THE DAY'S HUNT

I went hunting again this morning, hoping to fill my any deer tag - maybe with an antlered deer. Having stayed up past last night's usual bedtime, we slept in just a little so it was already daylight as we rode the trail. It is a rough trail, very steep in places and really scared the daylights out of me the first few times I rode behind Rick. Living in the High Country as we do, the ends of those points come off pretty steep. There is a lot of ledge rock, some caves and a couple of springs which run water through the bottom of the hollow. Morning wasn't terribly cold and although deer should have been moving, I didn't see any. There was appointments in my schedule for today so we rode out before noon. Maybe there will be another chance. From my schooldays photo album, I found this 1966 picture of me and Rick. I don't remember the occasion, overalls must have belonged to Daddy as I don't believe I owned any.

IT'S MY SIDE OF THE BED

While relaxing in my recliner this evening the horrendous sound of a drill resonated from our bedroom. Wondering what on earth the man was up to, I investigated....only to find a big hook had been put in the wall...to hang his crossbow on. It is such a nice touch beneath the pictures taken of Neal and I when he was still a toddler. Did I say anything? Surprisingly enough, I did not; but, he said, "Guess I should have asked first, but, it is my side of the bed". Is there logic in that reasoning?

Thelma Bilyeu's Living Room

On Wednesday night Rick and I joined other members of the Bilyeu Family for a Thanksgiving Service with the Ridgecrest Baptist Church family at their Remington's Event Complex. This eighth annual event called Thelma Bilyeu's Living Room is another way of carrying on Bilyeu Family tradition of "making music". There were about 30 family members whose voices blended together singing songs of the faith that we learned as children. Cousins were not all old, as new babies are added to the family on a regular basis. These little ones also love to sing and share scriptures they have memorized. Uncle Hosea and Aunt Thelma's house always seemed to be a gathering place where we all loved to go. Time changes many things, we miss our loved ones who have gone on but cherish a heritage that keeps us close. I love this picture of Aunt Thelma and four of my cousins, Anita, Gay, Hosea and Buddy Mack. It was taken in 1955 in front of the old log house my family lived in on what is now called Day Road.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Yes, my camera continues to go hunting whenever I go. Monday morning was my last time out and not a single deer passed my way. Crows and squirrels entertained me with their antics and then a flock of turkeys came along. I didn't see any beards so they must have been all hens. Rick said this time of the year hens travel in groups and gobblers in another group. I also heard the sounds of two bucks locking antlers...I really should have stayed in the woods longer! Another thing that has fascinated me on this journey has been the Scaley Bark Hickory Trees that are in our hollow, this one in particular. I think it looks like something from a spooky movie. Oh yes, Muzzle Loader season opens Friday, so I may still get a trophy buck!

DIAGNOSIS-CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

Time for a tuneup, guess you could say. I had not stepped foot in a Dr's office since Daddy passed away, but my calendar indicated that it was time for some checkups. When the body seems to be working well it is so easy to put off all those early detection things. We ladies know the drill, Pap, Mammogram and at my age a Colonoscopy was also in order. Reports are all in and are good with no surprises. Rick went with me today for the Colonoscopy and I don't remember a thing. The nurse told me to come home and rest, not to sign any important papers, drive, etc. When I told her I planned to go deer hunting, she frowned on that too, so I missed the last day of rifle season. Rick is also set up for a Colonoscopy in the next week or two. How often we are reminded of the importance of Early Detection.

CEMETERY HOP

Saturday's Cemetery Hop with members of the White River Valley Historical Society was a day to remember. I don't know where they came up with the term "cemetery hop", but what they do is a tremendous service and well spent effort in preservation of cemetery records. This month's "hop" was at Meadows Cemetery where my parents, Bilyeu grandparents and Cupp great-grandparents are buried. I believe the oldest documented grave there is that of a child who was born and died in 1862. Many of the stones are so old that any inscriptions that may have ever been there have been worn away by wind and rain. There are currently 131 recorded graves on www.findagrave.com. In the near future that site will be updated to include pictures and inscriptions of the documented stones. My granddaughters learned how to properly clean the old stones, then chalk them so that faded names and inscriptions could be read. I am grateful that Ashton and Erin were given this opportunity to learn skills that help them to better appreciate their ancestry and the preservation of these monuments of history.

A GOOD DAY

Bouncing out of bed before 5:00 a.m. on Friday was easy as I was anxious to once again hit the deer woods. Our ride into the woods took a little longer than usual BECAUSE I spotted Frost Flowers "blooming" along the way. Rick humored me by stopping and holding the flashlight while I took pictures. They are like snowflakes, no two will ever be the same. With all that dilly-dallying around, it was almost daylight before we got on down the path and I slipped into my blind. Rick gave me some last minute coaching, told me to shoot straight and I settled down into Daddy's little folding chair with his 2.22 across my knees. About 8:00 a.m. three does came slipping into my line of vision. I didn't really want to use my tag on a doe, so quietly picked up my camera, thinking of taking a shot with it rather than my rifle. Common sense prevailed. I put the camera down, picked up the rifle, sighted in on the biggest one and pulled the trigger. I missed and they all ran away. Not ready to quit so early in the morning, I settled back into my chair to watch and wait...again. About an hour and half later, a lone doe stepped out about 25 yards from me. I gently shifted my rifle into position, anchored my left elbow against my body for rest, laid the cross hair of the scope right on her neck and pulled the trigger. She dropped without a sound. I let out a YeeHaw and went to her, knowing that Rick would soon come to see if I brought blood. This hunt was for my Daddy, tears fell, I knew I couldn't tell him but he would have been proud of me. Rick has encouraged me all the way although I don't think he expected me to stick with it. There are four more days of season and I must go buy another tag and watch for that big buck. He thinks I have huntin' fever now for sure!

ONE SHOT

One shot was all it took for Rick to fill his buck tag this morning. When I heard him shoot I knew it had to be a good one or he would not have "wasted" his tag on it. He gave me another hour and half to hunt before coming in to my stand. I had seen nothing other than a squirrel or two and was ready to go. It was a beautiful balmy morning to be deep in the woods, so warm in fact that tree frogs were singing a little tune. Real deer hunters don't like it to be that warm, but I didn't mind.He took me up to see his deer and take pictures. It was a big 8-point buck - only thing is - had obviously been fighting a bigger buck as one side of the antlers was missing. Guess what I am looking for in the morning?....the big buck that tore off those antlers! Stay tuned....

SHOULD BE HUNTING

I had full intentions of going to the woods with Rick this morning. When the alarm went off he told me it was raining...so I rolled over and went back to sleep. Of course he went on, rain doesn't bother him. Imagine my dismay when I did get up and see that it was not raining and had rained very little. He must have been half asleep when he looked out or else I misunderstood. It is a perfect morning to spend in the woods, but my stand is much farther than I care to walk.

SHOOT STRAIGHT

Although Rick has been bow hunting for weeks, today was the first day of firearms deer season. This day is filled with memory after memory after memory. Our daddy loved to deer hunt. He hunted in the first official Missouri Deer Hunt and I don't think he missed a season for the rest of his life. The last two years he was granted a special permit which allowed him to hunt in the comfort and warmth of his pickup. He would pick his spots for this type of hunting with the same discerning eye that could choose the tallest tree on the highest hill. Last week I would have told you that I am not a hunter. Today...maybe I am at least becoming a hunter.

FEVER IS CURED

Rick has recovered from last week's attack of Buck Fever. My dad always told him to Shoot Straight and would have been proud of him today. He took down a big eight-point buck with his bow. When I got home this evening he took me on the 4-wheeler down our trail and to his hunting spot. I hadn't been on the trail for years and really enjoyed the ride.

HOAR FROST

Cousin Ronnie Bilyeu took this picture just before dawn on 10/29/07. The Frost Flowers or Hoar Frost was in the cross fence in front of where the old Chapman Barn was located near his Bull Creek home. Hoar Frost will melt when touched by the sun so one must be out early to find it.

SUNDAY MORNING

Thank God for the extra hour of sleep that came with last night's time change. Saturday was a full day, top to bottom, starting with granddaughter's breakfast. Erin had her usual, corn flakes and soggy toast. Ashton surprised me by choosing to scramble eggs for herself. I watched as she carefully prepared to break each egg into a dish. They have chickens at their house and my eggs were from their hen house. She explained to me that because they have roosters she had to make sure there were no baby chickens in the eggs. YUKKKKKKKKKK...
After that mess was cleaned up I was in the mood for cooking and made an Apple-Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Bars, and Blackberry/Peach Cobbler. As lunchtime rolled around, I made a Macaroni Goulash with ground venison, green beans & garlic bread. When those dishes were cleaned up I managed a 15-minute power nap then took off to meet buyers and showed property until 6:00 p.m. Great people, had a nice time and I think we found something they like! A quick stop at the grocery store and then was home by 7:30. Rick had just came in from bow hunting and I threw a pizza in the oven while they all relaxed in front of the TV. Movie of Choice for the evening was Pirates of the Caribbean, but I napped in the recliner. I wonder why I had a leg ache? Thank God for Sunday morning and the beginning of a fresh day.

IPOD GENERATION

Granddaughter Ashton, age 13, has moved beyond music CD's to an IPOD. I struggled to help her load music from my computer, so was relieved when nephew-in-law, Justin, came to our rescue. Friday night we went to visit Justin and Kasie who live in Grandpa Bilyeu's log house. In just a short while Ashton had downloaded 144 songs from Justin's computer to her IPOD! She is a happy camper now. Justin's office is in the "stove" room which has been a refuge for generations of men in the family. With a comfy loveseat at the other end, it has always been a cozy getaway beside the crackling wood fire. When the house was full at family gatherings, the kids liked to go back there and hang out. Rick found it a good place for napping, Daddy used to set there and read, usually one of the paperback westerns that friends kept him supplied with.
So, while Ashton was using the stove room, Justin, Kasie and I sat at the dining table and looked at old pictures. I was surprised to know that Justin is researching the Bilyeu Family Tree for Kasie, so will be hooking him up to the Bilyeu Family website.

LADYBUG, LADYBUG, FLY AWAY HOME

The Fall invasion of ladybugs has begun. They came in on the bright sunny afternoon after I had picked my herbs. What a NUISANCE! Deck on the sunny side of our house was absolutely swarming with them. They manage to get in the house and while they hide in dark places, also are attracted to bright lights. My computer chair sets beneath the ceiling fan and light, so for the rest of the winter, I will be plagued by them dropping onto my head and neck. Sounds pretty awful when stopping to think about it. Yes, they can bite and when you swat 'em they stink! Why on earth did I ever think ladybugs were so cute???