Gracie's Antelope Expedition

Gracie has always been a great walker and can go and go and go without complaint. I've always had good luck getting an antelope opening morning but I walk-in about 2 miles. Well, this year I decided to ask Gracie if she'd like to come. I've gathered over the last couple of years that taking your kids out hunting is less about the hunt and more about the scenery. With that said, I told Gracie what we were in for and made sure I had everything ready to go the night before. We even went out Friday after school and got her a new pair of 'hunting' overalls.

It had been raining for 2 or 3 days before and Saturday (opening morning) was supposed to be clear and warm... I didn't realize just how wet she got from walking through the grass until later in the day. Oh, yeah, I forgot her fleece coat on the kitchen counter...
We saw around 40 deer and 1 small group of antelope. We got lucky.
It rained a little and I'd remembered to bring her rain coat :)
Whew, she had a good time and was probably more excited about the antelope than I was... antelope aren't that heavy, but they're heavy.

Mini Bolts Soccer

Today was Emmett's last soccer game of the season. He played on a 4-5yr old team and picked it up pretty quick... he can't wait to play again... maybe this spring if we get up the nerve to do it in the cold and wind :)

Coug Game vs. Idaho State

Here's a few photos of our trip to Pullman to watch the season opener against Idaho State. A Cougar win is always fun to watch!

Wilderness Hunt

In mid-September a hunting buddy and I hiked 7-miles back into the Bob Marshall Wilderness for a 5-day elk hunt. We ended up with outfitters in the same area so there were lots of people, which I didn't expect. No elk in the freezer this time but here's a few photos of the expedition.

This area burned over 20 years ago and it still looks like this, kinda park-like.

So opening morning rolls around and I drop Mike off at a nice watering hole, and I slowly head towards a different area that looked promising. A few hours later Mike reaches me on the radio with happy news... it was his 1st-ever white-tail.
Aaah, and the not so happy news...
But the deal is we share the load :)
I'd been exercising with a heavy pack for about 2-months so my feet and back weren't in too bad a shape, but Mike felt it. He ended up with blisters on the 'bottom' of both of his feet.
Somehow, we both made it out in the end with smiles on our faces.
We did see a few elk but nothing we could legally take. I might try this again but will try to find a place out in the middle of nowhere with fewer people.

Fall is Here: Part 2

First bird hunt of the season. Emmett went dove hunting with Jason last Thursday morning before school.

First corn (mine didn't ripen until Halloween last year!) and freshly earthed spuds.

First Coug game in Pullman.

First soccer game of the season.

Gracie giving Emmett a little soccer advice/pep talk (even though she's never played :-)

Last summer project. Covering the sun room's 1960s acoustic ceiling tiles with faux tin tiles. (It's a summer project because we have to leave all the windows in the house open to accommodate the rubber cement fumes.) We still have to do the foyer ceiling...but I love how this turned out!

Next up, the full-length window seat that Jason's going to build (I already bought the cushions!), crown moulding, a light fixture, and window treatments...I hope we're done before spring!