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Archive for the ‘My Family’ Category

A Week’s Worth of Interests

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Art, My Family on December 6, 2010| 2 Comments »

Turkey Scratchin's!

I have been a busy little fellow. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday of last week butchering the buck. I made sixteen pounds of burger; canned 35 jars of venison; made jerky; cut steaks; and sliced some thin “steak-um like strips of meat.  My butchering influence stems from my grandfather. In my youth, I enjoyed going to his butcher shop. Man…I miss him!

Bob, as the Great Pumpkin!

  On Saturday, I took my step-father, Bob hunting deer. I told him where he should go and watch during the early hours. I went along in another direction seeking bedded or feeding deer. I hadn’t gone far when I heard the rustling leaves and watched a feeding deer below me. I made a sneak from the site and located Bob. We quietly approached the site and the deer was absent. I eased along a gas well road when I spotted three deer in a thicket. I motioned for Bob and he came to me. One deer walked away and directly below our position.  In the minutes following, Bob missed!

Storm site where I shot the buck.

   I continued hunting with my camera. I saw four turkeys; squirrels and a grouse. I, also, saw a number of deer during my trek around attempting to move a doe past Bob. I did see a nice buck, but I couldn’t get a good photot due to brush and trees. Imagine trees and limbs in a woods!

We didn’t hunt the entire day. Bob failed to see many deer, but he seemed to enjoy our day afield.

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Sunday, December 5, the family all got together to celebrate my mother’s 81st birthday. Her birthday is actually December 6th, but we decided that Sunday,  would work out better for all. We went out to eat and later filled up even more with birthday cake! My mother, Ruth (Smail) Miller is in remarkable shape. We all tease her a lot, sometimes, probably,  too much.

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I spent the day finishing up my fourth painting depicting furbearers of Pennsylvania. The bobcat completed this series. The other three animals are: Muskrat; Raccoon; and a grey fox. Photos pending!

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Bob’s First Fall Turkey

Posted in Fall Turkey Hunting, My Family on November 13, 2010| 2 Comments »

Bob, my step-father, and I slowly walked along the right-of-way as the dawning light from the east intensified by the second.  I had heard birds on the roost in this area on an earlier scouting expedition. I was hoping the turkeys would be repeating that roosting habit this morning.

I continually watched the trees for dark masses. Suddenly, I told Bob to look up there…turkeys in the tree. I told Bob to wait while I tried to get above them and break the flock up. The birds had other plans when suddenly birds took to the air with me shouting and running towards them. I didn’t go far up the hill before the asthma took control and locked up my chest.  However, a few birds seemed to break away from the main flock.

We set up and shortly birds were answering my calling.One turkey came at us and at 28 steps saw us and departed. I could have  easily taken the bird, but, my concern was for Bob to get the first turkey. Surprisingly to me, he couldn’t see the turkey. Later, my calling produced answers and rustling leaves. I saw two of these turkeys and Bob saw one. Minutes later all that was heard was silence.

I set Bob down at another site and circled to relocate the birds and corral them towards Bob. My plan worked and Bob missed one. I called in another bird  that remained out of range. I could hear others walking behind me. An hour later Bob missed number two bird!

The turkey patrol continued when I heard a turkey far off. The bird eventually answered my calls and was close. We, hastily, set up and moments later I saw six turkeys feeding in front of me at about the 42 to 45 yard range. They fed and circled, but Bob didn’t see them. I charged and broke the birds up.

Bob and his first fall turkey!

  Bob and I set up near the breakup site and shortly called and received turkey talk in return. The young gobbler walked in and stood looking at twenty yards. Finally, Bob shot and a first fall turkey was on the way to the skillet. The time was 12: 05 P.M.

I congratulated Bob and we set for a short time hoping another would answer my calls. I decided we better take to the road and get the bird cleaned since the temperature was warm.

We had viewed or heard turkeys much of the morning. We saw deer, grouse and squirrels too. The day was perfect… the day was beautiful, the wildlife plentiful and I was blessed to see a man with a smile or two!

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Morning Hike

Posted in Hikes, My Family, Wildlife on November 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

   I decided Sunday evening that I needed to spend some woodland time early in the morning.  I had a few minutes to stop at the Whitesburg United Methodist Church to spend some time at my father’s resting place. I sat in the darkness reflecting on the past and hoping life in the natural could be different. I yearn for a time of no more pain and death. Sometimes the memories are needed!!!

   I reached the edge of a woodland bench in the pre-morning dawn awaiting for whatever the world would offer. I heard the calls of a killdeer high in the sky. I theorize this lone bird must be a late migrant. About 7:20 I heard a little turkey talk. One bird came of the roost early and began announcing to the others that an intruder was near. The bird’s strong alarm putt told the story.    

Cherry Run

I retreated and walked some 400-450 yards when I heard other turkeys still on the roost. Their calls continued until 8:00. Above me I heard leaves rustling. A gobbler’s head appeared and our eyes glared at each other for several moments until the bird ducked. I quickly moved upslope and saw two gobblers. (The birds I heard earlier?)

Pennsylvania Country

  I decided to head out for another area for turkey population checks. I was doing this primarily to find places to bring my step-father, Bob for turkey hunting… hopefully not very rugged places.    

He is legal!

As the day went on, I saw six doe and one buck. I, also, saw some squirrels and watched a couple of pileated woodpeckers darting from tree to tree. The robins are still around eating dogwoods and wild grapes. I usually se them all winter long at some of these areas producing such mast.

Robin

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Deer-0: Me-1

Posted in Early Flintlock, My Family on October 23, 2010| 2 Comments »

The cough prevented me from going out hunting on October 22. This morning, however, after much thought, I left to pick up Bob around 8:30. I wasn’t coughing much at all.

I heard a shot somewhere over the ridge. I thought maybe Bob shot. Just as reached the crest I noticed a deer standing some 35-40 yards from me. The doe was partially concealed within the green briars. I determined the head was free of a rack and shot. The deer ran off and I continued searching for Bob. We came back within minutes and I began a search for signs of a hit. I did see some blood and the deer again.

I began a stalking style of hunting and saw the deer jump up and move ahead only to stop. I realized the deer was hit hard, but I knew what I needed to do too. I continued the stalk until, finally, I connected. The deer was a button buck. I didn’t know that until the hunt was over due to the amount of briars and tree-tops over much of the area.

Jeremiah, named after the Old Testament prophet

  The smoothbore I have works flawlessly. It is a gun of high quality. Me, on the other hand, have difficulty using it at times. The muzzleloader has a front sight only. I need to take that sight and keep it low along the length of the barrel. This causes me to see a blurriness and a hazy shine on sunny days like today. I am certain our forefathers experienced such problems as , they too, aged. A fact: vision just isn’t as good as when they or us today get farther along in years.

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Deer-1: Me-0

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, My Family on October 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Despite my lingering health issues with coughs I elected to try to push a deer past my step-father Bob. We saw a lot of deer in the four hours we were out hunting. The irony of hunting is how the best opportunities today were buck. We both had close encounters with more than one buck deer.

Fox Squirrel

  We saw turkeys, lots of squirrels, groundhogs and of course a number of deer.

Around noon I noticed a deer getting up from its bed. The animal, at about 30 yards, actually fell in its haste to get going. I immediately noticed a second deer. Instantly, I pulled “Jeremiah” to my shoulder and shot before it too got traction to speed off. I knew, at the shot, I had missed. I failed to place my cheek tight to the stock causing the front sight to remain high along the barrel. A high-flying lead ball would be the result of my haste. I guess that is why they call it hunting and not getting.

After a lunch, I decided to not go out again and try to get some rest. Maybe tomorrow will prove to be a better day.

Also, I found a weather balloon and mailed the  weather measuring device back to Missouri. I have found several over the years in such a manner.

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Benezette-Elk Country

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, My Family on October 20, 2010| 1 Comment »

Fog in the hollers!

   Yesterday, on Tuesday morning, I had a sore throat. I went hunting deer anyway. This tends to my nature…avoid sickness whenever I can and hunt! I did see 9 or 10 deer including a small buck; couple of turkey flocks; red fox and a bunch of squirrels. However, I decided to quit early because I feared getting a deer and having to drag and butcher this evening. Also, I had plans to go to Elk County to see the elk. I knew I would need rest to try to beat this sickness.

My mother-in-law, Anne Craft had never been to the area and made comments she would like to see the elk. Thus the plans were made. This morning, I didn’t feel all that bad, so the plans were carried through despite my sniffles.

Nice bull!

   North of Dubois, Pennsylvania, I was quick to see the fog problems. Fog was present for the entire trip to Winslow Hill. Because of the fog, we went to the new Elk Center. Here we had time to look around, see a movie (where snow falls onto the viewers) play on interactive wildlife screens and walk some trails.  After the movie, I was surprised to see how much fog had lifted. We went onward to viewing sites.

    The elk were, by this time, nestled in their beds dreaming of whatever it is elk dream about. All told, we only saw around 10 elk. Most were cows, one bull and another that was screened behind brush. Size and actions of the others indicted that this elk was, probably, a bull too.

We did see the beautiful mountain range. I had always wished I settled in up in those parts. Those sights alone are worth the time. We saw two flocks of turkeys; two deer; a hen pheasant and this interesting little fellow in the photo. 

Anne felt blessed to see some elk and we enjoyed her company. She even bought our lunches!

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Early Muzzleloading Season

Posted in Early Flintlock, Misc. Nature, My Family on October 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

   I waited for the designated time and Bob, my stepfather, hadn’t arrived for our Cherry Run hunt. He was having a problem with his flintlock and apparently didn’t get a remedy.

The pre-dawn darkness was not without some pleasures. I heard two great-horned owls (later saw one) and a screech owl. I saw three deer in this part of my hunt. One was a small-racked buck.

While I cautiously walked about I hoped to hear some turkeys on the roost. This was my primary reason to be hunting deer this day at this area.

Pretty Poison Ivy

   I pondered if I would shoot a doe this day.I play this game every year for a time. I enjoy the hunt and challenges, but the removal of a deer terminates this anticipation. This is difficult for a non-hunter to understand. I decided a shot would happen only if the distance of 30 yards or less appeared. During this morning jaunt I saw many squirrels, some grouse and some turkeys. I would see my first junco of the winter season. My records show this little “songbird” usually appears about the middle of October.

AMerican Chestnut

  I always check out the American Chestnuts on the ridge top. My father introduced me to the trees, sometime, back in the 1960 time slot. He explained the killing 1904 blight to me. He remembered seeing big dead chestnut trees back in the latter 1920 and early 30s. All these years later they still live and  grow to a height of 20-25 feet and succumb to the blight and the cycle continues.

I quit the morning hunt at 10:20 and headed to see if we could get Bob’s firearm working again. We did! The lead ball was placed into the barrel and became stuck. There was no powder in the breech. We removed the touch hole and added powder and shot it out after attempts to pull it out failed. 

Bob

  After lunch, Bob suggested going back out for a little. I obliged. In the Blose Hollow area of Armstrong County, I saw 7 more deer. I almost was able to shoot at a bedded down  deer. I saw more grouse and squirrels. We quit at three in the afternoon.

I removed and terminated about 12-15 ticks from my clothes. Watch for them!

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National Aviary

Posted in My Family on October 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »

   Laurie and I ventured out this day to spend some time at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. We really enjoy the natural maintained areas where the birds can fly about free and unfettered.  We find that these areas are relaxing for the soul. (Although Laurie was missed by about a foot from a white runny bomb.)  

While there we were privileged to be the first viewers of a series called “Wings”, I believe. The people showed films of various habitats from around the world prior to allowing bird species a free-reign. The species included: vultures; great-horned owls; Harris hawk; gulls; macaws and the main feature was a Bald eagle! Eagles are always so majestic! The birds would fly about the room much to the delight of the children…and us!

One funny aspect of the visit happened when we approached the “laughing kookaburra”. I remembered the bird and the sounds it makes from old jungle movies. I imitated the call and the bird began with those jungle calls allowing for many smiles and laughs from us.

   

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FATHER’S DAY 2010

Posted in My Family on June 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Father’s day is not a happy day for me. On Father’s Day,  June 20th, 1999, my father,  Allen K. Smail,  passed away unexpectedly. I was the one to meet my mother as  she entered the hospital to stop her and tell her that my father (her husband) had passed away.  So, you can imagine the emotions that occur each Father’s Day for me. This grief  is still strong even after the eleven year expanse of time. I miss him.

My father, Allen K. Smail as a young soldier in the Air Force. I am so proud of him!

The other aspect of Father’s Day for me is the fact that I never became a father. I guess that fulfilling was not to be in the cards for me.

But to all of you fathers .. I wish you all a Happy Father’s Day!!

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BOB’S 1954 CHEVY

Posted in My Family on June 19, 2010| 3 Comments »

The 1954 Chevy Belair.

My step father, Bob Miller has owned this 1954 Chevy Belair for some thirty years. The car set in his garage waiting to be returned to the original luster and grandeur. As often happens in life, other commitments occur and one has to prioritize.Life was no different for Bob.  Last spring the restoration process finally began to take shape. 

Bob and, my wife, Laurie with the '54 Chevy.

Laurie headin' out to the "malt shop".

The car has around 26,000 original miles on it. The interior is as it was the day the car was first driven from the car dealership. All the needs to restore that original luster was to repaint the body and clean  some of the chrome parts.  A few needed to be re-chromed. Cars from the 1950 era often used plenty of chrome. 

"Grease" is the word or memories of Sha Na NA!

A few other things were done to the car. Some things from setting idle all those years needed to be replaced. For instance the tires were dried out, as well as, other rubber mouldings.  John Baker of Whitesburg did the custom work, Great job!

Laurie really enjoyed setting in a piece of history. I hope you enjoy the photos of this classic car of days past. They “just don’t make ’em like this anymore”! 

Another view.

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