Payback

For any of you that have followed my garden chronicles you would know of the pillaging and rape of my sweet corn crop this year.

And you would appreciate the sweet taste of revenge.

Payback is sweet

Weekend Update

It’s been an altogether decent weekend.

For me anyway.

My neighbor has been chopping corn for two full days already and isn’t finished yet.

Girlfriend and I did some woodcock hunting and came home empty handed.

Someone once said that a good day of lousy woodcock hunting is better any day of the week than a good day at work.

A walk in the fall woods is always good.

I also took the opportunity to sit with my bow and see what was happening.

And there wasn't much going on.

Saturday night about a half-hour before shooting time a little deer scampered into shooting range. Followed by a second deer. A couple of twin fawns. And very stupid - as I could have taken either one or both of them.

Mama followed.

Mom was the nervous sort and it was immediately clear that she was not comfortable with whatever is was that was hanging about in their proximity.

Bow up and with the release clipped-on the string I pondered drawing as soon as the doe turned away and taking her. I was thinking – Well, the fawns don’t have spots anymore – they’re not nursing. They’ll do fine.

With the completion of that thought the doe stalked-off with a stiff-legged gait and the fawns followed.

The frau and I began to get caught-up on more fall chores – namely stacking three cords of firewood for the winter.

The wood box in the house is full; the wood rack on the porch is stacked with the balance stacked in the barn.

For good measure I canned nine more pints of tomatoes and froze a pile of pumpkin puree. And a big, giant batch of sauerkraut too.

I’m not buying kraut anymore. We dined on Jaeger Schnitzel, spaetzle and homemade sauerkraut on Saturday night.

Squash and sweet onions are in the machine shed awaiting winter storage.

Quarterback Bargains

Now that the NFL season is in full swing it seems like an ideal time to take a look at the sport in a "Moneyball" sort of way.

Portfolio.com analyzed the cost-effectiveness of all 36 NFL players who threw at least 160 passes during the 2008 regular season.

Matt Cassell and Tyler Thigpen were the best bargains at the quarterback position last year in the NFL.

Go here to see how your team's quarterback ranked.

Friday Morning Music

Welcome to another earworm...

Green Bay Walleye Action

Lawyer and Sid have been seeking the secret to catching the elusive eyes on the Bay.

Rumor has it that they've finally stumbled-upon it.

Pictures from this past weekend...

Handsome Canines

Girlfriend and Little Buddy went to town recently to attend Bark in the Park - a fundraiser for the Door County Animal Shelter.

Aren't their fancy red bandannas eye-catching?

Girlfriend's mortal enemy - Harley the Camel was there too.

Girlfriend is normally a very tolerant person - but she does not like camels. Which is precisely why (even though I have several) I will not be posting a picture of the Evil One with One Hump.

Did I say - person?

Isn't it funny how dogs can carry funky grudges and prejudices just like people?

The Haints

Gilligan is either the best or worst watch dog ever.

For such a little guy he sure packs a load of spunk and he's always - I mean always - on high alert for an intruder, trespasser or threat.

If someone is even walking down the road the alarm is sounded with his very scary mixed terrier bark.

After the sun goes down the threat level increases to RED. Especially if the windows are open.

Because that is when the haints come out.

Girlfriend and Little Buddy will be snoozing peacefully when all of a sudden Gilligan will leap to his feet, howl the alarm call and run to the nearest open window to peer into the darkness. This is usually followed by sharp barks and glances to the adults in the room for further instructions.

The haints are out and there's no way they're going to find their way into the house if he has anything to do with it

Haints? What are haints?

Well - as my buddy Bill from Oklahoma would describe them, haints are those amorphous beings that materialize out of nowhere. They're usually to be found in the dark and their sole purpose is to taunt your dog. And wise old Bill would thoughtfully conclude that...

The dog can bark all it wants to only there haint 'nuthin there.