Deer Hunting, Pears and Back to Business

This past weekend was the opening of deer season. Around here it's a big deal. For the guys that is, not me. The better half, his brother, brother in law, nephews and this year his great nephews all gathered at their old homeplace for the guys hunting weekend they call Southard's Deer Camp. They bring campers, tents and trucks to sleep in, gather and visit around a campfire, cook in cast iron over a fire pit and hunt. This is a family tradition that began before my time in the family and hopefully will carry on for many more years.

My contribution to "Deer Camp" is normally making sure all of Jim's camo and hunting gear is packed and ready to go. I pack his cooler of food and cook a few things up to send out to round out their meals; cornbread for their pot of beans, cakes or cookies, etc.

The last couple of years Jim hasn't had much luck. I actually think he goes out to spend the weekend with the guys more so than hunt. Which is fine by me as long as he is safe and enjoys time spent with his family. I hate to say this out loud - I actually prefer Jim not take to aim at Bambi or her mother. I tell him always look for a nice big buck. As they tell it, those nice big bucks are few and far between.

Normally one of the guys from the city will have a bit of luck and they don't eat venison. So Jim will bring that home to process. We have venison for the freezer even if he doesn't take one himself. This year seems no one saw anything.

But he did bring home my winter pears.

At the old homeplace there is a huge old pear tree. Each year they collect the pears and bring them to me since I am the only one in the family who home cans. There was a bumper crop this year, roughly 50 lbs. of pears. I'll be busy this week putting up pear butter (like apple butter just with pears) and spiced pears. I have been looking through my grandmothers recipes and vintage cook books for other pear recipes to try.

Just 6 Mohair and 3 Shetland fleeces remaining to wash and card. Have finished carding all brown fleeces for the blanket panels. The felted blanket is on the top of my "To Do" list for this winter. Plus the remaining carding. I am hoping to have all fleeces carded and ready before spring shearing. Just in time to do it all again eh :-)

Finally have the natural colored warp for the rigid heddle loom. Hope to work that in while house bound this winter also.

Hope all is well on your end of things. Til next time... have a great rest of the day!

The Human Shield - Rest In Peace CJ

The show of support and kindness to help protect and honor this fallen soldiers family amazed me! They called it the Human Shield.

300 stood at the funeral home.

A mile away stood over 300 more. Citizens of Weston, Missouri, members of the Patriot Guard, VFW, American Legion, active duty soldiers, friends and supporters from near and far stood the line, the corners and the streets. They arrived early and filled every parking space, road side, nook and cranny to block the Phelps protestors.
There was no room for the protestor’s bus to park. The protestors were only allowed a fifteen foot section of sidewalk. When the demonstration began the Patriot Riders revved up to full throttle to drown out the noise. A local business set up a stereo system and played Amazing Grace along with music by Lee Greenwood.

Another local business brought their huge flag and set it by the group. Supporters of the Sadell family would move the flag to block the view of the unwanted demonstrators as they moved.

“The American Flag does not fly because the wind moves past it. The American Flag flies from the last breath of each Soldier, Sailor, Airman & Marine who has died protecting it.”

The Phelps group of 7 only stayed about ten minutes - their mission was futile.

A few links if you are interested

http://www.newspressnow.com/news/2010/nov/04/flags-be-lowered-fallen-soldier/

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-cjsadell-funeral-westboro-church-protest-110610,0,3649584.story
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2010/11/07/exp.nr.blocking.funeral.protestors.cnn.html


We support Our Veterans!

Members of The American Legion and VFW

We support the Patriot Guard!

DEFINITION OF A VETERAN: A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." Author Unknown

Photos courtesy of Rebecca Rooney and April Lipscomb.

America Has Lost Another Patriot

A family friend, US Army Master Sgt CJ Sadell of Weston, Mo, 34, died at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He was wounded Oct. 5 at Arif Kala, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
CJ was assigned to the Army’s 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, N.Y. His unit had been deployed since spring.
CJ joined the U.S. Army in 1995 and was assigned to Fort Drum in March. His previous deployments include a four-month tour in Saudi Arabia in 1997, a six-month tour in Kosovo in 2001 and a one-year deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and 2006.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, numerous other decorations, now the Purple Star.
He is survived by a wife, two children and his mother

It has been brought to our attention that the group from Topeka, KS who protests military funerals will be protesting at CJ's funeral. Thankfully the Patriot Riders, VFW and active duty soldiers at Ft. Leavenworth have been notified and will be there in full force to stand opposite of the Phelps group.

God bless you CJ. Rest in peace.

Then and Now - Goats & Sheep

Sundance Fiber Farm - The Sundance Kid

This is one of my favorite photos. As a bottle baby Sundance went everywhere I did. I love this little fella...

even now as a full grown blubbering buck. That's him standing on his back legs wanting in with the girls.

Fairlight Jackdaw

When we brought him home.

Still on the up close, touchable and loveable side.

After his first shearing in May.

Now in his full ram mode
Isn't he just beautiful!

Thank you for the photo Tammy

Last week Jackdaw's breeder Tammy came for a farm visit. We have been talking about her coming for a visit ever since we first bought the "Woolly Boys" aka Angus, Aberdeen, Kirby & Kelly.

From left to right - Aberdeen, Kirby, Kelly (black) and Angus

We have had the opportunity to see each other at different fiber events (Marshfield Fiber Fair, Fiber U, Celtic Fest) and when we picked up the different sheep we purchased from Fairlight Farm over the last couple of years. We were finally able to find a day when neither one of us were busy with all others things in life. Was a great afternoon talking all things fiber, sheep and such.

Back in April, on Earth Day to be exact, Scarlet lambed. She had twins, a ram lamb and a ewe lamb. We kept Eartha the ewe lamb. Eco her brother went to live with a wonderful family in Arkansas.

Little Eartha a few hours old.

Now at 7 months old

Last year Isabella kidded twin doelings. We kept Maybelle.

Maybelle a few hours old

Maybelle now

Til next time, have a great rest of the day.