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) To start us off here is Camo Dog (now just over a year and approx. 30-35lbs.) and still covered with freckles and wearing his "grin", and 2) this is Connie - not only is she our good neighbor and friend of 9 years but also an RN who just happened to be one of the attending nurses in the operating room for a couple outpatient procedures I needed this past year  - silver linings to every cloud, huh - LOL, 3) This is my good friend Bill Pearce (Former Marine) in a pic the insurance company he works for used in his recent "Attaboy" that they gave him for all his long hours and hard work for their outfit as a marine claims agent after all the hurricanes. Bill is the one I rode to ATAR with last year and (Lord willing) will again this year - a heck of a trad archer and good man to have on your team, 4) Another guy to ride the river with - Chuck Sinclair of GA with a nice buck he recently took with his Adcock ACS bow (like mine), 5) is Cal (Chucks son) - I knew he was a fine little shooter but it turns out he is a good tracker too - when things were looking pretty bleak on finding that nice buck of his Dad's he is the one who sang out, "Dad, I got blood," and it led them to the buck. Good job, Cal (and Chuck too - LOL), and 6) Another Chuck ( "Thunderflight" Baughn) an active Marine Capt. (formerly, CWO, formerly enlisted) friend that I've shot and hunted with a time or two - though we "met" originally on tradgang.com - this pic shows his best camo form - following is some of his results.

Row Two: 1) through 4) Chuck Baughn's traditional bow (a Chaparral Alpine) harvests this year - so far - mount on the left is from a local military base during early part of bow season (other mount and turkey are from previous years) the other three (taken on a trip to Ohio) are a nice doe - a fine spikehorn - and a very nice buck. I told him he was having entirely too much fun this year - I'm hoping some of "it" rubs off on me - LOL, 5) Introducing Kiarra Marie (Samara Nicole's brand new eleven months younger baby sister) 18" and under 5 lbs. born (a month early) Dec. 3, 2005, and 6) Mom Onesty and Kiarra (these pics and next row were taken her first day home on 7 Dec.) (Oh, "Maree" is also Great grandmother Rose's middle name). For the earlier visitors you may note a difference in the spelling. Onesty got to name Samara so Drey got to name Kiarra and he was not comfortable with the spelling that onesty had told us - ha-ha. So it is Kiarra Marie. Rose says it will be easier on the kid that way - and she certainly should know - LOL.
 

Row Three: 1) Great Grandpa Bernie and Kiarra, 2)  Great Grandma Rose and Kiarra, 3) Grandma Lois and Kiarra, 4) Proud momma Onesty has another turn, and so does 5) equally proud GGP Bern, and 6) Kiarra is tired of all the happy adults. She did crack open her eyes a couple times but I never was quick enough to catch it with the camera.

Row Four: Second day Home we caught 1) Aunt Haylei with Kiarra with eyes open - Haylei looks like she's stoned or angry but I promise it's neither - we were talking about how Kiarra "actually" had her eyes open and Haylei stopped smiling and was starting to take a peek just as I snapped it, 2) Candid of Momma Onesty and Kiarra, 3) During a change job - a look at how tiny but long Kiarra is, and 4) not to be left out - a happy Samara with GGM Rose, 5) Our Christmas greeting for 2005 to family - friends - strangers - and particularly to my fellow archers on tradgang.com and around the world, and 6) This is my Great Niece Shannon Kirk and her first born from New Hampshire - my Great Great Nephew Aidan - joining us in this greeting for this very special month of the year.

Row Five: 1) I have recently taken up Flint Knapping - the ancient art of chipping or flakeing stone/glass to make arrowheads/blades/tools/etc., 2) a closer picture shows (on the desk) some of my failed/broken attempts with glass and one small amber colored heart shape that may amount to something, 3) a closer yet pic shows a small clear glass point that may actually make it to the finish line., 4) Is my very first attempt and is Mahogany Obsidian, 5) shows the same head with a twenty five cent coin, and 6)  A short time ago I posted a pic or two of a knife (on tradgang.com) that I got in a good swap from one of our members who wanted some broadheads that I happened to have some of that I don't use. It was a unused Buck, Mini Alpha Hunter and Sheath. Right after I posted the pics/thread, I got a PM from ClintV, of tradgang, saying he had been wanting to see how that model knife would go as a sheath knife on one of his bracers, and that if I would loan him the knife to work a patern from, he would make me a bracer and get it back to me in jig time. As I told him, I'd be a fool to turn down an offer like that (even though I use Mike Gs Arm Guards all the time and "speak" of them often). Well,  my Momma didn't raise no fools! So I did, and ClintV did, and I did receive it back in jig time alright - it came in the mail yesterday, preceeded by another PM that said he hoped I'd like the tooling, as he had done it from memory. I had no idea what he had chosen to put on the bracer. I think I do like it! This has got to be right up there with one of the prettiest and most meaningful gifts/art work I've received (among many) I am so blessed with kind friends. See how you like ClintVs artistry - click on the thumbnail for a larger eyeballin' pic.

Thanks a million and SEMPER FI, ClintV - what a fine job and thing you have done for this ol' Marine.

BTW - When Mike G. of Mike's Archery Leather saw this one he asked me to put him in my will for it - LOL.

Row Six: Christmas Morn at Lois' - 1) "Look, Ma, finally no Premmie Hat!", 2) & 3) We got to hold little Kiarra, 4) While Lois and Brian enjoyed, 5) Onesty & Drey posed with Samara and Kiarra for a family portrait,  and 6) Samara drove her new car and... (next row, please)
 

Row Seven: 1) Rode her pony, 2) Daddy Drey played in the box with Samara because everyone knows "when all is said and done" that kids enjoy the boxes better than the toys - LOL, 3) Samara shows off her Christmas suit for Great Grandma,  4) Tiny Kiarra looks like a little wind up doll. 5) Included in a Christmas card here is my friend Chuck Sinclair's 9 year old bow shooting/hunting buddy "Cal" and his 2 year old brother "Oak" - I've not met Oak but he sure looks like his brother and I can tell you that Chuck and Cal are good to ride the river with, and 6) Friends Frank Butala and his Daughter Candy hacking around in front of their "puter" cam - just cause they enjoy each other's company - ya gotta love it.

Row Eight: 1) Last year (see Gallery, Pg10, Row 7, Pic 3) I posted a pic of a young man with a fine Buck he took after biting the bullet and not using his traditional bow (even though he very much wanted to) because he didn't feel he was ready - so he took his deer with a compound bow shooting bare fingers and vowed to practice and be ready with his trad gear this year. Tim Golder did and was - though he had to be patient and pass on some marginal shot opportunities until the 12th hour of the season. He finally got a 12 yard shot on a Doe sneaking by his stand. She promptly showed him she held the last card by running into the river before giving it up,  2) Proud Tim Sr. & Tim Jr. after the memorable first traditional harvest and a "damp" recovery. You did good Tim in all your decisions. If you compare with last years pic you can see Tim has grown some - into a fine young man we might add, 3) Though not all that large our biggest dog (Camo @ a solid 33 lbs now) insists he is a lap dog (especially if I sit on the floor), 4) Being a big ham he decides to turn and give me a big smootch for having Rose take his picture. She uses the opportunity to show his "camo" colors are still in evidence even though most of the black faded except on his heavily festooned (but still definitely) Beagle tail that stayed attached to his Australian Sheppard body. If you look closely in the large photo you will see our Frito Bandito (Kissie - the overweight Chihuahua) - not to be left out - sneaking in a jealousy kiss to my right hand,  5) Meet Rachael Pardue, this young intensely focused trad shooter is the youngest Daughter of the famous (in our world) John Son of Glenn (JSOG) and the lovely Miss Susan. When John sent me the pic he included the caption "Don't mess with ma food plots. Gotta new guard oer em!" I replied that she looks "DeadMeat" serious to me. John says she is already a good shooter - and I don't doubt it a whit - she purty too!, and 6) Kiarra now sitting upright a bit and eyes following movements - doin' great!

Row Nine: 1) Rose and happy girl Samara (trying to reach GGP Bernie's camera), 2) Some of you regular readers will recall my friend and Former Marine Dano made a bow for Samarra when she was born - now he has built this equally sweet "stick" for Kiarra - this one is what's called a "Character Bow" - they have natural bends, etc in them that the Bowyer works around and still makes a fine bow that shoots straight (I love them, as she will), 3) Here I am drawing the bow to its 25#@20" to display it's tiller (Curve), 4) Onesty happily accepting Kiarra's bow on her behalf (Dano says it looks like Kiarra is "eyeballin'" her bow and I think he's right). Thank you so very much, my Marine Green Friend. 5) Time to update pics of my home range - from the ground beside my "Green monster" Tower, and 6) as seen from the tower. A number of (also second hand) targets have been added over the last year or so since last pics. A raccoon , Woodchuck, Catalina Ram, a Deer body with no insert (careful of the hole!) given to me by a friend, and down front, on right in front of the bushes is a square of 3D foam with a tree holding a Squirrel and sporting a Rabbit at it's base. Come shoot with me if you are in the area.

Row Ten: 1) About three years ago (as I recall) Mike G. of Mike's Archery Leathers made a proto-type "Arrow Holster" and asked if he could send it to me to try out, and see how I liked it. Do I look like a fool? Wait, don't answer that. Anyway, he did and I loved it - it was (and still is, for that matter) a great and quick little arrow toter for your belt - especially for 3D shooting and/or practice or stump shooting. Pictures were posted on my web site about it back then and are still there. This year Mike told me that he wanted to (as soon as he caught up a little) modify my Arrow Holster to include some modifications he has made to the item over the years. However, when he got ready to do it, he decided it would be easier for him to "just" (easy for him maybe - LOL) make a new one, and would I mind if he did it in two tones of leathers. Again I ask you - now do I look like a fool? Don't answer that one either, dag nab it! So the upshot of all this is that today I got a package from Mike and, as usual, I am blown away with his work. I wish my pics did it better justice but here they are. It now has a gusseted pouch for score cards, accessories, "C" Ration Candy Bars, whatever - the loop that holds the arrows is mounted on a rivet that allows it to swivel a little better, The two tone accents with brass rivets adds mucho (and macho) class, and I love it even better than the original. I know I will get many comments on it when I am "Stylin' and Profilin'" with it. I'll bet you will too when you see it, use it, or whatever. Oh yes, the cylinder hanging on it from the (also new) brass D-ring is my arrow puller which I transferred from the old one. Like I always say Mike is always toooo kind to me.
Semper Fi, my dear friend, Mike, 2) In use - well theoretically. I left out one of the most important features of "my particular" Arrow Holster from Mike (between him and me) - right above the rawhide tie down of the pouch flap (you can't see it in the pics) is a small cut in Marine Corps Emblem - a little personal touch for me.
Again - Semper Fi, Brother. The shirt (my wife gave it to me) says, "Can you see me now?", 3) Rose helptng Samara show off her Hi-style Poncho Crocheted by GGM Rose herself,  4) (I finally invested in a better Digital Camera with Telescope/Wide Angle/Macro features and now pics are from trying that one out) My Adcock ACS Longbow, 5) My 21st Century Longbow, 6) Onesty and Kiarra on March First, and 7) Rose and Samara on March First.