one special "Christmas" type dinner and that we invite our neighbor, Pat, to attend that one.  It seemed as if Monday would be the best evening for that event.  HOWEVER, I had bought a big spiral ham.  Most folks were leaving on Tuesday.  I didn't want to eat that big ham over and over again for weeks.  I decided to cook the ham for a Saturday meal so everybody could help eat it the rest of the weekend.

Suddenly, our special meal was being moved up.  David rolled in with a donkey hat on. I told him where everyone was.  He asked what dinner would be.  When I told him, he asked for cloves in the ham,  just like grandma used to make.  I had to borrow cloves from Pat but didn't invite her to dinner.  In retrospect that would've been the best night, but I thought the hunters might get a deer and delay the meal.  Timmy ran next door to borrow the cloves.  I called Pat again and invited her to be our Christmas dinner guest on Monday evening.  She said she'd bring over her stuffed mushrooms.  They are the best!

The boys were being pretty good.  I decided to fix a cake David especially likes - Red Velvet cake but from my recipe called "The $200 Cake".  It is in essence, Red Velvet with a cooked type frosting that I like better than the cream cheese frosting put on Red Velvet today.  It is a bit complicated but the boys were being good so I proceeded.  Again, with the idea that we'd have lots of people helping to eat that cake.  My memory is fuzzy now, I think there was some managing of boys, cooking, borrowing, letting dogs in, letting dogs out (Karyn brought their little dog, Aida) but since everyone lived through this afternoon it must not have been too harrowing, other than we lost a Wii remote which could have been catastrophic, instead became a hunting game.  It was finally found next to the refrigerator on the floor - sneaky James.

The boys and I set the table with my pretty Christmas dishes.  I have owned these for years but had left them in storage.  This year, I pulled them out and started using them the first Sunday in Advent.  Alas, they can't go into the microwave which was a little inconvenient at times.  I put candles in the middle of the table. I got out a carafe of wine, pulled the "kid wine" from the back of the fridge, placed the Red Velvet cake on the glass cake stand in a prominent place.  I was waiting for accolades on my domestic "grandma" skills - the kids were alive and happy, the dogs were curled up in front of the "fake" fireplace, a meal was simmering on the stove, a dessert was lusciously awaiting consumption.

I wasn't disappointed.  Everyone seemed  properly impressed with the meal and wondered where Pat was.  They, too, thought this was the Christmas meal.  I stated it was a trial run.  Everyone ate, drank and lusciously consumed a portion of the Red Velvet Cake - they even liked the unusual frosting.  It was mentioned that there was some good comradery  during the hunting stake out.  It was decided that anyone acting like and "ass" would have to wear David's donkey hat.  Ha, play on words.

I forget, I'm old, I might have a few details mixed up.  Somewhere in here we decided to let everyone open one present.  I think we did this after the meal but it might have been before.  Daniel and Timmy got to play Santa Claus.  Daniel grabbed the biggest present right away.  I was glad of it as it was the one he was supposed to have from me, grandma! Timmy had a replica under the tree, too.  Grandma was hoping to rock the Christmas presents this year.  Timmy, being the big brother, was NOT going to pick the exact same present though.  He was still searching under the tree for another present with his name on it.  Karyn stepped in and made sure other presents were passed out, too.  James got his biggest present (also from Grandma).  Timmy was still searching but little brother, Daniel, was impatient and began to unwrap his present.  A machine NERF gun!  Timmy glanced over and suddenly the replica present became much more enticing!  Timmy ended his search and began ripping into his present from Grandma.  A machine NERF gun!  It had to be put together, loaded and figured out before a war could begin.  Daniel went to Boppa for help and Timmy went to David for help.  It wasn't long before it was raining NERF bullets everywhere.  Giggles were unrestrained from everyone.  David was sorely disappointed that "Grandma" hadn't bought him a NERF gun, too.  James had also opened his present, a rather calm one in comparison.  It was a "Hammer Away" toy boat with balls and a hammer that kept him entertained most of the weekend. He did learn to hammer the balls but mostly liked pushing them through the hold with his hand until by Monday, he learned he could just sit on them and they would "poop" through!

The adults were hoping to get the kids to bed so we could play a few hands of cards, but after the kitchen was cleaned, bullets dodged, baths taken, beds figured out, we all just crashed.

Sunday morning we began our morning by getting ready for church.  As I came into the room dressed and ready to go, I glanced at the Backhus clan!  How handsome!  All three boys were decked out in their Sunday best.  Timmy in his pin-striped suit, Daniel in his 3 piece suit, James in his vested suit but wearing a very dapper hat that he did like to wear.  The dad of the bunch, Rick was also dressed in a red shirt and tie.  David rolled out of his room and rolled back in.  He called to me,  "does dad have a tie I can wear, I feel underdressed!"  We picked one out and headed to church.  Tom was elder of the day and had already left.  Most of the boys were very well behaved in church.  Timmy had most of the answers to Pastor's questions during the children's sermon.  Daniel threw in a few answers too.  I'm glad they were there as Pastor might not have had much interaction.  For some reason there were only 4 boys at his feet that morning.  James did well for awhile but his cries and antics got a bit loud.  Since Boppa was the elder and had to be at the back of the church for many things, he just corralled him for the rest of the service.

I tried to convince the boys to stay for Sunday School.  They weren't ready to do that which was spoiling my plan!  A few adults were to go home and stuff Christmas stockings.  I finally pulled Timmy aside.  I asked, "What do you know of Santa Claus?"

Timmy replied, "I know his real name is St. Nicholas and that he really lived a long time ago."

"Okay. What do you think of Santa Claus, today?"  I asked.

"Well, he is supposed to bring presents to children."  This is dragging out longer than I intended.  Finally, I quit being obtuse.  "Do you believe in him?"  I asked.

Timmy hesitated, pondering the meaning behind my question just like his Boppa does.  "No, not really, anymore."

Then I whispered..."Okay, here's the deal, Santa Claus is filling Christmas stockings while you are at Sunday School, if you don't go to Sunday School, he won't have time to fill them and you won't have presents to open when you get home.  If you get excited about Sunday School then Daniel will get excited, too."

Timmy said,  "Okaaaaay, " and headed downstairs to find Daniel.  Daniel still was reluctant so I told him I would go with him.  That worked.  Finally!

The Sunday School lesson of the day was Jesus' birth out of Luke 2:1-14.  The lesson was paraphrased from the original version.  The teacher started reading it and Daniel started saying it.  "I know that," he said.  He started narrating.  Like all good teachers everywhere, the teacher interrupted him and said,  "that is one version, thank you, but we need to read this one."  I didn't know he had the entire thing memorized or I would've stepped in for him.  He shrugged it off and listened.  When we got to the Bible verse, it was just part of the verse - Daniel said the rest of it.  The teacher was finally properly impressed as was Grandma!  The teacher handed out candy canes, candy to add to the additional  candy bag each boy received after church - leftovers from the children's Christmas program.  Oh boy, just what I needed boys on a sugar high.

We made it home.  The kids ran right past the stocking towards the Nerf Machine Guns.  They looked like the mob with their guns and dressed in suits.  David nicknamed them, Timmy the "Brain", "Jawbone" Danny, and "Baby Face James" aka "Jimmy the Hammer". Karyn worked on getting some pictures while the boys looked spiffy.  She was successful.

Santa Claus had come and stuffed the stocking but nobody seemed to care, partly because Karyn had gone to the store.  Timmy was designing a graph to play Battle Ship the old-fashioned way.  Karyn brought home a Battle Ship game at David's request and unbeknownst to him, she brought him his own Nerf Gun.  He needed some defense.  The Battle Ship game was a good call.  Many a came was played between Timmy and Daniel, each of the boys and another adults.  We did eat lunch - grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.   Finally we opened Christmas stocking presents and one more present.  David was quite thrilled with his defense gun - it didn't have as many bullets but it had a longer range. The adults went out to hunt - maybe - kind of.  It was cold and windy, they weren't gone all that long.  I made a turkey pot pie from our left over Thanksgiving turkey.  After dinner another present was open.  I can't remember which ones- must have been a let down.  However, Daniel did come into the living room giggling.  He came and whispered into my ear.  "Grandma, that Santa in your bathroom is naked!"  For years I have decorated the half bath with some of my "raunchy" Santa stuff.  I have toilet paper that says "HO, HO, HO"  if you turn it the other way it says "OH, OH, OH".  Someone gave me an outhouse figurine.  Rudolph is standing outside the door and Santa standing inside using the facilities (his hands covering his private parts)  I have a Santa on top of an outhouse telling Rudolph,  "No, I said the Schmidt House"  There is a button that makes a flushing sounds.  This is the first year the boys have been curious enough to peek and try buttons.  The giggles were delightful.  Potty humor always gets a laugh.

Early Monday morning, the hunters left again.  I was dreading this morning by myself with all 3 boys but it was very pleasant.  James was in his usual good mood.  The boys wanted to play Wii.  They played some tennis, some baseball, some golfing, some boxing and then they let me play some bowling with them.  It was really a very nice relaxed morning.  We were still in our jammies mid-morning, when Timmy or Daniel asked for waffles for breakfast.  Sounded good to me, besides I had some ham to get rid of.

I started the waffle iron, carved off some ham to warm up.  I had just finished the first batch when the phone rang.  The hunters were coming home - it was too cold.  They wanted to bring home breakfast burritos, but I told them we were eating waffles.  Yummy!  I put pecans on theirs.  I'm gunning for the "Grandma-hostess of the Year" Award.

I was running out of food and needed to round out my Special Christmas dinner menu.  Karyn needed to pick up a few things and Tom needed to go get batteries for the present he bought for the boys.  We scattered.  I had asked Tom to be in charge of buying a nice roast beef.  (Pat isn't a big fan of venison so I thought we'd appeal to her tastes)  I had all the fixings for the mince meat pie Karyn had requested for Rick.  There was still some cake left over but most of us were tired of it, so I wanted to get another dessert.  When we came back there was more present opening.  Tom had bought the boys remote control bumper cars!  The kitchen was the perfect place to play - one boy at one opening to the kitchen another at the other opening.  James in the middle picking up the drivers that would eject from the cars if they were hit just right.  Then he'd drop them in the dog's water dish, where they would bob until rescued by some adult.  Fortunately, James never did that with the bumper cars.  This toy was wildly, loudly entertaining!  It gave the boys something to do while the adults settled in for marathon bridge.  I thought were going to play until 2 or so until the late afternoon hunting began.  I needed to get some of the dinner started.  It was going to be relatively simple.  Tom was taking care of the roast.  I had potatoes ready to boil.  We had a spinach, cranberry, almond salad kit to throw together.  I also threw in some walnuts and raspberries to add some more variety.  I was going to make some beer bread but that was relatively easy.  I cheated and bought a frozen pie to cook along with the mince meat.  I also cheated there with mincemeat in a jar and frozen pastry.

The bridge was good; the weather lousy and the hunters wouldn't leave.  I felt somewhat bad about this but never turn down bridge players so we played on.  I was partnered with Rick, something that rarely happens.  Brother and sister were partnered - a real treat for them.  Rick and I won again, and again and again.  Audacity mixed with skill makes a good combo, I guess.  We also let the kids play cards with us now and then - Uno!  They are catching on fast.  Uno is a great game to teach how to overcome disappointment.

Pat arrived at 5 with a cake pan full of stuffed mushrooms.  Karyn and I broke out the chocovine and shared with Pat.  Tom and David figured out drinks for the rest.  The boys were on excellent behavior.  The mushrooms disappeared in quick order which pleased Pat.  They are delicious!  The meal was divinely festive.  Tom did a great job with the roast.  The potatoes were lovely, the spinach salad just right, the beer bread is always great.  We were stuffed so we let the meal settle for a bit before dessert.  After dessert, Pat was getting ready to excuse herself, but I told her she couldn't.  I told everyone all day that they could open all the presents except one.  I wanted one left so we could all open presents together with Pat.  She felt like she was imposing until I told her that it was the plan all along that we would open one present with her and she had one, too!  I think she enjoyed that but she did "escape" not long afterwards.  She was going to stay and help clean up the kitchen.  I told her that is what I had Karyn and Rick for!

Musical beds, as the boys figured out where they wanted to sleep.  There are so many choices most entail closets!  My closets are big and while I can't fit a bed in any of them, they are big enough to have a little quiet space.  A few more hands of bridge were played.  Rick and I won again.

Tuesday morning - 3:30 am.  James is not happy.  Grandma isn't happy, her tummy isn't happy.  I finally get up and take some soda water hoping that will help with the heartburn.  It did, sort of, it made me vomit - a lot.  Boppa got up to see if he could help with James.  Karyn turned on the computer and brought up James Taylor singing "Sweet Baby James" - this finally lulls James into quietude.  Karyn said it works every single time.  I went back to bed.

A few hours later, I got up and still felt cruddy.  I am aching now.  Breakfast is fend for yourself.  Nobody goes out hunting because it's still cold and windy.  Karyn and family are organizing stuff to head down to Denver to spend Christmas with Rick's family.  We get to keep Aida and David for a few more days.  David is supposed to drop Aida off in Denver on his way through.

I mostly sleep through the day but rally enough to play some cards with David and Tom in the afternoon.  Our presents have been opened.  The only thing left is celebrating Jesus' birth.  There is nothing secular distracting from this.  This is what I've always wanted and yet it isn't what I want.  I remember the Christmas's of my youth.  We usually had chili because my mom couldn't stand oyster stew which was some sort of Minnesota tradition her family did in her youth.  After eating the chili, was dressing in our finery to go to Christmas Eve service.  Sometimes it was the Children's program, sometimes it was a regular worship service.  ALWAYS it was going around town to see the Christmas lights then home to see what Santa brought while we were away at church service.  Hot chocolate, cookies, Christmas music, wrapping paper, ribbons, toys, new clothes.  It was a joyous time in my memory.  Yet, now I didn't want to fix dinner.  My tummy was still rebelling.  Tom did throw together some left over roast beef sandwiches and I ate a little bit.  I decided I would try to attend service.

I did get into some finery.  Tom was still elder so he left early.  David and I left together.  If I couldn't handle it, I could come home.  We were invited to friends after the service for a mini celebration.  Again, I wasn't sure if I would be up to it.  The service was lovely - a candlelight service is always a favorite. Pastor's wife and children shared their musical talents with us.  Callie, their daughter played a few piano selections,  She and her mother, Courtney, played a flute duet.  Courtney and another member sang a duet.  Pastor's sermon was poignant.  The service was well attended with many people we hadn't seen for awhile - grown children that had moved away were home with their children.  I was glad I was able to attend.  I managed to go to the party afterward which helped ease my memories of Christmas past with Christmas present.

Thanks to my sister, we had one more present to open on Christmas morning.  We got up had our coffee opened our present, chatted for a bit and got ready for Christmas Day service.  Tom was still elder so he had to leave early.  David and I got spiffed up and were out the door not long after.  Fewer people were there in the morning.  There was gentleman sitting by himself.  He turned around and said, " I saw you here last night."

I introduced us to him (I became more confident with that because of my Toastmasters' Training).  I said,  "I noticed you last night, too, because you wore a red bow tie.  My father-in-law always wore a bow tie and sometimes David wears a bow tie.  Not many do anymore."  At this point, David would be kicking me under the table if he could, he teases me about my rambling.  Too bad, this man is a rambler, too!

He said, "I was going to leave my son's this morning but I so enjoyed your pastor's sermon last night I thought I would give myself one more gift and worship with you this morning before going home."  It turns out he is an elder from North Platte and even helps the LWML in the kitchen (with his bow tie on) when he gets a chance.  Since his son is a new member to our congregation, I'm sure we will see more of him in the future.

We welcomed him. While the service wasn't very well attended, we still were blessed with piano selections from Pastor's daughter and son along with another flute duet from mother and daughter.

Since we didn't have breakfast, I told Tom and David,  I would make us Christmas brunch.  I woke up feeling much better and was rather hungry!  Cleverly, I throw together a frittata (fancy word for open faced omelet), and sneakily cut up the pie into squares and call it coffee cake.  I set the table with my fancy Christmas dishes - light a candle and Voila!  a festive meal - #3 or 4, I lost track.

It is a low key day.  David and Tom go to the quonset to do some work on David's truck.  I talk to some of the family.  We play some more cards.  I made scalloped potatoes from scratch to go with some left-over ham.  David provided the dessert, his various Christmas cookies he received from his sister and grandma.

After all of it is over, I have to admit, I think I rather liked that Christmas gift opening didn't take precedent on a special holiday to worship our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Taking time to set that all aside for awhile and just worship was good for my soul.  If the grandchildren had been around on the actual day, perhaps it would've been harder.  Undoubtedly next year will go back to trying to balance it all.  I am rather assured that my grandchildren are learning how to balance it well.  They know the answers, they have the story memorized, they know about the real St. Nicholas, Jesus does live in their hearts, I will trust that He always will and pray nightly for my dear boys that bring me such joy.

Merry Christmas, May Jesus, our Lord be in your heart, too!

YesterYear

In 2011, I decided to get a job as a substitute teacher in Goshen County.  I hadn't been involved in schools for quite awhile so the learning curve was/is sharp.  Mostly I enjoy it.  I really enjoy when the kids see me around town and are brave enough and friendly enough to  come up to me and say, "I know you!  You were my substitute!"  In class, I always introduce myself and shorten my name to Mrs. D because Denniston reminds them too much of a dentist!  I also tell them to please say hello to me but they might have to tell me their names because I won't remember.  They are a friendly bunch.

Last year (2011-2012), I seemed to be a regular at Trail Elementary with a few forays into some of the more rural schools.  This year (2012-2013) I've been a regular at Lincoln Elementary and Lingle-Ft. Laramie (LFL).  The new vs the old.  Lincoln is the newest school in the district.  Lingle-Ft. Laramie might be the oldest.  This school is like going back to second grade for me.  It reminds me very much of the school I attended while living in McCook, Nebraska.  LFL has been updated a bit but there is only so much you can do to a school built in 1939. Today, while I was there, I thought, "this school was built for the ages - too bad it couldn't predict that technology  would make it obsolete."  It looks like it might be ready for demolition and this makes me a little bit sad.

Here is some of the history of the school.

Lingle-Fort Laramie Elementary School - The Art Deco-style elementary school in Lingle was constructed in 1939 with funds provided by the New Deal, and is one of the remaining schools from that era in Wyoming.  Like many schools of its period it was designed as an architectural landmark as well as an educational facility, and its position at the terminus of one of Lingle's main streets is testament to the prominent position of the school in the community.


I didn't really know any of that until I searched online - I figured there was some significance to the decor - when public buildings were built with some style.  It is a small school and called a Grade School which probably meant that originally it taught students in grades 1 - 8.  8th grade used to be considered adequate education for most citizens of a rural/agricultural economy.  Earlier this year, I was teaching in the 4th grade class (yes, only one class per grade) and the study was the Depression.  I hope the teacher did a little research and discovered that the school she was teaching in was the result of some Depression style politics.  I am not making a political statement here - I like this school.

I like the subway style tiles bordering the halls and bathrooms.  I like the stair cases that have a landing and turn to go to the second floor.  I like the little alcove at the top of a half set of stairs for the top floor.  I like the "School house" ceiling light on one of those landings.  I like the big windows and even though the steam radiators are inadequate and don't do the job anymore, I like them too.  What I especially LOVE is the bathroom!
 On the second floor just off the girls' bathroom is a little room with a door that states quite boldly TEACHER in gold letters.  I do believe those letters are original.  I look at that word and remember when teachers were almost second to God in my world.  Highly respected, somewhat feared, and definitely obeyed or you got a swat, stood in the corner, or some other punishment that was equally humiliating, but avoided at all costs.  I love going in that little room - it isn't much - just a toilet, a little sink, a tiny radiator and window that can be propped open.  AND the door can be locked!  I imagine a few teachers used it to sneak a smoke before going back to the classroom to be the ogre of the classroom.  There have been days when I've also been so tempted and I don't even smoke!

The schools district has tried to keep this building updated.  The windows are not the original ones.  There are computers and smart boards in every room.  Floors and walls have been kept up.  Each room has a wall of lockers that are now storage for the classroom.  Various additions have been included - lunchroom with a kitchen, a gymnasium and various others nooks and crannies. I am torn.  The students need a new school.  To remodel is cost prohibitive, yet a new school means demolition for the old school.  The terminus of that city block is where all the schools for the town have taken up residence.  There doesn't seem another use for it that will keep it intact.

Until that day, I intend to enjoy it's idiosyncrasies and pretend that teachers are still held in high regard but I will try to temper my inner ogre.

A Lesson in History

I went to a Wyoming Historical meeting last night.  The speaker told about her research and her book on Hartville, Wyoming.  Hartville is 6 miles north of Guernsey and was a mining town in days gone by.  It is still a town but hanging on by a thread.  There were several other towns also in this area in days of yore - I knew about Sunrise, I didn't know about Fairbank(s).  I didn't know what they mined either.  It was interesting actually.

Hartville was not a company town but Sunrise was. There were many different mining endeavors - copper and iron were two of them.  Copper petered out pretty quickly but iron was mined until 1980 when all mining was closed.  For anyone who lives in Wyoming you know the towns are small, few and far between.  Public transport is almost non-existent.  The biggest hurdle for the mines was getting their product out of the mine, through a canyon, across the North Platte River into Cheyenne where the rail head was.  It is a wonder anybody thought they could make money, but the towns grew.  Hartville once had a population of 800, Sunrise had 1500.  Hartville had the gamblers, the saloon keepers and the girls.  The citizens of Hartville clamored for legimate businesses but even when the businesses did come in, they ran another business behind the store - the men frequented these businesses; their wives and families did not.

Sunrise is no more - even the buildings have been razed. Someone bought the town for $750 not long ago.  I think it changed hands again but is privately owned,  Hartville is gasping but still hanging on and I understand they have a wonderful steak house that is visited by people from as far away as Casper and Cheyenne - pricey though and you have to be 21 in order to eat in their establishment.  

During all this information, a mine in Colorado was brought into the conversation.  The Ludlow down in Southern Colorado was owned by the Rockefellers as were many of the mines in Sunrise/Hartville.  Unions called for a strike in Colorado and the miners did.  From there the speaker's information got a little fuzzy but suffice it to say that tragedy struck and 2 women and 10 children were suffocated in trenches dug by the miners to protect their family in case gunfire took place.  The trenches were dug inside tents that the miners and families lived in while they were on strike.  There was gunfire - but the gunfire set the tents on fire and some of the women and children suffocated when the burning tents fell across the trenches they were hiding in.

I haven't delved into the facts of this matter or who was actually at fault.  Of course, Rockefeller was the obvious target of blame.  It seems the tragedy stuck with him for a long time.  To improve his image maybe or to be fair to workers, who knows what actually motivated him, he did improve his town in Sunrise.  The workers homes were better built, he provided a YMCA for the town, a school, a church, a clinic for the workers and finally hired a doctor to come in for the community.

When I heard all of that I remembered our early days in Wright, Wyoming.  Originally, Wright was a company town owned by ARCO coal.  The company laid out the streets, built a beautiful recreational center, built a mall that housed the town management offices, a library, a bowling alley, a grocery, the post office, a hardware store, the drugstore, the dentist, the doctor, the hair salon, a bank, a restaurant, the ambulance service, a laundromat, then a newspaper office, a preschool, an auditorium which eventually became a restaurant and bar.  We had to rent our homes from the company (mobile homes at that time) or we could build but only with the pre-approved builders.  We were given a down payment to encourage us to buy a home in this company town.  We were given free insurance - we paid no premiums, co-pays, or out-of-pocket expenses - we did have to pay for our birth control and eyeglasses and eye exams.  We had free dental care, too.  Anyone who worked at ARCO Coal mine was given one of the best wages in the regions and the benefits were eye-popping to Tom and myself.  Tom had NO Benefits when he worked in the woods as a logger.  Every now and then we were even given free  clothes with the ARCO logo on the jackets/t-shirts/polo shirts etc.  Now and then union organizers would attempt to organize the miners  but were generally rebuffed.

I should mention we had new schools also - not built by the company but mineral royalties certainly contributed to fine buildings.  ARCO didn't build our churches but set aside lots that were church specific.  In many ways, this was big business at it's best.  Producing a product needed by our nation, careful with the resources and putting the land they disturbed back when the coal was extracted.  They took care of their workers and their families.  While the mall was provided by the company, the businesses within the mall were private enterprises and yes, the prices were steeper than they were in Gillette, but they were provided.  I think that is an important point.  As I said, in Wyoming towns are small, few and far between.  To have a company willing to provide the most basic essentials is big business at its best.

I hear folks clamoring for companies to do the same today.  Quit looking out for the CEO's, quit looking out for the bottom line, take care of the folks that make the bottom line possible.

That is why, as I searching for  more about Sunrise, Hartville and Ludlow, I came across some of what happened in Ludlow.  

Rockefeller was called before a Congressional committee.  The correspondence between Rockefeller and his management was available.  The federal mediator made this statement in October 1913 almost 100 years ago.  "Theoretically, perhaps, the case of having nothing to do in this world but work, ought to have made these men of many tongues, as happy and contented as the managers claim … To have a house assigned you to live in … to have a store furnished you by your employer where you are to buy of him such foodstuffs as he has, at a price he fixes … to have churches, schools … and public halls free for you to use for any purpose except to discuss politics, religion, trade-unionism or industrial conditions; in other words, to have everything handed down to you from the top; to be … prohibited from having any thought, voice or care in anything in life but work, and to be assisted in this by gunmen whose function it was, principally, to see that you did not talk labor conditions with another man who might accidentally know your language — this was the contented, happy, prosperous condition out of which this strike grew … That men have rebelled grows out of the fact that they are men."

I had to read this statement a number of times.  It surprised me. The capitalists were being called on the carpet for providing the basics.  In Sunrise's case the workers did not have to shop at company stores because Hartville was down the road but you might bump into the more unsavory types.  It was stated that often the miners would come home with little after payday because they stopped off in Hartville first and spent their paychecks on booze, women and gambled the rest.  In a company town some of that was more controlled.  In a company town you didn't have to find transportation to a bigger town to buy your food and clothing - you didn't have choice that is true and I'm sure men being men (and I mean that in the inclusive sense) will always abuse every situation eventually.  I am sure there were abuses in Ludlow - no town is perfect.  Even Wright, that seemed so perfect, was not.  While we weren't in essence "owned" by the company sometimes we felt "owned".  Eventually Wright incorporated and the citizens had to grow up and govern themselves.  In some areas that was painful.

I think what I have learned with my brush with history is that while times change - men do not.  Power and money get to make the rules.  It doesn't matter if it's big business power and money, big government power and money, union power and money - those in power will generally look out for their best interest.  I find hope in the Federal mediator's last sentence.  "That men have rebelled grows out of the fact that they are men."  If there is too much that becomes wrong in our society, eventually men will rebel and the pendulum of time will swing the other direction.  In the meantime, let's not shush the freedom of speech which was one fault of the Ludlow Massacre.  Freedom of speech makes us think...I was taught thinking was a good thing.

Denniston Doings, 2011

Our year has been packed full of fun.  Of course, grandsons, Timmy and Daniel, just seem to “demand” much of our spare time.  Building birdhouses, flying kites, fishing, shooting be-be guns, arrows, swimming, reading, and snuggling are the favorite activities.

Sometimes we include Karyn and Rick but they happily give up the kids for few days at a time.  They are still in Beaver Crossing, NE.   Karyn teaches preschool at a Lutheran School.  Rick works for Gallup in Lincoln.  He is adding a Chemistry BS to his BA so he is back in school.  They take in camping,  Boy Scouts, school activities and church – the busy lifestyle of a young family.  It makes us tired!

David lives in Colorado Springs and designs clever training regimens for his Paralympic swimmers.  His makes frequent visits to us, too.  His dog, Charlie, is always happy to see him, but Charlie resides with us.  David bought the pick-up truck of his dreams, which makes his outdoor life more do-able!  He fishes, hunts, and still does a motivational speech or two.

Our family gatherings included a wedding for granddaughter, Keshia, in April.  She married Tyler Lynch – we are slowly getting to know him, so far so good!  They welcomed new son, Trenton, in October.  That makes great-grandson #4.  Its kind of fun being grandparents with Lorie and Phil, Kristie and Bert.  They haven’t asked for any advice yet, but Terri has given it anyway.  In May, Terri and mom, Kathy, made a trip to Gypsum for neice/granddaughter, Kendra’s graduation.  Some of us gathered again at Boysen Reservoir in July. Long time friends, the Griffiths, dropped in with daughter, Heidi, and granddaughter, Sophia.  Dang….we just keep hanging around grandparents these days.

Karyn and Terri formed a mother/daughter duo twice this year.  In June, we attended the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League National Convention in Peoria, IL.  Great speakers, inspirational Bible Studies, and meeting up with friends from other LWML Societies were just some of the memories.  In September, Terri volunteered with Karyn at the Plum Creek Literary Festival in Seward, NE.  Karyn was Chairman for Literacy on the Lawn – making crafts that complemented the books written by featured authors.  Over 7000 students attended.  Karyn managed it all with coolness and grace, I was proud to be her assistant.

Tom squeezed in as many fishing trips as he could, Terri tagged along once in awhile. Walleye is in the freezer.  Terri and Tom were successful hunting antelope, too.  Tom and Karyn hunted Nebraska whitetail deer.  Corn-fed venison is a delicacy we all enjoy.  Even Timmy requested “Bambi” for his birthday dinner.  Our freezer is now full to the brim. We attempted to add pheasant. Charlie, the bird dog, loves the outing but still seems as surprised as we are when a pheasant flies up.  Tom is sad he didn’t get his elk but if he had been successful, we’re not sure where we would’ve put it.

Several cabin trips were made and repairs done.  Moose are making our little neck of the woods their home, too.  We love it!  The pine beetles are doing their best to kill all the trees. Tom’s lumberjack days are coming in handy as he brings down the dangerous dead ones. Tom’s sister, Nancy, joined him when it was time to close the cabin up for the winter.

 Tom also picked up a little bit of work and spent a couple of months working for a mine in Carlsbad, NM.  A last minute call has him going to Elko, Nevada for most of the winter.  Frequent Flier miles should add up fast!

We both stay busy with our church.  Terri is now VP for her local LWML, secretary for Zone LWML and VP for District LWML - 3 different levels - all enjoyable.  Terri began substitute-teaching, too.  She enjoys being with the kids again (except the ornery ones).

Terri’s mom, Kathy, had cataract surgery this fall.  Terri stayed with her through those…all went well and mom should have her new glasses soon. 

We filled our year with much more joy than this letter could contain.  As you celebrate this season of JOY, we hope you will take time to ponder the family that is at the center of CHRISTmas:  a young mother with her firstborn son, who was watched over by her husband in a lowly stable, the Good News broadcast by angels to shepherds who rushed to worship a King; Jesus, our Savior, who paid the price for our sins so we can join Him one day in the heavenly home He is preparing for us.  Amen and Alleluia!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tom & Terri

Peace

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:2

I would think by now, after 58 years of life, I would KNOW that the Triune God knows my every thought and need.  Yet, I am continually surprised when He shows me He does.

This last week has been a roller coast week.  A dear friend of Karyn's lost a baby who was a few short weeks of delivery.  This friend has had a year that challenges any parent.  My heart has been broken for her, but yet I tell her "Peace".

This morning I was reading the Issues, Etc. Facebook page.  The Lutheran Pastors and theologians were posting about the various Christian beliefs.  Calvin verses Lutheran.  They use big words, I love words, but I was lost.  Yet, I was getting a gist of it.  My thought was,  "Peace!  Why can't we just get along?"

The answer is Sin.  We can't get along.  We might deceive ourselves that we have peace for a bit.  The brokenness of the world will eventually intrude.  When it does, it is time to search.

So, I opened my daily devotional (which isn't so daily for me) to today's readings.  The first one was from Philippians 1:1, 2  "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."  What!!?!?  That's it?  A greeting?  So I read the Psalm 85.  It has a lot about righteousness, salvation, and peace.  Faithfulness springs from the ground and righteousness looks down from heaven.  I see the relationship of God and His people.  He bestows His righteousness on us as we struggle to find peace.  Okay, things are becoming clearer now.

I go on to the Gospel reading of the day.  This is one of my favorites.  "Peace I leave with you: My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27.  Jesus is speaking here - He is our righteousness, He is our peace.  We will have a relative peace in the world at times.  It doesn't take a longview of world history to see that people really can't have it for very long.  It will be taken away by some one, some country, some thing.  Our hearts will be troubled by this anger, this warring, this selfishness on this side of heaven.  Yet, Jesus promises us that the Peace that passes understanding is possible.  As a Christian, I need to take the longview and look heavenward.  God is in control, He is my Righteousness and Deliverer, He will bring Peace that lasts.  I rest in that promise and struggle to trust it.  As a baby struggles in the arms of his parent and the parent gently rocks and shushes him, so God gently rocks and shushes me.  "Peace I leave with you; My peace, I give to you."  Thank you Lord Jesus for holding on  to me and giving me your Peace.  AMEN

The Hunter

I have known/been married to Tom since 1974. He is an avid outdoorsman and hunted nearly everything requiring a game license. Early on, I tried to be a hunter too. My first antelope took most of the day to bag but I did finally bring one down with a clean shot. I discovered if I keep my eyes open when I squeeze the trigger it works better.

My second antelope was when Karyn was a baby and David was about 3 years old. He took his little play rifle along. Tom spotted a nice little buck taking a nap alongside a hill. We all got out of the truck, walked carefully and spotted the antelope. I took aim, David took aim, we pulled are respective triggers at the same times and the antelope was bagged. David was quite excited about his "first kill" and even to this day he argues with me about who shot that antelope.

My best friend, Lee, and I were taking a breaking while the guys were beating the brush for deer. A buck came peeking out of a grove trees. Lee told me to take the shot. I did, hit it, it turned and went back into the grove of trees and fell at the feet of the guys. Fortunately - they got to gut it.

I have hunted now and then since then but mostly I just tag along and enjoy the "hunt" the "kill" isn't my favorite part. This past summer, Tom was getting his hunting licenses in order. He asked if he should buy an antelope license for me. I think the devil took hold of me and answered, "yes!" I tried to take possession of my mouth and change my mind but Tom's obvious joy at my affirmative answer kept my mouth closed. He was like a kid in a candy shop - I couldn't take that joy away from him.

His attempts to encourage me to go to the shooting range with him, fell on deaf ears though. I wasn't too concerned about really shooting anything. By having a license I could have a rifle and if something dumb came my way, I'd probably be good enough to bag it. After all I hadn't spent hours on the shooting range before and I was successful (with some guidance by more successful hunters.)

Opening day was fast approaching. We have a number of rifles and Tom asked which one I wanted to use. I said "mine". The .243 is actually mine, Tom bought it for me and it is the one I used before. However, my eyes are doing weird things and when I compared the scopes on that one with the new Thompson Center 7mm-08 scope and it was better for me. So I shrugged and said, "Sure, I'll try the new one." And promptly forgot about it.

Tom's daughters, Kristie and Lorie, dropped by one evening and visited with us. Tom was busy loading shells at the dining room table. Yeah, it's his house, too. He was loading lots of shells. Kristie and Lorie noted this and asked what he was doing. I really didn't know either that he was loading shells for my gun. He was on shell #25 when this conversation took place.

I quipped, "Why, so many? I only need 1." Lorie and Kristie howled.

Opening day - September 10. On September 8th, we left for the family cabin which would be our base.

We got to the cabin on Thursday evening. Had a nice meal of bacon wrapped, marinated in OJ doves that Tom barbequed. Yummy! We played a few games of cribbage and headed to bed. In the morning we got up and went scouting. We called long-time friends - Dallas and VivienneTalbott who now lease the land we wanted to hunt on. Vivienne was busy but invited us to dinner, and she told us to hunt up Dallas. We found Dallas with no problem - got permission to hunt, exchanged a few pleasantries and hugs and were on our way.

Tom insisted I needed some target practice and since I can't seem to hit anything when I'm on the shooting range (that's why I don't go), he was probably right. We found a place on the Forest Service and practiced with the 22. When I sit on my rump and use my knees for a rest, I do pretty good hitting what I aim at. Then it was time to get out the big rifle. No problemo. I'm a dynamo!

We decided to explore the woods a bit and found what looked like an abandoned campsite. There was a tent on its top, a very nice sleeping bag out in the woods, a three shelf bookcase, a plastic patio loveseat, fireworks in a campfire ring and more junk just scattered around. This didn't seem right to us. We got the coordinates (but no pictures, dumb us) and thought we might report it to the Forest Service. As we were headed down the main road, a dilapidated van was headed up. I told Tom that looked like just the kind of vehicle that would belong to such a campsite. Tom doubted me.

We pulled off onto another dirt road for a bit of lunch and one more shooting lesson. As Tom is taking aim, I hear a vehicle coming up the road. Guess what? It's the dilapidated van. The young man waves and smiles at us so we wave back but as he passes us, I look in the back of the van and see the 3 shelf bookcase! Strange. Tom finishes shooting and we decide this is just too weird so we go follow him and see he is parked off the side of the road. We take down his license plate and head out to the main road.

We both decided we're curious as to whether this van did go to the original campsite. So we go back. Yep, most of the stuff is gone and now there is a fire burning in the fire ring. The fireworks are off to the side but unlit matches are in the fire ring. The fire is mostly smoldering but it is still a live fire and a bunch of junk the guy didn't want to take is burning slowing in the ring. We do take pictures this time and Tom finds some water and pours it on the fire.

We are now mad! So we go to the Centennial Information Center that is closed but 3 US forest people are working on it, taking down the old getting ready for the new. We tell them what we know and they call their FPO - Fire Protection Officer. He shows up, we tell him what we know and promise to send him the pictures when we had access to the internet. We kind of want to be his posse but he doesn't invite us along so we sadly head up to the cabin to get ready for our dinner date with the Talbotts.

The Talbotts have a beautiful spot at the foot of Sheep mountain. Dallas is a workaholic after he works all day at the ranch he comes home and is turning the backyard into a beautiful outdoor patio/garden area. It was too chilly to stay out there (darn!)l so we head inside and exchanged stories and health histories because that is what old people do. Dallas bbqs some lovely beefsteak and Vivienne put on quite a dinner for us. Gotta love those ranch wives, they sure know how to cook!

Charlie, the dog, is our kid now, so he just goes along with us and rarely complains. He was a digging machine up at the cabin. Whereas at home, he'd rather be underfoot all day, up at the cabin he'd rather just check in at supper time. He generally came when called. At the Talbotts he hung out in the pickup and was happy to reclaim his spot - the front passenger seat.

We were up early for opening day and on the land before sunup. We heard shots just as the sun rose. We saw those folks on the other side of the fence. One hunter said he took a shot but it was too far away. We spooked up lots of antelope and they all ran up the side of Sheep Mountain. Tom found a good spot for me and said he'd take a hike and see if he could push them down to me. While he was doing that another herd came up behind me. They were kind of far and I just saw does. Does are okay but it's hard to tell if they are does or fawns so I waited to see if they'd come in closer. Then the herd on the mountain headed towards me. A number of bucks in that group. They get closer and I have one spotted but I'm not sure just how far back Tom is and I can't see him. Then they start moving and I'm not sure how much to lead on a moving animal so I let them go. But the other does are closer now so I take aim and shoot and miss. Oh well. I guess I'm not as good as I think I am, I still need instruction.

Tom comes back = he also took a shot but no animal. He's all smiles because he watched me through the binoculars and says he could tell what was going through my mind. He pretty much did. That's what happens when you've been married a long time.

We go over to the leased ground and look it over. Plenty of antelope but pretty far away and kind of stirred up so we are making our plans when this dumb buck comes over the hill. He stops sideways and looks at us. We move slowly and look at him. He just stands there like the welcome committee. I get out of the truck and plant myself over the hood and take aim. He turns his chest to me. Hmm, not sure if I should try a chest shot or not. The truck is still running and I guess Tom is telling me to wait until he turns but I don't hear him. I figure I better take the shot, aim at the middle of his chest,- the buck's not Tom's - pull the trigger - kawaam and kathunk and and the antelope quickly turns over the hill. Tom asked where I hit him and I said the chest, and he said why didn't I wait for him to turn and I said, " I dunno."

We wait for a bit, because we know I broke the buck's leg. Then we drive towards where he ran. Conveniently, he is lying up against the bank of a road and he is dead. I did hit him in the chest but the bullet went through and broke his shoulder and pretty much pulverized one shoulder's meat. We take pictures on the camera and the phone camera- gotta brag, you know. Tom is getting ready to do the gutting stuff, cuz I don't do that. A white pickup turns on the road. We are sort of in the middle of the road. We approach the truck to tell him we will get out of his way when he says, "Who gave you permission to hunt this land?" I immediately respond, "Dallas Talbott" Tom says, "Who wants to know?" The fella whips out a badge and says, "Deputy soanso of the Albany County Sheriff's Dept." Gulp. Well we know we have permission but we don't have written permission. We tell him again and his name finally registers with me, "Are you Rory?" I ask. He affirms this. Rory is Dallas' son and we met him when he was a snot nosed kid. Anyway all ends up well and he tells us to check in with him or his wife next time we hunt because he needs to know who is hunting. We agree even though Dallas never said anything about that. Since Rory and wife live on the house that is part of this leased ground it isn't a big deal.

Tom and I finish prepping my "goat". I do watch and try to take lessons and help here and there. We get it loaded up. Look around for another antelope - it's getting hot and they are kind of skittish now so we decide to get my goat up to the cabin where it is cool and take a break. Antelope and "goat" are the same thing just in case you didn't know.

We take a nap, have lunch, do a few chores around the cabin - I paint around the new door. Tom fills the marmot hole with cement, we play some cribbage, visit with the cabin neighbors have supper and go to bed.

On 9/11 we got up a bit later cuz we didn't want to wake up Rory's wife too early and let her know we'd be on the property. But we were still out the door before 7. We headed down Towner Lake road and had to slow up for the Moose parade. There were 3 of them trotting down the road. I told Tom that a cabin trip wouldn't be successful if we didn't see moose from now on.


We should've left a little earlier because going east on the road is blinding when the sun hits the horizon, however, we didn't run into anyone or another moose.

Tom stopped at the house and got permission to hunt. The gate was locked so we were told to go into another gate. Wouldn't you know there was a dumb as a post buck standing out there in that pasture. We were far enough away from the road, so Tom got out, situated his rifle on his shooting sticks (I didn't need those) took aim and shot. And MISSED! The buck took off and headed toward the does and fawns who didn't seem disturbed by any of this action at all. Well, Tom decided that he forgot to sight in his rifle to he grabbed "my rifle" aka "Antelope Killer". We got a bit a closer and Tom tried again. He shot at the buck who was standing sideways but was farther away than mine had been. Tom hit him, this time and the antelope went down.
The herd of does and fawns could care less -fickle females and children. We were able to drive right up to buck and throw him in the back of the truck. We weren't far from a dump sight so we drove there and gutted him and then went back to the cabin to finish the job. All this by 8 in the morning. Hardly seems like a hunt but I'm not complaining.

Tom spent most of the morning taking care of his goat and I cleaned up breakfast - took a walk over to the snow that is still behind the cabins. I sccoped some into a container to keep our food cool. I can't believe there is still snow that close to the cabin! So we just kind of puttered in the afternoon and visited with cabin owners - a nice relaxing time at the cabin.

On Monday morning we did our chores, got the cabin cleaned up, our stuff loaded up and headed out. No moose parade this time. We decided we were curious enough about the weird campsight and wanted to check it out. So we did - the fireworks were gone but it was still junky. Then we decided to see how much the van guy dumped at his new parking spot so we went there, too. He wasn't parked there so we walked into the woods and found quite the compound - outhouses, shelters, tables - whiskey JUGS on the table, what a mess but spooky. We didn't see anyone so we got out of there - took the coordinates and left.

We stopped at the Forest Service office in Laramie and gave them the new info. We ran into the FPO we talked to on Friday. He said he had picked up the fireworks and then found the guy in the van and took pictures of the license plates when the man suddenly appeared out of the woods. He said it was creepy. I don't think the FPO did anything - he's a bit wet behind the ears. Anyway by the time we got home, we got a call from the Enforcement Officer asking for more info. I wonder if we will hear anymore about it.

Our friends, Barb and Ted, have a place that family and friends can processes game. We are considered friends. It works great - very handy! So we got it all done in an afternoon. Kind of easy to do when 3 shoulders were destroyed by our fine marksmanship. It is now in the freezer and what we have sampled so far has been very tasty. I keep hearing that folks don't like antelope. I always have - maybe it just tastes better when you are the one hunting and processing it?