Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Opening Season...

This upcoming weekend is what is known as 
Opening Weekend
in the Hunting World…
at least, it's Opening Weekend in Wisconsin..
Opening for Rifle..
Bow has been going on for some time..
Opening weekend is an exciting time..
It's a busy time
and it's a VERY ORANGE time..
you are thinking …
ORANGE?
yes.. 
ORANGE!
like this
and like this

even littles wear Orange..
even pets can…
we are on the look out for a vest for Zeus actually..
Orange IS the Color of Choice
Blaze Orange actually,
because it is SO visible
and reduces ones chances of getting SHOT
when out and about..
See hunters are looking for the slightest movements
and they are trained to notice BLAZE ORANGE
We here at Blessings Farm
take Hunters Safety VERY serious.
We hope any of our readers that hunt will as well.
Hunting is a sport
it has real risks
and it provides food for our family.
Like other sports it isn't easy.
Many years we have seen that freezer empty,
many, have been full.
It's a difficult sport.
Hunting requires respect
from little on,
we teach the children
that fire arms of any kind are meant for
providing
or protecting.
They aren't toys
they are tools.
If they are "playing"
are they playing at righteous behavior?
or criminal behavior?
these are real conversations that take place in our home,
and our children have to answer for their actions..
or they do time..
yes for now it's time OUT..
because later
we don't want anyone EVER to see jail time..
or worse still 
anyone to be out OF time because of carelessness
and flippant behavior towards a firearm.
The way we treat things for life
is often the way we were raised to treat things.
We never want to take for granted how tools of any kind can cause 
SERIOUS injury or death.
Home Depot has wonderful toys that mimic the real tools
the children see in our Garage.
Sawing a brothers arm off needs the SAME conversation as play shooting a brother..
We use the Saw to provide something for the family
or to build to protect the family
sawing people is NOT ever ok..
so the SAME question would be asked..
"are you playing at righteous behavior, or 
are you playing at criminal behavior?"
as they get older, they understand
playing at, is the same as practicing…
I play on the piano
I practice my lessons on the piano..
the two are much the same..
all that to say,
we take these things seriously,
but we do enjoy the sport of hunting very much..
and home repair too!
oh.. and piano playing!

here Buddy is learning form,
and whilst he is using his air soft or nerf,
he is thrilled to be included in the group.
He  is learning things like staying out of the line of fire,
wearing ear protection,
how to sight in,
and that all these adults take this seriously..
NOT like in the movies.

Hunting requires learning to BREATH
learning to control your body between your breaths
learning patience

learning focus
it's SO much more difficult than it seems..
all our first time guests say that.
ALL of them find it shocking how much they need to 
calm down
focus
control their breathing
relax
control their entire bodies
and how relaxed they feel when they are done

it's important to be accountable for EVERY single bullet
and look for shell casings

practice means more control..
it means better chance of a clean kill
rather than wounding an animal and causing suffering…
practice means you are comfortable with your firearm
and will handle it with better care.
there tend to be less accidents amongst persons who practice using
their firearms regularly.
Fear of using, caused increased adrenaline which alters your breathing
increases your heart rate and can lead to making 
dangerous mistakes.

Hunting is a great sport.
It is NOT nearly understood enough,
or respected.
It IS about conservation, 
culling the herds so there is less disease.
It is about feeding families too.
Learning HOW to hunt, and how to hunt safely is so essential to the conservation movement.
Hunting is NOT for everyone.
Treating it as the sport it is,
remembering that it is about conservation
not about ego's 
will help the cause of the hunter.
Taking hunter safety
even if you do, just as a refresher course can go a LONG way
in furthering our freedoms to hunt.
BE safe out there!
Don't drink and hunt.
Don't Hunt on land with out permission.
KNOW where your hunting party is at all times.
Wear your Blaze Orange at all times.
Set your ego aside 
and be the hunters in the hunting community 
that we need
to help reach the hearts of folks who really don't understand 
what we are doing.
Practice year long.
Keep your gun clean,
and have it checked by a gunsmith if you have ANY concerns …
If you are unsure HOW to clean,
talk to a local gunsmith, 
a GOOD one will be willing to teach you,
or clean it for you for a price.
Your gun should have come with paperwork explaining how,
and youtube is a great resource..
cleaning of any firearm needs to happen after 
each time you use it…
But if you are doing a hunt ,
I do believe cleaning after the end of the hunt.
If you are a deer stand sort of hunter, 
consider a safety harness,
too many lives are lost from falls.

for information on hunter safety
please check out these links



and HERE
is a GREAT 
must read list
of safety tips

Monday, November 18, 2013

Autumn Walk About 2013

Blustery day
dramatic grey

contrasts


whisping

brilliant

bright
and bold

shocking

energizing

fluffy

entranced

gold and crispy

poofy

dark
light
and ready to pierce you
slice you
be aware

golden yellow globes

fluff

a bit of horizon

brilliant surprising springy green

just a wee walk about

Friday, November 15, 2013

Hide and Seek Nature Hike

Part of the Fun of Nature Hikes
at Blessings Farm
is you never KNOW what random Idea might
take hold.
One such idea ..
occasional Hide & Seek…
(take note of funny cat who always comes along on walks)
In the photo below..
I see one blaring (in my opinion) contrast..
do you see it?

Look closely..
in the FAR left clump of brush..
there is a triangular
light color..
it does NOT blend the way the rest of the clumps do..
I went to investigate.. 
silently 
because I don't want to be the ONE
who ruins the fun!

yep.. it was the triangular shape of a hoodie

it's Princess
and her pup

she's working hard at helping to train up Zeus
and having a blast doing it

the two of them are best of pals

This girlie

loves her puppy

LOVE the happy photos!
do you have a dear pal like our Zeus?
a special pet like Poirot
that follows where ever you go?
we'd LOVE to hear about it..
feel free to send photos!
the Blessings would LOVE it!

reflections..

Looking back on the past couple months…
reflecting on the summer to autumn change of color
I can't help but stop
and Give THANKS
it IS the "thankful" month after all..
A time of reflection and 
a time of thanks giving...
One thing that I am thankful for..
is friends.
Spending time with people we LOVE
that LOVE us
and want to spend time with us..

thankful for friends who take you on boat rides
and are ok letting your three year old
feel like he's driving…
and are ok when you believe it..
and feel anxiety..
and laugh with you over it

thankful for friends who have an open hand and are SO generous

thankful for smiling young faces
that make you SO look forward to watching 
THEIR lives unfold..
because they are already SUCH terrific people


thankful for squishy smily faces
for RED, a young pupil
eager to learn
here in our home/school

for FIREcracker! 
and her zesty personality!

for lovers of kittens

joyful loving smiling 
and creative young people

thankful for every single smile
bright eyed smile..
you don't know what you are missing
till you are blessed with such a smile..

thankful for cousins
and kittens
and love

thankful for adventures!
for 
imagination..
because to the unobserving eye
one would THINK these children are playing on my trailer
but 
when one has imagination
you would NOTICE
these young folks
are SAILING THE SEAS!!!
can't you see the paddle!

thankful for time to bond with family…
cousins and best buddies
it's a BLESSING believe me

Thankful for a fabulous husband
who has just the BEST of friends
both 
of the mankind as well as canine

Thankful for friendships,
old and worthy of keeping always

thankful of friendships young
and full of adventure
and promise of more adventures to come

thankful for nature walks
so so thankful
and wheel chair rides with friends

thankful for families willing to be family
with us

thankful for friends and neighbors
who feel like family
and are so eager to help where EVER it's needed

thankful for fresh smilie faces
friendships we hope to have for years

]
Thankful for Buddy and Smiles
and all the fun they have
every chance they get

thankful for Uncles who are 
eager and willing to play 
with little boys
and their imaginations

thankful for family
the love and joy and support they bring

thankful..
so thankful 
for their LIVES and that they SHARE 
their stories WITH us

thankful for examples
of patience
kindess
perseverance
and love
that my Tante always displays

SO thankful for an Aunt who IS
so very much her own person
and so very much 
a person who can love you JUST where you are at..
what a great teacher

What great blessings in just a few short months…
so so thankful...