Note: Most of the photos linked to these thumbnails have undergone varying degrees of enlargement. If you feel you might not want to see a larger version of a given image (such as a "harvest" pic) please don't click on that thumbnail.

 Row One: 1) Maine Grandsons (Jarod and Cody) - Having a great twin must be like having a built in "friend" to share special things like tree frogs with on the spur of any given moment- love you guys, 2) this is the little (50#) Button Buck that gave me my first traditional bow Whitetail harvest (thank you, Lord) - you can read about the hunt on Journal, Pg6, and 3) next morning with him at home - so Sloopy could check and see if Dad did a good job - happy old coot huh?, 4) My friend Beartracker in WVA sent me this surprise pic his trail camera presented him with - As the raccoon's face registers he was just trying to figure out what that strange box was - when the camera said "Gotcha!", 5) Granddaughter Onesty (one of the three apples of my eye) is fixing to present me with another one - also a girl - yes, this ol' hoss along about late Jan 2005 will become a Great Grandfather - Good Lord willing, and 6) This is Onesty's Demi Moore pose - at least as close as she's getting to it - so some day we can show the new little girl what she looked like at 6 months (Before Birth that is) - round looking little rascal wasn't she?

Row Two: 1) Here is another of the three apples - Grandaughter Haylei in a later 2004 picture, From beauties to beasts for these next five - and I don't mean the deer - I mean my beastly friends who went to Illinois and got great deer and all I got were these lousy (GREAT) pictures - LOL, 2) Warrant Officer Jim with his very nice 8pt, 3) SSgt John with his super 12pt 250 lbs plus, 4) John with his and Jim with one that the former Marine owner of the property got before Jim got his, 5) The guy across the road with a fantastic 19pt (look at those brow tines) John and Jim helped him drag out, 6) John with his buck hanging up to show length - John is 6' 6" tall - Illinois is the land of many and huge deer - in another week or so I'll probably have pics on here from my boss' trip there with his son and a couple of our friends - while I watch the shop - I must be living wrong! It turned out that in the Boss' group he was the only bowman who took one - on the next to last day he finally opted for a rather large 5 pointer - not the results they had hoped for but a good and safe hunt.

Row Three: 1) This is a special self-arrow hand made by Ron Thompson and gifted to me after the Windsong/LLCON fund raising auction - the shaft is from a wild Multiflora Rose and he does hunt with them - the head is a hand knapped glass head as is the extra clear glass head, 2) A closer shot to show the two heads - of course the green material shows through the clear glass and tints it - also the reflection tends to make the point look rounded - it isn't - trust me, 3) This close-up is better yet of the fantastic form - looks - and utility of the glass heads and Ron's craft - see the full story and description under the heading "Bread On The Waters" on Journal, Pg6. (Soon I will be posting pics of a special "Spirit" fund raising arrow here that I won in the auction mentioned.), 4) My special arrows  "collection" has swelled considerably/quickly/and meaningfully - from top to bottom of a rack presented to me as a going away present (by Bob Carone) when I left Maine: 1st - "Spirit Arrow" by Mark Detmer from the First Annual Windsong/LLCON Auction on tradgang.com - a very special arrow from a rich history of it's predecessors - fund raising "Mojo" arrows that require a lot of story space all it's own (incorporating a slogan from friend Dave "Doc Nock" Landis - ("The words 'Child' and 'Terminal Illness' should never share the same sentence!" 2nd - Ash Hand Made Arrow Bludgeon by Killdeer (Kathy Collister) - She presented this one to me at ATAR 2004 to commemorate our meeting and prior formed tradgang.com friendship. 3rd - Gift Self Arrow and point by Ron Thompson (shown and described in the first 3 pics of this row). 4th - Gift River Cane Self Arrow (except point) by Dano (Dan Gren - former Marine and tradgang.com friend) with turkey feathers and Rabbit Skin tracer at back of feathers as a "Special thank you for all you do and for being a good friend." (he said). 5th - Hand Assembled Presentation  "Freedom Arrow" by Neonbutterfly (Bob Crane) I purchased as his first customer - he is now already in hand production of the second dozen of these beautiful and patriotic "Presentation Arrows" and other designs. 6th -  A second Arrow by Bob Crane that he gifted to me and refers to as a special "Bernie Arrow" as it is done in "Marine Scarlet and Gold" with crossed American and Marine Corps Flags and small Marine Corps emblems between the feathers - replete with CWO2 Bernard Dunn - United States Marine Corps - Semper Fi printed on the shaft - it also employs the red blue and gold of the "Marine Dress Blues" uniform in the bandings. I am so humbled, blown away,  and pleased with all of these finely crafted arrows and the meanings and friendship they convey that it is hard to express. Suffice to say I will cherish them all of my days, 5) Here is a closer shot of the "Freedom" and "Bernie" USMC arrows by Bob Crane, and 6) A closer shot of The Special "Spirit" Arrow by Mark Detmer (See write up by Steve Pray on Journal, Pg6 regarding the background of these Special arrows of Marks).
 
 
 

Row Four: 1) Care to take a guess at what this camouflage pattern is? 2) Wal he's muh new dawg by the name of "Camo" (What else?) in my wifes lap. 3) He's a half Australian Sheppard/half Beagle (how's that for a mixture) 4) Camo has the coloring and marking of the Aussie and the shorter nose and longer tail of the Beagle (no prejudice in his make up) and he fits in with the rugs and tile - LOL 5) Here is his proper spotted "Funny Face", and 6) For size correlation (at this time) here he is with one of his new stepsisters (Taffy the Chihuahua) - thanks for "playing" with me - and Camo.

Row Five: 1) Born in late November 2004 - here is California's future Lady Archer and Leather Worker (if Mike has anything to do with it) - Mike's (of Mike's Archery Leathers) brand new (and extremely precious) granddaughter Faith,  2) Because of the new pup (see Row Four above) we opted for a smaller tree that we could raise up off the floor this year (Good idea!) - Merry Christmas to all and a special prayer for all our Armed Forces,  3) Speaking of that here is former Marine Frank Butala (also of tradgang.com) and his daughter Candy engaging in a little healthy outdoor sports - safely at a range for that purpose prior to her first hunt with her Dad,  4) & 5) (Which I thought I had already done and posted here - gettin' forgetful ain't for sissies - or is it - LOL) are a beautiful small handmade caping knife made by Dano Gren and slipped in the tube with the River Cane arrow he sent me (a couple rows above) - he said something like it was a little item just  to keep the package from rattling - some item. I was trying to keep the flash from taking over the picture with highlights so that is why it is on the dark side but in the second picture (for size comparision) you can see the blade which has a full tang is really highly polished - a real beauty and a tribute to Dano's handiness (he always says, "If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy,") - This sharp (in all ways) little knife is another gift I will always cherish, and 6) The Christmas Card that was posted on tradgang.com for all tradgangers to revel in - ain't it a beaut of an idea (all decorated in traditional archery goodies and all? You betcha bippy! The little tree sits outside Terry Green's (One of the founders of tradgang.com) "Bowhunting Shop" at his home in GA

Row Six: 1) May I presnt my Great Granddaughter (Samara Nicole Carter)?, 2) The beautiful (and healthy) S.N.C. in her warming station only scant minutes after birth, 3) Mother (Onesty) and child - job exceedingly well done, 4) Proud (and deeply moved) Father (Drey) and Child, All my Special Girls - four generations (Onesty & Samara - GGM Rose - GM Lois - and Aunt Haylei), and 6) I do proudly present my Great Granddaughter Samara to her world to have and to hold - cherish every blessing and opportunity, my little one.

Oh, by the way - born at 10:06 PM 01/06/2005, 6lb9oz, 19 1/2 inches, 2 weeks early and no problems - very easy birthing.

Row Seven: 1) Onesty's cat (Henna) just wanted her share of the attention that was going around - Great Grandmother Rose chose to wait until Samara was home (3 days after birth) to hold her on her own terms - ha-ha, 2) ...so she could unwrap her ggdaughter, 3) ... all the way to admire her - note Samara's hair in these pics, 4) Here is our boy "Camo" at 3 months - he and Sloopy were welcoming in 2005 in typical working dog (off-duty hours) mode, 5) Camo has gone from just over 4 pounds to 9 lbs 13ozs already and this pic shows a truer reference to Sloopy than the first one (which made him look even bigger than he is), and 6) Taffy is "first dog" to lay on the brand new Alternative Down Coverlet (it's actually white too) - she doesn't miss a trick - she thinks - actually Mocha (a chocolate Chihuahua) is the hump in the Coverlet - "Already been there, done that, washed out girl!" - LOL.

Row Eight: 1) I recently made what friend Rick says Barb would have said this about, "A heck of a deal, huh?" He decided it was best for him to let some more of Barb's personal items go. Through his kindness I was able to get a package deal on her personal favorite bow/quiver/and 21 wood arrows. The bow was made for Barb about two years ago by Frank Rago of upper GA and she spoke often about what a shooter it was and how well she liked it - it is a Bamboo Backed Osage (BBO) selfbow - smooth quiet and fast/hard hitting and a beautiful piece of workmanship in my eyes - being 50 ponds draw at 28 inches it is a little heavier than I am used to - however I have shot it and love it - further more I think "Barb" is going to help me improve my draw weight, 2) & 3) are her arrows from Mike Fletcher of Fletcharrows in a quiver she made especially for herself and decorated with things given her by friends - the arrows are half red ones and half green ones - I assume Sitka Spruce but perhaps not - 30 inches and beautifully crafted - still in great shape though she shot them a great deal - on the quiver's golden Elk hide flap you can see a piece of Abalone shell (I'm relatively sure) - two Bear Claws - seven Red Deer teeth (which were given to Barb by "Jock" Johnny B. Good whom she made a special quiver for and included a knife - she was so giving) - a self napped obsidian (I think) arrowhead by Barb (how I wanted one of those) - and below that a horse hair tassel which we both liked her use of on her quivers. She did not get to do (or chose not to) bead work for her strap - I love the way this quiver holds the arrows and rides on my back and it certainly was special to her and is to me - I also really think I will be apt to use it more. It also had a small skull carved out of turquoise with moonstone eyes on the strap that Rick couldn't tell me much about. I remember mentions by Barb about some of these personal items in her posts but anything anyone can tell me to jog my memory for facts will be appreciated, 4) On our back deck with the sweet but tough bow braced and held at the ready, 5) I draw the bow with one of the 30" arrows and not sure if I got my full 27" inch draw or not but it looks pretty close - when I shot it on my range it groups like crazy but high left for me (right on for Barb, and right for Rick) - I think I will have to drop the nock point for me (though I like mine somewhat high - she seemed to like hers extra high) but I canted as far as I could and still didn't bring the shots as far to the right as needed - I'll figure it out - shoots too good not to (added note: I dropped the nock point - almost an inch - and it not only brought the groupings down but right also - very close to right on spot - go figure), and 6) & 7) are a small (3 1/4") hand carved Elk Antler feather made for Barb by our friend "Chort Draw"  (I remember about it) that Rick included because he felt, "Barb would like you (me) to have it." Thank you, Rick, I am so honored to have a piece of Chort Draw's  fine handiwork. He is a real master carver in my book and I only wish my camera showed the minute detail carving on both sides of this fantastic antler feather - it is so real-like it is hard to describe. I told Rick I would be honored to safeguard Chort's gift for Barb. All of these items mean a great deal to me and I am so pleased to have them here. I hope you folks have enjoyed them too.

Row Nine: 1) At the Hubert Archer's Toy Shoot04 I take time to check  brace height on Jim Cross'  Bob Lee that I traded him - Jim was having shoulder trouble and couldn't shoot most of 04 and when he did get ready to shoot he needed a good bow at a lighter weight - he loves my old 40# Bob Lee. Finally we had decent weather and the Toy Shoot went well - I couldn't attend the shoot due to health problems but went in long enough to write some checks to club charities - and it felt good, 2) Camo: "Ah loves mah Big Dog, Daddy." Sloopy: "Do ah really haf tuh be nice to 'im, Daddy?", 3) On your list of things not to do with your bow and arrow - make sure shooting at a hornets nest ranks high - even in winter (just in case) - Frank Butala said he never took the shot but "counting coupe" is just as good - and safer, 4) here is a closer shot of FrankB fletching a Flu-Flu arrow for a PA "Skewrl Hunt" some tradgang members went on recently - back to us is "Snake" and across from him is Dale Hajas - a great time was had by all and the biggest mystery (other than where all the squirrels went - DUH! In a blizzard???) was who ate friend Doc Nock's Hydrox cookies - LOL We'll never tell!, 5) (and) Here is Doc Nock (Dave Landis) sans his Hydrox cookies - drowning his sorrows and promising dire consequences when the rapscallion is discovered - LOL (not really - actually an earlier pic from Wittingham), and 6) "Nutters" - some 5/16th Raimin Dowel arrows I made up for thumping stumps and small game - as per the design (modified) of JSOG (John, Son of Glen) - Being a little anal, mine may appear to be a little more "finished" than his but it was still the "cheapest and fastest" (for me) as per his principles. Gotta remember I have the new feathers and tools on hand and since I do it all the time it is quicker for me to fletch with fletching tape and jig (sorry 'bout that). Same thing for the nocks. They do have a couple quick coats of "Wipe On" Poly to seal them from the Coastal NC dampness. See tip end below.

Row Ten: 1) "Nutter" tip showing nut - since I seem to have a little trouble with nut size and srewing up on very far (and I shoot a light weight bow) I took some of JSOG's suggestions ant beveled the tip and fire hardened it - I then went a little further and epoxied (5 or 60 min epoxy) the back and front of the nut and then also coated the tip with the epoxy (I had extra left over anyway - as we always do) - "Look out - incoming!", 2) This is Candy Butala with the hat she "stole" from her Dad - he'd been waiting two years to buy this Kangaroo hide hat by BARMA but looks to me like it's gonna be "Candy Topping" - oh well Frank can't shoot a bow in that stiff brim anyhoo - nice lid and nice pic Frank - (better get yerself a Noggin Top Safari crushable hat), and 3) & 4) Rose with Great Grand Daughter Samara at six weeks - she likes to do the parade wave already - even in her sleep, 5) Our Hubert Archers club first shoot of the year also incorporated our Second Annual Buzz Luhm Memorial Shoot (Traditional Archery Award) - Doloras Luhm (Buzz' widow) presents John Dill withe the Perpetual Trophy for that award - John (arguably one of the best trad shooters in the state - and a whale of a nice guy) came to visit and shoot (with his lovely wife) and coolly walked away with the coveted award with a screaming score of 196 out of 240 - on a cold blustery day. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting them and shooting/socializing in their group, as did - 6) Don Ostrander (preparing to take a practice shot or so with his Howard Hill trad bow) who came to shoot his very first tournament after reading about us on tradgang.com - Don might be new to tourneys but not to trad shooting as he showed handily with a second place score of 153 - a pleasure to meet these new friends. See a few more pics from the mixed gear shhot on Gallery, Pg10