High Speed Beef

Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  I was busy chasing deer.  I went out Friday night bow hunting and arrowed a nice big fat doe.  I let her sit overnight instead of tromping through the woods with a flashlight. 
I awoke Saturday morning and at dawn went looking for her.  I recovered her not 50 yards from my stand.
It wasn't warm yesterday but it wasn't quite cool enough either so I skinned her, carved off all of the fat, and if her fat is any indicator of our winter to come...look out!  I removed forelegs, head and rib cage and then rinsed her with cold water to help her chill out.  I generally like to let a deer hang a few days to help the proteins in the meat to begin breaking down.  The first two this year I had to process immediately.  This one may be able to hang awhile.  It was below freezing last night.  Back straps and jerky yum yum!!!

Today I am taking the camper out for a test run down the freeway a bit.  Make sure everything is good.  Check and probably re-pack the wheel bearings and make sure the taillights are functioning properly.

One of my favorite sayings is,

"Preparation is the key to success"

Damn Dogs Anyways

OK bear with me here.  I am about to give you a brief synopsis of my morning so far.  We'll call it Bushman's AM cliff notes. 
Laying in bed (or is it lying) this morning when Big Brown Dog jumps up and nestles between Momma and Me. (this is a normal morning occurrence)  Yellow dog is already stationed comfortably ( to him anyways) at the foot of the bed with his head and front legs draped across my right leg as I am on my back.  His rear legs?  More than likely somewhere on Momma's side digging into her calves and slowly pushing her lower half from the bed. From the beginning now.
 I awake from my sleep mostly because Gunner AKA Big Brown Dog must under any condition ask permission before jumping into bed.  This sounds something like a cross between a guinea pig and Forest Gump teasing the principal after his Momma "cared" about his education.  Upon hearing this I give permission several times in the following manner.  " C'mon Gunner".     "Gunner Up!!"   (all the while he makes his "sound")  " Gunner get your @$$ up here now"  Thump Thump Gunner arrives in bed.  For some reason he has to step on Remmi while crawling his way to the top of the bed which causes Remmi to stretch and stir which either hurts or pushes someone off the bed.  Gunner arrives at top of bed sniffs my face then proceeds to lay sideways between Momma and Me and with a big huff (as if this is my idea not his) thumps his head down on my chest while fluttering his cheeks.  I can hear Momma on the other side groan her discontent. 
It's morning again I think.  My dog's wake me like this everyday precisely 5 minutes before the rooster crows his wake up call (alarm clock sounds like a rooster) 
If I move at all then Remmi jumps off the bed comes around the side and licks me, usually in the face.  I tell him "no' and he sits there and stares at me.  I can't see him but I can feel his stare.  After a minute he jumps back in bed usually landing on my shins.  It's better than coffee for waking up let me tell you.  Good old fashion pain.  The trick is to lay real still because once you move it's game over.    Someone usually moves and the procedure starts over again this time with Gunner making his sound while Remmi does laps on the bed jumping on and off. 
I swear they will probably starve to death if I don't get up.   So I give in (I need to rub my shin bones and Gunner has moved his head from my chest to my bladder, he's smart like that)
You'd think they needed to go potty real bad.  The first thing they do is go outside when we get downstairs.  Sometimes I watch them run down the deck do a circle and come right back up.  Going through the motions to fool me into thinking they went potty.  Not gonna work.  Then I feed them and they go back outside.
This morning however when I hit the kitchen light and looked at the clock it said 4 not 5. (neither dog will look me in the eye now, they know)  Oh well who needs sleep anyways I think to myself.  Guy in my head is just now waking up (fortunately for him he has no bladder) he mumbles something I can't understand and I actually think he went back to sleep. 
Now the whole point of this post is to say I don't have a problem getting up early.  I like it but 4 am is a wee bit too early.  Makes for a real long morning when it's cold outside.
My problem is this.  I've been sitting here at the computer making my rounds and I look up and see this!!!!

Damn Dogs Anyways!!!

Blog Totals

Well I sort of feel like maybe I don't blog enough.  Some people blog everyday.  I mainly blog on weekends.  Not that I don't have anything to say because I always have some smart ass comment to make to somebody.  Just ask the guys at work.  They think it's the chair I sit in at break and lunch.  Sometimes they ask to borrow the chair so they can....be mean, vent, crack wise, crack jokes, be stupid, act weird, make no sense whatsoever, just plain old be an @$$hole.  This is what I do in the chair.  It's a lucky chair.  I've replaced the screws in the bottom 3 times now.  I will never be rid of the chair.  It is my personality clarifier.  If you think you know me...not till you've seen me in the chair.  I do have a chair at home as well and a couch and a stool, I'm sure my wife can fill you in on the rest of the sitting utensils in our household that "clarify" my personality.  But back to the first sentence about post quantity.  The problem I have posting during the week is I'm either....tired, crabby, grouchy, mean, tired, crazy, exasperated ( not sure how that fits but I heard it on TV and I wanna be cool too) uncreative, lazy, bored, tired shall I keep going?  I admire the people that can blog everyday.  Sorry not me.  I don't want it to feel forced.  I don't want it to be Twitter or Tweeter or Squatter or whatever that is where people just randomly say what they are doing.  (which I do by the way but on facebook after a couple sarsaparillas) but I also don't want to lose any of my readers by my sparse posting.  Worse yet is a forced post which I have done and if you find one you win a prize.  I don't like it but sometimes you just feel obligated.  Terrible isn't it?
So there see.. I just posted about posting and you're reading it.  You're hooked.  Can't live without me I know.  No worries.
So now what?  I move to a cool picture and fade out and you're left with a quizzical look on your face and wondering how my wife actually lives with me.  Simple as that.

Here is a ladder truck we built at work.  We build the chassis and crimson puts on the ladder unit.

I will get some better pictures some other time.  Time to finish dinner.  Meatloaf and scalloped potatoes.

See ya tomorrow thanks for reading my blog total increase post.

BYE

Pumkin carving, cider drinking, competition winning ME!

OK I don't like to toot my own horn but this time I will.  I won the first annual Bushman Pumpkin carving contest.  We had 9 different carvers ranging in age from 13 to 50. 
I have never been a good pumpkin carver.  Not really artistic when it comes to that stuff.  That is my little brother's thing.  He is awesome at drawing and painting.  So I had to have a game plan. 
I was more or less issued a challenge by a friend of mine Sandy.  She is always trying to compete with me.
She says she is motivated by my passion for the things that I do.  Gardening, cooking, and now pumpkin carving.  Everytime something comes up she says, " I bet I could do it better than you".  So then it's game on.  That is how this got started.  This is how I ended it!
I started with a sketch of sorts

Ended up with this.  Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

Here is Sandy's

Angel's

Kaitlin's

Sam

Denise

Nicole

Zach

Steph

Here is one I carved for fun!!

We all had fun and made a great mess.  Sandy was on call and had to go in for a surgery but she was pretty much finished with her pumpkin just couldn't stay around for judging.
We judged by writing down 1st, 2nd and 3rd and you couldn't vote for your own.  I took 7 out of 9.  Can you say LANDSLIDE Sandy?  OK that's enough rubbing until next October.  What did I win you ask?
The right to do this!!!!!
(Sandy took 2nd and Sam 3rd)
We had hit the cider mill earlier in the day and cushioned our fat reserves on cider and donuts.
We even spoiled ourselves with a bottle of cherry, apple wine that they make at the mill.
The chickens and the garden enjoyed the pumpkin "guts".

A dog's life!

I didn't have much to post on today so I thought I would do something different with some older pictures.
Enjoy!!


This little guy became a member of our family almost 3 yrs ago.  Little did I know the impact he would make!

                    I came home from work one day and caught him dancing with my beautiful wife!
                   

When he finished his dance he ran out the door to his get away vehicle.

Looks like he had an accomplice!

Not long after that we added another member to our family.  Don't ever double dog dare me!

So these two mutts become pretty good friends.  Not long after that I found them cuddling with my

gorgeous, young daughter.  These two are unstoppable!

Well you know how it is with women.  Wasn't very long and they were fighting over it.

So what do you do?  Put 'em in time out!!

It seems as though they have overcome their differences and now are pretty much inseparable.

They swim together

They nap together

They even fetch the same retrieving toy.  Literally

Gunner still loves the girls though. 

These two truly are the gift that keeps giving!



Happy Birthday Momma Chris

If there is anybody out there that actually likes me, you won't now.
I missed my Mom's birthday.  I am such a schmuck.  I have lot's of excuses but not one damn good reason.
I am truly sorry.  Please don't feel that you are not important to me.  If anyone out there doesn't know Momma Chris then your missing out.  We've laughed together, we've cried together and have been pretty close over the years.  Happy Birthday Mom and Friend!!!  Miss you!!

Happy Birthday from all of us!!!!

What do you get when you cross tarps, a wood stove and a circular saw?

A sore back!!
Yesterday I put up the awning on the camper to make sure everything is OK.  Then I put the screened in room on the awning and retrofitted it with poly tarps.  This gives us an outdoor room at deer camp.  A place to peel off muddy/snowy boots hang up coats or rifles.  I have a section of outdoor carpeting that I put on the ground that goes inside of it.  It's pretty handy.

I also tarp the ends of the bunk area on the camper.  Helps with my patches and also creates an air pocket that helps with condensation when the heat is on in the camper.  The screened part of the awning room now has the tarps on it which makes it wind and rain proof.

Now the wood stove part!

I picked up a couple insulated stove pipes from a guy at work and we had this old wood stove in the barn.

It actually used to be in the basement of the house and at one time heated the whole house.  

I figured it was a good time to put in the wood shop.  So with the help of a fellow co-worker and his furniture dolly we hauled it out of the barn and into the shop.  Thanks Tony!!

I picked up the rest of my stove pipe and caps and reducers and all that jazz and began the install.

I have never installed a wood stove so I took my time and contemplated every decision thoroughly.  A mistake in this department could lead to tragedy.

First thing I needed to do was cut a hole in the roof.  There was a pre-existing hole where an old furnace vent went through so I used that spot.  Just made it bigger.  My pipe is 10 inches around.  Let me rephrase that--the stovepipe is 10 inches around.  I surely don't need any solicitations from the porn industry.

Go figure from wood stove to porn in 2 sentences.  I love being a guy!!

The 4x4 you see on the left of the hole will be my support beam.  There will be another 10 inches to the right of that one.  I will screw some brackets to the pipe and let it rest on the 4x4s.  The two sections of pipe weigh around 50 lbs.

I had to do some precise measuring because when I slid the stove into place I didn't want the weight of the insulated pipes resting on the 90 degree elbow that protrudes from the back of the stove.  I wanted it to just slide into place and have all the weight suspended on the 4x4s.  It fit perfect.  What did you expect a bunch of re-work?  Yeah me too.  It was either luck, skill or because I hadn't opened a cold one yet.

Here is the sections of the insulated pipe

Here is the stove with it's regular pipe.

I would say that the stove weighs in at about 300 lbs or so.

It was no picnic moving it around.

Here it is installed into the corner

Here it is on fire!!

It has dual blowers on the back of it but I re-wired it so only one works.  The whole unit is overkill but who cares.  I built a small fire and in no time flat the whole shop was ridiculously warm.

And of course i would have never accomplished this feat without the help of my two friends.

Have I said how much I like these two?

Today I have to finish the roof part and secure everything down.  I also want to make a reflector shield to put behind the black stove pipe to reflect the heat forward and away from the wood wall.

Then clean because we are having a pumpkin carving competition on Sunday after we get back from the cider mill.  Yummm Donuts!!

Walmart Revenge

Ok so I went back to Walmart but this time I was prepared.  I felt that I must fit in to appreciate all the great deals that I see on the television.  Just for you my dear readers I made my wife sit in the car and take a picture.  The only problem was they wouldn't let me in.  I made it as far as the greeter when I was stopped and asked to leave.  Can you imagine someone actually being discriminated against at Walmart.  I mean have you seen the people in there?  I thought my attire was moderate to say the least.  So of course they pissed me off and I set fire to the girl scout cookie stand on my way back to the car.  I just want to fit in is all.  :(

Well I guess it's back to E-bay for coffee pots!!!!!!!!!!

Surviving Walmart

It was a close call but I made it.  Amidst the hodgepodge of Chinese made items and squirrely rednecks I managed to secure my foothold in the express lane and check out with my senses still intact although slightly bewildered.
OK I'll back up.  When I get to the beginning I will fast forward giving you only the bits and pieces you need to get the gist of the story.

September- early doe season.  Two deer in the freezer.
October -Overhaul mouse eaten pop up camper for hunting pilgrimage to the north woods.
Still October.  Decide to remove AC unit from camper and sell on Craig's List.
Everything from here on out is still October, probably didn't need to point that out but I was just at Walmart.
Guy buys AC within 3 hours of posting.  $200 in my pocket.  Time to go to Dunhams sporting goods for some seasonings to make jerky and sausage from deer in freezer.  To wife and daughter,"let's go".
In the car driving wife says, "oh I need to stop at walmart."  Accident almost occurs when she says the W word.  Uhhhhhh I guess. 
Now I can tell you I don't like Walmart and do not go there unless forced by above mentioned wife.  (oh the dreaded power they have anyways)  "Fine" I say after a bit of grumbling and whining.  I figure I'll just sit in the car.  Pull in the parking lot and wife and daughter exit vehicle.
After a minute I decide I might be able to find something in the hunting section for my upcoming pilgrimage.
Exit vehicle and begin journey into foreign territory.
I don't know where these people come from because I have never seen them around town.  Not in any other store, bar, restaraunt, video center or tanning salon.  I imagine this small village somewhere west of here, why west?  Just seems right I guess.  In this village is all these people that are frankly: weird, redneck, hillbilly, malnourished, deformed, psychotic, trailer trash, white trash, ghetto, gangsta,fat chicks whose clothes don't fit and I can see their underweat halfway up there back and stains down the front of their shirt, screaming fit throwing children with sandals on when it's 25 degrees outside, well I think you get the point.  It's like that movie The Hills Have Eyes.  Well guess what people they get there freakin eyeglasses from Walmart.

Craig's List Crackpots

I swear there are some true morons out there (other than me).  I posted an ad on Craig's list to sell the AC unit I just peeled off my camper and of course I got lured into looking for all the things I don't need and most of what I can't afford but it's a pretty powerful website.  Just full of idiots. 
First thing I see is a guy who is selling climbing sticks for a tree stand.  12 ft section for $55.  I can buy those at meijer all day long for $45 brand new.  Does his come with the tree or what?
Next thing I see is a person selling a camo pop up blind that comes with a carrie case.  A CARRIE case come on people if you want someone to take you seriously then learn to spell.  I can forgive typos but this guy actually went above and beyond a typo by adding in an extra letter.
Then the guy who puts his ad in the barter section.  Yeah he wants to trade for cash!  No shit Sherlock?
I did see a nice 27 yr. old horse that was selling for $2500.  I tried to figure the ratio of weight to dog food but I was confused with what to do with the hooves.  I'm not sure how long horses live but I don't think you can re-finish them like an antique car so what do you do with a 27 yr old horse.  Alpo, Purina?
I suppose you can use him as a filler in a Italian mafia movie but what do you do with the rest of the body?
Then my all time favorite.  This person has a really cool custom golf cart for $4500.  He is adamant that once it sells this will be the last time he posts it.  Ummmm OK.    Proof read people.
Enough of that.  What did I do yesterday you ask? (person in back row, behind you 2 sections and 3 seats to the left was asking in case you wondered)
I patched 129 holes in the canvas of my camper.  Reinstalled said canvas back onto camper.  Removed AC unit from roof of camper and patched that hole.  Then I went in and watched Patch Adams with Robin Williams....no I didn't watch Patch Adams just messing with you. 
I must admit with all the mice damage even washing all the canvas sides it still smelled a little like mouse pee.
So I tried a little redneck philosophy.  What causes odor?  Bacteria causes odor.  What kills bacteria?  (no I didn't put my camper on a penicillin regimen)  Smoke kills bacteria.  That's why the Indians would take smoke baths.  OK genius.  Also what is a better air freshener (to a guy anyways) then bacon?
So I took some bacon out of the house and into the camper and fried it.  Smells good.  Temporary!  ( voice in my head has returned from vacation, he's been on Everest for a couple weeks now)  So I take a piece of cedar wood and place it over the burner.  Filling the camper with the aroma (smoke) of burning cedar.  Much better than any other wood.  That is how I kill odor causing bacteria.  Does it work?  (Oh you should really hear the guy in my head laughing, sometimes I think he is the evil twin of my wife or is it the good twin because she is the evil.....)  I think it might work but what better way to spend the evening then frying bacon, drinking cold beer and hanging with your two best friends.

Check out all the patches.  You should see the other side.

OK enough but one last thing.  I found out how they make pumpkin pies.

Also welcome Amy.  Thanks for following.