August comes to a close and as always I start to think of fall. I love this time of the year. The weather seems to start that trend in temperatures where the nights are cooler and sleep brings more rest. I still can't put my finger on the one thing that makes the fall special regardless how hard I try. Something is stirred within my soul and I feel so much more alive than other times of the year. I want to feel the cold air against my face and breathe in that sharp cold. I want to hear the crunching of leaves as I walk beneath the bare limbs of summer's favorite shade tree, to see clouds through empty limbs stretched skyward and geese in formation headed to winters playground till their sun returns, I want this to last but I know each season has but a short life lest we become too content within ourselves.

The 10th of September I head to Pinion for several days with my friend Vick to do some hunting again. Fall turkey hunt is a great time to be in Pinion. We have that coffee in the morning which always tastes stronger and hotter than any place on earth. There will be the sun soon peeking over the mountains, but not too soon since the mountains help maintain that early morning a little while longer than does the buildings in the towns or cities. The drive around the area over the days of the hunt, looking and enjoying all the sites and sounds that this area has to offer will fill the hours not spent on hunting. These sights and sounds will not go to waste for there will be memories and pictures to relive the trip once we have driven the miles back home.

Helen leaves the 5th for her trip back to California and this place will be lacking the smells of food cooking in the kitchen the sounds of cleaning and knowing someone else is here. The place is quieter but more empty too. Not too long and her trips to the west coast will come to an end and she will spend those cool fall days back here in Hobbs and watch the leaves fall and the limbs become bare and perhaps she will notice the formation of geese as they head South.

Turkey hunt at Pinion

I have another small trip planned soon. This trip will be to Pinion NM for the fall turkey hunt. My friends Vick and Ed will be there again this year and I will meet them in our usual camping spot around Sunflower Canyon. I really look forward to this time of year in the high country around Pinion. There is something special about the place this time of year that makes you feel so much more alive. I don't know if it is just being out of Hobbs or if it has something to do with the altitude and the coolness of the place. I do know I enjoy being there a lot.

I want to get more pictures this time. Last time I failed to complete a full story with the pictures I had taken. I still have work to do there when it comes to getting pictures so, lots of time this year will be dedicated to notes and plenty of pictures. By the way, if I get a turkey that will be good too. Before the hunt I have got to get busy with some repairs. The camper has some tears in the tent material and needs to be patched, water pump needs replacing, and the piece of tarp I have for a front awning or porch has need of some engineering of sorts. This will be important if we get any rain like we have had around Hobbs lately. Going in and out of the camper when it is raining makes a hell of a mess if you don't have a place to remove muddy stuff before going in the camper.

I will fill in the blanks in the days to come about the pinion turkey run. I still have work to do in the attic with the insulation and I may have put it off for the last time today. I go in the morning to pick up the trailer to haul the insulation on and then I make a trip to Home Depot to pick it up and at that point time to get with it. I will return tomorrow with news of what work gets done in the attic.

Antelope Hunt 2006

I went with my friend Vick this weekend to enjoy a visit and be a part of his antelope hunt for 2006. The hunt went well with Vick getting his antelope on the ground at 10:15 Saturday morning. A good shot at 261 yards brought the animal to the ground and closed the hunt. Afterwards we enjoyed the time going over things in our past and looking forward to the next hunt which will be a turkey hunt for September back in Pinion, New Mexico.

I am running behind on posting again which seems to be the norm rather than an oddity for me. I will do as best as I can but expect somewhat less and one shouldn't be disappointed. I will try to place his antelope in this post.

From Ivie

Here it is, July 19th and I write from Ivie today. I've had several problems with the mail system and the net in general but maybe today they will let me through to say howdy from Texas. I have stayed pretty close to the shade since I came down and have ventured out to fish only a couple times. I feel that by the weekend we will have a cooler couple days and I hope we take advantage of that to fish some.

Rufus was down when I got here but had to leave this past Wednesday to go back for a job. I did get the skype hooked up long enough to talk to Helen and then to Rufus for a few minutes. He's looking to be fairly busy for some time and don't know exactly when he will be back down. The patio here is framed up now and will be screened as soon as Rufus gets the screen to us. The fence is slowly coming to the point of being painted white and completed hopefully by Sunday. I have helped on that project in the cool of the mornings but when the sun gets up very far I shut down.

Doug has gone to play poker at the Owls' Roost. This is a bar where the local patrons enjoy dancing and live music. I don't think the live bands get there but maybe every three weeks or so at this time. I don't know how much Doug will donate to the cause since he did say he was going to be back in a couple hours. Here's to Doug!

Stuck in ill-ville

Here it is Friday the 7th of July and I was hoping to be at Lake Ivie at this time. Luck sometimes is good to us and then other times it is no more than what it is. I've been down with something and have lain in bed for the better part of the past three days. I am doing better thanks in part to the great homemade chicken soup my sister made for me this morning. I am having some problems with the hip again and it causes a great amount of pain at times. Along with the other aches and pain from this flu like yuck I have the hip wanted its' attention much like the little Kim in North Korea wants his attention. A shame we can't give that little bastard what I have, sort of a carrot if you know what I mean.

I am hoping that Monday brings with it the healthier side of me and travel will be in the forecast if that is the situation. I am looking forward to the visit to the lake as always and hope I am not disappointed this time around. In conjunction with this visit there comes the connection to the outside world that is due to take place there when I go down. I hope to get hooked up to the internet and have TV on this visit to the lake. We will see. Much to think about and hopefully much to do when I finally get to the lake this time.

Here it is Wednesday and I realize it has been some time since I last posted so here I go. Helen came in Tuesday and the kids were with her. They were excited to be here and looking forward to some fun in the big city. Today was a day for swimming and also some riding around the neighborhood on the golf cart. Helen rode with them and let each one have their turn driving. I could see from their faces that this was a hit with them. Tomorrow will be another swim day and from there well, I have no idea.

I will get some pictures up perhaps tomorrow and let the kids see how the site looks with their smiling faces peering back at them. The post will become more regular here in the near future and perhaps I can get more focused on what I want this to be about. Till tomorrow when the smiling faces of our visitors from California appear I will close this post.