Well the Dale and Bill Handyman service has begun. Dale bid a house to replace the siding from the hail storm. I of course no nothing about this or how to do it, but I am unemployed and what the hell. This house took us 18 hours. We had one fuck up and it has been bothering me. Last night I brought it up and we are going to go back and fix it on our own time. I feel better.
Today, we are going to tackle our second house. At least it's north side. The weather is supposed to turn and the 10 day outlook doesn't look good either.
Friday, November 25, 2011
My Deer
Dale and I go out on Monday and walk about and I miss the chance of a nice 4X5. Was doing to much thinking like a person and not enough like a deer. Anyway got my exercise.
Tuesday morning Dale and I go out about 6 o'clock and we get there and the Frerichs kids pickup is already there. We figure that he is on the west fence line somewhere. We decide to go back to where we saw the 4X5 and climb the rock face to the ledge next to the top. Well it is steep and I'm out of breath and looking to the east and behind us when Dale grabs me. I can't see anything because I'm behind the rise. I take two steps forward and see 3 deer. I put the scope on one and it starts to run away and I can't stay on it. I look around the scope and one is standing on the slope looking at me. I swing and am breathing so hard I am all over the place. I take a deep breathe and bring the cross hairs down behind her shoulder and pull the trigger. I was wobbling so much I had no idea where I hit her but she was down. Turned out I hit her a little high ( right through her shoulder blade and broke her spine) we walked over to her and Dale cut her throat.
We had been there 15 minutes. One of the fastest kills and least amount of walking we have ever had. We go back and get the pickup; drive up to her; gut and wash her out; put her in the pickup; go to town to the Sheriffs office and check her in. Take her to the tree and hang her with the buck. Because of where I hit her we cut off the front shoulders and neck. because there was a lot of shoot up meat. I took this home, much to Donna's surprise as we usually do it all at Dales. I cut out the bad parts; put the good in plastic bags and froze it. The next weekend I had to go back to Mom's and Dale Quartered the deer and put them in the freezer. This was because it was getting to warm to leave them hang.
Tuesday morning Dale and I go out about 6 o'clock and we get there and the Frerichs kids pickup is already there. We figure that he is on the west fence line somewhere. We decide to go back to where we saw the 4X5 and climb the rock face to the ledge next to the top. Well it is steep and I'm out of breath and looking to the east and behind us when Dale grabs me. I can't see anything because I'm behind the rise. I take two steps forward and see 3 deer. I put the scope on one and it starts to run away and I can't stay on it. I look around the scope and one is standing on the slope looking at me. I swing and am breathing so hard I am all over the place. I take a deep breathe and bring the cross hairs down behind her shoulder and pull the trigger. I was wobbling so much I had no idea where I hit her but she was down. Turned out I hit her a little high ( right through her shoulder blade and broke her spine) we walked over to her and Dale cut her throat.
We had been there 15 minutes. One of the fastest kills and least amount of walking we have ever had. We go back and get the pickup; drive up to her; gut and wash her out; put her in the pickup; go to town to the Sheriffs office and check her in. Take her to the tree and hang her with the buck. Because of where I hit her we cut off the front shoulders and neck. because there was a lot of shoot up meat. I took this home, much to Donna's surprise as we usually do it all at Dales. I cut out the bad parts; put the good in plastic bags and froze it. The next weekend I had to go back to Mom's and Dale Quartered the deer and put them in the freezer. This was because it was getting to warm to leave them hang.
Dales Deer
Sunday while Olsen and I are sobering up. More Olsen than me. Dale goes out and gets a little 2 point buck. This really pissed me off at first because it is the hunt and he said he was not going out again until Monday or Tuesday. So now we have one hanging in the tree at Dale's.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Another Deer season at an End
Last Saturday the 12th of November, Yet another Deer Season was upon us. In the pitch blackness of early morning. Dale, Jeff (Olsen) and I met to go and do our annual ritual of getting a deer. Now we aren't like alot of the hunters around here. We are out there for the meat, not the size of the antlers. I find antler stew kinda hard to eat. On this Saturday morning we planned to split up and Dale and Olsen went to the north end and I went to the south end. Well it started bad for me right off the bat. It seemed that 3 of the deputies had also decided to hunt but they were unsure of where the fence lines were. I graciously pointed to the fence in the north corner of where they were standing and said that over there is ours. I drove on up to the gate it is now starting to get alittle light out. I check my binoc's, my gloves, my rifle, my shells; poured me a cup of coffee and started to wait. Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. You stupid ass, you don't have your orange. It's a law here that you have to wear orange so other hunter's can see you. Well, we are on private land and I'm thinkin I can get by without it. Then I think I have county deputies a quarter of a mile behind me and who knows about those idiots. So I get on the walkie talkie and tell Dale I'm going back to town(a six mile drive) and get my orange. I also tell him about the deputies so he knows they are there. Off I go. Home get orange, put it on and off I go. Now I think I'm pissin off the deputies as I've gone past them now 3 times. They leave and we never saw them again.
The area we hunt is private land that Dale has hunted for at least 20 years. I have only been there 5 years. It must be an area of 640 acres plus. Divided up into 4 parts: CRP ( this is ground that at one time was farmed but the government (USDA) paid the farmer not to farm and now it is grassland) to the very west, hilly rocky canyon pasture ground all around a pivot field down in the valley in the middle of the whole thing. There is farm ground to the east. Which is either newly planted wheat or stubble each year. We also have permission to hunt the pasture that lays directly to the north of this ground. It also is full of ravines in the hilly rocky short grass pasture.
Now that you have an idea of the lay of the land I will continue. When I get back and start hunting from the south end. I walk directly to the west up this long hill. To the southwest of me is a deep rocky canyon, supposedly a hangout for deer. Not on this day. So I continue to walk down the draw that leads to the northwest. The wind is coming up. I come to the southeast corner of the CRP an decide to walk along the fence line up pass the wash out about the middle. I get to the middle and on my way I found a piece of flint. On the other side of the wash is a bunch of buck brush. I just have a feeling that there is something in it. I scope the hell out of it and find nothing. Finally I throw the rock in it and nothing happens so I cross the fence an walk the burm along the fence. The wind is building all the time. I hear the report of a 270 going off and know that Olsen has shot at something and only one shot so I'm assuming he got it. Then I hear the 22-250 go off only once and I'm assuming that Dale has gotten his deer and I am the one screwed without a deer. I keep walking the burm. I hear the 22-250 go off four more times. This tells me that we have a wounded deer somewhere. So now I am at the end of the CRP. I go back into the pasture to go and checkout two of our favorite draws. Now I am walking up and down some pretty steep grades. As my feet, ankles and knees aren't what they used to be it gets to be pretty slow painful going. I walk the north fence line going east. I finally get to where Johnson's fence line runs north and can see an orange vest out in the middle of that pasture. Then another 22-250 shot. I can now see my pickup at the south end, about a 2 mile walk and I can see Dales pickup to the east, about a mile and a half walk all up hill. Well I'm assuming that they have gotten the wounded deer so I decide to go to Dale's pickup. It turned out to be very bad going. As I was about 50 yards from the fence two does went whizzing by. I ran back the direction I had just come to try an get a shot but they had gone the other way. Now I wasn't hurtin during the adrenaline rush, but now that it is over ouch. Turns out Dale and Olsen had spooked the does on their way to the pickup. I slowly got to the pickup and was it ever good to sit down. Where's the schnapps bottle. Why in my pickup of course.
So the 3 of us start off to get Olsen's deer he shot a good size doe. We are in Johnson's pasture which we don't know that well so we are looking for a gate. We find one that isn't in the best of shape. We enter and much to my dismay decide that we need to close the gate. Guess what? Ya I'm ride'n shotgun. Out I get shut the gate. The doe is down clear on the other end of the pasture. So up and down and side to side we go watching for any hole or rock that might stop us. Get finally to the doe and finish cleaning her out and wash her really good. Load her in the truck and drive back a different way than we came in so as to check out the lay of the land. We get back into our pasture, as now I have only opened and closed 2 other gates. We decide to work our way back to my pickup. We then get a shot of schnapps after I open another gate, which I close get into the pickup only to decide to leave that gate open. So I get out and reopen that gate. At that point I am done. But that shot of schnapps helps me get talked into walking the original canyon of my journey one more time. We did an nothing. We go back to town, check in Olsen's deer, take it out to his house, hang it in the shed and go to Harvey's for a snorter. To be continued.........
The area we hunt is private land that Dale has hunted for at least 20 years. I have only been there 5 years. It must be an area of 640 acres plus. Divided up into 4 parts: CRP ( this is ground that at one time was farmed but the government (USDA) paid the farmer not to farm and now it is grassland) to the very west, hilly rocky canyon pasture ground all around a pivot field down in the valley in the middle of the whole thing. There is farm ground to the east. Which is either newly planted wheat or stubble each year. We also have permission to hunt the pasture that lays directly to the north of this ground. It also is full of ravines in the hilly rocky short grass pasture.
Now that you have an idea of the lay of the land I will continue. When I get back and start hunting from the south end. I walk directly to the west up this long hill. To the southwest of me is a deep rocky canyon, supposedly a hangout for deer. Not on this day. So I continue to walk down the draw that leads to the northwest. The wind is coming up. I come to the southeast corner of the CRP an decide to walk along the fence line up pass the wash out about the middle. I get to the middle and on my way I found a piece of flint. On the other side of the wash is a bunch of buck brush. I just have a feeling that there is something in it. I scope the hell out of it and find nothing. Finally I throw the rock in it and nothing happens so I cross the fence an walk the burm along the fence. The wind is building all the time. I hear the report of a 270 going off and know that Olsen has shot at something and only one shot so I'm assuming he got it. Then I hear the 22-250 go off only once and I'm assuming that Dale has gotten his deer and I am the one screwed without a deer. I keep walking the burm. I hear the 22-250 go off four more times. This tells me that we have a wounded deer somewhere. So now I am at the end of the CRP. I go back into the pasture to go and checkout two of our favorite draws. Now I am walking up and down some pretty steep grades. As my feet, ankles and knees aren't what they used to be it gets to be pretty slow painful going. I walk the north fence line going east. I finally get to where Johnson's fence line runs north and can see an orange vest out in the middle of that pasture. Then another 22-250 shot. I can now see my pickup at the south end, about a 2 mile walk and I can see Dales pickup to the east, about a mile and a half walk all up hill. Well I'm assuming that they have gotten the wounded deer so I decide to go to Dale's pickup. It turned out to be very bad going. As I was about 50 yards from the fence two does went whizzing by. I ran back the direction I had just come to try an get a shot but they had gone the other way. Now I wasn't hurtin during the adrenaline rush, but now that it is over ouch. Turns out Dale and Olsen had spooked the does on their way to the pickup. I slowly got to the pickup and was it ever good to sit down. Where's the schnapps bottle. Why in my pickup of course.
So the 3 of us start off to get Olsen's deer he shot a good size doe. We are in Johnson's pasture which we don't know that well so we are looking for a gate. We find one that isn't in the best of shape. We enter and much to my dismay decide that we need to close the gate. Guess what? Ya I'm ride'n shotgun. Out I get shut the gate. The doe is down clear on the other end of the pasture. So up and down and side to side we go watching for any hole or rock that might stop us. Get finally to the doe and finish cleaning her out and wash her really good. Load her in the truck and drive back a different way than we came in so as to check out the lay of the land. We get back into our pasture, as now I have only opened and closed 2 other gates. We decide to work our way back to my pickup. We then get a shot of schnapps after I open another gate, which I close get into the pickup only to decide to leave that gate open. So I get out and reopen that gate. At that point I am done. But that shot of schnapps helps me get talked into walking the original canyon of my journey one more time. We did an nothing. We go back to town, check in Olsen's deer, take it out to his house, hang it in the shed and go to Harvey's for a snorter. To be continued.........
Friday, November 11, 2011
PST ready! Deer Beware!
We spent the day getting ready for the first day of deer season 2011. We had trouble getting Dales permit so started the day at Cabela's. It took an hour but he finally got his permit. I bought a full choke for my 20 gauge. Then it was to the shop to finish the PST. We had her done about 1 o'clock. Took her for a test run an all is fine. Home and off to Harveys. Pretty slow. Home ate, laid out clothes, and to bed.
A hunting we will go.........
A hunting we will go.........
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Fixin the PST
As mentioned earlier the throw out bearing in the PST was making alot of noise. Well, Deer Season is coming up (Saturday). We need two pickups so into the shop on Tuesday night. We started tearing her apart Wednesday morning. This is a 1973 Dodge and it is full of dirt. Our shop is just alittle bigger than the truck. It has cement floors, that are cold. It is heated with a wood burning stove and compared to some other places that I have worked it is a palace. My good friend Dale owns the shop as part of his house. A long story for another time. He is a mechanic and a Dodge Lover so I am set. As you know I was a farmer but some things you just need a mechanic for. Besides I have put on some weight and have aches and pains and don't move as well as I once did. So Dale does most of the work and cussing. I just am there to get the wrenches, WD40 and the broom. I also get to scrape off all the parts (get all the dirt and grease off) outside. I thought that the taking apart went really well considering all the spittin and cussin that was going on under the truck. While he was doing that I put on new shocks all the way around and replaced the radiator hose. I also tried to fix my seat cover that I got out of Gene's truck that Dale scrapped out but to no avail. We discovered afew things about the PST for instance the floor board is almost rusted out. I knew this to some extent as I had already taken a lid off a Coleman stove. Beat it out straight and screwed it to the floor on the passengers side. But didn't really look any further. Welllllllllll, we need to do some major refab after deer season. I also need to get a new floor mat made. I have a piece of carpet so I can get that done tomorrow. I also need to try to get more heat out of my heater, will try and blow some air through it to see if I can get out some dirt. While we are finishing her up.
We would have gotten her done today, except another friend of ours Olsen had trouble with his Jeep. It wouldn't start and the valve gasket was completely shot. So Dale and I stop an look at it on our way to get the flywheel that we had ground. Dale decided that it would be best for him to drive it to the shop. So we jumped it and he brought it to the shop. It was a fairly nice day and the wind was out of the Northwest so we could get in behind the shop on the south side and get the sun. Had to replace the battery, and do some wiring adjustments, then put on the valve cover gasket. This turned out to be a bitch. For some reason the back bolt wouldn't go in and in this most greasy, oiliest of spots there was much bad language going on for about 2 hours. Finally, someone held their mouth right and it went in. Then we put antifreeze in it and let it run. WELL, with all the oil and grease that was on it and all that had been pushed down. It was a real smokin machine. It ran for awhile and then got hot. Needed more antifreeze. Olson whom is the maintenance man at the Hampton had to go to work because they couldn't get the hot tub to work right. Took Dales little pickup and got some antifreeze on the way back.
While he was gone Dale and I started putting the PST back together. Dale crawled underneath and I laid on the rusted out floor. First we had to put in the clutch assembly (which we discovered we had to rebuild). That went pretty good. Then put the pilot bearing in the cam head. This turned out to be tricky, first you have to get to old one out. Hammer and chisel. The drive the new one in. Hammer and socket. Broke the pilot bearing, have to chisel it out. Got another pilot bearing (I told you he was a Dodge man) and we drove that one in using another method. That went well. Then we put the flywheel back on. Had to tork it down. Went pretty well. Then came the clutch plate and housing. We had some problems getting the bolts started but with alittle patience we made it work and we torked them down. Next came the throw out bearing and the fork for the clutch. That went very well. Then the transmition, we have this hanging on the cherry picker. We adjust it around so as to drop it in the hole in the floor and into the clutch housing inside the bell housing. This was as I saw it a slow and aggravating experience. I was to high, to low, to far back and never right, but all of a sudden I was in the hole. (Sounds like something out of a porno flick, huh) We still had alittle trouble getting the bolts in a getting it drawn up. That was enough for today. Also known as Miller Time. So we cleaned up good as we could and came over to the garage(mine). An had some brews along with Donna and Jule. Dale and I then went downstairs and tried to get our Deer Permits. I got mine but we ran into trouble getting his.
So tomorrow the saga will continue with finishing the PST and Dale's Deer Permit.....
We would have gotten her done today, except another friend of ours Olsen had trouble with his Jeep. It wouldn't start and the valve gasket was completely shot. So Dale and I stop an look at it on our way to get the flywheel that we had ground. Dale decided that it would be best for him to drive it to the shop. So we jumped it and he brought it to the shop. It was a fairly nice day and the wind was out of the Northwest so we could get in behind the shop on the south side and get the sun. Had to replace the battery, and do some wiring adjustments, then put on the valve cover gasket. This turned out to be a bitch. For some reason the back bolt wouldn't go in and in this most greasy, oiliest of spots there was much bad language going on for about 2 hours. Finally, someone held their mouth right and it went in. Then we put antifreeze in it and let it run. WELL, with all the oil and grease that was on it and all that had been pushed down. It was a real smokin machine. It ran for awhile and then got hot. Needed more antifreeze. Olson whom is the maintenance man at the Hampton had to go to work because they couldn't get the hot tub to work right. Took Dales little pickup and got some antifreeze on the way back.
While he was gone Dale and I started putting the PST back together. Dale crawled underneath and I laid on the rusted out floor. First we had to put in the clutch assembly (which we discovered we had to rebuild). That went pretty good. Then put the pilot bearing in the cam head. This turned out to be tricky, first you have to get to old one out. Hammer and chisel. The drive the new one in. Hammer and socket. Broke the pilot bearing, have to chisel it out. Got another pilot bearing (I told you he was a Dodge man) and we drove that one in using another method. That went well. Then we put the flywheel back on. Had to tork it down. Went pretty well. Then came the clutch plate and housing. We had some problems getting the bolts started but with alittle patience we made it work and we torked them down. Next came the throw out bearing and the fork for the clutch. That went very well. Then the transmition, we have this hanging on the cherry picker. We adjust it around so as to drop it in the hole in the floor and into the clutch housing inside the bell housing. This was as I saw it a slow and aggravating experience. I was to high, to low, to far back and never right, but all of a sudden I was in the hole. (Sounds like something out of a porno flick, huh) We still had alittle trouble getting the bolts in a getting it drawn up. That was enough for today. Also known as Miller Time. So we cleaned up good as we could and came over to the garage(mine). An had some brews along with Donna and Jule. Dale and I then went downstairs and tried to get our Deer Permits. I got mine but we ran into trouble getting his.
So tomorrow the saga will continue with finishing the PST and Dale's Deer Permit.....
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Moving On
A week ago last Sunday I made a trip starting at 4:30 am MT. Back to Axtell to go through more of my mother's house. I was to meet my brothers at 9 o'clock am Central time. I called Rob an told him that I was bringing the PST (piece of shit truck) and that I wouldn't get there until around 10. Well, I almost froze my ass off (actually my feet). I dug out a blanket I take with and put around my feet as for all the cold air coming in. Well come to find out I had left the vents open and I did find a hole that I plugged. I thought I had closed the vent. Oh stupid me. Anyway back to the facts on hand. When I got to Kearney I got gas and went to Boogaarts to see if they had any boxes. They did!!! I then headed for Axtell. No brothers, seems that since I was going to be late the time got changed to after lunch. No problem I started cleaning stuff out and boxing it. Rob and George show up and we proceed to clean out the CLOSET in the basement. There is vintage clothes, quilts, embroidered towels, sheets and doilies, decorations of all sorts, china painting accessories. We for the most part clean out the CLOSET. The kids are supposed to each get a quilt and some of the embroidered items.
We quit for the day and I go to stay with J.C. Now this is really nice as usually JC isn't home at the same time I use his house. He is doing landscaping along with my nephew Taylor. I put my shit in the house and suggest that we go to Kearney for supper. JC drags his feet but finally gives in. (I find out later that he wants to stay home an eat as he eats out all the time when he is on the road). We go to Hunan's and he has the Flower Steak and I have Shrimp with Sizzling Rice. Our favorites. Monday, I go back and start cleaning again. I start in the kitchen and then move to the bathroom and then the bedroom. Tuesday, I do the spare bedroom and living room and start in basement. Wednesday, I do the laundry room and behind the bar and in the storage room. I am now having trouble trying to stay on the task. So Thursday morning I just tried to straighten up what I had done and an headed for home. Also during this time my oldest son gave me some rims and tires for the PST. Then the throw out bearing started grinding and I was wondering if the clutch was going to go. I backed into the garbage can and broke the tail light. But I made it home OK.
Now to the kids coming to get stuff from the house. Original Plan.
Kids were to pick a quilt, embroidered articles, dollies, a bell and some of mom's china painted dishes and some of the jewelry. This is supposed to start with the oldest and progress to the youngest. Problem: I'm the one that thought this should happen. I being the sentimental one. I still think it should happen. However, I am finding that some don't seem to give a rats ass and are only concerned with what it is worth.
So I am going to suggest that the items for them to chose from be limited to: quilts and sewed items,bells,jewelry and the china painted items. Other requests will be considered, by all three brothers. My problem is I can see some of them coming and cleaning out anything that they think is of value and that they can turn into cash.
Oh family is such fun....but we are getting along well. After all mom I promised I would just as I believe you made the others promise also. Love you and miss you greatly!
We quit for the day and I go to stay with J.C. Now this is really nice as usually JC isn't home at the same time I use his house. He is doing landscaping along with my nephew Taylor. I put my shit in the house and suggest that we go to Kearney for supper. JC drags his feet but finally gives in. (I find out later that he wants to stay home an eat as he eats out all the time when he is on the road). We go to Hunan's and he has the Flower Steak and I have Shrimp with Sizzling Rice. Our favorites. Monday, I go back and start cleaning again. I start in the kitchen and then move to the bathroom and then the bedroom. Tuesday, I do the spare bedroom and living room and start in basement. Wednesday, I do the laundry room and behind the bar and in the storage room. I am now having trouble trying to stay on the task. So Thursday morning I just tried to straighten up what I had done and an headed for home. Also during this time my oldest son gave me some rims and tires for the PST. Then the throw out bearing started grinding and I was wondering if the clutch was going to go. I backed into the garbage can and broke the tail light. But I made it home OK.
Now to the kids coming to get stuff from the house. Original Plan.
Kids were to pick a quilt, embroidered articles, dollies, a bell and some of mom's china painted dishes and some of the jewelry. This is supposed to start with the oldest and progress to the youngest. Problem: I'm the one that thought this should happen. I being the sentimental one. I still think it should happen. However, I am finding that some don't seem to give a rats ass and are only concerned with what it is worth.
So I am going to suggest that the items for them to chose from be limited to: quilts and sewed items,bells,jewelry and the china painted items. Other requests will be considered, by all three brothers. My problem is I can see some of them coming and cleaning out anything that they think is of value and that they can turn into cash.
Oh family is such fun....but we are getting along well. After all mom I promised I would just as I believe you made the others promise also. Love you and miss you greatly!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)