Dec 31

It was not freezing this morning when I got up. The temp was a more reasonable 45. I had a great hunt this morning.I saw 5 does and killed an Axis buck.I also saw about 20 turkeys. We watched a couple of football games and took a little nap. Regan took the girls on a ride of the property.  We had another good evening hunt. No One shot anything but we saw deer. Its our last night in Junction. Tomorrow Regan/Kerry and Mike?Lavonna are headed home. We are are leaving for Mckinney Falls state park. Regan is doing pork fajitas on the grill and we are watching football tonight.  Happy New Years 

My first Axis Buck

Cleaning time

Dec 30

Greg/Pam, and Jan/Michelle left today. We had a lot of fun. Maybe they will come back next year. We deerhunted and saw deer but no shooters. Regan cooked steaks on the grill and we watched a litle football. Another good day

Filling feeders

Looking for deer

.29

Supper time

Another cold morning at 24 degrees. No deer were killed today. Susan,Pam,Kerry and Lavonna went to Kerrville shopping. Michelle stayed home today, probably not the super shopper the rest of the girls are. Regan cooked back strap and vegetables on the fire pit for supper. It was  a great supper and another great evening with family

Dec 28

Breakfast

Greg

Greg Regan Jan

I got up around 5 this morning. The temp was 25 but my  water didn't freeze to my trailer. No One else showed till about 7. The funny thing is that Kerry has chimes from the door going to her bedroom so they knew when I came in and left . Pretty sure Kerry is going to turn that off tomorrow morning. We all had breakfast and coffee later that morning. All the girls left  to go shopping. Greg shot his rifle and then we took off to finish filling the rest of the deer feeders. This was Jan"s first experience in the Hill Country. We got the news that Mike/Lavonna were gonna get to come today.  I did take a nap around one o'clock and it felt good. We got ready to go hunting and the Templeton's showed up. Greg and Jan went together and then Regan Mike and I left a little later. Both Mike and Greg killed spikes. This was Jan's first deer hunt and he froze in the stand. He got to see some deer. We had to trail both deer in the dark.  Jan opted to stay at the house by the fire and missed this experience. We had a great evening.

Dec 27



Regan and Jan

The Great Room

I got up around 6 this morning which is late for me. It is pretty chilly outside (19) and the water has frozen in the trailer. Regan and I decided not to hunt this morning. I was able to make my coffee so all is good. Took Maggie for a short brisk walk.  The turkeys came to the feeder this morning behind the house. They were strutting their stuff. The water in the trailer thawed out about 10 am. I had left one compartment door open so that’s what let me freeze up internally. I also had left the vent in the bathroom partially open so that’s why the furnace ran so much. I think tonight I will check things out before happy hour. Regan and I went to town and got feed for the deer feeders and we spent much of the day riding around and filling feeders. We saw some hogs and deer.  Greg and Pam, Jan and Michelle {that’s Kelly's in-laws} arrived this evening. Jan and Michelle live in Arizona in the winter and they came to Texas at Christmas since Kelly/Jan live in Switzerland now. We had a great evening eating and drinking telling stories. Regan built a nice fire in the fireplace and it was great.  We are gonna have a fun week. I am still missing my camera. Guess I will have to but a new one soon since I cannot find mine.

Dec 26-hEADED TO JUNCTION

I woke up around 1:am and the house power was back on. Got up and turned off the lights then went back to sleep. Got up about 4:15 and finished packing trailer. It was about 30 outside but the wind was not as strong as last night. We got on the road about 6 am. It was a nice drive to Junction and the traffic was fairly light. Mike/Lavonna Templeton didn”t get to go with us this year. We got to Junction about 1 and set up the trailer. Kerry and Regan rolled in a little later. We had not seen their house since it was completed. When opening the front door Kerry noticed water coming thru the wall on the ground. Uh Oh, when she opened the door there was a small lake and water fall coming from upstairs. Regan cut the water off and found a broken valve at the hot water heater upstairs. He called the builder and they sent a plumber and water extraction team out. It will take a couple of days to dry out.  Other than the water issue , this is a beautiful house .  I will take some inside pictures later on. We decided to have a little happy hour and then we went back to town for supper . When we got back  all of us were tired so to bed we went.

Headed to Junction

All set up

Kerry and Regans House

Dec 25 Christmas day

Christmas morning with Mackenna,Sammi, Ashley

                                                                                                                                                                                                   We got up early Christmas morning and headed to see the grandkids open their presents.            We got there about 6:30 am. Susan and I unloaded all their gifts. McKenna was awake but still in her room. The girls were not to come out of their room till 7:00 am. We went and talked to her till Kristi got up. The girls then got to come and open presents.   They had a lot of fun. After they finished we headed back home. The trailer was waiting there to be packed for our trip to Junction. Kevin was still there so I helped him load his dirt bike and then we loaded john Andersons four wheeler.  Took that back to him and played with the twins a little while.  Back at the house I started loading the trailer and hitched up to the truck. It had been a warm morning but then the cold front made it in. The temp went from 75 to about 50. The north winds were really blowing hard. About 4:00 pm our power went out. George and Delilah came over so we sat in the dark and chatted. After they went home Kevin made it back and we decided to go to Baytown to get something to eat. We were hoping that there might be something open for supper. Nope, Baytown was shut down but we did manage to find a Denny’s that was open. Getting home about 8 the power was still out. We may not leave early in the morning if the power doesn’t come back. Oh well its now 37 outside at 9 and we went to bed.

Dec 1O-23

Well I made it back to the deer lease last night. Finally got some cold weather in . It should be nice till at least Thursday. Looks like it will be just me and John Callahan here this week. The week has moved on and not many deer to be seen. It has been really nice. Maggie doesn't like the real cold weather. It made the high 20"s for three days in a row. On Friday I found 10 pigs in Lil Ricks hog trap. He is going to come get them Sunday. On Friday Susan went to pick Sylvia up to go shopping and then they came on up to the lease. Rick came up after work. I cooked chicken on the smoker for supper and it was great. Saturday night we went to Livingston and ate Mexican food, We had a good. time.I am up early Sunday morning and it is raining and has really warmed up.

On Sunday the 16 both Susan and  Rick/Sylvia went home to  prepare for Christmas.so that left just me and Callahan. Kevin came up on Sunday evening and stayed till Tuesday.  I went in on Tuesday also . On Wed I went to babysit grand kids that night. Thursday morning I went back to the deer lease and brought our trailer home to clean up and get ready for our Junction trip. Found that I had one bad tire so I replaced it. I will put all new tires on it sometime before we head on our annual Canton trip. On Thursday night We met friends and ate Mexican food for Susan's Birthday. Friday I washed the trailer and shampooed the carpet and just basically cleaned everything. Susan picked up Mackenna and Ashley from school at lunch and they went shopping for Kenna birthday. On Saturday we went to Pam's for the Taylor Christmas. Everyone was there except for Kelly who for some reason didn't just drop in. (she just moved to Switzerland) and Kyle who had to work.  On Sunday Kyle/Kristin, Kevin, Mom, Mike/Kristi and the girls all cam to our house for supper. I still have not found my camera so I do not have many pictures except for what I take with my phone. If I don't find it soon I will have to break down and replace it.



Snuggle inside pillowcase





Susan , Mom, Abby



Home for a few days Dec 5-9

I got up Wednesday morning and hunted for a couple of hours. This warm weather is really not great hunting weather. Headed back to camp and cleaned up the the trailer a little bit and headed home. On Thursday morning I woke up really early and couldn't go back to sleep, 4:00 am. Got up and started planning our trips for next year. I hope to do a better job budgeting this year, I missed the mark last year a little bit. Just looking, we will be home for at least 199 days. I guess we are just homebodies. That evening we went to Humble for Susan to go to a sewing shop and I went to Academy . Afterwards we ate at Pappas and then headed to a  school expo that Mackenna was in. Wow the traffic was horrible. I more and more dislike driving anywhere near big cites.  Friday morning we went to John and Jennifer's to see the twins.They are doing great even though Little John Alvin 4th is needy just like his dad. Holly Grace is laid back and sleeps. I brought my tractor back and started cutting some firewood because sometime it is gonna get cold.

It started raining Saturday morning. Was not supposed to rain today. Luckily it didn't last long and I was able to cut and stack a little firewood. I can only due so much a day due to my back. Later in the day I mowed the yard. Yep its Dec 8 and 75 degrees  and the yard needed mowing. Susan spent most of the day sewing .

Well its Sunday morning and I am up at 5. Very foggy outside, it is supposed to be another warm day and then a real cold front is supposed to blow in late this evening. There is going to be a 50 degree swing in the temperature today. We may get our first freeze of the year Tuesday morning.  We are gonna clean house this morning with Susan and I double teaming. There is a contractor coming over today to give us a bid on our remodeling plans. We are redoing the kitchen and also combining two bedrooms into one and making Susan a big ole sewing room.  Later this evening we are headed to Kristi's for Sammi"s 3 birthday party. Susan will spend the night there and I am headed to the deer lease.    While I am rambling, I wish I could find my camera. I lost it about three weeks ago. All my pictures have been taking with my phone. Hope it shows up soon. Its a small compact Sony which I love but it is sure easy for my to misplace. This is not the first time I have lost it but never for this long.     



Mowing in December



Its gonna get cold sometime 

Mel, Sammi, Kristi



Susan is sewing

0ct 30---Dec 4



John & Joyce Callahan



Friday before Opening Day

 Oct 31-- I moved back to the deer lease today. We have been babysitting grand kids last week as there  parents were in New York. Had fun but wore out. We came home on Sunday so we could go to a kinda farewell dinner for my  newlywed niece Kelly. She is moving to Switzerland. Since I don't go anywhere I cant drive my truck ,we we only see them we they visit.  I got to the lease very early.. Unloaded in the dark and then went waking in the woods.Cool nice morning but warmed up the rest of the day.

Nov 1-- Susan came in today, Also John/Judy Lovett, Kenneth/Barbra Taylor, and Mike/Lavonna Templeton all came in. I had cooked a ham with a huge pot of lima beans.Judy fixed cabbage and sausage.  We had a great evening. .

It is already December and I have not updated anything. Just seems there is no time. We have had a good time at the lease . I will just put a few pictures on and let it go at that. Our deer lease is in Polk County. We have had it since 1966. Lots of good times and memories here.



Yep we do kill deer every now and then







Sitting around camp



Maggie riding with Susan



Add caption





We eat pretty good



Yep, Sitting in a tree



Kevin, Mom,Kyle at Pams House

  

Oct 18-21 Back to the Deer Lease

Well  made it back to the deer lease this morning. A cool front has made it here . Still was muggy when I left home this morning. It should be a nice couple of days. I put a new timer on a deer feeder then walked in the woods to a tree climber I had .  Found some fresh scrapes on a ridge and moved the climber there. Sat there for about an hour enjoying the morning. Went back to camp and talked with John Callahan. He and I are the only two here today. Just goofed off the rest of the day replanting a little rye grass and putting out some fertilizer.




Great White Amercian Scout

  Got up Friday morning to 44 degrees. It sure is nice to have a little cool weather. John is leaving this morning to go to a army reunion for the Korean war. Will just be me here for most of the day. I took about a 3 hour stroll thru the woods this morning. Up and down canyons and ridges. Whew I use to do the easily when I was younger. Found places that I am not gonna hunt. To hard to get to these spots for me now. Went back to camp and rested. Susan went to a sewing class and will be here around 5 pm.  I took the boys Green Monster ( 4 wheel drive deer lease truck) for a spin. Still afraid it might strand me somewhere, its got a new carburetor coming. Put some more fertilizer out. Mike and Lavonna came up for a little while. We saw a buck chasing a doe from camp. When Susan got here I cleaned up and we went out to eat for supper since it was only us today. Late that evening Randy and Jan showed up.

It was still cool on Saturday morning. I walked the woods and put up a pop-up blind. I saw 5 deer on my travels thru the woods which is a lot for us here in east texas. had to hurry back because Susan and I had to go to Ashleys birthday party. Rick and Slyvia showed up before we left. When we got back to the lease we just sat around camp .. Lil Rick and his family showed up so right before dark we cut a dead pine which was ready to fall on Ricks trailer. Some were worried but we managed to get it on the ground just like we had planned. Sometimes our plans work.We then all had supper and chilled out the rest of the night.




New Pop Up Blind



Dead Pine Tree



Sitting around the camp

 It really warmed up Sunday morning. We didn't do much but clean up and headed home. We wont be back next week as we are babysitting Grandkids tuesday thru sunday.

Oct 1-15 Deer Lease Time



Trailer set up



Sammi loves the big dogs



Lay down dog



Ready to go out to eat




Singing on the tractor



Can you see Mackenna and Ashley



Derad eye Mackenna



Ashley Sammi & Harley



John and Rick  happy Hour



Happy Hour

 Since we are not really traveling anywhere right now I"m just updating at random times. I moved the trailer to the deer lease on Oct 1. My second cousin also moved his motorhome in that day also.  John Callahan is 84 and he moves in on Oct 1 and stays until usually around Jan 1. I took the tractor up to start doing some mowing and also to plant some rye grass plots.  Susan was coming with me but she went to Kristi"s to help her with the girls since she isn't feeling well. Kristi has day surgery on Friday. On Tuesday Susan brought Sammi to the deer lease and she had fun. Kevin came up to the deer lease also and he brought their dogs Misty and Rommel. Sammi loved to pet them. Wednesday we headed back to Kristi to see the two older granddaughters do a halftime routine with the high school drill team at the football game.. On Friday Kristi had her surgery. She didn't get out quite as early as she had hoped but her and Mike went to the lake house to recover and we took the girls back to the deer lease with us. Mackenna got to shoot a .22 for target practice and both her and Ashley loved riding around in the truck and hanging out the windows. I met their parents on Sunday and the girls went home with them. Susan left the deer lease and went home to rest and repack and them went to Krisiti"s to help. On Tuesday I went home and mowed the yard and then left to go help Susan with the girls. Kristi not recovering as quick as she thought she would. On Friday we headed back to the deer lease. Mike and Lavonna were there and Rick and Slyvia came on Saturday. It was a nice weekend. Sunday we came home. Will go back sometime next week.

Port O Conner Trip--Sept 24-27



Leaving Willie"s house at 5:30 am



Deck view from our house



Johns and Willies boats



Big John scoping the beach



John Kocurek and his son Jonathan

 I went on a fishing trip with some guys that I worked with at Exxon. They usually go to Port O Conner every year around this time to fish for Bull Reds. Most of them are retired also.  Its three nights of fishing, eating and a little drinking. I"m not a really serious fisherman but I went just to see everyone and have a good time. We didn"t really catch many fish on this trip but a couple of guys got into the Bull reds on our last night.  There was eight of us and we rented a big house on the intercoastal canal. It was a really good trip and I look forward to doing it again sometime. I rode down with Willie Fowler.. The rest of the guys got down there at different times. There was John Kocurek, his son Jonathan, Gordon Davis, Mitch Rossi,Eddie Rios and Pat Schnell .



Eddie Rios and Gordon Davis



Pat Schnell and Mitch Rossi



Headed out for a night of fishing




All set up



Following John and Mitch out one evening



What we did best

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