Changing times, changing people

For those of us older ones, we grew up in a very simple lifestyle. Most things were home made.
From clothes, to food, to fun. Rarely were these items ‘store boten’. Hand me downs were anticipated and expected. We looked forward to our older brothers or sisters ‘growing out of’ their clothes, so we could then wear them. Food was home cooked, usually from the garden and wild game was a staple. Ah those fried ‘taters’ and home made gravy! Probably not the best for one’s health. Least ways that would be the prognosis in today’s world. My folks rarely ate out. I can count on my hand the times I seen my mom or dad eating out at a restaurant. We always raised some cows, but rarely did we eat the cows we raised. They were sold to market for cash. Now fun was not is short supply. It is amazing what one kid or a group of children can do to invent fun. From riding stick horses to playing house or roasting potatoes in a campfire. Snow games in the winter and sledding. Then for real excitement getting the hood of an old car and pulling up a steep hill for a real ride. Of course we always had chores to do. Cows to milk or calves to feed. Wood to get in and snow to shovel. And snowball fights were loads of fun, with forts and snowmen, etc. Well times have changed. There are new and interesting things happening. Not all are good. But there is still good things happening and people adapt to change. I just hope that Change doesn’t take the Good out of people. And yes it is still fun to play fox and geese or build roads in the dirt with a Tonka truck, or? Keep smiling we can all find something good in our lives that can bring us joy and it doesn’t have to cost money!

A Successful Hunt

Well we did get out there and hunt the elusive Wapiti. Friday morning after Thanksgiving found us braving early cold weather to track down and harvest one of the most regal and impressive animals on the American continent. We had spotted this herd of elk the evening previous as they began their evening graze. We also had seen them the prior Saturday as we drove through the area in the early morning. We had plans to set up on a couple of ridges north of where they were graving with the intent to head the off as they headed for their bedding area. We arrived there and found that someone else had the same intent. So we moved on to another location. We had recieved a few inches of snow on Thanksgiving evening and conditions were prime. We did not encounter any elk that morning. We later returned to the spot previously selected and talked to my cousin who had hunted the area and had shot at a spike. He had also talked to a man and his daughter who has spotted two large bulls at a long distance. To make a long story shorter anyway we then hunted several other areas and seen some cow elk. There are lots of elk in this area. Our son Brad had came down from Utah to check out the hunting. He and Brian my oldest son then went to a place called Bailey Point. They were able to get into a herd of elk there but they were too far off to get any shots. We made plans to go back the next morining and check the area. Brian had a plan to be dropped off and hunt into the spotting area and my son Chantry and I were to make a drive from the South. We had just gotten out of the truck when we heard shooting. Brian had shot at an elk and was unsure of a hit. We told him we would work our way towards him and then help him look for sign. As we dropped lower on the ridges we seen a herd of elk making their way up the ridge. We then heard more shooting. Brian called and indicated that he had taken an elk. He was quite excited as this was his first big game animal. You all who have experienced this know the adrenalin rush. We worked our way down to his location and he had a nice spike. Well a little lesson in field dressing and I'm on my way back to get the truck. They will pull the elk downhill to a location we can get to with the truck. We are having cold nights and cold days so we know the elk will hang and cool out in great shape.
Sunday is a day of rest so we get some good rest and anticipate getting back in the field on Monday. We hunt in another location on Monday, seeing elk but no horns.
Tuesday we are back in the area from the previous evening and anticipate seeing some elk. We find several cows. They come within 40 yards of me but I cannot put horns on any of them. About noon we head for town to gas up the truck and get some vittles. As we are leaving Overgard we decide to take a road up through the forest. We are talking about Ashley Davis our brother in law has said has elk crossing the roads in this area. I"m somewhat skeptical and just about at that moment a herd of elk are trying to cross the road. Brian yells that there is a bull in the lead. He has already broken ahead of the others and is long gone through the trees. We just weren't ready for them. I make a round through the timber hoping to get a glimpse. They are traveling hard and fast. An elk can cover a lot of territory when they are pushed. So it is getting on towards evening by this time and we decide to make a drive up by Deer Springs Lookout. We pass the look out and are heading down the canyon when Brian sees a herd just in front of us heading up the hill. I exit the truck and am looking for them on the left and Brian motions to me that they have crossed the road the right and and heading South. I step out of the road and get up to a nice pine tree for added support. I glass the area and find a bull standing with his head just out of the trees. I shoot and he dissapears. I'm not sure of a hit. Then this same bull steps into sight. This time a pull down on his front shoulder and pull the trigger. He again disappears.
I walk rapidly towards his location and find him down. After putting him completely down, Brian walks up with a big grin on is face. We have completed a successful Arizona elk hunt. It is about 1/2 hr from dark and after field dressing we do a redneck loading job and off we go to the house. I had called my wife earlier when we were ran over by elk on the road and how we messed up getting one and would be coming home empty handed again. Well she would be surprised when we came in with on after all. The fun was over and skinning and cleaning was next on the agenda. Overall we had a very enjoyable hunt with Brad and Chantry getting to participate and good weather. It is a great privilege to have the freedom to hunt and enjoy the outdoors. The extra bonus is having some great eating. We cut Brian's elk up a week later and hung mine in a cooler for another week to keep it from spoiling as the weather warmed up to 60 degrees during the day. One doesn't wast this precious meat. Ah! those backstrap steaks and elk burger will go a long way and when we munch down on it, it will bring back a flood of great memories.

A Successful Hunt

Just wandered in

This six point elk wandered into our yard last Wednesday evening. It had been wounded and I"m sure was somewhat disoriented. He lay down in a Cedar thicket about 10 yards from our swing set. The game and fish dept was called and they ended up putting him down. He was a young bull with good genes. A six point. The meat was donated to a local kitchen and the horns will be auctioned off in Phoenix in the spring. Me an my son Brian will be looking for this ones brothers the day after thanksgiving.

As a man thinketh!

Many different things affect our thought processes. We get hungry, cold, hot, thirsty, lonely, etc. All of these physical senses cause us to think. More often than not after our physical senses and the thought processes related to them are attended to, and if we are of a mind to, we will contemplate and meditate upon other aspects of our lives. Most of us will be involved in improving our education on a variety of subjects and matters. Some will ponder and reflect on philosophy, theory, and or religion or the arts. Our thinking regarding our associations with others will begin to develop from the very beginning of our lives. Since we didn’t come to this earth preprogrammed to do and act and understand everything that we need to, we learn by trial and error for the most part as we mature and become learned. Learning in and of itself is a wonderful thing in our lives. We are the ones who really determine what we learn from our experiences. No one can “learn” for us. It is important to make our own decisions based on information we receive. We need to learn from an early age to do our own “thinking”. When we are young we need to let others guide us. But as we age and are capable of thought we should be trained to do our own thinking. After we have studied it out, researched it and yes maybe even prayed about it. Lets do our own thinking and own the result. It is the way to truly grow and be happy.

America

*“My Country Tis of Thee, sweet land of Liberty”
*“My Native Country Thee”
We recently traveled across several northwest states as we have done numerous times in the past few years. One doesn’t have to travel far across any part of our wonderful United States to be aware of the bounteous earth in all of its varieties and terrain. From the desert beauty of the southwest and through the mid states and into the northern states what grandeur awaits our eyes and our hearts. As we traveled I reflected upon the verdant farms and small and large settlements along the way. I thought of the labor of the farmers and other workers as they have labored to build and to plant and to care for the land and its animals and other things that sustain our lives and provides for our general welfare. I also ref-lected on the industry and efforts of so many to provide roads and hospitals and schools and retail and other businesses and industries to sustain our capitalistic economy. We are a blessed nation and many wonderful productive people still live here. Some of our large corporations have moved out of country to make even larger profits. They have forsaken America for more money. Many businesses have remained here and have paid family wages and have made lesser of a profit, but by staying, they have made and continue to make America great. The innovation and energy of the American people will long sustain them as they continue to give their best efforts in their work and service. May we all do our part to keep us free!
*“Our Father’s God to Thee” Author of Liberty;”
*To Thee We Sing”
*“Protect us by thy Might, Great God our King”

*Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895

Liberty

Liberty*: right to choose: the freedom to think or act without being constrained by necessity or force.

The colonists in the early 1770’s were quickly loosing their liberty. The ‘crown’ had initiated laws and taxes that were burdensome to these new free spirited Americans. After no redress of their grievances was found, the leaders of this promised land adopted the “Declaration of Independence”. War was declared and a rag tag group of undisciplined and unprepared men and women took on the greatest army and navy in the world. George Washington led this army. He felt that the ‘Hand of Providence’ would see them through. Suffering and defeat occurred at almost every hand. How could liberty be won?
Every American should study and come to know how this country won its independence.
It matters not what religion or culture you are a part of, you can know that a Supreme Being had a hand in the outcome of this world changing event.
While we ‘bask’ in the ‘liberty’ where in we are made free may we never forget the ultimate sacrifices of those who helped fulfill the destiny of this great nation, “Under God”!