... Checking in real quick! Let's see... I don't know where to start.

I wrote a little in my notepad while in the tree stand on Thursday afternoon but the notepad is still in my coat pocket in the foot locker with the hunting clothes downstairs. oops.

Thursday Matty picked me up from work just after noon and we headed down to the 'farm' to catch up with the Uncles. It was a glorious day. Sunny, around 55 degrees and dry.

We got into the woods a little after 3 so we only had a few hours before dark but it was a nice time to be out even if I didn't see a single thing except for a squirrel or two...

I did find my arow (or at least the fletchings end) on my way back down the trail from when I shot the buck Thanksgiving weekend. I never found it at the time. I am famous for losing arrows and Matty is not always thrilled about this little reputation

Friday we got out early and were hiding in the brush by a good duck area where the water is about knee deep in the field. They lit off the water just as the sun broke the horizon but we weren't in the best position and the way the sun was slanting we couldn't get a good shot. So we knocked around and headed back to Uncle John's to visit until the sun set later and the ducks would be coming back into the water for the night.

We went down to the horse barn to see the horses at John's when we got back and soon Matt's cousin Jay, came down with the water buckets and John was right behind him... Apparently they thought they were going to hang an overhead door by themselves. Long story short... after detaching and re-attaching and unrolling and re-rolling this metal door and adjusting the retention springs multiple times.... 5 hours later the door was hung. Still not perfect but functional enough. Whew. That was a bonding and humbling experience. It really did take all 5 of us and then later, the neighbor had to supervise.

Needless to say, most of the household was asleep in bed by 7:30 or 8 that night.

Sat we got up plenty earlier and made it down to the duck pond in time to be more prepared for the sun to rise. They lifted off at a beter angle and I dropped a duck!! It was very cool. Shooting skeet and clays is similar and that is always so rewarding when you shatter one flying through the air but a bird on the wing is exciting!!
We snuck down to the creek and didn't see much so we made the climb back up the hill and just sat on the hillside in the woods for about a half hour. Then I laid my head back and closed my eyes and started to snore so Matt figured it was time to move on...

We headed home a little early and I did a little grocery shopping and then came home and chilled out. We went to dinner with a friend and her parents. Dinner was YUMMY! Then our friend stayed the night at our place so she could get up with me and run 5 miles. It was a great jog. Drizzly and about 45. It rained the entire day on Sunday just slow and steady...

Sunday night Matt & I had rented 2 lanes at the bowling alley 'all you could bowl' from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. My parents and 4 youngest brothers came and stayed the whole time and bowled 4 games... It was a really nice time all being together. We rang in the new year with our sparkling cider and went home to bed.

Monday we slept till about 8:30 and then I went out to get Starbucks ( Cin!) We showered and dressed and went over to Matt's Aunt & Uncles to eat and watch the Rose Bowl. Seriously, the one game I really want Michigan to win and what the heck was that?! Most of the other 'Big 10' teams won but I was really surprised at that game.

We still haven't decided where to watch the game on Jan 8!!!

Let's see... I met up with the brother last night at a Waffle House for coffee.... at 10:30. I told him he was going to be the death of me... He was on his way back to Cincy from spending the weekend with the boys and visiting with his wife in the hospital (prolly another 4 weeks there...) He seems to be holding up. Thanks again for all your prayers and love....

This is so abbreviated so I will try to fill in better later!!

Love & Hugs, R