Tuesday, September 26, 2006

The most amazing thing



Hundreds and hundreds of hawks circling over Chino Valley today.

I have no idea WHAT they were doing up there- just floating maybe. It really didn't look like they were eating anything. They weren't swooping and diving like they would have been if there were yummy bugs. They were just floating -- almost like what ravens will do durning the mating season. But, these were all different TYPES of hawks, so I doubt it was mating.



I photographed and watched them for over an hour. Of course, ALL of my photos came out blurry, but at least I was using my new camera. The one I've had for nearly a year and barely know what I'm doing? Yeah! That one!


Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Fair Pictures

So, last night, while Dad was at class Mom and I trimmed and framed 8 photos. (16x20 pictures so big BIG.)

Dad and I each decided to enter the Yavapai County Fair this year. I think it'll be even money between the two of us but I don't really know if we'll win, it's been years since I last went to the fair and I can't say I ever really paid much attention to the photography.

I had hoped to have pumpkins to enter, but that was not to be. Oh well, maybe next year!

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Yard Mowing


So, I mowed both the front and back acre at my parent's house today. Dad was getting ready for his big hunting trip by getting his cargo trailer ready to go.

I'd never done the riding lawn mower before.


The excitment wore off quickly!

Dad's Turkey- Yum!

So, this spring, Dad got drawn for Spring Turkey. And, not only did he get drawn, he got a bird!

Now, I know dad isn't very tall but that was a BIG bird. His beard was about 7 or 8 inches long. Which is how you decide how old a turkey is and how close he is to trophy. He's big but not trophy size.

When we got him all cleaned up he was super duper long and really skinny. Not an ounce of fat on him.




Don't believe me?







Yum! He was a bit dry, but only because he was so lean. We ate him like a Thanksgiving turkey and later in albondiga soup. Albondiga, of course, means meatball in Spanish, so it was a bit of mis-nomer since there was nary a meatball to be found.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

56th Annual FFA Corn Dinner

It was so nice not to have to WORK at this corn dinner. For three years in high school THIS was my Labor Day Saturday work. Get up early and go to Olsen's Grain in Chino Valley to shuck Young's Farm corn. (The farm is closed now) then go man a booth for a few hours and then go work the dinner from about 1pm to nearly midnight with all the cooking, serving and cleaning up.

And let me tell you, when they say "All the corn you can eat!" they MEAN ALL the corn you can eat. The record that I remember was 26 ears PLUS the BBQ pork, coleslaw and roll.

Me?

I only ate 6 ears and most of the pork. This was after having gone to a friends house for buffalo burgers (second lunch) and eating breakfast and first lunch. Wow!


Oh, and No, I'm not in these photos- I was behind the camera.