Iowa Deer Season I

Deer Shotgun Season I opens here in Iowa today, Saturday, December 3rd, and there has been an item that keeps trying to work its way into the tangible part of my hunting paraphernalia. Sometimes we dream and scheme for a long time before we settle...again to start the process to move up in the future.

Last Saturday I decided I didn't want to go through another opener sitting in freezing rain/rain. I guess you can call me a fair weather huntress. Although, in the last 5 years I have been out in some pretty extreme cold temps with wind whipping snow -  it is becoming less desirable to do so.

Our forecast for Today: Rain. High near 38. South wind 6 to 8 mph becoming northeast. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after midnight. Low around 25. North northwest wind between 6 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Shopping for an economical alternative to get out of the weather, that could hold two people comfortably, took me to The Sportsman's Guide. I decided on a Guide Gear Winds and Water 5-Hub Pop-Up Blind after considering an Ameristep G3 Blind. This G.G. blind appears that it will work fine for gun season, but I won't be able to use my Martin Jaguar Takedown Recurve bow from it during the Archery  seasons.

I have some concerns about this blind since I set it up Wednesday afternoon. The top can be removed for water fowl hunting which I find to be a plus - it has velcro strips and corner straps to hold it on.

However, I am only able to get three of the four sides attached on my own. My thoughts are that if I had a second person to tug it down while the I held down the opposite side it would get secured, at this point it is unsecured leaving a space for the wind to blow the elements inside. There is another thought going through my mind...if all else fails use Duct Tape.

Another concern that became apparent when I climbed inside Thursday morning was all the visible pinholes in the interior blackout finish as well as the holes created by the window stitching.

Before I purchased anything I read of others who had experienced the same difficulties with other products and their solution. They used water repellant sprays to seal the surfaces. I decided to purchase Ambush Triple-X Ground Blind Spray , not only to create a scent eliminating covering, but to add a  moisture repellant barrier.

In the future I can see maybe a different brand of  ground blind  tall enough to allow for my recurve bow in the future. Ultimately, I want to work for some stationary blinds because the deer trails don't change much over time here...they are passed on from generation to generation. 

Today will most assuredly give me a product trial on the blind and protective spray.

Yesterday morning I sat watching the deer feeding and running by my ground blind. I only hope they will  be so plentiful in about an hour and a half with the weather changes as Deer Shotgun Season I opens.

Time to be off to the blind!

Vardaman, MS Sweet Potatoes

The Thanksgiving Holiday starts the seasons for bringing out the best of our recipes to put festive touches to the abundant fare we share with family and friends.

My brother on a short stop over this past summer

I put in a request to my brother to get on the Vardaman Sweet Potato loop for his truck driving business in hopes he would bring me some of those delectable goodies from the South back to this Northern Lady.

A weekand a half ago he came running past making a connection with Hubby before he blew on by to his next drop off an hour away.

He was able to get his route headed back this way to join us for a family Thanksgiving this year.

Being a gardener I have grown sweet potatoes, but this year I didn't get my plants put in the ground so my next best option, go directly to the source...

For a time I had 80 pounds of the orange sweets taking up space just off the kitchen waiting to find their way into one of those special recipes I spoke of earlier.


One of the 40 lbs. boxes remains for me to try out homemade  sweet potato fries, sweet potato pies,casseroles etc...etc...etc...

Sweet Potato Bake

Wednesday, we weighed out 3 1/2 pounds for my daughter Tamara to boil up and mash for one of her
"Paula Deen" recipes to put on the Thanksgiving Day menu.

This one is called Sweet Potato Bake;a different spin compared to how we usually serve them. Traditionally, it is brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon with mini-marshmellows browned on top about ten minutes before serving.


There is a Southern Lady from Vicksburg,MS, whose recipe for her famous Sweet Potato Pie I would like to share with you.

Marian  from Marian's Hunting Stories etc..etc..etc... sent her recipe my way. Now is really a good time to pull it out to add to the Holiday table.With all kinds of get togethers yet to take place by the  New Year I know I will be able to offer a tasty treat for dessert.

                                                     "Marian's Sweet Potato Pie" 
 

3 large sweet potatoes cooked, drained, and mashed up. Will make approximately 2-1/2 to 3 cups. Add the following ingredients to potatoes while they are still hot.

1 stick margarine or butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup milk
3 eggs (beaten)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract

Place in uncooked pie shells. Will make 3 thin pies or 2 large ones. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.

For a crisp pie shell, bake for the first 10 minutes at 425 degrees and then turn back to 350 degrees for remaining 40 minutes

 I hope all my American family and friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving ! Time to prepare for Christ - mas...

Field and Stream -The Rut Reporters

I am always interested in hearing what is happening in other parts of the country when it comes to the draw down of summer and fall finally arrives  - deer hunting in particular.

My trail camera is working for me right now in an effort to watch what I have found to be a very active spot in the pre-rut.

Once again Field and Stream is rolling out  news of the upcoming Whitetail Deer Rut nationwide. Currently, they have a contest going on to win some great gear with the prizes being provided by Cabela's.

The first monthly drawing is going to be held this Friday, September 30th,so you still have a chance to be eligible.

If you would like to find out the specifics on how you can win some fantastic hunting gear in their  20-weekly, 4- monthly, and one overall contest  click here...

I am definitely looking forward to hearing about what is happening on your hunting grounds throughout the seasons. Good hunting!

It Goes Bump in the Night

For those of us who have trail cameras out, you can probably site different occasions when you see things that you can't identify right off hand.

I keep having a few of those experiences.

You might assign this image with the title of "Bat" or "Bird"...Maybe it's a HUGE bug? In any event this was the only picture of the "unknown" captured in the series  when the camera was triggered.

There seems to a nebulous aura where I would assume a wing would be a flutter. 

This image is like none other I have seen since having the camera, getting close to a year now.

Could it be an out of focus deer face? Once again it was the only picture in a series. A fast mover!

Usually I can tell if it is a deer getting up close. You would see the glare of an eye or an ear hair or two, and most definitely a nose or tongue,but this is  a mystery.

 I like keeping the camera low to get interactions such as the one you are witnessing in these pictures.

Some days you have to wonder if they line up to take turns on getting a lick in?

Then there are the days when they look like they are posing for group pictures to keep for posterity's sake.Silly Deer! or is that Deerses?

Not only the good has been noted - some health issues have become evident within the herd as well.

Creature in a hurry! See those streaks in the flash?

I am beginning to wonder if the coyotes, or raccoons, are taking a minute in their nightly trips around the timber in search of food to check out that  blinking red eyed box.

Mysteries are fun, but not knowing makes me yearn to see more.

Until the next post, CDGardens here at Timber Life signing out. Have a Great day!!!

Pond Fishing on the 4th of July

The 4th of July holiday last week brought a family Barbeque here at Timber Life.

I wanted to get our new house(still under construction) used to having people and laughter filling the interior.

Sweeping and vacuuming the bare plywood floors gave me visions of the future when it will be covered by laminated wood flooring.

The day was hot, but the afternoon activity included a visit to the neighbor's pond to do a little fishing.

Hubby packed the interested individuals into the pickup to head into the pasture to get a little closer. They didn't really want to carry fishing tackle for a quarter mile with a 6 year old fisher person in tow.

I stayed back at the homestead to pick things up after the Barbecue. Then spend some time visiting with our eldest daughter , her sister-in-law and baby girl.

The entourage was gone for a couple hours.Our granddaughter Alexa who happened to be the 6 year old was quite patient for her age. She is not one to keep at one task for very long. Finally, when she tired of the event she let it be known that "everyone had 5 minutes", then it was time to go back to Grandma and Papa's.

Those who decided to fish were treated to some largemouth bass and bluegill , catch and release was the method used for the day. In all they had 10 hits. The summertime vegetation has become an issue with reeling in the fish. One lure that seemed to  float above the plants was a frog lure, which seemed to get the bluegill going.

Grandson Nick with his largemouth bass

Grandson Nick found some success with snagging fish on the pond.

His Uncle is teaching him what he needs to know to catch a fish in whatever circumstance. Uncle Joe is to be commended for being a mentor - doing his part to get  young ones started in enjoying what the outdoors has to offer.

The camera on Nick's phone helped to record  the event so Grandma could see it before the fish went back to swim again...