Annual Realfoot Duck Hunt.

This is an unbelievable way to see the sun rise. This was my 6th year to go on this trip to Realfoot between Christmas and new years. My friends, Tommy, Von and Johnny and I took the trip on December 26th and were joined for the 3rd time by Steve. This year we had Chris come over for 2 of out 3 day trip.

The boat ride to the blind is always a treat. the picture above is the trip back in, but you can see how everyone is bundled up. When we head out to the blind it is 5:30 am and about 20%. The boats have no permanent lights on them, not even the green and red markers that are required by law. The guide has a large handheld spotlight that he turns on for about 10 seconds at a time to line up on reflective markers. The lake is only about 6 feet deep and full of stumps. When he is lined up on the markers all lights go out and they floor the gas. You are headed in to total dark at 45 to 5o miles an hour.

Every once in a while the spotlight goes on and the boat turns. the next thing you know you are still at full blast in a narrow channel.It is crazy. As you so deeper in the channel it gets narrow and they slow down.

Once they see trees fallen across the path everyone gets up front so the boat just slides over the blockage.

Realfoot is an eagle sanctuary, and they are every ware. This one was hanging out in a tree next to our blind. At one point we shot a duck and an eagle came down and took it away before we could get it. (Our National Symbol on Welfare)

As I said earlier it was cold. Here is Chris and Steve covered up from the wind.

This is the blind we were in for the first 2 days. The boat goes in a carport like place on the back.

This is where we stand to look and shoot. The black mats behind us hold the heat in the back of the blind.

Here is the back of the blind. See the heater on the wall. The Door leads to the boat port. That is a full size stove in the back. We get 2 meals a day in the blind.

Here is my new screen saver. This is what reminds me of how good life is.

BIG GREEN EGG NEWS.

To day I go for BGE101 cooking class. Last night I did salmon on a cedar plank and it was great.

Extravaganza Blog

The annual Christmas extravaganza is history. I tried to give people time to blog, but nothing. Katie, I will fill you in.

All the usual suspects were in attendance. We gathered about 1:00 and visited for a while. Once we were settled in, dinner was served. As usual we had more food than we needed, and all of it was outstanding.

After the meal, we were all ready for the presents that were calling to us. It is good to see that Santa's helpers are getting younger each year.

Now the biggest present in the room to be opened had my name on it. Turns out everyone in the room, and others, were in on this. I have wanted a BIG GREEN EGG for a long time and my personal Santa made it happen.

As usual Mom and Dad were the last to open there presents. Looks like they were well taken care of. I think all of us were. We wish you, Bryan and Maddy could have been with us but life sometimes gets in the way. We always have next year.

Now the real EGGstravaganza

HO HO HO that was Eggstreamly funny.

Great Day.

The weather was great for getting out and enjoying. I got a call from our friends Dan and LaFaye this week. LaFaye is taking some classes and has been so busy we have not gotten together in some time. We decided to go riding. We called Tim and Terri Collins and Larry and Connie Collett and headed out.

Dan heard that Kennasaw State University has a part of the Berlin Wall on display so we headed to see it. Turns out General Lucius Clay engineered the Berlin airlift in 1948. His grand son Senator Chuck Clay was asked to go to Germany for a remembrance of the General. He was expecting a plaque and was given this.

I guess he has no place to keep it.

Next we headed up to Cartersville to the Booth Western Art Museum. Relay cool place with some great cowboy art. This place has a reciprocal agreement with the Smithsonian. You are not allowed to take pictures inside but it has some great bronzes out side.

We got home about 6:00pm just before the dark and cold. What a good day.

Catching up.

Been wanting to blog but haven't made time. Since the last blog I went to Vegas for a trade show. Allot of people but no real leads. Work is still slow but we have a few things going on.

This past weekend Deb's family came in for a get together. They did a Low Country Boil. They also did crab legs. Everything was great. I was back and forth to Heflin Alabama all weekend to do an AKC hunt test. We had great weather, and a large turn out. 40 dogs were tested each day. I had the best time of all, hunt birds all day and come home to a great dinner. (What a life)

We are getting quotes on replacing our Heat Pump. It is 17 years old, and given us very little problems but we know it will not last foe ever. The electric company did an audit for us and think we will lower our bill by 40 to 60%. That will make it worth wile alone. I will keep you all up on the project.

That's it for now, I'm at lunch and saw KT's blog and felt guilty.

Mom's Party

I have decided to use Sue's idea, lots of pictures and few words.

Friday was a reunion night
All the girls were there

They just kept coming

waiting!!

It's OK, I'm with the band

Deuce of Cakes

Surprise!!!!

Remember Home Alone?

The Birthday Girl

Are we at Tybee?

Again, all the girls made it

?

THE END

The Great Smoky Mouintians

We spent the last weekend in Pigeon Forge Tn. For Chris and April's 5Th anniversary. We had a great time. Deb and I picked up mom and dad about 8:00 on Friday morning and headed to the mountains. I had planed to go up Hwy 129 threw Blairesville then up to Cherokee NC. and take Hwy 441 to Gatlinburg. With all the bad weather last week I decided to stick to the bigger road and took 985 to 441 in Clarksville, and stayed on 441 all the way. It was a good call and we got to Pigeon Forge 2 hours earlier than expected. We met Chris, April, Katie, Bryan and Maddy, Peg and Steve and got to spend some time before the cabin was ready.

The view from the cabin was spectacular. April's family arrived at the same time as we did and we all settled in. A bit later Kelly and Josh showed up, safe and sound.

Chris and Bryan cooked hot dogs for us for dinner. (notice the hot dog in my hitch. I can see Steve's finger prints from here.)

We woke up on Saturday to a heavy rain and a breakfast of home made biskets pork tender loin and gravy thanks to Aprils parents and grandmother. It was good.

Aprils family went in to Gatlinburg but the Shore side of the family decided to hang in the cabin. That evening we had the anniversary celebration and we were joined by some of April's family as well as Chris's college buddy Jason and his wife Brandy.

I think we all had fun watching TV, playing games or just hanging. On Sunday we woke to a beautiful morning and got ready to hit the road home. Our side of the event stopped for breakfast (thanks Pop) before going our separate ways, Thanks again Chris and April for including us in your celebration.

September 22nd

Happy Birthday to my brother Jimmy and Happy Anniversary to Jimmy and Sue. One of the new status symbols in this country is a long marriage. You can not buy it, you have to earn it. Congratulations.