Like almost everybody, this time of year evokes
so many great memories from our past. Living in rural Wisconsin I am guessing
our Thanksgiving traditions were much different than most. The schools closed
for the week, they were closed by necessity as the attendance dropped in ½
during this holiday week. It wasn’t because everyone was going out of town for
the holiday, it was because everyone is out of school for deer hunting. So many
of our Thanksgiving memories are around deer hunting.
I remember Barb’s first deer, Forrest’s first
deer and even Barb delivering us coco and pizza to one of our deer stands. But
the real memories for us this time of year are around family and friends. All of
whom we dearly miss this time of year. Hosting and attending family
Thanksgivings, visiting friends in the Spring Valley, Somerset, Milltown and
Gordon areas.
We are thankful for these friends and family,
our health, our happiness and our ability to live out our dreams. Here’s to
hoping everyone out there had a happy thanksgiving.
Our memories for this year will include a flock
of turkeys running to our rig to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving. I guess they
knew we already had a bird and didn’t need another one.
We spent the day with Jim and Brenda at the
Rubeck’s house in Custer. Rudee and Phil were nice enough to invite us over for
the day. We watched football, talked smart and ate a great meal!
Last week we posted our first ever reader poll asking the level of our craziness for staying here. As I write this we are experiencing sustained winds of between 30 and 40 mph, making me question our own craziness. But the results don't lie with 57% of the respondents saying we are not crazy at all. This was of course followed 20% saying we were "Bat Sh#t Crazy" I guess there is not much middle ground on peoples opinion on this.
Two weeks ago we posted Jim and Barb's Favorite Things. (Contains Affiliate Links) This was by far our most popular post in the past few months with over 2,000 views in a little over a week. Do doubt it was more curiosity than people really wondering what our favorite things are!
With the prairie dogs under control, it was time
to get back to fencing and putting up the bird houses my brother Bob and I
built this past spring. Barb put the final touches on the steel wheels she
installed at the end of the driveway and another set at the gate near the rig.
The main gate off the road
The gate up by the rig with the wheels and birdhouse
The deer continue to be active with this guy
showing up at the rig the other day to wish us a good morning.
This little mule deer buck stopped by to visit
This is another new guy we have not seen before
We see this guy quite often
The weather has continued to cooperate this past
week with temps in the 40’s, 50’s and even 2 days in the 60’s! The next 10 days
look good so it appears as though we will be here at least until December 3rd....... Stay tuned!
That is a fantastic piece of property you have there. The deer pictures on this and the last post are so good! the one with the big buck broadside.... awesome! If the weather to your far north is an indication you're good for a while, we are above freezing daytime temps in northern Alberta also for at least next 7 days.
Phil and Rudee are great folks. Their's was one of first bligs we ever read! And Sue worked for/with Phil directly at Crazy Horse. So sounds like you had great day and terrific company for your first Thanksgiving in SD!
Glad you guys are enjoying your new digs and the weather has improved for you. You must be licking your lips every time you see those deer and turkeys! Happy Thanksgiving!
How sweet of the turkeys to stop by personally to say Happy Thanksgiving! I do believe the deer are wondering what exactly you are doing on THEIR land and wondering when you are leaving. Great entrances! Love the wheels and the birdhouse. Yes, we do have so much to be thankful for having our health and being able to live this most exciting lifestyle. Hopefully you will be spending the summer on your property so we can stop on our west in July from our east coast visit:) We will head across to Atlanta first then move up to PA and then on to NY before heading back west. Hope you weather continues to hold for you.
Beautiful piece of property ,and the wild life ! Some very nice bucks,we have made 6 trips to the Blackhills motorcycle rallies ,and have toured all the favorite sights,never get tired of cruising those back Roads!I am enjoying watching your progress ,but looks like winter is coming!On our travels from Vancouver Island to the Blackhills , I have noticed snow fencing on range land in areas of Wyoming and Montana,and have always thought ,that when winter does arrive , it might be nasty!! Great blog
Thanks Bill. Even when we drive through the hills just going to town it is still beautiful as ever. We went to Vancouver Island on our way to Alaska a couple of years ago to visit friends Steve and Dianne, it too is a beautiful place!
Sure looks wonderful! Great hunting there. Holidays on the road are different but still wonderful. We may have to pop in and say hello if we come by to get our drivers licenses. If you'll be anywhere near Oregon you should join us for a week in mid-may when the fish are running! My brother has a boat.
You guys are welcome anytime! Fishing would be a blast! As of right now we are planning on being in Oregon for the month of March, I think we will be in the Dakotas in May.
Glad you had an Enjoyable Thanksgiving with Friends.
ReplyDeleteDon't wait too long to get those wheels rolling or they could be frozen to the ground.
Be Safe!
It's about time.
We will be out of here at the first sign of trouble!
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHere's maintaining your Thanksgiving tradition! Do you have a Christmas tradition as well?
DeleteThat is a fantastic piece of property you have there. The deer pictures on this and the last post are so good! the one with the big buck broadside.... awesome!
ReplyDeleteIf the weather to your far north is an indication you're good for a while, we are above freezing daytime temps in northern Alberta also for at least next 7 days.
That's awesome, keep the warm weather coming!
DeletePhil and Rudee are great folks. Their's was one of first bligs we ever read! And Sue worked for/with Phil directly at Crazy Horse. So sounds like you had great day and terrific company for your first Thanksgiving in SD!
ReplyDeleteThat they are, you could not ask for better hosts!
DeleteGlad you guys are enjoying your new digs and the weather has improved for you. You must be licking your lips every time you see those deer and turkeys! Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteWe are still hoping Barb will get a deer, we have to wait until spring for turkey hunting.
DeleteHow sweet of the turkeys to stop by personally to say Happy Thanksgiving! I do believe the deer are wondering what exactly you are doing on THEIR land and wondering when you are leaving. Great entrances! Love the wheels and the birdhouse. Yes, we do have so much to be thankful for having our health and being able to live this most exciting lifestyle. Hopefully you will be spending the summer on your property so we can stop on our west in July from our east coast visit:) We will head across to Atlanta first then move up to PA and then on to NY before heading back west. Hope you weather continues to hold for you.
ReplyDeleteLots of great hiking in this area! We are 15 minutes from Wind Cave, 30 from Custer State Park and Crazy Horse.
DeleteSo sad that you had to suffer through that football game. Oh, wait...that was me suffering!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great game! I should have brought my iPad to the Rubeck's so I could message you!
DeleteIsn't it the best when you can do whatever you want, even being bat s__t crazy?!
ReplyDeleteIt really doesn't get any better!
DeleteBeautiful piece of property ,and the wild life ! Some very nice bucks,we have made 6 trips to the Blackhills motorcycle rallies ,and have toured all the favorite sights,never get tired of cruising those back Roads!I am enjoying watching your progress ,but looks like winter is coming!On our travels from Vancouver Island to the Blackhills , I have noticed snow fencing on range land in areas of Wyoming and Montana,and have always thought ,that when winter does arrive , it might be nasty!! Great blog
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill. Even when we drive through the hills just going to town it is still beautiful as ever. We went to Vancouver Island on our way to Alaska a couple of years ago to visit friends Steve and Dianne, it too is a beautiful place!
DeleteSure looks wonderful! Great hunting there. Holidays on the road are different but still wonderful. We may have to pop in and say hello if we come by to get our drivers licenses. If you'll be anywhere near Oregon you should join us for a week in mid-may when the fish are running! My brother has a boat.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are welcome anytime! Fishing would be a blast! As of right now we are planning on being in Oregon for the month of March, I think we will be in the Dakotas in May.
Delete