Deer Hunting October 2008

Here are the mighty hunters ... minus the photographer, Dennis. (Dallin, David and Ryan) They didn't get a deer opening day ... but did find a place Dennis has been looking for... for many years ~ a place from his youth, where he had encountered a

BIG FOOT experience!!

While looking for places to take the boys hunting, Dennis discovered (on a map) a road we had not traveled. Ever since we moved back to Utah he has tried to find this place. It is where his family had hunted when he was about 17, and on this road Dennis, a friend, and a cousin, encountered BIG FOOT!!

This is another picture of the same area where the event took place ... and the large clump of bushes just to the right of center is where they last saw 'it'!! Here is the story ...

The three boys had hunted all morning ... and about mid day all of them shot deer in the bottom of a steep canyon. They dressed the deer out and left them ... then they had to walk back to camp (which took several hours) to get their horses. By the time they got back to the deer the sun had gone down. With the help of the horses they got the deer to the top of the canyon, unloaded the deer to be picked up the next day, and started riding the horses back to camp. By this time it was VERY dark ... no moon!! The boys rode along this road, single file. The road followed the top of the ridge, so you could see shapes against the night sky. As they rounded the first hill top they could see something off to their left following them ~ there were 2 of them. One was larger than the other, it appeared to be about 8' tall, the other was about half that size. They yelled "Who's out there!!" There was no answer, but the shorter one stopped. The big one kept moving parallel to them, about 50 yards from the road. It didn't make any noise, but kept moving, sometimes faster and sometimes slower than they did. All three of them pulled out their guns, put bullets in the chambers, had their fingers on the triggers and the safety off!! (They were VERY SCARED!!) They continued along the road, in the dark. Big Foot moved ahead of them and went behind the clump of bushes seen in the above photo. The boys were sure that was where they were going to meet their fate!! The road turned and went by the bushes. As they carefully approached that area their horses shied and jumped as they too sensed something was there. Nothing ever appeared ... they continued back to camp without seeing 'it' again.

The next day they took their dads with them and went back to get the deer and to check the area, but found nothing. All three of them had the same story to tell their parents even though they did not discuss it that night. (They rode back to camp in terrified silence!!)

Even though this event took place 45 years ago ... Dennis knew the area when he found it, and was able to describe to David and Ryan every detail of that day. Frightening things like this don't leave you!! (As a side note ... he hasn't ventured out of camp at night since then!!)

The END of the season!!

It is always a little bit sad when we have to winterize everything and close it up for the season. This year we had even more things to do - and more water devices (the new pottie in the bunk house, etc.) to drain and anti-freeze. We have had a great spring/summer/fall ~ but now it is time for winter ...

This is a look at inside of the trailer - we had to defrost the fridge and freezer and leave them open so they don't mold or freeze!!

Things are all put away ~ until early spring (or a winter visit to burn limbs ... you never know when we may return!!)

As we loaded up, Dennis threw on the larger logs he cut down in putting up the fence ~ so we can burn them at home. (His motorcycle is on there as well - in case he needs it in the valley for the deer hunt!!) ... He didn't end up having to ride it - which is just as well!

We needed STEPS ~ and got some!!

This is a picture from the top looking down on a steep area going down behind our trailer. I have been wanting Dennis to build some steps so the kids (and ME!!) don't slip and fall, and this is showing the process.

The first week he only got 2 of them in ... and had to cut some more.

Here is the finished project ... complete with rocks to step on at the bottom so they don't wash away. I am so thrilled!!
Yeah Dennis!! You are amazingly tallented!! Thank you!!

We Made APPLESAUCE!!

I am going through the STEPS required to make applesauce (documenting it in full so we don't forget how much work it is!!!) The first picture should of been our little apple tree LOADED with apples, but Dennis picked them before I thought of it!! So, this isn't actually step 1, but for this blog it is!! The first step was to pick them - then WASH them - and quarter them (which also removed any wormy spots that might appear - luckily we sprayed them this year and only had about 5% with bad spots!)

Here they are in the cooking process. The one on the left is almost done - and the other one is just beginning. (The house smelled yummy - apples!!)

This is the actual 'applesauce making procedure'!! We bought this device years ago - when we lived in Idaho - it is called a Victorio Strainer - and we love it!! The cooked apples (seeds and skin included) go into the white funnel - then they go through the strainer and the applesauce slides down the shoot and the garbage comes out the end into the tin container. It is pretty a amazing thing!!

This is the 'filling stage'. The jars had to be washed and sterilized - and the applesauce spooned into them (after it was stirred and sweetened a little). Then sterilized lids are placed on them and they are ready for processing.

This shows the 'mess' canning can be - especially when you take on a huge project all at once, like we did!! On the stove we have apples cooking as well as finished jars waiting to be processed and sealed for storage. It took many more hours than either of us remembered from the 30+ years ago that we did this last. Was it easier then --- or have we just forgotten??? (We know that being that much older didn't help either --- achy bodies!!!)

Here are the finished products ~ 52 jars of yummy homemade applesauce. (That works out to be 1 jar a week for an entire year, if we want!!) Canning is a very rewarding experience - but it is not without much work!! We are very glad it is done!! (Actually there is about 1/2 of a box still in the garage - we may give some away ..... no more applesauce!!)

Ride to Buffalo Hallow

I realize I have blogged numerous 'fall leaves' pictures ... but ... they are beautiful AND I am relatively certain this will be the last as it is going to rain tomorrow and the leaves will be gone. We took a ride up Spanish Fork Canyon and turned off at Sheep Creek and found this beautiful spot. It was fun to ride through the quakies with the leaves falling all around us.

Up on top of the mountain (about 9000') we could see down into Strawberry Reservoir. The color was prettier than it looked but because the sun wasn't out it didn't show up as well.
(This is actually near the area where the guys go deer hunting, FYI.)

Another view from up on top (looking down on Buffalo Hallow). I can see that I need to have the camera with me so I can take more pictures of Dennis!! (That is his quad in front of mine!!) We got back to the truck just in time ... it was just starting to sprinkle. Here comes the rain!! (We hope!!)

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

It was Ryan (our baby's) Birthday on Friday, Sept. 26th. He and Alisa came out to the property to visit us and have Birthday S'More's!!! They have just announced that they are going to be parents ~

the first part of May!!!

Our baby is having a baby ... (actually, Alisa is!!) Alisa is not feeling well - but s'mores sounded good to her -- we mommies can relate!!. Thanks for coming and sharing our campfire with us. (We have mastered the art of

S'More Making .... just ask Ry and Alisa!!)