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Music; Biking; Fishing and Family

Posted in Fishing, Music, My Family on May 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Lots to do! I started the weekend out by playing guitar for various bands at the Maple Grove Campground near Brick Church, Pennsylvania. Saturday, May 26th, was once again was music oriented. I had the opportunity to see a dear friend, Paul Eckenrode and his wife Sherene. I met Paul and his wife over fifteen years ago at this very same camground. Paul, who is a Free Methodist minister, and I became instant friends. He sings country-style gospel music and I, as a lead guitar player filled in on a number of occasions. I hadn’t seen Paul and Sherene for about six years now and I was happy to be able to musically participate with him once again.                                                                                                                                                   

Memorial Day found family getting together for a visit and cook out. In the past, I had attended the Elderton Memorial Day Parade dressed  in 18th century attire. The parade, apparently has fallen wayside for I haven’t heard anything about it recently. I hang a flag out every Memorial Day, both the observed day and the originally attended day of May 30th. This is a small token of respect for those brave heroes who have fallen for our country, America.

Mountain laurel-Pennsylvania’s state flower.

I headed for the Allegheny River on Tuesday morning to try my luck with fishing. (May 29th) I had some worms left over from my northern Pennsylvania excursions earlier this month. I had a blast catching native brook trout near Kettle Creek.

Snapping Turtle

I saw male and female mallards as I walked along the river’s bank. Two female mallards each had a brood of young ducklings. The males flew off as the females lured the little ones fast along her side. I saw 31 geese flying in a half a V formation too. I thought this to be odd at this time of the year.

Fishing was interesting. Some fish, I believe were suckers would nibble at the worms, but never would bite hard enough for me to launch a rearward rod movement to catch them. I did, however, catch one channel catfish. The fish was about one foot long. While fishing I had the opportunity to observe a rather large beaver eating vegetation on the island south of the Lock Number 7 Dam at Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

The Allegheny River

Today, May 30th, a friend Larry Delaney and I took a 13 (or so)mile bike ride from Templeton to Rimer, Pennsylvania. On our trip we saw several squirrels, a lot of young chipmunks and two deer. We, also, were blessed to see some beautiful Pennsylvania river landscape. Earlier, I removed a snapping turtle from near a road. The turtle would have surely been run over by a vehicle if he continued on its path. Strangely, the unappreciate, turtle didn’t like being carried. The entire time I was traveling towards swamp lands to release it, the mouth was opened wanting to take a chunk of flesh from my thigh.

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MEMORIAL DAY -2012

Posted in My Family on May 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The humanity of Americans who have had to sacrifice so much to gain freedom and the maintain freedom is staggering to the thoughts. Few individuals, today have any inkling as to what these brave individuals needed to do to keep Americans with the liberties we have had. (Notice, I said “What we had…”We are losing many of our rights, freedoms and way of life in the political correct world of today. Most don’t even give these losses a thought. This is sad!)

Few individuals, today, have not had family members committed in “freedom maintaining conflicts or war” over the years.

GOD BLESS THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Allen K. Smail, somewhere in Europe, with his dog, Wolf!

My father, Allen K. Smail (1923-1999) did his part in maintaining America with his efforts in eliminating the NAZI threat of Adolf Hitler in WW 2! I am so proud of him!!!! I don’t know what all he was involved with during his time in the war. (His years of involvement were 1942-1945) There were times when war talk occurred, but those times were not prevelant. It usually took some initializing, in some way, to get the words out of him. The one time that really stands out was a Saturday when we were weathered out and came home to dry out and warm up. We were alone and I laid on the floor with my cold, wet feet against the register and I asked some questions.

Time has lessened the details of some of the stories. I remember  much, but the fine detail I sometimes feel I am forgetting. Sad! I wished I would have recorded them. I urged my dad to write down his memories on a couple of occasions, but he never did.

Regardless, my dad, ALLEN K. SMAIL IS AN AMERICAN HERO!!!!!!!

                                                                                                                                               

My dad loved this dog!

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Short Day to Hunt

Posted in 2012 Spring Gobbler Season, My Family on May 4, 2012| Leave a Comment »

For a Mother’s day and a Father’s day surprise, Laurie and I bought tickets to see a trio of country musicians and singers known as “Branson On The Road”. Mom and Bob watch them faithfully on the television. Boy, were we happy we did. They couldn’t have enjoyed a concert anymore!

To make this event happen, I hunted close home at a local state game lands.

 

View from game lands

I walked along a ridge to listen and heard one gobbler far off and across the road. A second gobbler announced his presence exactly where I had figured he might be. I closed in and set up along a game land trail. I couldn’t risk getting into the woods where I would like to be. Multiflora rose and being highlighted against a lightening sky could spell failure causing the gobbler to see me.

I heard a soft cluck and turned to chase a hen away. She came to my calling and I actually needed to throw a stick to make her leave. She would come back again to check me out.

The gobbler left the roost and became silent. I wondered if the hen went to him. I circled and entered the woods where he had been roosted and changed calls and was immediately answered. I crept cautiously and called and  the gobbling began in earnest. He was becoming hot!                   

At, no more than fifty yards, I hoped he might eventually walk through the lower canopy back to me. He refused! Two things occurred that lessened his gobbling dramatically.  Another hunter could be heard coming towards us. I know he could hear us both, but he kept sneaking along. This concerned me from a safety aspect too. The second thing that may have helped the gobbler to lose his enthusim was a hen walked in behind me and then flew to him. The gobbling ceased, but after 15 minutes, I called and he, once again, gobbled back.

I circled again and returned towards him and the bird gobbled. My time was becoming short. Suddenly, as the gobbler, was about 150 yards from me, my cell phone went off. I quickly answered and whispered. My cousin, Donnie Smail, thought I had called. We quickly hung up.

Silence was the rule and was getting concerned, but when I called again the bird was now only about 50 yards from me. I strained to see movement, but couldn’t see well because of the lower canopy again.

That would be the last gobble I heard from him and after a wait,I had to leave.

I had seen about 6 squirrels this morning, a deer, first catbirds of the season and a mallard throughout the morning.

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Gobbler!!

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, My Family on April 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Wing stretching!

I left later than I would normally to listen for gobblers. However, a walk on a beautiful morning was my primary reason for heading to State Game Lands 247 near Center Hill, Pennsylvania.

I wanted to further test my clothes against ticks too. I had sprayed an ingredient  on them about a month ago and was anxious to see how many ticks would be walking about my clothes. I removed 8 ticks! Not bad since normally I would have killed anywhere from 20 to 30 in that same time frame. Ticks are supposed to die if they are on the sprayed clothes, but I didn’t have the patience. I picked them off and eliminated the little pests!!! many more, apparently, had been repelled  too!

   I approached a pond observing a lone “watch” goose when the gobbling began higher on the hill. The goose was watching for predators since a nest was nearby. I walked up to a field and the gobbler was done talking. Soon, a button buck emerged from the thick multiflora rose brambles offering me a couple of photos. A hen turkey ran from the high grass while watching the deer. She became “unnerved” at my standing. If I would not have stopped to look at the deer, she would have allowed me to walk by.

Ten minutes later while walking along a game land trail, I peered over a rise to see the full fan of a gobbler. I hid and over the next half hour a managed several photos of the “big guy.” He was showing off to a hen. The hen could not have cared less over his strutting for she continued eating.

The photos were difficult to obtain due to foliage from the brambles. eventually, he allowed me a few shots as he exposed his heavy body away from the blurred leaves.

Yesterday, I spent time with family for Easter. Little Kaison Wolfe had a great time as he easter Bunny hid eggs in the yard! he is the grandson of my sister Ruthie married to Tim Wolfe.

Kaison

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Illinois Trip

Posted in Historical, My Family on April 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Ira (Buddy) Yount and my mother, Ruth.

Headed west! Family members and myself left for the 12 hour trip to Illinois. The reasons were varied for the trip. My step father, Bob purchased a 1985 El Camino, that is like new, from some relatives of mine who live in northern Illinois near Oregon. Also, I wanted to see where some of my family had settled 100 years ago. I, also, wanted to see my 96-year-old second cousin Ira Yount (known as Buddy by most.) and his 91-year-old wife Jennie. (Reality is I will, probably, never see them again. They used to come to Pennsylvania when they were younger.)

BRIEF HISTORY: Approximately 100 years ago some of the Yount family brothers migrated to Illinois looking for work. They were Delbert and Ervin.They lived near  the Oregon and DeKalb communities. Buddy was born in 1916 to Ervin and Belle and lives here to this day.

The 1985 El Camino

Rock River at Oregon, Illinois

Uncle Ervin was a magnetic man. People would just gather around him to listen to his stories. He was an avid car and gun collector. (Allen Smail, my father, gave Uncle Ervin an original muzzleloader back in the 1950 era. If my dad would have known how much his son would later enjoy muzzleloaders….)

Windmills in Illinois

I was not thrilled as we entered Illinois. Huge barren looking farms were the norm. Trees and woodlands were scarce. Trees would usually indicate the home areas. Some areas had many of the big wind mills with generators. However, as we approached the community of Oregon things began to change fast. I was seeing woodlands and hills. The Rock river flows through this area. the river is beautiful and looks natural with big and varied islands. I thought I could be happy here!

Black hawk through the trees

Another highlight of the Oregon area is a park featuring a 48.4 foot memorial of War Chief, Black Hawk.  This memorial sets in a wooded area overlooking the Rock River. This Indian lead the Sauk and Fox warriors against the white encroachment upon their lands. Of course, they failed in their attempt. (I will post another site on this soon.)

The long drive was tiring, but I was fortunate to see a number of deer and turkeys. I saw two bald eagles; sandhill cranes; gulls; geese and ducks. I was happy to see some new sights of America. Although ,I wouldn’t want to leave the big hills of Pennsylvania I found it great to see where and how others live.

Rock River

One side story told by Buddy before I close. It seems my great grandparents, John and Susan Yount took a train to Oregon in 1916 to see their new grandson. They purchased a Motel T Ford and drove home to Pittsburgh where he took the Ford over an embankment. My great grandmother reused to ride in the car to Armstrong County. They took a train and had someone drive the car back home.

Buddy, sister Ruthie after a property run

My grandparents, J. Edward and Mary Yount loaded up their five children in the early 1940 era and drove to Oregon. Can you imagine 5 children in a car without air conditioning traveling such a distance? One of those five was my mother Ruth.

Bob and thr gang!

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Suzie..14 Years Old

Posted in My Family on February 6, 2012| 4 Comments »

                                                     

Water Dog!

Fourteen years ago on February 6th, 1998, some Springer Spaniels were brought into this world. A short time later, in March, Laurie and her mother, Anne, walked into the basement and two little puppies would crawl into my lap and curl up to fall asleep. I sat on the basement floor holding these two fat-bellied puppies until my backside couldn’t stand it. Suzie would become our puppy and Bridget would become my mother-in-law’s dog.

    The immediate bond the two of us felt was certain. We became one! Playtime was always fun and great times. I enjoyed playing chase and fetch. The affection and love we shared was, also, immediate. I would lay on the floor and the little pup would come over and cuddle up. Suzie would crawl over your head and neck to find that special place to sleep. As she grew some, her favorite place was right next to me with her head on my chest.

Suzie lost her “puppy-ness”way to fast. She was growing daily! We enjoyed woodland and field walks together. She would know when a walk was happening. She sensed our actions and would rush to the door and excitedly bark and run in circles. Suzie would open presents. She really loved to be with me when I was butchering deer. Wonder why?

Suzie loved the snow

The years went way too fast and in 2009, Suzie became ill. I tried to comfort her over night. The next morning we hurried to the vet only to find Suzie had developed diabetes. We were very concerned as the insulin would be part of her life from this point on.

    The vet didn’t give us much hope either. We were told average life expectancy would be 6 months to, maybe a year or so. I would be often up with her 2-3 times a night with some nights only a couple of hours of sleep. (There are few nights to this day that we aren’t outside, at least once.)

   By the end of 2009, a very thin and a weak-looking Suzie had me deciding on a grave site. I almost dug a grave under the hemlock as winter crept in. I waited and Suzie perked up and gained back some weight and hope, once again, was felt by Laurie and I. Unfortunately, we had in the back of our minds what the vet had told us.

Well, here we are in 2012, Suzie is still with us. She was diagnosed with diabetes on February 28th, 2009. We have been truly blessed. Yes, she is almost totally blind and hard of hearing. She, occasionally, has accidents, but she still enjoys playing and eating.

    Laurie and I, both know, Suzie’s time is limited on this earth. We dread that day! WE realize with the age of 14 and her illness that she could see a turn for the worse anytime. However, until that time we will continue to try to keep her as well as we are able. We will continue to love her and to spoil her all the more! Dogs are the best!

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Blanket Hill Adventure

Posted in Deer Hunting, Historical, My Family on January 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

  

Blanket Hill battle on the right

  Locals in the Armstrong County, Pennsylvania area have heard of Blanket Hill. In 1756, Colonel John Armstrong ordered 13 men to wait until daybreak and attack the 3-4 Indians located by the fire. Scouts spotted their fire earlier that evening. Armstrong feared these Indians could alarm the main village at Kit-Han-Ne. (Present-day Kittanning)

However, the hand full of natives turned out to be many more than the four and the 13 soldiers were either killed, wounded or deserted. The actual site of the battle was about one and a half miles from where the community of Blanket Hill is presently. The hill where the battle originated is a small strip of woodlands corrupted with multiflora rose brambles. The top is field and the bottom is a reclaimed strip job. 

Used to be where we hunted!

  The plan was simple. the three of us, Cousin Donnie; step-father Bob  and myself, after a morning stand hunt, would  meet and hunt that strip around 9:00.  The early hours were very chilly somewhere in the low teens or, possibly colder. I saw 9 deer prior to 9:00. (Six were bedded and spotted while driving  to the hunt site.)  Donnie saw two turkeys.

     We organized and I placed Bob along the top of the ridge and Donnie walked the bottom and set up. I circled around seeing 4 deer. I continued circling the woods edge and began a slow drive towards the two. I didn’t go very far and could see a couple of laying deer and a few more feeding. I allowed my presence known and the deer moved slowly and stopped before moving on. I waited for a shot.                                      

Half-rack Buck

I began moving towards them and could see deer walking ahead of me and shortly a resounding “boom.” I moved in to see Donnie having bagged a deer. Bob saw some of these deer, but couldn’t get a good shot. Donnie’s 37 yard shot connected very well allowing the deer to go about 12 yards. Bob exited as planned to a right of way. I continued the push seeing a couple of the deer. One laying deer was a half-rack 4-point. I actually did get a photo of the deer laying before moving them out. (Donnie shot another flintlock deer last Saturday.)

Donnie with his doe

     I helped Donnie drag the deer before Bob and I went to another site.  I spotted a deer laying but Bob couldn’t see it until it jumped up to run. Later I spotted another deer feeding and we maneuvered and the deer walked rather close but didn’t afford a shot. I tried to push the deer back and spotted another deer in its bed. Nothing past Bob!!

Ring neck track

    I was almost to Bob and could see a feeding deer far out. We positioned and the deer eventually walked to about 50 yards. The wind wasn’t the best, but when I felt the draft change I told Bob the deer would wind us. She did and the escape was certain!

I saw two more deer before we quit as the rain started.

I saw a groundhog out today in January!  The temperatures eased rapidly into the forty degree mark. The snow melted just as fast. I, also, saw a couple of hawks.   

Donnie dragging

 I find walking the area where the Blanket Hill skirmish traditionally began to be an exciting adventure. To get a deer  where native Delaware warriors and early Pennsylvania  soldiers may have walked is just as much of thrill to me. This is “hallowed ground.”

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A CHRISTMAS EVE

Posted in My Family on December 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The dark hours were solemn. Laurie and I had attended a beautiful Christmas Eve service at the Kittanning Free Methodist Church. We, later, shared our presents to each other. We enjoyed the antics of Quincy, our ferret, as he played among the torn wrappings. Our Springer Spaniel, Suzie, even with her illnesses, enjoyed searching and squeezing her new toy. We sat in the living room with only the lights of the tree and the glow of candles. All the while the sounds of Christmas music could be heard from the stereo.                                  

Later, I exited our home with Suzie roaming the back yard looking for the right spot for her nature call. As the last evening, two great-horned owls exchanged their mating calls in the darkness. Both birds were close, but hearing them would be all for me. The birds set among the pines and hoot often, but seeing them is rare. Now with the mating season a realty for them their calls will be more prevalent at my home.

I thought while listening…What a perfect end for the Christmas Eve! Two owls calling in the quiet night much as it would have been that first Christmas. Peaceful!!!!!!!!! Solemn!!

Merry Christmas to all!                  

Suzie eating her pig's ear

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Bob Gets A Deer

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on December 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

    My step father, Bob Miller decided to go hunting after noon today. The day was rather mild except a breeze caused a chill to the under dressed or inactive. Lucky for Bob he didn’t have to wait very long to bag a deer. He walked to a tree and watched a field and in about twenty minutes this button buck walked out to feed. I expected the changes coming in the weather may have attributed to the early feed.

Bob had the deer field dressed and the drag started by the time I arrived to the location. I dragged to complete which was only a couple of hundred yards for me.

One of the first questions I asked Bob was, “how come yesterday you passed on a deer of the same size?” His only answer was that the deer appeared to be bigger than it was. Anyway congratulations Bob!     

Nimrod the Mighty Hunter (a.k.a. Bob)

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The Three Stooges on a Deer Hunt

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on December 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

  

Bob Miller & Donnie Smail

  Moe, Curly and Larry, a.k.a. Bob, Donnie and me, spent the morning chill among the woods of Pennsylvania. My job was to walk about trying to move some deer past these two hunters. I have one deer tag left and I am waiting for after Christmas when the Pennsylvania primitive flintlock season begins. Everybody knows how I love to use the flintlock!

    Neither Donnie (my cousin) nor Bob (my step-father) planned on shooting anything but buck or big does. A light snow helped to see contrast in many places.

Donnie went into the woods about 6:45 since he was traveling deeper into the property. Bob and I were trekking several hundred yards and climbing a steep embankment to overlook a popular area.  The hunt was to change course after a hour when I would begin sneaking around. I saw three deer at this site.

Later, I walked around Donnie and saw a doe standing about 35 yards from me. Stupid me clapped my hands instead of reaching for my camera that was still in my shoulder bag. I missed a great photo!                             

I see you too!

On my last push before noon I spotted a deer laying about 65 yards out. I called Bob and told him to get ready. I walked towards the deer and this deer continually refused to walk out of this thick vine; tree top and briar area. I saw it several times only yards from me.

      Finally the deer broke and ran up towards Bob and apparently saw him for the deer turned and slowly ran behind me and returned to the very area she originated from. I crept up and had this deer about 20 yards from me. I managed one photo through the brush. Later, Bob approached me and I saw this deer about 8 yards from me before she bolted. Bob said I will leave the deer for seed. 

Cousin Donnie

After some carrying on the three of us walked back to the road and spent thirty minutes talking with a local landowner. I saw 10 deer and two grouse this morning. I enjoyed the fellowship of kinfolk too. Laughter is the norm when the three of us get together.

I came home and laid down sometime after two and woke up at 5:20! The four hours of sleep the night before just didn’t cut it for an old man!

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