Just one week

Just one week more!

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== posted from phone; edited later.
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Poison ivy

Poison ivy produces some luscious- looking berries, but I’m not tempted to try them. Birds eat those berries, and deer feed on poison ivy. There is much poison ivy in my woods; I would be in deep trouble if I ever developed the allergy.

Locust beans

The long beans hanging from the locust trees are eaten by deer, but in my neck of the woods, they stay on the ground and aren’t used until late in the season. I don’t know whether the pods get sweeter or the deer get desperate. They bite hunks out of the fleshy pods, spacing out the bites to miss the seeds. I have read that the Indians fermented a beer from those pods, too.

Persimmons

The persimmons are yellowing now. I don’t recommend eating one that is not fully ripe. The critters love them so much that I don’t ever find edible persimmons in the woods. They disappear too fast, and squirrels don’t seem to mind a little astringency.

Autumn events

There's light at the end of the tunnel and I hope it's not the train! Lots of things are in the air to stoke my enthusiasm. My countdown to retirement is down to 21 days. The Red Stick Fly Fishers site lists a number of events, including Fall trips, a meeting Monday night, the annual Hunting & Fishing Day stuff at Waddill WMA. Archery season starts October 1, and I'm beside myself anticipating actually spending some leisure time in the woods. This is my favorite time of the year! It's cool in the mornings, weather is mostly dry and sunny, the critters are active, and my neck starts swelling, too.

Finally finished my plumbing project

Whew! I set out to change the hot- water hose on the washing machine-- one of those honey- do projects. It seems that there are internet posts indicating that these hoses might get brittle with age. The hot side might be more susceptible. A hose might fail. A leak might result. This might happen when nobody is around to turn the water off. The floor might get flooded. Well, I finished it yesterday and maybe now I can go play. When the hose turned out to be corroded to the valve, that 5- minute project turned into three weeks. I ruined the faucet in the process, had to replace the valve, and the wrench slipped. Three weeks later, eleven stitches, much aggravation, additional hardware and tools, and medical costs have gone into this project. I think I'm healed enough to start my archery practice again.

Archery Witchery

I get crazy every year, about July. Start daydreaming, practice shooting, examining tracks, and thumbing through outdoors catalogs. It's happened again.

I think there is a family resemblance

I got a scan of this tin-type. It might be a "likeness" of Wes, my great- grandfather.

Too many spiders

I like spiders well enough; this one had caught a yellowjacket for breakfast. But these guys have webs everywhere you go. This weekend, I swept a stick ahead of me to clear a trail. I noted previously there seemed to be many spiders this year; they've grown in size and their webs are larger now. I never saw so many before, and wondered whether this might be a consequence of the dry weather. Perhaps in the past, rain showers and winds have kept most of the webs cleared from the understory.

Campdaddy’s Recipe: Watermelon Jerky

Watermelons are ripening in this part of the country, so are traditionally part of Independence Day festivities. Here’s a great use for left- overs. In my opinion, it’s worthwhile to have “planned- overs” for this. Preparation is very simple for this chewy, sweet snack. Carve up uniform thicknesses of melon flesh, arrange on dehydrator trays and dry overnight. This might also be accomplished in an oven, but experiment on a small scale: there’s lots of sugar and higher temperatures could cause too much caramelization

Painting the picnic table

I finally got this project started. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. There are still a few holes to chink, some touch- up spots, and the underside to coat. This old table is cypress; my Dad built it when I was very young. He was particularly proud of one of the top planks; it measures 18.5 inches wide. I must say it impresses me, too; it had to come from a big tree. This old table has a colorful history. Covered with a blanket, it has fended off Indians and outlaws and various invading hordes. It has trekked to moons and planets, and the far reaches of space. With a broomstick- mast and a sheet- sail, it has hauled cargo from exotic ports and clashed with pirates across the seven seas. It’s also been a marvelous diving platform, anchored above sunken treasure- galleons. I think I should try to keep it another half- century

Happy Independence Day!

I camped in the country again. I just had to go back and see whether hogs were rooting up the creek banks. The old disturbed spots were still there, but nothing fresh. There were plenty deer tracks, but only one or two tracks that, with some imagination, might have been made by a hog. I guess I’ll just have to load up on bug spray and prowl the woods and thickets to satisfy my curiosity about hogs. I’ve been hesitant about beating the bushes, because the ticks seem to be so numerous. Rolling my pants hems under, with rubber bands to hold them in, has kept the critters from crawling up my legs. Lately, too, I’ve been experimenting with a short pair of gaiters. They keep the pants- leg closed, too, and also fit tight around the shoes. With gaiters, I have been able to wear lighter (and more nimble) low-topped shoes without suffering bug- bites and briar scratches around my ankles.

No pictures this time; didn’t want to get the camera all soggy. I should be getting paid as a rainmaker. Just send me outdoors to play. Last weekend I went, it rained; this week I stayed another day, it rained both days. I planted a short row of broomcorn, a few hills of gourds, and an experimental patch of buckwheat. Maybe it is finally wet enough to germinate the seeds. Since I’m not there to watch over it, I choose plantings that my neighbors are unlikely to steal (although last time, someone got the large gourd I was saving for seed). Now, if the deer don’t eat it all up… they are certainly visiting the place, and are profiting from the pears that a couple of squirrels are knocking down. I picked a few pears myself, cooked and put them in the freezer instead of bothering with canning.

Romance was in the air (and I saw it fall to earth)

I made a pleasant overnight trip to the woods. It’s worth it just to watch the lightning bugs; they were busy doing their lightning- bug things Saturday night. I saw one flash out in the clearing. Another double- flashed nearby, and it must have been a provocative reply: suddenly there was a spot of constant light that fell straight down to the ground and disappeared. Ain’t love grand!

The creek was low, the fish waiting for some morsel to float by. Fewer spiders are scattered on the trails, but they are getting larger. There was a squirrel visiting my pear tree. The pears are still green and he was knocking down a lot more fruit than he was eating. I may have to make jambalaya. I had a pleasant walk up the creek, watched a few birds and squirrels go about their business. I saw some more of those disturbed areas on the creek bank. I wondered whether it might be a hog’s rooting, but the sand doesn’t hold the tracks well… deer tracks were all over the place and they can be hard to differentiate. Maybe next trip I will find some fresh sign.

Daddy's red mule

Yes girls, he referred to it as his "red mule" and I'm still working it (or is it working me?). This old Gravely is heavy and unweildy, but it has a can- do attitude and runs pretty good. I had it overhauled a few years ago, I keep on patching it, and have managed to keep it going. I remember Papaw's Gravely, too. Whew, that was a long time ago. His had a sickle- bar mower that vibrated enough to make your teeth chatter. I had some bush- hogging to do, and it surely was hot.

HAW, now!

Tenting solo

I must have camped in someone's bedding area; it smelled like deer and I found several ticks crawling on me. I didn't notice any tracks or other sign, however. I got this little lightweight tent for cool- weather use, and this was a good opportunity to try it before the summer evenings become too hot. Setting camp while the sun was still up, it was hot inside, but the little shelter seemed pretty well ventilated. There was plenty of floor space for one person and some gear. Overhead ties would accommodate lines or a gear loft. I think it might sleep two, if they were on very friendly terms. There is ample headroom for sitting up, though it is a bit narrow for my shoulders. Breezes did not sway the tent fabric, and I want to see how it handles real winds. This little tent has a small profile and seems to have a good aerodynamic shape. With its many guy- points and stakes, I suspect this would be an excellent performer in blustery weather. I expect to enjoy this little light- weight in the coming winter, but I fear the small size would be wearisome for extended foul- weather stays.

Holiday for kingsnakes?

I saw two of them... up close and personal; wonder if the mating urge has them out and rambling. Two in a weekend, when even one would have been noteworthy, a rare treat. Yellow- speckled, and they were shiny black; made me suspect they had shed recently.

I also saw lots of spiders, those banana/ garden spiders (as a youngster I knew them as "rattlesnake spiders" and they all seemed to build their sticky yellow webs at horseback height). This weekend, they were all small, and some webs had several spiders; perhaps mixed genders. I don't know; I never studied spiders much. I wonder weather those big ones I see in the Fall have grown from this size , or do some over- winter and get a head- start on the year's growth.

Campdaddy's Recipe: Instant Breakfast

OK, it's not really original; I got the idea from a similar one in Backpacker magazine. And it's not really a recipe; more like a "Serving Suggestion". That said, I've been using this lately, and maybe it's worth passing along. Breakfast can be difficult to manage on the trail, or when you're in a hurry to get out of camp for hunting or fishing. I get tired of Pop- Tarts and would prefer something more substantial, anyway. Here's an item that is hot and tasty, quick and easy, and "sticks to your ribs". Requires only your sierra cup and a spoon: cooked and eaten. The flavors meld nicely, and it is fairly nutritious.

• Single- serve packet of instant oatmeal mix (I like the varieties with dried fruit).
• Measure water per packet instructions and heat to boiling (at home, I microwave in a glass cup).
• Dump in the packet of oatmeal mix
• Stir in a dollop of peanut butter, one or two teaspoons or to taste.
• Let stand 'till rehydrated, or until you can't wait any longer.

Free fishing days

I saw on the web today that Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries declared June 10 - 11 as free fishing days this year: anywhere in the state, freshwater or salt. Don't need a license to fish.

I'm practicing for my retirement

By rough figuring, I should become eligible for retirement September 6 (99 days), and I scheduled a meeting in late July to figure it more closely. I went to the country overnight to celebrate my Birthday. It's definitely summertime in the hills. Seems I just mowed that grass, and it needs cutting again. I was setting up my hammock when the thunderstorm broke, so I made a dash for the truck. I got myself and my gear all wet, but I caught a nap while the rain pattered on the camper- shell. It was hot and steamy after the shower cleared, and I just lazed around. I had brought my old bow, and flung a few arrows. I prowled the creek gravels for pottery sherds, but found none. Mosquitoes were terrible after the sun had set, and citronella candles didn't dissuade them. I had to shelter behind a screen to watch as darkness fell. The last birds went to roost and a bat fluttered around. It was nice to see the lightning- bugs flashing all around; they've murdered all the ones in Baton Rouge with mosquito- spray. I seem to recall single- flash is the male's advertising, and that is what I was seeing.

The songbirds were extolling their happiness Sunday morning; crows were cawing and turkeys were yelping across the creek. My trail to the creek was overgrown, and clearing it was a hot job. I don't know which was worse: swinging a blade or swatting at bugs. I took the opportunity to go up to the cemetery and visit my dad. I've come to be the same age as him--how time flies.

Flyfishing 101

The Red Stick club will host its beginners' day this Saturday. It's free and open to the public. If you have wanted to explore flyfishing, here's your opportunity. A flier is contained in the May newsletter. It's at the Waddill area, and I hear that South Choctaw is blocked, so you must come down Flannery Road from Greenwell Springs Road.