Deer Camp

Sunday evening and time to start winding down after a busy weekend of family and deer camp. Blaze Orange has been the color of most family Members this Weekend and we have 2 beautiful bucks and 2 doe hanging in the tree to show for the early mornings and hours sitting in the tree stand.

 

Friday, Princess had a close friend over for a slumber party. There was a fashion show, a Card game and a lot of laughter!  I love listening to them chatter and giggle. It brings back the days of my childhood.

 

Princess Pea and M- playing cards

My niece hiking in the woods

My nephew with his 9-point buck

On Saturday we spent a lot of time up on the land ooohing and aaahing over deer and taking pictures. My nephew, R- only had one day to hunt and ended up shooting a really nice 9 point buck. It fell in some tough terrain with hills and rocks covered by wet slippery leaves. It was a dreary, drizzly day making for some treacherous hiking to try to haul it out.  Honey helped and ended up slipping and falling, sliding down the hill a ways. He is pretty banged up and bruised today.

Honey, R- and my brother SJ admiring the deer



Emma chewing on her bone - Silly Puppy

My brother EJ with his 7 point buck

Today Princess Pea and I went to church and she attended her confirmation class. Then it was time for some football! Packers VS. Vikings is a huge rivalry and of course between Cookie and I. And tonight is the Giants vs. Cowboys (Princess vs. Honey). Lots of good natured teasing. Miss Emma spent the day chewing on her bone and annoying poor Luna. Those pesky little sisters you know!



This evening my brothers will be here to process the deer. So grateful I have a family that pitches in and helps each other!

My friend Scott was able to stop in tonight for a quick visit. He lives in New Orleans and was home for a quick weekend of deer hunting with his family. It was so good to see him. Praying for his safe return home.

Homemade cookies for the hunters

I still have a bit to do this evening to prepare for the week ahead. Princess Pea only has school on Monday and Tuesday. She and Cookie Monster will go to their dad's on Tuesday to spend the holiday with him, so there is laundry and packing to do. The deer need to be processed and I should clean since we are hosting Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. Instead, I am sitting in my chair working on the pair of mittens I have on my knitting needles. I can't wait to finish them and show off my newest skill...MITTENS! :) I have always wanted to learn to make them. Thankful for my creative talent and my ability to read and learn on my own. Next up is mastering the art of making socks!

Off to bed now...God's blessings to you all!



Busy Time of Year!




My Desk at Work...

Eucalyptys Shower Soothers



Stacks of Fabric!

Hanging Towels...

So it's that time of year again.  You know when the cold,  dreary weather weather forces everyone inside.  We have been keeping very busy with many projects and activities.  I have been busy working many sewing projects, among other things.  I made hanging towels for our kitchen, some eucalyptus shower soothers, and these crazy rice filled owls to warm on the microwave.  The owls were such a hit that I am now selling them in a local store with another store interested in having them. How exciting!


 

My Owls...Lots of Colorful Characters

Princess Pea and her buddy R at Dance!

Cookie has been working 2 jobs, trying to get his car fixed and figure out what he is going to do in life.  I so wish I could help him more and I wish I had guided him better as a young child.  But what's done is done and I can only go from here trying to guide him and give him advice as I can.  

 

Princess Pea is active as usual.  She finished up her volleyball season and headed straight into dance.  She is also busy with FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America)  and Forensics.  She is on the color guard squad and in choir and jazz choir.  She also plays flute in the concert band and saxophone in the jazz band.  Whew... I get tired trying to keep up with her.  

 

Making Beautiful Music



Smiles

Last night she played in the District Honors Band.  This organization takes a few musicians from several local schools, gives them music to learn and practice.  Then they pull all the students together for a day to play the music together under a guest conductor. After a full day's rehearsal, they perform a concert.  It is an incredible experience for the kids.
 

Emma!



Getting in on the Selfie Craze! LOL

One of Cookie's friends has an opportunity for a wonderful job within the state corrections department. I am so happy for him, but during his seven week training, he needed someone to watch his 3 month old golden retriever/german shepherd puppy. Yes, seven (7) weeks and yes 3 months old... Meet our house guest - Emma! She has the sweetest temperament and disposition. She is gentle and loving and playful. She does however think she is a lap dog and deserves ALL attention leaving sweet Luna to feel a bit jealous at times. Mostly they play well and we laugh at them. She is learning manners slowly and has found great fun in a game of fetch (as long as Luna also plays). I'm not sure what the two of them will do without each other when Emma goes home...

Enjoy a cuppa!

  

We are also planning for deer camp this weekend. Rifle season for deer opens on Saturday morning at day break. It's a tradition in our family that everyone gathers at my home on Friday night(since it was previously my parent's home) to swap stories and look at trail camera pictures and plan strategies. Some stay at our house, others go home, but they all wind up back at my place for breakfast around 5 AM on Saturday morning. This means up at 4 to start cooking! :) Then they all traipse off to the woods leaving a mess in the kitchen and me to start the chili and chicken noodle soup. And then I spend the day making cookies and treats as they filter in and out to warm up and eat. Some spend the night again on Saturday night and more of the same (minus a 5 AM breakfast) on Sunday! :) It is really a wonderful tradition that I truly look forward to every year. To me it starts the holiday season!  Check out this post about last year's Deer Camp to see just what I mean!

So tonight will be a night of planning, taking inventory of groceries, making more owls, and doing some laundry.  I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will check in with you later!