Gotta' stay sharp

This is really the tough time of year for bird hunters, both 2 legged as well as 4. Too hot to work the dog too much, so Ike will have to be satisfied pointing rabbits in the yard and doves and other birds on our walks. I think he will be OK seems like he gets it kind of naturally. Me, on the other hand has to work on it to make sure when it is time I don't disappoint the little guy. He works hard for every bird and it's bad enough when it is a wild hen and we can't shoot them. He doesn't know the difference and I swear last year in South Dakota, after about the 4th hen that got up and I didn't shoot, I got a look from Ike like, "What the heck are you doing, I could've got that one!!" So anyway, humans can shoot clay pigeons to stay sharp. Clay pigeon shooting takes many names and forms, Trap where the presentation is always the same, outgoing and rising targets. Skeet where you have two houses throwing to the same point each time but you move to change the angle. Sporting Clays, where you go from station to station and shoot any number of targets to closely mimic the types of shots you see in real Wingshooting. There are other too that are lots of fun but so can using your own thrower and going on your own.

I used to have a one man operated manual thrower and I really loved that thing. Really was a great thing for the person that shot alone. Once I got proficient at that one I was looking for a tougher faster thrower. I found it in the White Wing model by Do All Inc. So to make it even tougher I bought the wobbler kit for it.. Well by the time I got all of that put together It was too much for me to load and carry - So what would any American male do???... He would commandeer his wife's garden cart and mount it on that and use his ramps to load it in the truck YES!!!

Take a look and I tried it out today and it was really slick.....

"Pretty Crafty, Ike"

No, this isn't about Ike being "shifty" or him making Christmas decorations, but about me helping a co-worker provide a surprise gift to her nephew. One of my co-worker's nephew had gone on an outward bound camping trip and came back with lots of pictures and memories (and mosquito bites I've been told) and she wanted to present to him a shadow box of some of those photos and memorabilia. Trouble was the standard shapes didn't fit her plan so she asked if I would be willing to try and customize the inside frame to her design. I said I would try... So here are a couple pics of the step by step process as well as the finished product. I think it turned out pretty nice.

Good thing I have lots of clamps :p

See the different configurations (yes you caught me - in this pic the wood needs to be flipped end for end :))

Here's the finished Product. Hope you like it Matt...

Tried a new place

We were looking for a place for dinner and while I usually like to cook my own BBQ, we had seen a review from the local food critic about Austin BBQ in downtown Wheaton IL. While no one will ever confuse the Hill Country of TX with Wheaton IL, I have to admit the smell as I walked down the street brought back smells of Rudy's in San Antonio and other local hole in the wall shacks I have stumbled into in my travels. It ain't fancy - the sign on the door says, "Your mother doesn't work here so pick up after yourself!" kind of give you the hint of the style of the place. If you go for sides the below link will give you some idea but if you go for the meat and you like smokey style you won't be disappointed - but hey to each their own... Sauce on the side, not sweet but not too spicy (definitely not the KC style sauce I normally enjoy) but the trays the food was served on, the white bread and the pickles all reminded me of the TX memories I hold so fondly. The owner ran a pizzeria and then spent some time in TX and found out his real love was BBQ and as the article says,"His pizza career went up in smoke - literally." I for one am glad it did...

http://www.yelp.com/biz/austin-bbq-wheaton

Ike, was unable to attend (sorry buddy) but he said he will take my word on it and give it 3 paws (out of 4)...

Keeping our Cool

Summer is really here and while I miss the fall and the hunting season, I have to admit that I am kind of liking this warmer weather as I get a little older.. but hey, it beats the alternative, right?!!

Anyway, Ike's dark coat, while making him a very handsome and dashing puppy does make it rather warm for him in the hot sun. We have been brushing him to get the old winter under coat off him and while it really does help we broke down and got out his pool.... Yes I know, he could go jump in one of the ponds we have but I really haven't tried him in water and frankly if he gets in and doesn't do well, he is toast, as I swim like a rock....straight down so I would be no help... Ok so he has webbed feet, he should be ok.... but you never know.

Anyway, he has been enjoying the summer and has recently found the family of squirrels that live in the neighborhood and boy, he really doesn't like them. But I will tell you, unlike many of the dogs in the 'hood, fireworks don't scare him - in fact they seem to captivate him!. He was watching the various boomers and roman candles going off in the cul-de-sac like a little kid just locked on each and every one watching and not wanting to miss a thing... He is truly an amazing puppy.

Counting the days until hunting season and I can say, "Ike, find that bird!"