Big Boys

There have been some dandy-looking bucks showing up on the cameras lately.

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Now that the trails and wildlife openings have been cleared the picture quality is beginning to improve.

Longbeards

Unbelievable.

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There are still large numbers of gobblers roaming around the joint.  Lookatcha length of those beards!

Trail Whacking

Just about finished with this year's trail clearing.

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The pathways will get a finish clipping before the hunting season ramps-up big time.

Sidearm

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An essential tool when out for walks with the pooches or working in the woods.

The Platz has its share of varmints all of which will succumb to a well-placed .22 long rifle 1280 FPS velocity 36 gr. plated hollow point from the trusty Browning Buckmark and its 10 round magazine.

36 Hours

Been a busy weekend.

Left yesterday AM for Legend Lake with a couple of Weber grills and four racks of baby backs.  It was the Inaugural Family BBQ Rib competition featuring the cousins from my late mom's side of the family and me and my brother.  

I got spanked (fourth and last place in the competition) nevertheless everyone had a great time  including some one-on-one with one of Wisconsin's candidates for state supreme court.

Some pics from the weekend.

Rib cooking...

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Rib Judging...

Boating...

Sunset...

Finished today with a visit with four additional friends from the Wauwatosa Curling Club on Shawano Lake.  The girls are toast having spent the last two days in and on the water.  

Raising a toast to tired-out Labrador retrievers. Thirty six hours is all it takes....

Turning Gray

Seems I'm getting grayer by the year.  In the beard.  Not in my head of youthful hair.  Which leads me to the Gray-headed Coneflower - Ratibida pinnata.

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Another tall plant of the North American prairie it is doing particularly well during the recent stretch of dry and hot weather.  Like it's neighbor the Compass plant these beautiful prairie perennials thrive in hot and dry conditions because their root systems are established deed in the earth.  

After this showy flower drops its petals and dries the cone that is left at the end of the stalk smells of spices when you crumble it between your fingers.

Where There's a Well There's a Way

File this under domestic infrastructure.

It is always better for the well pump to be kaput when you do not have a house full of guests.

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Raising a toast to running water...