Dec. 1, ‘09-Look up in the sky and do you see the full moon? Tom and Hawken are trapping in the moonlight along Muir Creek. They caught a mink last time Hawken was along.  Just spectacular  beams bouncing all blurred and murky by the dark clouds in the West.  “Kinda looks like a ball!” Hawken tells Pops as they ride the Gator to check traps and chore.

 We’ve had a variety of family like my Ma, Greg, Nephew Jeff Ziegeweid and friend LeAnne along checking traps. Also Adrian Pehler spent time 3 days on trap line and vet route. Mushrats, coon and mink have been harvested and stashed in the Shack. I walked along checking traps while on the vet route a couple days. I saw a trapped muskrat that a hawk apparently decided should be a snack. Tom’s been trying to set for coyotes. The sets have been worked over and Tom suggested a fox has shown interest in the bait. At our Open House this past Sun. we heard of many great hunting and trapping stories. We so appreciate the customers and the sales for the day!  I have to say I was surprised to have a customer say he was from South Dakota and heading back home from hunting this area. 

Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Alan Bollinger hosted with their son Keith, a fabulous feast in celebration of Thanksgiving. Keith filled us in that he caught 3 muskrats on his first attempt to trap them. He did enlighten his college friends @ UW Steven’s Point by skinning them in the basement dorm kitchen.   Grandma Melvina Salwey was also @ the dinner. She’s 96 years young and tells us of still dreaming of rolling out pie crusts. I mixed up rollout cookie dough ahead and with the whole family we baked cookies. Melvina was in the middle of the flour flying and the banter surrounding the festivities. Uncle Kenny Salwey put on his usual display of needing to be the one to make a reindeer cookie. That’s his cookie cutter and  he did a fine job..the cookie snapped in half with his strength and he was left holding a baked cookie with frosting ozzing down his fingers.    Cocoa the dog livened the party.  Hawken was smitten with Aunt Mary Kay’s  and Aunt Dorothy’s ideas for play, reading and chasing Cocoa.Then they brought out the sit and spin. Sweet times watching the lad be cheered on to stand up quick and try to walk a straight line after riding the sit and spin! Many deer hunting stories were shared over the Packer Football Game and giggling.    What turkey day traditions surface in your house??

Grab your walking stick and crawl over the rickety metal gate. Watch your step!  Glad you dressed warm for it’s frosty in the wee hours of the morning.  Notice how the beef cattle are still bedded down from a night of slumber? Corn stalks serve as a cozy setting spot for the herd. No mud this morning and daylight is spreading slowly to help us see the way.  The rabbit is here every morning and bounds away. See the  white flick of the doe’s tail?  My hand motion says to stop and I sing the song and she pauses. It’s been a long week for her and the other does listening to all the shooting. I sigh relief as the other two does are still safe.  I explain to you that I get how the harvest serves the purpose of decreasing over population, prevents spread of disease and provides a great time with family and friends. These deer are pets and have listened to the song since I got married to Tom and moved here.  Then I see it and my heart speeds up and I’m thankful for daylight.   Really it’s the first time I’ve seen the buck. I know them all and he’s huge with tines so tall and points past 10..looks like 12. How lucky are we to see this and he’s chasing 2 does. The does see us and stop with the song. I figure he will be a buck in love and never hear me. He swings his head and I swear it’s Freedom..my pet buck from 4 years ago.  This buck comes with the does and I raise my hands and say, “Stay on this land for there’s muzzle loader season going on.”  Off they go and the whir of the corn dryer can be heard way back @ Welcome Home Farm.  Wild rice is frosted and glazed. We hear the muskrat munching intently on weeds. The Red Tailed Hawk glides ahead of us and follows past First Pond.  Sunrise Slough is posing prettily with painted pink mixed with blue hues splashed in the Eastern sky. I stand firmly planted in the present and fling my fingers towards the frozen water and sing. Then  12 ducks fly from afar and circle 3 times. I am excited to see them again. Eagles are perched in the backwater’s trees. Five Eagles in one tree and many more patrolling the Trempealeau River.  Let’s turn around and head back to the farm. It’s time to be one with the Universe and carry the gift of peace inside.   Do you have the warm fuzzies now??

Find the moon,

Sue Roskos