What about ....... target practice

The Moose hunt is now only days away.

So I did me a little target practicing.

At 50 yeards......

 

 

 

Day 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2

 

 

 

At 100 yards.....

 

 

 

Day 1

 

 

 

 

Day 2

 

 

Looks like I might be able to" hit the broad side of a barn" afterall.

 

 

So, after a hour or so of target practicing my next question for Jeff was, When do I get to do it again?

 

 

 

 







What about....Moose hunting

It's almost time........

Moose Hunting

What was I thinking! 

I was thinking 50 is a year of firsts - remember?

So......

I've tried on many guns and picked my favorite.  Just so ya know it was a blind test.  I would close my eyes and Jeff would hand me a rifle and I would pull it up pretending to shoot, look through the scope and decide if it was the perfect fit.  The reason for the blind test is because we (I should say, Jeff) have some "special" guns. 

We have:

My Grampa St. Pierre's 308 Winchester model 100

My father's 308 Winchester model 100

Jason's Ruger 243

A 30-06 742 Woodsmaster

A 7MM Remington Mag

and A Model 70 Winchester



Anyway, that was the reason for the blind test. I knew that if saw the "special" guns and knew it when I picked them up I would pick one - just for sentimental reasons and I really wanted to pick the gun with the perfect fit. Oh, how I wish I had a picture of Jeff's face when I closed my eyes and told him to hand me a gun.

So, after many "fittings" the gun I chose blindly was - drum roll please.........




Jason's Ruger 243. I cried when Jeff told me which one I had picked, but I knew before he told me, I could tell be the teary eyed look on his face when I opened my eyes.. Sorry, didn't mean to make you cry too. But, how cool is that.

The very special Ruger 243 that was bought for Jason right after he was born - mind you, I just found this out.  This was the gun that I always used hunting - the only one that I knew how to load - by myself - and carried in the woods (the very few times I went hunting many years ago), that is until Jason starting hunting and claimed it.  We would have many jokingly (is jokingly even a word, doesn't matter I like it ) conversations about who's gun it was - I wonder if he knew his father bought it for him when he was only days old.  But because he turned out a lefty and it was a right handed bolt action ( man, do I sound all gunny or what! again, don't know if gunny is a word,  doesn't matter I like it) I got to use it - as I said earlier, until Jason realized he could shoot just fine with it.


Now, onto some other important preparations.


I knew I was in trouble when Jeff started picking out "my gear"

I've been fitted for camo coat and flourescent orange

boots, not camo, not cool (if you're a guy), but very stylish for use girl hunters

 

 

And look what else Jeff found stashed away in the hunting gear



 

 

 

 

I know hunting and drinking don't mix, but when my "trophy bull" is down and we return - okay when we head back to camp - I'll be prepared (just like a good boy scout) for my celebratory martini!! or road soda as ........whoops, better stop there.  Again, I might of shared to much here today.......

 

 

 

So, what is it about hunting......yes, I am excited but not really sure what I am more excited about -

 

Watching Jeff's eye's light up when he gets out the guns and tries to explain to me how this should all go down.

 

Planning what we're gonna eat at "hunting camp", how we're gonna cook it, where are we staying...

 

Getting ready for the 6 hour road trip with my mother, daughter and grandson - we'll make a few shopping stops on the way.  I think there's a quilt shop or two along the journey

 

Or putting on the ever stylish outfit I have picked out - camo, flourescent orange and barn boots!!

 

 

Oh, wait,  I forgot........  I'm supposed to shoot a moose........ 



What about.....the baby.....

I just don't know where to begin........

Okay, here goes!

It's a .........boy!

As if you couldn't tell by the outfit!

New birthday forever embedded in my brain ......... July 21

 

Aint he darling!

 

the amount of joy (weight) held in my arms that evening.........7 lbs 15 oz.

7lbs, 15 oz of this.......... just makes ya melt



And, his name...........


Jason

It has taken a little getting used to, but I used his name today........

I smiled,  but that smile was followed by tears.....

Tears of great joy and pride

and

Tears of sadness

I whispered in his little ear this morning, " You've made my heart smile,again.  Thanks Jay"

Jason.... it's a great name





What about.... you can call me......

Pam

Still waiting for grandbaby!

But in the meantime, what should I be called -  Grandmother, Grammie, Gram, Grandma, Nana, Nannie, Meme..........

Help!

None of these seem to fit!

So, I've waited so long to become I grandmother that I'm thinking I have to have the perfect name.  WRONG, I know it really doesn't matter and I'm hoping that when I hold this baby and nuzzle him/her and smell that sweet baby smell, then I'll know.  I think ya just gotta feel with my heart and stop thinking with my head. 

Okay, so what do I feel like...... 

What about....Baby Jones

\Single digits people, we're in single digits!

9 days (or so) left!!

What about.....a redneck's Disney World!!

Need I say more...... 

 Last weekend we made the trip to the annual Moose Lottery Drawing- Everyone know what I mean?...  You pay money to put your name into a drawing to get a permit to shoot a moose.  Simple, right??

I took this picture thinking I'd hopefully enter the Best of the Beast Photo Contest.  I was hoping Jeff would get a permit, after putting his name in the lottery 25 years I thought it was time.  Wouldn't that be fun.  Maybe a picture of baby Oscah riding his first moose.....or maybe a picture of baby Oscah lasooing a moose.... or....... maybe a picture of baby Oscah napping in the antlers....... or......move on Pam.

This is where it started 

Followed by a little fooling around with my camera and The Jones families.  Three of them were soothing a sweet tooth..........  We see you Carol......

This is the camera man from that show "North Woods Law"  and the place was loaded with "Hollywood Wardens"  You'd have to watch the show to fully understand that phrase.  And, no, I don't get paid to say that, although, maybe I ............  never mind

Mom and Dad - they had the comfy chairs in the back - the rest of us, hard plastic pain in the butt chairs, literally!

Let the festivities begin!!

Wayne gets his name drawn right of the bat!  Interviews followed and then the planning begins.

Oh wait!   An hour later....... MY NAME!

The plans start changing..........

So, why is it- just when you've got the bull by the horns, someone adds a set of horns!  Get it, "bull by the horns"  In case you couldn't guess we both both got bull permits.  

Gotta go,

I've got guns to try on!

Gotta find the perfect fit!

and btw -    Fifty is turning out Fabulous, wouldn't you say?

What about.... the baby

Just two weeks left!!

And she still helps the boys put in the float!!

Let the excitement roll!!!!

What about.....hand me downs

Ain't she a beauty!

As most of you know, Mom, Lindsey and I travel the state of Maine in April on the annual Shop Hop.  We've done this now for 3 years and at the end of every year prizes are handed out according to how many of the shops you visit during the month.  WE VISIT THEM ALL!  from Cape Neddick to Presque Isle - we do all 32 shops!  And in May - we rest!

This $3000 dollar sewing machine is the prize I won this year.  That's the 3 of us picking up the prize!

You could say I carried away the Grand Prize - and you'd be exactly right!

I carried it all the way to Mom's house.

Long story short, I always said if I won I was giving the machine to Mom  - so that's where she  resides( and Mom I think we really need to give her a name, she's red so maybe something a little firey!?!? )

.

And as usual when Mom gets a new machine (Dad, step away from the computer and plug your ears) which she's done a couple of times, her last machine gets handed down to Lindsey, Lindsey latest machine gets handed down to me, and my latest machine will go to the next in line - sorry friends, our family is a little bigger - I've got a sisiter-in-law and a neice that sew.

So, now I want to talk about "hand me downs" but what I really want to say is a HUGE THANK YOU TO THE FABRIC GARDEN and all the people that help run this Shop Hop and donated  prizes making it possible for me to give this to Mom after she's handed down (Dad, plug those ears again) I think we've counted 7 or 8 sewing machines.  Winning and receiving is fun but being able to give like this really is what it's all about - I've learned from example, wouldn't you say?

BTW, this is turning out to be a fantastic 50th year - 50  just rocks people!!