Another week has begun and we are supposed to have rain snow mix all week long. We went to Fiddler on the Roof last night and that was very well done. Unfortunately it was a little overshadowed by the feeling that people did not think our children should have been there. There were other kids there but none quite as young as ours, though Nathan and Ayla both behaved very well! It was a bit irritating to me...
Mike is planning to go on a caribou hunt with some of his coworkers in November. I wish I were going, too! It will be nice to stock the freezer, especially with the price of meat up here.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Gaffer's Bow Hunting
Gaffer grew up in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, so it followed naturally that he was a good and avid hunter. He had his favorite spots in the hollows and the hills. He knew where the 'simmon tree was too. Well, bow hunting is very popular now, but back in the late 60s it was a new hunting form (among American Caucasians that is. Our red skinned brothers had that sport down pretty good at one time.) So Gaffer proceeded to read up on the sport and teach himself all of the finer points of bow hunting. He bought a long bow and hunting tips and began to target practice. He was going to hunt deer.
Well, the first day of archery season came, and there is Gaffer out before the break of day in his black and red checked Woolrich Hunting Outfit. He was hunting on the ground (tree stands weren't used back then) and he hunted and hunted. I don't rightly know if he came home for lunch or not, but he was still hunting as evening light was approaching, and lo and behold he saw a buck. Now Gaffer put his name on that buck at that very moment and he carefully raised his bow and drew back and took aim. Thunk! A hit!
Well that buck stood a second and took off running like a tom cat after a she cat. So Gaffer knew that he was going to have to track that deer. But the thing of it was that evening light had passed and now it was nigh on to dusk. But Gaffer found some blood signs and started tracking. But it got darker and darker and it's a well known fact that the woods get darker much faster than an open field. Also wounded deer tend to go downhill because the going is easier and the deeper into a valley one goes, the darker it gets. To make a long story short (I know its a little late for that), but Gaffer lost the blood trail. I can't rightly remember, but I believe that he went out the next morning and tried to recover the trail. But he never did find that deer.
It is a character of Gaffer's personality that he has a deep respect and concern for all of God's creatures. He can kill an animal when necessary, but he always does it in the most humane way possible. When he rifle hunted he always made a clean, quick kill and put food on the table to boot. Well, Gaffer just couldn't take a hankering to the idea of a slow kill and lost meat. The truth of the matter is that bow hunting was a new sport, the tools were not as advanced as they are today, and Gaffer didn't have much experience tracking a wounded deer. In time he would have improved and succeeded. But the truth of the matter is (and some of this story I embellished) Gaffer hung up his bow and never attempted bow hunting again. He didn't have the heart to wound a magnificent animal and leave it to die a slow death and rot away wasted. I don't believe he ever rifle hunted after that either. He lost his heart for it.
Well, the first day of archery season came, and there is Gaffer out before the break of day in his black and red checked Woolrich Hunting Outfit. He was hunting on the ground (tree stands weren't used back then) and he hunted and hunted. I don't rightly know if he came home for lunch or not, but he was still hunting as evening light was approaching, and lo and behold he saw a buck. Now Gaffer put his name on that buck at that very moment and he carefully raised his bow and drew back and took aim. Thunk! A hit!
Well that buck stood a second and took off running like a tom cat after a she cat. So Gaffer knew that he was going to have to track that deer. But the thing of it was that evening light had passed and now it was nigh on to dusk. But Gaffer found some blood signs and started tracking. But it got darker and darker and it's a well known fact that the woods get darker much faster than an open field. Also wounded deer tend to go downhill because the going is easier and the deeper into a valley one goes, the darker it gets. To make a long story short (I know its a little late for that), but Gaffer lost the blood trail. I can't rightly remember, but I believe that he went out the next morning and tried to recover the trail. But he never did find that deer.
It is a character of Gaffer's personality that he has a deep respect and concern for all of God's creatures. He can kill an animal when necessary, but he always does it in the most humane way possible. When he rifle hunted he always made a clean, quick kill and put food on the table to boot. Well, Gaffer just couldn't take a hankering to the idea of a slow kill and lost meat. The truth of the matter is that bow hunting was a new sport, the tools were not as advanced as they are today, and Gaffer didn't have much experience tracking a wounded deer. In time he would have improved and succeeded. But the truth of the matter is (and some of this story I embellished) Gaffer hung up his bow and never attempted bow hunting again. He didn't have the heart to wound a magnificent animal and leave it to die a slow death and rot away wasted. I don't believe he ever rifle hunted after that either. He lost his heart for it.
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Laughing Gaffer
Well, this story takes place long before he was a Gaffer, he may not have even been pappy yet! Gaffer, Gammer and Uncle Bill (Cat) and Aunt Elenor went to Virginia beach together. They had a great time together. One day, while swimming in the ocean and enjoying the waves, Aunt Elenor (who was wearing a rather risqué bathing suit with no straps!!!) was hit with a big wave, and off went her suit. Gaffer got a great laugh out of that, and as he stood there laughing out loud, another big wave came and washed away his false teeth! I think Aunt Elenor got the last laugh on that one.
Weekend
This week, Fiddler on the Roof is playing in Anchorage and we just got our tickets to go see it! I am very excited; it is one of my favorite musicals! I hope that Nathan enjoys it and can stand to sit for that long. I guess we will have to see.
We already have snow on the ground here, and the days are getting very short again. Winters up here can be pretty bleak. I have a hard time getting up in the morning because it's dark and my mind thinks I should still be sleeping. I miss Fall in Pennsylvania. It's definitely something you take for granted until you move away.
We already have snow on the ground here, and the days are getting very short again. Winters up here can be pretty bleak. I have a hard time getting up in the morning because it's dark and my mind thinks I should still be sleeping. I miss Fall in Pennsylvania. It's definitely something you take for granted until you move away.
Gaffer's stories: The Lunchbox
Back when Gaffer used to work at PPG, there was a guy who worked with him who always put his lunchbox in the same spot. Every day he would set his lunchbox there, and at the end of the day he had a habit of grabbing it on a run on the way out of work. One day, after some of his fellow coworkers noticed this, they decided to nail it in place and see what happened. Just as usual at the end of the day this guy came running out and went to grab his lunchbox... Of course it didn't budge and the other guys got a good kick out of that.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Gaffer's Stories: Motorhome Mechanical Troubles
Gaffer told of one of the later experiences in the motorhome. He and Gammer were driving in the south (maybe Texas?) and had headed to a campground that they stayed in regularly when they traveled this way. As soon as they pulled in one of the engine belts snapped. Gaffer managed to get the motorhome parked, and decided to walk into town to find a mechanic. They had passed a Ford dealer up the road, and the motorhome had a Ford-built engine. On the way out of the campground, Gaffer asked someone about where he could go to find a good mechanic. The response was, “Don’t go the Ford dealer—they’ll overcharge you!” But a garage across the street was recommended, so Gaffer went there instead. It turned out that one of the replacement parts needed to be ordered, so they stayed at that campground for a week until the part came in.
Gaffer's Stories: Winter Driving
Gaffer told a story about one of
his worst winter weather driving experiences. He was driving a Volkswagen
Beetle up a long, gradual hill, maybe two miles long on a snowy day. The VW had
good traction in the snow, except if you hit a drift it would veer off course. Over
the top of the hill came another car. Only one lane of tire tracks was
available in the deep snow. Gaffer got half way over as the car approached,
staying in the right-hand tire track. That oncoming car wasn’t budging, so
Gaffer had to get all the way over into the snow. Somehow he managed to keep
going and avoided being stuck.
Gaffer's Stories
One of the privileges that I've
enjoyed since marrying into this family has been the addition of a new set of
grandparents. I always look forward to visits with Gammer and Gaffer,
especially the time we all spend sitting around listening to Gaffer tell
stories. I’ve been hoping to collect these stories into one place for some time
now. This blog seems like the perfect venue. So go ahead and post a story you’ve
heard whether it’s about growing up in the country, serving in the Army,
touring the country by RV or just a joke that Gaffer likes.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Thanks, Emily!
This is a great idea! Thanks, Emily for pulling it together. I hope we all make an effort to make good use of this.
Welcome, Family!
Hey everyone!
Well, I've finally done it, I've initiated a family blog! If you're reading this, it probably means you thought this was a good idea and took me up on the invitation. I think we will have a lot of fun sharing and connecting on here. Family is important, and we need to stick together and keep in touch!
Well, I've finally done it, I've initiated a family blog! If you're reading this, it probably means you thought this was a good idea and took me up on the invitation. I think we will have a lot of fun sharing and connecting on here. Family is important, and we need to stick together and keep in touch!
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