Through the Eyes of a Child

Back to camp, and it's time for a snack.

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And saw and sharpen sticks.

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It's time to prepare dinner, and JMA gets a first.

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Some of BB's accoutrements.

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JMA and I take the stick approach.

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BB prefers a pan.

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Always room for more.

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I went with sardines and mustard for dessert.

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Maybe it would have been better to call it a food bag, rodent bag, or coon bag. But, it is a bear bag. The thought of bears in the area just crippled them. I had quite a few discussions with them after the false start. My biggest regret now is that I did not have those discussions before. I think we have overcome the terror. They hung it.

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Lightening bugs

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And reflecting on the day around the camp fire

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Good night varmints.

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Morning came without incident. BB gets a yoohoo, add powdered milk and put a head on it.

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JMA sleeps in a bit, beauty sleep? Not that she needs it.

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She gives us some views from in the nest.

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I start packing for the long walk home.

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Clean up and showers.

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This is some great stuff to clean up stainless.

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A day trip with all three next.

Friday morning, and I had not worked all week. The storms from last weekend had left my place of employment without power since last weekend. I made plans to go alone to a piece of property I own about a half hour walk from home. It's an old homestead, that the house had burnt when I was a young child. I bought it with serious intentions of setting up my home there. For various reasons, that did not happen. But, it is still a nice playground for getting away.

A day pack with a frozen water bladder. I hit the trail.

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Just breaking day, and I set my pack down and pull out the phone to take a pick. Low light is the reason for the fuzzy pic, it had nothing to do with an old man humping a day pack up one of these hills. ;-)

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I had a text from Thursday night that the power was back on at work and to report. Many of the cell towers in the area had taken damage, this elevation gave me just enough signal to get a text. I can't say that I was disappointed, but I did take a few minutes to soak in the silence before heading home for a shower. The trip out met the rising sun.

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I returned with all three varmints yesterday, they had never been there. Post in a few.

You're giving them a summer that they will surely remember. Outstanding!

There is just something special about having the three of them together.

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Not much on the agenda today, just a lunch date. They clear a small area.

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We have a cat hole discussion.

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They nap

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While I take on a personal detail

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They built a couple of small cook fires for lunch.

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I show JMA how to use some of the materials laying around.

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And the boys operate on a brick hearth.

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They are all coming along so well. Till next time, thanks for coming along.

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We talked about this awhile back, first knife and can opener. My Father gave me these, along with some good instruction, so many years ago.

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I went camping with two of my children, and all of the varmints last weekend. Camped on a rather large creek in one of the local WMAs. The varmints started a fire while I prepared a chicken soup, and added dumplings a little later.

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The older varmints got to wade fish, everybody scored at least a couple.

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Then to the swimmin' hole.

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I have spent a lot of time on these waters, and in the surrounding woods, alone and with my children hunting and fishing. This trip introduces a new generation to the beauty here.

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The two youngest are content to poke around in the fire.

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We take them on a short wooded walk.

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And we find a mudhole, or two, to play in.

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Both days were absolutely gorgeous.

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I got the chance to take a short walk alone just after supper. I made my way up a seasonal stream bed.

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There were still a few rather large pools.

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Autumn Olive

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Honey Locust

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Oak

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And Sycamore are all abundant here.

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A little whisker fishin' before bedtime.

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Temps were in the mid 50's and clear overnight. I slept without a rain fly, and slept like a baby.

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I made a few biscuits for the early risers.

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And it was back to the swimmin' hole for a spell before packing and heading home.

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Thanks for lookin'.

Looks like a great weekend full of memories that would last a lifetime.

We've been in the lab, in the bush, in the water...........it's been an absolute blast.

BD was having some trouble tying his hook on that last outing, we reviewed.

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He put it into practice with some Hobo action the following day.

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Some lab work, they created the Bannock/Bacon/Cheese Cake. I bet Hardees would like to get their hands on that recipe.

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Field trials also included Bannock/Pepperoni/Cheese Cake.

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Some paddle boating to burn some cals off.

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I had a lunch date with two gorgeous young ladies a few days ago.

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And wouldn't ya know it, this slow moving short fellow stole my thunder.

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Some more fun in the lab.

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We aimed a little high, but adapted and overcame.

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While the warm wind blows in the lab, we clean some cache receptacles.

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Back with the results and another field trip in a few.

Bannut Chip?

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Strawban Lemhon Cheese Roll? Excellent when warm.

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More great stuff. I'll bet they will be the envy of the class when asked what they did on their summer vacation.

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JMA goes right to the Hillbilly Rocket, I got them out before breakfast.

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While BB gets the jump on tearing into some oatmeal packets.

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It's spam, eggs, grits, and joe for me.

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A walk to collect some cherries after breakfast.

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Lunch was beef and bread on a stick.

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And a pouch of fruit.

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We make a run through the apple orchard on the way home.

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Hoss appreciated what we left on the ground.

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And we make it to the nest before Isaac shows.

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This next lab session worked out good, Isaac would have made things a tad bit challenging to be outside.

We had decided on some favors to buy in bulk a few weeks ago. Today is single serving make up. They were a bit put out with me on serving size, things went well other than that.

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Packaging pros now.

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The theme was, "pack your own chute". Each got to run through the complete dance. Cached in those new receptacles now, are favors and "meals ready to go".

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During chute packing, they were rotated through the stone station.

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And the results.

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BE served breakfast the next morning, they deserved it.

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I got a couple of hours in the field with them that day, BB needed some more fire practice. He performed well on this one.

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Just a laid back lunch.

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I needed to replenish some char, they got a ringside seat.

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And QC

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I ended up having to make another batch, they each had to throw a spark at some. I got a "cool, Peepaw!" out of that one. Some will claim that is all that exercise is worth, I beg to differ.

Certainly some whittling and sawing. BB kicks it up a notch on this trip. They don't know it, but I think the big guy in the red suit has that same idea.

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JMA had another engagement this weekend, it was just me and the two boys.

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They got to feel a bit of their Great Grandfather, another "cool, Peepaw!" moment. My heart was high and low at the same time.

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Looks like another great day. I agree that while the "cool, Peepaw!" was great - there was so much more gained for both them, and you.

Their keen senses allow them the drop on a feral can.

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They show me how to approach a tentative kill.

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And roll the trophy out. A pull top, tougher than bear skull I am informed.

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I am famished, this feral can huntin' takes a lot out of you.

Joe

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And chili mac

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While Dos Pistoleros continue the hunt.

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They lead me through a fish bait inventory.

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Back door friends are best.

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Love all your adventures! Always makes me wish I was back at their age doing the same thing.
You should consider compiling it into a book, pictures and all. You've practically written it and certainly have enough to float to some publishers. I think both kids and parents would like it.

Great stuff.......If more parents would take the time.....

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Originally Posted by BENESSE

Love all your adventures! Always makes me wish I was back at their age doing the same thing.
You should consider compiling it into a book, pictures and all. You've practically written it and certainly have enough to float to some publishers. I think both kids and parents would like it.

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You flatter me, and take me off guard. My thoughts right now are to simply spend as much time afield, and in the lab, with them as possible.

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Originally Posted by hunter63

Great stuff.......If more parents would take the time.....

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Both sides would benefit.

First, it's a bit easy to pick on PeePaw. Trips to water the grass/leaf litter/dirt are expected to be frequent. For the varmints that was sort of a running joke, until yesterday.

The table turned, in a pleasing manner.

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Obviously, some things I buy for them with no strings attached. Some things require a commitment, skill, or challenge to be satisfied. That latter is especially true for things that they desperately want. They all carried envy for my bladder, water that is, all summer. They all three completed the required skill set two weeks ago, and I pay my penance. I class it as penance because from what I know now, they should have had them long before.

A hydrated varmint is a happier varmint, and the "PeePaw the Sprinkler" jokes vanished. Not one drink packet was used all day, only clear, clean, cold water. Yes, each was sprinkling enough to insure hydration.

Big guns and biology in the next post.