Dogwood Acres Weekly 11/24/08

DOGWOOD ACRES, 11/24/08, ELANE CRUM

With Thanksgiving only three days away, I have been scurrying around trying to balance my time, planning menus, cleaning house, working and deer hunting. Unfortunately, deer hunting is at the bottom of the list. Rick thought I should have gone out Saturday afternoon, but since I did not he went to my stand and sat with his camera until dark. He had hoped my big buck would come along so he could take a picture and show me what I missed. Well, it did not and I was glad I didn’t waste my time watching for it.

I went back out Monday afternoon and watched squirrels play until dark. I think my hunting is finished until next week when I can get out with Rick’s muzzleloader.

It has been reported that Marty Bilyeu got a big doe, so Dakota didn’t skunk his dad after all.

While in Forsyth early this afternoon, I saw Oscar and Carolyn Cook, all decked out in hunter orange. While I did not get all the details, it sounds as though they will not go hungry this winter.

Rick’s cousin, Bob Hammond, came by one day last week to show us a nice 8-point rack from the buck he got.

Our Douglas County family has some fresh meat, although I am not sure of the details. Erin saw two more deer, took a long shot and missed. There is one more day of season and she is persistent; maybe she will have good news for us Tuesday night.

Rick rode down the ridge Sunday afternoon and visited with Harry and Dixie Coleman. They spent a couple of hours looking at old picture albums and laughing about how time had changed them. He came home with a picture of them taken with a big buck Harry had killed the deer season of 1990. Yes, maybe they have changed a little, but haven’t we all?

Monday morning Rick went to help Jeff Dalton hook up a new cook stove for Janet and John Essary was working on her refrigerator. I believe the three men shared a hunting story or two, but did get the kitchen back in working order. With a new stove and a fridge that works, Janet will surely be a happy cook.

Now that the trees have lost most of their leaves, we can easily see Pat and Francine Robertson’s new house as we drive down H Highway. We drive out there occasionally just to see the progress and enjoy the view.

Lynn Plemmons, a new Pine Ridge neighbor, called to visit last week. They seem to be settling in well and already had a visit from Mama Bear and her three cubs that have roamed around here since last spring.

In preparation for Thanksgiving, I have a smoked turkey thawing in the refrigerator along with fresh venison steaks soaking in ice water. I will change the water several times until the meat is almost white, then use Granny Nettie’s time tested recipe for Salisbury Steak. We look forward to having our kids and LeaAnn’s folks here for Thanksgiving dinner. Bye for now.